' CHAPTER XL ( Continued. )
"Possession is nine points of the
law , " I answered. "I am afraid it will
be a difficult matter to eject Mr. Brans-
combe unless we can produce the col
onel's will. "
"Which we cannot ? " "Which we
cannot at present ? "
"Then nothing can be done ? "
"I fear nothing , excepting to apprise
the heir-at-law of the possible exist
ence of the will made in Miss Brans-
combe's favor , and to warn him that it
may any day be brought forward. "
"Humph ! " growled the rector. "And
If It should never turn up If , as I be
gin to suspect , there has been some
deep-laid plot some rascality of which
Master Charlie is , as usual , the head
and front , what then ? "
"Then , " I replied , "Master Charlie
will remain In possession. "
"And Nona will be a beggar , " said
Mr. Heathcote sadly. "Poor child , poor
child ! "
Ms Miss Branscombe at Forest
Lea ? " I ventured to inquire presently.
"No ; she and Miss Elmslie are with
us. Mr. Charlie's bachelor establish
ment was hardly a fitting home for
her , and we thought It advisable that
she should leave the neighborhood at
present at all events until we had
heard your opinion. "
"In the circumstances I should ad
vise Miss Branscombe to retire , " I said
gravely.
"Yes , yes , exactly , " assented the rec
tor. "In the circumstances as I now
understand them she must of course
leave the neighborhood. "
We drove on for some time after this
In silence. I was occupied with rose-
colored dreams of a future for the dis
possessed heiress a future which had
evidently not entered into the rector's
calculations , from the same point of
view at all events.
"If the fellow were not what he is ,
the poor colonel's original plan would
have settled the difficulty , " muttered
Mr. Heathcote , as he touched up his
stout cob. "But he was right he was
right ; it would be a sacrifice not to be
thought of not to be thought of. "
As he spoke we were passing the
-Forest Lea woods , which here swept
she la glad that Charlie is at Forest
Lea. " And then she asked the inevi
table question , which had come to be
almost an exasperating one to mo
"Any news of the will , Mr. Fort ? "
"None , " 1 answered ; "its loss Is as
great a mystery as ever. "
It was not until we were seated at
the dinner table that Nona slipped
quietly In , and took a place by Miss
Elmslie opposite to mine. There was
a consciousness in her manner , a de
precating timidity , as she met my eyes ,
which confirmed my fears. She was
lost to me , and the Gordian Knot of
the Forest Lea difficulty was cut by her
hand , in a way for which I at least
ought not to have been wholly unpre
pared.
The rector was called away on some
parochial business after dinner , and I ,
not caring to join the ladies in my per
turbed condition of mind , slipped out
through the open dining room window
and wandered about the old-fashioned
rectory garden , and presently out Into
the green lanes , sweet with the per
fume of latebloominghoneysuckle
and silent in the hush of evening's
rest from toll and labor.
Love and courtship were certainly in
the air of that corner of Midshire , and
I was always condemned by some ma
licious fate to be , not an actor in the
sweet drama , * but a listener and an in
truder. For the third time since my
Introduction to the neighborhood I en
countered a pair of lovers.
They were leaning against a gate ,
looking Into a meadow , hidden from
me until I was close upon them by a
great tangle of traveler's joy , wreath
ing a jutting bush of wildbriar rose at
the corner of the hedge. It was too
late for me to retire when I came upon
the couple , so there was nothing for it
but a discreet cough , which I had the
presence of mind to set up for the
emergency. The woman turned has
tily at the sound , and to my surprise
I saw that it was Woodward , Nona's
maid.
To my surprise , I say , for there was
something in the staid settled plain
ness of the maid's appearance which
was incongruous , to my fancy , with
lovers and love-making. Decidedly I
"FORGIVE ME , " I CRIED. "MISS B RANSCOMBE NORA.
down to the edge of green turf border
ing the road. From one of the glade-
like openings two figures emerged in
front of our carriage , sauntering slow
ly along on the grass , too deeply ab
sorbed in conversation apparently to
be aware of our approach. One a slim
girlish figure , dressed in black gar
ments , with graceful , fair head bowed
like a lily on its stalk was , as I knew
at once , Nona's ; and it needed not the
rector's impatient exclamation and
sudden , quick jerk of the reins to tell
me that the slight , almost boyish figure
by her side was that of her cousin ,
Charlie Branscombe.
In an instant the half-scotched ser
pent of jealousy was roused again and
stung me to the heart. All my old
doubts and suspicious rushed back like
a flood. Fool that I had been ever to
dream of hope in the face of what I
had seen and knew.
There was something of mockery in
the elaborate bow , returned by a curt
ncd , with which Mr. Charles Brans
combe greeted the rector ; and , as I
read it , a gleam of triumph on the
handsome fair face in which I recog
nized the fatal beaute de diable I had
heard described.
A passing glimpse of Miss Brans
combe showed me a half-startled , sur
prised glance of' recognition a swift ,
shy blush , in return for the grave bow
with which I acknowledged hers. The
meeting had upset the rector's equan
imity as much as it had mine. He
spoke no more until we turned in at
the rectory gate.
CHAPTER XII.
Nona was not in the drawing room
before dinner. Miss Elmslie was , and
received me with tearful cordiality.
-it's sad " she whispered
- - a change , ,
"especially for the dear girl. But she
doesn't seem to feel It , I really believe
should not have given Woodward
credit for having a sweetheart. Yet
there she was , keeping a twilight tryst
amongst the clematis and the honey
suckle , like any maid of eighteen. And
if anything could have added to my
astonishment it was the discovery that
the swain whose arm was about her
waist , whose head
was bent down over
hers * was the rector's smart , new
groom ! There must. I decided.be some
thing more in the middle-aged maid
than met the eye , since she had car
ried off the prize from all her young
and pretty rivals. Possibly , I thought ,
with a little contempt for the passion
which had passed bless the groom and
the lady's maid possibly Plutus had
as much to say in the matter as Cupid.
Miss Woodward might have savings
which the shrewd Londoner had scent
ed. The man overtook me presently ,
as , lost in the intricacies of stable-yard
and back entrance , I was trying to find
my way back to the garden and lawn.
"I beg your pardon , sir , " he said ,
civilly. "That path leads to the
kitchen , this" opening a gate "will
take you to the side entrance into the
hall. "
"Thank you , " I answered. "Good
night. "
"Good night , Mr. Fort. "
I looked up , surprised at the sudden
change of tone and manner. The man's
eyes met mine.
"WIddrington ! " I had almost ex
claimed , but that his hand touched
mine on the gate latch and checked the
word.
"You left this in the dog cart this
afternoon , sir , " he said , handing me a
letter. "I picked it up wSsn I cleaned
the trap. "
I took the paper from him and
passed on with another good night
My mind was in a wild state of alarm ;
WIddrington was on the track of the
secret nay , with Woodward under hb
Influence , the secret was probably al
ready his. How could I warn Nona
how save her ?
The opportunity was not far to stock.
When I entered the drawing-room MJaa
Branscombe was there alone , save for
Mrs. Heathcote's sleeping presence ,
The Rector's wife lay back "in her coin-
fortable arm-chair by the fire , blissfully
asleep. Nona sat by the "tea-table In
the opposite corner , her soft-shad &d
lamp the one spot of light In the room.
Her elbow rested on the table , her
cheek on her hand , her pale , sweet face
grave and sad. The eyes she raised at
my entrance fell almost immediately ,
and a deep flush , painful in its inten
sity , spread over cheek , neck and brow.
"You will have some tea ? " she said ,
beginning to arrange her cupg with
hands which trembled so much that
she was forced to desist. Then she
folded them resolutely in her lap ami
looked up at me , making , as I could
see , a strong effort at composure. "Mr.
Fort , " she went on , in almost a whis
per , "you are angry with me ; and you
have been so kind , I am aorry that you
cannot forgive me now that every
thing has come right. And I do want
to tell you how thoroughly I under
stand and thank you for all your kind
thought for me , although I am afraid
I must have seemed ungrateful in op
posing you , and and all. "
I bowed. I was afraid to trust my
self to speak just then. And yet the
precious moments were flying ! Mrs.
Heathcote stirred in her chair.
"I wish you would believe that this
as things are now , I mean is the very
happiest thing for me , as well as
right , " she added , bending towards mo
in her earnestness.
"I hope you will be very happy , " I
said , conquered by the sweet humility
of her appeal , whilst the words seemed
to scorch my heart.
"Im am very happy , " she answered
gently. "Why do you apeak in the fu
ture ? I .shall never regret never. I
could never grow to be so sordid , and
I should like to be sure that you are
not vexed about it. We all owe so
much to your kindness in those sad
days. " The rosy color flamed in her
cheeks again. "I should like to feel
that we are friends. "
"Why not ? " I responded , with un
controlled bitterness. "It is not for
me to prescribe to Miss Branscombe
what is for her happiness. It is to be
presumed that she is herself the best
in this case , perhaps , the only judge. "
The blushes faded and left her white
as a lily. Something in her look made
me feel as if I had struck her a blow.
"Forgive me , " I cried. "Miss Brans-
combe Nona" as she raised her shak
ing hands and covered her face "what
have I done what have I said ? "
And then I do not know how it hap
pened ; I have never been able to re
duce the next supreme moments to any
coherent memory but her dear head
was on my shoulder , my arms were
rounn her as I dropped upon my knees
by her side , and without a spoken word
I knew that neither Charlie Brans
combe nor any other barrier stood be
tween me and my darling. She was
mine , and mine only , and the gates of
Paradise had opened to me at last ,
( To be continued. )
Safe Side.
The unexpected humor which often
tints the grave speech of the Quaker
is well illustrated in a little story told
of an eminent young physician of
Pennsylvania at the time of the civil
war. He had determined to serve his
country and leave his practice at home ,
but met with grieved remonstrance
from his mother , a sweet-faced Qua
keress. "I beseech of thee not to go
to this war , niy son ! " she pleaded , her
soft eyes full of tears , "But I do not
go to fight , mother , " said the doctor ,
cheerfully. "I am going as a medical
man. Surely there is no harm in that. "
"Well , well , " said the little mother ,
doubtfully , "go then , if it must be so. "
Then suddenly a gleam of loyalty *
shone through her tears , and she I
straightened herself and looked brave
ly up into her tall son's face , "If thee
finds thee kills more than thee cures , "
she said , demurely , "I advise thee to
go straightway over to the other side ,
my son ! "
Dickens' Best Novel.
It is weil known among literary people
ple that Charles Dickens considered
'David Copperfield" the best of hi9
novels , but occasions when he actually
expressed that opinion are so rare that
t is worth while to recall an incident
which happened while he was in Phila
delphia. Mr. Chipln , father o Dr.
John B. Chapin , the well-known expert
on iasfinity , was at that time at the
head of the blind asylum here. Raised
type for the blind was just coming
nto vogue , and , desiring to have one- :
o Pickens * books printed in that way ,
Mr. Chapin took advantage of on in
troduction to the great novelist to ask
lira which of his works he considered
the best , and mentioned the reason
why he wanted to know. Dickens un
hesitatingly answered , "David Copper-
field. " Philadelphia Record.
Candor of a Dublin Surgeon.
Dr. Colles , an eminent surgeon of
Dublin , who died in 1843 , was remark
able for his plain dealing with himself.
In his fee book he had many such
candid entries as the following : "For
giving ineffectual advice for deafness ,
[ guinea. " "For telling him he was
no more ill than I was , 1 guinea. " "For
nothing that I know of except that ha
probably thought he did not pay me
enough last time , 1 guinea , "
Of the world's annual yield of petro-
eum , 5,000,000,000 gallons , the United
States produces one-half.
OUR MANUFACTURES.
HOW THE OUTSIDE WORLD IS
CALLING FOR THEM.
\Vlmt the United Stntc.5 Has Accom
plished by Adhering to the Protec
tionist Policy of Developing Domestic
Industries.
Remembering the years during which
disinterested free traders were urging
and often reiterating their advice that
the people of the United States confine
themselves to the pursuit of agricul
ture , to food-raising and to the pro
duction of raw materials , and to leave
to other and far more favored coun
tries the business of converting those
raw materials into manufactured com
modities , it is interesting to note some
of the important consequences resultIng -
Ing from the disregard of that extraor
dinary counsel and the consequent es
tablishment of the policy of protection.
From statistics gleaned by the treasury
bureau of statistics it appears that
manufacturers are now forming more
than one-third of our total domestic
exports. During the last month they
were 33.77 per cent of the total do
mestic exports , during the three
months ending with May they were
35.50 per cent , and during the fiscal
year just ending they will form a larger
percentage of our total domestic ex
ports than in any preceding year , and
exceed by many millions the total ex
ports of manufactures in any preceding
year. The fiscal year 1898 showed the
largest exports of manufactures in our
history , $290,697,354 , and in the eleven
months of the fiscal year 1899 the in
crease over the corresponding months
of the preceding year has been $45-
164,000 , so that It is now apparent that
the exports of manufactures in the
fiscal year now ending will be about
$335,000,000 , as against the high-water
mark , $290,697,354 in the fiscal year
1898. This would seem to indicate that
„
we did well to run exactly counter to
the views and wishes of our Cobdenite
idvlsers.
Iron and steel continue to form the
most important , or at least by far the
largest item of value In the exports of
manufactures. In the month of May ,
1899 , the exports of iron and steel , and
manufactures thereof , amounted to
§ 8,601,114 , making the total for the
eleven months $84,873,842 , against $63-
235,029 in the corresponding months ol
last year a gain in the eleven months
of over $21,000,000. The recent ad
vances in prices of iron and steel
causes the belief that a reduction in
the exports of iron and steel would
follow , but certainly this has
not been realized up to the present
time , since the exportations of iron and
steel in the month of May are 20 per
cent in excess of those of May of last
year , while those of April are nearly 50
per cent in excess of April , 1898.
The increase which the year's exports
of manufactures will show over earlier
years lends especial interest to a table
prepared by the treasury bureau of
statistics showing the exportation of
manufactures by great classes in each
year from 1889 to 1898. The following
extracts from it show the exportations
in 1889 and 1893 of all articles whose
total value exceeded $1,000,000 in the
year 1898 :
1SS9. 1SOS.
Iron and steel , and _ _
manuiacUires of $21,150,0ii $ .0,40GSOo
Refined mineral oil 41,830,515 51,762,310
Copper , manufactures
of 2,345,051 32,1SOS72
Leather , and manufac
tures of 10,747,710 21,113,010
Cotton , manufactures
Of 10,212,014 17,024,092
Wood , manufactures of. G.150,2bl 9,1)1 ) ,210
Chemicals , drugs and
dyes -1,792,831 SC55,47S
Agricultural implements 3,023,709 7,609,732
Cycles and parts of CS4C,529
Paraffin and paralfin
vfax 2,029,002 0,030,292
Paper , and manufac
tures of 1,191,035 5,494,504
Tobacco , and manufac
tures of 3,703,000 4.S1S.493
Fertilizers 9SS.5691,339,834
Instruments for scien
tific purposes 1,033,333 2,770,503
Flax , hemp , jute , and
manufactures of 1.04-1.103 2,557,405
Books , maps , engrav
ings , etc 1,712,079 2,434,325
India-rubber and gutta
percha , and masiufac-
tures of S31.74S 1,931,501
Spirits 2.21S.1U1 1,830,353
Marble and stone , and
manufactures of 510,051 1,792,552
Cars for railways 1,420,237 1.73\5S1
Clocks and watches 1,355,319 1,727,409
Carriages and horse
cars 1,004,284 1.0S5.S3S
Gunpowder and other
explosives SS5.037 1,395,400
3oap 539,355 1,31(0,003
Musical instruments S9S.072 1,33,807
Starch 27-GW : 1,371,549
Zinc , manufactures of. . 28.0S1 l,3J9OiO
Oils , vegetable ( omit
ting cotton and lin-
teed ) 244,415 1,267,305 ,
sfass and glassware..v 891,200 1,211,034 '
Wool , manufactures of. 343,959 lOi9C32
Paints and painters' 1
colors 507.749 1,079.513
3ujrar , refined and con-
ftctionery 1.231,921 1,032,370
Stationery , except of
paper 471.539 1,005,010
Attracted by Prosperity.
The figures of the bureau of immigra-
iou lately tabulated show a large in
crease in the nuinler of immigrants to [
this country. The total number of
immigrants during the last six months
of 1898 was greater by about 26,000
than the number of immigrants enterIng -
Ing the country during the correspond
ing period of 1897. This may or may
not be a benefit to the country. If it
isan , evil , there is a way to remedy it.
There can be no difference of opinion ,
however , as to the significance of the
Increase. It shows conclusively that
the people of foreign lands have be
come aware of the return of prosperity
to the United States.
When the matter of restricting 1m-
migratjion was being agitated a year or
more ago , many of the opponents of
further restriction called attention to
the fact that the number of Immigrants
had been falling off , and they claimed
that this decrease would continue in
the future. It was pointed out at that
time , however , by protectionists , that
the decrease In the volume of immigra
tion in 1896 and 1897 had no bearing
upon the immigration question as a
whole , inasmuch as it was due wholly
to the business depression which had
come upon the country as the result
of our experiment with partial free
trade. It was stated that when protec
tion was in full swing again immi
grants would flock to the country in as
large numbers as ever to participate
in the prosperity which would surely
follow the re-enactment of a protective
tariff law. The facts , as stated by the
bureau of immigration , prove that thia
contention was correct. Prosperity at
tracts people as well as capital into the
country. The immigration problem ia
of a very different character with a
protective tariff in force from what It La
under free trade.
The Scepter of Commerce.
England to-day has the greatest fleet
on the ocean , but her position as a car
rier is entirely due to the fact that she
at one time possessed enormous re
sources of coal and iron. With the
disappearance of these her leadership
must depart. Cheap coal and cheap
steel will transfer the scepter of com
merce to the United States and will
deprive Great Britain of the ability to
successfully compete in manufacturing.
It is vain for the British to delude
themselves with the belief that they
possess superior qualities which will
enable them to maintain their position
in the race. There was a time when
such a claim might have been made ,
but recent experience has demonstrated
that Englishmen are not better fitted
to be the manufacturers of the world
than some other peoples. Among these
must be numbered the Americans , who ,
with an equally developed mechanical
ingenuity , plus the possession of enor
mous stores of cheap fuel and iron ,
must win in the struggle for commer
cial primacy. San Francisco ( Cal. )
Chronicle.
To Some Extent Responsible.
It is useless to deny that the policy
of protection to American labor and
industry is more or less responsible
for the existing deadlock on the wage
question between the tin plate manu
facturers and their employes. Had
there been no protective tariff on tin
plate there would certainly be no la
bor trouble in that industry at the
present time , and for the best of all
re scns : There would now be no tin
plate industries in this country , and
the question of wages could not possi
bly have come up. It will be remem
bered that prior to the enactment of
the McKinley law there were no tin
plate mills and hence no labor trou
bles.
Cobdeii Idols In Danger.
The London Daily Mail , which claims
to have the largest circulation of any
English newspaper , warmly advocates
the imposition of sugar duties for the
benefit of the British West Indies , and c
other English newspapers urge the a
granting of a preferential tariff to the
colonies. The interesting part of this
is that notwithstanding that the adop
tion of either plan would be a wide de
parture from the policy of free trade no
such opposition as might have been ex
pected has been aroused. England's
Cobden idols are in great danger of
partial , if not total , demolition.
It'as Appreciated.
The wave of prosperity that struck
this country with the induction into
office of President McKinley , and
which has grown to mammoth proportions
tions since , has not only had a benefi
cent infiuence upon our worklngmen ,
but upon our working women as well.
The latest instance where the latter
ii
have been benefited is an increase of 10 iifi
fi
per cent in the wages of 300 women in fiC
C (
the employ of the United States Wrapper
k :
per Company of Terre Haute , Ind. , last kai
Tuesday. The raise was a surprise , ai
but nevertheless appreciated. Clayton aiU
Mo. ) Watchman. U
BY FAR THE FINEST FIGURE ON THE BEACH.
m
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PRACTICAL TEMPERANCE.
Plan to Promote tlio U rSor Use of
Honest American Wines.
From a correspondent In North Car
olina , who has spent twenty years In
the business of native wine production ,
the American Economist has received
some suggestions as to the best way
to promote the use and consumption of
the pure and wholesome wines of this
country. These suggestions have the
merit of originality and are well wor
thy of serio .3 consideration. The
writer says :
"We shall not have any real progress
in the growth of the American 'wine
business until there is some modifica
tion of the legislation which places 'all
spirituous , vinous , malt and fermented
liquors' under ono head and thus ne
cessitates the sale of wines only in
licensed places. The home Is the place
for wine consumption , and even if the
saloon offered wines at reasonable
prices ( which it never does ) our wom
en will never become patrons of the
saloon to the extent of sending there
regularly for the bottle of wino for
dinner. "
This practical wine maker would re
move the present tax of 10 cents per
gallon on light wines , and in place of
the present retail license would have
a special tax or license applying only
to the products of bona fide wine pro
ducers duly registered. The corre
spondent adds :
"Let severe penalties be prescribed * "
for Imitation wines or wines contain
ing antiseptics , and let this class of
goods be still sold at the saloon , under
the license which allows the sale of
other rectified spirits. Then the dis
tinction will soon be drawn , and pub
lic sentiment will be educated to the
fact that a merchant can carry wines
in his stock of family supplies without
prejudice from that sincere but mis
taken class who dub themselves tem
perance workers , but are as intemper
ate in speech and work as the veriest
tippler.
"Place wines in the class of agri
cultural products , subject to a revenue
tax if need be a special tax on its
sale , and not a tax per bottle , which-
simply strikes a blow at the best pos
sible method of marketing wines , and
induces dishonesty. With such a dis
tinction made , the demand for pure
wines would soon increase , our people1
would become wine drinkers ( not tip
plers ) , our barren hills would be pro
ductive of grapes , and the temperance
question would be partially solved.-
With the immense whisky and beer
interests fighting it at every step , and
merely borrowing respectability from
it , the domestic wine interest , unless
unyoked from such fellowship , has lit
tle show for development. "
In the enlarged consumption of pure ,
honest , wholesome native wines , in
place of the vast quantities of malt and
distilled liquors which now find their
way down the throats of the American
people to say nothing of the large
amounts of wines sold here under foreign -
eign labels lies the hope , almost the
only hope , of diminishing the curse of
alcoholism. No nation whose chief
beverage has been the pure wine of its
own production has ever been a prey to
the evils of drunkenness. The Ameri
can Economist is a firm believer in
American wines. It earnestly longs
for the day when , through intelligent
legislation and a gradual modification
of unreasonable prejudices , American
wines , like other products of American
skill and enterprise , will take their
proper rating : "Equal to the best. "
The Uoy Cries "Cut Jleblnd ! "
The frankness of Mr. Havemeyer on
the subject of the tariff is like the
frankness of the boy who cries "Cut
behind ! " when he has failed to get a
hold at the tail of a wagon. The tariff
law is an evil in Mr. Havemeyer's eyes
only when it frustrates his plans for
complete monopoly of refined sugar.
The tariff is a thing to be denounced
only when It ceases to give him a free
ride over the necks of
consumers. How
comes it that the head of the sugar
trust never complained of the tariff
is the "mother of all trusts" as long
is his own trust was growing apace ?
Mr. Havemeyer's outburst before the
industrial commission at Washington
is chiefly remarkable because of its
cynical disregard for moral principle'
3f any kind. Chicago Tribune.
AVbore Capital Combines.
The evolution of the trust is possible
mywhere that capital can combine and
Tontrol the market. Buffalo Courier
Free Trade ) .
That is precisely what has happened
Great Britain , a country of absolute
ree trade , where capital has already
ombined and is in
control of the mar-
et to an extent unknown in protected
America. Alike in number and in the
.mount of combined capital
, trusts in
Jreat Britain far exceed those of the
Jnited States.
Fall to Xotlce It.
The advance in wages of working-
len in various parts of the country
oes merrily but the
on , democratic pa-
ers are so busy howling at expansion
hat they fail to notice it at all.
lleveland ( Ohio ) Leader.
Tin Mlnln-r Jn Cornwall.
J. H. Collins lately read a paper be-
re the Society of Arts , England , in
hlch he stated that tin mining had
een carried on in Cornwall for about
,000 years , If not longer. In his opin-
m the tin used In fixing the color of
tie scarlet curtains in the Hebrew
ibernacle , in making the brass of Sol-
mon's temple and the bronze
weap-
ns of Homer's heroes , came from the
est country , and the Phoenicians
-aded for tin in the west of England
mg before Solomon's temple
was
ullt.