Barry Herald

A ZULU LEGEND. The following is a curious legend, believed in b, the Zulus Once there was a talking elephant, sucb an elephant as had never been seen before, and he lived upon children. At length, after devouring many unprotected children, he drew near to a woman who had been cutting wood, and with her child, a bundle of faggots, and an axe was passing by. Immediately she understood the elephant's in- tention, and said Spare my child, oh! elephant,* but the elephant refused. Then the mother cried again If this great wrong must be, swallow me too." So the elephant swallowed mother and child, and they found themselves with all the other chil- dren who had been eaten long ago. By-and-by the child complained of hunger to the mother, arid with her faggots she made a fire, and with her axe she cut away the elephant's flesh and cooked food, and they all ate. Again the child felt hungry, and this time the mother lighted a larger fire and cut a larger piece of flesh. Filled with pain from the great heat, the elephant ran, and ran, and ran, and ran till they1 felt the thunder of his hoofs racing over hill and valley, and at last, quite exhausted, he fell down and died. Then, with her axe the mother chopped and chopped till she had made an opening in the elephant's side, and they crept out and found them-i selves in a new country and became a new nation.

COLONEL DE VILLEBOIS MAREUIL. The IAberte has published a long letter, dated Pretoria, January 15, from Colonel de Villebois Mareuil, the French officer now serving with the Boer forces. After stating that he accepted im- mediately the first offer made to bim by Dr. Leyds, the Colonel gives some interesting particulars of the Boer artillery. He say. that unfortunately the greater number of guns ordered from France did not arrive owing to the outbreak of the war; but the Boers have, nevertheless, among other cannon, four "Long Toms," or Canet guns, of the type known as the" 156 long." The range and percision of these, guns, combined with the Boers wonderful knack of judging distances have been invaluable. The first of these guns brought into use was hoisted into all sorts of almost inaccessible positions between. Laing's Nek and Ladysmith, under the superintendence of M. Leon, one of the twe representatives of the Creusot Company. On some occasions 20 yoke of oxen were used to haul the geu. up the steep mountain sides, and on others the Boers had to man the ropes. M. Leon also superintended the conveyance of food supplies to the laagers and chose all the positions for the siege of Ladysaulh, and accomplished such wonders that he was looked upon as possessed of almost supernatural powers. lie was given the supreme control in artillery matters. M. Grunberg, the other Creusot representative, who superintended the artillery workshops at Pretoria and Johannesburg, effected some remarkable repairs, notably that of long Tom seized by the Lady- smith garrison during the sortie and btown up with guncotton. This gun was damaged in three places and had to be shortened, but the colonel states be saw it in action again firing shrapnel with a full charge. Colonel de Villebois Mareuil farther asserts that the Boer commissariat is admirably managed, and that supplies are given out with a liberality and absence of formality to which he has never been accustomed in the French Army. The bread for the commandoes around Ladysmith was made at Glencoe by a Frenchman named St. Crois, with the help of the ovens captured from the British. There was also a constant supply of tea, biscuits, rice, potatoes, and spices. There are no bugle calls in the Boer camp, as all the men know exactly when and where to go. Punishment was not needed, everything being done conscien- tiously and without the least reluctance.

Is consequence of sentences against the French paper Le Itire, according to Paragraph 14 of the German Press Laws of 1874, the further distribution in Germany of that journal has been forbidden for two years. THE War Office has issued a notice stating that the Competitive Examination of Militia Subalterns for Commissions in the Regular Forces will not be held next month, in consequence of the number of candidates serving at home being less than the number of Com- missions offered. Candidates who, having completed the number of trainings required by the amended regulations, and who, having produced the requisite certificate, have been accepted for that examination, will be medically examined, and if found fit will be commissioned in due course.

THE MODMOUTH SILVER. II "Look, father!"—Louise Martell paused in the pouring out of the coffee to glance from the break-j fast-room window overlooking Modinouth Cove. i Look, father!—there is a yacht coming in. Do you expect anyone ?" Mr. Martell, a pleasant-faced old gentleman, looked as directed. No," he responded, "I can't say I do-besides, my visitors seldom come by sea. More likely to be some friends of yours, Harry," he added, turning to the smart, clean-shaven man who formed the third member of the party. I hardly think so, sir," Harry Vardon answered, noting the yacht's movements. "I know of no person owning a craft like that, and," he went on with a laugh, I should not be proud of their ac- quaintance as sailors if I did—see!—they have let go her jib right on top of her anchor. Amateurs and trippers at that," he summed up, or they would not come into a private anchorage." Don't show professional jealousy," remarked Louise, chaffingly; it is bad form in the commander of a thirty-knot destroyer." "Oh, lsayl" retorted Vardon, somewhat, discon- certed by this unexpected attack, for he had just been appointed lieutenant-commander of a fast torpedo craft, attached to the big dockyard near Modinouth, and was as proud of his first charge as if it had been a battle-ship. Oh, I he repeated, you don't include that sort of thing in the profession "—he indicated the yacht. I suppose you will not allow them to remain there, 8ir?" he asked of Mr. Mar- tell. "I don't know," replied the old gentleman, amused at the other's warmth. "I don't know; if they look like pirates I can always apply totheAdmiral for the Hawk as a guard." Then, sir," laughed Vardon, with a look at Louise, "I sincerely hope they may prove to be pirates;" and quite appeased by the small joke, he went off to his duties. But there seemed nothing piratical about the yacht. On the contrary, during the course of the forenoon her owner called at Modmouth Hall, and his card, bearing the name of Mr. Albert Herschaw," was brought to Mr. Martell, accompanied by a note, which that gentleman at once perused. From Hooker," he said to his daughter in running, commentary. Queer old fellow he is—writes from the Antiquarian—good club—to introduce Mr. Hers- chaw, who had heard of the Modmouth Hall collection J of art silver—anxious to inspect it in connection with book he is writing on the subject—Hooker glad if I will do favour—and so on. Well, Louise—if this Mr. Herschaw appears presentable shall I ask him to dine to night ?" "Remember, Harry Vardon rethrns to-night, father." Ah!" responded the parent quizzingly," and must we still have JEIarry undiluted—eh ? If so my dear, say so ?" Nonsense, father." the girl blushed. I only wished to remind you—ask this yachtsman by all means if you care to." That, in fact. is what good-natured Mr. Martell did do, for he found Mr. Herschaw—-a well-set-up, soldierly-looking man of thirty or thirty-five- eminently agreeable and intelligently versed in the intricacies of Mr. Martell's pet hobby for the gather- ing of art silver, the "Modmouth" collection of which was in high repute amongst connoisseurs. "I must apologise,' the visitor said, "for bring- ing up in the Cove without your permission, but I had intended to reach Bridport this morning and come over by rail, and when I. found myself off here this morning, I ventured to trespass so far." Do not speak of it," Mr. Martell responded heartily, I am only sorry you did not use my moor- ings—my man shall show them to your people. You be more comfortable at them than at your anchor." [ To three of those present at dinner that* evenings the meal was a most enjoyable one. Herschaw proved a man of wide travel and extensive reading, with the rare gift of utilising his own experience and opinions in such fashion as to bring out those of others. With his host and his host's, daughter he succeeded to admiration, but Harry Vardon was most unusually and unaccountably sullen. After dinner was over the naval officer joined Louise upon the terrace, from which the couple strolled down the grounds towards the Cove. Their respective families had long been intimate* ind the girl treated the young: man as a kind of cousin. What is wrong with you to-night, Harry?" she demanded. "Is it the starboard eccentric strap of the port boiler tubes this time?-—you see, I am getting) quite learned in the troubles which afflict destroyers," she added laughingly. Vardon's ship was as bone of his bone to himself. and her interest gratified him whilst it didlnot remove bis uneasiness. The boat is fit enough," he answered. It is ;hat man you have here. Why did you father ask aim ?" It Why did he aak him?" the girl repeated, re- tenting her companion's tone. He came properly introduced, and surely, Barry, father is the person w be satisfied." Certainly!"—Vardon recognised he bAd gone too far—"Certainly, but let us forget about, him, Louise —there is something I particularly want to say to you to-night." I That a declaration was inevitable Louise had fore- seen, nor would she previously have discouraged itj but the momentry impress of Herschaw's personalty combined with what she considered the injustice of Vardon's attitude towards him to make the moment an unpropitious one for the wooer. You change very quickly, Harry," the said, ignor- ing his latter remark. I do not forget so easily— not, at least," she added unthinkingly, whilst Mr. Herschaw is still here." Louise!" Vardon broke out, jumping to an altogether unjustifiable conclusion. Louise !—you don't mean to say you care for that cad whom you never saw until to-day" How can you ?" the girl began, as annoyed at the implication as Vardon had been at her remark "You are simply horrid to-night, Harry. I shall not 1 What the lady would not do remained unsaid. Their walk had brought them to the boat slip at the head of the Cove, off which the yacht lay blackly out- lined. When Louise had commenced her expostu-1 latory sentence the peacefulness of the scene was per- fect. A moment later there came a heavy plunge from alongside the little vessel, merging into a splash- ing circlet of foam tending seawards, which, together with aimless shouts from the yacht, indicated a man overboard with doubtful chances of rescue. With an ejaculation which was not exactly a blessing, Vardon hastily tore off his coat and boots, dived from the slip, and made for the struggling figure in the water. Get on your back, you idiot!" he cried as he reached it; you can't swim with your legs in the air;" and seizing the unfortunate with more skill than gentleness, he showed him what to do. Five minutes later the yacht's dinghy blundered up, and the light of a bull's-eye lantern shone on rescuer and rescued. "Pull ashore," ordered Vardon gruffly, cutting thanks short; you are liker policemen than sailors; tumbling ovorboard at anchor in a flat calm, and coming out with a dark lantern-show a light, can't you ?" for the men had covered the bull's-eye. Louise-with a solicitude which made her admirer regret more than ever their interrupted conversation —convoyed him to the Hall and to warm congratula- tiong from its owner and from Herschaw. The latter's compliments Vardon received with very bad grace, and excusing himself on the ground that it was not worth while changing into dry clothes, and that he had to leave very early the next day, he went almost straight off to bed, nor did any of the family again see him before his departure in the morning. Several days later Vardon took a hasty run ashore from his vessel lying off Modmouth, and was met by amazing news. The Modmouth Bilver had been most cleverly and completely stolen the night before. Every ounce," said poor Kr. Martell not a bit of solid metal left nor a trace of the robbers." I see the yacht is still there," said Vardon; "where is the man ?" Mr. Herschaw gave his crew leave- the day after you left, and went to town himself," responded the old gentleman rather severely. Vardon drew in his breath. Heard from him since ?" he queried. Yes-a wire has just come to say he returns to- night." Then," said the sailor promptly, if I can- get leave and you will allow me, I shall return to-night also;" and he hurried off. It must have been most annoying to* Vardon that a rope fouled one of his propellers when he was getting under way; but with the other engine he brought the vessel in close to the yacht and sent down a diver, who speedily cleared the obstruction, after which the destroyer glided off in the direction of her headquarters. Later on, the yacht's crew arrived and commenced preparations for proceeding to sea. Up at the Hall Herschaw was condoling with Mr. Martell. "If I had only been here!" he said; "bat I was unexpectedly detained in London Jaltnight, and I suppose my men stayed at home until thelast minute. Shall I delay sailing?" "Not at all," his host protested; "we must leave it to the police and detectives" And I shall put you on board myself, Mr. Her* schaw," Louise chimed in, "to show that, though robbed, we are not disheartened." Herschaw expressed his acknowledgments, and the three took their way down to the jetty, from which Louise in her own light boat pulled the departing visitor off to his yacht. Arrived there, Hershaw asked if she would inspect the vessel, and the girl sprang on deck. So far, the spectators on the shore—who now included Vardon and a New Scotland Yard detective, who had arrived in his company—understood matters. What they did not understand was the sudden hoisting of the yacht's head sails and the dropping of the rope hold- ing her to the mooring buoy. A brisk breeze was blowing off shore, and the vessel filled and stood for the Cove's mouth. Good Heaven 1" shouted Mr. Martell, Louise is off with him!" I think not," responded Vardon with curious calm but he thinks he is off with Louise." "After them, Harry!" ejaculated Mr. MarteV distractedly; there is a boat on the strand." "They'll not go fiT, sir," commented Vardon. "See he cried more excitedly "everything drans, but they do not move an inch." So it was. The yacht, her canvas straining at bolt-rope and sheet, was mysteriously held to one spot. We can all go off now," said Vardon, and the whole party moved to the boat, which was soon alongside the yacht, from the taffrail of which Louise cried to them, as they approached, whilst Helschaw stood near, attempting to calm her. Vardon was first on board, but was quickly fol- lowed by the detective. "Ah!" said the latter, eyeing the little group of flogged-faced men huddled in the bows. Ah! I recognise some old friends I did not expect to seo. and this/'—he turned towards Herschaw—" is also an acquaintance of mine with a fine taste in silver, and a fancy for the sea; but he should not have at- tempted to combine business and pleasure with a crew of burglars. I expect we shall find the stuff stored below." "But how was he caught?" asked Mr. Martell who had now come on deck. Vardon answered it. "I never saw, sir," he said, "a sailor with a policeman's lantern until the other night, and being auspicious, after the robbery, I took the liberty, when I was clearing the Hawk's propeller, to double the yacht's moorings to the buoy below water." '"Well! well! Harry," commented Mr. Martell, delighted at the recovery of his daughter and his silver, "we must endow you now, sailor as you are. with the order of the detective's light." But he had to endow the sailor with a good deal more, for that autumn saw a wedding at Modmoutb Hall, at which, it may be added, "Mr. Herscbaw r was not one of the guests, although his residence at Portland was in close proximity.

OVERCOMING A TRANSPORT DIFFICULTY. The difficulty of employing beasts of burden in some parts of Africa, owing to the tsetse fly, is well known. The Church Missionary Society, to save its lfcdy missionaries the toilsome march of some hundreds of miles on foot under a tropical sun to it* stations in the interior, is trying as an experiment the use of a form of wheel chair or jinricksha, to be drawn by one man. The construction of a good path, to Uganda, replacing the narrow and winding native tracks, has rendered the experiment feasible.

A PRINCESS AS A WAR NURSE. Princess Salm Salm, of Germany, who has taken a nurse's part in several great wars, is on her way to Chicago to organise a hospital corps for the Trans- vaal. Mrs. I. H. Ray, of Chicago, says the New York Journal, a sister of the Princess, announces that the latter will arrive here next week and will be ready within six weeks to start for the seat of war. She will nurse the English and Boers without dis- crimination.

A MILLIONAIRE'S INTRODUCTION TO TOIL. Mr. Andrew Carnegie's introduction to toil was an appointment as a bobin-boy, and he passed from this when only 13 years of age to the more exacting work of firing an engine. The labour here, however, says the Gem, was much too trying, and his employer exchanged his sitution for that of a clerkship, the duties of which he discharged until he passed into the service of the Ohio Telegraph Company as a messenger with a salary of about 10s. a week. From messenger he was promoted to operator, his wages being more than doubled. Never once after this did Mr. Carnegie look back.

SEQUEL TO AN AUSTRIAN COUNT'S DEATH. The Werner TagbTatt., referring to the death of the Austrian nobleman Count Zeppelin, who was killed during an engagement on the Tugela, says that there is a sad sequel to his death. He was engaged to Fraulein J ulia von Lauser, daughter of a German Privy Councillor, and the young lady was so much shocked on hearing of his death that she became insane, and had to be put into an asylum.

A TERRIBLE MARCH. Private fDavies of the Welsh Fusiliersi writes to his friends at Aberdare. Glam., that in a return journey after a fruitless quest for the Boers beyond the Mooi River he and others slept on the moun- tains that night. At half-past two on Snnday morn- ing we started on a terrible march, fed on hard biscuit and not a drop of water. We travelled 10 miles and then halted, while the medical officer tested some water, which we could not drink. We started off once more and got into Estcourt camp at eleven o'clock, 21 miles without a drop of water, under the burning sun. When the command was given to pile our rifles together and fall out, every man dropped down, tired out."

CHOICE OF GENERALS. How much would each of the 180,000 armed men now fighting for Britain in South Africa willingly pay to be quite sura that his Commander-in-Chief was a thoroughly competent man; would a farthing a day from each be considered an extravagant contribu- tion ? asks the Spectator. Everybody knows it would not, but that apparently infinitesimal sum means a salary for the general of £ 80,000 a year. That very simple proposition is a final answer to Mr. Burns's argument that no man is worth more than £500 a year, and it is also a rough measure of the value to an army of a sufficient brain at its head. The truth is, that value is incal- culable. Just look at the scene before us. Millions were expended, thousands of lives were given for the country, the world rang with stories of British valour, and we were face to face with the enemy, but unable to drive them from our soil, and believed by foes and friends alike to be incapable of performing the task which, nevertheless, remained imperative. The Cabinet Committee of Defence sent out two competent men to command the crowd, and in six weeks the whole scene is changed. The crowd has become a great mobile army, the enemy is flying over the border, and all enemies, sullen or admiring, re- consider the situation, and think that the smashing of the English must be postponed to a more favour- able opportunity. Are not those two men worth the farthings we have mentioned ? We leave the answer to those whom they are leading, and who, because they are so led, are becoming victorious soldiers. The English, who watch their statesmen as a French author watches his" human documents," never watch their generals at all except in the field, know nothing of their records," and will suffer any- body who is "recommended" to be entrusted with their children's lives. They are patient of failure, no doubt—not one man has been superseded yet for all that has happened—and that is to their credit, but they display as to choosing, a thick-witted and appar- ently incurable carelessness which is the despair of their historians. They said nothing when Leicester was sent to the Low Countries, and never recognised Churchill until he had beaten Louis XIV. They would send, or rather allow to be I sent, the senior Major-Genera) against a Maltb, and never dream as they sighed over their dead that the choice might be in part their fault. What remedy is there if the people understand nothing of war except how to die ? One is for the people to watch soldiers as they rise, insist on true accounts of i campaigns, to listen to professional stories, and at least try to "reckon up generals as they do states- men. Favouritism is in armies as everywhere else, anct;it takes attention, insistent attention, to stop an appointment which is indefensible.. The second remedy is to insist, even with obsti- nacy, that a Minister of War and his chief of the staff, whatever the record of the latter, shall choose the best generals they can, and shall be held directly responsible for selecting the wrong man. Their dice I are human lives. The third remedy is the introduc- tion into the service of a new and stringent etiquette. It should be held a moral offence equivalent to desertion for a general or other highly-placed officer to resign because a junior has been put over his bead. What does it matter to the country if 10 major-generals feel hurt because, say, Baden-Powell is made a local general, if only the latter is the most J competent man ? Let them feel hurt and go on fighting with thanks to heaven, if the Minister it right, that they will be led to victory.

AFTER THE WAR—WHAT THEN ? After the War—What then ?" is the subject of the opening article in the new number of Blackwood's Magazine. What is to be done with South Africa I is, the writer maintains, the question of the day and not Home Rule, old-age pensions, or any other topic. He denies that, though our Army is still in the field, it is too soon to enter on such a discussion. It aeemil," he says, none too soon to begin the con- sideration of a problem which needs long and care- ful thought, nor is it in any spirit of undue confi- dence or assumption of success that it is put forward. There is a condition subject to which all human de- signs and plans are laid. No wise man defers on that account to prepare himself for circumstances that may arise and which he is striving to bring about. Nil ane but the conventionally pious deems it necessary to be for ever proclaiming the limitation." It is one thing to conqueracountryanddestroy its government, but it is another thing to devise and establish a new system of administration to replace it. There, are it is pointed out, the usutil three courses open in dealing with e South African problem. In the first place tht Republics may be left as they are, but with their in- dependence guaranteed to them, and with every claim to suzerainty on the part of her Majesty, or of control aver their relations with foreign Powers, withdrawn. That course is stamped with the approval of Mr. Leonard,Cotirtney and others of his type. The-second course is like the first, but not quite so bad. The Republics might be left after too war much as the) are, but with certain restrictions on their armaments, with the reassertion of her Majesty's suzerainty and control over their foreign relations, and with a liberal franchise law giving equal rights to white men sf all races. The third course is to abolish once for ill the Dutch Republics, to merge them in British territory, and place them under the British flag—to uniilgamate them, in fact, with the British Colonies, und form one Empire or dominion of South Africa. The first course is condemned as the imaginings 01 iI. lunatic philanthropist, until it is forced on u. by Boer bullets or until a degenerate nation places its fortunes in the hands of a Ministry composed of Mr. Morley, Sir Wilfrid Lawson, Mr. Leonard Courtney, and their followers." The second plan is the one to be feared. It is, it is declared of the nature of a compromise, and Parliament dearly loves compromises." The writer carefully examines what it means, and showsthat the composi- tion of Boer and Uitlander renders it unworkable. You might as well," he says, "make the commenc- ment of a happy family by caging together a terrier and a cat who had just been tearing each other." The I third course is the only one open to Great Britain. The Dutch Republics in any shape must," it is maintained, "cease to exist, and the whole of South I Africa must be welded together into one Empire, sub- divided into separate provinces under the supreme Government of the Queen. An impartial examination of all our mistakes and misfortunes in South Africa will show that they are due to the absence of such a Government." The article concludes by advocating the following measure for the better government of South Africa: "Firstly, the amalgamation of the Dutch Republics with the British territory, and the division of the whole into several provinces; secondly, sach province to be administered by a Governor appointed by the Crown, with elective assemblies for legislative purposes, the Constitution of Cape Colony and Natal to be left unchanged, except in so far as it may be necessary to briifg their Governments under "he control of the Governor-General; thirdly, the appointment of a Governor-General, aided by a council, with supreme control over civil and military iffairs of all the provinces, and withjpowers generally similar to those vested in the 'Governor-General, in Council' in India; and, fourthly, the appointment of a Secretary of State for Africa, with a small idvisory council, to control South African affairs."

RIFLE SHOOTING. AMERICAN TEAM TO VISIT ENGLAND THIS 8UMMER, International competitions of many kinds will attract the attention of sportsmen during the present year, but it is doubtful if any will create more general interest than the shooting contest between the Queen's Westminster Rifle Volunteers and the Penn- sylvania National Guard Regiment, which has beeB arranged to take place during the summer. Shoot- ing matches between British and American riflemen have invariably produced keen contests, and it. may interest our readers to refer briefly to past meetings. In 1874, at Creedmore, teams of six men represent- ing America and Ireland competed, a grand contest ending in favour of the American team by three points only. The following year a return match Wal contested at Dollymount, when the Americans won by 39 points. A third match was decided in America in 1876, victory once again going to the Americans, who totalled 1165 points, as against 1154 by the Irish team. Once again American and Irish tesmt tried conclusions at Dollymount in 1S80, the home team having to up with a fourth defeat, j this time by 12 points. Among the cracks who re1 presented Ireland in some of these matches were J. Rigby, W. Rigby, and J. K. Milner, while the most ( noted of the Americans were H. Fulton, W. M Farrow, and II, A. (now Judge) Gildersleeve. In; 1876, at Creedmore, the Centennial Trophy, open to teams of eight men from all countries was contested i for. Five teams competed, and the final scored were: America, 3126; Ireland, 3104; Scotland, 3063; Australia, 3062; and Canada, 2923. The following year Great Britain and America competed i for the trophy, the British team being under the leadership of Sir H. Halford. Though our repre- sentatives managed to surpass the winning scere of the previous year, the Americans proved too strong, they putting on 3334 points as against 3242 by Great Britain. No foreign team challenged for the trophy in 1878, so the Americans shot alone for it and scored 3236 points. A military match between teams of twelve British Volunteers and American National Guardsmen, or Militiamen (Volunteers), wae contested at Creedmore in 1882. The British team won easily, scoring 1975 »gainst a total of 1805 by the American Volunteers. Among the British mpre- sentatives were J. W.Dods. Caldwell, 0. J. Parryr Â. P. Humphrey, and McVittie, whose names will be familiar to all students of rifle shooting. McVitte was the hero of the match, he putting on a total of I 191 points out of a POSSIBLE 210. Since thematchee referred to we have had a visit from the Massa- chusetts Rifle team, who quite helli their own in snatches with English teams. From this it will be gathered that the visitors are likely to prove worthy, opponents, and as the Queen's Westminster has fur- nished several crack shots among their active contin- j gent for South Africa, our men will have all their I work cut out to gain a victory. I

WEIRD TRAGEDY IN PARIS. I 0113 of the wierdest tragedies that has occurred for | a long time (says the Morning Post Paris Correspon- dent) has just taken place in a house in the Rue d< Chezy at Neuilly, Paris. The house was occupied by a widow named Deve- zins, with her son Frederick and her niece Mdlle. Marthe Contresty, who were engaged to be married, and were deeply in love with each other. Affianced last November they were to be married in the second week of February, but in the middle of January M. Frederick Devezins fell suddenly ill. He died on January 23 at eleven o'clock at night. Hi. fiancee was at his bedside till the end. Madame Devezins feared for her niece's reason, and sent her to stay with some friends, but to all attempts to raise her spirits she replied "Before leaving me my fiancé promised not to abandon me. A few minutes before dying, while he still had all his reason, he said: 'Do not cry, darling. Wo will be united in spite of all. I will come for you in a month. Wait on me in your bed-room at the same hour at which I die. I will carry yon away, and we will be united in eternity. In order not to grieve Madame Devezins the friends did not tell her of her niece's conviction, te which, moreover, little importance was attached. On Monday, the 19th, Mdlle. Contresty, who seemed to have recovered her self-possession, re- j turned to live with her aunt. On Friday, the 23rd, one month after the death of her fiance, she was more dejected than usual, and hardly left her room all day. After going to bed about eleven o'clock at night, Madame Devezins went to see how her niece was. She stopped in amazement at the bed-room door, which was open. Her niece had not heard her ap proach. and was sitting in an armchair gazing fixedly at the clock. She was wearing the dress in which she was affianced and also her engagement ring. It was almost eleven o'clock. Sudd enly the wind blew open the badly-closed window and extinguished the lamp; Madame Devezins approached her niece, and touched her lightly on the shoulder. Before she could: speak there was a scream, and Mdlle. Contresty fell to the floor. When help arrived she was found to be dead, a physician who was called explaining that I she had died of terror.

AUNT GEKHAW Did the story you were just readin' in the newspaper end happily, Joshua ?" j Uncle Geehaw (approvingly): "Gosh! Yes; the beautiful heroine got cured of a.n incurable disease, an' it tells the name an' price of the pills that did I the trick!" I TKAVEKS (to office-boy): Johnnie, did you take that cheque down to my tailor ?" Johnnie Yes, sir." Travers:" What did he do when you gave it to him?" Johnnie: "He fainted, sir." I OLD MAN: "Why don't you marry?" Young, One Do you think a man could procure all the necessities of life on 1800dol a year ?" Old Man: j "Of course, but not the luxuries." Young One: Well, I haven't decided yet whether a wife is a J necessity or a luxury."

THE SOUTH AFRICAN MAIL. WHY THE WAR MUST SOON END. An experienced Cape Colonist has given the fol- lowing reasons why the war must speedily end in the winter time there will be no water in the kopjes, and continuous fighting form the splendid position afforded by them would be impossible. There will be no grass for horses and cattle. The constant practice of the Boers of driving their stock to the low country in winter proves that it is practically impossible to keep horses and cattle in anything like condition without this resource. They are bound to run short of remounts, and even those horses that are being used, and live through the summer campaign, will be utterly done up in the course of a month or two. The Boers will be utterly unable to withstand the cold among the hills with their inefficient camping accommodation. They always wait for grass and the spring to start a Kaffir raid, as witness the Malaboch and Magato wars, not to mention the present campaign, when they deliber- ately waited for the opportune time in respect to the condition of the country. Then in the winter time they plant their food for the following year, and this work is done on too gigantic a scale for the women to manage alone—especially in the Free State—and Kaffirs, without male supervision, would never do the work. Seeing that so much depends upon our power of keeping horses and cattle in good condition, it is suggested that the military authorities should immediately commence cutting up huge quantities of bay and storing it for the coming winter, and, more- over. the work might be done without extra expendi- ture by the garrisons left on the lines of communica- tion, as the men are chating under their condition ef enforced idleness. ALLEGED HIGH TREASON. An Irishman who was recently tried at Maritz- burg on a charge of high treason in joining the Irish Brigade, said that he was under sentence of three months' imprisonment in Johannesburg, and had been in prison for three weeks when he, together with other white prisoners, were all sent away over the border. They were escorted to the border of the Portuguese territory, but the Portu- guese refused to allow them to pass. There were 600 native prisoners with them these were taken back to Komati Poort on the Saturday night, and locked up in the trucks for the night. The next day the European prisoners were marched to Komati Bridge, and shown the path they were to take, and were also cautioned that if they wero found back across the river they would be shot. They broke up into parties of 20, and tramped to Delagoa Bay, where they got on a steamer and went to Durban. The prisoner said he knew nothing about the Irish Brigade. FREE STATERS AND UITLANBERS. Two refugees from the Free State give particualars of the way in which they and several others were treated for refusing to fight against their conntry- men. Commandant Steyn said he had heard enough of that talk, and if they refused to fight they would be put over :the Delagoa Bay border. We are sent by Field Cornet Cloete under an armed escort to Bethlehem, he telling us that we would be treated well. At the same time one of the escort carried a letter to the Landdrost, saying we were all dangerous men and wanted watching. We were then lodged in gaol, bail being refused, eight of us being crammed into one cell, which was infested with vermin and very deficient in sanitary arrangements. We asked for food, but were re- fused until the proper regulation time (twelve o'clock next day). The following day we were released from gaol, and five of use were commandeered for the front at Colesberg. If we had no horses, we were told, we had to go on foot. We left Bethlehem again under armed escort for Colesberg, and met President Steyn at Senekal. We asked permission from the Field Cornet to see the President and state our case, which was granted, and after doing so we were again refused, the President remarking that the five who were Free State born would have to go and do their duty under pain of being shot. He promised to wire us from Bethlehem to Wynburg after making investigations. He did so, and we were recalled to Bethlehem, when we were again commandeered on arrival. We were told we would be shot if we tried to escape, as a fly could not now get through the Basutoland border. We risked this, however, and arrived safely in Maseru. There are now about a dozen refugees in Basutoland who have escaped from the Free State." ANGBLIC ALLIES. After the bloody business at Colenso, when Buller's hordes bad been driven back in disastrous flight before the murderous Mausers, an aged Boer and an Irishman did sentry go together on a hill overlook- ing Ladysmith. The old burgher was talkative. I ipoke to several of the Colenso prisoners to-day," he said. Yes," said his companion, with a rising in- flection and a smothered yawn. Ja," he went on, and what do you think they asked me ?" The, iivil a bit do I know," said the other. They asked me who the two commandants were on our left and right wings. They said that two tall men in white clothing and riding magnificent white horses rode every one on each side of the Boers and seemed to- urge them against the foe. They didn't seem to- do much shooting themselves, bat only encouraged the rest." Encouraged the rest, did they," commented the Irishman, shifting a large quid to the other side of his mouth. "Ja, and the* soldiers said that they had been told to shoot the men but could not, although they came repeatedly within a few hundred yards of tbe British ranks. And phwat did yez tell him ?" queried the Celt with a pretence of interest. I told him," the Patriarch concluded solemnly, that Komberlain had asked the God of Battles to decide which side was in the right, and that I believed the Almighty had his warriors figbting with us on the field to-day. The angels that guarded Elisha the prophet were invisible; but they were there all the same, and it is the same with those that fight for us." The Irishman crossed himself in the darkness, and bit off another half-inch from his piece of roll tobacco. An hour later he dreamt about the phantom horseman under his blanket, and re- I fought the battle of Colenso under a new aspect. I FROM THE BOER POINT OP VIEW. A gentleman who is to be relied upon for the truth, left Heidelberg, Z.A.R., on January 18. He says: The Heidelberg commando own to having lost over 70 men at Ladysmith on January 6, and also that the Boers he was travelling with, who were home on leave, agree that if they win, there is sure to be war among themselves." Major Erasmus says: In shooting with the rifle our Afrikanders are the equal of the rooibaatjes, but with the artillery they play with us it is fearful the accuracy with which they fire their big guns." The Boer forces are com- plaining bitterly of the different diseases they suffer from—fever, dysentery, and rheumatism. What there is for the average Briton te be despondent over I cannot see. Of course, the war has not run like a waxworks show on fire, but we are only just starting to be in earnest. THE HERO OF BLANDSLAAGTN. Commandant Ben Viljoen wrote from near Colenso, Johannesburg Laagar, January 2, to a member of the staff of the Johannesburg Standard and DiggM News: "I am really glad to acknowledge receipt of your welcome letter. I must apologise for not writing sooner, but I did not know you were still ia Johannesburg, and thought perchance you 'had followed our Free State forces. As you remark, I am aware that I have been the objeet of many anonymous attacks, and that all the blame of Elandslaagte has been laid upon my shoulders. Dear boy, when the truth of the whole fight appears in its true form many an eye will be opened. The world has hitherto been either willfully or ignorantiy kept in darkness concerning the inwardness and the causes that led to that disaster. Besides, the 44 men lest at Dundee puts Elandslaagte in the shade when you compare the numbers engaged on both sides. I assure you that I did my best, and I am prepared to defend myself anywhere against my most hostile and acrimonious critics, but I was in a measure handicapped by poor, dear old Gen. Kock and the Schiel contingent. Ia the meantime the story has get to be told, and my version has never yet seen the light Jof print, and when it is published the world will know who acted like men, and who forgot to fire a shot. It did my heart good to see Buller's crush run at Colenso, and I felt that Elandslaagte had been avenged. What a defeat they suffered! I went over the battlefield im- mediately after the termination of hostilities, and saw the way the English treat their wounded and killed. Dogs are handled with more delicacy by usu I saw young George (the cyclist) with the English Red Cross. These, then, are the heroes who used to sing Rule Britannia so loudly! We are laagered in a beautiful spot, and though one is apt to get tired of this interminable picnic, I feel aseager and willing as ever for the next fight, and am determined to tee the thing right through te the finish.

-— ] (ALL JUaRTS A GHAVEJII3TAKE. fe* WILFRED WOOLLAM, M.A zs, the name of Haslam is engraved pretty deeply OB my memory. Whenever I see it, and I see it not infrequently over shop windows and other places ot less commanding position, I think of many strange events—some very sad ones—which are past and gone. First and foremost among the lecolluctions it awakens is an old, heavily-furnished, trophy-decked, easy-chair-stocked room at Cambridge—my own room, not. in college, but near enough to leave the chapel bell all its terrors. It was in the October term after hall." Six or eight men were in the room and a proportionate amount of tobacco smoke caps were strewn about with a happy disregard to tidiness, and gowns cling- ing to anything that oifered them a support. There was nothing more potent or insidious on the go than coffee; but the noise was enough to suggest joviality of the bump-supper description. When Haslam'a gong came to an end there was a perfect hubbub of applause. An interesting-looking fellow, with well defined features, he was a stranger bo most of the men in the room—Postlerig had brought him, introducing him to me as a friend of his, and an Oxford man. He talked abundantly and tang well. Just now he had been begging with a pagnificent voice, in the words of a once very popular lOng, to be allowed to fall like a soldier, and his song tras well received. Its merits, however, did not a unanimous request for a repetition. Cries of Encore," The Vicar of Bray," Let me like a soldier fall," and "A speech! a speech from Pro- lessor Stonehead!" evidently proceeded from the more powerful voices; for these cries were heard; While several open mouths, gaping in inarticulate un- loveliness, gave evidence of preference and prejudices, Strangled in their utterance. Stonehead was a great friend of mine; he was a man much admired by those who knew him but not a popular man. He was tall and strong, had a thoughtful, often melancholy face, wrote verses and Ihunned athletics. At the good natured though flerisive request for a speech, he smiled languidly and waited, without any intention of contributing to the entertainment, for what might happen next. He took all his enjoyment quietly, and was often called fifeless. ttSoon the little hubbub subsided, during the pre- lude to Simon the Cellarer;" when I saw Stone- bead whispering, earnestly I thought, to Haslem the tfcranger who had just sung so well Let me like a soldier fall;" and after a brief conversation in xhispers they both very quietly left the room, Mr. Haslam with his hat and stick. Now," said Stonehead outside the door, undetain- ingly laying his hand on the other's collar, You can fall like a soldier if you prefer, or like a broken- kneed horse, or like the price of flour; but when you get up again "—and here Stonehead indicated by a movement, which required little skill in muscle-read- ing to interpret, that the way he was pointing out was downstairs—"when you get up again, don't come back here with your smooth-faced villainy;" and it is worthy of remark that the gentleman addressed acted on the advice. Stonehead returned to that laughter ringing, tpbacco-steeped room and remarked, with his softest accent and most melancholy expression to me and to Postlerig, who was sitting by me, that Mr. Haslam had been compelled to leave suddenly, but he didn't know what required him. An hour later, when Stonehead and I were left done, and I was preparing to read, he told me in his matter of fact, easy way, the circumstances under which Mr. Haslam had left. The man is a sharp," lie said, but I never knew a cad ape a gentleman better in my life. He has taken rooms above Eostlerig's, calls himself an Oxford man, is thinking of migrating, and is looking round. He looked up Postlerig the second day he was there with profuse apologies for intrusion: 'he felt so confoundedly lonely;' and now simple, song-loving old Postlerig Í8 running him into men's rooms in this fashion. I Ihought I smelt a rat yesterday, in Postlerig's roomq; bat I'll tell you particulars another time. I'm off now to Postlerig's to put him on the scent; and I'll be banged if I'll play the policeman further than that. the old boy will open his eyes. He asked me yester- day, when Haslam was there, looking decidedly nncomfortable, if he bad left a ring in myroom, when be washed there before Hall" a couple of days ago, and on leaving him I found his friend Shirley was also minus a piece of jewellery, which he, much sharper than Postlerig, missed directly our Oxford friend with his agreeable dupe had left. It was a scarf pin worth nothing; but of course this kind of thing must be stopped, so I'm off now to Postlerig's. I will tell you more to-morrow." Well, on the morrow, he did tell me more, aa Postlerig and one or two other men also did. The facts were simple and not exciting. Haslam had gone. He had paid his landlady handsomely, who protested that he was a perfect gentleman, and she ought to know, she had had gentlemen in her rooms for fifteen years!" At the Bame time she gave Postlerig to understand very clearly that she did not wish to have to speak up in Befence of Mr. Haslam's gentlemanly deportment, as that would involve the disagreeable confession that the had let him 100ms without permission. Yes, Haslam bad gone; and Postlerig and that other man Were minus three not very valuable pieces of jewellery. Several men talked vaguely about tutors and the police; and cited very recently attained information about the compounding of felonies until Stonehead, whom Postlerig's landlady singled out in the noisy Conclave as the most likely champion of her cause, re- marked laconically, "Police be hanged;" and that ended the business. That was in my undergraduate days I know very little about any of those men now, except old Stone- hepd, who is getting on very well as a physician. He etilllooks melancholy and writes verses; but it is not & year ago since I last saw his name in a newspaper paragraph, environed with a questionable notoriety (his wife sent me the paper), for summarily adminis- tering justice withouba commission, to a cabman Who badgrven him change for a very exorbitant fee in provocation of a flagrant character. But it is not of my old 'Varsity acquaintances I have to write. It is about Mr. Haslam. I listened to his song that night with appreciation and well remember his calm and almost handsome iace as I looked at him when he sat down next to Stonehead, and offered him a cigarette (politely de- clined) as he lighted one himself. I little thought bt) much I should be influenced by him in after years. Five years, at least, after the night I was at South- port. i bad gone for a week—a brief week snatched from the somewhat precarious practice of a young Worgeon. > I was not at Southport because it was winter, or tecaasa the place suited my health; or because, excepting one important reason, I preferred flat, uq- seafaring, sandy Southport to a dozen other pleasant resorts by the sea. Indeed Southport is not by the sea. It is by the sea-shore but occasionally^ I am told, the sea, when in a turbulent mood, is by south- port. The reason was this: Maggie Winoombelived (here with her sister and aunt. I knew the Winconihe girls long before -this—when their father was aliv, when they were better off, Maggie was to me an absorbing attraction. My sweet, vivacious, captivat- ing little Maggie! I only came to love her slowly, and 2 had no idea how much I did love her till some of those incidents happened which I am about to relate. When they did happen (why should I not own it ? if you laugh at me I shall not see you) I was ready to cry like a child—like a young schoolboy in grief, flrhen his laughing companions have left him lonely. I suppose, as Martha heartlessly said, "It was all lor the best." Martha is Maggie's handsome sister— Illy first love. I don't want to deceive anybody eçecially when there i nothing to gain by it. I may (tare acted just a little shabbily to Martha. Some of her friends said I did, at the time. But if so how lamentable natural it is to be shabby. I couldn't help it. When Martha was piqued at my very ordinary Kindness to Maggie, her younger sister, I WaI, of course, annoyed. When she became very lavish with her 8lnile. and pretty sayings to others-more pecuDiarHy that admirers, I was satisfied and when she finally tdld me we had better regard each other simply as ifriends, I welcomed the arrangement with a certain Mcret joy; and three months later little Maggie and I were lovers. All that was before the Wincombe girls went to Southport, to live in meagre gentility with their tNniable but weak-minded aunt. Ah, my pcor Maggie! It was six months nearly Since I had last seen her. That was at Southport. Of course we had written, but we were both bad Correspondents; and our engagement had not been of a formal kind. We were to be married (at least I fully supposed Maggie understood so) as soon as ever icould afford it—perhaps in a year; but to tell the truth she had never definitely promised to marry me. 11 had never in words asked her. But I had kissed her a thousand times. I had expatiated about a rapidity increasing income and approaching bliss; I naturally concluded, with reason you will aaflmit, that that very unequivocal offer of marriage ffrhen continued from week to week had been ted.. HfWell, the evening of my arrival passed happily enough. I certainly thought Maggie a little shy at sfirst; but both the girls and their aunt, Mrs. Bushby, intended to me every overture of good feeling; and the thoroughness of my welcome was complete. 3tfartha was in a sprightly mood, cynical'as usual; she ifcreated me during my stay of two hours as if she had my sister—father a disagreeable one—but that ebjection did not lessen the familiarity betwixt usi and Mrs. Bushby was as kind and profuse in hei insipid sociability as ever so that I returned to my hotel contented and happy enough, and looked forward to meeting them all on the pier the next morning with buoyant spirits. The morning came, a bright glorious September morning, and the meeting came but there I received a shock. Walking leisurely toward me came the two sisters, but who was that betwixt them ? It was Haslam I had not seen him f or five years, but as I approached nearer and nearer his well-defined features, at first only suggesting something familiar—then something disagreeably familiar, at last brought up from my memory too vividly the corresponding picture of that pale immobile face with its name and associations. I could not disguise my dissatisfaction at meeting this fellow with my Maggie. I had only just time to reflect that the acquaintance might be most trivial, before the introduction and disposition of things directly after rudely awoke me to a very different out- look. Maggie glided off with Mr. Haslam, leaving her elder, handsome sister with me, perhaps, yes !—per- haps to tell me the very things which she immedi- ately began to tell me flippantly, cynically, and, I thought, with pleasure at my chilling reception of the facts. Mr. Haslam isavery great friend of ours, George. Aunt is awfully fond of him, and we came to know him in rather—ah, there is aunt sitting down. She doesn't se us." "No, shedoesnt see us," I said, II snppose we walk on a little, and you tell me something more about your very great friend, Mr. Haslam. I'm entitled to ask,am I not?" "Of course you are! Who more? Bat aunt would tell you better. And don't say ny great friend George, not mine, Maggie's, rather, though it was I who was the innocent, useful medium in bringing about their intimacy. And you came to know Maggie through me didn't you? Indeod, I've been very use- ful to Maggie all her life in little things of that kind yet she says all manner of things against me. Would you believe it, she called me a spiteful thing only yesterday. But Maggie will be wilful?" What is this Mr. Haslam ?" "What is he ? Profession do you mean ? Oh, he's on the Stock Exchange and doing very well. He is a very gentlemanly fellow, and was introduced to us— to me—by people who are notoriously particular. We are all very fond of him—at least we all used to be, and some of us are still." I perfectly understood the woman I was talking with—more than these scraps of conversation, reader, can possibly make you understand her. I appreciate her veiled and delicate invitation to a little renewal of sentimentality. I perceived distinctly the delicate action of the fan over the possibly not extinct embers Of an early flame, and it was not owing to any absence of attractiveness in style and face which accounted for the apathy with which I observed this. It was owing to Maggie, and when her sister's ill- curbed tongue ran so insinuatingly On Maggie's defects, I didn't believe in them. I didn't then. Maggie is a sweet vivacious girl," I said to myself, as true as steel; and as for this Haslam, the child is only being polite to him. But I must talk to Mrs. Bushby." Very soon after this comforting reflection Martha and I returned to where we had seen Mrs. Bushy; and found Maggie with her. "Ah," said Martha, "Here you are, Maggie; but where is your friendj?" "Mr. Haslam? Oh! he had an engagement!" And I certainly thought Maggie just then looked a little bewildered—a fancy perhaps. There the three of us sat and talked and laughed together for some fifteen minutes. Mrs Bushby dilitorily turned over the leaves of a book between the conversation. Martha languidly observed the gay, fashionable tide of saunterers which went past, increasing in volume and variety every minute. She seemed rather listless now after her little sallies of somewhat pungent pleasantly and sighed audibly once with some little remark, which Maggie laughed at, about the wearisomeness of watching pleasure seekers, and the hatefulness of seeing nothing btt new faces. Maggie rattled away vivaciously—a little too vivaoiously, I could not help fancying, for a perfectly easy mind on any transitory topic which came to the surface. Now it was a pretty dress," now it was a "loathsome little pug," now it was a laugh at the niggers on the sand below. "Oh, that lovelychild,r or what a pity she cried just, and only just, loud enough to elicit from Martha Maggie, you don't care what people think of us. I'm sure he would hear you 1 this was in reference to some unfortunate victim of lameness, otherwise hale and handsome, disappearing in his Bath chair among the crowd. I loved to hear her gay, sweet, sympathetic chatter —my little, loving, vivacious Maggie; but I wished then to have it more to myself; and I was just going to propose to her a walk to the end of the pier, when she suddenly thwarted me by announcing a little engagement which called her away. Engagement," said Martha, Engagements are thick this morning! Well, off you go; we'll excuse you But her face had changed, she had been affect- ing sadness for the last 15 minutes; now she wore a decidedly vexed expression; and looked half uncon- sciously (it seemed pityingly) at me. I was certainly disappointed, and a little annoyed. I had not bad Maggie ten minutes to myself sincq I had been in Southport. I'll go with you, Maggie," I said. Thanks, George. Do—to the end of the pier-l can't take you further; as I'm on business, very im- f)ortant business," she added with a little curious augh. "Butyou are coming to tea this afternoon ?" The Wincombes always dined in the middle of the day now. Mwtha said, with one of her usual sneers at their own poverty, that it was cheaper. Yes," I said, If you'll be there; but I can't get five minutes with you, do what I "Do you like to be with me, George?" Sometimes. Don't go now, Maggie! Put it dff; It's only some wretched shopping ?" She stood still, took out her watch; and then looked at me with a sweet serious little smile—the most serious smile 1 had ever seen on Maggie's face. It's something, she said" that may alter my whole life—I'll tell you all by and bye; but don't say anything yet to Martha! George, if I were to take an important step, a most important step, with- out consulting you, who have always been such a good kind fellow to me, should you ever forgive me ?" Good, kind fellow ?" I repeated (we were now out of the throng, at the edge of the pier, looking over at the people like liliputians on the stretching shining sands, and at the solitary shadowy Bhips miles away), "Good kind fellow!—I hope I'm more than that to you, Maggie, you, whom 1 live for, who make the struggle of life delightful, who brought me here when I had no right to come, who have promised to marry me—haven't you ?" Maggie for a moment was startled and looked serious; then lifting her face up to mine, with laugh- ing, honest eyes, Marry you!" she cried. marry you What could we marry on ? Let me see, what patients have you ?—two children with the measles. They can't last; and an old pensioner with rheu- matism Haven't we said many times, George, that married poverty is misery doubled ? I've let you kiss me," continued Maggie, relapsing into a comic kind of thoughtfulness, "Decause I couldn't help it. I'm a weak, silly girl, as Martha tells me every day. But marry you! marry you! you dreaming, doting, dear old fellow, we couldn't marry till we were sixty I" I looked hurt, and Maggie for a moment seemed sorry. Then she laughed again. "See, there's Martha coming; she'll give you soma good advice. Don't be angry with your little Maggie. Æu revoir, and not a word to Martha, mind!" I looked after her in wonder and sorrow. Maggie was certainly coming out in a new character. Could the child be a bit vexed that our engagement was so unpromising of a sensible marriage. I looked lingeringly after her, and she turned round (her sister would not have done so on that pier then for a little fortune); and never shall I forget her face as it mirrowed itself on my heart that moment-a sweet smiling face that slipped swiftly into a strange sad loveliness; and then was lost among the flutter- ing crowd. I passed another miserable distracted hour with Martha. I now began to think Maggie was indeed drifting away from me, that she might already be in love with that awful Haslam. Perhaps she had gone even then to be with him. Appearing to be as careless as I could, I learnt much more about Mr. Haslam from Martha: and what I learnt I did not like. One thing only seemed distinctly in his favour; he bad plenty of money. Revived in Liverpool, and was on the Stock Exchange. He, came incessantly to 8outhport, and Maggie was very fond of him. That information Martha im- pressed on me particularly. Sh", also gave me to nnderstand in her own delicate adroit way that, to begin with, he was fond of her; but, as usual, she had to step into the background for the sake of Maggie. Oh, yes," she said, Mr. Haslam was my friend, and we wore very great friends. To tell the truth (I'm speaking to you as a brother you know) I rather admired the man. I shouldn't like him to be badly treated. But Maggie is a wayward child. We all have to humour her; and Maggie doesn't believe in halves, as you know. She goes in for monopolies; but what does it matter ? Old friends are better after all, George Matter," I said, Why Maggie is engaged to me; and if she were not, I'm not.so sure that Mr. Haslam, rich as he is, would make her a desirable husband." "Engaged Ob, my dear fellow," laughed Martha, then you had better look after her I But don't let her hear you say a word against Mr. Haslam, mind that When I left Martha it was with the fixed deter- mination to have all that misunderstanding and mystery cleared up quickly. Haslam, I reflected (not altogether with pleasure I am afraid), might now possibly be an honest 'and highly creditable citizen; but somehow I didn't think he was and if even Maggie had done with me, she should not throw herself away on a rogue if I could heip it. o, by Jove, my little, light-hearted, laughter- loving Maggie! She might leave me wretched and lonely and loveless but she should not lose her own thoughtless, sunny, sympathetic heart in the lairs of a man like Haslam—Haslam as I had known him. As for Martha, I began to dislike her. I thought her heartless. She was doubtless, I did not scruple; to think, the cause of that "waywardness" as she called it of Maggie's. The child was weary of her sister's society. The two were so utterly opposed in disposition and inclination. There was no sympathy between them, and Martha at heart, I believe, was a tyrant. She seemed now to be luring me into the coils of old associations and affections but I would have staked my prospects that if I had responded to her tender and willy allurings, when it came to the point she would have laughed in my face and been satisfied with the victory. And poor Mrs. Bushby—who had added her little mite to the meagre income which the girls possessed, and was supposed to be a guardian and adviser to them—why she was as much under Martha as if she had been a child. Martha was certainly dictator in their little kingdom. She was not a kind one; and she was not, I felt certain now, a wise one .Little Maggie was going her own way; and I was very very much afraid she was going wrong. (To be continued.)

EXPERIMENT WITH WOMEN CRIMINALS. The Illinois House of Correction is about to try an interesting experiment in the reformation of women criminals. Superintendent Sloan has built three large greenhouses, covering a space of 4000 square feet, in which it is intended to grow roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums for the Chicago market. The women prisoners will work in the greenhouses under the direction of an expert horti- culturist, and it is expected that contact with the growing plants will have a softening and regenerating effect on the hardened naturel of the unhappy inmates of the institution.

COMING FORWARD. The Port Elizabeth Telegraph, the other day re- ported as most satisfactory the progress made in recruiting the Colonial Division, which has since distinguished itself under General Brabant. The paper said: "Applications are pouring in from young men in all parts of the colony. There is growing enthusiasm over the formation of the brigade. Colonists are anxious to remove the stigma which has been cast upon this country by reason of the actions of the Cape Government, and the determination is everywhere expressed that the Colonial Division must be made a success. When Brigadier General Brabant takes the field he will be in charge of perhaps the most zealous army that ever went into action. The Colonial Division is going to surprise the South African world and prove to the Empire at large what the young men of the Cape are made of."

STAGGERING HUMANITY. An old resident of the Transvaal, now in Durban. has told the Natal Mercury that six months ago a prominent Boer explained to him how the Trans- vaal was going to stagger humanity—in the war for which preparations were then already well forward. His statement was confirmed by all the leading Boers, and our informant (says the newspaper) con- veyed the information to a relative in the army, who informed Sir William Penn-Symons. The officei in question being taken prisoner, and the General killed, our informant notified the plan to the Governor of Natal. That the information has not been lost sight of may be seen by the proclama- tion of Lord Methuen relative to the digging 01 wells for the supply of water to troops on the march. The plan of the Boers was nothing less than this: They boasted that they would kill more soldiers by poison than by their artillery or by the Mauser bullet. The whole thing was cut and dried. As soon as the British crossed the border into the Transvaal and Free State, certain burghers would be told off along the line of advance, each supplied with cyanide, sewn up in lib. bags. With these they were to go to the fountain-head of spruits, and let these bags lie in the water for about five days, by which time they reckoned they would have poisoned the water supply for miles down. At the same time in- formation was to be communicated to farmers or their wives in the districts, so that they should not water their cattle at the poisoned streams, but con- fine themselves to springs round about the home- steads.