Glamorgan Free Press

( Copyright.) ■, HrGH TREVARTHEFS DOUBLE. By FRANK BANFIELD, M.A., Author of "Nancy of Trenowan," "Uncle Billy," "A Vision of the Deep," &c. It was the night of the Volunteer Ball in Georgetown, British Guiana, and a large part of the youth and beauty of Demerara were present in the Assembly Rooms. Though the sea breeze, which makes the dav bearable, despite the fierce equatorial sun, had died away, and the air of the spacious and lofty ballroom was very much like that of a Turkish bath, dance succeeded dance with unfailirg regularity, ana there was no iailing-off in the number of circling couples or in the zeal and delight with which they kept time to the music of the Militia band. And yet squire and dame alike perspired profusely. Long since they had for- borne to apply their handkerchiefs to brow or cheek, for those articles of convenience had been reduced to lumps of damp pulp, and lay crushed into round hard balls at the bottom of their several owners' pockets. But, for all the physical discomfort caused by the great heat, the scene was bright and brilliant, full of animation and bustle. Jiveryone seemed imbued with the spirit of Byron's lines: On with the dance, let joy bo v.nconlln'd. Nc sijep till morn when youth and pleasure meet To chase the glowing hours with flving feet." Bui, no, not everyone. In the gallery, to the right as you enter the ballroom, here and there you may see a couple deep in converse, or gazing out upon the broad expanse of Main fctreet with its canal, on which now a hundred feir Hewers of the beautiful Victoria Itegia are peacefully slumbering. With one ul those couples this ttary concerns itself. i-jrm a well matched pair, Angus Graham, the young broad-shouldered Scotch overseer at La Belle Alliance, and A;mes Trevarthen, the daughter of the manager of Cheviot, the neighbouring sugar estate. He is bronzed by much exposure to the ravs of the tropical sun, while she is somewhat "pallid to our northern notions, a circumstance which serves to set off the humid depths of her dark and lustrous eyes. They have come in here after the last waltz, and they are remaining out during the one which is now proceeding. But neither the voluptuous music behind them, nor the dickering flight of the fire-'lies before them, arlects the trend of their conversation. know, Agnes, that I love you dearly,' says the young man. "I have loved you from the first moment I saw yon-tha.t day you came with your fari.er to La Belle Alliance to dine with our manager." "Yes, I know it," said she. And you love me in return ? us, "Yes, Angus," "And you will marry me "If father gives his consent." "And if he does not give his consent, Agnes?" "I ain his only child,said Agnes Trevarthen. I am aii tha: lie has in the world since my mother (Led. His whole soul is, I believe, bound up in me, though I know there are those who thi:.k him hard. I would not willingly go against his will for tho world. And you would not wish me to, would you ? And she turned the dar;, eyes almost beseechingly up towards the handsome, if now somewhat perplexed and troubled, countenance of the young man. troubled, countenance of the young man. "lio, I don t want you to treat your father badly, Agnes Lut I have my doubts and then it almost seems wrong of me to have proposed to you." "0 Angus » "lre could not help loving each other, could we, darling ? murmured the young man fondly. "You must try to win father's consent," said she, looking proudly at the resolute face and vigorous athletic frame of her lover; "and you will." "I hope so, dearest. Of course I mean to be a manager myself one day. But Mr. Trevar- then— they may be wronging him who say he is hard, but scarcely who call him proud—he is hard, but scarcely who call him proud—he looks high when he thinks of his daughter's future, his only daughter, and the mistress to be of Cheviot. After all, I am but a poor overseer, and why should he believe in me more than in the rest at sixty dollars a month ? He will consider me a fortune-hunter, and if I did not love you dearly, Agues, I would not face his scorn at that. "You must be brave, Argus. And why should he nut think well of you ? Indeed, I know he does." cle". "Anyhow, Itry my fate, and I can wait, if the worst comes to the worst, And so can I, Angus, and I will." The muaie had ceased for some seconds, and there "as movement in the gallery, into which the dancers were liowing in the vain pursuit of some cooling breeze from the outside. So the conversation came to an end, and a little later Agnes was informed that the Trevarthen carriage was waiting at the portal of the Assembly Booms, and she went downstairs, followed by Angus and other frind;, who, however, with- drew when they raw the slim, delicate, but erect form of Hugh Trevarthen by tho carriage door waiting for his daughter. Angus Graham decided that before returning to the ballroom he would smoke a cigar in tho open air not, indeed, that that was very much cooler than the gallery upstairs, but that he wanted to be fcv himself for a few minutes. As he strolled backwards and forwards among the coloured folk, who were standing about singly or in groups to listen to the music, which was borne out to them distinctly enough from the Assembly Booms, he suddenly heard the name of Hugh Trevarthen mentioned c1oe beside him. He immediately arrested his steps, and assuming a lounging, distrait attitude, so as not to disturb the speaker or excite suspicion, ho 1 istened. The one who at this moment was talking he recognised as Waterfoot, a notorious character in Demerara as a pedlar of all sorts of Indian odds and ends, obtained in the forest, such as tonka beans, incense gum, ant-eaters, spider-monkeys, and what not. "Yo' see ole Huglt Trevarthen, Pompey, go off in all 'ee potnp an' splendah wid 'ee datter, jes' now. 1 know dat man evah since. 'Ee too proud, not at ail like Mistah Jonas of Le Iiepentir. One day, Pompey, I say to Mistah Junas I hope, Boss, I meet yo' in An' 'ee say to me: 'Ere's a dollah fo' yo'self. NVaterfoor.. Ee's a thorough good man is Mistah Jonas. I wondah ee not dead vet. Deh sawt of people mos'ly die young. Den, Pompev, I come across dat hard, tough old ticf, Rugh Trevarthen, and I say How do, Pt)ss ? I 'ope vo' anner an' yo' beautiful datter is Qourishin' like de green bay tree. \YJ¡:tt?' says 'ee. I 'ope, Mistah Trevar- then, says I, that I meet yo' annerable self in Hebben.' 'Ee turn on me quite sharp. Waterf") ()t, says 'ee, 'if I meet yo' in Hebben I'll take up my hat an' walk out.' Tell yo' what, Pompey, a man like dat not fit to I Eo bettah look out fo' 'isaelf, Miatah Waterfoot, fo' suah," said Pompey; "dem Madras coolies on Cheviot do fo' 'ee else one of dese veh days. Dey no I ike Mistah Trevarthen too much. Ee well hard on dem po' crittahs." "I don t break me haht, if dey do fo' 'ee," said Waterfoot, "and I should not bow down me head wid weeping if dem mis'able coolies, dose sl;in an' bone Motah Sammies, was all shot by odah of heh mos' Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria." Angus Graham did not trouble himself to be an eavesdropper any longer. What ha had heard was not altogether new to him, as lie was aware that Hugh Trevarthen was unpopular with his estate hands, and that lie had on more than one occasion excited the ire of his Indian em ploy 6s by the harshness and severity of his temper. He had no idea, however, that the passion the owner of Cheviot had aroused was BO deadly and malevolent in its nature as the observations of Waterfoot's companion seemed j to indicate. But he told himself that the pedlar was just the man to be able to form correct views on such a subject, from his con- stant familiar intercourse with, the miscellaueo .is lower strata of the population oi Br.U.-h Guiana. and Watarfoot hMi appeared to take Pornpev's statements as a matter of course, J.rd as not worth arguing about. The pedlar wa" not the person to let a chance of controversy on M ieec.4 iuii of fact escape him, if ho hud r. bis way to it at all. Angus Graham would not hive concou-eii himself about Hugh Trevarthen, out tu« blow that touched him !!ii=rht slrcic t1.:iI:ew Otherwise, the overseer would have said: "He must take his chance with the rest of 118, lie tnow3 as well as I cio that you cann it always be harsh and overbearing with coolie hand-: with impunity. If he (loesn L mind the risk and danger, why should I ? But the pia.er KHS to be his fatlier-in-Igo. one day, he hoped and, in any case, there was \gnl's to think of. Consequently lie found h;m- ("jtt plunged in nervous rejections on the score of the Trevarthen household, so much so that his worry manifested itself on his ingenuous counten- ance as lie made his way back into the Assemblv Rooms. Here l e sought out t colleague from La Belle Alliance, who had driven with him into Georgetown for the ball, and half-an-hour ['e1' t ¡ley '1'1'1' in their trap, speeding rapidly along the east cuast read towards home. Tired though he was after the dance, and aware that an arduous day's duty in the cane- fields was before him. Angus Graham found sleep no easy task. His brain was "full of the apprehensions aroused hy the prospect of an early interview with Hugh Trevarthen. He could not keep this lovo affair much longer secret. It would not be right or honourable. Yet he groaned to himself as his mind dwelt on his probable reception. "He would like to kick me out of his houtI, down the gallery steps," thought. Graham, "though, of course, he i won't and lie chuckled at the idea of the <lim, meagre, frail Trevarthen meditating a physical chastisement, of his athletic self, and abandoning the thought as vain and hopeless. At last Angus fell asleep, but lie scarcely seemed to himself to have closed his eyes when lie opened them on his negro servant, who stood oulside the mofqu-to curtains, holding in his hands his master's matutinal coffee and toast. In the equatorial tropics the stln rises at six and sets at six. It may vry half an hour either wav in the summer and winter solstice. For half an hour before Sol rises and for half an hour after his setting th re is a brief dawn and a brief gloaming. Thtre is small variation in the character of the days all the yeroulJd, and social custom partakes of the regularity and fixedness of the climate. The hour for the formal call on the east coast was between five and six, and Anjus Graham determined that in approaching Mr. Trevarthen in so delicate a matter as a request for his daughter's hand, it would be well to keep himself within the lines marked bv the recognised conventions. Therefore, when his day's work in the fields and in the buildings was ended, he wpnt to his room and prepared himself for a visit to Cheviot punctually at five o'clock. At a quarter to that hour his trap and man were standing below the overseer's gallery, and he started at a rattling pace to do the two miles of coast road which separated La Belle Alliance from Cheviot. It was not without special misgivings that he noted how handsome and massive were the entrance gates which led up to the residential part of tlie estate, how well-gravelled the path, how ltrze and many-windowed and jalousied were the galleries of t.he house. Every one of those things emphasised the distance which I separated Hugh Treyart Lell, 1 lie prosperous planter, from Angus Grdiam, the poor over- seer. And that difference he felt still more keenlv when, having handed his card to the pompous black butler, he was shewn into the drawing-room of Cheviot, or rather into that portion of the gallery upon which the drawing- room opened. It was not only the size of the spacious apartment that struck him—a hundred couples might comfortably have danced in it- but the rich and massive furniture which was scattered about in endless profusion. Hugh Tre- varthen was a prince oil the east coast, and everything about Cheviot bespoke the man with a largely developed sense of his personal im- portance. If he wished to entertain he could do so on a scale not unworthy of a feudal baron of distinction. After some minutes a distant footfall, which appeared to come from ages away down the long gallery, attracted Angus Graham's atten- tion, and he became aware that Hugh Trevarthen was approaching slowly and deliberately, as though considering as lie came as to the cause which induced this young and unimportant person to pay him a formal visit. He was holding his visitor's card in his hand, casting at it an occasional curious glance while he drew near, a style of approach which is not very reassuring to callers at all wanting in self- confidence or assurance of their own merit. Ancus Graham rose to his feet. "Prav be seated, Mr. Graham," said the older man, after extending a cold handshake to his visitor. And then they sat looking at each other. Mr. Trevarthen was the first to speak. "And how long have you been in the colony ? "Two years, sir," said Angus. ".And it suits you ? Yes; I had a touch of fever six months I cani" out, but on the whole I enjoy very good llealth:" "You look robust," said Trevarthen, with a critical glance at the strenuous, athletic form of .ri .I his guest, "and quite capable of tackling any- thing in the shape of a refractory nigger or coolie." "I get on very well with our estate hands, air. I never care to be rough with them, and they do as much work when I'm looking on as for anybody." "Il'm!" said Hugh Trevarthen; "when you va been longer in the colony you'll know better. It doesn't pay to be mealy-mouthed to those dark-skinned chaps. I stand no nonsense with 'CIll myself." Then, alter a pause and a curious look at Graham: "But you didn't come over here this afternoon to discuss the management of nig.revs, I take it? "No, sir, not exactly," stammered Graham. "Well, and what is the subject, then? Don't be afraid. Out with it." "I was at tho Volunteer Ball in George- town last ni^ht," began Angus. slid Ir. Trevarthen. "And there I met your daughter, and had the honour of dancing with her several times." "Several times—h'm But you have met her before, surely. There is nothing extraordinary in that, is there ? "Xo. I have met her before, naturally, over and over aLrain, at the houses along the east coast." "And what, pray, is there especially remark- able in the fat that you should have met her at the Volunteer Ball ? It is not so select, certainly, so I understand, as the Queen's Birthday BiLlI but still everybody goes. So you saw Agues last night, and then ? "I proposed to Miss Trevarthen, sir," said Graham, at length, boldly taking the bull by tho horns. "You proposed to Miss Trevarthen! Indeed! And Miss Trevarthen accepted you I love her, sir, and she returns my affec- tion, I believe. But as for acceptance, it was all conditional on my obtaining your consent." "Very dutiful, I'm sure. I must see her about, this. And what do you e. pect me to say, Mr. Graham ? Anus was staggered at his question. On one point lie was reassured. Hugh Trevarthen, supposing him to be irritated at the audacity of the proposal, was keeping his temper marvel- lously. If his manner was icily cold and judicial, it was not violently hostile. Still, Graham did not see his way to answer the older man's question. He had not a ghmt of an idea what to expect from him. 'Seeing Angus hesitate, Mr. Trevarthen, who, to do him justice, quite grasped the situation, went on: "I am not disposed to be angry with you, Graham, though I might suggest that you would have called with more propriety yester- day than to-dav. Still, I won't quarrel with you about that, since the atmosphere of the ballroom tends, I am told, to precipitate such declarations. Still, you look like a gentleman, and tho fault mav be one of discretion— j certainly not of honour. Anyhow, there i9 nothing to quarrel about in that." The fault, sir ? we will stop beating about th6 bush. What are your means, Alr. ? The usual overseer's salary and allowances at La Belle Alliance? Yes, sir but "Oh, I know all about that. You wifp get on, become a manager yourself one dav, soon perhaps. You are of a respectable family, no doubt; are steady, industrious, and energetic. I have heard you spoken of, and always well. But I have a right to expect that my future son-in-law shall have made his position and not have it to make." "Then you refuseTyour consent, sir, abso- lutely ? "Now, certainly. As to absolutely, how can I say what turns of fortune the chapter of arcidents or fate may bring about? Yet I r,an give you no hope that mv mind :s likely to change. Now, Mr. Graham, let me say that as to younelf personally, Jk have no objection whatever; and I wish you every prosperity and success in your calling, and, by the way, that you will take more sensible views about coolies and niggers. Keep them at arm's length ..hat's the sound principle. But let' change the subject." Here Hugh Trevarthen struck a gong near him, and the black butler made his appearance. "Bring two swizzles at once, Zephaniah," said he. When the two men were consuming this popular Demerarian pre-dinner drink, Angus \ook the opportunity of saying "I hope you won't mind my giving you a hint, Mr. Trevarthen, to be cautious when you are out at night on or near the estate. I have heard rumours that some of your coolies are not well disposed towards you." "Nonsense, my dear fellow! I never pay attention to that sort of thing. Let the beggars see you fear nothing, and they'll take care not to meddle with you. Why, since I've been in the colony, rumours of that sort have been rife about every estate, and what has come of them ? "There have been some outrages," persisted Graham; "at Enowdah, for example. "Yes; they did chop off poor Wallace's fingers — the bea3ts! But as to pluck, you know how Cox, of the police, suppressed the rising. He rode towards the mutineers, and having taken stock of them, satisfied himself as to the ringleaders. Then he galloped up, and taking hold of the two in turn, he threw them across the saddle in front of him, and went off with them to his own men. And so that emeute was quashed." "That was scarcely sufficient comDensation to Mr. Wallace." "Well, it didn't give him back his fingers, did it ? said Hugh Trevarthen with a grim laugh. "That was scarcely to be expected. However, if I am in serious difficulties of that sort I trust, you will not be far off. You look as if a coolie would hardly survive one straight from your shoulder." from your shoulder." "If you are ever in danger, Mr. Trevarthen, and I have any inkling of it, you may be sure that I shall be at your back as quickly as I am able." "I am sure of that, my dear Graham. But I have no fear of standing in need of your services. What! you must be off ? Well, good afternoon, and a pleasant ride." Mr. Trevarthen leant over tho gallery and watched the gig-cart bowling swiftly along on the road to Cheviot. He lingered there for a few moments enjoying the breeze from the sea, as it tossed the gallery creepers and kept going in rhythmic movement those glorified punkahs, the loftily-placed palm-branches. As he turned, he found Agnes beside him. She placed a hand on each shoulder and rose on tiptoe to be kissed. They made a pleasant domestic picture as they stood there in the full light of the setting sun, all unconscious of three pairs or fierce black eyes which glared at them from the thick tropical shrubbery at the bottom ot tlie grounds. So you have had a visitor, father ? said Agres. "My little girl is very observant. I have had one, and he has just taken his leave. What do you think brought him here ? "How should I know, father?" "Well, from what he was good enough to tell me, I thought you might guess." Agnes blushed and her eyelids drooped. So, as I thought," went on Mr. Trevarthen, lie was telling me the truth, and my Agnes has had secrets from her father." "O father! How could I tell you that I cared for him if he hadn't told me that he c;i-d for me ? "Then yon do care for him?" "Yes, father." "Well, that's straightforward, at any rate. ron will want to know what I said, eh ? I told him that my daughter's marrying an overseer was out of the question, or words to that effect." "You weren't unkind to him, father ? "I didn't give my consent, if you call that unkind. Else we got on very well. Indeed, I was quite complimentary towards the end W8 had a swizale together, and parted excellent friends." "Zephaniah told me about the swizzle." "Perhaps you concocted it," said her father with a sly smile; and then, with a "We shall see what we shall see," lie ran his arm through his daughter's, and together they made their wav down the long gallery to the dining-room, for Zephaniah had already sounded the dinner- gong, and even in the tropics soup is not im- proved in ilavour by being allowed to get cold. Weeks had flown past, and small change had taken place in the relations of Angus Graham and Agnes Trevarthen. They met, occasionally and by accident, a3 in the days before the Volunteer Ball. Mr. Trevarthen, having said his say, meddled no further. He had confi- dence in his daughter and in Graham, and for that matter such confidence was not unmerited. The overseers' quarters on an estate are quite distinct from the manager's house, though the young men all dme at. his table, where the fare is as good as at a tablc-d'hole dinner at the Tower or other first-class "hotels in Georgetown. Of the other overseers, Arthur Winter was Angus Graham's chief friend. On n Tuesday evening, some two months after Graham's visit to Cheviot, they were left alone in the overseers' house, as their collcaguea had gone into the city for some merrymaking. Graham had left Winter in the large common apartment, which opened upon the verandah, an,1 had gone up- stairs to his own room to answer some letters from home, which had come in by the mail steamer Eider. After an hour's busy writing, steamer Eider. After an hour's busy writing, he came down to find Winter reading over his pipe, and, to his great furprise, close by the table and Winter, Hugh Trevarthen Winter louked up, and, not ceding tho presence of the older man, mIio was bending over the table near him, said "Finished your writing, old man ? Come and have a chat. "I shall be in the way, "sairl Angus, look- ing at Trevarthen, who lifted his face-he was writing or; It sbte which lay on the table-at this moment and fixed his. eyes searchingly, almost appoalingly, on Graham. "Is 110 in any trouble, I wonder ? bethought to himself; "but he hi:.s apparently called to see Winter. 'll make myself scarce for five minutes." And so thinking lie turned, and had got as far 7:1 the -staircase on his way to his own room, whe^ he heard Winter's voice calling him back energetically. 0 YV hy, where are you off to in that bedazed fashion ? cried Winter. "I wa- afraid of intruding on you and Mr. Trevarthen. said Angus, and he looked towards the spot where lie hail seen that gentleman, but he w<ts gone. > "You must have Mr. Trevarthen on the brain. And I'm not surprised at it, altogether." "But he W:18 here with you a minute ago, though I didn't hear liini go t)tit." nty clear bo.v. Since you went up:-tairs to write your letters, there's do?' been a soul in the room to my knowledge." But," mid Angns, going up to the table and the exact spot, "I swear I saw him here when 1 c,iit)e ooii-ii .List now. He was writing oil this s-late. licic it is: The Beach Cottage. Come.' "'ihe sl .'e vas clean ten minutes since," iaiii "Iliat's ,ery queer." And tit. the yourg men stood staring at each )\ hrr. At last Ansius spoke. "I'm off to Bench Cottage at once." "That's the deserted shanty on the shore ibut t a mile further east., isn't it? "U8. Either I'm mad, or that's a message. That Mas Hugh Trevartlien's ghost, or double, or I'm in for an attack of lever. And theil-look I rot the slate! As he said this lie cast his eyes downwards at it. The writing was gone. I'll go with you, Ang P. "Tien Let your revolver nnd a cudgel. It it's ar.\ii ing it's the coolies at, some fiendish gau e. gone to t(jl%ii, I)tit %%e (-all riiii it in seven minutes at the outside, if we put on steair. ¡tit irfinite rapidity Graham and Winter hunied op the stout hard cudgels known in the colony as hackya-sticks, and fixing each in his a large-Lore six-chattibei-eki loaded revolver, they turned out the lights in the overseers' liou-e, locked the door, and were soon outside the ptriiuses ald rurning along the coast road in the direction of the Beach Cottage. They put on a pace which would have done credit to a 'Varsity mile-runner. Indeed, Winter found it no fasv work to keep pace with his friend, who was purred on to aiitiost stil-i-riiiiiiian exertions bv the conviction 11 at some, terrible Pei I; ai'C.i. ed the lather of tLe giil he loved- perhaps Agues herself. Among luh Trevartiieu's habits was that ot mting a solitary evening walk af2-Pr dinner. Vie almost invariably accompanied by a of lie fond. And this Tuesday evening vas no exception to the rule, and he ..d Bob- the boar-hound—sauntered towards the shore. He walked down to the first pebbles of the each to watch nearer the rippling line of hosphoresence, which ever and anon lit up tlie shore fringe with a flickering, undulating ribbon of light. Suddenly he thought he heard something strike the beach close by, and Bob ran to a point growling, but apparently found ivbat was to his liking, for the growling ceased. All at once the boav-hound rushed terror- stricken towards Hugh Trevarthen, and as it reached its master's feet it rolled over and over in convulsions till at last it lay stretched and rigid in death. The planter was so absorbed in the agony of the faithful animal, to which he w:is attached, that. he had no eyes or ears during a few moments for what, else was going on around him. But poor Bob had scarcely breathed his last breath when his master reeled half-ienseless to the ground under the impact of a heavy blow from behind. The next instant three or four dusky and sinewy men had flung themselves upon him, and in almost less time than it takes to relate lie was bound hand and foot with stout grass rope. and being dragged along the beach towards a wooden cabin, which stood disused and empty, a little removed from the limit of the highest tide. The blow Hugh Trevarthen received had somewhat dazed him, but when he cone thoroughly to himself he was on the floor of a tiny cottage, while, by the light of a lantern, five men—four coolies and a powerful half-breer'— were staring down at him with an expression of triumphant malice written on their faces. Hugh Trevarthen read his fate there too—cruel torture and an ignominious death. How he longed at that moment for the strong arms of Angus Graham and his Lr,,i! i, i- -overseers! How his whole soul yearned to be able to summon to the rescue his brother whites, who would have been so willing and eager to aid had they been av.are of the straits lie was in! The half-breed, who was known about Cheviot as Warroo, was the first to address the dis- comfited planter. "We gawin' fo' to do fo' you, Hugh Tre- varthen," he said. "We gawin' to break dat wicked pride of yolis fns; den we blot out yo name till 'ee gawn from de face of de world for evah." Here Warroo paused, and waited to see the effect his words would produce on Hugh Tre- varthen but the planter was not to be cowed. "You infernal scoundrel!" he burst forth. "And it is in revenge for my having you kicked off the estate? I guessed the coolies by them- selves were not. equal to this sort of thing. Unbind me instantly, you dirty mongrel, or it'll he the worso for you For answer Warroo dealt Hugh Trevarthen a cruel blow with a cowhide whip across the tY."e, which left behind it a broad baud of red where it passed. Then the half-breed muttered something to the cooties, and tliev raised the helpless planter into a sitting vostnre, and, forcing his mouth open, they gagged him. "We gawin,' Hugh Trevarthen." said the half-breed, "to slit yo' nose, ctit ofT vo' ears, yo' fingahs an' toes, an' flay yo,' and den burn I cot ive in dis yeh cottage. Yo' ettli't roll fo' help wid dat gag in yo' mnnth, and by n.awnin' no trace of yo' remains shall bo discovah. I gib yo' six minutes to consiaati yo' mis'able sli,.t(., fo' I use knife." Here the half-breed took from its sheath a knife of razor-like sharpness, and proceeded to draw it backwards and forwards over a leather strop attached to hi3 belt. In those six minutes the planter seemed to himself to live a lifetime I of hocror. He hadlJo hope of mercy fruiu the vindictive Warroo, and lie knew of no possible rescue now his faithful Bob was gone. As the ei-iod of grace was about to expire, he thought lie heard very rapid footsteps on the road above. If he could but shout! Tiie gus prevented that. Warroo heard too, and 1 stened. Then he laughed. "Folk no pay visits to de Beach Cottage." But the steps were coming very near, and Warroo, partly alarmed, half-rose to his feet. lie had been kneeling. An instant later, the door of the shanty was dashed open, and Angus Graham, hot and pentine. revolver in hand, in the Warroo glared at him with a look of disappointed ra^e. "All de same, yo' die, Hugh Trevarthen he yelled, and raised his blade, intending to p!enot» it deep into the planter's heart. The steel glimmered in the lantern light; but a" it did so there was a bright lIash. followed 1: a deafeningly loud report, and-Warroo fell ward, dead across the legs of Iftigli Ti-evar- then, the top of his skull blown clean away by a 1 u l tat close quarters from Angus Graham's ei-. "Liu.ot I I e, first of them who moves, Avil:ur!" shouted the overseer, as ho flung V rjico's body aside, and took the gag out of t'.e phnter's llionth. Then he unbound the I'.ISS rope and raised Alr. Trev:ii-t!lcii to his Sett. The Litter was much shaken, and had to h an on Graham for support. Luckily enough, a H-i'iKl of wheels was heard at this moment. "Tiats our fell--us coming home from get own, Arthur! ilalioo to them from the door. Three minutes laler, they were reinforced iy 11 reo stalwart colleagues, to whom they ¡Tidr explained the >-lale of afLtirs. Vvintc-r reir. oicd with them to take char go of the c; 'its, while A, irus helped the planter into the .• a: and diovc off with him rapidly towards 1 • t. ):1'. Trevar hen ins sled that Angus Graham •d.ouU! come into tlie i.on.-e \\ish him. Indeed, i e. -es could not re^u-e, as be wished to advise o;i the doi toring of II, :•> h Tre art hen's face and to ieasMire Agnes. T'\ cnty minute* a> Graham rose to say /•••id-night- and !o w i*ji hit host safe recovery ■oiis the sdiock, Air. Trevarthen said to his dlI¡1;tpr "Give him your band, Agnes; lie deserves he is Ivoli:" It was on iy 011 the lol.owing day the planter in what ftead ins own double had •:ood him. 1111,1 that is why this moment A igus Graham n-as-aj" at Cheviot, and ii ''w hiisbaili o! II cjj: Tievaitlien 6 charming ■i .sighter. í l. L 1

COLLIERS' LAMPS. Among the vast improvements which have been made in the coal mines during the last 20 years, there is one important questionwhich has been falling backwards for the want ot the clear wording of ihe law-coming in the direct way concerning it, i.e., the safety lamp. The lamp seems to be getting weaker and weaker ever since the Government appointed commissioners (about 1880) to investigate the matter. They found that there was no such thing as a safety lamp in existence, and said that there could be no such thi. as a safety lamp without the explosion being let out of the lamp into such a place where the supply should enter on top of the fire; and they also pointed out 4 of the best that they had found during the experi- menting toi be used until an improvement should appear. These were the Morsqot, Mas- ler, Gray's, and the Cambrian, but they did not make them compulsory by law, and this caused the mischief. The result of this was that the Cambrian lamp underwent an altera- tion, and became simply a bonnetted clanny, because it gives no light to the colliers in the original form. In 1890, H.M.I.M. deman- ded that all lamps should be shielded all round in the Ehondda. district. I am not able to comprehend the foundation of this demand, but it resulted in bringing the so-called Cam- brian lamp, or Bonneted Clanny, into general use, this being the first step backwards. The second step in the downfall, was the mode of lighting the lamp by electricity, bringing into existence the low flash oil, which is so explo- sive in itself, and us one of the most practical managers in the locality explained to the magistrate, a small quantity of the oil spilt on the gauze is sufficient to cause an explo- sion." This is horrible, when we take into consideration how often the miner's lamp is tossed about, and the oil is lost on the gauze. Another evidence of this is that the oil often explodes in a lamp, when it is used in a warm place, in total disregard of the perils risked with these oils in the lamp-room. It is strange that this should come into existence with the Welsh collier, who fought so ardently against tha spirit lamp, which was not nearly so dan- gerous as that, because the lamp, in this case, was kept in a sponge. The bonnet, or shield round the lamp, or "Bonneted Clanny." as it Ü' called, is the best form or shape of furnace that could be made to burn gas under all cir- cumstances. The question now arises, "Why has the lamp been proved to give such good results in the apparatus? It is simply this, the lamp has more opening at the outlet, or at the top of it, than at the inlet where the air enters to support combustion. When an extra current is "placed on it, the air baffles in through the top, and even keeps back the ordinary action of the lamp, rather than in- crease it, so that the lamp will under such circumstances, last longer before exploding than under ordinary circumstances, which is from 7 to 10 ft. per second velocity, in accordance with the venti- lation of the mine. The shield round the lamp only forms a stack rcund the lamp, or otherwise making it into a furnace, and also blinds the collier from being able to defend his lamp. What I should like to havo attention tc is the increase of perils, caused by the usage of this lamp, which tends to cause an explo- sion. As I have said, this lamp is able to burn gas under any circumstances that might come across it, without the exception when the gas is above 15 per cent. in the air, and when it burns gas, it will make an action in itself, equal to any ventilating current met with in a mine, i.e., from 7 to 15 ft. per second velocity, which is ah Id to bring an explosion out of the lamp, within half-an-hour, and with the sup. port of a cloud of dust, which i3 often met with in the face of thç. workings, it will come out in a few seconds, especially if the wick flame is extinguished, and by its dark appear- ance leads one to believe there is no fire in it. The time has come that we should be able to thoroughly understand this question, as it is a matter of the safety of our lives, and be- sides that, colliers are disgraced as a body, whenever an accident or an explosion occurs. Take for instance! the Broadoak Colliepry ex- plosion. Is there any reason to believe that the fireman was so wilful as to cause the ex- plosion in the way it was told before the jury? The fireman was chosen from amongst his fel- low-workmen, as a man of practice and judg- ment. Ha had fulfilled his duty to every satis- faction. Even on the night of the explosion he appointed a man to water the particular part, which bad been pointed out to him by the day, fireman. All that I can learn from the evidence is that this man was the right man in the right place, and not an idiot as he was proved to be by the evidence at the in- quest, which degraded workmen as a body. The question now is open, "How am I to reason how the explosion occurred? By the very fact that the bonneted lamp is able to explode unawares to its owners, under ordi- nary circumstances, even by a small blower, which is so often met with in coal mines, and that is lost within a yard or two from where it breaks out. In such a place, the collier is riable to hang his lamp, thoughtless of the perils, for the want of the knowledge to un- derstand his lamp. In such a position, the lamp is often extinguished to the eye of the owner of it, and so left there, thoughtless of any danger, still burning gas in the bonnet out of sight, and I have further seen the two flames carried on, one supported with oil, and the other with gas, and in this way it may be oarrjed on to bring the gauze to copper heat, and this by means of a cloudo of dust, so often me. with in the collieries, will spark on the j grtize, and ignite an explosion in such a place | where there would be but very little gas, but

jr "Vi^Cocoa is a Very Palatable Beverage ij £ OF 3- GREAT (V f> STIMULATING (9 AND SUSTAINING PROPERTIES." —British Medical Journal, ft.)' f¡J'{

sufficient to fly off the lamp almost unknown to the! owner of it, in search for more supply of combustion, and gaining its force by travel- ling through the workings. Is it not more reasonable to believe that one of these actions could have caused the explosion, and no one to be blamed for it, unless it is for using such a worthless lamp? Another explosion again,may I give my opinion of it ?The practical collier, whenever he sees his lamp explode, jumps at it, to save his light, and once in a chance' he succeeds, for the least jerk to his lamp cuts the current that enters in through the in- dividual passages of the gauze, as they are so small. This fact proves that it is impossible for a person tol carry his lamp in an explosive mixture, long enough to cause an explosion out of it. Besides, a man is not able to stand in an explosive mixture for sufficient time to cause an explosion. If so, what caused the Bryncoch explosion? Is there any reason to believe that the fireman caused the explosion in the way it was told before the jury? Is it not more reasonable to believe that the two lamps were left by father and son, when they found tliemsplves without light, they rushed away without their lamps, as they were of no use to them. notwithstand- ing that they were still burning gas, out of si:vht, -nsil,- the bonnet. This is proved by the fact that their bodies were found, more than a 109 yards from their lamps, after the explosion, and it also shows that they had been •suffocated by the gas previous to the explosion. Another instance is the Park Slip explosion, that could be proved in the same manner. After pointing cut the weak points of the N,nnet,e,'l lamp, or th3 so-called Cambrian, :t is only right that I should be able to bring a better lamp.After nearly twenty years' investi- gation and research, I have now a lamp that has proved itself to be perfectly safe and practi- cal This lamp was experimented on by the most skilful managers and engineers in the Ithondda coal district, and their report proves* that gas could not be burnt in it by any means at the Cymmer Colliery (1889). The result was as follows — Velocity of Air. Remits. — 30 feet p°r second Went out in 4 seconds l> M »i 6 20 „ „ 8 „ 1^ it »» »» »» 10 „ „ „ 3 „ Explosive mixture—Air, 90.5 per cent.; 9.5 per cent. of gas. This proportion was found to be the most explosive. The lamp also complies with the suggestion of the Royal Commissioners, i.e., that the ex- plosion is red out of the lamp, into such a posL tion where the supply has to enter on top of the fire, bringing nf'ter it the products of the wick flame, which was in the body of the lamp, when the gas was ignited, making it im- possible for an action to! come through the lamp to supply it, and its practicability has been proved to satisfaction by more than 500 individuals, to whom I have sold the lamp in cifferent parts of the country, when all the managers refused a single order, and at the same time complimenting me by, saying that it is the best and safest lamp they ever handled, this being the result of representing my fellow-workmen, and causing the experi- mcnts to be repeated, for not being justly car- ried out the first time. I also possess another improvement to the lamp, i.e., a mode of lighting it. The lamp can be re-lighted,wher- Z, ever the man is. if he can lay his hands on it, even after an explosion, if there be sufficient air left. If I could only get an order for 5,000 of them, I should be able to bring it be- for the public. The chief characteristics of a safe and prac- tical miner's lamp are: — 1. There are no small metal passages, as constructed by Sir Humphrey Davey, to ex- tinguish the fire. 2. There should be a glass to produce good light. 3. The explosion should be carried out of the lamp as suggested by the Royal Commission- ers Lt It should hewell-ventilated with the supply of fresh air coming under the wick flame, so as to be able to burn the "seal" or any other low flash oil, and give good light. 5. It should be possible to relight it wherever the lamp should happen to be extinguished, if he can lay his hands on it. 6 It should be examined, and rivetted in a few seconds. My lamp complies with all these requirements. The only one that stops the counter action in the lamp when it comes in contact with gas For mode of ventilation refer to the drawing. The air enters in at No. 1, passes over a deflecting rim at No. 2 down through gauze at No. 3, enters into lamp between glass and tube at No. 4, returns through tube at No. 5, then into chamber No. 6, and out through top. as arrows indicate. When gas comes in with the air current it ignites at the wick flame and relurns for more support of combustion between the glass and tube into chamber No. 3, in which position it must ex- tinguish. as the supply has to come down on top of the fire. The lock is a lead rivet placed in a perpendicular position in a slot in a brass ring which attaches the bonnet to the lamp coming through into one of the air slots in the top glasa ring. Is it right that the collieries should be soc- rificetl for the sake of taking revenge on an individual. Study the question for your own interests. I am prepared to answer any ques- tion that may be asked. T. THOMAS. 36. Ynyshir Road. Ynyshir.

8UFFEHFRS from Nervous Debility, Phyical pxu-Miction in Men, also loss of Vital POWPT.- Writ!> to G. MORTON, M.P.S. (from the Rirmirvgi fin ral Hospitals, 68, Aston Road, North. K rminghano. State your rpse ully, replies seut free. 4567

Ystrad ^onflda. We greatly regret having to record the death o. Miss Elizabeth Ann Prob' rt, the only sur- viving daughter of Mr and Mrs Probert, Bailey street. Ystrad. The sad event took place on Friday evening, the 17th inst., when death came at the early age of 16 years. Miss Pro- bert, although very young, was very well known, universally likel, and highly re- spected by all. She was not of a robust na- ture, but th,y news of her death came as a severe shock to her relatives and many friends. She was a bright young lady, a faithful mem- ber for the last three years of Hennon Welsh Baptist Church, Ten, and also a scholar at the Sunday School, where she figured highly in Scriptural examination, and also quickly earned the respect of her school-fellows and teachers alike. On Wednesday afternoon the funeral took place at Treorky Cemetery, when a very largtt concourse of people assembled to pay their last tribute of respect <o their departed young friend. The Rev W. E. Davies, HebrT. and Rev loan Thomas, Gelli, officiated,, whilo the hymns "Derby," "Tanycastell," "Lau sanne, and "Canton," which had been prin- ted for the occasion on leaflet-, were sung with much sympathetic feeling by ilici Hebron Choir who wore white rosettes as a tribute -if re- spect to their departed little friend. The Sunday School scholars were also n aiten.i- ance, together with a number of ilia Ton :¡nél Maindee Glee Society. Floral tributes were sent by the Sunday Schoalrs; Mrs Lewis, Court Farm, and Miss M. Rees, Ton,. The coffin, which was of light oak, with massive brass furniture, was followed by the immediate (relatives, Mr and Mrs PTobert (father and mother), Messrs David John. Edward Wil- liam, Willie, Thomas, Benjamin, krthu,, and b\»fml (brothers), Mr Dav'es (Ynys;O'nh). (uncle), Mrs J. Lewis, and Miss Lewis (aunt and cousin), Court Farm, near Cardiff; Mr and Mrs D. Jenkyns, Rhymney; Mr and Mrs Thomas Williams, and Miss Magg e Willian.s, Mr Thomas Williams, Cefn, l\Iett'.IY, Mr Thomas Williams (Engineer), n>\yiovstown. Mrs Alice Williams, Llandaff; Mrs Samuel Thomas (Pcntie), Messrs Johnny and Rees Dalies Ynysybwl), and Mrs Wiliit s, Tonyjxirdy. We extend our heartfelt sy.nprthy to her sorrowing parents and brother-. Amidst manifestations of profound regret and sympathy, the funeral of the late Mr Jo- seph Maddock, the oldest brake proprietor in the Ystrad district, and whose very sudden death we chronicled in our last week's issue, took place on Thursday afternoon. The pro- cession, which was of a mournful character, was an immense one. The Rev Mr Gelly officiated at the residence, Ystrad Road, and then the cortege proceeded along the main- road, td the Treorky cemetery, being headed by the Buffalo's Club, of which' the deceased gentleman was a member. The coffin, which was conveyed in a hearse, was covered with a most beautiful wreath, which was in the form of a harp, with a broken string, and sent by the aforementioned club. Following were the mourning coaches, which contained the imme- diate relatives, as follows:—MH Richard Mad- docks (son), Misses Elizabeth Ann Mary, Sarah Jane, Gwen Margaret, Hannah Maddocks (daughters), Mrs Elizabeth Efvans, Aberdare Junction, Mr and Mrs Jones Maddocks. Mer- thyr (brothers and sister-irulaw), Mr David Maddocks (chief engineer), Llandaff (brother) Mr and Mrs John Maddocks, Merlhyr Vale (cousins), Mrs Evan Maddock (sister-in-law), Mr Evan Maddock (nephew), Mr and Mrs DJ. Maddock (cousins). Plascoed House, Llansam- let; Messrs Rees and John Maddocks (cousins), Mr Jacol) Lay (nephew), Mrs Thomas, J. P. (sister), and IMiss Thomas (nicce), Llansamlet, Mesdames Maddock (cousins), Llansamlet; Mr David Ware (cousin), Misses Maggie' and Mar- tha Ann Ware (nieces), Mr W. J. Ware (ne- phew). Mr and Mrs Barclay, Ystrad; Mr and Mrs Francis (nephew and niece). Mr D. Evans, undertaker, had complete charge of the funeral arrangements.. It is also cur sad duly to rceord the death, from consumption, of Mr William Sperrin, age 20. The deceased, an orphan, was a native of Cardiff, and had been in the employ of the Taff Yale Railway Company for some years, b1:: had latterly resided with his brother-in- la v and sister, Mr and Mrs Allen, Church Cot- tage, Ystrad Rhondda, where, on Thursday afternoon, he .passed away to that long home of peace and rest, from which no weary traveL ler ever returns. The funeral took place on Monday at Treorky Cemetery. The hymns, "Jesus, lover of my soul, and "Gone to the grave is our loved one," wai sung both en route and at the graveside. The mourners were Mr and Mrs Allen, Messrs Harry, Albert, Ernest and Samuel Sperrin (brothers), Mrs Wilson. Cardiff (Sister). The funeral arrangements I were in the charge of Mr Howell Williams, Ystrad.

A Book for Ladies. Tlie information contained in this book ought to be known hv everv married woman, and it will not harm the unmarried to rpari. The book is conveniontlv divided into tWP)VA chapters. The firt chanter treats on womanhood. The second chapter treats of marri.ige from a doctor's qtandp,,i,,t points out Mie best age for marriage, and furnishes useful information that one can ordinarily get only frr.m in intelligent doctor. The tlllro chapter trpats of the marriage of hlood relations find condemns such marriages as a rule. Certain people' hclievtj that women should bring forth in pain an»i trouble, but the hygienic physician savs that confinements can be mad/1 comparatively easy if certain rules are obeyed these rules arty given. The tenth chapter tells how to treat thl, mother till she is up and about again. The bonk is full (,f ireful information, and no boo It is written which gaps *o thoroughly into Rnch- niters. Sonv may think too mu-h is told such can scarcely be the case, 'or knowledge in power and the twans "f a'taining happiness. The hook ean \1.. had in p.nveli-ip frum Dr. T. R. Allison, 2fi6 Kox, 4, Spanish Place, Manchester square, London, W., in return fur a postal order for I s. 2d. 4334