THE MYSTERY OF HADDON'S FERRY.

By E. D. E. N. Southworth.

CHAPTER XLI.

Gertrude's warning.

I coniure you by that which you profess, Howe'or you camo to know it, answer me.

SIIAKSPERE,

Let me gaze for a moment, that ere I dio 1 made read thee, lady, a prophecy.

Davidson

f .And" Uio lady's face ceased its play. : As if her first hair had grown «rcy ; touch things must beginsomo any. Brown ins. When- Gerald Fitzgerald had left Gertrude sitting alone on the back scab of the coach, she supposed herself to be it* only occu pant ; but she was quickly undeceived, fo r no sooner had his footsteps died away than a feeble voice from the darkest shadows oi the opposite end apoke to her. " Young lady—" "Yes," said Gertrude, kindly, thinking that this voice must come from the black cloaked woman whom they had found to be the only occupant of the coach when they entered it at Wildeville, and whose pre sence she had forgotten as soon as the shadows of night concealed her from sight. "Have you a smelling bottle about

you *" . Gertrude took her eau-de-cologne from her bag and handed it to her fellow-travel ler, saying: "Only this." " That will do," answered the woman, in a weak tone, adding : " Oh ! 1 am so faint! I am so faint!" " Are you sick ? Can Ido anything for you , '" kindly inquired Gertrude. " No, lam not sick. You can't do any :thing for me. But oh! I am so deadly faint*—so deadly faint!" sighed the woman. • "Do let me call some of the men, then, to bring you a glass of wine from the house," persisted Gertrude, as she left her seat in the darkness, and climbed over the intervening cushioned benches until she reached the stranger. " Let me call one of (the men," she repeated, taking the woman's hand. "The men are all in the stable, child; not one of them within the sound of your voice. But oh !lam so faint—so deadly, deadly faint!" moaned the woman .dropping her head upon Gertrude's shoulder. " Oh, I am so sorry '. What can I do for you ? Let me run to'thc house myself, then, and brin"- you a glass of wine," pleaded Ger trude, as she rubbed the hands of the woman in heY own to restore what she believed to be impeded circulation. Let me run now to the house to get you something." •' No, no ; I don't want anything. But, oh !lam so deathly, deathly faint!" gasped the woman, leatiing more heavily upon the girl. " Ah, good Heaven ! what can be done .' exclaimed Gertrude, becoming alarmed for her fellow-traveller. " I—l don't know. I think, maybe, if 1 could get out and walk a little in the fresh air," sighed the stranger. " Do" you think you are able, to do so i Shall I help you ?" inquired Gertrude. «I_yes—l think 1 could get out—and walk—if you would help me. It is-this close coach—and-my cramped position makes me faint," sighed the woman, as. resting her hands on Gertrude's shoulders, she raised herself from her seat. " There, hold on to the strap until I can open the door and get out to help you do\Vn," .said Gertrude, as she felt about in the darkness. "Not that door—not the door next, the house, — the .'other one next the wood;' panted the woman. Gertrude felt her way to the other 3ide of the coach and opened the door next the wood. She then got out, and carefully held her hand to her strange fellow-pas senger, saying : '■ Be very cautious. You are very weak, you know. Don't fall." The stranger gave her hand to Gertrude, and descended from the coach with great care, and so stood safe upon the ground, ■aying : "Thank you, young woman. \.ou have, jwa'ybe, saved me from a swoon. But I give you so much trouble." '• Not the least. It is a real pleasure to help yoii, if lean," said Gertrude. " Now take my arm. Do not be afraid to lean heavily on me, for I am very strong." " Thanky', honey ; but I am twice as big and heavy as you are." "You are much taller, certainly, but .never mind that. Lean on me aw heavily as you need to do. And now let us walk. We must not go many yards away from the coach, however, for fear we might keep them waiting," said Gertrude. •' Oh, this air feck so good! Already lam ■ better. Let us walk to that pine wOod. The odour of the pines alwaysdoes me good," eaid the stranger, with a deep sigh of relief. '.' But the wood is too distant. We must not go bo far from the coach." " Only a few yards. We shall get back in good time. Let me get one whiff of the pine wood's breath. It is the breath of life tome." Gertrude looked toward the house. There : seemed no sign of movement towards the coach from that direction. Besides, just then she heard a voice from some distance loudly call: " What the deuce are they waiting for ? And another voice shout back the answer; ' . ,

" They arc waiting for the boy with the mail-bag from Upperfcon. He's behind time, little rascal! Gone coon hunting, like as nob." " There !" said the woman. " Don't yott heai' ? They are waiting for the Upperfcon mail which this coach must take. It may not be here for half an hour. The boy rides a wretched old nag, and may ha' broken down. Come along ; they blow the horn to warn folks before they start, and even if we were in the woods we could hear it. and hurry back in time to save them from waiting." ". Oh> yes. So we could. I hadforgotfen about the horn. Come along, then, ma'am. I will take you to the woods. You are much better already, are you not ?" "Oh, yes, much stronger* thanky', honey ! ; Every breath of this good fresh air revives me ; and I know a whiff of the pine wood's odour will set me up entirely," eaid the stranger. .'fLean well on me, however. You must kindly counselled Ger trude, as she drew the woman's hand farther through her own arm, and sought to give her.all the support she could, as Bhe led her across the turnpike-road and on to the pine wood, which they entered. It was indeed the border of the old prime val fore.st. The tiees were of gigantic height and enormous size. There was neither path nor undergrowth, and the un broken ground was covered with thick grass, strewn here and there with a few fallen leaves and pine cones. " This is the very sublimity of a forest!" exclaimed Gertrude, with enthusiasm.

" Aye, it is. The niggers call it " the big woods, " remarked the woman, seating herself at the foot of one of the mighty tree's.

" You live about hero, perhaps ?" said the young , girl. " I live everywhere," answered the strange woman. " You are always travelling then ?" said Gertrude, wondering whether her chance companion were a pedlar. " Always," answered the stranger; " but eit down here by me. The ground ie quite dry^ .

■9 3f3« *~ / Gertrude complied with her request. At that moment the warning horn of the stage-coach was heard in a loud ahrill blast that rung through the forest. " They call us IWe must go!" ex claimed Gertrude, starting up.

But at that same instant an arm strong as a giant's was thrown around her, hold ing her down in a grasp close as a fetter, and the voice of the woman, no longer feeble, but strong and resonant, answered : "You shall not go." " How dare you ? How dare you ? You have deceived me. You were not sick—not taint. What do you mean ? Let me go this instant," cried Gertrude, amazed, in dignant, terrified beyond expression, as she struggled violently to free herself. The woman answered nothing, but held her in a giip tight as a rice. The stage horn blew a long, long-resounding blast. "Help! help! help!"' screamed Ger trude, with all the strength of her lungs. "Ha-ha-ha! They'll never hear that at. this distance," laughed the woman.

(t I know you now. You are Magdala. Oh, let me ffb. You would nofc keep toe from ray husband J" pleaded Gertrude, still struggliHg hard to free herself, and nearly maddened by the eound of the summoning horn that still rang through the forest. . But she might ac Well have cried to break a cable chain of iron aa to burst the clasp of this strong amazon's arms. She ceased to struggle, but continued to plead : "Ah, Magdala, you will not keep me from my husband, you will not!" " Will I not ? I will keep you from Gerald Fitzgerald as I would keep you from a lire !" fiercely exclaimed Magdala.

" Why should yort ?" cried Gertrude, re commencing her violent effort to free her self. " Why, in the name of Heaven, should you wish to keep me from Fitzgerald? But why should I ask t Oi course, she is crazy, end can give no reasons for her actione," added the girl, in an under tone. the last long blast of the horn rang, re verberating through the forest. " Oh, that horn ! How can you hear it and hold me fast ? Let me go ! Let me go, I say ! Help ! help ! Gerald ! Gerald ! Oh, Gerald, help !" screamed Gertrude at the top of her voice. "Ho! ho! ho! You make mft laugh. Why, the sound of that horn would drown twenty voices like that. And even if the horn was not blowing, they couldn't be heard at this distance," chuckled the woman. "How dan you hold me here?" cried Gertrude, renewing her struggles with frantic violence. " How dart you keep me from my husband ?" " Becauso you belong to me. Because you are mine. Because 1 will not let that handsome vampire have you, to suck your heart's blood," fiercely exclaimed Magdala. " Heaven have mercy on me ! 1 am in the grasp of a raving maniac 1" exclaimed Gertrude, ac her struggling muscles suddenly relaxed from their violent strain.

She had not fainted — that strong, healthy girl, brave ac she was tender, hud never fainted in all her life. It was the reaction from extreme tension that left her unnerved for a few moments.

Taking advantage of her condition, the amazon lifted her with powerful anna, and walked rapidly away into the depths of the forest. The sound of the stage-coach horn was no longer heard. Magdak hurried on with the strength and persistence of madness, until she came to a little stream of water. With insane contempt of comfort, and regardless of wetting her garments, she waded through the stream to tho other side, walked about a hundred yards, and sat down with her captive. "Are you frightened?" whispered the woman, us she gathered the girl close to her bosom and held her fast. . " No, I am not ho much frightened as pained," answered Gertrude. "" Yet the stage-couch lias gone." " I know it. I hoard the wheels roll away about tho time the horn stopped blowing, poon after we left the foot of the tree. I suppose we must have paused near the high road." "Wo did ; but we are far enough from the high road now. Are you frightened v "'

"I tell you no— bvit pained—revolted." "Yes, the ntage-coacß has gone, and Fitzgerald has gone with it to the city, and left you here."

*' I do not believe that."

" You heard the stage go yourself." "Yes, but Colonel Fitzgerald did not go with it. When he came out to the stage, and found that I was not there, ho set about looking for me. No, lam not fright ened."

" I tell you, Fitzgerald entered the stage coach and went off with it. You call me mad ; but I have a power that sane people lack. I can «cc things not to bo seen »y other eyes ! I can know what i« going on at a distance, and what will go on in the future ! I saw Gerald Fitzgerald get into the stage-coach with a tumbler of spiced wine in his hand. I saw how carefully he carried it, for fear he should spill it." " Well, he carried the wine for hie. and when ho found 1 was not there, he left the coach, of course. You must have seen that as well," said Gertrude, smiling, in spite of the difficulty of her position.

" No, I saw not that. The vision faded thon. But look you !" exclaimed the woman, fiercely, while her dark eyes ehone in the night, like the eyes of a.panther. " Look you, Gertrude Fitzgerald ! You are Fitzgerald, and you were Fitzgevald long before you ever saw the face of Gerald Fitzgerald - look you ! Before that hand some man shall have you— Oh Ihe may leave the coach ; he may hunt you and iind yoxi ! but be!ore he shall take you, I myself "I I w ill slay you with my hand, and send you to join your mother in the world of light! Aye ! even if doing so I condemn my own soul to the pit of darkness !" "Heaven of heavens!" muttered Ger trude, quailing. " Do you know how I see you, with that man ? I told you I could see the future. I can ! I see you by that man's side, paling, fading, withering, utiloved, deserted, even dishonoured ! I would rather see you dead, Gertrude, even if there were no after life!" :

"In the name of Heaven I ask you: What am I to you, that you should take this strange, dangerous, fatal interest in my life ?" demanded the girl. "She asks me what she is to me," muttered "the Woman to herself.

"Yes! I ask you what 1 am to you that you should tocat the in the way you do ."

" You are all to me ! My only hope of redemption, of forgiveness, of restora tion !"

" You speak in riddles ! But, oh ! of course, I know you are mad," added Ger trude, in a low tone. "But what have you, even in madness, against a gentleman go pure and noble as Gerald Fitzgerald ?" "'So pure And noble' as Gerald Fitz gerald ! Do you ideally love this man, then ?" sneeringly inquired the woman. Gertrude paused, trembled, and then loyally answered : '' I love Fitzgerald so much that even were your dark prophecy obliged to be ful filled, only to be near him I would rather wither in hialiand than bloom on the bosom of a king!" The strange woman dashed Gertrude off" her breast, and sprang to her feet with a fierce gesture. " This is godless idolatry 1" she ex claimed. "This is not love, but godless idolatry! You call me mad ? Why, you are a million times madder than I! Where are you going ?" she suddenly demanded, springing upon Gertrude, who was running away. "I was going to try and find my way back to the post-house. You had better let Biego, and make your own escape. You

will get yourself into trouble by detuning me, you know," said Gertrude. "You could not find your way back to the post-house to save your life. We are in a pathless forest, two miles from the post house, and the night is dark as pitch. You must remain with me." " You will get yourself into trouble by de taining me, I tell you." "lira not afraid of anything that man or devil can do to me. All I fear is what he will do to you." , " You yourself aro doing me more harm now than any other human being over did, or ever could. The only palliation of your deed lies in your madness. J wonder it you are sane enough to tell me what you think of doing next?' said Gertrude, gravely.. "I shall keep you here until morning; but 1 will not take my arm irom around your waist again all night, for you are not to be trusted, you would try. to run away """"what! sit out in the open air nil night in this season of the year." " Why uot V It w dry and cool, but not cold, in this wooded vale between two mountains. A healthy girl like you will take oo ham."

''' But yourself ?" "I ? I live in the open air. The moun tains, woods and fields avo the chambers of my habitation. How else could I have gained inoro powerful strength than most of your housed and pampered men possess t You have tried that, for you are no babe in weakness yourself," eaid the woman, sig nificantly. .14. "No, my muscles have been trained at the oar," answered Gertrude, who comforted herself with the thought that if the mad woman intended to hold her there all night, her husband would certainly find her before morning ; so that her curiosity was keener than her fear, as she inquired of her captor: "When the night shall be over, what shall you do ':" "Eat breakfast," said the woman, pro ducing a wallet that hung to a belt around her waist. . Gertrude laughed at this literal, practical, and most unexpected reply. " You ara net frightened, you?" exclaimed Magdala. " No, not the least in the world now. 1 am only disturbed at the inconvenience to which your reckless act will have put Colonel Fitzgerald. But even that is not serious ; for we were not in any desperate hurry to reach Washington. Now may I ask you if you mean to eat, drink and sleep in the woods ?"

"Yes." " And live in them for ever ?"

" No."

"What, then?" " We will live in the woods until wind and rain, ice and enow, drive us into the deep caves of which these mountains are full: then we will live there. Ah ! life is fino here in the forest among the winged creatures of the air and the four footed ones of the earth."

Gertrude did not answer the maniac ; she was wondering how long it would take her husband to follow her, trace her out and find her.

At thie moment the leaves crackled near her, and something rushed forward, jumped heavily into her lap,. and began to caress her as if she had been a dear mend instead of a total stranger, and then suddenly jumped off again and bounded away, bark ing joyously. It was t>lo litllo brown Scotch terrier, the herald of her deliverers.

Magdala clasped Gertrude closely in her arms and sprang to her feet, gazing wildly around, as if uncertain whither to tiy with out falling into the hands of her pursuers, whoBC heavy tread was even now heard crunching through the dry fallen leaves. At the next instant two stalwart men were upon her—the one on the right, the other on the left.

" Oh, thank Heaven ! you have come at last, Gerald ! Don't let anyone hurt the woman. She is mad you know !" ex claimed Gertrude, who had now ceased to struggle. " Release that lady instantly !" exclaimed the shrill voice of Gerald Fitzgerald. "Yes, I will release her! 1 will release her ! Oh, yes, I will release her fast enough ! Stand back, both of yon, for a moment!" exclaimed Magdula. And as the men withdrew a little, she, still holding her captive closely clasped in her left arm, put her right hand into her bosom, drew forth a small dagger, and— Before she could strike it into Gertrude's heart her hand was seized by Gerald Fitz gerald, who had never taken his eyes from her, and the deadly weapon was wrenched from her grasp and hurled into the distant stream of water.

"Take her, then !"cried Magdala, wildly. " Take her, since I cannot keep her from you, and cannot even rcleacso her by death ! Take her!"

Gerald received the half-fainting girl in his arms and sat down with her on the root of a fallen tree, and began to speak to her in soothing and encouraging words. But the fierce voice of Magdala drowned his tender utterances.

"Take her!" screamed the maniac — " take her ! I give her to you ! But to give her to you is not to release her, but to give her to a captivity worse than death—a captivity of soul and spirit as well as of body ! But look you, Colonel Fitzgerald ! You know well the power I possess over you ! You will kill my child most likely by a more painful and protracted death than I could nave inflicted on her ; you will wear out her heart! But look you ! I shall watch you both ! And if under your baleful breath that pale face should grow one shade paler, Vouii secret —the secret that killed your father—the secret that would hurl you down to ruin and disgrace—shall be tiro claimed from the house-tops, shall bo given to the four winds of heaven ! You are well warned!"

"Oh, Matjdala, be silent!" cried Gertrude, by whom all this denunciation of her idol was heard as blasphemy and felt as torture. " Do not. mind her, love ; she raves," said Colonel Fitzgerald, soothingly. "Do I?" screamed the woman—(and at that moment Mr Simpkins turned the bull's eye of hie lantern full upon her, lighting tip her wild, dark face, burning black eyes, and streaming black hair) —" Rave do I ? Listen to me,. Gertrude Fitzgerald ! Yes ! Ger trude Fitzgerald, long before that man over cast the ' evil eye' upon you, or dreamed of giving you a name that was your own al ready.—listen, and I will give you a talis man, by which to test your false god. Ask Gerald Fitzgerald what that fell secret was that slew his father in his bed ! Ask him how, and why, he was kept in Washington on his wedding-day; and why he never could explain the mystery to his forsaken bride ! Ask him that, and see how ho will answer.you !" exclaimed the woman, with a triumphant flash of her wild, black eyes.

" Be sure that I shall ask my husband no such questions. I shall always respect and honour him too much for that," said Gertrude, as she still sat by Gerald's side on the root of the fallen tree. "Poor child! And you call one a mad woman, not knowing your own state ! But listen to me further. Ho—this strange god of yours—will break your heart and drive you to despair some day ! You will find yourself alone, friendless, homeless, and hopeless ! Then, when you do, you will remember this conversation. Ihen go away by yourself: withdraw your mind from all visible things; fix.it on mo; call me, not aloud, but mentally j call me once, then wait a Yew seconds. If you feel no response, call me in the same way three times, and. wait a little longer. If again you feel no answer, call mo five times and wait five seconds. Still, if you feel no effect, call me seven times, very slowly. By that time you will surely feel my answer, and I will hurry to you, even from the utter "most parts oi'.the earth! And he ! he will call upon'the mountains to fall upon him and cover his ehatnel" cried the wild

woman lifting her hands above her head, turning and striking into the depths of the forest. , v-i «• Colonel Fitzgerald, I am a constable. Hadn't I better run after that woman and take her up ?" inquired Simpkins, after he had recovered the breath that had been suspended in amazement at the woman s conduct. . » No, let her go. She is mad," answered Gerald Fitzgerald, as ho arose and gave his hand to Gertrude to help her on her feet. " Load the way with your lantern, tnen, Mr Simpkins," said Gerald Fitzgerald, as ho drew Gertrude's arm within his own. The landlord walked on before, and keep inr* the narrow path in retracing their steps through the forest Gerald Fitzgerald and Gertrndfi followed at. a distance of a few foet behind. Thin enabled them to converse confiden tially, while keeping the light of the lantern carried by Simpkins well in sight, and during their journey back, Gertrude gave a short, simple, but perfectly clear account of tho deception practised upon her judg ment, and tho appeal made to her sym pathies by tho pretended invalid. " I will never give you so much incon venience again as long as I live," said Ger trude, earnestly. " That is a long promise, little girl," he answered, as he took the hand that lay upon his and pressed it tenderly. " That poor madwoman, Gerald ! Has she no friends ; no home?" " She- has a friend in every Christian in the country, and a home in every house as long as she will be contented to stay. You heard the charges she made against me, Gertrude t" inquired Fitzgerald. " Oh, yes; but she is mad, you know, and you will forgive her, Gerald." " You did not suspect those charges had any foundation in truth, did you, Ger trude ?"

," I V she exclaimed, stopping short, and gazing up into his face, as if she could have seen ib in the deep darkness, for the bull's eye of Simpkins s lantern, carried a few feet in advance, shone only on the path before them ; but her tone was more ex pressive than a dozen protestations could have been.

"No, Gertrude, you do not believe that there was any foundation for the charges she made against me, and yet, my child, there was."

Again she stopped short, and looked up into his shadowed face in amazement.

" Yes, Gertrude, there is a secret con nected with our family, the hearing of which gave my father his death blow. I do not know what that secret was, for my unhappy father died in the bitter struggle to reveal it to me—died before he had even communicated the nature of that secret to me," said Fitzgerald, gravely and sorrow fully. "But, dear Gerald, though that secret may concern your family, and through them, affect you, yet you are in no way responsible for it, whatever it may be," said Gertrude, earnestly. " No ; but here is another secret—cast up to me by that madwoman to-night— the secret of the circumstances which de tained me in Washington, on the appointed wedding day, when I was bound in honour to present myself at the Summit Manor Houep. This secret, of course, 1 do know, yet I daro not reveal. What do you think of that, Gertrude ?" ho asked, once more taking her hand iti his, as it lay upon his arm.

Shb paused a few moments, and then, speaking clearly, answered : " I do not know what I think about your secret, dear Gerald ; but this I know—that if it were right to reveal that secret you would reveal it, and should it bo revealed the revelation could only reflect honour upon you, since all you do is honourable, and in harmony with that line old legend of your house that I love so well:

'• Tho Ueraldincs! the Geraldinea 1 'Tis full a thousand years Since mid tho Tuscan vineyards Bright flashed thoir battle spears! But'novcr, then, nor thence, nor now, lias falsehood or disgrace Been seen to soil Fitzgerald's plume, Or mantlo in hie faco!' " Gertrude quoted these lines in a low, fervent voice, and he felt the electric touch that thrilled her sensitive form as she spoke.

"Little enthusiast!" he said, in a grave and tender tone. "I wish I were fully worthy of that old namo and famc,for then, perhap?, I might be half worthy of your love and faith." As ho spoke they arrived at the poet house, and found Mrs Simpkins and Beckie and Sallie waiting up tor them in the parlour. " Bless little Nelly !" exclaimed Gertrude. "I wish there were some way of rewarding a little dog besides the poor one of giving her something to eat." " Would you like to have little Nelly for your own little dog, honey ?" " Oh, indeed I should." ••Well, then, you can have her, and welcome." "Oh, thank you so much." And so ended the strange, adventurous wedding-day of Gerald Fitzgerald and Ger trude Haddon.

{To be Continued.)

Remember This.

If you are sick Hop Bitters will surely aid Nature in making you well when all else fails. If you arc costive or dyspeptic, or are sutfer inK from any other of the numerous diseases of the stomach or bowels, it is your own fault if you remain ill, for Hop Bittcre is a sovereign remedy in all such complaints.

If you are norvcme use Hop Bitters. If you have rough, pimply, or sallow skin, bad broath, pains unci aches, and feel miserable generally. Hop Bitters will give you fair skin, rich blood, and sweetest breath and health. That poor, bedridden, invalid, wife, sister, mother, or daughter can bo made the picture of health, by American Co.'a Hop Bitters, coat ing but a trifle. Will you let them sufter ? In short, they cure all diseases of the stomach, bowels, blood, live* , , nerves, kidneys, Brlght's disease. £500 will be paid for a case they will not cure or help. Druggists and chemists keep t. Prosecute the Swindlers!!

If when you call for American Hop Bitters (see green twig of flops on the while label and Dr. Hbule's namt blown iv the bottle) the vendor hands out anything but American Hop Bitters, refuse it and shun that vendor as you would a viper; and if he has taken your money for any ihxng else indict him for the fraud and sue him fordamogea for the swindle, and we will pay yOu liberally for the conviction.

i'HE AUCKLAND isvjfiNllM OCTOBER 13, 1887.,

6



"Ol! A R" A G E X 0 V The following are authorised to RECEIVE ADVERTISEMENTS for Star :- PORTER & Co., IRONMONGERS, KARANGAHAPE ROAD. PORTER & Co., IRONMONCIKRB, S'YMOKDS-.S'iliClCT. •PORTER & Co., iROXMOXGI'RS NEWMARKET. Mr ROBINSOX, CnEMTST, PAUN'KLL. Mr JONES, Ironmoxgkr, PONSONBY. &fe T. J. HEtfSHAW, JSkw-street, GNEHtTNGA. Mk LILLEWALL, GRoeEft, &c, DEVONPORT,



Public Notices. LITERARY COMPETITIONS TE[E STAB CHRISTMAS NUMBER. PRIZE STORIES, ETC. With a view to encourage the cultivation of Literature in New Zealand, and at the came timo provide additional attractions for the SPECIAL;CHRISTMAS NUMBER .-v- • -■**'•■ the Proprietor of the Star has this year resolved upon offering the following Prizes f Qγ competition :— " Ho.]! Christmas Tales. For Tales not exceeding in length three columns of the Stab, having special refer ence to Christmastime, and having the scene wholly or partly laid in New Zealand, the following prizes will be given :— Ist Prize - - - - £3 s 0 2nd Prize, handsome/Volume on r *' New Zealand, value ° 6 •v, v, t ~~~~~ No. 2,- Ladies' Competition. For Tales net exceeding two columnsof the Star, written by ladies only, and having for subject the love, devotion, self-sacrifice, or heroism of woman, prizes will be given as under:— -"*;*,'/ Ist Prize • - - - £2 0 0 2nd Prize, Handsotno Illustrated Book. No. 3. Juvenile Competition. Open to Boys or Girls under 16 years of age, for the best DESCRIPTIVESKETCH Of New Zealand Travel or Scenery; and for the , best '. NARRATIVE OF "' NEW "ZEALAND LIFE ' AND ADVEN TURE ' . ~.; / (True Or Fictitious), Each in length about one column of the Star, the following prizes are offered :— Descriptive Sketch. Ist Prize, Handsome Book on Maori War (illustrated) - - £2 0 0 2nd Prize, Handsome Book 0 10 0 • ■ , i r ....:. Narrative. -: -Ist Prize, Handsome Book on Maori War (illustrated) - - £2 0 0 2nd Prize, Handsome Book 010 0 NoAConundrumCompetition FOR THE BEST CHRISTMAS CONUNDRUM A Prize of a Handsome Volume will be given. No. 5. Humorous Competition. FOE THE BEST ORIGINAL HUMOROUS ANECDOTE Of New Zealand Experience and Character, not exceeding in length 60 lines of Star News type, a Prize of a Handsome Book will bo given. GENERAL CONDITIONS. 1. Each competition is open to all New Zealand. 2. All contributions must be original, not previously published, and written legibly on one side of the paper. 3. Communications must leach the Stab Office not later than 15th Novembor, and muet, in every case, be accompanied by the name and address of the sender, which m«y if desired be enclosed in separate sealed envelope, marked outside with a motto corresponding with the norn de plume attached to tho competition article. 4. Competitors are requested to address th eir contributions, " Gb ristmas Competition (No 1, 2, 3, 4or 5, as the case may be), Star Office, Auckland. 4, 5. The Proprietor of the Star shall have the right of publishing any of the contri butions sent in. 6. Rejected MSS. will not be returned unles3 the author makes written application for same, enclosing amount of postage. 7. The prize stories, etc., with the name and address of the writers attached, will be published in the Star Christmas Number for 1887. 8. Competitors are invited to send pen or pencil illustrations with their papers; but this is not obligatory, aud compliance or non-compliance with the request will not affect the judging. FIVE COMPETITIONS! OPEN TO NEW ZEALAND. HUMOROUS! SENTIMENTAL ! DESCRIPTIVE ! AdTJI/TS ! JtrVltNItHS ! L-VbtES ! THE STAR CHRISTMAS GOkPETITIONS. N.8,-*.The Awarde will be made and the Prizes forwarded w as to reach the winners by CHRISTMAS DAY.



Business Kotices. ?1 C. H _ A N : Having taken over the . occupied by I'v*;- A. H. Moiiris, in KARANGAHAPE ROAiDi, ' \Vishe9 to acquaint his patrons. and friends that ho will still cftrry on the PAINTING AND' GLAZING BUSINESS In all its Branches. |~1 HOUND LIME! GROUND LIME For Sale, SOUTHGATE'S • MAHURANGI HYBR.vOLIC GROUND ' ROCHE LIME -. r In any quantity, for Concrete Paths, Floors. Collars, etc. Next to stone-flagging it is un rivftllert for durability and hard-setting qualities. ! For tanfce and othoi- wet work it Is a flrat-class ■ material. B. KEANE, SOLE AGENT, CUSTOMS-STREET. W. ■ L E V s - BOOKBINDER, PAPER RULER. ACCOUNT BOOK MANUFACTURER, i Wyxdham-street. MERCHANTS' ACCOUNT BOOKS, . Insurance and Mining liegistcr 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-bound. BAND AND CHOIR MUSIC BOOKS RULED Mr~S S S M I T H,' : CORSET & BANDAGE MAKER, Has always on hand a Good Supply of Stay Material. STAYS MADE TO ANY PATTERN. Riding Stays, Stays for Invalids, Bandages, and Shoulder Braces on tlie moat approved principles. ■ "■' ■ STAYS CLEANED AND REPAIRED. Has been fitter for J2 yeare in the leading establishment in Edinburgn. I adics waited on by Bonding Address to ESKBANK COTTAGE, GUNDRy-STREET, NEWTON, by Now Epiphany Church. Tj[> TTTI/F ILL AN, GOMMISBIGN MERCHANT, SHIPPING, CUSTOMS, AND GENERAL AGErJT, Firth's Buh.dixgs, 75, Queen street, Auckland, New Zealand. SOLE REPRESENTATIVE IN NEW ; ZEALAND FOR BROWN AND. POLSDN, CORN FLOUR MANUFACTURERS, PAISLEY, AGENT FOR Nov«5llo, Ewer & Co., Musio Publishers, Lon don. • Sutton and Pons, Seedsmen, Reoding. T. C. Hayward and Co.. Canva3 Soinners, etc., London, and other Leading Firms. Agext for the SALE AND PURCHASE OF PROPERTIES, Agent for TRUSTEES AND AB3ENTEES, IIfARNOCK BROTHERS, W Established 1862 SOAP AND CANDLE MANUFACTURERS, COX'S CRJfiEK, AUCKLAND. Manufacturers of Iho Celebrated Extract of Soap, Disinfectant Powder, First Prize Vollow Blue Mottled, Double Crown, Economic, and Household, Carbolic, and other Medicinal and Toilet Soaps, made from the pareat of Tallows, &c. Offlcea-DURHAM-STREET, Auckland* N.B. — Cash Purchasers of Tallow, Wool, Sheepskins, and Bones. . BAKERY.—EDWARD Jji McKEO VVN, Propriet43r, informa the pub lic of Newmarket, Remuera, and Epsom, that having made Extensive Ajterations, atconslder ablo expenso, in his premises, he is prepared to supply the Best Bread and Confectionery at the most Reasonable Kates. E.M., having had large experience in catering, is prepared to Cater for Balls, Weddings, and Parties, and guarantees to give satisfaction in price and general treatment.. Jonn Lamb's- Wheatrneal Bread a specialty-a Sure speciSe for indiges tfon. - - ■•■--■-- - GO TO BATH to ROTHS PUBLIC HOT. COLD, AND SHOWKR BATHS, Victoiua-street East. Ouarge—ONi≤ SHILLING. Open all week daya irom ti a.m. to 9 p.m., and SUNDAY MOIiNINGS from 6 till 10 a.in. The bath rooma are all private, and supplied with every convenience, Turkish towels, flesh and half brushes, combs, respirators, soaps, &c. Select; Bath-rooms (private) for ladies every day, at all hours, withfemale attendance, one Shilling and Sixpence, please noto the Address—Victoria street East above the Greyhound Hotel, and next tho Cheap Bedding and Furniture Mart, Auckland. N.B.—Barber in attendance. Established 1859. . . GEE k POTTJSK, CJOACHBUTLDERS, LORNE an» RUTLAND Streets. Coaches, C4rTiagfi3, Waggonettes, Stnsfgies, Pony Carriaeos, Carta. Draya, ai\d every de scription of Vehicles kept in stock, or built to order. The trade supplied. N.B.—Traps lent to customers whilst repaid are being executed. ■ rfiHE CENTRAL LUNCHEON ROOMS, STICHBURY'S BUILDINGS (Next door to Dowden's Auction Mart), QUEEN-STBEET. The Proprietress of these coinmocliotls Rooms having: established an excellent reputation as * restaurateur, and having made extensive al terations and improvements in the above pre mises, guarantees to provide Luncheon of a first-class description, served at any time from 7.30 a.m. to 11 p.m., at prices in thorough keep' ing with the times. M. M. PYE .„ Proprietress. THE NH W M CTUAL RESTAURANT, OPPOSITE WHARF HOTEL, QUEEX-STREET, WILL BE OPENED ON MONDAY, 19TH. THOMAS QUOI (late of Park House and Bri tish Restaurant), having thoroughly renovated the above premises within and without, is pre pared to cater for the public in a manner second to none in the city. His ability as a chef de cuisine is established beyond contradiction; he therefore confidently appeals to hia old friends and the publio generally to support him. He is supplying tlist-class meals of greater value than Is, served in the best styles, for 6d, to meet the times. Board and lodging, including single . room, for 13a 6d. The diningr-room ie the largest and best in the city; the bedrooms being lofty, well ventilated ana furnished, and spotlessly clean. He respectfully requests a largo share of patronage. Motto—Hospitality, Courtesy, Com fort, and Cheapness. ' COALS, COKE, CHARCOAL, FIRE WOOD. Best Rata, Titree, and Puriri Firewooa .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 Ratoe.—Note » the Address: C. PIPER, opposite the Pousonby j Reservoir, and corner of Newton and Karanga* ] hapeßoads. ■. ■ ■.... j j." J.'SWINNERTON, ] WOOD TURNER, Wyndham-stbeeiv i Established ldtiii. : A reduction of 23 per cent, onatt common work. Billiard Balls Exohanged. ' j Special care given to Re-turning, and Staining. Pool Pine, Marbles and Chalk Pocketat < always nhand. ( j tt owde n, i watchmaker and jeweller, QUEEN-STREET. Has now cbnvenienoo for making and repair- ; ing of Jewellery and for the repairs of every description of Watches, Chronometers, &C, &C and to further inarease his repairing and manu facturing department, he is disposing of the remainder of his 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 better class of watches and j chroEOlnetora receive his personal supervision, i Rotherhania , Genuine English Leverainstogk. MANURE.— Freezing Co.'s. £1 \JC 10s,'of all merchants.



THE MW aj CEn . 'Mates, ** Series as^snalt^^^ AFFORD homes of New Zealand mus«JtS*** * BUM'S Al It is a simpie but useful article.. Thoata to use it are etiil more ; simpTe, aSa* You may have heard of it a THOUSaxh TIMES without using it ONCE. II mZ j reverse the position &tid ' USE: IT OIGE You will praise it id othetS a iPHOUSiSJ TIMaS.—! hare , spent huMrcda of ptaln convincing the/wptrjen of ,2fey Ke*W to! their labour cm be irreatiy litthtened Mih, BURNS'S Al SOAP (the Wmm W'B Cleanser!), trtrtl hiiive fallen short Mm bition if I have i ailed to CONYINCEIOC/ WHOLESALE AGENT-' A. , BUCHANAN. CUS'TOMS^STREEfvEASt p UNS OUN ite Rims Etui* ■ REVOLVBE3 EEtOl<fllitS •Shob, ' Caps,: OhW* i '* AMMUNITION Op EvsbX UKscWPireß Fishing Tackle, Onftar. FireworUto J} EVITTS, 254,'•-.Ql**Bß«m m * B Ac° ° % 1. -OPTICIAN,.^ Mathematical axdNA^ AfcVAVs iv Si«»-: ■ ri „ ■tt just PR'!® in* •' §!§§