THE MYSTERY OF HADDON'S "FERRY.

By E. D. E. Jf. Southworth.

CHAPTER L. at sea. Tho sea! the sea! the open sea! The hlue, the fresh, the evor freo I Without a mark, without a hound. It runneth the earth's wild regions round; It plays with clouds, it mocks the skies, Or like a cradled creature lies. Barry Cornwall. To Gertrude, life now presented a quick succession of brilliant, surprises, with a dazzling vista of pleasures radiating far into the future. The long, bright railway vide of tha fc iglorious autumn day, with the Bwif.-reach ing and passing so many large towns and villages ; the noisy arrival afc New York . the gay bustle at the depofc : the crowded cabin of the ferry-boats; the forest of ship, ping at fche landing; the long, magnificent streets of the city ; the splendid buildings . the grand hotels, all so common-place and uninteresting to the citizen's eyes, to our little rustic from the mountains of West Virginia formed a series of wonders such as she had never even dreamed of.

The noxfc day's sight-seeing, which com prised as much as could be gob within twelve hours of sunlight, and the nexfc evening's visit to one of the largest theatres, to see a star company in the " Midsummer Night's Dream," completed her blissful bewilderment, left her mind dazzled, en chanted, and delighted, and sent her to bed at night to sleep the dreamless sleep of a happy child, completely tired oub with play. On Wednesday morning our party arose early to prepare for their embarkation on the Europa for Liverpool; for although the ship was not to sail until noon, the passen gers were requested to be on board some hours sooner. Punctual to time the gang-plank was withdrawn, and the steamer, amid the hauling in of chains and hawsers, dropped away from the side of her pier, swung slowly around, and stood oub to sea. The signal gun was fired, and amid the cheers and hurrahs of the men on deck and of those on the pier, the ship sailed away. Colonel Fitzgerald led Gerfcrude to the bows of the steamer, where there was more room. There they sat down to enjoy fche magnificent prospect of New York harbour, seen in the glorious sunlight of fchis early afternoon in autumn. They were almost alone. The man afc the wheel, the officer of the watch, and one or two loungers near the smoke-stack, where the only individuals in sight, but even they were not within hearing. "Gertrude," said Colonel Fitzgerald, speaking gravely, after a thoughtful pause, _ " do you remember the first, nighb at- Fuller's, when, 'without explanation or adieu, I left you all. alone until morning Of course you do : you can never forgot tb But do you often think of it, my child ?" " Yes," said Gertrude, softly. " And wonder and speculate about it ?" " Yes," murmured (Gertrude. "And connected it, in your thoughts, with thafc other unaccountablo absence when I failed to keep my appointment) on my wedding-day at fcbe Summit ?" "Yes," whispered the young wife, "I thought so, of course. Well, my little True, you were right. Both absences were due to the same cause and rolat.d to the same event. The one secret that I have had—the secret; connected with my unac counted for and inopportune absences, I am afc length free to communicate to you. You have now and then heard somo slight allusion made to a criminal trial thab lias been occupying fche -Washington Court for fche lasfc few weeks, and which has been brought to a close within a few days ?" «< Yes—the trial of Lackland for the murder of Buckhursb," murmured Gerfcrude, in the grave tone and with the awe-stricken look with which youth and innocence speak Of crime. 1 "That is it. It has seemed to me, Gertrude, such an irony in fate that those nearest and dearest to me should have taken so little interest in an event of such vital moment to myself and to others with whom they were nearly connected. That trial, Gertrude, and the events thafc led to it, were the very causes of my enforced absence from the side of Miss Geraldino Fitzgerald on the day thafc I had promised to meet her ; fchafc trial, and the events that Jed to it, were also the causes of my en forced silence on the subject of that absence." "Ifc was while I was in command of old Forfc Terror, on fche Indian frontier, that I first met Adam Lackland. He arrived at the fort ono morning with a company of Englishmen, come out there, poor babies ! to hunt the buffalo !

" My narrative has nothing further to do with the lads—they left the fort on the next morning, and whether they got tram pled to death by the bison, hugged by the grizzlies, or scalped by the Indians, or whether they all returned safely to their anxious parents, I cannot tell you. I never heard of them again. "Laekiand remained at the fort, Ger trude. Whether it was from his accidental likeness to my dear father, as I remembered my father in his earlier manhood, or whether it was from his cultivated mind nnd pleasing manners, so rarely to be found combined in a backwoodsman, as he seemed to be,—or whet/her it was from all these causes together, I cannot tell you. But I know that my first meeting -with Lack land gave me a very favourable impression of him, and that our subsequent acquaint ance deepened into friendship. "He was at that time a very handsome man of about forty years of age, with a tall, stalwart form, fine, regular features, very dark complexion, and jet-black hair and beard, both of which he wore long and flowing ; in a word, he was like my father In my father's maturity. You have seen Maurice Fitzgerald, and you know that he was very handsome, even in his age. "I invited Lackland to remain at the fort as my'guest, and to share my quarters, Which he did; and without effort or ob trusivcness he made himself very agree able to us all, as well as very useful to myself. On the famous rising of the Co manches and Apaches, he did good service ■with us against them. " During the year that he passed with us at Fort Terror he attached himself to me with the devotion of a father, although, in deed, he could not have been more than ten years my senior; -but in all this time I learned nothing of his history beyond this, that be had lost his wife and his only child by a catastrophe that had happened many years ago, and/ of which he could not bear to speak. Since that awful bereavement he had been a lonely wanderer oyer the face of the earth. Ho had .pent the last five years on the' Western plains. " When, at length, we had < conquered a peace,' and I started for Washingtop, # Laok land accompanied me. On our arrival at the seat of Government, we took rooms at ,the samo hotel for the few days that I was detained in the city while making my re port to the Secretary of War. ".When I was about to leave Washington for Virginia, I invited tackland to accom pany me to the Summit! &§ ray He thanked me, but declined the invitation. We left- the hotel on the same day, he to go to a private ■ %ss> ty" a -widow natoed Dalle, I to swaMiifc, fofc.my home.

" During the few weeks that I spent at the Summit I heard nothing of Lackland. He told me plainly at parting thafc he was a poor letter-writer, and so there was no epistolary correspondence between us. " At the end of six weeks I returned to Washington. My resignation had nofc even then been accepted ; my business afc the seat of Government was to urge thab ib mighb be acted upon as speedily as possible. "I found Lackland still ab his private boarding-house, and very glad fco see me. Bufc a great change had come over my rough hirsute friend. His long, black beard was as full and flowing as ever, bufc his black hair was trimmed and arranged, and in stead of his backwoods costume, he wore fche conventional dress of a gentleman of the nineteenth century ; and if he was nob much handsomer than before, ho was certainly much more civilised in personal appear ance.

" The cause of this transfiguration was a girl—the daughter of the landlady. My dear Gertrude", this Mrs Dalle was, to my opinion, a very commonplace and uninter esting young woman, and ono whom time proved to be weak and unprincipled. Yeb, because of late years ho had seen so few women, poor soul! and because she was the only young woman in the house, and he was brought in daily and hourly contact with her, he fell in love with all fche fierce passion of his nature and his ago—yes, his ao-e, Gerfcrude. I sec you look up wifch sur prise, for you remember I told you Lack land was over forty ; but mark you, child, as fche heat of mid-day is greater than that of morning, as the hcafc of mid-summer is greater than thafc of spring, so are tho affec tions of mid-life stronger than those of youth. , • "In the six weeks that ho had spent in Mrs Dalle's house lie had courted the girl, and she had from tho first encouraged bun. He told me, in a happy burst ot confidence, that ho had proposed for her and had been accepted, and that their marriage was to take place in ono month from that, time. . " Yet, Gertrude, I had not been in the city ton clays before I saw that something had occurred to give trouble to my friend. This trouble increased from day to day. He becamo as another man ; ho was silenfc and sullen, or wild and excitable, by turns. He grow pale, thin, and haggard. There were times when I feared for his reason or his life. " Sallust Rowley enmc from his college for the midsummer vacation, and joined me in Washington with tho intention of going down with mo to Virginia. For the few days that we remained in the city, young Rowloy saw a great deal of my friend Lack land, and became very much interested in him and his unspoken trouble, for my room at Fuller's was the refuge of this mosb unhappy man, where he would come at any hour of the day, and throw himself down on a chair or sofa in a fib of silent despair. " Ab length Sallust, with tho enterprising curiosity of youth, determined to investi gate for himself, and took to visiting Lack land at his board ing-hon so. Ono night the boy camo to me and said : "'I have found oufc all about ifc. Ifc is that girl ho is engaged to be nmrriod to carrying on like a house afivo with a now boarder, a young fellow named Ruokhurxfc. She'd carry on with me, too, if I'd 10. her. What do you think ? This ovoning, while I was there, they wero both sitting side by side on tho sofa up against the front, windows, and tho shutters wete opoil, and he had his arm on the back of the sofa behind her shouldms. / call that hugging. I was so disgusted at such behaviour that 1 gob up nnd said good-night, and came away. Bub what do you think? On tho outside I saw Lackland walking up nnd down tho pavement like a distracted man. He could see everything going on in thab room. So could I ; for as I looked up Ot the window I saw Buckhursb kiss her. They wero alone, but thoy seemed to havo forgotten that the window-shutters wero open. Tell you what, that man means mis chief ! If you have got any infiuence over him, you had better use ib !' "I endeavoured to got him to go down with me to Wilde county, bufc ho declined. He was very much to bo pitied, as well as to bo condemned, for he was madly, fatally in lovo with tho weak unprincipled girl, who, on tho very eve of her marriage with him, >va« falsely and coldly abandoning him for another and Jess worlhy man. And if at this time ho was nob actually in sane, he was, like Othollo, ' Perploxed in tho extreme' "Yet ho musfc have been mad, for he slew his rival, and would have slain himself had he not been prcvontod. But all this you have heard." " Yes, all that I have heard," sighed tho sympathising listener. " Whab you have yeb to learn, however, is thafc Sallust Rowley was an eye and ear witness fco the whole horrible tragedy, and I came very near being the same." " Oh !" exclaimed Gertrude, with an irre pressible shudder. " Tbe day succeeding my lasfc unavailing interview with poor Laekiand was the day upon which Sallust and myself were fco start for Wilde county. Aboub two o'clock young Rowley and myself left our hotel and took a hack to drive to our boat.

" As we bowled along at a good pace I sat back in my seat, thinking of the strange unhappy man I had taken leave of on the night before. Sallust eat with his head out of tho right-hand window, staring at tho scattered dwellings, I suppose, for there was nothing else to see. ' • We had just reached the corner of Mary land Avenue when we were startled by the loud report of a pistol near at hand—so near that our horses reared, and Sallust fell back from the window as if he had been shot. But the next instant he looked out again, while,a second and a third pistol were fired in quick succession. Then camo the rush of many feet in one direction. Our horses were still rearing and struggling. Again Sallust fell back in the carriage, this time exclaiming: " Great Heaven !it is Lackland ! He has killed Buckhurst! I saw him do it!"

" I pushed the door on my side open and jumped out into tho street. Sallust sprang out through his door to the sidewalk. All this happened in less than one minute from tho firing of the first shot. ".Standing in the street, I looked forward and saw a small group of people collected around a fallen man, and uttering exclama tions of horror.

:,'! Then, quick as lightning, the gathering of a crowd of people swarming to the spot from aU directions, and more cries, shrieks and exclamations, but not a policeman to be seen in the whole lot! And then onco more the voice of Rowley in my ear : " ' Good gracious, Gerald, I saw and heard it all! I wish I had been blind and deaf before I saw and heard it all! Poor devil, lam very sorry for him. See here, Gerald, I can't stay and be a witness against him. I must make off." " ' No, you must not, neither, if you please, sir. You will be wanted to testify in this case," said a policeman, who at last made his appearance, laying his hand on my shoulder, whilst Sallust disappeared in the confusion.

" If I have any presence of mind, I showed it then by holding my tongue and allowing the astute officer of the law to detain me, though I had really seen nothing of the shooting, but had only heard the report of firearms in common with the hundreds of persons who had gathered to the spot. I let them hold me, who knew nothing, in place of Sallust Rowley, who know all, because while my testimony could not hurt tho un- that of Sallust Rowley would have ruined lain." "A»d th afc w » s the reason," murmured Gertrude, " why Mr Sallust Rowley rushed down, to Wihle county in such hot haste on the mghk of the fifteenth of July 1" '"Yes ; and the reason, also, why I re mained behind, and failed to keep my ap

pqintmenb with Miss Fitzgerald ab the Summit. " I was held by the authorities until tne inquest was over. On the day » f t e *" the in_ quest) I set oufc for Wilde county, and ar rived afc home, still under bhe detention. I had shielded Sallust Rowley from the pur suit of officers with a subpoena, and had saved the wretched Lackland from a fatal wifcness against) him. I thought ifc neces sary still to shield and save both the witness and the homicide. Ifc was therefore thab I felt, compelled to keep au absolute silence on the subject, of my slight connection with that tragedy. " It was many days affcer thafc I learned thab tho aw officers had really been down fco Wilde county in pursuit of Sallust Row ley, who had eluded them only by flying tho country. " And now, my dear Gertrude, I having explained the cause of my absence and silence in that crisis of my fate, you will wonder why w<\ Sallust Rowley and my self, should have sympathised so strongly with the homicide ?"

Gertrude nodded gravely in response. " My child, much more explanation would scarcely be fib for your oars. Bub this I will assure you, that Lackland was no com mon criminal, no bloodthirsty assassin, nor were his wrongs common wrongs." Gertrude shuddered, and hid her face in her hands. "No man," continued Gerald, "should ever, under any provocation, dare- to take the law into his own hands. Bub if ever a man were justified in doing so, Lackland

was." . , " Yet he was convicted of murder in tho ill's .j og_?i*cg ! "Yes, he was convicted; because the woman whom he loved and lost happened fco bo his betrothed bride, and not his wedded wife. If she had been his wife, whom heaveugod, he would have been ac quitted and vindicated with eclat. Ah, well ! He will have a new trial, with, I liope, a better result)!" " And the wretched girl who brought all this woe upon him?" sighed the young wife. "Oh, she has come fco hor senses, as all wretched sinners do when ib is too late—if ifc is ever too late ! She has been very penitent, and has been constant in her attendance upon him in his cell. He has forgiven her ! Oh, the Christ-liko tender ness of that forgiveness ! Ib was she who came for me on that first night of ray absence from you. Sho nskod me to go and spend the night with Lackland in his cell. It was supposed that that night would havo been his lasfc, as tho execution had been appointed for the next day. The poor girl was in an agony of anxiety lest the prison doors should bo closed against us both before wo could reach it, and so sho hurried me off before I could write a note to you. And though I took a hack and drove rapidly we barely reached the gaol in time to be admitted." "How did she know that you had ar rived ?" inquired Gertrude. "In going from her mother's house toward tho prison, sho passed the hotel, and saw mo through the lighted windows of the reading room. Knowing that ifc would be a sort of comfort to Laekiand to havo me with him on tho last night, hho camo in im mediately and made hor petition. I could nob deny ifc, Gertrude. Indeed, fcho thought of you alone was my only reason for hesita tion. I sent you a note back by a messen ger, which you should have received the same night, bub did nofc get until the next morning. However, that is pasb. I Spent the night wifch the poor soul ill his coll. The next morning his reprieve arrived. I feel suro thafc reprieve ia only the foro i tinner of a new trial, which will terminate in his honourable acquittal."

CHAPTER LI. LONDON AXD PAIHS. Are wo not ono? Are wo not joinod by Ileav'n ? Each Interwoven with the other's fate? Arc,wo,not mixed, like streams of moeting rivers ~•.. Whoso blended waters aro no moro distin guished, But roll into tho sea, one common flood ? Oint friends were blessed with an unusually swift and pleasant passage across tho ocean. On the night of the seventh day out from Now York their steamer anchored near the beautiful Cove of Cork, and the following night they entered tho Mersey and landed in Liverpool at night. They spent tho subsequent days in sight-Seeing, and on Monday took tho ex press train to London, and arrived on the afternoon of fcho same day. Gerfcrudo was never woory of gazing afc the magnificent; buildings and splendid shops. Bub when once, thoy reached tho Tower and passed under the ancient gate way, Gertrude fell into a trance-like reverie, in which sho bufc faintly heard the voice of the old " Beef-Eater " guide, as he at tempted to tell tho story of each suit of armour or stack of weapons in tho White Tower, or of each dungeon in the "Little Hell," each tomb of the headless skeletons under the chancol of St. Peter's ghastly chapel; but she saw processions of the tyrants and their victims, all who had lived and sinned or suffered on that haunted ground. She fell into a dream in the prison of Sir Walter Raleigh, and afterwards almosfc lost consciousness and identity while standing on thp Tower Green and gazing down upon fche whito stone slab that marks the execution place of Anno Boleyn and all the royal and noble women who afterwards fell by the headman's axe. Other groups of tourists were "doing" the Tower at the same time, and these wero eloquent in expressing what they thought and felt, or what they supposed they ought to think and feel, in such exclamations as "How magnificent!" "How splendid!" " How awful !" " How interesting !" " Isn't it horrid ?" "lb makes one's flesh creep !" Gertrude never opened her lips, but dreamed on and on through the deepest, darkest corridors of that haunted, horrible tomb and monument of past magnificence and cruelty. In the evening they were joined by Dr. Goodwin, whose countenance betrayed disappointment before his speech revealed ifc.

"I see that you have not succeeded in your search," said Gertrude. " No: I went to Islington and found Goldsmith-street and Gilpin- Terrace, the address of the man who, thirty years ago, kept the. private hospital, But, bless you, there was no trace of a hospital'within miles of the place. The site once ocoupied by the doctor's nursery was now covered by a large modern building used as a boys' board-school, that had beep in full blast for twenty years. The master, to whom I introduced myself, and to whom I told a discreet portion of my business, had never heard of the hospital or the doctor. He had leased the premises he occupied as a school, and knew nothing about its ante cedents." "Nor anyone qjse in the neighbourhood I suppose?" interjected Gerald. "Nor did anyone else in the neighbour hood," admitted the doctor. " 1 inquired of the baker, the grocer, the chemist, and the oldest inhabitant, without success. Thirty years makes a difference in a neigh bourhood. But I shall go there again to morrow. After dinner the good doctor wept to pass the evening at the Polytechnic, and Colonel Fitzgerald took Gertrude to Drury Lape theatre to see Kean in " Macbeth." For the next three hours Gertrude lived an enchanted life. Sho did pot see a well acted tragedy, she saw what was, to her, an awful reality, miraculously conjured up from the darkness of the pa^t. The_ remaining days in the week were spept in a, similar manner. On Mppday before starting for Paris, they took leave of Dr. Goodwin, entreating hirq to spare no expense in prosecuting his search

for Gabriel Haddon's losfc daughter, a search thafc had hitherto been quite fruitless. _ # Tho newly-married pair reached Fans in the height of ' the. season. "Through our minister there they wero presented at Court and introduced to the best society- Bub Gerald Fitzgerald himself never know how really elegant as well as beautiful his little lady was until he saw her artistic ally dressed by a French modiste. They spent two months' in Paris, seeing everything really worth seeing, and going much into society, where the delicate beauty, native refinement, and quiet grace of our little mountain girl enabled her to pass well even among the queens of fashion. Gerald was almosfc proud of his " little love." And Gerfcrude was very happy, with only ono instinctive doubfc and dread of fche future, thafc found its expression in the lialf-breafched prayer:

" Oh, I hope—l pray thafc we may never, never meet Geialdine again."

Ah, poor child ! Ib was bhe lasfc week of their stay in Pans. She had received an invitation to a ball afc the Tuileries. She did not really wish to go, because sho could neither dance nor waltz in the fashionable style ; and being young and beautiful, ifc seemed awkward and eccentric to sib and look on all the even ing. Sho did not wish to go, but she made no objection, because she knew it suited Gerald to have his wife appear there, and he had forgotten or never reflected that she had no accomplishments that would enable her fco take parfc in bhe gaieties of the even ing. , . . When sho left her dressing-room to join her husband, previous to entering their carriage to drive to the palace, she raised her eyes timidly to his to read in the ex pression of his face whether he was pleased with hor appearance. He answered her mute appeal by a smile of delight, as ho drew her to hi;; breast and kissed tier, murmuring : >( " You are a living poem, my little love. Her meek face grew radiant as the face of a child who haR succeeded in pleasing some one it loves. But the next instant a shadow fell upon it as she thought: " I am afraid to be so happy. Oh, I hope, I pray he may never, never meet Geraldino atiain !" Was it a presentiment ? Was ifc that "forthcoming events cast their shadows before ?" Who could tell ? Gerald did nofc notice tho sudden change in her face. He drew her hand through his arm and led her tb the carriage, and they drove to the palace. The Tuileries was illuminated that night like a fairy palace. And, great as the crowd was, there was not the least hurry or confusion ; everything was conducted and managed with tho most perfect order and ease. Gerald, wifch Gerfcrudo on his arm, walked from ono scene of dazzling splendour to another, until they reached the great hall where the dancing had already commenced. There they stood together for a while, looking on the dancers. While standing tlms they overheard a conversation. Though it was carried on in French, Gertrude, who, you know, was a good linguist, understood ovory word. "The last new—" was tho first fragment chat met her ears. "Who is she, then?'' inquired a second voice. " She is a young foreign lady," replied the first voice. ' ' And her name is—" " Feese-gerall. Yes ! Feese-gerall. That is it—Feese-gerall." Gerfcrudo winced, and shrank closer to tho side of her husband, Poor child ! she was afraid that fchoy were talking of her. Gerald grew still as death, and listened intently. The murmured conversation went on. " Where is she, then ? Who brings her hero ? Let us see this new wonder of the world." " She is the guest of Madame la Baronne do La Valette. They say sho is about to be betrothed to Monsieur le Marquise d'lle. However that may be, she—la belle Feese ferall— is the most beautiful woman that as appeared in Paris since the advent of Jier imperial majesty the Empress Eugenic," said the last speaker, as the two moved away from the s|x)t. Gertrude knew now that they were not talking of her.

"Did yon hear them, Gerald?" she whispered.

"Yes, dear; I did?" " They mentioned some one of our name. Whom do you suppose they meant ?" "I do not know, my dear; probably some English or Irish lady of that name. My dear Gertrude, the Fitzgeralds are a widely-spread tribe, to be found in all parts of the world and in every grade of society. There is tho Fitzgerald who is the Duke of Loinster. There are other Fitzgeralds who are breaking stones in the streets, or serving out terms of imprisonment in the penitentiary—all equally our cousins, my dear—the Gherardini off Tuscany, who went filibustering into Ireland somewhere about the eighth century, and thence spread like horse radish all over the surface of the earth. This lovely guest of Madame La Valette's is probably one of the beautiful Irish Fitzgeralds." Gertrude said no more. For a few moments nothing was heard but the music, and nothing seen but the dancers. When the quadrilles were over Gerald drew his little lady's arm within his own, and led her back through all the splendid rooms of the suite to the grand drawing room, which was sparsely filled with guests, and where she sat down. There some of Gerald's acquaintances found them out. They discussed the new beauty, among other subjects of conversa tion ; but no one seemed to know exactly who she was, though all agreed she was the " sensation " of the evening. At length a French lady, a Madame Flores, who had joined the group, speaking with authority, declared that the new beauty was a young Irish girl, a niece of the Duke of Loinster, and a near relative of the Earl of Clarendon, with whose countess ,she had just come to Paris. When Gertrude heard this she breathed more freely. The music of a beautiful waltz came floating softly on the air from the dancing hall. The couples paired off, and Colonel Fitz gerald and Gertrude were left alone on the sofa. *' GomOj let us promenade awhile through these magnificent and splendid halls, that remind us of nothing so much as of the fabulous descriptions of Oriental palaces in the Arabian Nights' Entertainments," said Colonel Fitzgerald, as he arose and offered his arm to his " little lady." " Indeed, that is true of me," said Ger trude, with a smile. " Ever since I left Wilde county with you, Gerald, I have seemed to be living in a dream, or in a fairy tale. Whon I think of the ferry and the boats, and my old waterproof cloak and lantorn, and then look around on this scone, which might be a palace in the sun, and on myself, with this beautiful dress and these costly jewels you have given mo, I am re minded of Cinderella at the prince's ball, and I almost expect, when the clock strikes twelve, to find myself— not barefooted and in tatters, at least in my old waterproof, with the lantern in my band—goinsr down to the boat to fetch some traveller across the river. Are you quite sure it will not end so, my princo ?" she inquired. Fitzgerald laughed, and pressed her arm as he answered : " You absurd little Cinderella, the clock has already struck twelve, and you are not changed. You are safe for to-night. And now, as you are never to go back to that old life, try to forget it, my little lady. I will do all I can to make you forget it, for I love ypu, my little love—l love you !" She could not answer, except by a grate ful worshipping look.

" Oh, how good he is to me !"she thought —" how good he is to me ! Oh, how happy we are now I How thankful lam 1 I hope we may always be so. If only Geraldine never crossed our path ! Oh, I pray, I pray that we may never meet her !" Suddenly, while the-e thoughts were passing through her mind, a shadow fell upon her spirit;-a dark vision evolved itself from the shadow. She saw herself—water proof cloak, lantern, and all, on duty at the boat-house.

" I shall go back to the ferry," she mur mured to herself. "I do nofc know when, or why, bufc all this will change, and I shall go back to live at the ferry." She shuddered, so thab Fitzgerald turned and said :

" You are chilly, dear. Let mo take you into fche next room. There seems to be a draught here." He led her on fco tho nexfc hall in the gorgeous suite, beyond which was the dancing-hall. They went near the latter and sab down. Again they overheard a murmured conversation, the subject of which was the new beauty whose debut in Parisian circles had created such a sensa tion. Indeed, this wonder seemed to divide conversation with fche Spanish succession and the German diplomacy. " She is most certainly a superb woman ! She has eclipsed the most brilliant belles of tho season ! The men are all infatuated with her; the women are all furious," said one voice. "But where is this master-piece of nature, this marvel of beauty ? I have been trying to see her all the evening, and havo nofc caught; a glimpse of her yet," said the second voice. " Wait; here. She is waltzing Avifch the Prince Napoleon. Wait here until the dance is over, and the dancers all come out this way. You will see her then on the arm of her royal admirer," answered the voice. And then the speakers moved away and stood near the entrance of the dancing hall.

" IVe shall see fchis wondrous beauty, too, Gerald. Would you not like to see her?" softly inquired Gertrude. " If she is one of our Irish cousins, yes," replied Fitzgerald ; but we shall see other equally interesting people. Thoy will all pass us in leaving the ball-room." At that moment fche music ceased, and a general movement among the dancers an nounced thab they were coming oufc of the hall.

"Standa little back, my chijd, and I will tell you their names as they enter," said Fitzgerald, withdrawing his little lady a few steps back. "Princess Mathildeand Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar," he murmured, as the firsfc couple passed. " Princess Metternich and tho Russian Minister," he continutd, as bhe second couple passed. Meanwhile, our little dreaming Cinder ella gazed as in a vision, as these splendidly arrayed royal dames passed, each on the arm of her illustrious escort. "Prince Jerome and Madame do la Valette. Prince Napoleon and—" He suddenly started and grew pale. Gertrude looked up and beheld— Geraldine Fitzgerald, in all her imperial beauty aud magnificence, advancing. ( To be Continued.)

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR. WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 23, 1887.

6



Force ot Habit. Care is required in the formation of habit, seeing its important bearing on character. Many characters are spoiled through inattention to the most ordinary and simple matters. Some drink tea and colfce from mere force of habit, " because " it is usual to do so, regardless of the penalty oftentimes of nervousness and indi gestion. Cadbury's Cocoa Essence contains the refreshing, stimulating properties of tea and coiPje with additional advantages over those beverages, whilst it product none of their injurious effects SKINNY MEN. " Wells's Health Renewer" restorcshcalth and vigour, cures Dyspepsia, -Impotence, Sexual Debility. At chemists' and druggists'.—Kemp tliorne, Prosser & Co., Agents, Auck and. Business Notices. HOME JEWEL WASHING MACHINE IT WASHES EVERYTHING, from LACE TO A COALSACK; CLEANS TKOUSERS without wetting a finger or knocking oft a button. It docs away with wot feet, pains in tho arms, back, and breast, and does a big day's washing in two hours. < _t^_^^L^m^ t>^ \7 HOME Lill JEWEL L? HUNDREDS OF TESTIMONIALS. M. M. LEVY, SOLE AGENT. ALBERT HOTEL. Iron Curved for Verandas (any pattern) shortest notice. George M c caub. Manufacturing Plumber. and importer of all trade requisites WEIXESLEY STREET EAST (opposite New Library), and BRO WW & DAVY STREETS, THAMES, HAS FOR SALE— ?00 Corrugated Galvanized Tank* (assorted) 500 Colonial Ovens (all sizes) 60,000 feet Lead Edge Ridge Cap (all sizes) 60,000 feet O.G. Spouting (all size?) 60,000 feet Downpipes (all sizes) 50,000 feet Galvanized Water Pipes (all sizes) Lead-head Nails, Lead Washers, Portable Ovens, Furnace Frames, Copper Boilers, etc., etc., eto. Awarded Three First Prizes for above lines, at Auckland Agricultural Show. Largest and best selection of Gas Globes In Auckland, As G. McCAUL is a direct importer for cash, ho is in a position to supply the trada at the lowest remunerative prices. Liberal discounts to the trade. Country orders punctually attended to. GEORGE McCAUL, Manufacturing Plumber, and Importer of all Irade Requisites. Wellesley-st. Eaßt (opposite Mew Library), and Brown and Davy-streets, Thames. •VTEGRQ' HUMOUR. article -Li thereon in thia week'a " TIT-BITS."



Tailoring. MASHER WITHOUT : How the doose is it, Fred, your trousers never bag at the knees ? •• MASHER WITH : Something in the ! cut, old fellow. Try WOOLLAMS, OF SYDENHAM HOUSE, GREY St. He has cut my pants for years. "TONES, who wears one of DALTON'S Suits at 50s, has all the girls ranning after him when he walks out. ~Y\ THILE Montmorenci de Howard, who wears a shop suit, can't; get the girls to look at him. Business Notices. J TX 0 W D E N, WATCHMAKER AND JEWELLER QUEEN-STREET, Has now convenience for making and repair ing of Jewellery and for the repairs of every description of Watches. Chronometers, &c, &c, and to further increase his repairing and manu facturing department, he is disposing of the remainder of hid PIANOS at and under Co3t. . Persons having old gold jewellery can have it made up into new and fashionable articles to order, and all the bettor class of watches and cbronometei"3 receive his personal supervision, i Rotherhams' Genuine English Leverain stock. p»O UN D L I ME! GROUND LIME For Sale, SOUTHGATE'S MAHURANGI HYDR/tULIO GROUND ROCHE LIME In any quantity, for Concrete Paths, Floors. ' Cellars, etc. Next to stone-flagging it is un rivalled for durability and Lard-setting qualities. For tanks and other wet work it is a nrst-class material. B. KEANE, SOLE AGENT, CUSTOMS-STREET. W. L E V s * I BOOKBINDER, PAPER RULER. \ ACCOUNT BOOK MANUFACTURER, Wyndj^am-stkbet. MERCHANTS* ACCOUNT BOOKS, Insurance and Mining Register Books Specially ' Ruled and Bound. Music, Magazines, Public Libraries, and ' Sunday School Books Well Bound. Bakers' Special Ruled Day Books, Bibles, Prayer and Hymn Books Re-hound. BAND AND CHOIR MUSIC BOOKS RULEP COKE, CHARCOAL, FIRE KJ WOOD. Best Rata, Titree, w»d Puriri Firewood; also, first-class Taupiri, Newcastle, and Kamo Coal, at Lowest Price for Cash. Furniture carefully Removed, and Goods Delivered to all parts Of the city and suburbs, at Lowest the Address: C. PIPER, opposite the Ponsonby Reservoir, and corner of Newton and Karanga hape Roads. <sitt§i_&; ; 111 ISH E R ft CO., ' WHOLESALE SHIPPING AND _ FAMILY BUTCHERS Established BySpeoialAppointmenttoHis Excellency th? Governor. Sir W. K. Jervois: His Excellency Sir James Ferguson; and H.R.U. the Duke of Edinburgh; also, Kosha Butchers to tha Jews. QUJP'EN'STSEET, AUCKLAND, N.Z, Families waited on in Town or Suburbs, POULTRY of all kinds DRESSED to ORDER, Dealers in Gac_o Home-cured Hams and Bacon Corned Beo fin Largo Quantity. Imports of Sausage Casings ,7. Tho Trade B»PPUe* N.B.—Calves' Rennets. j ' t$L Cuatoraera Supplied with Ie«. _ Telephone No. 3SB. . ... ji S- y -, ~—,-.; .- P.O. BoxNC-3- '



Having purchased the _w .> ■« f BSGUSmmD THE BAMi IS? 1 QUEEN BTREET(^ ANciiqrh — : ; The largest and best stock la irfii, ! he BEST IN THJ. jffiSJ? V\s K 7 " T ' r - f,f?rrT s? ■■ a. fo * Klllf Bra , l_______SljJMS& / '■■ l^!it »^_ gJg^4_-j > _ li '«■■' j. ,YOU~"c"al(''t.: AFFORD homes of New Zealand must m________\ full effect unlessthey mmmXSBB housekeeper to use ' • . ""vSftWj BTJKNS'S U; A sqai?..:''; It is a simple but useful article. Those whohtl to use it are still more simple, and not half _ .;■-;,, r.- U Use ok!, y Tl"**Hl 111 I 111 ■ Blip m | j,. 111 lam Iji j ______ ■'"■■ You may have heard of It a TIJQOSANn TIMES without using it ONOS. reverse the position and USE IT ONCE. You will praise it to others a THOUSAND TIMES.—I have spent hundreds of poind, a convincing the Women of New ZeaUttad that their labour can be greatly lightened byuin. BUBNS'S Al SOAP (Ttf World REiipWNE- Cleakser!», but I have fallea short of niy an>> bition if I have failed to CONVINCE IOU. WHOLESALE AGEHT- . A. BUCHANAN. CUSTOMS. STREET SA,i^ Tm DGAB AND .' Q% DYERS, p. abused IS6I 1.,. Still Dyino toLive and Living : Ladies' and Gentlemen's Wearing AJSnI; Cleaned, Renewed, or any colonr. W»* \ Curtains or Table Covers Qlm-& i Dyed. Feathers and Gloves Cleaned and Dm any shade. Lace or other Curtains Bleached « Dyed. '- - '. ' > ■■-t'-j. '_[(■< 'A vi> •■"■ '■' i EDGAR, Dyer, • ' WELLESLEYSTREET EAST, AND RICH MOND. COX'S GREEK. TP E A C 0 C X, •"j " : OPTICIAN./ ~-..' ■ ''I MaTHISMATICAL AND NATOM** laW* o ** - - MAKER,7 -■■ •'•■■.' .:" 'a " SHORTLAND-STREET. Always in Stock-- -'• '.;',., Spectacles and Eyeglasses «f every v accurate fit guaranteed . Opera Glasses ° ?B^iSOTi^, a n_Mii!»)- Telescopes, Binocular *iewuasses,au , MOMS,powerfulandeheap ■ TheodoKMi4gK.P o s DraihageLeyels,£'i s R m s a o^J O Sf Rr.l*« . Drawing Instruments, Scales, gßgjuwl" Just Received- ■. •_. Settlers- Telescopy m** W***. Settft&id Baxters, strong «4f* «-■*»** l.»**| Also^amandElectrpMotorWorlcingM^ and Steamer.. J ' , OPPOPIT* «HH POST-OFFIO* f) WAKES "A T,If T P b-oifc-L • IVL Delightful Mram CJCONE. ' .- ■* _TIQT HE^. Blue Mottled. fXt Soaps. _aadoft«n v _«__A,_\' -Is=s«B_fflß« s£^E_si^w_csrM_