I AN HONORABLE PRECEDENT
Bi;T don't you tlilnl
to Mlns Hewitt, "tli
justifies the means?
t I"T don't vou think." said I
"that the end
?'
She shook ber head. "Oh, no," sue
aid; "that's Jesuitical."
"Well, now, here's an example," 1
suggested. "You are anxious to sell
the coutents of this stall, aren't you?"
"Oh, yes," responded MIhk Hewitt
"And you would be delighted If Home
one were to come and buy It all up?
It would be of such line to the churi-
y"
"Certainly," said Miss Hewitt,
promptly.
"And would vex MIms Chudlelgh over
the way ?" I added.
MIks Hewitt looked at me with sus
picion, but I'm sure I was very de
mure. "Oh, It would be nice, of course, to be
successful," she assented. "It would
mean 50."
"May I trouble you for another Ice?"
aid I, fee I In if that I was bound to do
something after that "Thank you
strawberry. Well, as I was saying, If
you could And a means of getting rid
of all this, and thereby benefiting the
charity by so much, you would feel dis
posed to take It, eren If It wasn't quite
well quite., you know?'
"I wouldn't do anything dishonest,"
pot In Mis Hewitt quickly.
"Oh, I wasn't talking of anything dis
honest," I protested. "I was only
thinking that there might be other
means, not dishonest, you know, but
just a little well, not quite convention
al, you know."
"What sort of means?" asked Miss
Hewitt, curiously.
"Why, now," said I, "you have sold
very little all the day, haven't you?"
Hiss Hewitt bit her lips, and a dis
consolate look came Into her face.
"While I've been here," I said, "you
have only disposed of. two pairs of
stockings, one woolen comforter for the
hot weather, and a sort of a kind of
I didn't quite see, but I thought It
looked like a "
"I know I haven't sold much," broke
In Miss Hewitt hastily, and with a
flight accession of color. "You have
only bought a few Ices."
I looked meditative. "So I have," I
said, feeling thut another call was
made upon mo. "I wonder If I might
do; perhaps better not I suppose
you haven't such a thing as a baby's
perambulator, Miss Hewitt?"
Miss Hewitt was not amused; she
had only an eye to a bargain. "No,"
she said, eagerly, "I'm afraid I
haven't; but I've got a very nicely
dressed cradle, and some rattles and
"Ah," said I, shaking my head, "I'm
afraid It's not old enough for those
things."
She sighed and glanced across the
way, where Miss Chudlelgh was en
gaged In a roaring trade.
"I think I might have one more Ice,"
I said, very bravely. It was not so
very hard, after all; the heat was very
great and they soon melted.
Miss Hewitt was very nice about It
"Are you sure you ought to?" she
asked, doubtfully.
"Miss Hewitt," I said, "you are much
too scrupulous. That is the reason
of your failure. And yet you would
have sold me a cradle and rattles with
perfect equanimity, knowing that I am
a bachelor. The Inconsistency of your
ex Is a puzzle," I remarked, shaking
my bead.
"Oh, but I didn't think about that"
aid she, with a blush. "I only thought
you wanted "
"Come, then, I said, "what would
you do to get rid of all your articles of
commerce?"
Miss Hewitt's eyes opened. "Oh, If
I could only do that," she exclaimed.
"Well, bow far would you be pre
pared to go for It?" suld I, Insinu
atingly. Hhe paused. "I'd I'd give up the
ball to-night," she exclaimed, Impul
sively. I shook my bead. "I have no means
of gauging the value of that renuncia
tion," I said, thoughtfully, "but possi
bly It Is greater than the one I know
which would enable you to sell your
stall."
"Oh, do you knew a way?" cried she,
breathlessly.
"Why, certainly," I said, still reflec
tively. "Mr. Randall, tell me," she pleaded,
clasping her hands and putting ber
elbows on the Ull. She looked eager
ly lato my face. I really bad no notion
until that moment, bat somehow ber
actios pat It Into my bond.
"Hara yea ever heard of the beauti
ful Duchess oc Devoaabin, Mian Hw
tttr I asked.
Miss Hewitt leaned, staring at mo
for a moment, and then a look of Intel
ligence came Into her face. Her color
started and she moved away. "I dou't
think you should make that kind of
jests," she remarked, disdainfully.
"It's not a Jest," I answered, reas
suringly. "Then you're all the horrlder," she
returned, feigning to be busy with her
commerce.
"Hut," I said. In perplexity, "I don't
see I only asked you if you remem
bered the Duchess of Devonshire the
one that what's-hls-name painted, you
know?"
Miss newltt was much embarrassed;
her face took on many expressions.
"But you " she began and stopped.
"Do you remember her?" I asked.
"Of course," said Miss Hewitt, snap
pishly. "Well, then," I said, "why am I hor
rid?" She paid me no attention, but began
shifting the things upon the stand In a
reckless way.
"Oh," I exclaimed suddenly. "I see
what you were thinking of you
thought I meant I see now. You
thought I was advising you to sell
Miss Hewitt got redder than ever.
"I didn't think anything of the sort,"
she exclaimed hurriedly, and dusting
away at nothing, "and I wish you'd
go away If you're not going to buy
anything."
"I should like another ice, please,"
said I.
Miss Hewitt was somewhat taken
aback, and looked as If she would like
to speak, but she only frowned and
dumped another Ice upon the counter.
"But now you have suggested It" I
went on, considering, "It's not at all a
bad Idea." Miss Hewitt moved to the
other end of the stall, and sold an
other pair of stockings. "It's quite
worth thinking of," I said, when she
was within hearing again. "I'm glad
you mentioned It"
"I never mentioned anything," she
retorted, hotly.
"No, of course you didn't mention It"
I agreed, "but I don't see why you
should be angry, because we are dis
cussing calmly "
"I'm not discussing anything," she
observed, tartly.
"No," said I, "but if the Duchess of
Devonshire thought it a good deed to
purchase what she considered the wel
fare of her country by allowing voters
to kiss her, I don't think you should
be offended If for the sake of an excel
lent charity "
"I'm not the Duchess of Devonshire,"
said Miss Hewitt shortly.
"I don't suppose," said I, "that It was
was much of a kiss."
Miss Hewitt's nostrils curled with
scorn.
"Good people are always so particu
lar," I said philosophically.
Miss Hewitt's Indignation broke
forth.
"Do you suppose, Mr. Randall," said
he, sarcastically, "that one would al
low any one that wished to"
"Oh, I never said any one," I Inter
rupted, hastily. "No, certainly not
any one."
She looked at me with undisguised
bauteur. I glanced about the stall
"I should like to have a lot of those
things," I said. "I could send them to
a children's hospital, you know."
Miss Hewitt's face relaxed slightly.
"They would be very useful," she
aid.
"It would be 50 wouldn't It?" I ask
ed, as If entering on a calculation.
"Yes," said Mlsa Hewitt, with a lit
tle show of excitement, "forty-five if
one took the lot"
I fingered my poeketbook and hesi
tated. "I am afraid " said I. "ou see 1
forgot I had promised to buy a quan
tity of flowers for the Infirmary," I
remarked, glancing at Miss Chudlelgb's
stall. Miss Hewitt's face fell, but she
said nothing. I took out my pocket
book and extracted some notes, divid
ing my looks between the two stalls In
a hesitating way.
"I think the children In the hospital
would like the toys very much," said
Miss Hewitt, nervously.
"Yes, they could play with the stock
ing nicely, couldn't they?" said I.
Hhe paid no heed to this remark.
"I woider If Mlsa Chudlelgh would
do wfckt the Duchess did," I observed
peaces) tly.
"Perhaps you bad better ask ber,"
aid kiss Hewitt, arcastlcally,
"Oh, m." I said, hurriedly, "I was
only wondering. For tha aako of the
poor, poop) do nak acrtaosa, I nup-
"I don't believe she did let them -l-t
them kiss her," remarked Miss Hewitt
after a pause, and contemplating a
wooden horse.
"Don't you?" I asked, looking up.
"What did they do, do you think?"
Miss Hewitt examined the toy care
fully. "Oh," she said Indifferently, "I
should think she merely pretended." j
"Pretended?" I echoed. j
Yjb, they only kitwed Just not
quite I mean they didn't really touch
her," she explained with more Interest
In the horse.
I considered this. "But some of
them," I objected, "would not have
been content to be put off in that way.
They must have really "
"Oh, If any one liked to be rude and
take advantage like that" she said,
disdainfully, "she couldn't help It, poor
thing."
"No." I assented, "I suppose she
couldn't and she must have bated It
all the time."
"Of course she did," said Miss Hew
itt, now inspecting a doll.
"But she did it out of a sense of duty
to benefit her country," I concluded.
"A man would never have been so
unselfish," said Miss Hewitt
"Never," I said emphatically. "But
do you think that women are capable
of such an act of self-sacrifice In these
iiuys?" I asked.
"Of course," said Miss Hewitt,
watching some people go by with great
interest, "if if they only only pre
tended to."
"But if there was an accident?" I
ventured. Miss Hewitt apparently did
not hear this. "Do you really think,"
I persisted, "that a woman a girl,
would do a thing like that?"
"She wouldn't she couldn't of
course, the Duchess did not let It pre
tend to be done In before any one
else."
"Not, for example, In a room like
this," I said, looking around the bazar.
"How then?"
"Afterward," murmured Miss Hew
itt, bending down to pick up a pin, I
suppose.
"Oh," I said, "she would only prom
ise then?"
Miss Hewitt said nothing. I rose.
"Well, I am afraid I must be really
going," I said, holding out my band.
"I think If she were really honest she
would have to keep her promise," said
Miss Hewitt In a low voice.
I looked at her, but she was not look
ing at me. "I think you have given
me two waltzes to-night," I observed.
"It Isn't very generous usage."
"I'm sure It's quite enough," said
Miss Hewitt, firmly.
"Well, at any rate, let us sit out the
second," I suggested.
Miss Hewitt looked at me In sur
prise. "I thought you liked dancing?"
she said, Innocently.
"Oh, sometimes," I said. "But we
might have a talk In the conservatory.
It's sure to be very hot"
"Do you think It Is?" said she.
"Certain."
"Oh, we'll sec," said she nonchal
antly.
I turned to go.
"By the way," said I, leaning on the
stall confidentially, "shall I leave you
the 50 now? And then you can send
the things to the hospital at once, you
know."
Miss Hewitt avoided my eyes.
"I didn't know " she began, and
broke off. "Perhaps It would be bet
ter," she murmured.
I offered my hand.
"To-night then," I said. She did
look at me at last, btrt It was quite by
accident Just the sort of accident that
happened In the conservatory. Black
and White.
Kxcellnnt Advice.
A young man just starting upon his
work In the ministry was one day talk
ing to an aged minister In I.ondon, who
had spent a lifetime In the service. The
young man said:
"You have had a great deal of experi
ence; you know many things that I
ought to learn. Can't you give me some
ad floe to curry with me In my new du
ties?" "Yes, I can," was the response. "I
will give you a piece of advice. You
know that In every town In England,
no matter how small, In every village
or hamlet, though It be hidden In thi
folds of the mountain or wrapped round
by the far-off sea, In every clump of
farm houses, you can find a mad which,
If you follow It will take you to Lon
don. Just so every text which you
shall choose to preach frum In the Bible
will have a road that leads to Jesus.
Be sure you find that road and follow
It; be-careful not to miss it once. This
Is my advice to you."
Highly Honored Women.
Two Illustrious English women who
celebrated this year the seventy-fifth
anniversary of their birth are Flor
ence Nightingale and Jean Ingelow.
The heroine of the Crimea Is a tall,
gray-haired woman, with fine, open
face that has a nun-like serenity. 8he
Is Inclined to be stout, while Mlu Inge
low, the poetees and novelist Is small
er and less robust of physique. Each
is the object of much attention, though
from the nature of her career Miss
Nightingale has been the recipient of
more public honors. Perhaps the most
remarkable event of her life, to regard
It from a worldly point of view, was her
refusal of tho testimonial of 50,000
offered her after the Crimea war.
Adirondack Forests Disappearing.
Tle Adirondack forests are being
slaughtered for the raw maVrlal for
producing wood pulp of spruce. About
1,250,000 cords of spruce wood, the
equivalent of 125,000,000 feet of lum
ber, will And their way Into th wood
pulp mills of northern New York In the
course of the current year. This la
absorbing the forest growth of many
thousand acrea each season.
Whoa a ptayaictaa blta a rnaa'a tla
ao oa tha third gueaa, tho people foal
ht be la the tmutm dm allva.
. j ia i a sr uk. er
A7f-7,l4 111! m I Lw
1
CHAPTER XVII.-Continued.)
Mrs. Ruthven was successful along tha
whule line she had marked out for her
self. If she was a little sur respecting
the feelings Marsden so frankly avowed
toward Ulu L'Estrange eh had the con
solation of believing that she was Inflict
ing the cruelest disappointment on that
detected rival. Then, she had the man
she loved so utterly at her mercy; and
this, which would hsve been pain and
humiliatlun to a woman of real heart and
delicacy, gratified her crude love of power,
while the certainty of accomplishing tha
marriage on which she had set her soul,
of falsifying Shirley's spiteful prophecies
of defeat filled ber with exultation. There
was a very ugly reverse to the medal, but,
for the moment ahe was able to put it aside.
If not to forget it With her wealth, aud
Marsdeu's position aud popularity, the
wurid was at her feet. As to his erase
about Nora 1 Estrange, that would pass
over. He would find that au experienced
woman of the world must be a more
suitable wife for him than a mere school
girl like Nora.
For several days after she had come to
a distinct understanding with Marsden,
Mrs. Ruthven denied herself to every one
even to her faithful Hhirley, who was
by no means pleased with the aspect of
things.
He had not been accustomed to be thus
debarred admittance, and he sceuted mis
chief. Though the day was gone when
be hoped to rekindle Mrs. Ruthven's pass
ing caprice for himself, ha objected vary
strongly to her marrying Msraden, who
had unconsciously wounded his smour
propre, and Insulted him by his oppressive
superiority. When, at last Mrs. Ruth
ven, was at home to him, ha was in a
very bad temper, Indeed, which was not
Improved by tha careless triumph of bar
manner. "I thought you were going to
cut me completely," he said, when thay
had exchanged greetings. "Why, It Is
more than a week since I was admitted f
"You have no right to complain I have
not seen any one."
"You have not been unwell, I hope?'
"No; I have felt remarkably wall; bat I
have been busy with these tiresome pa
pers;" and she waved her left hand to
ward them. Hhirley started, for on her
finger spsrkled the doable-heart device, of
rubles and diamonds, ha had seen ea
Nora's. -
"I can scarcely believe my eyes!" ha
exclaimed. "Am I to conclude that Msra
den has transferred his alliance, with tha
betrothal ring, from Miss L'Estrange to
yon ?"
"He has," she returned, twirling tha
ring round and round, and smiling softly.
"And bow how did Marsden contrive
to break off with Miss L'Estrange?'
"That I do not know; but he has done
so, and as I hare always found you capa
ble of keeping silence when necessary, I
do not mlud telling you, that Mr. Marsden
has made some rather curious discoveries
which, in short, render his marriage with
Mis L'Kstrange iaiiiossible."
"Discoveries, eh?" in a peculiar tone;
"and will you not trust me completely?"
"No, my good friend; I in short, I do
not exactly know myself."
"It Is all very mysterious, and dencedly
hard for Miss L'Estrange." .
"I don't Buppose she is In s very en
viable state of mind," returned Mrs. Kuth
ven, with an air of quiet enjoyment.
Shirley looked at her curiously.
"And have you given up all hopes of
tracing your rubies?" he asked.
"Yes," she said, sharply; "what suggest
ed them to you?"
"I don't know; perhaps an idea that
Marsden haa not hitherto brought you
luck." "
"He will replace my rubies by the Mars
den diamonds. Now, Captain Hhirley,
you said you thought I was going to cut
you completely; you are mistaken; I am
not going to cut you, but I am going to
drop you as an intimate friend. Mr.
Marsden, for some reason or other, would
not be pleased, I know, If I continued on
the same terms with you, and ha is natur
ally my first consideration. You have al
ways been friendly and useful, and I may
add, prudent; for yon hsvo wiaely agreed
with me In letting by-gonea be by-gonaa.
But before entering Into a new phase of
my existence, I should like to look through
s few acknowledgments ef yours, which
you have given ma from time to time,"
and she drew from a Russian leather dis
patch box several slips of paper neatly
fastened together.
"Mrs. Ruthven'" cried Shu-ley, coloring
crimson, "if you mean that I am to clear
up with you, previous to your entering on
your "new phase," you Intend to reward
my prudence by mining ma."
She looked at him a moment in amused
silence.
"I am not quite so hard a creditor, Shir
ley; partly, perhaps, because I do not for
get by gones, quits. No; 1 Inaugurate
this new phsse of my existence by return
ing you all these promissory notes. I
wish to bear no more of them Iqt us part
friends. I wish you good luck In what
ever way you would best like it"
Shirley's dark face changed. "You are
kind, and and most liberal," he said. "I
wish our old let me say friendship was
not to be ended." He took the papers
she held out and twisting them up, thrust
them Into his breast pocket. "I shall
never meet your match sgaln; you have
shown me what can be dared and done
by a woman, blessed as you are with a
heavy purse and a potent will,"
"And all's well that ends well," re
turned Mrs. Ruthven. She gave him bar
hand with a slight Inclination of the head,
and he felt himself dismissed.
e
Tha days flew fast and that fixed for
Winton's departure had dawned.
Nora dared net hope that she sttll held
tha same place la hi regard. Of course,
she thought, her sudden change, her ap
parent readiness I rat to accept Maredeo
nd then to break whk hist, had lowered
her la the aetlmaUoa of so high-minded a
man as Mark Wlastoa.
Be bad called a be promised, hut both
lira. L'jSetrange and ber Map-daughter
were oat
"H WW not to without bidding m
wea-or," mm the
2T xl
he began to understand matters
without questioning, and grew anxious
that tha two she heartily loved should not
spoil each other's lives for a punctilio. "I
must write and ask him to luncheon or
dinner."
"No, no, dear Helen! Promise me,
promise ma faithfully you will not" Im
plored Nora, with such a distressed ex
pression of countenance that Mrs. L'Es
trange promised.
This last day was bright and crisp,
there had been a light fall of snow aud
the grass In the park was prettily pow
dered. No exterior brightness, however, could
cheer Nora. She kept a brave face, but
her heart felt as if It must break; for the
moment life was to her like one of those
wretched dreams, where tha dreamer, all
burning to attain some joy almost with
in touch, is kept back by luipapable bar
riers, vague obstacles, gossamer to the
eye, impregnable to the starving spirit.
It was, she told herself, useless, un
maideuly, to grieve so about a man who
was evidently resolved not to renew his
proposal to her. She had begged to join
Bea and ber governesss in their early
walk; anything was better than sitting
still.
Hhe talked kindly and cheerfully In
German to the little frauleln about her
home aud her people, every now aud then
falling Into silence snd bitter thought,
and then with the restlessness of pain,
she wanted to go home and read, a tough
book of some kind would drsw her out of
herself. She complained of fatigue, and
they returned to the house.
Nora went listlessly upstairs, opened
the drawing-room door and stopped for a
moment. Helen was speaking to some
one, another step, and she saw her step
mother sested on a low chair looking up
to Mr. Win ton, who stood on the hearth
rug leaning his shoulder against the chim-uey-plaoe.
She Instinctively turned her
face frum the light, and assuming by an
effort an air of composure, advanced to
shake hands with him a charming figure,
as the reflection of the fire played on her
dark-green, close-fitting cloth coat edged
with sable, and a pretty cap ef the same
for crowning her golden brown curls. In
spite of her will and firmly exerted self
control, a vivid blush roee to her cheeks,
which left color enough even when It had
partially faded,
"Where Is Bea?' asked Mrs. L'Es
trange when the others had bid each other
good -day,
"Gone to take off her things."
"I must bring her to see yon," said
Mrs. L'Estrange, with rather a signifi
cant look to Wlnton.
"Ha Is going then," thought Nora, too
much tsken up with the Idea to heed her
step-mother leaving the room.
"I thought yon ware to sail to-day?"
she said, taking off her cap and parting
the fringe on her brow; the room was
quite too warm, after tha cold air, and
she drew a chair forward, still keeping
her back to the windows.
"I have postponed my departure for a
week or two," returned Wlnton; and
there was an awkward pause, while Nora,
with unsteady Augers, drew off her gloves
and rubbed her hands gently together.
"You seem tired of your holiday?"
"No," said Wlnton, taking a step nearer
to her, aud looking straight into her eyes.
"I must tell you the truth, even though it
may seem bad taste to do so, at least so
soon. I am not tired of my holiday, but I
wanted to throw myself into engrossing
work, to deaden the pain of disappoint
ed hope hope that probably I bad no right
to entertain, yet which I could not resist!"
Nora was silent. "I may seem a tiresome,
persevering blockhead but once more,
Nora, I offer you my future life! And I
promise, with all my soul, to be your
truest friend, as well as your true lover!
Shall I go, or stay?"
And Nora the tears welling over and
hanging on her lashes said softly, but
most distinctly: "Stay!" Then she lost
hold on herself and burst into a fit of
weeping.
"Good heavens, Nora!" cried Winton,
dismayed, "you do not accept me against
your will?"
"No, no," she returned, recovering her
self a little, "but I have been so miser
able and so foolish."
"Tell ma," said Wlnton, bending one
knee on footstool beside her, and taking
her hand gently in his, "why did you ac
cept Marsden?"
"Because 1 thought he loved me very
much; and " with a quick glance from
her sweet wet eyes, and a frank pressure
m the band, "that no one else did."
"How was that?' cried Wlnton, his
heart beating fast "You must have felt
how soon you grew dear to me! dearer
than anything else on earth or In heaven,
either."
"Why did you not tell me so before?"
asked Nora, smiling, though her lips still
trembled.
"Because, my love, my life, I was
afraid! Do yon remember, one day, yon
bid me good-by at the door, at Brookdale,
and I dared to hold your hand closer and
longer than I ought? The words, 'I love
you,' were on my Hps at that moment, bnt
It was no time or place to speak them;
and ever after, In soma nameless way. yon
put me from you, and virtually told me
you would have nothing to do with me."
"Yes, 1 remember It and 1 was told
that that you hod been engaged to Helen,
and were now hoping to marry her!"
"Who told you this? Marsden?' be
asked, sternly, catching her other hand
and holding both tight
"Yea," faltered Nora.
"Then he Is an Infernal linrl Why did
you believe him?"
"Why should I doubt him?"
"Then you should not have doubted
me."
"You would not have me so conceited as
to fancy a man must be very, very fond
of me when he never told me so?'
"While I thought every one must see I
was making a fool of myself."
"Oh, If you wish to keep up a character
for wisdom- "
"I don't suppose you believe much In my
wisdom! Bnt Nora, will yon really come
with me to India? to a wild, remote sta
tion? "I am not wise enough to refusal But
I caa't start neat week!"
"I shea hi think not Ten will believe
ate, whoa I tell yea, I never loved any
wotaaa bat yeareeM, and air sm a place
la rear heart, la rotarar
n wffi, Mark, aabl Nora, gravely.
steadily, with tender solemnity.
So when Mrs. L' Estrange was rafted
back it was ail settled; a very happy party
met at dinner that evening at which re
past Miss Beatrice, to her greet delight,
was allowed to be present and did good
service by promoting general and very
disi-uritive conversation.
The swlety papers soon added to their
nsual paragraphs mysterioe hints as to
broken engugenieute, aud the false in
formation disseminated by their contem
poraries respecting the approaching nup
tials of a certain popular member of so
ciety, whose domains lay not a hundred
miles from a well-known cathedral town
in the Midlands, etc.
Nora L'Estrange and Winton were too
much strangers snd pilgrims in the world
of London to share the attention be
stowed on Mrs. Ruthven aud Marsden.
The noise made by the extraordinary theft
of her jewels had given the pretty widow
a certain standing in the estimation of so
ciety, and her marriage with so well
known a man as Marsden made ber posi
tion secure.
Little remains to tell of this Ill-balanced
tale, where, though virtue Is fairly
rew arded, vice is by no means chastised
as it ought to be. Justice, complete jus
tice, is, however, rarely visible to the
naked eye; let us believe there is a secret
award which brings unerring punishment
to the evil-doer, even though he "flourish
es as a greeu bay tree" in the eyes of his
neighbors.
A couple of years after what Nora con
sidered her great deliverance, Mrs. L'Es
trange, in ber tranquil home at Brookdale,
which it was arranged was to be ber resi
dence so long as Mr. aud Mrs. Winton re
mained In India, wrote as follows, in one
of her monthly letters to her step-daughter:
-
"You will, I am sure, be sorry to hear
that Clifford Marsden had a bad fall, out
hunting, last week. They tell me he rides
most recklessly; indeed, he is much
changed since his marriage. Mrs. Mars
den, I must say, makes a capital lady of
the manor, and is decidedly popular,
though somewhat exacting; but Mr. Mars
den is either silent and moody, or In
fierce high spirits. He is very thin, and
not nearly so handsome as he was. There
is a curious, glased, staring look in his
eyes, that distresses me, for I always
liked him; and he always shows the ut
most friendliness to Bea and to myself.
I never heard that he drinks too much,
but It is whispered that he eats opium.
He Is often away, and when at home
seems to take no interest in anything.
Madame is master and mistress, and peo
ple appear to consider her rather neglect
ed by her husband. Mrs. Marsden shows
me all proper civility, but I feel she does
not like me; and I dare not encoarage
Clifford to come here as often as he
would like. It is reported that Mrs. Mars
den Is trying to bribe Colonel Marsden,
the next heir who is a bachelor, and
rather out at elbows, to join her husband
In breaking the entail, and then the estate
is to be settled on her. This may be mere
gossip; I cannot help feeling grieved for
Clifford; he seems so broken and hopeless.
"The mall has not come in yet, so I
shall send this off. I cannot tell yon what
pleasure yonr descriptions of your delight
ful life up-country give me, and Bea, too,
looks eagerly for your letters. My kind
love to Mark, who, I am sure, is a pat
tern husband. What a narrow escape
you had of losing each other!"
(The end.)
BATTLE WITH A COLONY OF RATS
It was a hard-earned victory that
Walter Carter won over an army of
rata In Camden, says the Baltimore
American It was a case of fight or
perluh, and Carter fought When tho
fierce battle was finished he counted
the heap of fallen enemies. There
were 102 of them. Carter Is a member
of the firm of Roberta & Carter, pro
vision dealers, on Second street, above
Pearl. For a long time the firm Buf
fered severely from the depredation of
rats, which seemed to grow in boldneaa
as they Increased In numbers. They
were into everything, climbing all over
the store and gnawing Into boxes, bar
rels and bins to such jn extent that tho
owners were appalled. m
It was the Junior partner's habit to
open the store in, the morning, and ho
Invariably heard a groat scampering
over the place ae be entered by the dim
light He concluded at last to have it
out with the little beasts, and began
an Investigation to locate tlieir rendez
vous. ThU he had no difficulty In find
ing. As he opened the door of a small
brick smoke-house In the rear of tho
store, now little used, he saw fully a
doaen rats run Into holes In the floor
and walla. They quickly recovered
from their fright, however, and emerg
ed to glare viciously at him out of their
wicked little black eye. Carter walk
ed out, got a short, thick club and a
lantern, and re-entered the smoke
house. This time he closed the door
behind 1dm. The dim light of the lan
tern served to half daze the rata, and
Carter had no difficulty in killing three
big fellowa. Aa they gave rent to dy
ing squeaks, however, score of other
rata emerged from seemingly nowhere,
surrounding the young man with tha
club on all sides. To show an lnatanta
fear meant probable death for tho In
vader of tho rats' domain. It most be a
fight to a finish. Carter's retreat was
cut off, and be started In to fight
The rata leaped at bU hands and face,
and crawled over his feet, all the while
keeping up a horrible din of aquoallnf
that nerved Carter to bio taak. Ona
after another of tho aoft, ugly things
struck him aa ha stood dealing blowi
right and left, and felling a rat at al
most every blow. BtlU tha numbora
multiplied, and the courageous fighter
began to fear that be would bar to
fall before tho horrid foe. Ha bad
been bitten several tlmoa on the band,
bnt had managed to keep tbe fangs of
the vlcloua beasts from hla baad aad
face, Thna tho fight kopt on for fully
fifteen tnlnutoa, and Carter wag grow
ing weak from the rtolont exertion.
At last, however, ha fait that tha rata
were gradually thinning out, aad
bo had laaa troubla la keeping
off him. This gave him fraah
and at length be nataad that ha had
won. No Baafe) rat agapaarod.
JJinottorajwoao by the oiortlnaaaad
xotoemont, Oartar aanjaiii oat tat
tha opaa air aad faaharal hhBaaf tsv
and, pctaf as
had kfflod UJl
thalht