The North Wales Express

CPIAPTELl XXII. THE SITIEN AT FAIRWATER. Jack Nevrcome had prepared Mrs. Dorner for the arrival of Annie Fr.iserby writing a long letter in praise of the many virtues of his future wife. He was well aware of Mrs. Dorner's almost motherly affection for him,and knew that he had but to solicit her special care for the happiness of his lady-love to insure it. In his letter he hinted at a possible family trouble oveishadowing Iris darling's future, expressed his linn conviction that Mrs. Durner would do her utmost to support and shield her in any adver- sity,and concluded his epist'e with the following sig- nificant passage :— "I have strong reasons for believing t'int you will prove the only friend Miss Frastr will Unci at Fairwater, a?", strange to say, David Strange w against her, and another, vho shall at prtsent be nameless but not a whi.-per of this, I beg of you, t) anyone, as I have no wish to cieate ill-ferling." It will now be obvious to the reader that Annie Fraser had spoken to Jack Newcome concerning her rupture with David Strafe but she had delayed doing so until it wa3 arranged that she should goto Fairwater. She had not, however, acknowlfdged to having read Agnes Meadows's letter. She had merely stated that she hui accused David Strange of conceiving a prejudice against her, and hat in his anger he had declared that both lie and Jack New- come's best friend, the guardian of his great picture, were averse to the pro spect of his marrying her. Of course,on hearing this, Jack Newcome had expressed his indignation against both David Strange and Agnes Meadows,but Annie Fraser had persuaded him to say nothing of the matter to either. It is enough, Jack," she had said, that we know who are our enemies we must not be vin- dictive and remember it is but natural that they should not relish the idea of my robbing them of you! I should be quite as bad, aye a thousand times worse, were I in their place. The green-eyed monster influences us all, Jack." Thus she had contrived to tone down his wrath and avert the stormy outburst that appeared immi- nent. Nevertheless, he had written to Mrs. Dorner as we have seen. His letter pained and perplexed the good old lady. The knowledge that any kind of estrangement existed between the artist friends wounded her sensitive heart. They had ever been such warm friends whilst beneath her roof. Alas that the old amity should be broken, the old love grown cold. And then, too, there was the allusion to that "other one who should be nameless." Whom could be mean other than Agnes ? She longed to shew Agnes Meadows Jack Newcome's Tetter, but honour forbade her doing so. She must wait patiently until Jack Newcome returned to Fair- water. She received Annie Fraser with the utmost kindness, and Annie made herself as agreeable and enchanting both to Mrs. Dorner and Agnes Meadows, on the evening of her arrival as was within her power. She sang to them not twice nor thrice, but again and again, and they were delighted No wonder, they thought, that that Siren-like voice lured Jack Newcome on to the dangerous quicksands of love. On the following morning, Agnes Meadows took Annie Fraser to see the Swallow Falls, Jack New- come's picture of which was to make his fortune, and on their way thither Annie Fraser asked, Have you heard or seen anything of a Miss Romaine, who has lately come to stay at Bettws-y-Coed ?' Yes I have been introduced to her." Indeed ? How strange With whom is she staying ?" "With Dr. Roberts. He brought her over to Fairleigh only two afternoons ago." I was introduced to her at Mr. Fenwick's, where, as you of course know, Jack is staying. A remarkably beautiful girl is she not ?" "Remarkably so." "And the halo of mystery that surrounds her career renders her equally interesting." Indeed ? "Oh. it's quite a romance as well as a mystery. She was washed ashore during a storm at Rhyl and rescued in a state of insensibility by Dr. Win- chester. He resuscitated her, but only to find that all remembrance of her previous career had utterly and entirely vanished. Strange, was it not ? Almost beyond the credence of ordinary mortals! You have heard of Dr. Winchester, I suppose ?" I have heard Dr. Roberts mention his name." "And Dr. Winchester, I conclude, has sent Miss Romaine down here to be under Dr. Roberts's care ?" It appears so." "Then you have not been taken into Dr. Roberts's confidence in this matter? I have not." Probably Mrs. Dorner knows more about it ? "Possibly she and Dr. Roberts are great friends. As for myself I know nothing of her beyond what I I have told you." I r "Mr. Strange never mentioned her to you in your I correspondence with him ? I Annie Fraser watched Agnes Meadows's coun- tenance closely as she put this question. She ,i failed to detect any sign of confusion. "No," was the calmly uttered answer. "I always understood you and Mr. Strange were I such great friends We are great friends." I wonder he never mentioned Miss Romaine to you. Well, it has been left to me to enlighten you, that is if you care to be enlightened ? "I shall be very pleased." r You must understand that this very interesting young lady had, with everything else, forgotten her name when Dr. Winchester restored her to con. sciousness. Therefore Edith Romaine is simply an assumed name. Who she really is no one knows. She does not know herself, and she is entirely at the mercy of those who have adopted her-Dr. Winchester and his mother, I mean." Are they not kind to her, then ? In one respect they are kind enough, no doubt; but, unless I am much mistaken, Dr. Winchester will bring her into serious trouble. I have strong reasons for believing that he purposes leading her into a conspiracy to declare herself the rightful heir to other people's property—to pronounce herself identical with one who is in reality in her grave." "Do you s^riou^ly believe Dr. Winchester could be guilty of anything so wicked? or that she would lend herself to such a criminal conspiracy 1" "I am as good as convinced of it. And whose pro- perty do yeu think they are conspiring to obtain'? My poor father's My poor father's Annie Fraser buried her face in her hands and burst into tears. It took very little to awaken Agnes Meadows's sympathy. "Perhaps, my dear," she said, putting herann tenderly about Annie Fraser s waist, your fears may not be realised." "If you knew all /know you would understand what small hope there is of escape from the impend- ing evil. It is not for myself I mind so much, but for poor papa's sake and poor Jack's. For dear good Jack is poor, and if all went well how much I could do for him can do anything to help you in your trouble W t i° fi° gl&(ily«" said Agnes Meadows. I shall need the support of all the friends I can fet. I am sure you will assist me, dear. I can see y your sweet face that you have a sympathetic heart. And then Annie Fraser told Agnes Meadows the same story which she had told Jack Newcome con- cerning Dr. Winchester. By the time she had concluded they had arrived at the Swallow -Falls, and, having feasted their eyes on the beauties ot the spot, they turned to retrace their I steps homewards. "I long to see Jack's picture of the Falls "said Annie Fraser. When we get home you must shew it to me." I "I cannot. Mr. Newcome gave me strict orders not to admit anyone into the studio during his ab. sence." I If you hand me the key I can admit myself." ] I cannot do that, Miss Fraser. I had strict in- junctions not to part with the key until I replaced it in Mr. Newcome's hands." I "But circumstances alter cases. You must know perfectly well that Mr. Newcome would not object; to my having it. I have a right to it. j "Were you in my position, Miss Fraser, you would not give it to anybody. Until Mr. Newcome in- structs me to hand it to you I must decline to do so." You are extremely absurd! I shall write and tell Jack to insist upon your handing the key over to me altogether." "Pray do so; it will relieve me of a great re- sponsibihty." They walked on in silence for some distance j then Annie Fraser seemed to repent her of the evil spirit she had evinced. "Forgive me if I have been rude to you," she said, with that sudden change of manner which Dr. Winchester had so [ often noticed in her. "No doubt you are right after all; though Jack will probably laugh at you for sticking so righteously to the letter of his instruc- tions. Still ) ou are right, my dear, and I am sorry, very sorry, I was so rude to you." Agnes Meadows accepted this apology readily, By this time they had reached Fairwater, and as they entered the grounds they saw David Strange approaching them. An expression of delight escaped Agnes Meadows. What on earth has brought him down here said Annie Fraser, with ill-disguised wrath. I cannot bear the little monster CHAPTER XXIII. IN THE CEMETERY! Mr. Fraser believed in the maxim that there is nothing like taking the bull by the horns when one finds oneself in a difficulty. That Dr. Winchester meant mischief he bad no kind of doubt, and, there- fore, he deemed it expedient to "go for" that gentleman with the least possible delay. As soon as he bad packed his daughter off to Hettws-y- Coed he called upon the doctor. He opened the attack somewhat mildly. "I have scarcely shaken hands with you since my return, Winchester," he said. We have seen next to nothing of each other," re- plied Dr. Winchester. "A busy season of the year with you, eh? Well, I have not come to take up your valuable time longer than I can help." "I am at your service for the next ten minutes," replied Dr. Winchester, looking his visitor very keenly in the face. I think you know me well enough now," said Mr. Fraser, to give me credit for being a man who doesn't beat about the bush a man, in short, who always takes the bull by the horns." Well ? said Dr. Winchester, curtly. "Up to date, Winchester, we have been good friends, and I hope we may continue so but I am bound to express my surprise at what I have heard concerning a conversation you have recently held I with my daughter." I "Indeed I repeat the expression, sir much surprised. I thought you would have had better sense, better taste, than to disturb and distress her with ridi- culous hints concerning the unfortunate girl you picked up on the beach here." "I am not aware of having thrown out any ridiculous hints. I was perfectly serious in all I said to Miss Fraser." said to :Miss Fraser." "Serious!" exclaimed Mr. Fraser, contemptu- ously. Do you call it serious to revive the insane hypothesis that possibly the girl whom you rescued from the jaws of death may be my unhappy, niece whom we buried here, my niece whom I identified I and mourned over ? It's a ghastly joke, sir, of which you have every reason to feel utterly ashamed." "Look here, Fraser," replied Dr. Winchester, with admirable coolness, if you have come here for the purpose of bullying me, or attempting to intimidate I me, you have made a very foolish mistake. If you take my advice you will change your tone." "I have every reason to feel ruffled and in- censed." "Not if you are a man of honour." What do you mean ? Precisely what I say. I tell you plainly that II have every reason to believe Miss Romaine, as we now call her, to be your niece Mary Wilde." In the teeth of my having identified my niece's body? "cried Mr. Fraser. "In the teeth of my identification having been corroborated by the fact of the clothes the poor creature was wearing at the time of her death being marked with her name ? In the teeth of all that!" said Dr. Winchester. "Then all I can say is, your head must be turned." I am afraid you will have some difficulty in proving that," answered Dr. Winchester, much more difficulty than I shall have in proving Miss Romaine to be Mary Wilde." Mr. Fraser's face was livid with passion. "So you have enteied into a conspiracy to defraud me of I my rights ? he said. I mean to see justice done and if you are wise you will not disgrace yourself by attempting to avert I justice." You are a bold man, Winchester, and if you are not labouring under a delusion which impels you to commit this folly, you are a bad man." Your opinion of me, Fraser, is a matter of absolute indifference to me. Now, understand me once for all. I have no wish to see you bring disgrace upon yourself, or incur consequences that are better left unnamed. I wish you to come out of this matter with as clean hands as possible. I give you that opportunity will you embrace it?" I Mr. Fraser stared at Dr. Winchester with imper- tinent curiosity, and then said, "What on earth, my good fellow, do you take me for ?" I will answer that question when you have re- plied to mine." I can do that readily enough. If you imagine that I am going to resign my fortune to the first im- postor you dare to put forward you are vastly mis- taken. Your proofs, my fine fellow, your proots! You think you are going to bounce me out of my property, do you ? You think that by taking advan- tage of the confidence I have placed in you,combined with the accident of your having picked up a name- less girl upon the shore, you are going to perpetrate an artful swindle without meeting with the slightest opposition. Upon my life it is as ridiculous as a farcical comedy." He paused for a moment to in- dulge in a satirical langh, then, suddenly changing from the lively to the severe, added, "Drop it, Winchester, or you'll find yourself in the dock charged with conspiracy You decline, then, to embrace the opportunity 1 offer you ?" answered Dr. Winchester, utterly ignoring Mr. Fraser's last words. "Perhaps," he continued, when you are brought face to face with one who knew you more intimately you will reconsider the matter." To whom do you allude ?" If you will call upon me this evening I will in- troduce you. At present I decline to tell you who it is." I Then I decline to meet the person." I Very well it will not make the smallest I difference to me whether you meet now or later. You .1. will have to meet later whether you like it or not!" Mr. Fraser moved uneasily in his seat, and then rising, said, To shew you that I am not afraid to face at any moment anyone with whom you are in j league, I will meet your fellow conspirator here J this evening." | At seven o'clock," said Dr. Winchester, un- moved by Mr. Fraser's insults. j At seven." j With this they separated, and the doctor went I forth to his day s labour. He was home again at j six at seven Mr. Fraser arrived. Dr. Winchester opened the door—his hat on, his walking-stick in his hand, prepared to go out. "Your friend has not arrived then?" said Mr. Fraser with a sneer. "I have arranged for the meeting elsewhere." Mr. Fraser shrugged his shoulders, but said nothing. Dr. Winchester led him eastwards along the Wellington-road, through a part of Russeli- road, then branched off to the right, making in the direction of the Dry Bridge, at the foot of which lies the cemetery. Where are you taking me to ? asked Mr. Fraser impatiently. To meet your niece's friend," answered Dr. Win- Chester. They reached the cemetery gates. Dr. Winches- ter was the first to enter. What have you brought me here for ? said Mr. Fraser. You will see when we reach the grave over which you stood not long ago your niece's grave, you call it." 11 The sky was overclouded a light westerly wind moaned amongst the tombstones and fanned the grass on neglected graves; the twilight was gathering. They came at last to a gravestone on which was in- scribed, "SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF MARY WILDE"; and as they halted there Miss Potter stepped forward and confronted them An exclamation of startled surprise escaped Mr. Fraser's lips as he staggered backwards a step or so. "I see I need not introduce you!" said Dr. Winchester. Mr. Fraser recovered his self-possession almost in- stantaneously. And what are you doing here ?" he said, eyeing Miss Potter fiercely. I am here to meet YOtt," replied Miss Potter undauntedly, and to tell you that Mary Wilde, whose name is recorded on this stone, is still living "In another and a better world, possibly," retorted Mr. Fraser but not in this. j "In this" said Miss Potter. "I have seen ber halve sP°ken to her—I have touched her." It's a lie "exclaimed Mr. Fraser then added promptly, Excuse me, I will put it more delicately: it is a delusion." # Standing here," answered Miss Potter, "here on this sacred ground amongst the silent dead, I tell you solemnly that, beyond all doubt, your niece. Mary W llde, is living." j \Vho has prompted you to propagate this fiction, Eliza Potter? This person, I suppose," indicating Dr. j Winchester,with a contemptuous motion of his hand. I I have not been prompted by anyone to propa- i gate a fiction," replied Miss Potter. I speak from my own certain knowledge. No one could have been more sceptical as to the genuineness of n:y recognition of your niece than this gentleman until I had proved it beyond question." "Tell me, please, under what circumstances you pleased to imagine you recognised my niece,who, "say what you will, lies mouldering beneath this stone." Miss Potter told him plainly, briefly, and with unswerving candour. You recognised her readily enough," said Mr. Fraser, when she had concluded, "but how about I her recognising you? Her memory of everything that transpired since she left your house, or, at any rate, since she was shipwrecked, was supposed to have entirely forsaken her, remember so be capful how you give your answer She recognised me inasmuch as she remembered seeing my face in her dreams." A satirical laugh broke from Mr. Fraser's lips. "Capital he exclaimed," Capital You are going in for Spiritualism to establish your case, are you? I'm afraid you won't find any judge or jury insane enough to accept your exigence." "The mere fact of having acknowledged to [1. familiarity with my features under any circum- stances, is proof sufficient that she had seen me before," answered Miss Potter. "And be sure of this," she added, that very shortly she will not only acknowledge to a remembrance or my features but also to a remembrance of the years we lived together—aye, and to every detail of our lives! I don't doubt it," said Mr. Fraser, when she has been properly coached." "Listen to me for one moment," replied Miss Potter imprps.-ively. "I am not here to work you evil, I am here rather to keep you from evil. Mary W ilde is living I swear it before heaven You are wrongfully, fraudulently, enjoying her property. For mercy's sake give it up and avert the terrible consequences which otherwise MUST fall upon vou. Already you have placed yourself within the clutches of the law already you have committed an act for which you can be made to suffer a terrible penalty. But you are not dealing with hard or vindictive people you are dealing with these who are pre- pared to shew you every mercy, with those who are anxious to open up to you a way of escape. For heaven's sake take advantage of the opportunity." A few moments' silence followed this earnest, almost passionate, appeal. Mr. Fraser was the first to break it. Hear her ? "he exclaimed. Hear this woman, this wretched, cringing —— He broke off abruptly anfUurneù to Dr. Winches- ter. For her own sake," he said, "you had better take this woman away and order her back to her original obscurity." 11 1 shall do nothing of the kind," answered Dr. Winchester readily. "Then," cried Mr. Fraser, turning once more upon Miss Potter, "if you do not go of your own accord I will expose you Dr. "Tinchester shall know with what kind of person he has con- descended to associate himself in this conspiracy." You can tell Dr. Winchester what you please concerning me," replied Miss Potter, firmly. Remember," said Mr. Fraser, "you are bringing exposure upon yourself. Do net blame me when it is too late to avert the consequences. 1 give you a final chance. Go, and I will hold my peace." I will not go Enough cried Mr. Fraser. Then I will speak This woman is the sister of a forger, a forger whom she aided and abetted, whom she housed and secreted when the police were 01; his track. I saved her from the dock and from a convict's doom for her sake I tried to save her brother also, but could not. He was sentenced to twenty years pr-nal servitude. This is the woman with whom you are conspiring; this is her grati- tude towards mc J ° "Have you anything more to say?" asked -Miss Potter. J I have said enough to satisfy any sane person as to your wortlilesMieas, replied Mr. Eraser. "Your statement," answered Miss Potter, "is partly true and pari! false. The real eiiciuii- stances of the case are these," and she turned to Dr. Winchester as she proceeded. "Years ago, when I was a girl, my brother was in a firm in which Mr. Frase, was a j anior partner. They were on terms of intimate friendship. \11', Fraser came frequently to our house. He pn.fVssM to be in love with me I reciprocated his love. We became engaged. Forgery IC. committed on a large scale in Mr. I1 reisers firm. Suspicion fell upon my brother. At Mr. Eraser's request, as well as through the natural promptings of a sister's h.ve, I denied mv brother's presence iu the house when he was secreted there. lIe was eventually captured, tried, and convicted. That I aided and abetted lum in the forgery is hn absolute and unqualified falseh.. After my brother's conviction I toid Mr. Fraser (who then bote the name c-f Maxwell) that our en^-a^e- ment must he broken of! that I would not let him run the risk of blighting his prospects by uniting himself to one to whose name was attached so dark a stigma. Athrsi lie would not hear of our engagement 9 being terminated at first lie was brave am; loyal. Soon afterwards, however, lie came to me with the news that-;he had dissolved pai tuership with the firm, and attributed the dissolution to the part he had taken in defending my brother. I must tell 'yO:1 that he hai! contributed i, towards my broi u<-r r> J defence, aitiungh the fiun v. as not aware of the fact. All ihty knew was that he had dvfended him verbally as far as lie could. Again I urged upon h:nl the advisability of breaking off our engagement, and this time he agreed to it; not, lie declared, because his affection had grown less for me, hut because his prospects were so poor. A little later he married a Itdy with money. He came to see me once during their engagement, and assured me that he was only going to marry for numcy, which would enable bun to p;eserve a relative fiom pending ruin and disgiace. I believed him implicitly. In those days, I behoved every word lie pleased to utter. With the very f'lmdl means left at my disposal—for my brother's rlefence had cost me dearly-I smarted a small lady's school. Shortly after commencing my scholastic labours Mr. Eraser came to me with the earnest u-quest that I would take charge of an infant, his liaif-brother's child. He drew a pathetic pictuieof the family trouble that had fallen upon his half-brother, Arnold Wilde. I con- sented to take the child, and received a small quarterly payment for her maintenance. She lived wi'h .me from that time without our once being separated until she reached the blossom of early womanhood, until Mr. Fraser removed her from my house in November last. Was it likely, was it that I should be mistaken as to her identity when I met her the other evening? One word more and I have finished—one word in justice to the dead. Only four years ago my brother died. lie was never the same man after his long and terrible incaicei at-ion. I was present at his death- bed I nursed him through liisfinalillnc-ss. Le"s than an hour before he passed away, and, when we were alone together, he said, 'Sister dear, I do not like to go to my rest without telling yon that I was not so black as I was painted in the one great mistake of my life. I was guilty, I own, but I did not commit the crime with which I was charged for my own benefit; T did it for a dear friend's sake, to save him from disgrace.. You can hardly believe this, I dare say, but it is tine, true as I lie dying here, dear but I loved him, loved him closer than a biother and you loved him, too, dear. That was all he said.' Miss Potter's voice trembled as she uttered the concluding sentences of her pathetic retrospect. A suppressed sob escaped her in the silence that fol- lowed. Even Mr. Eraser did not attempt to speak for some seconds. Your version of the past," he said at last, is much more elaborate than mine. You forgot that the plain unvarnished truth needs no sentimental adornment in the telling romance admits of it. If Dr. Winchester likes to accept your cleverly-stated tissue of falsehoods he may." I accept Miss Potter's statement as the truth," replied Dr. Winchester. And what then ?" exclaimed Mr. Fraser. Do you imagine that by so doing you improve your position ?" "It in no respect alters my position beyond strengthening, if possible, my belief in Miss Potter's integrity, and confirming my conviction, did it need I confirmation, of your villainy Mr. Fraser's eyes glittered with passion in the gathering darkness. Your insults, sir," he said, are worthy of you. Insult is a sure and certain sign of conscious weakness." "Let us waste no more time in idle recrimina- tion," answered Dr. Winchester. In the face of this lady's assurance that your niece still lives, and that this stone bears a false record, are you deter- mined to persist in the illegal retention of her pro- perty ? Think of the inevitable consequences of such a course, to say nothing of its cruel iniquity. Think of your future, Mr. Fraser, of the shame, dis- grace, and misery you will bring upon wife and daughter. Think of all this, I beg of you. As Miss Potter has truly stated, you are not dealing with cruel or vindictive people. The past will be forgiven, and the evil you have committed will be hushed up, if you consent to do your duty now." I mean to do my duty by my wife and daughter In retaining what I know to be my own, and what will eventually be theirs should they survive ma You are a cunning and a clever knave, Winches- ter, ud you havt a clever and a cunning woman in with you, hut. I Miui.lt ou;,wit you ootii assure j &a sve ai.e standing over m\ poor niece's grave You decline, then, to embrace the opportunity offered you ? said Dr. Winchester. '• i decline to be robbed !J; '• i decline to be robbed !J; I '•'Enough t" said Dr. Winchester. "Go your own way, .and take the consequences. Miss Putter, take my arm, and permit me to see you home." "One moment. exekimed Mr. Tra.er, as they were on the point of leaving him to his own reflec- tions. They paused to hear what he might wish to say. Why, let me ask you, Dr. Winchester, if you are siiicue ia your delusion tha.t Miss Romaine is my niece, have you not confronted me with her in- stead of with this woman ? I'r one thing, Mian Romaine is absent from home." T!.n.t: is !i poor excuse You could have sent for her, or you could have taken me to her but you [ have not even suggested either course." Yon will have to confront her soon enough," an. swered Dr. Winchester. You ate evasive, sir," replied Mr. Eraser. Shall I tell you why you have not suggested a meeting ? .<'«. you dan.ti hui Because you know she would give the lie to your assumption. Because you know that even were she under your instructions to say, she recognised me as her uncie, I could prove her a liar by putting questions to her. Wert; she to recogoise you she might not be able to answer your questions, said Dr. Winchester. You know she could do neither, and therefore you keep her in the background until you have sufficiently coached her to face the ordeal of con- fronting me with any hope of coining respectably through it." Think what you please," said Dr. Winchester contemptuously. Coward cried Mr. Fraser, white with passion, and eager to make the most of what he felt to be a commanding position, "Coward I challenge you to bring Edith Romaine face to face with me in the presence of independeut witnesses, or witnesses of any kind, within the next eight-and-forty hours." I shall bring you face to face with her when I please," answered Dr. Winchester, who felt bitterly the weakness of his position and the strength of his opponent's, which the latter, alas, had not been slow to detect. "I challenge you," cried Mr. Fraser, to bring her face to face with me within a week" I give you a whole week If you are honest you cannot decline that. If you do decline, every one will know, and shall know, that you are a clumsy conspirator Do you accept the challenge?" "I accept none of your challenges." A loud derisive laugh broke from Mr. Fraser's lips; he raised his hat with mock polibeness to Miss Potter and Dr. Winchester, who then quitted the cemetery, with a gay, elastic step, in front of them. Dr. Winchester felt crushed, overwhelmed. Would the one great drawback, which he had recognised and dreaded all along, and which his enemy had detected and speedily acted upon, prove the ruin of his honest i endeavours after all ? Oh, for the restoration of the lost memory! Would that restoration ever come l and U it did, would it not be too late? /To ha continued, i

HOW A GOOD SHIP WAS LOST.; J On the night of October 27tb, 1842, the good tóhip Mary Compton," of Bristol, England, was struggling with a fearful gale off the coast of North America. The wind blew furiously, but the weather was clear, and the captain expected every moment to get sight of the light in the light- house on the Iron Rock Shoals. This lighthouse marked the entrance to the harbour. Once there, and they were safe. Sme of his position, he sailed on confidently. Five minutes later the ship struck with a fearful shock and went to pieces Four men, including the captain, were saved. On reaching the shore they found a straDga thing had happened. An enemy of the lighthouse keeper bad bound him hand and foot and extinguished the light. Souls, as well as ships, steer by the lights. Hope is tha most important lighthouse in the world. What shall be said of the man who darkens it in the fa-e of a storm-tossed spirit ? You are beyond human aid." These words were said by a physician to a woman who had ccme to consnlt him. Admitting that he thought so, had he the right to say so ? No, for he might be wrong-and in any case he bad no business to put out the light. This woman had been ill for some time. In Jute, 1889, she was greatly alarmed by her symptoms. Her heart palpitated, and she was so giddy she could scarcely. fatan d. Her head whirled, and," she said, all objects seemed to go into a cloiid." She had to hold herself up or sic down for fear of falling. She broke out in a sweat although cold as death. A dreadful cough racked her frame so that she could not lie down in bed and sleep. I could scarcely crawl about the house," she says, I was so weak. I tried diflarent remedies and medicines without avail. I went to the Dis- pentary at New Briggate and asked the doctor to tell me the worst. His answer wap, I have mixed you some medicine; you can take it or leave it.' I took it for three weeks, and then gave up in despair. I talked with two other physicians. The last one said, Yozt are past human aid.' My heart sank within me, for I had five little children, and my death would leave them without a mother's love and care. I went home and cried till I was sick. I had no appetite and had lost flesh till I was thin as a ghost 1M, mother came to see me and did net know me. My skin was of a green and yellow colour, and when I ate anything it seemed to stick in my threat, About this 1 commenced vomiting, and what I threw up was tinged with blood. Once I began to vomit at nine o'clock on a Saturday morning, and scarcely got rest from it until Monday morning. At this time I remembered that Mrs Wilson, with whom I formerly worked in Crawford's Mill, in East-street, Leeds (where I live), had been cured by Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup. So I sent to Mr Jesson's, the chemist, in Great Garden- street, and got a bottle. A few doses stopped the vomiting, and by degrees from day to day I felt better. Soon I could eat a dry crust, and by the time I had finished the second bottle I had got over all my bad symptoms, and was fast getting my strength back. I am now (April 1890) in better health than ever before in my life. "I should have taken Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup sooner, but my husband was out of work, and we had only a trifle coming in from his club. But I thank God I did get it at last, and it cured me, bad off as I was. All my friends and neigh- bours know the facts I have related, and I will reply to any letters of inquiry." (Signed), Mrs Ann Mills, 40, Bread-street, York-road, Leeds. This was a case of indigestion and dyspepsia, with symptoms showing how far it had affected the nervous system. A few months, or possibly weeks more, and Mrs Mills would have had no tale to tell. She Jid wrong to wait one hour for any reason, after having known what Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup had done tor her friend Mrs Wilson.

THE CONSTABLESHIP OF CARNARVON CASTLE. -The London Gazette of Friday night contains the following:—Treasury-chambers, Sept. 25th, 1890. Her Majesty has been pleased to direct the issue of letters patent, under the great seal oi the United Kingdom, appointing Sir John Hemy Puleston, Knight, to be the Constable of Carnar- von Castle in the room of the Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon, deceased. Epps's COCOA—GRATEFUL AND COMFORTING.—" By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by a careful application of the fine properties of well- selected COCOA, Mr. Epps has provided ou breakfast tables with a delicately flavoured beverage which may save upimany heavy doctors' bills. It is by the judicious use of such articles of diet that a constitution may be gradualy built up until strong enough to resist every tendency to disease. Hundreds of subtle maladies are floating around us ready to attack wherever there is a weak point. We may escape many a fatal shaft by keeping ourselves well fort fied with pure "blood and a properly nourished frame." Oivil Service Gazefle.-Made simply with boiling water or milk. Sold onlylin packets,°by Grocers, labelled-Ie JAMES Errs & Co., Homoepathic Chemists, London.Also makers of Epps's Afternoon Chocolate Essence. COLMANS SINAPIRM.-The Impiovoi Mustard Plaster.-Sold by all Chemists and Grocers, or Post seven penny stamps for packet of three to COLMAN'I 18, Cannon-street, London.

AUSTRALASIA REVISITED, BEING EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF A TRIP ROUND THE WORLD. [BY JOSIAH HUGHES]. 1 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17TH.—At noon to-day, in latitude 4.36 south, longtitude 89:03, east thermo 84 degrees—2490 miles to our first landing in Western Australia-to which I am desirous of J hastening, and although I have much very inter- eating matter in my diary, which I should have been glad to lay before my readers, I think it my ¡' duty to condense my experiences of the next seven days, occupying fifteen pages of my diary, into this letter, so that I may be free to commence my j Australasian experiences without further delay.. The voyage during these seven days was mostly very rough, the ship rolling and pitching most un- comfortably, interfering with digestion and the ¡ usual routine of ship life, most of the passengers being inactive, sleepy and moody. I spent much of my time in reading Emerson, Marcus Aurelius, ¡I and Epictetus, all suggesting most enjoyable strains of thought which I have committed to my I diary, and have much pleasure in re-perusing them, but must not introduce them here. I may say that' I know of no philosophers, ancient or modern, that; affect we eo much as old Epictetus and his noble I disciple Antoninus. Their books are fail of in- j centives to virtuous lives, and Expressions of peace- < ful resignation to the decrees of destiny or nature, j Emerson is also very beautiful, but he is not so direct; he is slow and wordy, plays too elabor- J ately and fulsome for the directness of my reasor,iug powers to following him. I am often done with the subject before he gets half through i his illustrations, and I lose the thread and become sleepy; but he has some beautiful bits, like gleam- j ing gems, such as this Beware wheu the Great! God lets loose a thinker on this planet, then all; things are at risk. It is as when a conflagration has broken out io a great city and no man knows; what is safe; there is not a piece of science but its flank may be turned to-morrow. There is not; any literary reputation, not the etarnal names of I fame that may not be revised and condemned. The very hopes of man, the thoughts of his heart, i the religion of nations, the manner and morals of j mankind are ail at the mercy of a new genera!:z j ation. Generalization is always a new influx of the Divinity into the mind, hence the thrill that; attends it." The smoking saloon was very attractive during these seven days the dis- II cussions were very interesting and comprised all manner of topics, social, political, and religious. I Three intelligent Jews took very active part in them all, and, having travelled much and resided in America and Australia, discussed freely j the habits of the various countries. They were far from being orthodox Hebrews, and distinctly j repudiated the idea of infallibility with regard to j their ancient Scriptures, and gave it as their j opinion that the adhesion to the Jewish religion in these days acioog intelligent Jews was more a matter of sentiment and national patriotism than anything else in the minds of an increasing number of their people. Of course, on board ship, where no one knows or is known to one another, great freedom of speech is claimed. I The service held in the second saloon on Sunday evening was well attended, and a spirited sermon was preached by a Wesleyan minister, after which there was an adjournment into the smoking saloon, where a very intellectual conversation was carried on until the lights were put out. Six or seven took part in it and considerably more showed their sympathies. During two days of fine weather the games, tournaments, and other entertainments were performed which had been postponed on account of the unfavourable weather. Barnum's show was the 1st on the list, This was a singular enteitaioment: for the performing animals they had two men inserted in an elephant's real skin; -another in a baboon's skin, another in a bear's, and another in a donkey's. They had the usual clown hnd driver, and as many of the other adjuncts of a circus as they could find on board of a ship. The performers were very clever, much skill and wit was exhibited, and the performance was really wonderful. Next day the tournaments took place, in which a great number took part. These were all carried out with great good humour, and fully engaged the attention of passengers all I day until dusk, every one enjoying the enthusiasm of the day and had all the squeamisb- ness of the previous rough weather cleared away. On the following day the remaining games were played, and a grand conceit and distribution of prizes took place in the evening in the 1st saloon, presided over by the captain. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24TH. — We arrived at Albany at 6 a.m., being a run of 292 miles since noon yesterday. The sight of land as we entered I King George's Sound was very pleasing, and the smooth water and absence of rolling was very conducive to a hearty breaktast; but before breakfast we had the post office employees on board with letters and telegrams for the pass angers, and guess my happiness when two letters and a telegram were handed to me by the stewart—the former from my daughter and her husband at Ballarat, congratulating me upon my arrival on the great Australian continent, and the latter from Melbourne, in these words :—" Welcome Australian waters, expect salute you personally on arrival, Williamstown, J. Traill." This was great comfort. In these three and their connections centred all my hopes of enjoyiig my visit to Australia, and to make it profitable and here they were, well hearty-sind prosperous, and within a few more sailing days' distance. I went ashore immediately after breakfast, and found the post- office close to the jetty, when I gave in my diary, explaining that it was such and not an ordinary letter. The postmaster instructed me to open the two ends and write on the outside Manuscripts only," that the packet would then go for a charge of two-pence. I had been all along under the impression that there was a cheap rate for this class of writing, but the stewards on board always contradicted me. I paid hitherto sixpence per half ounce, and had to pay 28 6d at Malta, 28 at Brindisi, 33 at Cairo, 3s 6d at Aden, and 2s 6d at Colombo, whereas if I had known for a certainty what I now learn, the whcle of this correspondence could have been done for one shil- ling, instead of Shirteen shillings and sixpence. This fact is worth knowing to those who wish to write as I did. Manuscripts of this kind, left open at each end, are transmitted at book post rate. Albany is situated in King George's Sound about 35 deg. south latitude, technically in the Indian Ocean, but really facing the great Southern Ocean, and is the most southern portion of West- ern Australia. I was delighted with this beauti- fully situated little town, and during the 3$hoars which weie allowed us on shore I walked in every direction until I reached the top of some hills by which it is surrounded. It reminded me very much of Geelong in the colony of Victoria, as I knew it in the fifties, although not capable of the development of the latter on account of its being too circumscribed by rugged hills. Still there are many things in com- mon-the grand bay and harbour, the streets running up the hill straight from the bay a certain distance, and then running down to a plain or laige valley on the other side, as if you went down to South Geelong. The Sound or harbour is also full of bays, surrounded by lofty hills. The hills at the bark of the town are granite, and here and there collosal boulders of the same, rounded and worn, evidently by the action of the sea while submerged. Between these boulders are patches of good soil, filled with beautiful flowering shrubs: the variety and beauty of these were most charm ing to sea-faring travellers like ourselves, and all who went ashore vied with one another in the ex- tent of his or her collection, which were afterwards freely used for the decoration of the saloon. I never so earnestly wished that I was more of a naturalist. I cannot describe them, and I must ask my readeis to be batisfied with my declaration that they varied in species as well as in shapes and colours, some of them being most graceful in shape and gorgeous in colour. I was surprised to see them developed so early in spring, and all growing wild without any cultiva- tion. It was a most delightful experience. The further I went into the country, the more the l hill sides were covered with flowers, and although we were told that it had beau iviLiag ove y day J for the previous week, the footpaths and roads I were beatifuliy cleans. The white crystals from I the disintegrated and crumbling granite remaining while the sludge had beea waaaui away by the rams. The sensation of being once more on Australian soil after an absence of twenty-four years was one I shall never forget, and everything reminded me of my old colonial experiences of thirty-seven years ago, when Victoria was young and undeveloped, as this western colony; and I grieved that my aear wife, the companion of those early experiences, was not wita me to witness a repetition of those youthful times. Toe gam treps, the she oak trees, the wood yards with th?ir stacks of firewood, principally she cak, split ioto quarters, and looking so red and tempting to pJQce ou a winter's fire; and then, a little inrther on, in a sort of park like paddock, were the cows and the bullocks, with their tinkJiug btlls, making most melodious sound. The cottages, rufiuy of them so Lke ours in Geelong, sooift of theoi with the old wood shingle roof, other:-1 covered with galvanised corrugated iron. Tue great characteristic of the neighbourhood is the range of granite hills which extet-ds for many miles, and the immense boulders already alluded to, many of them weighing several hundred tons detached, and completely separated from the main hills and doubtless formed by the erooiog in- fluence of water which washed over them in anciont epochs. The town of Albany is well laid out and admirably situated. It has a railway for goods running from the wharfs to the station, where it joins the main line of rails running through the best agricultural land frr 300 miles, connecting it with Perth, the metropolis, on the Swan river. The inhabitants are very sanguine of the discovery in the immediate future, of rich deposits of gold, and I should say (from my crude experience of gold countries) that it is a very possible contingency, and although, as it is, with- out the assistance of a gold field the Albanians are quite cheerful as to the prospects of their beauti. ful little town; but should gold be found in the neighbourhood it would immediately jump into prcsperity and importance, unless, indeed, the discovery should be made on the southern side of the Sound, which is a very likely thing. Then there would rise a rival town on the opposite shore. But, anyway, my convic- tion remains that there is a great future for Western Australia, and that it will commence in earnest at a very early date. I wrote a letter from here to my daughter at Ballarat, and sent a telegram to my friend Tradl, at Melbourne acknowledging their kind welcome, and then re turned to the ship in time for dinner. The ship immediately resumed the voyage. We enjoyed the view of the hills and ltlands as we steamed out of the harbour. After getting clear of the headlands, we steered due east across the great Australian Bight, for Adelaide, which we expect to reach in three days and, while crossing this Australian bight we will, in our next, give a little of the history of Western Australia, and enumerate its attractions as a field for emigration, much of my information being derived from Western Australian colonists, who were returning in our ship, as also from official documents supplied to me by the minister of lands.

CARNARVON vJOCJNTY SESSIONS. ) SATCTRDAY.—Before Captain Wynn-Griffith and I other magistrates. A Young Thief.— loan Eilis, who said he was going 16 years of age, was charged with steal- ing a fishing rod, line, and flies, the property of W. Liowelyn Jones, a fitter employed at the Dinorwic Slate Quarry. At the outset, the chair- man said he uoutrstood that two of the magis- trates had received letters from certain individuals ( bearing upon the case. No notice would be taken by the bench cor what appeared to be a most reprehensible practice. The evidence showed that the prisoner, who was not connected with the Dinorwic quarry, forcibly entered into a bar- racks," and stole the articles referred to, together with a quantity of provisions. There was a previous conviction against the accused, who pleaded guilty, and was fined 20a and 22s costs. A Sunday Squabile at Ebenezer.—Laura Lewis, Ebenezer, summoned Robert Parry, a neighbour, for assaulting her on tbe previous Sunday. Several witnesses were called on both sides. During the examination of a witness for the 'defence, a dis. pute took place between the chairman and Mr J. T. Roberts, the solicitor for the defence, as to a remark made by the witness. In resuming the re-examination, Mr Roberts was heard to say that he should go on with the case, although he did not think it worth while doing so. Mr D. P. Wil- liams, one of the magistrate thought that Mr Roberts's observation was very improper and uncalled for.—Mr Roberts But I must say that the chairman's remarks just now was net justi- fiable, simply because the witness had said that she believed the defendant to be in his own house during the time his door was closed.—Mr George Farren I think, as one of the magistrates, that the chairman has a right to make any remark he thinks proper.—Mr D. P. Williams I think that Mr Roberts ought to withdraw the remark made by him.—Mr Roberts Well, I don't know about that. The witnesses for the plaintiff were allowed to give their evidence without being impeached at all; but when my witnesses are in the box they are attacked right and left.—The Chairman: Don't say that, Mr Roberts.—Mr Carter The witnesses for the complainant were also put to a most searching inquiry in order to arrive at the truth.-T he bench fined the defendant 2s 6d and ccsts.

The Editor of the Medical Annual speaks the highest tsrms of CADBUBY'S COCOA as a beTeragej and; a food for invalida on account of its absolute purity, high quality, and great solubility and counsels the Medical Profession to remember, in recommending Cocoa, that the name CADBURY on any packet is a guarantee of purity. BETTER THAN WEALTH. We have frequently met with persons possessed with an abundant store of the filthy lucre, which re- presents what ia termed wealth, but through imprud- ence and excesses of various kinds have deprived themselves of earth's choicest blessing—health and rendered themselves incapable of enjoying their wealth. Many of these would willingly part with all they now possess to regain the health they have lost through their own folly or neglect. Bv sumptuous living, a lack of proper attention to diet, and other sanitary precautions, they have grossly impaired their health, impoverished and poisoned their blood, and weakened their constitutions. Impure or impoverished blood is a fruitful source of many of the ailment that "flesh is heir to," and is generally caused by some derangemeht of one or more of the vital organs of body :-for instance by defect- tive digestion and a torpid or sluggish liver. It is de- monstrated mere clearly from day to day that the most successful remedy for all ailments caused by Indigestion, Deranged Liver, or Impure blood is Gwilym Evans's Quinine Bitters. The most common sumptuous of the derangement of j these organs, and consequently of impure blood, are,—dyspepsia, biliousness, nervousness, low spirits, melancholy, unea«y sleep, fright'ul dreams, loss of appetite, skin eruptions, &c, from seme of which so many suffer, and which mauy discomforts in our homes, and sometimes ead to still a.ore painful and appalling results. The Quinine Bitters which has proved so efficacious to thousands of fufferers from the above and other ail- ments is composed of Nature's Remedies only, and contains no mineral or other injurious substance. It effective when taken by the strong man, and will not injure the weakest and most delicate woman or child; it is suitable to all ages, at all seasons of the year it direct by aims to remove the cause and root of the evil; is ea-ily obtained, and can always be at hand, and is a remedy that had proved efficacious in numerous instances when all other remedies had failed. At this season of .the year no one should be with- out Gwilym Evans's Quinine Bitters. A course taken now will be invaluable in giving tone to the system, new life to the blood, and in bracing the nerves. Avoid imitations Remember that none are genuine except" Gwilym Evans' Quinine Bitters." See the name ou the stamp, label, and bottle. Shonld any difficulty be experienced in procuring it, write to the Proprietors, who will forward it per return parcel post, carriage pafd, to any address. In bottles at 2a 6d and 4s tia ea\;h. Sold by all chemists, Proprietors: QU7NINE BITTERS MANUFACTURING CO.. LIMITED, LLANELLY, SOUTH WALES.