A SERIOUS AFFAIR.
i
IT lit always au Inscrutable mystery
to everybody why other penult
quarrel. Kor our own little argu
ments there In always, of course, good,
sound and suflicleut reason; for the dis
putes of other folks the excuse appears
ever absurdly Inadequate. Why, for
Instance, young (Jrelg and Miss Elsie
Norniau, both returning from India on
the Bengal, should break off with amaz
ing suddenness their engagement Just
as the Bengal was Hearing the Hay of
Biscay It was not easy to see.
But they did.
"And I suppose," said young (irelg,
with a face that looked less hrouzed
than usual, "that nothing I etui say will
alter your decision? Your mind Is quite
made up?"
"It always Is," declared Miss Nor
man. She held tightly to the brass rail and
looked away at the spot In the distance
which represented Spain. It Is best
when quarreling with anyone you have
cared for not to look at that person's
eyes.
"I particularly wish that, for the time
that we shall have to travel together,
we shall see as little of each other as
possible. We can easily say 'good-by'
at Plymouth."
"It will not be easy for me," said
Henry !relg. "I am not used to saying
good by to anyone that I that I have
"You should tie glad of a new experi
ence, Mr. Grelg, It'a a precious tiling
nowadays."
You're not yourself this morning,
Elsie."
"I wish I were not!" she exclaimed,
with a sudden change of manner. "If I
were some one else I wouldn't be so un
happy. Here Is Mrs. Henton. She
mustn't see my eyes. This Is the last
time we shall speak to each other. Good
by :
"But, I say. Isn't there some means
Elsie Norman held out her hand.
Grieg pressed It and she turned and
went below. Mrs. Kenton sunk into
her deck-chHlr carefully, as stout ladles
do, and seemed gratified when the deck
chair only crenked complalnlngly and
did not give way.
"Mr. Grelg, pray come here at once.
Miss Norman monopolizes your time
to such an extent that we poor women
see nothing of you. Sit down here at
once and tell me all about yourself."
"It Is an uninteresting subject," snld
Grelg, pulling nnotlier deck chair to the
side of Mrs. Kenton.
"Tell me a secret, then. I'm exceed
ingly fond of secrets. When are you
going to marry Miss Norman?"
"Never."
"Never? Of course you're both young,
but that seems a long time to wait,
doesn't it? Mr. Van Straaten snld "
"Van Struaten Is an old fool of the
kind they make In Germany. I shall
have to ask Van Straaten not to Inter
fere with my affairs."
"Ills servant Hans Is a queer youth.
He looks after the diamond samples, I
suppose."
"I haven't seen Hans. But Van
Strnateii Is the sort of old nuisance
that ought to bo labeled, like some of
the luggage, "Not wanted on voyage.' "
"He always speaks very highly of
Miss Norman," remarked Mrs. Ben
ton, thoughtfully.
"Why shoudn't he?"
"Precisely. She is very charming, no
doubt. But she should remember that
she Is only a girl after all,"
"That fact has not escaped .notice,
Mrs. Kenton."
Mrs. Kenton looked complacently
down the undulating scene that her
plump figure furnished, and lifted first
one small foot and then the other from
under the hem of her yellow skirt The
number apjieared to be correct, for Mrs.
Kenton, having mentally audited them,
sighed with satisfaction.
"There Is such a thing," said the
widow, confidentially, "as common
sen sc."
"I know Cheap en n de-cologne and
"No, no. Sense'. 8-e-u-s-e."
"I wonder where, Mrs. Kenton?"
"It Is not for me to tell you where,"
answered Mrs. Fteutou, modestly; "all
than I can say Is that you don't And It
with young girl. At the age of, say 30,
some) lines, now, you find a girl or,
perhaps, I should say a woman, ad
mirably fitted to be a companion (or a
sensible man."
"The popular prejudice," remarked
Grelg, "Is nevertheless, oddly enough,
In favor of girls ot 20, sometime." He
looked up. "What Id the world la tba
matter with ' an Straaten T"
Tba old Oermao, with hla plnoe-ne
awry p'.ocblng to end of hla no, waa
mbIdc icltdly up the gangway.
I I If.-,-
in'
S3
X
"Vere Is the captain?" he screamed.
"I insist. Priug me all at once the cap
tain." The captain of the Bengal hurried up.
In a few words of mangled English Mr.
Van Struaten explained. A group of
Interested passengers stood around.
"1 talk to Miss Norman for leedle
time." cried Mr. Van Straaten. "I go
then to my gabln; I find there my pre
cious diamonds vanished."
"They can't have gone far, sir," said
the captain.
"They have no need to go at all. Eight
thousand bounds' vorth all gone. 1
must know how queekly who has stole
them nlretty."
"Any suspicion?'' asked the captain.
"I am not so sure. I am not so
sure."
"Any person on board see them?"
"Von person only. Mr. Grelg, If you
please, come here. I stiow you my pre
cious diamonds, ain't It, two days after
we leave Calcutta?"
"Thut's so," said Grelg, cheerfully.
"And very magnificent diamonds they
were. I rememlier telling you that 1
wished one or two were mine, so that
I might give them to "
He stopped.
"I suppose we shall have to search
the cabins," said the captain of the Ben
gal. "It's a fearful nuisance, ladles
and gentleman; but it can't be helped.
May we begin with yours, Mr. Grelg?"
"I really don't know," protested
Grelg, "why I should have my cabin up
set and turned out Just because "
"1 desire that Mr. Grelg's cabin should
be searched." said Mr. Van Straaten,
Insistently.
"That settles It, then," said Henry
Grelg. carelessly. "Fire away. I'll
come down with you."
The crowd went below and stood In
the corner while the examination was
progressing. Elsie Norman, hearing
the noise, left her aunt, and. rather red
at eyes, came forward. The captain,
Mr. Van Straaten, the chief steward
and Henry Grelg reapsared at the
door of the cabin. The old German
bore a leather case very carefully In
his arms.
"The diamonds have been found," an
nounced the captain of tlie Bengal, se
riously. "We shall not have to trouble
you, ladles and gentleman."
They were only ordinary folks, rath
er bored by the tedlousness of the Jour
ney from Calcutta, and they could not
help showing a certain relish over the
diversion.
"Most painful affair, really."
"Case found under the pillow In the
berth."
"Seemed such an honest fellow, too."
"My dear," said Mrs. Kenton, bitter
ly, "It don't do to trust any one nowa
days. You never know who's who."
"But you'd think really on a P. and
O. steamship "
"I'm sorry for that poor Miss Nor
man. She was engaged to him, you
know."
"Oh, that's broken off quite definitely.
I heard her tell the old German so. The
old fellow asked her what was the mut
ter, and she told him. He was a part
ner of her father's, you know, and he
seemed much concerned about It. You
see, dear, I wasn't exactly listening,
but "
"But you heard, dear that's the main
point Come Into my cabin and see my
new serge dress."
They went aft, leaving Grelg at the
door of his cabin. He was holding the
sides to prevent himself from fulling.
Other passengers went past his cabin,
keeping carefully to the other side of
the narrow corridor. None of them
spoke to him, but thry all spoke to each
other.
"What does this mean?" cried Henry
Grelg. "Do they suspect me of "
"Harry!"
A soft, white hand on his arm, with
a kindly pressure. He turned and seiz
ed It gladly.
"Elsie! Aren't you, too going to fol
low them?"
"Tell me first what It all means."
It did not take him long to put that
girl luto possession of the facts. Her
face flamed red with indignation.
"And they dare to think that you
would do a thing like that?"
"Well," said Grelg, uneasily, "they
found the things there, yon see. It's
circumstantial evidence of rather an
awkward kind. But I needn't tell yon,
Mlsa Norman "
-My name la still Elsie."
"My dear girl. I needn't tell you that
I abouldn't dream of taking poor old
Van Btraaten'a diamonds, nor anybody
el'."
"I'm quit aura of that, Harry. I
muat m him about It" One replnned
ber etraw hat with a decided air. "We
two must stand tog el her now, whatever
happens."
"Elsie, hadn't you better let me fight
It outgone? The iruth Is nearly sure
to come out sooner or later, and "
"In the meantime, dear, you will have
to forget our stupid quarrel of this
morning. I was quite wrong."
"So was I," said Grelg. promptly.
A man has no business to kiss a girl
as she-Is ascending the gangway of a
P. and O. steamship. It has been done,
no doubt, du more than one occasion,
but It Is nearly always an act to be con
demned by right thinking people who
have not had the chance of committing
the crime. Nevertheless, If It is at any
time to be pardoned, it was in the In
stance at present in question.
"But." Siiid the astonished Mrs. Ken
ton to her companion, "I thought you j
said, my dear, that their engagement
was ail off."
"She certainly said so. Why should
she be so affectionate with him now,
after tills scandalous affair, goodness
only knows."
"Ah, my dear! Girls are queer crea
tures." There were a few hours of mixed feel
ings for Mr. (irelg of the Eastern bank.
It was terrible to feel this suspicion
hanging over him, to watch the looks
cast at him by the passengers, to ob
serve Mr. Van Straateu's almost comic
appearance of Injury. On the other
hand. It was delightful to feel that close
to him in this time of stress, as lie sat
on deck or strolled up and down, was
a cheerful young jierson in her very
best spirits. The bay meanwhile sym
pathetically behaved In a manner quite
exemplary.
"1 am astonished, my tear," said Mr.
Van Straaten, severely, "that you
should le friently with Mr. Grelg after
what has hahheued alretty. I strongly
advise you to glf him up. You told me
you had decided "
"I've changed my mind," slie said
definitely. "Women folks are not good
at a lot of things, but we do know how
to change our minds."
Mr. Van Straaten lifted his hat and
turned away. The old gentleman, when
he was a few pnees off, seemed agitat
edso much so thot he had to pat his
eyes gently with his scarlet bandker
chlew. He called to one of the sailors:
"Dell my man Hans to come up In
stantly." Much commotion after the appear
ance of the stolid-faced Hans. A rush
toward that part of the ship by all the
passengers on deck. Swift talking in
German. Considerable temper on the
part of Vau Straaten; penitent words
from Hans.
"Mr, irelg," cried the old German,
"come here directly. And Miss Nor
man. Listen to this horreeble man of
mine. I haf lost also my hatbox. I ask
him where It Is, and he replies that he
think he plat It by mistake In Mr.
Grelg's gabln. Is it not go, Hans?"
Sorrowful acknowledgment from the
profusely penitent Hans. Mr. Van
Struaten raised his voice:
"Then I say to him: 'Is it possible
that you gardens schoundrel you plac
ed also by mistake the diamond box
In Mr. Greig's gubin?' And he say,
Yes.' "
Quite a noisy cheering from the as
sembled passengers. A pressing for
ward to congratulate Grelg. He, de
lighted tieyouud question, turned to El
sie Norman:
"You don't regret being counsel for
my defense, young Portia?"
"You are Just the client I like."
"And respecting this morning?"
"Sir! I do not respect this morning.
Let's look forward." .
They walked forward.
"Dot was a good tl tick of mine," said
Mr. Van Struaten, as he watched them.
He wiped his glasses carefully. "1
knew It would answer. I was once, a
long time ago, in love nilncself." St
James Budget.
Ileyond Ills Means.
The Chicago Herald tells an amusing
bit of experience which one of that
city's benevolent men hud with a beg
gar. The gentleman has a regular
stuff of "visitors," to whom he gives
alms according to their needs and ills
ability. There is one old fellow whose
calls are as punctual as the sun.
on a recent occasion this man accost
ed Mr. G. as usual, and received from
him a half-dollar.
The beggar took If, thanked the don
or, and turned toward the door. Be
fore reaching It, however, he seemed to
lie considering a mutter very seriously,
lie hesitated, stopped, and then turned
to Mr. G. again, saying, "Excuse me,
sir, I would like to ask you a ques
tion." i
"Well, what Is it?" ask.nl Mr. G.
"It Is tills. Every month for years
past you have given me a dollar, but
to-day I come, and you give me only
fifty cents. How Is that?"
"Well, I'll tell you," said Mr. G smil
ing good-humoredly. "I have had some
unusually heavy expenses this month.
My eldest daughter got married, and
the outlay for her trousseau, etc., has
compelled me to retrench In every di
rection." "Ah, yes, I see," said the beggar.
"But, Mr. (1., I really can't afford to
contribute toward your daughter's wed
ding expenses."
Hiience Versus Custom.
In Hungary, where it is the custom
for school children to kiss the hand of
their teachers on coming and going, the
Board of Education has forbidden the
practice for the future. Their decision
la based on a declaration of the Sani
tary Council to the effect that kissing
la a dangerous proceeding always,
from a sanitary point of view, and
should not be practiced miles abso
lutely necessary, aa It la a certain
meana of carrying Infection, especial
ly In tba case of amall children.
No on laugba harder at a poker Joka
than the roan who wanta the bystand
er to better that be ndentanda U.
CHAPTER XII. (Continued.!
Marsden had bruced himself up for a
stormy interview with his sister.
After carefully reviewing his position,
anil assuring himself there was no flaw
in his armor, that the accounts nf his
trusteeship were in perfect order, lie de
termined to announce liis intended mar
riage to the world.
The first person to be informed was
Lady Dorrington. That done, there was
nothing more to fesr.
He did not reach ("bed worth till just in
time to dress for dinner. There were one
or two country neighbors to share tliut
repast, and the conversation Lady Dor
rington wished to have with lier brothe.
was postponed till the next morning.
Marsden observed that his sister looked
very grave and sirteutous; but that in no
way damped his spirits or lessened his
efforts to amuse and interest his sister's
guests, which were peculiarly successful.
He listened with lively attention to the
details Lady Dorrington poured forth re
specting Mrs. Kuthveu's sufferings and
tedious recovery. She feared that the
s)or invalid would scarcely be able to see
him. Marsden begged he might not he
asked to do anything not quite agreeable
to her.
"It is no question of what is agreeable,"
said Lady Dorrington severely. "It is ot
what will be safest for Mrs. Uutbven. You
cannot imagine the weakness to which
she is reduced. Any relapse now would
be fatal. She is anxious to go aw ay to the
south of Prance, or the Kiviera, but 1
trust she will not go alone."
"No; she had much better get some
pleasant companion. You will find her
one, I dare say. Y'ou always have such
a supply of admirable persons on hand
fitted to fill every possible position."
Lady Dorrington darted an angry,
warning glance at her brother, and ad
dressed him no more that evening.
When breakfast was over next morn
ing as the frost was too hard for hunting,
Marsden sauntered into the billiard room,
and was knocking the billiard balls alsiut
by himself, when the Inevitable message
reached bim:
"My lady would he glad to see you, sir,
in the boudoir."
"I have been waiting for you this half
hour, Clifford."
"So sorry; 1 did not like to intrude on
you till you sent for me." he returned,
coming up to the fireplace, and leaning
easily against the mantelpiece. "Do you
know you are looking wonderfully well.
In spite of your nursing worries.'
"My looks are of small consequence,"
snld Lady Dorrington, sternly. "I want
some serious conversation with you, Clif
ford; your conduct is very unaccountable
and unfeeling. What, may I ask, is your
motive for staying in town all this time?"
"Oil, because because I like it."
"There is something more than that
or rather there is some strong attraction
which I do not understand, to keep you
in Ixindon! Pray, has it anything to do
with Mrs. L' Est range and Nora?"
"They are very agreeable relatives and
I see a good deal of them," returned Mars
den, in a lazy, indifferent way, most irri
tating to his sister.
"Why, Clifford, you surely would not be
so unprincipled as to delude Nora, your
own cousin, with the notion that you are
in love with her, and you could not lie so
insane as to think of marrying lier? I
shall certainly warn Mrs. L'Estrango
against yon; you are too regardless of
everything except your own amusement."
"In this case I have thought more of my
own happiness."
"What do you mean?" in a tone of
alarm. "Do you mean to say you have
taken one of your wild fancies to poor,
dear Nora?"
"I do; and what is more, I have per
Hpinled 'poor, dear Nora' to take me for
better, for worse."
"Good God!" cried Lady Dorrington.
She sat a moment staring at him in si
lence, as if dazed. Marsden was quite un
moved. "Clifford," gasped Lady Dorring
ton t last, "your conduct is most dishon
orable toward Mrs. Huthven."
"I low do you make that out?"
"When she was at Evesleigh, every
one thought, judging from your manner
your attentions that you were enguged."
"Then every one was mistaken."
"I, myself, believed that you were de
termined to marry Mrs. Huthven."
"Why? because I flirted with her?
Don't you understand she is the sort of
woman to whom the end and aim of ex
istence is to flirt? She would not thank
yon for friendship, however true; for
service, however kindly, if you did not
offer her the homage of overt flirtation. I
never intended to marry Mrs. Huthven."
"Then you have behaved abominably,
and just think of your own Interests. Nora
L'Estrange has nothing, or next to noth
ing." "She has all I want."
"She has nothing you really want; she
is a mere distant relative, a nobody; be
fore six months are over, you will be sick
of lier, and wonder what madness induced
you to tie yourself to her."
"I think the madness will Inst a couple
of years," put In Marsden In a low tone,
but his sister did not heed him.
"Do be advised by me. Clifford! Break
off with Nora L'Estrange; she cannot care
much about you in so short a time; she is
reasonable and unselfish; she would not
like to condemn you and herself to the
horrible fate of becoming pauper gentry.
I protest you drive nie to my wit's end;
you will disgrace yourself whatever you
do. 1 assure you you have contrived to
impress Mrs. Huthven with a conviction
that you Intended to marry her."
"I cannot help her being highly Imag
inative, can 1?" asked Clifford, quite un
moved. "1 never said, and certainly never
wrote, anything approaching a proposal.
Now I have asked Nora to be my wU'e,
and, after some prudent hesitation, the
Iim consented. I cannot back on) of
that."
"Hesitation! Good hearenal" ejaculat
ed Lady Dorrington.
"Aa to poverty, well, we ahall not starve.
I have almost come to an arrangement to
t -,-esleigh. with the shooting, etc., fur
six liiindnd per annum: that will help
keep the wolf from the door, eh, sister
iii.-ne? Then, after a few years' wander
ing in pleasant places I shall return a free
ii. an. and hold high revels in the hall of
my fathers."
"l-et Evesleigh!" said Lady Dorrington,
aghast, as if that was the lowest depth.
"cs! Nora quite approves," continued
Marsden, serenely. "She is prudent, and
very resolute for so youthful and charm
ing a wood nymph. She will reform me,
and my estate, depend upon it."
'And what what am I to say to Mrs.
Kutliieu?" cried Lady Dorrington. press
ing her large, white hands together.
"Whatever occurs to you," said Mars
den politely. "Only that you require no
hints from me. I would suggest your
telling the simple fact as a mutter of ordi
nary gossip."
"How can you be so unfeeling, so
shameless?" exiiuimed his sister, her eyes
sparkling with indignation. "I would not
answer for the consequences, were she
tulil too suddenly of your treachery. I
dare not face her with the knowledge of
your base desertion in my heart. Do you
know that she is worth two hundred
thousand pounds, if not more?"
"Two hundred thousand!" repeated
Marsden, slowly. "What a delightful
rhythm there is in those words. Y'es, niy
dear sister, no one knows better than my
self her financial position. She is not
quite so rich as that, but, I confess, I
wish lier fortune was Nora's; still I dare
say we shall manage an immense amount
of enjoyment without it."
"Clifford!" exclaimed Lady Dorrington,
rising in her wrath, "you have not the
nnlinary gentleman's sense of honor, you
have not the faintest regard for duty or
justice, you are a slave to the grossest
selfishness, regardless of everything ex
cept your own pleasure and self-indulgence;
you are weak beyond what I should
have expected, for you must have yielded
against your better judgment to Nora's
wiles, for I never will believe that she did
not try to attract you."
Marsden laughed.
"You can take w hat view you like of the
matter," he said, watching her with quiet
eyes.
"Dorrington will be disgusted with you,
and I quite give you up. As to Nora ai5d
Mrs. L'Estrange, I never wish to see them
again. I did believe they were well-bred
gentlewomen."
io weu-ored gentlewomen never
scheme?" asked Marsden innocently.
"If you had any honorable instincts, I
would hope to move you," continued Lady
Dorrington. "As it is, I give you up, and
I beg you will leave my house, where you
will never again be a welcome guest."
"Very well," looking at his watch
"There is a train at three-thirty, which
will suit me. I will have luncheon and bid
you very heartily farewell,
Lady Dorrington took up some letters
that lay on the table before her, darted
nn angry, scornful look at her brother, and
left the room without further speech.
Marsden's face grew graver and softer
when he was alone.
"A man can't help his nature, I sup
pose?" he muttered to himself. "I cannot
look on the cant and shibboleths of so
ciety as constraining truths, and I am
certainly a better man than most of my
fellows. How I hate unpleasant faces!
The worst of this storm in a teacup is, that
Isabel will not do the civil to Nora, and
Nora will worry herself about it. At any
rate I have her promise, and I feel I can
trust her."
He rose, drew the writing materials to
him, and quickly traced these words:
"Dear Mrs. Huthven: May I hope to see
you for a few moments, as I am obliged
to return to town Immediately. I should
like to see with my own eyes how you are,
and shall be most, discreet."
To this, a verbal answer was returned.
"Mrs. Huthven's compliments. She
was sorry -she did not feel equal to see
any one, but would write when able."
"Is luncheon ready?" asked Marsden,
when the footman hud delivered this mes
sage. 1
"Not yet, sir. It will not be ready for
quite half nn hour."
"Then you must give nie something to
eat tirst and tell them to bring round a
trap. I want to catch the three-thirty up
train at Rockingham. Send uiy man to
tne."
Lady Dorrington was in Mrs. Huthven's
room, nnd Lord Dorrington had gone down
to the Home Farm,, when Marsden set
forth. So he left without leave-taking,
save from the stately butler and his satel
lite footman, with whom the easy-going,
open-handed, affable squire was a prime
favorite.
"Taut miex," Baid Marsden to himself,
as he gathered up the reins and drove
off sharply. "I wonder if Mrs. Huthven
scents the battle from afar? Her mes
sage sounded warlike."
CHAPTER XIII.
It was more than an hour before Lady
Dorrington felt sufliciently recovered from
the excitement of her interview with her
brother to present herself in the invalid's
chamber. Lord Dorrington, whom she
had sought as the only possible recipient
of her indignant complaints, was out, and
his whereabouts uncertain. She felt
dreadfully uncertain how to act. She was
afraid to break the news of his engage
ment to the deserted widow, lest it might
produce a fatal effect, yet she felt i: in
cumbent on her to enlighten Mrs. Huth
ven as to 1lie true state of affairs.
When, at Inst, Lady Dorrington entered
the sitting room into which Mrs. Hutliven
had been moved for a few hours rtaily
since her strength could benr it, she found
that lady writing on a movable desk at
tached to the arm of her easy chair. She
was very white, and looked already
wenry; a lace cap, with pale pink ribbons.
covered her hair, which had been cut
short, and a white cashmere wrapper,
trimmed with cream lace over pink, hung
loosely on her attenuated figure.
"My dear," exclaimed Lady Dorring
tou, "you are not surely trying to write?"
"I really am," a smile parting her pale
lips. "Only a few linea, for I am certainly
trouger. Do not fear any Imprudence:
I am too anxlona to get well. I should
like to set Sir Harley Portman again;
he will tell me when I can more. I begin
to bo ?err anxlona to deliver yon from
the long -endured incabna of a etck tneet,"
"Pe'i'Ve me, we out) csre to see Jfft
I well. There is not tile slightest ned to
I hurry away,"
"I know Jon are nil goodness, but there
, lire in liters to be attended to that no one
c::n do for me. 1 have been scribbling a
j few lines to my lawyer. Will you writ
for me to Sir Ii.-rleyV"
"Certainly. But you know when he
1 iv as here Inst he said "
i "Yes, yes, that I could uot move for
J three weeks. But one lias passed, and if
he sees what progress I have made 1 am
; sure he will let me go on Wednesday or
Thursday next. Wherever I go ultimate
ly, I must take London on the way."
"All I beg, dear Mrs. Huthven. is that
you w ill not hasten your departure on our
account. You know we are to spend our
Christmas with Aunt llininster, so (here
will be no party here! I am sure you are
not equal to write, you look so weary."
Mrs. Huthven lay back in her chair, and
let her ninid unfasten and remove the
ditik. When they were alone she said, a
she lay back, her eyes dosed, her figure
very still:
"I had a message from Mr. Marsden
just now."
"Indeed!" cried Lady Dorrington, feel
ing exceedingly uncomfortable. "He had
no business to disturb you."
"He did not disturb nie. I would not
be disturbed. He asked to see me." There
was n silence of nearly two minutes, while
Lady Dorrington sought in vain for some
wise tun cautious words with which lo
reply before she found thi in. Mrs. Ktith
veu resinned very languidly, but opening
her eyes and settling them on her hostess;
"I suppose he wished to announce his en
gagement to Miss L'Estrange, if it is
true. Is it true. Lady Dorrington?"
What a question! What would she not
have given to be able to deny the fact
with scorn and indignation? As it was,
ought she not to be thankful the ice was
broken?
"Why, my dear Mrs. Huthven. who in
the world told you?"
"Some one mentioned it in one of the
letters I have been reading."
"Shirley," thought Lady Dorrington.
"Viper!"
"But is it true?" persisted Mrs. Huth
ven. "Oh! I don't know what to think; I ain
afraid there is something in it. Indeed, I
have been infinitely annoyed." Lady Dor
rington paused abruptly, feeling inex
pressibly awkward.
"You are not inclined for this marriage,
then?" said Mrs. Huthven, a peculiar and
not very amiable smile passing over her
face.
"Inclined for it! Why, It is the bitterest
disapiKjintment to me! You must know
that, my dear Mrs. Huthven!"
"Ah! Miss L'Estrange has but a small
fortune, and it will take more than an
ordinary one to put your brother's affairs
in order."
"Besides that," cried Lady Dorrington.
"there are other considerations! Nora
L'Estrange is quite unlit to be Clifford's
wife. He will tire of her in six months."
"That is very probable. He is not
wise."
"And he actually talks of letting Eves
leigh on a lease for years, and sinking
into a continentalized dilettant English
man." Mrs. Huthven compressed her lips, and
her pale cheeks flushed as she answered
in a low, clear tone:
"Your brother is changeable and im
pulsive. After all, it is quite probable the
marriage may never take place."
"He appears to have committed himself
fully," said Lady Dorrington, who, now
that the ice was broken, found it a relief
to talk on this vexatious subject. Mrs.
Huthven was silent, leaning her elbows on
the arms of her chair, nnd pressing her
finger tips togeth, while her face, w hich
had grown deadly white again, expressed
cold, implacable displeasure.
(To be continued.)
ROUGH ON THE CYCLIST.
How a Practical Joker Made a Mesa
of Trouble.
An elaborate practical joke has been
played on a Belgian cyclist. While
taking his tisuiil afternoon tide along
the central boulevard of Brussels he
entered one of the cafes for some re
freshments, leaving his machine against
a lamppost.
A joker seated outside on a terrace
pinned his trousers in the orthodox
cyclist's style, as if he were a genuine
bicyclist, mid taking hold of the- ma
clime ns if lie hail just dismounted,
hailed one of those long wliite-bloused
street commissioners to be met with at
nearly every street corner in Brussels.
"My man, just you look well after
my bicycle, and see that no one takes
It (luring my absence, for there are so
many bicycle thieves about the city you
cannot be too careful, so keep a sharp
lookout, and here's a franc for your
trouble."
The joker then crossed the road, tak
ing up his post at a cafe opposite to
enjoy the result of the franc's invest
ment Out came the unsuspecting vic
tim, and, taking the machine, was about
to start.
"Hold, there, old chappie, we know
your measure, so off with you," Baid
the white-bloused one, at the same time
gently forcing the astonished cyclist
back.
At first he thought the man was
drunk, and expostulated quietly with
him, but all to no purpose, the trtticy
guardian simply replying that "li
knew what lie was about." Finding
persuasion useless, Mr. X lost his
temper, and the discussion soon grew
to angry menaces on both sides.
Meanwhile a large crowd had assem
bled, highly aunised at the prospectw
of a pugilistic encounter. The nppenr
nnce of a policeman put a stop to any
fighting, and he took both the belliger
ents to the station, escorted by an Im
mense crowd of spectators.
The unfortunate bicyclist soon recol
lected that he had In his pocket his
license on which waa recorded the num
ber of hla machine. In consideration
of this testimony the machine wan
handed over to the rightful owner.
The movement of air commonly call
ed wind are due to the beat of the eun.
1 be warm air, being lighter, rise, and
the colder air flows In to take It place.
Thla principle I beautifully Illustrated
at the seashore In rammer, where the
dally eea brew are dn to the air orer
the heated land being dlaplaced by
current of eeoler air froai tae eea,
