THE MYSTERY OF RADDON'S FERRY.

By E. D. E. N. Southwokth,

CHAPTER IX,

" THE SECRETS OF THAT PRISON* HOUSE." Beloved 11 live on and on, Thro' fire, crown'd with love S best crown, And feasted with love's perfect feast, To feel Hive for love, at least. Robert Browning. What phantom, white. Flies through the night? HAWTHORNDEK.

" Hiram Slaughter was possessed by a de mon as subtle as he was cruel and remorse less," said the old ferry-man, resuming his narrative. "To account for the absence of bis granddaughter from the drawing-room and the dining-room, ho gave out that she •was laid up with a fib of illness. Most likely, indeed, she was ill from the in human treatment she had received.

"Tho Easter party broke up, and the visitors returned to their several homes, leaving their kind regards for Miss Vale> with regrets for her indisposition and hopes for her speedy recovery.

"Meanwhile the savage monster kept his helpless victim closely confined to her chamber, without proper attendance, with out books, music, writing materials, needle work, or any means of employment or recreation, and restricted to a regimen of coarse bread and water once each day, as the best discipline to break down her body, mind and spirit, and to reduce her to a state of prostration in which she might be compelled to give up her low-born lover, and accept the husband her guardian pro posed for her. ■ " You may rest assured that I knew nothing of all this wickedness at the time it was going on, or for a long time afterward ; for I was then a hot-blooded young man, with an undisciplined spirit, and it I had even suspected the half Lily was suffering, I should have burned down thif? domestic bastile over the tyrant's head "and delivered my angel oven by fire. But I kuew nothing, suspected nothing. .'.'.l waited day after day for her cus tomary call at the ferry for a row On the river. When a week had passed without her arrival I wondered more and more at her absence. I grew uneasy, then anxious, then agonised. The hope that had sus tained me at first-namely, that she, as the young lady of the house, had been too much occupied with her company to leave her leisure to come down to the ferry—gave way at last, when guest after guest left the hall and came down here to cross the river, and I was kept busy all day long with the great ferry-boat, taking them and their carriages, horses and servants over the/river until the last visitor was gone, and Etili she came nob. " Unable longer to bear the anguish of suspense, I left my business that last even ing and walked up to Hill Top Hall. "I met Lily's old, grey-haired groom near the entrance to the grounds. I asked him first, in a generalising manner, how they all were up at the house. " Herschel answered that they were all very well except his young lady, who kept her room upon account of a slight sickness. It was nothing serious, the old man 'added, because no physician had been sent for. He thought she was only over-tired from entertaining so much company, and had taken a little cold by sitting out in the dew with them so late. Evidently, Old Herschel had not up to that time discovered the truth; but then it must be remembered that his duties were not at the house,but in the stables. , .■■:',■■

" 1 charged the old man with a discreetly worded message for Lily, and then returned Lome, much relieved in mind. " I made two other visits at intervals, but each time was assured that there was no cause for alarm. The old master was not at all uneasy, and had not sent for the doctor.

,'■• I was not satisfied. I went home in a high, fever of anxiety, feeling convinced that my Lily's health was in a much more perilous condition than her friends sus pected. Oh !if I had but known the whole truth then! If I had but known that she was a close prisoner in her own chamber, her frame wasting away on worse than prison fare of bread and water; her mind wanting for want of occupation and sym pathy ; -without any attendance,but that of a tyrant, who was also her gaoler, and a frightened, cringing old negro hag, who ■was hi 3 most abject slave and tool. But I knew nothing ! And she was perishing in captivity as if she had no lover !

" Another miserable week'of suspense had passed, and in the dead of night I was lying on my bed, wide awake with anxiety, and meditating another visit to Hill Top Hall in the morning, when I was startled by a loud knocking at the door. ; ; "-I jumped out of bed, struck;a light, slipped.-,on some clothes, and went and opened the door, expecting to find some one who wanted to cross the ferry even at that weird .hour of the night, as occasionally happened.

; "I saw no traveller standing without, however. I saw only Gad, a poor deaf and dumb black boy from the Hill Top planta tion.' My heart sank with a sudden fore boding of misfortune as I beckoned him to enter the house and pointed to a chair for •him to rest himself, and then awaited the issue.

"He bowed several times, poor fellow, fumbled in his pockets, and finally pro duced a little pink note, which he placed in my hands. Then he bowed several times more, and took his uncomfortable seat on the extreme edge of the chair and waited. , ■ "I knew before I touched it that the note came from Lily. It was written with a lead pencil on what seemed to be a piece of pink tissue wrapping 1 paper, folded neatly •■ like an ordinary note. I pressed it to my lips, opened it and—But here it is. I will read it to you," said the old man, taking from Ms neck a silk cord, attached to which was a small, oil-silk bag, from which he drew a faded pink paper, which he unfolded, as he said,: .

v I'My little True, to no one but yourself would I ever, show; this sacred memento of my angel.' You will listen to its contents with the reverential tenderness with which 'Ifhave cherished it these many years. Here it is.:' , [ , ' " ■ '

' "In my Room, Hill Top House, 1 ■ .; " Thursday Evening. / "Mr. Beloved—l seize the very first chance to write to you and tell you why I have net been down to,the ferry;to take my usual row oh ♦he river. ? '•Circumstances compelled me to confess to my grandfather the betrothal existing between you and-me.. He disapproved of it, as we knew that he would, and to prevent the possibility'of «ur meeting, ho has restricted me to the limits of my own room.: Now; dear Gabriel, we must op,t presume to criticise my grandfather's course, but we must be patient for a little while. Yoti have waitodfor rrio a long time already,"dear X^abriel, but continue to wait patiently.* for two months longer, until the fifteenth of, July, your hirth-(iay.;and mine, when you wilLbe thirty years old and I twenty-one;: and both of dis creot ago to. marry, 'especially after so JPJgB an engagement and such : unbroken affection. Then, when I ishall.be mistress of niyaelf and of my fortune; X shall give nJX s,eft.and all that Ipossess to. you, who have Always had my. heart. ~ . u.i: .; -.. I write only to explain my absence, and to .comfort and\chepr you under tbis.short gepara tibn, arid not to'assure you of my eternal love; Joy ofthat Lkhow you are fully satisfied. But, dear Gabriel, much as 1 long for a word of affection from yog, I must ask you not to iinawev this letter,'though I will write to you in'this way. as often 'as-J can.l Do-not run ariy risk;: but,; jny dearGabrie), be patient until ilho fifteenth:or July, \yhcn as surely as I shall live, Ilwlll!com'e to you and ■thenccforthia'nd for ever be your own Lily." .I. ~v.*i. .j'^.'. i-s:i'.*iJa!

••Observe, Gertrude,"he continued, "that in this sweet note no complaint/ of ill-treat<

ment was made ; not the least hint of her sufferings was given ; she was ' restricted to the limits of her own chamber,' that was all she revealed ; and only that, to explain why she never came down to take her usual daily recreation on the river. •. , "Thus, no suspicion of the foulest play entered my mind. I was, in a measure, re assured by her letter. She was not indis posed at all, as it appeared : but was given out to be to by her grandfather as an excuse for her soclusion in her room ; and no one but General Slaughter and his slave, Lebty, were permitted to be in the secret. "Ihad obeyed my lady. I had pub a constraint upon myself, and refrained from writing back by the mute messenger through whom, unfortunately, it was im possible to send a verbal message. I knew from the bare fact of her choosing the dumb child for her errand-boy how great she considered the danger of discovery to the messenger, a3 well as to all others, in case of a search or a verbal examination. The deaf muto was the only safe courier, and even he must not bo charged with a written reply to the note he brought. I refrained from writing to her and from goino- to Hill Top Hall; but I could not be mtie°nb long. As day after day passed without bringing her messenger back with a note, a feverish anxiety grew upon me. "The next fortnight seemed tho longest I ever passed in all my life. The clays seemed weeks, tho week months in leno-fch. I occupied myself with prepara tions for our marriage. I told my mother that I was at last about to marry and bring home a wife whom I hoped she would love as a daughter.and then I told her who that wife was to be. "The sweet old lady was frightened al most into a fit at the idea of presuming to continue to think of General Slaughter's granddaughter, even though the young lady would soon be of age, with her hand and fortune at her own disposal. But after she had recovered from the first shock of the announcement she was persuaded to yield to the inevitable, and to assist me in making arrangements for the reception of my bride. " 1 gladly lavished the savings of years in fitting up the inside of the old house as well as I could. I also engaged a man to come and assist me at the ferry, so that I might have more time to devote to my bride, and to take my placo entirely if we should decide to go on a wedding trip. In my impatience at the delay, I hurried all preparations for tho marriage, as if their completion could bring the wedding-day any nearer. "At the end of the fortnight all was ready; but there yet remained six weeks before the happy day when the captive should be free, and 1 should be blessed with her hand. I felt just as sure she would come to me the moment that she was free as I felt that the sun would rise the same morning. "It was on the night of the fourteenth day after the reception of her letter. My mother, who always retired early, was in bed. 1 lingered to close up the house with extra care, for a black cloud was rising over Eagle Koost Ridge, and I know a heavy storm was gathering. " When I had secured all the fastenings I went to bed; but the storm soon broke over all the mountain region with unequalled violence, and the furious battling of the ele ments kept me wide awake. Whether the other inmates of the house -my mother and her one female servant-slept or watched through that terrible storm, I had no means of knowing, as their rooms were up stairs in the north end of the house, and mine was down stairs in the south end..

«' The storm reached its height about mid night. I remember in a pause of the uproar hearing the clock strike twelve, and then hearing a faint rap at the front door, a low, uncertain sound.lost in thetremendousburst of thunder that followed it; but it was so un mistakably a rap that I jumped out of bed, lighted a candle, drew on some clothing, and hurried out, wondering if the visitor could be some storm-tossed traveller, and hoping he might be the deaf and dumb messenger from Hifl Top Hall with a lette ■ for me. 1 put the candle in the glass lantern to save it'from being blown out, and then hastily unlocked arid opened the door, asking at the same time—

"'Who is there?'

" There was no reply. " I held the lantern up and looked into the double darkness of night and storm, but I could see nothing until a broad flash of lightning, revealing the opposite moun tains, the river, the poat-houses, pier and garden, showed me also, lying at my thres hold, a dark shrouded figure, and no other living creature in sight. "In surprise 1 stooped and held the lan tern close to' the mysterious form, but could not recognise it, because the face was turned down and the limbs were huddled up under a dark cloth cloak. " I touched the form, and asked : " 'Who are you? Are you Gad from Hill Top Hall ?' "No answer.' "'Get up and come into the house, then.' "No motion, but another broad flash of lightning showing up the whole landscape, revealed the enveloping garment of the crouching form to be a woman's water-proof cloak. " ' Some poor, lost wretch,'l thought, as I set down the lantern, stooped and lifted the fallen figure, bore it into the parlour and laid it on the sofa, where it remained motionless. " ' She has fainted from exhaustion, poor soul,' 1 said to myself, as I left her there in the dark room and returned to the hall to close the front door, into which the rain and wind were driving fast and furiously. As soon as I had secured the door, I took the candle out of the lantern and went to a little cupboard in my own room, in which I kept a bottle of camphor for medical uses. I poured out a small glassful, and with the glass in one hand and the candle in the other I returned to the dark parlour in which I had left the fainting woman. I set the glass and the candle on a stand near the sofa, and then knelt and began to open the water-proof cloak that still enveloped the form, and concealed the face of the stranger. ,

"I laid the garment open, and then— Oh, lily ! Lily ! !I . The old man paused in his narrative, and bowed his silver-hailed head upon his chest iin -the agony of awakened memory and sorrow. CHAPTER X. A FLIGHT BY NIGHT. Pallid -with fear, with sorrow mute, Dreading alike escapo, pursuit. Till love, victorious o'er alarms, Hid t ears and blushes in his.arms. , • Sik Walter Scott. Presently the ferry-man raised his head, and resumed : • - ",Oh!- judge the amazement, the de light, the anguish, that quickly followed each other as 1- beheld the white-robed form and lovely face of my Lily lying there —but, oh ! so pale and wan and worn. "I know riot what wild words of welcome, of love, of sorrow, I used as I chafed her hands and face with the spirits of camphor, and tried by every means in my power to restore her to consciousness, until at length she sighed, arid opened her blue eyes. She glanced fearfully around the room, and then irito my face." "; ':, ."'.; ■'.-." 'Love !" love! love!' was all that I could say, as I knelt beside her and took her hand. ,

; " ' Airi I here ? How did I get here ?' she murmured, with a perplexed look. Then, as her brain cleared, she started up as if she felt no faintriess, arid breathlessly ex claimed :

■" ' Oh, Gabriel! I was compelled to fly ! Jwjill tellyo'u all about it,' v iV-ftfy•dSirest;idearestiijily,-ybu;ahall tell me nothing, nothing, until your necessities have had attention, and you are rested and

refreshed. You shall tell me, everything you please to-morrow morning. Lie down again, my Lily, while I go and call my mother to you,' I said. " ' Oh ! what will your mother think of me ?' she cried, in distress. ' But I was compelled to come ! Oh ! indeed I was com pelled to come ? I wish you would let me tell you how. I cannot bear you should think for a moment anything less than - than what I have to tell you could have driven me to such an act.'

"( My love, I know you to be blameless as an angel. So will my mother. I ought to bring her to you now, my dearest Lily. Your clothing is saturated with the;rain. You will be ill if not attended to.'

" She sank back on the sofa. Her short lived excitement was over, she was too weak to remonstrate longer. " I went and waked up my mother and old Jess, upon whom, also, I could depend. I told my mother what had happened. She was speechless with consternation, but she dressed herself quickly and came down stairs, followed by old Jess. " My poor girl had relapsed into such faintness that she could scarcely speak. When my mother saw her condition, terror gave way to pity and curiosity. With the assistance of Jess, she lifted the delicate little form and they carried her up stairs, where they changed her wet clothing for dry, put her to bed and gave her some hot spiced cordial to put her to sleep. " By this time the storm was over and the day was breaking. " My mother came down and reported the condition of her patient. What sur prised me was tho total change in my mother. Instead of her usu.nl mildness and timidity, she exhibited much of indigna tion and courage. " She sat down by my side, and said,

firmly, " ' Gabriel Haddon, you must marry that poor, dear girl to-day." "' I fully intend to do so, mother. Has she said anything to you ?' "'Nothing. She is too much pros trated. But in changing her clothes, we found her shoulders and'chest black-and blue with bruises from the blows that have been dealt her'

•' With a cry of rage and pain, I sprang to my feet with an impulse as if I could fly through ' night and storm and darkness' straight up to Hill Top Hall, through iron gates, stone walls, and barred and bolted doors, to the presence of the savage brute, and drag him from his bed to— " My mother laid her hands upon me. " * What would you do, Gabriel? You are crazy ! Calm yourself and think of the girl who has lied to us for refuge. She is not killed, though she has sufibred fright fully.' <lI ground my teeth until I could hear them crack.

" ' She must be our first consideration. You must ily with her to the nearest pomt f and marry her.' " ' Will sho be able to go ?' I anxiously inquired.

" 'After shehashadagood,refreshing sleep she may ; that is, she must have strength to go with you away from here to the nearest minister who can lawfully marry you You must go out of Virginia to find one who can do that, however ; for the girl, wanting several weeks of her majority, cannot be lawfully married in Virginia without the consent of her guardian.' "' 1 will do that! I will make the angel my lawful wife, and then ! —then ! — "'Then you will not dream of taking vengeance on General Slaughter, or of doing anything o\se ,to trouble her peace You will take her to some quiet place where she can rest with you for a few weeks, until her twenty-first birthday, when you can bring her back and defy that old brute ; for you will have the law on your own side. Now, you had better put up a few changes of clothing for yourself in the little valise. I will fill a travelling-bag with such articles as I think will be most needed for her. Jess will get breakfast ready, and your new ferry-man can cross over, and go to Wilde ville, and have a carriage on the other side to meet you, and take you to the stage-oHiee to catch the Alexandria down coach.'

" I followed my mother's advice. I saw1 that she planned with skill and acted with expedition. I made all the arrangements that she suggested. I did more ; i chained and locked every ferry-boat from the great flat-boat to the smallest canoe, with the exception of the little skiff in 'which my assistant had crossed, and with which 1 should a little later take Lily to meet the carriage,for Iwas determined by all means to cut oil' from General Slaughter the hazards of pursuit. I put tho keys of the boat locks in my pocket, and returned to the house.

" When I entered the parlour I found breakfast on the table, and my White Lily, dressed in a suit of my mother's best clothes, reclining in the easy chair. A quaint old Methodist she looked in the old'lady's best-black silk dress, white muslin neck-shawl and black scoop bonnet. She was very shy and silent, not speaking even when 1 went up to her and took her hand and pressed it fondly and reverently to my lips, and asked her how she felt.

"After breakfast, I led her trembling steps down to the Fen-y. John, my as sistant, was there with the boat. " The sun was jusfc rising over the Eagle Roost Ridge. As 1 put Lily in the boat I told her that this was a good omen, and quoted the proverb, ' Happy is the bride that the sun shines on.' She looked at me and smiled—oh, such a sad, wan smile !— and murmured, glancing fearfully around :

" ' But I am not a bride yet.'

" I pressed her hand encouragingly, put her in the boat, and took my seat beside her, while John pushed off from the shore and rowed us swiftly over the river.

" The carriage from the Wildeville Hotel, with tho coachman on the box, was waiting at the pier. I put Lily into, it, and told John to lock the boat on this aide of the river, and go and take a holiday for a whole day. "John, who was a very sharp man, understood me as well as if 1 had explained to him that I wished to have all communi cation between the two shores of the river cut off for twenty-four hours. He-touched his had and nodded acquiescence.

"Our negro coachman cracked his whip and started his horses.

" I put my arm over Lily's shoulder and drew her head upon my breast, to give her the support her weakness so much needed then. As we bowled along the turnpike road leading south between the base of the mountain and the bank of the river, toward Wildeville, Lily begged to tell me the reasons of her flight. " Oh, then I discovered that it was not the personal violence she had suffered, severe as that had been, which had finally driven her from her home. Lily never even told me of that, nor should I then have known it had not my mother dis covered it and informed me. No; it was something even worse, if worse could be. It was a plot of almost incredible atrocity against her liberty, her peace, and her honour. She found it out through the poor old negro woman who was her sole attend ant in her prison chamber, and who, thought in deadly fear ot her master, yet Was so moved by love for her young lady, as to become a secret partizan and spy for her sake. She proved by her action that ' Perfect love casteth out fear.'

"She warned Lily to be very careful of what she ate and drank ;• because since other means (imprisonment, blows and star vation) had proved in vain to reduce her to obedience, drugs were to be employed to stupefy her sensibilities, so that she should consent to, or ot least not oppose, the marriage that was to be forced upon her. Lily. knew nothing of the- power.oi: drugs, and her very Ignorance added to hor terror. She did not know what sho might be brought

to say or do, under the influence of some diabolical brain or blood poison. " That samo night, after her old servant had left her alone, and all the family were in bed, Lily cut into strips her sheets, counterpanes and curtains, and plaited a long strong rope, one end of ■which she fastened securely to tho post of her heavy bedstead. With this rope, passed through her window, she let herself down to the ground, and so made her escape to us. "Hers was a fearful walk clown the moan tain pass that night, as the storm burst upon her before she had toiled half way down the steep. With supernatural courage, she bore up until she reached the threshold of our door, and rapped once. Then, in her own language, everything whirled around her, and she was lost. " Such was the story of her escape. She told it without exaggeration, without malice, without criticism ; and I had to supplement it from what had been told me by my mother, and from what I saw before mo, to understand its full atrocity. You may be sure I said and did all 1 could to sooth and cheer her.

" Two hours' drive brought us to Wilde ville, where wo caught the Alexandria mail coach, a few minutes before it was going to start.

" Nothing bufc tho vital necessity of com pleting and securing her escape enabled Lily to bear up under her excessive fatigue until the afternoon of the third day, when we arrived at Alexandria, then in the Dis trict of Columbia.

"I put her into a carriage,and drove to the court-house to procure a marriage license before the register's office should be closed. With the license we drove to the house of the nearest clergyman, and were married. " I then took Lily to the best hotel in the town, where I registered our names and en gaged a room. There Lily succumbed to her weariness, and had to keep to her room for several days. You may be assured I nursed her tenderly, and brought her books, flowers, fruit, and everything else 1 could think of, to please or amuse her. It was, however, very warm at this season of the year in the town, and I was anxious to get out of it into the country, as soon as Lily should be able to travel.

"I had about ono hundred and fifty dollars with me—the remnant of all my savings; and Lily had about as much more, as she had taken the precaution to put her pocket-book containing all her ready money in her bosom previous to her perilous flight from Hill Top Hall. So there was no fear of our suffering from financial troubles during the six weeks that must intervene before she could be come of age, when it would, be safe for me to carry her to my home in Virginia. " We had been at the hotel a week when I got a letter from my mother, written two days after our ilight. She informed me that General Slaughter was laid up with a severe attack of gout, brought on by the furious passjon into which he had thrown himself on his fliscovery of the escape of his granddaughter. So there was no fear of trouble from him, even if he should be so unreasoning and desperate as to attempt to give us any. This certainly gave Lily much relief; for the poor crushed child had an almost superstitious horror of her tyrant, and belief in his ultimate power to persecute and destroy her. Her spirits re covered.. Sho even went out shopping and bought goods for clothes, and engaged a dress-maker and a seamstress to work them up ; for you must know that to this time she had nothing but the quain'and limited outfit supplied her by my mother. "While Lily was thus femininely en gaged I was busy hnnting up a pleasant boarding-house in the country. I found one at a farm-house on the ■ banks of the Potomac, about half way between Arlington and Mount Vernon. I took my Lily there early in June, and there we spent four happy weeks, during which she recovered her bloom and beauty.

"Ah, Gertrude, I am making my ftory too long: but an old man is proverbially garrulous, and I have not spoken of these days to anyone for many years. I draw near fche end now, however.

" We had been in our sylvan retreat four happy weeks. We had celebrated our Fourth of July, as Lily said, for the first time with full appreciation of what Inde pendence Day meant ; for the first time she also was free. I, with a lover's fond and foolish jesting egotism, replied that Bhe was nob free, since she belonged entirely to me. Oh, how well I remember her heavenly words ! She smiled like a radiant angel, and dropped her head upon my bosom, as she answered : " ' Yes, I am yours—spirit, soul and body. Yours ? Why, I am you ! And, like the service of the Lord, the service of love is perfect freedom. So 1 am free as air, free as space.' " That was our last happy evening in this world. " The next morning, as Lily and myself sat out on the East piazza of the farm house, enjoying the morning ahv and look ing out upon the broad river and upon the distant spires of Washington city, glittering in the newly-risen sun, a carriage drove up to the gate. " Three men alighted from it, opened the gate, and walked rapidly up the narrow and shaded footpath leading to the house. 1 could see distinctly only the foremost man, who was so tall and portly as to partially cover the two who walked in single file behind him. " The foremost man stepped heavily on the piazza and asked me if my name was Gabriel Hacldon. I answered yes, and was about to ask his* business with me, when a shriek from Lily caused me to turn my head quickly towards her. "She was sitting back in her chair, with every vestige of colour fled from her marble face. I started towards her, but at the same instant the constable, for that was his office, laid a heavy hand on my shoulder, and said : "'Gabriel Haddon, you are my pris oner. ' "'Upon what charge?' I demanded, pausing in pure amazement for an instant, and then attempting to throw off his grasp that I might go to Lily. But he tightened his hold, while the other man came up on the other side and laid hands on me. I might have thrown them both off by the exertion of my strength, but I did not wish to alarm my Lily with any scene of violence. I became quiescent, and as calmly as I could speak 1 repeated my question : " ' Upon what charge am I arrested ?' " ' Upon the .charge of kidnapping and abducting a minor from her home, and marrying her afterward contrary to law, you infernal villain ! and for which you shall be sent for a term of years to the penitentiary, yon low-born thief!' bel lowed the voice of General Slaughter, who now stood before me in the likeness of a

Demon.

"His furious looks and threatening words did not disturb me in the least, I thought my position so strong. I did not reply to the savage monster, but turned to my pallid angel, and said :

"'Fear nothing, Lily. You are my wedded wife, and under your husband's protection. That man has no further power over you. These officers of the law whom he has brought here to do his bidding will, as soon as they shall know the truth° be bound to relieve us of his presence.1 " At this Hiram Slaughter burst forth into a roar of derisive laughter. " Lily spoke no word, but tightened her clasping hands, and looked at me with sad, prayerful eyes. " I turned to the stout constable whose hand still clutched me, and said :

" l If you will permit me, I wish to show you something pertinent to this affair.' " He nodded and let go my shoulder. I dived into the breast pocket of my coat, and drew .forth. oiir marriage certificate, which I gave to the'constable, saying : " 'You will bo so good as to read that

aloud, and then return it to me.' "He took it and looked over it. While he was doing so, I noticed that the members of the farmer's family_ had gathered to tho piazza and were watching all The proceedings with curiosity and inter est. ..£ " The constable read the marriage certifi cate out aloud, and returned it to trie, as 1 had requested him to do, and then he spoke to General Slaughter : ':.':, "' It seems to be all right, sir._ > " ' Oh, yes, it seems to be all right! ex claimed tho despot, with a peal of savage laughter, '/think it all jnst right! Bring away your prisoner, officer.' "'But, sir?" " 'Brine off your prisoner; or stop—let me have a word with this hero ; it may save trouble,' he added. Then turning to me, he

said : " You married my granddaughter, a minor, at the rectory of St. John's Church in Alexandria, District of Columbia, did you not ?' "I did, sir.' " Therefore, though my granddaughter was a minor, acting in defiance _of her guardian's will in entering into this mar riage, the marriage is perfectly lawful and valid ?' " ' Yes, sir, ifc is,' I answered, confidently. " < Because it was celebrated in Alexan dria, District of Columbia, and not in Vir ginia ?' '"Of course, sir ; for Virginia is the only State, I think, where a young man or woman may not marry at will after they are eighteen years of age,' I answered, firmly. " Again that peal,of devilish laughter that shook the nerves of my Lily as a storm might have shaken her flower namesake. " ' Oh ! he is fatal when he laughs !' she whispered, with white lips. " When he had indulged in this boisterous mirth to his heart's content, he suddenly ceased laughing, and his aspect changed to one of demoniac malignity as he turned to me and hissed:

"'Fooll you have outwitted yourself. Thief i you have entrapped yourself! Scoundrel ! you have ruined the girl! not married her! If you wished to ;steal a wife, you should have crossed the river and gone to Washington City, which is governed by the laws of Maryland, which permits the marriage of a minor without the consent of parents and guardians. You should not have stopped at Alexandria, which is governed by the laws of Virginia. You didn't know that? Well, everybody doesn't. Your marriage certificate is not worth a rush. Ha !ha! ha ! Officer, you have your warrant. Take Gabriel Haddon into custody. And you, my pretty madam, come with me and learn through a severer discipline than you have yet known, not to run away with low-born knaves !' he exclaimed, as he strode toward the shrinking child and clutched her with a grin of triumph."

(To be Continued.)

Practical Jubilee celebration, by giving the public real bargains in draperyand cloth ing this week, at McMaster, Shalders and Co.'s, Queen-street. —(Advt.)

R. S. Abel, account book manufacturer. Periodicals, annuals, and music bound. Maps and plans mounted and \*&rnished. Orders left with Murray and Spencer, Queen-street. —( Advt. )

Special value in a good ottoman ribbon, all shades, one inch, l£d ; one and a half inch, 2Jd ; two inch, 3jd ; 20 dozen indies' silk handkerchiefs at Is 4^d. Special lot of ladies' fine cashmere hose at Is 3|d per pair, at Smith and Caughey's.—(Ad^t. )

A Rattxesxakk's Bite: — The quick venom of the rattlesnake has not killed so many pcop'e as the more insidious but deadly poisons found in the air of foul rooms. The ceration of the body by the lungs becomes impossible some times, and the failing health, growing weakness, and loss of appetite are harbingers of approach ing death. For such cases Hop Bitters are the potent and all-powerful remedy to drive all fevers out of the system, purifying the blood and frivini? a new and happy lease of life. Get genuine. ~,

Food ron Consumptives. Scott's Emulsion a? Pure Cod Liver Oil with Hypophosphitbs or Lime and Soda, is a most wonderful food for tho Consumptive. It not only gives strength and increase? the flesh, but heals the irritation of the throat and iangs. It is very palatable : children take it like milk, and in all wasting diseases both for adults ana children it is a marvellous food and medicine. Largo *nd small bottles of all Chemists. <s 6d and as 6d.

Use colonial productions. Try our Portland Cement and Hydraulic Lime. Infor mation free on concrete.—J Wilson & Co., Cus toms-street West—(Advt.)

Tiie Tidy Housewife.—The careful, tidy housewife, when giving her house its spring: cleaning, should bear in mind that the dear in mates are more precious than houses, their sys tem, need cleansing by purifying'tho blood, re gulating the stomach and bowels, and she should know that there is nothing that will do it so surely as American Co.'s Hop Bitters, the purest and best of all medicines.

THE AUCKLAND EVEMJNU- JSTAK, WEDNESDAY, JUAitt %%' 188^

6



Architects. P. lIERAPATH, F.R.1.8.A.] [S. M. HERAPATH T> HERAPATH and. SON, -*- • ARCHITECTS, Colonial Bank Buildings. DWARD B A R T L E V, ARCHITECT, STICHBURyS BUILDINGS. QUEEN-STREET. T7*DWARD MAHONEY AND SON, ARCHITECTS, j Queen-street, Auckland, H. SKINNER AND SON," • Builders, Carpenters, and Joiners, Vulcan Lane. All Branches of the Building Trade executed by Experienced Workmen. Shop Fronts, Oflice Fittings, &c. R. P. F. M. BURROW S, ARCHITECT AND BUILDING SURVEYOR. A.M.P. Society's Bdildings. 0H N MITCHELL, ARCHITECT, St. Mungo Chambers, Queen-street, and at Otahuhu. Special Work xmdertaken for the Profession. Perspectives in Best Styles. Patent Drawings and Specifications Carefully Prepared at Moderate Charges. Conveyances. PA TER S0 N AND CO., GRAIN MERCHANTS. LIVERY AND BAIT STABLES. Omnibuses, Brakes, Cabs, and Saddle Horses for Hire at lowest rates. Special arrangements made with Evening and JL Jicnic Parties. Stores and Stables:—Lome-street, Mtßoskill aud Avondale, Auckland, N.Z. "W ELL J BROS. CONVEYANCES ON HIRE. Office: Victoria Wharf. General Carters, Receiving and Forwarding Agents. Waggon for Furniture Removal. Coal, Coke, and Firewood Dealers General Carters, &c. Telephone : Devonport Bureau. TI ME TAB L E I DAVIES BROS. 'BUSSES DEVONPORT TO TAKAPUNA, HURST MERE, LAKE BEACH AND SCHOOLHOUSE, ' Telephone: Dkvonport Bureau. Leaves Victoria Wharf, Devonport. ---8.20 a.m., 10.20 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. Sundays— 10 a.m., 2.2 a p.m. Fares, Is. Leaves Takapuna. _ 9.5 a.m., 11.15 a.m. 3 p.m., 5 p.m. Sundays—ll a.m. Special Trips can be arranged at Post Office, Devon port. Ladies' 'and Gent's SADDLE HOR^S^BUGGIES, BREAKS, and conveyances of every description at shortest notice. 4 Expresses meet every boat to receive and for ward luggage of all descriptions.



Business Notices.. pOALS! r^OALSI pOALS ! PER REBECCA. NOW DISCHARGING 600 TONS BEST CO-OPERATIVE NEWCASTLE HOUSEHOLD, AND SMITHY COALS. As the market is now very bare of Newcastle Coal, ro secure supply, orders should be sent in promptly. TAUPIRI, BAY, and VVHANGAREI always on supply. W. & G. WINSTONE. riUNS! G NS! GUNS! Rifles Rifles REVOLVERS REVOLVER 3 GUNPOWDER! Shot, Caps, Cartridges, Wadding, Wire Cartridges, Loading Apparatds, AMMUNITION Op Every Description, Fishing Tackle, Cutlery, Fireworks, &c. The best and cheapest House in Auckland for the above is at D. EVITT'S, 254, Queen-street. Repairs and every description of Gun work done tthe lowest possible prices, and satisfaction guaranteed. D. EVITT, GUNMAKEB, QUEEN-STREET, AUCKLAND (Opposite the Market House). PRICE LISTS SENT TO ANY ADDRESS. m pea 0 0 c k, •*-• optician, mathematjoal and nautical nstrument. maker.. Shobtland-street. . . ;,. . ALWAYS IN STOCK- Spectacles and"Eye-glasses of every kind; an accurate fit guaranteed Opera Glasses of superior quality Telescopes, Binocular Field Glasses, nd Micro scopes; powerful and cheap Theodolites, Mining Compasses, Abney Levels Drainage Levels, Prismatic Compasses Drawing Instruments, Scales, Parallelßulers Ships' Logs, Sextants, Compasses, Binnacles Barometers, Thermometers, Hydrometera Electric Bells, Batteries, and Fittings Magnetic and Galvanic Medical Machines Magic Lanterns and Slides. Hand Magnifiers Stereoscopes and Slides, Graphoscopes ■ Steam Guages and Tubing, Salinoraeters . . JUST RECEIVED— Settlers' Telescopes—powerful, portable, and cheap, 11s Settlers' Aneroid Barometers—strong and good 25s 6d Settlers'Miscroscopes, magnifying 1,750 times 2256 d Also, Steam and Electro Motor Working Models and Steamers. INSTRUMENTS OBVKVERY KIND REPAIRED. OPPOSITE THE POST-OFFICE. BY APPOINT- >*&«**SS'§!£(§J* MENT TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR. fTIHAMES CARRIAGE AND DRAY _L FACTORY, VICTORIA-STREET EAST AND HIGH-STREET. AUCKL A N D. Telephone, 308. JAMES MACKIE, Coachbuildeb, MANAGER. Builder of every description of Vehicles. Repairs in all^the branches of the trade faithfully executed. Vehicles Bought and Sold on Commission. Coachbuilders'Requisites in Stock. The Trade Supplied. Country Orders punctually attended, to. Cash Customers liberally dealt with. pAPB-B HANG INGS. W. PHILLIPBS & SON HAVE RECEIVED, EX LATE ARRIVALS, 185—PACK AG ES—lB5 CONTAINING 55,000 ROLLS OF PAPERHANGiNGS, CONSISTING OF NEW PATTERNS For Drawing, Dining, Bed- Rooms, Hall and Staircase, suitable for the Mansion or' Cottage. BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS, AND BEST VALUE EVER OFFERED IN PAPERHANGINGS. 916 —PACKAGES—9I6 SCRIMS AND HESSIANS PLATE AND SHEET GLASS, WHITE LEAD, OILS, TURPS, VARNrSHES AND ALL TRADE SUNDRIES W. PHILLIPPS & SON, 95 and 97, Queen-street, EDWARD BRADFORD Having taken the PROVINCIAL HOTEL, Shortland-street, will be glad to see old friends, and hopes, by strict attention to give satis faction to'all. GOOD ACCOMMODATION FOR BOARDERS WINES AND SPIRITS OF THE BEST BRANDS. , . J JI O 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 his PIANOS at and under cost. Persons having old gold j evrellery can have it niade up ihto new and fashionable articles to order, and all the better class' Of watches and chronometers receive his personal supervision. Rothefhams' Genuine English Lovers in stock. INVIGORATE the system •with Wolfe's Schnapps if you would avoid bilious attacks.



In ISH E B t .. 1 WHOLESALE SHIPpwK $ ft B U T »?t? . Established .1864-^ i. By Special Appointment HU -ft ■ ti' ofJdinburghfalßb;^^! : QUEEN-STREE^AUckj,^!^ Families waited onin^ OWn POULTRY of aU kindsDRKSS^ to i Dealers in Game Home-cured Hams arid Bacon Imports of Sausage Casings , *^ e!to»% ~ N.8.-Calve,.^^ ; , ta. Customers SappUed :s&}£ , 'Hi (LateE.andA.jy E 3 HOUSE, FURNISHING, ANDGlfflßld ■ ironmonger; •■ ■■■%$ r Ponsonby Roadand FompalUwT^ia • ! Auckland, N;Z;-"••^|i . Agent for the Phoenix Kre offlftri .S Advertisement Agent for Auckii\ii%«' ! Post Office Savings Bank, Money Ordtfn* ! Telegraph Station, Telephone BuS?^ |QRO UN D TT^- GROUND LIME ' i ! FOR SALE': ■ S OU THG ATE'S,- MAHURANGI .HYDRAULIC Gfion^ ROCHE LIME,^^.M ' In any quantity, for .Concrete Paths-»i^ : Cellars, &c, (next to stonVifltfiffii?^ 1•■ rivalled for durability and lffiS qualities). For tanks.and'bW-3 I work it is a first-class maepi - \ B. KEANE, SOLE- Aflpv* ' CUSTOMS-STREET. "T BOOKBINDER, PAPER Rmß.'. ACCOUNT BOOK MANUFACTUMfr! WSTNDHAM-STREET. ;,'.~^ ! ; MERCHANTS' ACCOUNT jßOOlik InsttranceandMiningßegisterßo6k3S.il, Ruled and iJound.-H-,^™' BAKERS' SPECIAL RULED DAT BOOM. Bibles, Prayer and HyinnßobTa- Ke-bound. . -.; BAND AND CHOIR MUSIC 8008 RULED. .; t . ' ICHM OJ.D; ; ■ HOff? PONSONBY ROAD, ' ' AUCKLAND. W. COCHRAN, Seks., I FAMILY BUTCHEB^gv ARNOGK Bißoigifßs; [Established 1862] :,:.',. SOAP AND CANDLE MANUFAOTDEis. . COX'S CREEK, AUCKLAKD^ * Manufacturers of the Celebrated?lS^'j( j. Soap, Disinfectant Powder,;Fu!st.%Pri«ff|Yeiioir Blue Mottled, Double Crown,; EooriofiSifuii Household, Carbolic, and other Mediciiial and Toilet Soaps, made from'the' purratirf-JMlowj. •■ :&c. ■■ ■ ■ :■■ .-•"•• -'^m^r Offices—DUßHAM-STREET, AbcHjlC: . • N.B. — Cash Purchasers of Tallow.lWiiol. Sheepskins, and' Bones. .'"■". J. J, SWINNEBISi' WOOD TURNER, ■WTsbHAM-sTura, Established 1866.'- *£m& I - A redaction of So per cent. okaUbosiippb Billiardßalls-Exchanged. v: Special care given to Re-turning and^k%, Pool Pins, Marbles, and -Chalk Pod«H always on hand, . ''jf P. 6.8., 284] . [HiGnta > . A R T:H U R Tl/T A,fil, MANUFACTURERS' AGENT AS) WHOLESALE GLASS 'MEReHMI. ORDERS INDENJED.. ~ GOODS IMPORTED DiltECt QUALITY GUARANIiKED. FOR SALE, Plain Enamelled, and Coloured TiTinilrt . Glass. ■■ ■■■• ■■„ -: ■■■■• --; ■■■■■ '-■;--':;r M| I ■ Wire Nails Portland Cement Royal Remy Starch . Havanna and Manilla' Cigars '■ Claret and Brandies j. - 1 1 ■ ""Established 1859.] " I GEE & POTTER, GOAQHBpn|)EESi LORNE AND KUJLAND;Sra&B. | Coaches, Carriages, Wagg6nottes;ff!«pa> Pony Carriaees, Carts, Drays, and.-filgL"* i scription of Yehlcles kept inßtocfci!»fW! lltto, order. The trade supplied. J 4 J N.B.—Ttaps lent to customers %hu4 HP8"" are being executed. • ■■ ■ :';.;'3/-" 1 ' WILLIAM EERINGTOSi | M.lnst. C.E.,M.Inst.M.E., i CONSULTING ENGINEER,' - AUCKLAND. :L_J TO TRAVELLERS ANb.TOUIISTS. PRESENTS FOR ROME. • . ' Fancy Boxes, etc., all made-trom toF*^, N.Z. rich Native Timbers. Other-CoUeclf carefully packed and shipped for Horn?. ,W. NORRIE, CabihetV^keb, In New Zealand Tirabe'rßOWgr TOP OF SHO.ETLANP-S^gg^^^ • / The M^W&M yC ' ' ' ' ■ • '■'"' ' ■■■" '■' corn bro6^m:'fea EXMOUTH STREET.; XjL (Opposite Forestera'Hall).^ : TEMPERANCE DINING-BODMB' • Meals at aUho^,^ Sp^^ffle, w ° -i- E: Yl 0 FinestPaleßrighiTF^rac^HoueylnbulK at 4d per Ib, cash oyerthe counter. , ♦ FREDK. WHlTfe'H-Bift ; 95, VICTORIA-STBSET, . AnfiKLAND.; ':v---l* j. — *h . - .-..■" : —- ■■■ T~^\j^oo^\ » J. BUTCHER.] -'; .i _ C V ■ T OCAL IlfP^* E1 GREAT NORTHBOAD. ; ■■''■ ■ ■ ■■ ■' ":-' ■ days from 6 -teni._ ; fjpii£^ 1 MORNINGS from; b JttU, 1, 6],^ WOm P axe,all.P^^Sg^fe^{ convenience, T?r^siffis?sWPS»**iSivitßU-:' brushes, combs, respi^to™^^^ Bath-rooms (private^l^^ ce,o«sSri»r , hours, withfrnfUqa^n^^dr^W Sixpence. »easeno%^.^ joM d*Pw^ a jV