The North Wales Express

[ALE SIGHTS RESERVED.] SONS OF FIR E, BY MISS BRADDON, Author of "Lady Audley's Secret," "The Fatal Three," The Day Will Come," Lost for Love.' The Doctor's Wife," Whose was the Hand?" "Thou Art the Man," &c.,&c. CHAPTER XIX. WHAT WAS A SPECK EXPANDS INTO A STAR." Had the landlady of the house in Great Ormond Street been anybody in the world except my old nurse, I doubt if any philanthropic purpose would have inspired me with the boldness to carry through the work I had undertaken. To appear before the average lodging-houw keeper within half an liour of midnight, and with such a protegee as Esperanza Campbell upon my hands, would have required the courage of a lion, and at thai time I was a particu- larly shy and sensitive young man, brought up in the retireip at of a remote country house and i- tie society of a mother whom I loved very dearly, but, as we are told to love God, with fear and trembling. My constitutional shyness, the natural outcome of narrow surroundings, had kept me from making friends at the University, and I believe it as sheer frity which had prompted Gerald Standish to take me under his wing. His kindness was rewarded by finding me a likeable companion. wLse character eupplied some of the qualities which w ere wantirg in his bright and buoyant disposition. We were feai friends; and *-emalned friends until the end of his too brief life. So much to explain that it was only my con- fidence -n my old nurse's indulgence which enabled me to cut the knot of our difficulty in disposing of Eaperanza Campbell. My faithful Martha and her excellent .sband were sleeping the sleep of the just in a ground-floor room at the back of the house, while their rnaid- servant slumbered still more soundly in a back attio. Haopilv Martha was a light sleeper, and had trained he#elf to wake at the lightest cry in seasons of measles or whooping-cough, teething or lntantiie bronchitis; so my second application to the beU ane miocker brought a prompt response. Bolts were Srawn, a key was turned a chain was unfastened, the door was opened a couple of inches, and a timid voice asked what was wanted. It is I. Martha, Georgie Beresford. I ve brought you a lodger.' „ "'Oh, come now, Mr. George, tbat's one of your jokes. You've been to the theatre, and you re plav- ing a trick upon me. Go home now. do. like a dear voung gentleman, and come and have a cup of tea with me some afternoon when you've got half an hour to spare.' "'Martha, you are keeping a very sweet young lady out in the cold. For goodness' sake en the door, and let me explain matters.' "'Can't she take her in?' asked Gerald, nn- patientlv. from the cab. Martha opened the door. and exhibited herself reluctantly in her oasual costume of flannel dressing- gown and tartan shawl. "'What do you mean, Mr. George? vhat can yon mean by wanting lodgings for a young lady at this time of night?' Sounds queer, don't it?' said Gerald, who had fcounded up the steps and burst into thedimwaina- ooted hall, lighted only by the candle Martha was carrying. The fact is, we're in a difficulty, and Mr. Betesford assures me you can get us out of lt ,< And then in the feweet words and with most persuasive m?- he explained what we wanted, a home and a protector for a blameless young girl whor, the force of circumstances had Aung upon our haDh at half-past eleven o'clock in the evening. Somehow we must get rid of her. She WM a gentle- man's daughter, and we could not take her to the workhouse. Reputation, hers and ours, forbade that we should take her to an hotel. Not a word did. Gerald say about table-turn mg or spirit-rapping. He was shrewd enough to guess that -nv hint at the seance vauld have prejudiced honest Martha against our charge. I'm sure I don t know what to do,' said Martha: and I could see that she was suspicious of Gerald's airv manner, and doubtful even of me. 4 My husband's fast asleep. He isn't such a light sleeper as I am. I don't know what he would say- Never mind what he would say,' interrupted Gerald. What you have to say is that youH take Miss Campbell in and give her a tidy room some- where-øhe ain't particular, poor thing-and make her comfortable for a week or two while she looks oat for a f.ituation.' Oh, she's on the look-out for a situation, is she?' said Martha, evidently mollified by the idea of a bread-winning young person. 'You see, Mr. George she went on, appealing to Sie. 'in London one can't be too particular. This house is all Benjamin and I have to look to in our old age; we've Tint our little all into it; and if the young lady happened to be rather dressy; or sang comic songs; or went to the theatre in cabs; or had Kntleuieo leave letters for her why, it would just our ruin. Our first floor is let to one of the most particular of widow ladies. I don't believe there's a more particular lady in London.' My dear Martha, do you think I'm a fool or a knaveT This girl is a village organist's daughter—1 r Ah, Mr. George, they must all begin, said Martha, shaking her head philosophically. "'She is mourning for her father-an orphan- friendless and unhappy—' As for conduct, propriety, and all that kind of thing. Ill answer for her all if she were my wn sister,' put in Gerald, in his splendidly reckless way; 'and that being the case, I hope you are not froing to keep the poor young lady sitting out there in a cold cab till to-morrow morning.' Martha listened to Gerald and looked at me. If you're sure it's all right. Mr. George,' she murmured, 'I'd rather do anything in the world to oblige you; but this house is our all—' Yeq. yes,' Gerald exclaimed, impatiently. < You toM us that before. Bring her in, George. It's all settled.' This was a happy stroke, for old Martha, would have stood in the hall with her guttering candle and in her deshabille of flannel and tartan debating the matter for another quarter of an hotr: but when I brought the pale girl in her black frock up 'he steps, and handed her into the old woman's care. the motherly heart melted all at Mice, and all hesitancy was at an end. "'Poor voung thing; why. she's little more than a child! How pale and cold you look, poor dear. TH go down and light a bit of fire and warm a. cup -f broth for you. My second floor let, the day ksfore yesterday. Ill soon get the bednom ready 101' you.' That's as it should be,' said I. "Y lull f"id yourself safe and comfortable here, Miss Campbell, with the kindest woman I know. Ill call :n a few ri^ys, and see how vou are getting on., "I slipped a couple of sovereigns into ny oM nurse's palm as I wished her good night- The cabman brought in the poor little wooden trunk. ceived a Hberal fare, and went his way in peace, hile Gerald and I walked to the Tavistock, glad *'» cool down after the evening's excitement. What an adventure!' said he.. Of course I always knew it was humbug; but I never tho ight it was quite such transparent humbug.' That girl would have taken any one in," taid I. Whv. because she's young and pretty, after » nther sickly fashion!' ''No, because she was thoroughly in earnest, ij i believed 'n the thing herself.' You really think she was a dupe, and not an v -omplice?' "*I am sure of it. Her distress was very real. Ar.d at her age, and with her imaginative nature—' ''What do you know of her nature?'" he asked, »i-,rt»ly. The question and his manner of asking it led me up suddenly, all a dreamer of morninp dreams is awakened by the matter-of-fact voice of the servant who comes to call him. 'What did I know of her? What assurance had 1 that her sobs and lamentation, her patfietic ptorv J! the father so loved and mourned were not as spurious as the rest of the show, as much a cheat a* the iron rod and the leather strap. How diVl f know? Well, I oould hardly have explained the basis of my conviction, but I did know; and I would have staked my life upon her honesty and her irnocence. I woke next morning to a new FeT,,i;e of res- ponsibility. I had taken his helpless gH'" fate into my hands, and to me she must lock for aid in chalking out a path for herself. T hud to find her the means of earning hor dpi'v bread. Koutably. and not as a drudge. The problem was difficult of solution. I had heard encngh of the V't OJ the average half-educated governess—the life harder, the pay lees, than a servant's. Yet what else than a nursery governess could this frirl ■*<> at her age, and with her attain- ments, which I conclude^ were not above t.^8 ordinary school trirl's. The look out was gloomy, and I was arlsd to fhut mv eyes to trie difficulties of the situation, telling m^elf that fi-y good Martha would srive the poor child a com- itrtable heme upon very moderate terms—st>"h tl-rms as I could afford.fo pay out of mv vprç- rioderate allowance, and that in a month or two omething— in the language of the immortal ificawber-would turn no. "There was but another week of the Long. a week which under ordinary circumstances I should have spent; with mv widowed mother at her hon«e in ti,4 country, but which I decided to snend in Londoi., accepting Gerald's invitation to,share his rooms iii Arundel Street. and do a final round of the theatres; an invitation I had previously de- clined. During that week I was often in Great Ormond Street. md oootrived to learn a srreai deal i ) ■more about Esperanza't character and history—ol her history all she had to tell; of her character, ■which to me seemed transparent as a forest stream- t let, all I could divine. I called in Ormond Street on the second day of her residence there, and found good Nurse Martha in the best possible humour. It was four o'clock in the afternoon, and she insisted that I should stop for a cup of tea, and as tea- making—that is to say, the art of producing better cup of tea than anybody else could produce from the same canister, kettle, and teapot-had always been a special talent of Martha's, I was glad to accept her hospitality. Misa Campbell had gone for a little walk round the squares, she informed me. She doesn't care about going out,' explained Martha; she'd rather sit over a Dook or' play the harmonium. But I told her she must take an airing for her health's sake.' "X was disappointed at sot finding Esperanza ia the tidy back parlour to which Nurse Martha ushered me—a room of exemplary neatness and snug- ness, erilivened by those living presences which always make for cheerfulness vuigar as we may deem tnem—a glass tank of gold fish, a canary bird, and a magnificent tabby cat, sleek, clean, luxuriously idle in purring contemplation of the bright little tire in the old-fashioned grate, that grate with hob3 which reminded me of my nursery deep in the heart of the country. Now you sit down in Blake's armchair, Mr. George, and let's have a talk over missy. I shouldn't have taken those two sovereigns from you the night before last if I hadn't bran all of a muddle with the suddenness of the thing. I don't want to be paid in advance for doing a kindness to a helpless girl.' "'No, Martha; but since the helpless girl was on my hands, it's only right I should pay you somehow, and we may as well settle that question at once, as it may be several weeks before Miss Campbell is able to find a suitable situation. Several months, more likely. Do you know how young she is, Mr. George?' Eighteen. Eighteen last birthday—c.;ly just turned eighteen, and she's much younger than most girls of eighteen in all her ways and thoughts. She's clever enough with her hands, poor child. Nothing lazy or lolloping about her—made her own bed and swept and tidied her own room without a word from me; but there's a helplessness somewhere—in her thoughts. I don't know how she'll ever set about getting a situation—I don't know what kind of 'i nation she's fii for She's much too young and too .pretty for a governess.; ^xot too young for a nnrsery-governees, surely.' A nursery-governess means a nursery-maid without a cap, Mr. George. I shouldn't like to see her brought to that. I've taken to her already. Benjamin says, with her sweet voice and pretty face, she ought to go on tl.e stage.' I was horrified at the idea. Ma.rtba., how can you speak of such a thing? Have you any idea what the life of a theatre means for an inexperienced girl-for a beautiful girl, most of all?' Oh. IVo heard there are temptations; but a prudent young woman can take care of herself any- where, Mr. George; and an imprudent young woman will go wrong ili a country parsonage, or a nunnery. If Mi3S Campbell is to earn her own living, she'll have to face dangers and temptations, go where *he may. Shell have to take care of herself, poor child. Theie'll be nobody else to take care of her. I've heard that young women are well looked after in some thtatres-at Mr. Charles Kean's, for instance. I knew a young person that used to walk on in Louis the Eleventh —dreesed as a boy in blue and gold-and she told me that Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean was that particular The Keans are making a farewell tour in Australia, and. will never go into management again, Martha. You are talking nonsense.' Poor Martha looked crestfallen at this reproof. 'I dare say I am, Mr. George; but, for all that, I don't think Miss Oampbell will ever do much as a governess. It isn't in her. There's a helplessness, and a bendingness, and droopingness, if I may say so, about her character that won't do for a governess. The only mistress that- would keep her is the kind of mistress that would make a slave of her.' "'Hard lines,' I said, getting up and walking about the little back parlour. It was a third room quite at the back of the sub- stantial Georgian house; there was scant space for my restlessness between the old square piano, which served as a sideboard, and the fireplace by which my dear old Martha sat looking at me with a perturbed countenance. I began to think I had let myself in for a bad thing. What was I to do with this girl, whose fute I had in some measure taken into my hands? It had seemed easy enough to bring her to this quiet shelter, which she might leave in a week or w, braced up and ready to fight her battle of life—the battle we all have to fight somehow-a self-supporting young woman. Self-supporting, that was the point. I now remembered with terror that there is a large class of persons upon this earth whom not even the scourge of poverty can make self-supporting; a va.t multitude of feeble souls who resign themselves from the beginning of things to drift upon the stream of life, and are never known to strike out and swim for any shore, and so drift down to the ocean of death. Of these are the poor relations for whom cornet in nj is for ever being done, and who never do anythnig for themselves; of these the feeble scions of patr;ciap family trees, who are always waiting for sinecures under Government. God help her. poor soul; if she was one of hei'e invertebrates; and God help me in my responsibility towards her. I was an only son; the heir to a small estate in Suffolk, and an income of something unoer three thousand a year. I was not quite twenty years of age, and I had to maintain myself at the most ex- pensive college in Cambridge on an allowance that many of the rich young men with whom I associated would have oonsideied abject penury. I was not in a fast set. I did not hunt-indeed, with my modest income, hunting would have been impossible; but I was not without tastes which absorbed money the love of choice books. and fine engravings, the fancy for curios picked up here or there, the presence of which gave interest to my rooms, anu, perhaps, helped to reconcile ma to many long hours within closed doors. I had hitherto been most careful to live within my income, for I knew that it waa as much as my mother could afford to give me, taking into consideration her devotion to th. estate which was to be mine by and-by. and the maintenance and improvement of which had been to her as a religion. Her model cottages, her home-fann, the village church, to whose every improvement her purse had largely contributed, these were the sources of ex- penditure which kept her comparatively poor, and VJforbade any extravagance on my part. T All these facts were in mv mind that afternoon as I paced the narrow bounds of old Martha's sitting- room. C She will Lave to gpt her living,' I said severely, 118 the result of thes; mediations, which showed me nojuargin for philanthropy. • my mother been as some men's mothers, I might naturally have contemplated shifting the bur- den upon her shoulders. I might have told her Esperaoza's story, and handed Esperanza over to hot care as freely as if I had picked up a stray cat or dog. But my mother was not one of those soft, im- pressionable women who are alwavs ready to give the reins to sentiment. She was a good woman, and devotee much of her life and means to doing good, but her benevolence was restricted to the limits of her own parish. She would hardly listen to a tile of sorrow outside her own village. 'We h*ve so much to do for our own people, George,' she used to tell we; 'it in follv to be dis- tracted by outside claims. Here we know our re- turn for every shilling we give. We know the best and the worst about those we help.' Were I to tell her Esperanza s story, her sugges- tions for helping me out of my difficulty would be crueller than old Martha's. She would be for send- ing the girl into service as a housemaid, or f jr gutting her aa assisted passage to the Antipodes on an emigrant ship. Martha came to my rescue in my trouble now as she had done msAy a time when I wore a kilt, and when my naked knee: s had come into abrupt collision with a gravel path or a stony beach. She'll have to be older and wiser before she gets her own living, Mr. George,' said Martha; but aon t trouble about her. As long as I've a bed or a TT ^i8pare1* she C&D stoP with me and Benjamin, xler bite and sup won't hurt us, yoor thing, and I aon b want sixpence from you. She shall stop here tree gratis, Mr. George, till she finds a better heme,' 11 z «tni n,u/se, a tuS as if I had en iii v m Maodougal kilt." 1 *°» Martha I'm not going to impose on f J 8^U 1)6 able^ to pay yoHome! thing. Only I thought you might want two or three pounds a week for her board, and I could no(* manage that for an indefinite period.' Two or three pounds! Lor, Mr. George, if that s your notion erf prices, Cambridge landladies must be arpies. Why, I only get two guineas for my drawing-room floor, as a permanency, and lady- tena its even begrudge half-a-crown extra for kitchen fre. Let her stop here as long as she likes, Mr George, and never you think about monev. It's only her future I m thinking of, for there's a help- lessae t about her that- Ah, there she is,' as tho hall door slowly opened. I gave her my key. She s quite one of us already.' "She came quietly into the room and took my proffered hand without shyness or embarrassment. She was pale still, but the fresh air had brought a faint tint of rose into the pallid cheeks. She looked tven younger and more ohild-like to-day in her shabby morning frock and poor little black straw hat than she had looked the night before last. Her strong emotion then had given more of womanliness to the small oval face. To-day there was a sim. plicity in her aspect, as of a trusting child who took no thought of the future, secure in the kindness of those about her. I thought of a sentence in the gospel. Con- sider the lilies how they grow.' This child had grown up like a lily in the mild atmosphere of domestic love, and had been the easy dupe of a delusion which appealed to her affection for the dead. I called to see if you were quite comfortable Mid at home with Mrs. Blake,' I said, far more embarrassed by the situation than Esoeranza was.. •' Yes, indeed I am,' she answered in her sad sweet voice. I It is so nice to be with some one so kind and clean and comfortable. The Frau was not very unkind: but she was so dirty. She gave us such horrid things to eat—the smell of them made me ill—and then she said I was affected and silly, and the Herr 'lied to say I might starve if I could not eat their food. It made me think of my happy home with father, and our cosy little tea- table beside the fire. We did not always have dinner,' she added naively; 'neither of us cared much for that.' She hung over old Martha's shoulder with affectionate famiharity, and the horny old hand which had led my 'nfa.nt steps was held up to clasp her-, and the withered old face smiled. "'See how she gets round us,' said Martha, nodding at me. Benjamin is just as bad. And yew should hear her olay the armonian of an evening, and sing 'Abide with me.' Yo¡;'d hardly bear her without shprfdintr ta' To be continued.

in the Taff Val- ley. From her plamp, pleasant appearance one would hardly suppose that she had had a day's illness in her life. Yet, within a c o in p a ratively shlrt time, she has passed tbrough a most trying, and ap- parently a mor- tal, illness, which indeed, madf her friends des- pair that she would ever re- cover. Doctor after doctor was called in without success.a change of air and other means were tried, and all without success and when a lingering decline and death seemed the only prospects for her, a chance recom- mendatior bad such eminently gratifying results, that Miss Hancock was able to present the hardy- looking appearance in which the reporter found her. Miss Hancock, whose address is 36, Tyntaldwyn- terrace, Troedyrhiw, near Merthyr Tydfil, willingly granted an interview. She stated that she was twenty-one years old. About eighteen months previously she contracted a cold as the result of a slight chill, and it developed into symptoms of a most serious kind. It is Miss Hancock's opinion that she had dropsy. She was rendered extremely pale, weak, and feeble, and was not fit to do the household work which she had previously been doing. She states that she was very despondent, for she not only consulted local doctors, but was attended by medical men ut Merthyr, and also went away for a change, and yet after some months she made no improve- ment. Then it was, by one of those lucky chances which often have such a vital influence on human affairs, that she heard of the great benefits a neighbour had received fr< m Dr Williams' Pink Pills. On this recommendation Miss Hancocli procured six boxes of the Pills, and after two boxes had been used she began to feel considera ble benefit. She was speedily c o n v ? I e scent, eventually be- coming as strong as ever, and ab!e to do the work which had been too much for her just before. "Tjpon par- Able to do her work

ents, says a well-known doctor, "rests a great responsibility at the time their daughters are budding into womanhood. If your daughter is pale, complains of weakness, is tired out' upon the slightest ex- ertion if she is troubled with headache, backache, pain in the side; if her temper is fitful, and her appetite is poor, she is in a condition of extreme peril, a fit subject for the development of that most dreaded of all disease*—conou'uption. If you nutice any of these symptoms, lose b" time in pro- curing Dr Williams' Pink Pills. They will assist the pntient to develop properly and irsrularly; they will enrich the blood, and restore health's roses to the cheeks, bright eyes and a lightneos of step will surely follow their use, and all dangers of consumption and premature death will be averted. Wise and prudent mothers will insist upon their daughters taking Dr Williams' Piak Pills upon the approach of the period of puberty, and thus avoid all chances of disease or early, decay." Dr Wil- liams' Pink Pills cure not only cases like the above, but all the many disorders which arise from an im- poverished state of the blood and nerves, such as anaemia, pale and sallow complexion, general mus- cular weakness, loss of appetite, shortness of bieath, pains in the back, nervous headache, early decay, all forms of female weakness, hysteria, paralysis, locomotor ataxy, sciatica, palpitations, low vitality, and wasting strength from any cause. These pills are genuine only with thp full name, Dr Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People, and are sold by chemists and by Dr Williams' Medicine Com- pany, 46, Holborn viaduct,. London, K.C., at 2s 9d a box, or six for 13s 9d. T 'ey are unrivalled as a toji:c and strengthening medicine for both sexes.

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FOOTBALL. WELSH COAST LEAGUE. BAKGOR V. FLINT. fBy En Avant]. The gaiety of rations is eclipsed Bangor has been defeated. No longer does the sun shine in the heavens; no more doth the beauteous orb of night irradiate the earth with her calm effulgence illus- trious Thomas Cats and derisive Bluebottle Flies are alike devoid of interest How are the mighty fallen Freedom shrieked when Kosciuscko fell; but what price freedom when Bangor fell last Saturday ? Woe is me! England is begirt with sorrows. The Transvaal, the Matabele, and the Venezuelan crises, not to speak of the Soudan affair, rear their hydra-heads against us. But what of them ? All these we could have faced and over- come. But now, Alas Now, Bangor has been beaten in a League match, and the glory of the British Empire is extinguished. Mourn, Galatea! gnash your teeth oh Polyphemus Knock your heads against the wall, oh inhabitants of Bangor! In vain did the genial one come out of his tent, and rage io the forefront of the war In vain did Buckland squander his mighty energies all over the battle-field! In vain! Flint, 5 goals; Bangor, 2. I survive, it is true, but that is all; but ere I cease to exist let me tell the bitter yarn. 'Twas thus: Bangor could not send their full team for many reasons, and consequently the opposing forces faced each other in the following order: — BANGOR.—Goal, W. Arridge backs, R. Roberts II and Joe Roberts (reserve); halfs, Maurice Jones (very much reserve), T. Buckland, aud D. R. Wil- liams (reserve); forwards, Samuels (reserve), Thos. Thomas, Charlie Jones, Richard Owen, and J. ¡ Robert«(reserve). FLINX.—Goal, R. Joues; backs, Thomas Lloyd and T. E. Jones halfs, W. Evans, Bills, and His I Imperial Majesty John Price, Esquire (Limited); S. George, Bennett, Baines, Jackson, and Mallin. I REFEREE Mr J. H. Hope, Holywell. Rude Boreas blew steadily from one goal to an- other, and Flint won the toss There was a good gate, probably about £ 15 worth at 6d a head. I dou't know what they did pay; probably 3d a head, for toimes is moighty hard in Flint just now. That would reduce the gate to, say, £10, and the spectators were jubilant, describiag it to me as the best gate of the season. The bills advertising the match described Ban- gor as undefeated, Season 1895-6," and when the Bangor team arrived, it was regarded by the crowd with reverence; but with pathetic caution (re- membering the hard times), not a soul entered the field till the Bangor team was known to have really arrived. The word arrived," I may here explain for the benefit of my readers, means come," and bad I wished to write like the common people do, I should have written, till Bangor team was known to have really come." I, however, am not a common people, and so I wrote arrived," a word derived from the Greek words, nous arrivons, literally, we have landed," or, better still, here we are again," or, still betterer, we 'ave corned." However, I have arranged with the proprietors of this paper (in view especially of the hard times at Flint) not to make any extra charge for this paper on account of the above lesson in "comparative ethnology (see Helmholtz on Sound," and Max Mutler on Ihe Breed of Welsh Black Cattle "— both very lare works), and the consequents is, that the paper is still sold at one penuy per copy. Very good. It was 3.57 p.m., net, on the 25th April, 1896, when the last Welsh Coast League Match was begun at Flint, Charlie Jones kicking off against a steady breeze, and it was not long before the referee penalised Evans for pushing. Buckland took the free kick, and Thomas headed neatly on to Dick Owen, who, at close quarters, shot miles over the Flint goal bar. The goal kick was a poor affair, and His Imperial Majesty John Price, Esq., rushed to the ball, and sent across to Evans, who ran it into touch. Meeting the throw Buckland skied the ball, and Mallin got it and darted off, and Robin, after some hesitation, kicked into touch. THE EMPEROR headed this the wrong way, but soon retrieved bis error, and gave the ball to George, who centred dead, Buckland kick- ing clear, and giving the ball to Charlie Jones, whom Bills easily beatiand sent the ball to Bennett, who popped in a grand centre, which Baines put past the post at close range. Capturing the goal kick, Bills gave to Bennett, who sent across to Mallin, who gave to Jackson, who shot for goal, Bennett heading behind. Buckland stopped a subsequent rush by the home left, and then Robin skied the ball, which Mallin went for in its descent, but was beaten by Maurice Jones, who, however, put into touch. Baines put some capital work in from the throw out, but was beaten by Buckland near the goal mouth, and Thomas and Samuels put in some pretty passes and made way, but Price-l beg pardon-the Emperor—returned, and Baines made a grand sprint, his final shot—a thunderbolt- j being charged down by tie omnipresent Buckland close in goal, and the next moment Evans shot into touch. Dick Owen sent the throw out well up, I but Lloyd returned well. The play was somewhat tame and the crowd undemonstrative,but suddenly Samuels got the ball from Buckland vice Thomas and shot for goal, but no one was up, and T. E. J Jones cleared at his leisure. Baines went off like a deer, arid Buckland missed him, but Robin cleared his final shot, and the next moment Jackson got in a swift shot whicn William beat up into the air, but finally got rid of. Then Samuels made a sprint passing the Emperor with scant courtesy, and, tricking T. E. Jones with ease, shot across the goal mouth. Lloyd missed the ball, which flew into goal, whence Cock Robin cleared smartly. From the goal kick Msllins and Jackson brftke away and Robin was beaten bj the forruer, but Buckland had kept his eye on these proceedings and rushing be- hind, blocked M&llin's final shot, and Robin trying to clear the rebound sent into the heavens, and Boreas carried the ball behind. George placed the corner grandly, but out of the crowd in the goal mouth Buckland burst with the ball t his toes, and gave Dick Owen and Samuels a chance. His Imperial Majesty, however, ordered the ball back, and Maurice Jones countermanded the order and sent into touch on the other side of the field. The throw out was driven into the Bangor goal mouth whence Robin served up to Charlie Jones who was too slow, and Bills sent the leather back, William clearing with difficulty. In a second Buckland had to kick ont a beauty from Bennet, but eleven minutes from the start, Baines sent in a beauty which beat the genial one amid great cueering, and the score stood FLINT, 1 GOAL; BANGOR, 0 GOAL. The play was faster after this, and Buckland was soon busily engaged driving back a determined rush by George and Bennett, but a couple of minutes later Mallin beat Maurice Jones'.and Robin, but at this stage Roberts burst on the sceme and transferred play to midfield. Flint, however, again made progress on th<> Ti^ht, till Buckland gave the ball. t» Samm 1. Samuels Buckland gave the ball t, Samm 1. Samuels at once went off down th., wing. and gave to Thomas, who beat everybody who came at him, and then parsed back to Samuels, who, after beat- ing T. E. Jones, got a clear opening, but shot miserably behind. Buckland stopped the rush following the goal kick, and gave Samuels another chance. This time the reserve man put in some rare good work, passing at the right moment to I Thomas, who gave to Charlie, who was at once beaten by Bills, who gave to Mallin, who dashed i otf and shot to Robin, who put the ball in touch. Robin dashed at the throw out and skied t'ie ball, I which Evans smacked in, D. R. kicking clear. I After a couple of throws, Maurice Jones put in some very pretty head work, but Flint still pressed, and D. R. skieing the ball, the wind carried it to Mallin. Robin went for Mallin and charged him off the ball, and, thinking it was going out, waited a momeut. In that instant, Jackson darted in and got the ball, and though furiously assailed by Robin, got in a, desperate shot, which Buckland got rid of. Baines, however, caught it in the middle of the Bangor half, and flashed in a doisy-cutter, which William kicked out off the goal line. The ball came to Charlie Jones, who t was 7 ZAiu robted, and. D. R. mia kicking, tiainos .1 got the ball close in and shot hard, William clear- ing finely, but not far enough to avert danger' Robin, however, here dashed in, and twice leaping up, headed clear. Bills rushed up and met Robin's second header, and shot at lightning speed for goal, the ball skimming the bar like a meteor. Samuels headed the goal kick to Maurice Jones, who missed it, butBuckland came in handily, and put it into touch. After a trio of throws Jackson placed nicely to B nnett, who was close in goal, but he made a mis- ably hash of the chance, sen I- ing feebly behit. l. Charlie Jones received t;ie goal kick on bis back and sent it forward, nud Thomas swinging in gave it to Dick Owen wib a magnificent pass, Uit Lloyd put it into touch. A huge return by Joe Roberts was sent back by Evans, and Bennott being in position to receive it, Robin ran forward and headed it off Bennett's head, so to speak, and Biggs tried a long one which wei t behind. Buckland helped the gul kick forward, and Thomas getting hold, touched nicely on to Samuels, who, after beating The Em- peror, ran up a few yards and aVt.iciil';{ T. E. Jones easily, sent in a grand shot with p'e:.ty of screw on which landed in the goal, and R. Jones was just about to hit out when Chtvlie Jums. who had had a stiff struggle with Lloyd en route, banged into him, and in a moment the score was FLINT, 1 GOAL; BANGOR, 1 GOAL. The crowd cheered this bit of Bangor play generously, but urged their own men on to re- newed efforts, and in a jiffey Hobitl hud to kick clear from Mallin, but sent to George, who shaved the post with a good one. From the goal kick a spendid effort by Chaslie Jones and Thomas carried Bangor forward, and Charlie endel the run with a nice pass to Dick Owen, who ran it into touch. After the throw, Jhariie and Thomas again put ia some nice work, giving the ball to Samuels, who centred smartly, and Chajlie Jones touched back to Buckland, who shot to Samuels. Mallin, however, got the ball off His Mnjestv Price, and centreing grandly dropped the ball in the Ban- gor goal mouth. Headlong the other Flint for- wards hurled themselves into goal. D. R., how- ever, was already there with the ball at his toes, and his back to his foes. He was not mere than two feet from Williams, to whom he was via a vis, and, conscious of the thundering charge coming on behind him he, coolly enough and very swiftly, shot the ball straight to William's foot, William at once banged it out, but D. R. was io the road, and the ball did not get away and before William could do any more Bennett tumbled into him full pelt, and Baines banged the ball icto the net. FLINT, 2 GOALS; BANGOR, 1 GOAL. This occurred just three minutes after Bangor had scored, and twenty-three minutes from the kick off, giving an average of one goal every seven minutes. This second success mq.de the Flint men ravenous for more sroals, and they played up with a zeal and energy and confidonce which be- fore had been wanting, and the next thing I saw was Robin charging down a terrific shot from George close in. In an instant Price, Emperor, was beaten by Thomas and Charlie Jones, but, falling back, he managed to stop the run, but Buckland now chimed in and he and Charlie and Tommy and Samuels mad3 another grand effort, in the course of which Evans was penalised in midfield for a foul of some kind. D.R. sent the free kick to Dick Owen, who was beaten by Evans, who gave to George, who tested William with a long one which the wind carried into goal with tremendous speed. The Genial One, however, was equal to the occasion and cleared to Bucklaud, who put in some grand work and sent the ball to his left. The whistle, however, sounded for a double foul, and the referee threw the ball up in midfield. Evans got the ball after it touched mother earth and shot forward, but Buckland was again conspicuous with grand work and sent up. Evans, however, again got the ball and sent forward, and Bennett went away, but was instantly dropped on by Buck- land, who pushed him out of his road, what time the crowd fiercely demanded a "foul." The referee was standing close to at the time but did not blow the whistle, and Buckland, with fierce er. ergy, kicked hard on, smashing the ball against the referee, and sending his whistle flying out of his hand. This the referee appeared to regard as a glaring breach of good manners for, amid the laughter of the crowd, he put some of his fingers into his mouth and shrilly whistled for peace. Then he got his whistle and threw the ball up, and Charlie Jones bustled it forward, and Evans shot into touch. Charlie Jones got the throw and worked it beautifully, and Evans kicked hard back, but Charlie was still on the job and drove the leather forward, forcing a throw off Evans. After two more throws the ball was sent to the other side, where Jackson easily beat Maurice Jones, and Robin put into touch. A furious struggle followed the throw, in which Buckland of course was pro- minent, but the ball coming to Baines, he at once sent in a low swift shot, with which William had no chance, and the score stood FLINT, 3 GOALS; BANGOR, 1 GOAL. This yoal was scored ten minutes after the pre- vious one, and thirty three minutes from the start, the average being reduced to one goal every eight minutes. Away went Bangor from the re- start, and J. Roberts shot in. Lloyd clean missed it, but Bills fell back and shot into touch. Ban- gor put on some pressure for a few minutes, and then Flint broke away on the right, Joe Roberts sending into touch with a will kick. Baines got the throw, but a grand bit of work by Buckland took the ball off his toes. Buckland sent the ball to Samuels, who passed neatly to Thomas, but the Emperor beat Tommy and served up to his left wingers, and Williams had to get rid of a hot shot from Mallin. The next second Buckland kicked out a scorcher from Baines. Still Flint kept up the attack, and Baines charged headlong into the Genial One simultaneously with a hard shot from George. He was tumbled over for his pains and before he could get up Samuels was racing away with tbe ball. He finished up with a beautiful centre which Charlie Jones coolly headed with perfect accuracy to Thomas, who sent across to Dick Owen. Lloyd here handled, and Bangor had a free kick near Flint goal. This was got rid of somehow, and Evans sent a long one into the air which Joe Roberts headed back. The ball came to Baines, who put in a terrific shot which William cleared well..Again Baines got the ball by rush- ing up, and shooting in on the instant William again had to clear. This time he sent it straight up into the air, and then stepped out and caught it a terrific smack in its descent, but it curled off his fist into the net. Frantic cheers, and FLINT, 4 GOALS BANGOR, 1 GOAL. After a flying visit to either end, Buckland re- tnrned well, and gave Charlie a rare chance which he failed to take advantage of. and the next moment Maurice Jones kicked clear in front yf goal, doing precisely the same thing a moment later, after which Joe Roberts gave a corner which was grandly put in, Jackson heading behind. Soon after the goal kick Bangor got to the other end, but the ball was returned, and Maurice Jones was penalised for tripping Jackson, and Price sent the free kick over the bar. Capturing the goalkiek, Charlie Jones gave to Samuels, who got in a good centre, and Charlie Jones at once dashed forward. He was glaringly tripped by Evans and Bangor had a free kick in front j of goal which was entrusted to Maurice Jones. He made a poor show, kicking the ball as if he was afraid of breaking it. However, Flint were again penalised, still uearer the goal, and Buckland took charge of this, Jackson chargiug his shot rhwQ and giving to George, who raced away to rnidf Id, where he tried a long one, hich Robin elf "ed, and Buckland put into touch. With a desperate effort, Buckland beat all claimants fcr the ball, and giving to Charlie Jones, the Bangor centre burst through all opposition and finally gave to Dick Owen, who tricked Lloyd easily and centred well, but T. E. Jones cleared, only to send it to Samuels, from whom His Majesty the Emperor twice received scorching shota in front of goal, and cleared. Dick Owen then took up the attack and centred, and Charlie dashed off for goal. He was roughly fouled by Lloyd, but the referee did not see it and the game proceeded. Bangor were now swarming in the home goal, and Thomas and Samuels were well on the way for R. Jones, when the whistle announced I HALF-TIME, the score being FLINT, 4 GOALS BANGOR, 1 GOAL. Substantial though Flint's lead was, the crowd fully expected Bangor to win in the second half, nnce they u?w bed the wind in their favour, and a grand long shot by DiJk Owen showed the10 j. that Bangor were not yet beaten. The ball, bOv" I ever, went behind. It. an instant, howev^j I Samuels had captured tin goal-kick, and centr*" J perfectly, T. E. Jones being compelled to gi*e,. Jl corner to clear. Samuel J made a hash of W placing and the danger was removed, but a | away" by Malliu was beautifully stopped J** D. R. Williau s, who gave vhe ball to Joe Kobet^ 0 who tried a long one, sending the ball behind frO beyond the half way line. Buckland promptly ,i the goal-kick back, and Thomas gave to Samti0** 9 who centre 1 splendidly. Twice Cock 1 cleared right under the bar, and the next rnouf f Charlie Jones headed a lovely shot by Roberts right out of goal, instead of into it. Charlie stood still, there was nothing on earth i0' stop the ball going in. Then Robin had a shie^J goal, but sent behind. From the goal-kick, put in a nice passing run, but Buckland stormot broke that up as soon as they had crossed the liØe, and the next moment Bills cleared a hot one fro10 Thomas. Then the crowd hooted the referee giving Bangor a free-kick for a foul, certainly a Bangor man was guilty of. Before the kick could be taken, however, Mr 1101* changed his decision and gave Flint the free-kic" From this, the home lett raced away and had to get rid of a good one in front of !i Samuels next got in a grand centre, which Obarl# j Jones promptly went for. He was, howerflf»$ roughly charged off by Evans, and Samuel's sb«J went behind. Then'U. R. coolly took the ball Bennett s tues, but the Emperor served up and Baines shot behind, when close in front* William landed the goal-kick over the centre lioe« and Charlie Joues and Thomas put in a rare bit reciprocal passing, finally leaving the ball wit" I Samuels, who dropped the leather grandly into goal, His Imperial Majesty John Price, Fsq*l Limited, heading out a certain goal. Aglllo Thomas and Samuels got away with beautif^, passing, which kept Bills and the'Emperor trotting j about in a most undignified manner, but T. E. Jones pulled them up by kicking into touch. From the throw, Samuels dropped the ball like leaden bulift into Cock Robin's hands. He cIeareu superbly, but in as many seconds he had to get rid of two thunderbolts from Thomas and BucJdan: afterwarus. Again Buckland shot dead in, and again Jones cleared. Then D. R. sent prettily Charlie Joues, who opened his legs and let the baU pass on, but the wary defenders behind let it go behind. Thomas dropped the goal-kick back like a ton of bricks, but Lloyd kicked into touch. Baigor now pressed hard, but could not get through, and at last George made a splendid individual effort, and beating D. R. and Joe Roberts with a ridiculous ease he was met by I Robin, who hurled himself past the home right winger. Without in the least losing his head, f George ran right into goal, and about a couple of yards out, he let fly a terrific low shot. William, however, by a supreme effort, got at the ball, and kicked clear right off the goal line, and Buckland further cleared well, after which Baines shot over. The pace was now ? cracker, both sides going at it ding dong. There was more cohesion and solidarity about the home lot, but the mixed team representing Bangor showed a lot of dash as far as the first eleven men and Samuels were concerned. The others, how- ever, were little better than passengeis, and it was practically a struggle between six cup holder-, and the eleven runners up for the League Champion* ship. A sudden rush by Charlie was roughly stopped by Lloyd, who tumbled the Bangor centre head over heels with a furious charge and then ran 1 half way up by himself. He lost the ball here, but Flint came again on the right, and D.R. raced after the ball. George and Bennett, however, were on him before he could turn round, but with a lovely heel tap he clean beat them and gave the ball to Buckland, who made a special effort, which the Emperor nullified. A moment later Price had a shot charged down, but Mallin got the ball and raced right up, ending a brilliant run with a» feeble shot behind the goal. Then Samuels got in another good centre which the Emperor disposed of, and then Buckland gave to Charlie Jones, upon whom Baines and Bills. charged headlong. The ball cauie then to Dick Owen, who shot behind from midfield. Bangor pressed hard after the goal kick, but the siege was raised by D.R. handling. After a lot of this sort of work, Bangor doing the most pressing, William put D.R., in goal, put J. Roberts half back, and himself played forward with Dick Owen. The change worked all right, for the Genial One put in any amount of vigour into his play, and his weight told heavily. After a good return *by Buckb nd, William got the ball and passed to Dick Owen. who darted off along the line. Wiliiam ran intoc- i. to meet Dick's centre, but it didn't come,for Evain was penalised for fouling Dick. J. Roberts took ie free kick and dropped it plump in goal, whe* f headed by William, the Bangorians made a treuifcii xous attack, which was met by a desperate defenc Several times R. Jones b t out splendid' shots, but the ball never got out of hand, and at last Arri ige literally battere 1 it in goal, where a line of Flint men stood. It rebounded off one of these a yard out of goal where Wiliias:: is stand- ing, and with a scoopii.g suing t i foot he Hashed it in again, and the figure 1 o. the score stood thus FLIRT, i GOALS BANGOR, 2 GOALS. Flint went for goal in a very determined manner Bainesjpassing out to his right at once, bat John Roberts captured this and sent forward, Evans re- turning to George, who sent in a scy cher, which D. R., however (who it must be remembered was now playing in zo tl), kicked safely a way off the line, and Bucklaud sent over to Arridge and Owen who put in a regular sequence of passes such as Johnny B ch and Thomas indulge Hl, but as thoy passed on their goalward way Evans suddenly fell down and the game was stopped. It was found that there wAs nothing mare serious the matter with Evans than a cramp in the leg, and the game was resumed by the throwing up of the ball. The stoppage, however, had served a very useful pur- pose for Flint, as it endef a vexy promising and determined goalward movement. Soon after the throw up Thomas put in some pretty play, and forced a corner off His Majesty. This was well put in by Samuels, but headed clear and the ball came to Robin. He was in a good position, but 0 hesitatwd, and Jackson darting at hi t, he got flurried and shot behind. Maurice Jones distin- guished himself by pulling Mallin up singlehanded, and then Flint began ta kick into touch. From one of these throws Samuels got in a superb centre, but John Roberts shot miles over the bar. Maurice Jones being penalised for jumping, Flint had a free kick in midfield, but it proved of little use for John Roberts dashed in and got the biU back. Flint, however, again broke away and Joe Roberts and Robin in turn had to kick clear. From the last of these clearances Owen and Airidge got away. Dick foil and Arridge dashed at the ball and went ahead kicking against Lloyd off whom it rebounded and Arridge handled. The free kick was handled by John Roberts and this carried Flint over the centre line, and they made a dash for goal. Mallin shooting behind when close in. A long kick by Buckland gave Dick Owen possess- ion and he centred and Arridge shot forward, and, following up fisted the ball still farther forward. The referee saw the joke and gave Flint a free kick; Tnomas captured this and after some good work gave to Buckland who sent across to Dick OTen who at once plunged into a tremendous struggle with Evans, Bills, and Lloyd. Dick maintained the upper hand, and Lloyd could do nothing better than kick into touch. The throw out came to Buckland, or, rather. Buckland went to the throw out, and shot again to Dick Owen, who banged into goal, and like an avalanche Arridge, Bucklaud, Charlie Jones, Thomas, and Samuels descended on the home goal where a most I terrific struggle took place on the goal line- Arridge was simply terrifying and his weight told splendidly and he finally literally hammered the r ball in, and, with his men made a fiual charge which put it and a couple of the home defenders right in the net. FLINT, 4 GOALS; BANGOR, 2 GOALS. The referee, however, disallowed the goal, on the ground that Arridge had handled the bail. [ did not see him handle it. but I am told that as a matter of fact he did, but it is doubtful if the referee could have seen the handling from the position he was in. However he disallowed the goal, and the score stood, FLINT, 4 GOALS; BANGOR, 2 GOALS. CLniinutd on pape 1.)