Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills

[all eights reserved]. I LOVE'S CONQUEST; BY MRS. JANE FAULKE-WATLING, •AUTHOR OF "With Her Whole Heart," "Drifting Snow," Married for Love," &c., &c. CHAL'TER IX. ,1n: Beeclicroft wa. i lio person most distressed by lie rupture of iusr son s eai^ngeinent, aud she at ollce ex pressed- her intention ot seeing Nellie (U; laikiiitr to seriously about the folly and fciie was not a IllVe hurt t\nd astonished, there- furo, -tviitiit Harry e\c,.>iniC(l authoritatively, "1"011 v: ob ige me by '.lonij* nothing of the kind, aiot.i-.si:. 1 wouldn't, marry Nellie r-udley now if h" were to come und beg ma bo do so, blie tickle ill never really cured for her. I only proposed out, oi <rr.aifci;de for bur help when the boat was you I-ad so set your lie-u■», .^>n i,he mutch, und except) for the annoy- 1 ffiiotiiii be rather .glad tlmn otherwise to bo t. timother sighed, then she said almost plain- tive y, I don't know whab is going to happen. I ('11 t, get married and leuve you algutf^and H.,10 II iind I h;we een separated so 10 ib Msei.ia ii.ii J to be ..bligedto put off our be'«"s« or a girl's wlrin." L'ut yourv waarringe eciioed^, MC **( ertninlv you w^m t ilo anything of fche* wud- Wuy should you jHit it otf? 1 am uorauimautm arill,4, rnn "mte incapable of taking care of fcayielf. Of t on: se y"u will get married on Lila day yøa bad If you don't, I'M go off to afttipotiee witho 'ti further notice." 011 wouldn't do anything so fooflM*^ expostu- lated Beechcroft. 1, indeed I will," was the resolute answer. s "I won't hitve any clmiige made du-ectfjeafter 1-. are married 1 shall shut up this plaeemttd get "o,(md. and no" wo will consider that matter. *119 (eft the roost as he said thisjand his moths* Jor a little while stood irresolute, not quite know- ihc what to do. -tul-Oy. i t wlvh very wrong of Nj0tt|fDud!ev ^•erre^fee owner of Beechcrofb ia tbiiflrelgji ail)ipi}« mo one was more readj^lfNMilftr1^ suchtruuhjiert than the young fawn's motnor. At the sumo timo, 4he was very fond of Nellie herself. She had learnt to regard h«r at a daughber, to lore her «« such, and the thoOghb gave her greab pain that by this decision Nellie and she would not even be &i-eniis. While she was tlras thinking, a note was brought to her, and she at once, recognised the familiar Handwriting. Jib was from the subject of her thoughts, asking Apr to call at the Vicarage, or if she would nob de wAt, bo meet her aomawhere where they could talk fltygpther. I love yo. tee deuriy net te wish to retain 5our friendship," wrote the girl; and you will uderstaud that >usb at present I eaunob come te Via Hall." This was quite ewoegh to makeMra. Beechcrofb .es: and swart off at "nce to hear a love tbery, for irtiich her sympathy was already assured. t. ¡Hr way to the Vicarage she saw Constance Btxl in the distanee, going towards a small vtfrul which lay Otf te tb# left, and »he rightly we it:d hat the girl kad turned off in thit diree- &O11 to r.V 'id her." *k<sil!v ^irl asthengh I should be eroas wit* mml the kindly matron. "I have no l«o«' thing, ihab she is sorry enough that «ra^bel»4s broken etf. for if, as 1 suspect, X«llie to marry Mr. Noi tlicote, she will want Stprrom her fnnaily instead of being able bo give \V'h*t foo-i#^ things girls are where their s# blement in life ie^oacerned and yet I should fative been Vjually fovwj when I was yuung, if I fed my own way.M bhoiighte wen* hack to the past, %n4 >hey to tb« present a %>rt of mellowing in- SieifCe, "o that she telt very charitable warJ8 •H men. tto*t- of &H bowartis lier own son, whom upon rxbhsr suddenly ns though he were »<rnng nee knowing what to do with WIM :g, With the most benevolent inbenbiea bowarde iMh of hem, k»<! wifchont xljs remnioefe ■u-pic.oa & ?J/»<2ci&e true etwte af affairs, she taid soduenly, arry. i ishw (Jonrtunee Dudley j uii new; sfae Mbnted very «*d, ^»eor girl, and slie went onfc oi way to avoki me. l eu might try to meet her, iK^hoagh by accident, and be friendly wikk her, and let her know that ere don'b loee all ouv regard Iftr her family because one member tf it ehaog- Or iniitd." The yount* man thee addressed looked at his mother suspiciously. In his he lie "orletly Warned her for having half driven him te propose to Nellie, and now he wotidered if she had any vKerior motive in tiie suggestion she had just made. Bub the lady was quite unconscious of hit snapi- Otons, and a he aald, I am very sorry for the Dudleys, and more especially for Constance. If she were like other girls her sister's behaviour .ould make i)0 difference to her; but Connie thinks ib little logo than a cnime te break her word, egid she has, no doubt, told her eisbev so, and been aftabbed for her pins. I feel greab sympathy for thome two poor girls, because they have loet their nother, just as 1 hare rather spoilt you, my dear boy, because you have losb your father." You have tried to make up to me for the leee tu could not help, dear mother," replied bhe ung man, touched in spite of himself bat lich way has Constance gone ? I was looking ferier." Looking for her," repeated his. mother, a sudden light breaking upon her obtuse mind. She is gone into the wood, but why were you looking for her ? I will teil you another time," lie answered, Wrab a laugh. Then be took the path leading to the wood, vbile hismother stood doubtfully looking after him. "I wonder what he means aud. wbat 1 had better Ao? pondered Mrs. Beechcroft, gazing after Iter Son, who was walking rapidly, with eager, assured llteps, as though there wail not tke least doubt in Ills mind as to whab It meant to do. Th»t«he oughb to folloy her son was he feeling <wnpermo80 in Mrs. Beechcrofb's heart, but to do so sir tiie pace at which he was going woutd not be pleasant, and would scarce y be practicable, and even asshu Wi>tdied him heeotered the wood and disappeared from her sight, and she, not very well satisfied in mind, proceeded to the Vicarage. We wiil neit her go after mother nor sen, bub wtll foiiow po<>r Constance, wlio since the previous might had had a bad time of it. She had been wroicho i at the condition of feeling Which the mpture of Nellie's engagement had thrown bet into, hihe ought to have be. N -gi'eved and nn- h»:ipy, told herself, and she was consciou- in hr own heart tiiafc she was not so. Iso girl, how. ever, who pOBseilSed such a tender conscience as Constance could, under pie-enc ck-cmn-tanci-s, Lo calle(i liil)i-)y, itiia this sJ" lia(i come imiA for a long walk by herself, hoping to calm the twmult in her soul. and to convince kerself by con- ebunt repetition t,h:t, Harry l-ieejchci-oft's freedom oduld m:die no possible dii erence te tier. When she had gOi,.C only a little way from the Vicarage, the sliwthe young s ^nire in Use (lieumeu, allri -he afc once took anotiiCi iune, the t,nlJ liedjjua;. of which hid lier from his Sight. A little farther on slie saw his mother coming from the Ball, and she again changed her course, and got into Becchwood, which was not exactly the place where she had meant to go. fcho r.w eiy oame to this wood alone, for fear of tramps, there being an ugly story connected wit h t his spot which made the wood a place to be less sought than shunned. At the present moment .-lie had forgotten all abont the uly story, RII ill -.r; t rnmj's, and she was sitting in the fork made by- two branches of { • tree, her feet just a few iitches from the ground. when a sound which denoted the presence of k another human being in her vicinity frightened her I Before she could spring to the ground, or utter a ery, the cause of her fright was m view, and then confusion took/the place efterroi, though she was still ouite as eager to fly- There was 110 way of escape, for this time she had been seen, tracked down, and before she could decide what to do Harry Beechcrofb was before her. Constance was natnrally Bby> and hitherto she had on any emergency been able to hide herself, Metaphorically or otherwise, behind Nellie; btri now she was alone, without even one of the boy., to help her to sustain the conversation. On- the previous evening, when she had sat with Harrjt in the garden, waiting for the return el Nellie and her father, she had not felt ahy awkwardness, for then there was a barrier between them, that made such friendly conversation nabural. Nour-bub why try to escape from what was inevit-a ble ?-the barrier was gone, so also the re- serve it imposed was gone from him, at leasb, and now he advanced with outstretched hand, exclaim- ing, "Afc last 1 have found you 1 I have been looking for you all the morning." She allowed him to take her hand, but ahe did not speak. His words sent a thrill of gladnese to her heart, but the feeling quicklvpdeparted as the thought flashed across her mind, Perhaps he wants me to plead his cause with Nellie." You are not, glad to see me_! he said doubt- fully, noticing the change on her exprbssivd face "you think Iought to be afc home wearing fcbe willow, and trying to persuade myself that f am brokenhearted." No, I don't think anything of the kind it-if yon are not very mqch pained." i'ifWfd be echoed, .a. trifle sharply; of r il," course 1 am pained my prtde is hurb, but my heart was never in bhtktnabter,Constance and I am glad that your «i«ter found out that the sama was the case with herself before it was too late." Again the Liri was feilenb. She dared not look at him, dared not meet his eyes, lesb she should betray herself, but she could not leave him, nor, without some good tea-on, coutd aho send him away. Don't you believe me?" he asked suddenly, and she, startled by the question, lifted her eyes nud met his, meeting such a lighb of love in bliem that she could not withdraw her gaze, but con. tinned to look at him like a fascinated bird. Her lips moved to say "Yes," but no sound came, and he repeated his question, softly this time, like an entreaty, and her eyelide drooped, while the rich colour dyed her cheeks. You know why I am glad that Nellie self* me free, don't you?" be continued, in a low, ernoat tone. She felt thab she musb speak now, or he would misconstrue her rftence, And she ntbered a low, diotincb No." I am glad because I found I had made a mis- take," he said, earnestly—" or, no, I had not made a misbake. I don'b think I ever quite persuaded myself that I loved Nellie, bub she saved my life, and my mother, in her gratitude, said something to her which so far compromised me that I was bound in honour to propose." "TSMHadtd not bhink so," here asserted Con- stance, feeling that there was some blame being attached to her sister which she did not deserve, and ready on the instant to defend her. Nellie always declares that it was not she who saved your life, bub Mr. TTorthcote, whom she loves, who saved you all." M U A h Northcobe is the happy man, is beg" exclaimed Beechcrofb, with quick jealousy. The: wound to his pride-wai a deeper one than he had imaaaflfch. PYes, ihe knew him before she knew you, aniwered the girl, simply and she expected hinr after fclie accidenb he wanted to propose be- fore, hfeftr Sha wouldn't let him, and tluenday after "âý went by and he didn't come, because ho was Ul, poor fellow; but we didn't know that, and though I was very angry with Nell far accepting you, I don't really- think she was so Very much to blame." This she said in defence of htff sister. The Dudley's were all toyal te each other, and no ill. ■ matured remarks were made to outsiders fro. with regard to another. • 44 You don't think she was to blame,"and you would have done likewise?" he asked quiekly, Itie eyes dashing with indignation. I—no but I am different," she replied, in a shrinking tone. 44 How are you different ? lie demanflea. lain nob so pretty as Nellie, atid-" 44 That is prepoaberous, you are a thousand thrfesmore lovely," he exclaimed iifciiebuously. She made a gesture of dissent'thab. w^s almost disdainful, and continued as though he haff npt interrupted her, I am not so gracious and duti- able as Nellie, aid I could nob endure the afcben* kions of any man for whom 1 did not Care very muob indee(i "Gracious and amiable he repeated deri- sively; "you are not a hearbless flirt, you should say that is what her grace and amiability make ber. 44 Nellie fs nob heartless," reborted Constance; 44 if she had been, she wouldn't have thrown you ever to marry a poor man, just because she loves him and he loves her. And I don't think you nave so much to complain of either." IndeedTi What makes you come to tbab Goa slusien ? be asked, surprised nb the spirited way iu which she defended her sister. 44 You have just said khat you did~net 1. her." WOH7 j, th"-is-.w," he edftiitted, coming •earerte her side. 441 suiijw^e there i-n't mucli elloo. u, for whi e she was in love wibb Northcxt.. i wit,3 ii, h.va ivitit you." The girl u fitce became pa.e, then tiu^lied to her very neck, while her heart throbbed painfully. 44 Yse, eon Linked Beeehcrnft^with pardonable aalf-deeepbien "on looking bach I fee tliTib 1 have loved you from the very first, and fiow dioeetly I am free 1 come bo tell you 'se. Look at me. Coil- stance what do you say to me ? She said "o: long, bub fhe did not repulse the arm thab one-i i-el-tl i,or w.ist, and before she re- uemhsred that it> w«w< time for Jier 40 return heme, she had shyl| adiivAied thsii 8^ did love him. ir They were wi.h;n iIighb ef Vicarage when Harry said, "I don't think 1 w;4i go iii, o,.tihi liouis with you this m*iitfng,- dear it will a little awkirard ahfirsfc, and 1-ll-wribe ioyour fabher and tell bina hf^w matters ttWnd.' I don't think he Jsea» any persenai eb,•ction to But Can*»*t»ee mtode answer. Slw WM look- ing at a y9su*H a>an who. was coming aloeg the patl? from'the ev«rton, 4iid When she recognised hixa she. exclalnejl inr low ton* of entreaty, 44 Oh, ddrCt le*vi t>»e.pr*y dtwj't leave me till I u IT by ?•' VV ho is this he1 derhind'M saspl. eiousiy, then answering his own questiotios 'added 44 It isn't Northcote Ny; it a Willie Champnoys," the feplied nerroaoty- Cliainpney? repeated Harry, laying a stress on the Christian name. Yes I am afraid he has come to see wM" faltered Constance bub 1 Won't speak bo'him alene yon imwt take me to the door." No need for further entreaby. Harry Beechl croft woukl be very sorry to-leavaiher before they readied her father's door, and he otrered his arm. Observing with thab unconscious lordliness which the male nniinrl,so often assumes, "'I' ake my arm, and let him and otlJec see that you belong to. me." And Constance meeftly obeyed. Thus it was that they were seen from the Vicar- age windows, and Mrs, Beeclicroft put up her glasses to make certain thab her eyes did nob de- ceive her, while Nellie exclaimed, in genuine delight, Oh, I am so glael-eo very glad she will make him a much better wife than I should have done, and I believe she loves him 1" 44 Constance loves my son repeated Airs. Beechcrofb in amazement. Then, as a sudde^ suspicion flashed across her mind, she turned to Nellie with pitying tenderness, and said, "And you, my poor dfear child, have sacrificed yourself for your sister. Oh, was it wise, was it kind even to her ? » • „ "Indeed, Mrs. Beechcrofb, I have done nothing of the si)rt," rel)lied Nellie, it -fr.-riik smile. I loved Gerald Before I knew yonr son, and I never thought of Constance at a grown up woman until yesterday, when Mr. Cbainpneyg, who was walking with 11IA. told me he had proposed to her and been refused and when I came heme and fdund her with kisti-ry in he gat den, it suddenly came upon me bliab tho- j two loved each otheir -better tl$U) Harry loved Ill", and certainly better than I could ever love him, 1'had j*itft lef| Gerald, and then 1 had begua to uuderstan^ what trde love was. -Ac, jMrs. Beechcroft shook her head, silenced but not quite convinced, and Nellie, who knew that her father was foom home and guessed that Harry Bee,diveroft mi,Iit, fee" awkw:irti at moeung Wwnb out to the front door, shook hands Witoll him frankly, and told lum that be mutt tgm in eause his mother was there. \Her reception of Mr. Champneys was net iqefte so cordial, and as Constance slipped away tb "Mr' loom and did not appear again,, the y.ug' man made some exenae about wanting to we M*. Dudley, and went back to town neither naippier nor wisei* than he came. • • a e Mrs. Beechcrofb and Colonel Girfcon, and: Con. stance Dudley and Harry Beechcrofb respectively were married ab bite beginning of Nevembef instead of the end of August, the snoib delay being occasioncd by the change of brides in the latter case. Before this took place, Gerald Northcote was able to leave his sick room, and be and Nellie aa affiaaced lovers were both present ab the double wedding. And Nellie had no doubt as to the wisdom of Tier choice, but -lie never recalled the past without a shudder, a siio remembered how her own happi. ness and thaji of many who were dear to her, was by her vanity and impatience sp nearly wrecked. XilK. USD. j

It fs said that the man who sent the explosives to MM. Constant 4-Etienne is a chemist's assis- tant. < Mr. J. W. Maclare, M.P., Mrs. Maclure, and fteir son, Mr. A. F. Maclure have left England for a tour inr Norway. The Rev. R. C. Joynt, Vicar of Daraal, Sheffield, has declined the offer of an African Bishoprio made to him some weeljs ago. Liege, it is stated, consumes nearly 4,000,000 cartridges and 40 tons of powder a year in testing firearms. Mr. Partri'lgejivho, excepting Mr. Cooke, is the oldest of the men-opolitan stipendiary magistrates, ftriously indisposeu.. I 'jA^biological station, something on plan of **ofesaor Dohrxi'a staiion at Naples, is to be erected Tie Countess of Sha7tesb'ury is building a new church at AVcoalands, Dorset, for which her son, the present earl isproviding the site and bricks. "Great dwn^ge has been doae to rolling stock aft Bridge End, pi, the \Vre:diam and Coiinah's Quay line, by a collision, between two goods trains. m Ah^ed ^shd|, the T^kish /Ct>m»iaiideil', has suppressed the rebellion in Yemen, and order has been restored. > j The Bishop of Liverpool will retufa to his diocese from Jjowesr,u-t ^Ljut the middle of October, and will preside at the a.nn«q| Dioowan Conference. j A Ramsgate telegram stages t. era1 Italians have set upojr a man named rotter lit the Margate-road Potter sustained a fearful wound, with an 9x9 Mid Wta coityeyed to the infirmary. t/ri r nx-A i^urt iUi vrvivrtM. < 1* l

A little more consideration might fakly he expected from the purveyors Of otl morning's news. With colds in our heads and our best silk hats apoiled, our roses knocked to vieces, and our II standing'" crops flattened along the ground, it is a little hard on us to be confronted at the break- fast-table with the report of successful experi- ments in the artificial production of rain I It was carried out in the United States of course, and by means of dynamite exploded in balloens. It is not stated whether the performing scientists de- scended in parachutes which served the additional purpose of protecting them from the shatter which they had created. ;• IT used to be said m Paris that eapPresident Grevy was in the habit of standing en queue with all 4?he ether Goveraawnt--officials to -take^4wr official salary. President Harrison does things differently. His salary is paid him in monthly instalments of 4,166 dollars and some eente. The, warrant is brought to the White House by a special) messenger from the Treasury department, and after the President has endorsed it as he wouldjm ordinary cheque his private secretary deposits it at the Columbia Bank. When the President is out of town the draft fe sent to him by post. The same method is pursued in paying the judges of the Supreme Court. The disillusions multiply. One of the prettiest sights of London streets is provided by the, clever, merryjiittle girls of the slutnfe dancing to the tunes of a smiling Italian organ-grinder. I detest the noise (an Old Gentleman writes), but I have often given the fellow a penny because he seemed to cheer the dull, drh.b life of the courts and alleys. The other day I took an unusually long ramble in the streets; and three times did I come upon the same musician playfug to the dancing of the same couple of artistically dirty and. correctly ragged little girls. Inquiry showed that they were as much part of his troupe as the monkey on his organ, kept and fed to allure the pennies of old simpletons like myself. i TH British Government has officially recog- niseq Ac Chicago Exhibition.1 The Queen -haf appointed the President, Council, and members of the Society of Arts to represent Grat,Britain and her oolonies at the Chicago Exhibition. The Queen says: It is our wish that such Exhibition shall afford full and suitable representations of the industry, the agriculture, and the fine arts in our United Kingdom of Great Britain wnd Ireland, our Colonies, and.Dependencies in Itarope, Ash, Africa, America, and Australia, and that our sul- jects shall take part in such Exhibition." Thia will be very flattering to the United Stata^ Sis Trueman Wood, the secretary to the Society of Arts, leaves this country aext month for America Arts, leaves this country aext month for America r^rpf **Brh^- -c. +- ¡r Thh "tilq sign is not in favour among pedes- trians during a heavy storm, and no wouder4 In London, during a heavy gale, one of the letters of a sign of this description came down on the pave- ment with an alarming ^clatter. This ipacticqfit* ornament of the advertising alphabet weighed two and a half pounds, and happily lit struck nobody on the earth below. A nice point of law might^rise *h6fild a cit«»* beinju#»dby pm of tfi^jf £ *atic «tybfcbistte ahlxrglds. To be kicked down By$two and a half pdnad B flat could not be allowed tA, pass by with impunity, by ttts meekest of citizens. The lawyers are no doubt prepared to deal with these events when they arise. It might^ero(g«eii thalr sky signs are npt more dangerQU £ *appfc0xlmately than chimney-piota, the falling of which is mostly considered blameless. THE herelity of dependency is illustru^e-1 some- what lcrcibly by the proceedings at the meetings of the licara of the City of Xiondon Union. One of the lieges, called Thomas James, goes in and out pVtheyworkhoe'ae With marvellous facility. Sine# he his been in the workhouse 194 times, and his wife Sarah has been in the house 143 times. The children also have been there- Arthar M9 times, and Ernest. William, Alice, and Georjfe f<^r c|;her periods less freqafflicy. The Guardians appear to have acted with commendable goodness of heart in offering allurements to Mr. James to stay out of the workhouse but,there are many complications about this p"t<r L-L% aad thit pauper appears to uuderstand the legal beating of his position just as well as the Gu riians. It is possible in England to remain a pauper by sheer ioiys at resolnte • IT fs announced that on one of the steamers of ijhe .Peniapu.lar -and Oriei^al Qompany spec^S iraane^n^itsliavfl bt^ naade^ te sqrt the mMb «ulug voyage This ii 'an improvement la poetal faailities which might be generally adopted on ocean routes. By sorting out letters, papers, and paxcela before arriving in a port, little more is left to be done by the agents than to send the bags ashore, each labelled for i'ca particular dest^ nation. The makihg-fcp of-th$nfail bagaj is npt performed on all trainir ovef1 through routes, and the same principle of despatch might just as well steamships, especially on the AtlanQc f romp. J the v mftkil ,bags arc vertf»heavy between Bi^fand and Amexiea, and a great Saving Sf time would be made by dealing with them in transit. No matter what the expense of this work wbeld be the public would -gtioifttuy stzhmit to if for the aake ef extra despatch. ^h^h hypaotffcm is said to be the cause of ri*a«aeas in a large proportion of the cases lately brought under notice at a large lunatic abylum in Borland. The statement, however, i$hardly *?> picitenov^ to justify any obnclusfSni Possibly it wfll be found, as Dr. Shaw suggests, jjg* the erase for public exhibitions of hypnotic Fwiomena is very likely to send people to a mad- bfoete. We are not told whether the lunatics Tiad trying experiments on themselves. There i* however, another explanation which is at least Plausible. The persistence with which some ceopis *Lndy,ritty ejects of 'h^pnotism merely for ah amusement and without any previous knowledge of physiology may in itself be a sign? of incipient lunacy which, if encouraged, is sure to end in mad- ness sooner or later. Unscientific and not too well educated persons, and especially women, often look on hypnotism and its effects as a kind of newly revealed religion and if they do happen to have an insane tendency, their curiosity mayeaeilj put them off th< £ r njintal bala^. ITT TEtic Russian ukase against the exportation of ?fer fmd(of'hét withmore than a nxed percen- tage of fye, is now in operation and though it ia unlikely to bring about a bread famine in Western Europe, there is a strong probability that the price, of wheat in England will be unusunllv high this winter. As likely es not, the exportation of un- mnced wheat will next be prohibited and in any Ewe-may expect ar considerable reduction, if a total suipemrifeif, oi^ wiieat ^exports, frcm ia.' The Staridurd calcnlates that Euiope will have to look to other continents to supply a de- ficiency of 40,000,000 quarters of wheat. There has been a magnificent wheat crop in the United States; but at the best we can scarcely hope to iffalsie tip-the w hole' Of the le ricieuby by imp-arts of American grain. As regards Indian wheat, it is too soon to venture on a forecast. On the whole, however, it may belaid thateven with the abun-' dant harvest in the States, wheat will be scarce unless there should be an abnormally large surplus in other wheat-producing countries. In these circumstances, the Standard thinks it is high time we should try American maize for a change. This grain isJboth cheap and wholesome, and it is chemist abundant of all crops in the Unite i St ttes A grain famine, indeed, could hardly arise in .Europe while there is the enormous American niaize har- vest to draw upon. p J j.

At Barcelona General Bftinco, tSe General of Catalonia, has returned Aumii'al Hqä; kins's visit- On arrivirg on board the British flagship Victoria, General iilanc-o wr.s received by Admiral Hoslans, and the Sp:i:s!> r!- g r s aoisted on board the Vie&rLt. The Ci,. i uweruor of Barcelona and other authorities] also visited the British Admiral. Canon Carus has jusfc died at his residence, Merton, Bournemouth. The deceased, who had reached the ripe age of eighty-eeven, had for some years lived in retirement at Bournemouth. The Chief Engineer's Greenwich Hospital penaio* of :£50 a year, rendered vacant by the death of re- tired Fleet-Engineer Robert 0. Reynolds, has boax awarded to fetired Fleet- Engineer Friend Stow. The death if announced of the Prussian Geaefat Baron von Groben, from injuries sustained owing' to the carriage in which he was driving from the railway station at Elsinore being overturned: During some fghting iB Abyssinia between band of Assaortians and natives tinder ItaHaa protection, 25 men were killed. The Assaortiana were driven off. A religic&ceup6laf Ashford t showed that 5,845 persons a ell c(i PubAc wor- ship 2,879 went to IToneonform" o t places of wor- ship, and 2,741 Epi- copaJ churches. The rumour goes.t^atlS. Daly intends to build a theatre in Londdn next yeac, where, in order to preaerve the Transatlantic tone of his dramatique, American actors only are to be eqjployed. Lord Cross, spe^ag-atihe Barrow Agafcnlt^ral; Smie asho a ture had been pieiged I for a lost" fitne, but wpod the turofap noiitfr had been nearly At Liverpool, Robert CMlrow, Edwalq falomaul and John Cash have been remanded on a obarge of being concerned la some rather eztensiye thefts of cotton. 4J u M. E&hegrosae's immwise pftple of '«The Fall ef Bab/on," which was the idefet effective iliid popular work in this year's talon, is to be ex- hihifad in all the ehief cities of the United States.

SHEPHERDS ANNIVERSARY AT TALYWAIN. Glansychan Lodge of the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds, Ashton Unity, celebrated their anniversary on Saturday last at the house of Mr. William Evans, Golynos Hotel. Jl pro- cession was formed, headed by their beautiful new banner, and led by the Lilanerch Sand, con- ducted by Mr. Thos. Jones. Their excellent was playing, both on the Mttte and ia the roohtwas greatly admired. Seventeen members rode on horseback and in full costume. They regaled with a glass of ale each at the housw wf Messrs. D. S. Davies, Lion Hotel, Abersychan J. Smith, Railway Inn, Talywain and W. Weeks, Queen Hotel, Garndiffalth. They also paid a visit to the residences of Messrs. t Jones, J.P., Snatchwood House; J. Rosser Lo'ngfield House W. B. Witchell, Abersychan £ H\ » Mulligan L. Llewelyn, Akbarsychan House W. Davies, Graig Wen House, Yarteg J. Nixon, Golynos; and Dr. Yerity, Garn- difEaith. On returning to the la^ge room, K most sumptuous dinner awaited thorn, provided by the worthy host and hostess in excellent style. On the cloth being withdrawn, P.M. Henry Gauge was voted to the chair, and P.M. Robert Furber occupied the vice-chair. The band played a few good selections, and on re l' tiring Mr. E. Davies was called upon to preside at tjife- piano, which duty he performed in an a Die manner. After the usual loyal toasts, &c. had been givenV: #ie< Chairman, in a brief address, pro- posed prosperity to the Glansychan Lodge, coupled with the usmo of the secretary, Bro. Isaac J eliries, who detailed the working and progress of the Lodge for the past thirteen years. In 1878, the number of members was 80, with a capital of £ 226. The pfese&fcdnumber of financial members was 237, with a capital of 36641, shewing an increase during the past 13 years of 157 members and JE415 in cash. The average age of members in 1878 was 28 years, but siftce that time by a continual influx of young men into the lodge, the present average age was 22 years. He had made fair calculations of gains'ana losses dmring the past 13"years, and was pleased to say with a result that argued well for the future prosperity of the lodge. The affairs of their society were carried on and managed with honesty and straightforwardness. TWii itim was to pull together," even when they could not see eye to eye. Some of the members had done good work in soliciting new members to join the lodge. Their chairman alone had proposed 90 narties during the ten years of his membership, which was a sufficient number to fora a. respectable lodge in itself. Bros. J. Holmes, Sen., J. Holmes, Jun., Thos. Jenkins, Thos. Simonds, Wm. Forsyth, Edwin Creese, Thos. Cross, and other members had also done, good work in the same way, and for which they ■ were entitled to the sincere* thanks .pfvthe offi- cers of the lodge. The brihgiog ofSniw mem- beta, young and healuiy, into SDY- IIWXVV coulu1 not fail in keeping it in a prosperous condition but in the absence of this good work, no matter about its financial state, it was doomed to die out. The speaker in concluding after some further remarks, was loudly cheered. Some good songs were sung by Bros. Thos. Thomas, T. James, J. Edwards, T. Bryant and others.. A vote of thanks wa# given She host and holtesi for their eipeltent'a(atei,ip^ holtesi for their eipeltent'a(atei,ip^ Votes of thanks were also passed to Bro. Wm. Smith, the banner secretary, the committee. banner carriers, and the local gentry, for, their generous subscriptions in aid of the banner ^und; also to-the following donors: Col. J. A. Rolls, £ 1:; Mr. Ho&kitia, J.P., Newport, £ 1 Is.; ,i^x. T>. Price, M.F., £ 1. a Good order prevailed, and everything passed off as well as could be desired.

ABERTILLERY CHAMBER OF •i ;-r [A -'i The ordinary monthly meeting' of thk above Chamber was held at the National Schoolroom, on Tuesday evening last. Amongst those pre- sent-were Mr. Joseph Wallace (chairman), Messrs. J. B. Rogers, WtodWifliamaJST. Thomas, Scudamore, W. R. Haylings, A. IL Thongs, "\¥right, T. Lewis, Barnes, Cole,-A. Tilney, &c. The minute* of the last meeting were adqtpted.

AN IMPOKTAKT MALTTIR. According to notice of motion, Mr. A. Tilney brought before the notice ef the Chamber the Of oetivoniw-Ivihwities for the removal of the Aseine from Monmoutn, and the Qua:-ter Sessions from Utk. He said all busi- nessamen^nd Others wb» were lmbl«te be called VpoKaiteadShese nnpleosM experi^nca of discharging their tun^ions^ know of nothing moro important th&t should, have their support than the removal of tho^e meetings. Everyone knew what cross-country places Monmouth and Usk were from there* Those placea were important at one time, but both were now unimportant, so much so that only a single pair of rail* went into them. The train service was very bad, and they were places" very thinly. vpeipiU^ted. Spewoys who at 4 tended Monmotfth land ^sh- 'iter# principally from that side of the country, and when. they asked for those meetings to be removed to New- port he oohsidered they were only asking for a judicial and reasonable thing. Such a step as he was suggesting now had been made some. tlljae ago, but owing to a great-de^ ^of opposition it fell through. He thought t^ ^nWher atte mpt should be made, emanating from that Chamber and other bodies in the district, to "shew? thfir • feeling that Newport was the comm^iAl'ceiitre of the county. He would therefore move the following resolution That a circular be issued from the Chamber to the various public bodies m Monmoutnsnire, asking their co-operation in petitioning^ the proper authority to remove the Assize trom Monmouth and the QuarterSeggions from Usk to Newport for the purpose ef fawiiteiting busi- ness generally, and particularly that of ju^ymen whose services being unremnnerated feel the in- convenience and loss more than others arising from the bad arrangements at present in getting to Usk and Monmouth." Mr. Rogers seconded, aud said that the incon- venience of getting to and from Monmouth 'l.nd Usk was very bad, and if the Government wanted them to act cm rae jury without any 5e^in?ra; tioh, they? ought to- fix upon places to the best convenience of the juryi*en &nd witnesses who attended. After loiae fiscossion, r«eolt^on was car- ried, and a small comprising the Chairman, Messrs. Tilney, Rogers, Scudamore, and Williams (acting secretary) was appo^d to arrange details. It was a^o decided t^at the committee act as a deputation t,, uaeet 4r. Grove, the chairman of the County Council, on the matter. It was also decided to bring the matter before the Mayor and corporationtdf Newport in view of getting their support.

NEWPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The advisability of electing a representative from the Chamber upon the Newport Chamber of Commerce was brought forw Several members spoke favour of ng connected with them, a^!e district were occasionally brought forwar at Tiieineeting was in favour of sending a repre- sentative, and Mr. Wallace, the president, was proposed, but he declined the honour. Mr. L. it Rogers was eventually elected-

CBINALS- '• i Mr. L. R. Rogers moved urgency with regard to the nuisance arising from the urinal near the Oak Inn, Abertillery, alongside the mam The, nuisance arising from this p^ace was dreg- ful, and he -would move that tJe oecretary wri to the Surveyor of' the Local Board, calling his immediate attention to the bad state of this urinal, and to take some steps to aoate same. T his was carried.

SEATS, &C., ON MAltf KOAD Y.Tith regard to the question ot providing a teW seats alongside the main thorougntares of the district for the use of pedestrians, it Was under- stood that Mr. Shepard, of the Local Board, had advised his Board that this could not be legally done out of the public rates. Mr. Tilney now told the Chantber that he had heard that the Blaeilavon Local Board had done something of the kind. It wouW be no harm loE#e secretary to write the clerk or the Blacri- avon Local Board upon the matter- The members agreed with the suggestion, ancL the secretary was instructed accordingly,

NEW MEMBERS. „ Messrs. Henry King and Tliomas Ji'Vans were Emitted members of the Chamber. -=;

Both tA^School Board ami tbe of the national s^hpels at Bangor Have decided to adopt the provisions of the Free Education Act. It it stated "that the Gv.ynedd Prwinpial EiAeddfod has proVe great success, the receipts amounting to jo-00. amounting to £ 700. It is rumoured. In Marseilles that lhe Portr^juete Govern went contetoplates the fifths of Loreuoo Marquee to Engird. A Madras telegram snys the death fe announced of* 'the Right Rev. Bixaop Caldwell, Coadjntor Bishop of J^^xas.. 4Tie Pdrte is about to Fend aiifrjre number of troops to thb eltaellioug province of romen.,uange menta are beiug made for their trarMJport. T^o yomsjg'ladifes elo igiag to the French Al Cl baaw recently ascended Uont Blanc Ippe v, I with three ";Lu. TJié Dtik; '"f Caiiiir.i^ge has inspected -the 6A InniskilKng Dsagoons at Brighton. His royal higluwdj belore Yir, luached *ke««fi»re

ATHLETICS. By n thusiast." I'm seriously thinking of altering my nom w The fact of the matter ist the weatlm we have been having for some tune past h* knocked all my .enthusiasm in atUeti<$into* cocked*h^ I faa6y I haftbe^r re^Bri#»n my*, self Hopeful,or "WubtMl" orl^p other4 equally cautious cognomen, if we are going to htfWl&MK more of this miserable weather. But taw$I football will be around and about us very shortly, and then rain, hail, wind, or snow will be a matter of little consideration, for your modern footballer can do-a double somersault in ^ppol'tff 'WitSr oi* a sea ST mud, and' 'come up as smiling ,as the prize-fighter after being knocked down for the six and fortieth time. .4 '('J 't.¡- ,Wil. The Pontypool Cricket Club journeyed to Pentwynmawr to play the return match on ^Saturday last, and returned home sad, tired, "dirty, and disgusted men. They had previously written asking their opponents to come to Ponty- pool) and,offering to pay their expenses, knowing in the first place that several good players would be unaole to visit the little village with the big name, and in the second place that it was a matter of serious doubt whether they would get a decent pitch there to Dlav on. And in both respects they were not disappointed (I). Six of the selected team mustered at the Clarence-street Station, the remainder being made up of two reserves and' thrrfe outsiders. Then they were left to find the field as best they could, and by dint of jumping hedges, clearing brooks, and climbing banks they at last found themselves on the ground of the Pentwynmawr Cricket Club. And what a pitch If my readers can imagine playing on a wicket black with sodden grass and mudv to the depth of a couple of inches, they 0 + 5 able to form a good iaea of the game on Saturday last. Pentynmawr liked it—they re- velled.in it. It suited them down to the ground. One of their bowlers, who was heavily punished on a good wicket at Pontypool, did simply what he pleased on this—quagmire, and my readers must not be surprised that the team represent- ing Pontypool were only able to tot up 20 runs, as against 40. Still Pontypool showed pluck, considerably more than the homesters. "We will follow on if you like," said the Pontypool captain. "N the other, the ground is too badoia, e went evidently jubilant over their Vvictorv. The game was not without |ts tamo'roug* sfde. ^The v^r^ first ball fielded Pen^ypool man,.resultedin a somersault for tbe apd as he .'had on a p&ir of clean rr»T^ his .app^arahctf can easily imagined. 1 hen- a certain player noted .fqr hi^t.facetious- 'ness, after retiring from ^he wicket, said 441 knocked two pound of mud into t^w air every time I aimed at the ball." This latter remark was confirmed by Saxon, who after brilliantly catctung with one hand a batsman oir his own bowlitigj looked around with some amazement at the applause of his fellows, and said, "I didn't know whether it was the ball or alump of mud." ha^e received two communications from Cwmbran anent the repofy last week of the St. P, Hilda t v. Cwmbran matoh: One is from my old friend "The Cwmbran Champion" (nde 44No Whiskers," &c.), and the other is from the captain of the team, which played St. Hilda's. £ the latter is more to the point, and is some- wha^ lengthy,, I am^compelled with regret to omit the communicaflbn of the fiwt-named pro- lific, correspondent. T^ie following is Captain Highley's letter:- like to lJløke a few remarks, and supply you with a little of the truth conCOThing the match, St. Hilda's v. Cwmbran 2nd xi. Your correspondent (whoever he may be) has precious little regard for the truth, and it is only his false statements that have caused.me to write. T Wouldh^t trouble a rap about him claiming a win. if he would only stick to the truth when he rushes into print. I will now give you my version of the affair. I allowed St, Hilda's, to bat first because several of their team had not arrived. I agreed with their captain to dra* stumps at 6.30. Juiit, as we commenced, the rain commenced also, and con- tinued alight drizzle right to theend of the innings. When G. Slade and C. Vaughan were ready to go in for Cwmbran it was raining heavily, apd our umpire (Mr. James Jones) said it would befoolish to continue in such weather." The batsmen, how- ever, went to the wickets, and Slade was given out Ibw, to Perry's second or third baU, a decision that was given after the umpire walked up to the wicket to see where the bataman's leg was. as he (the um- pire) was standing fully'á" 'tm 'Sguarè of the wicket when the ball was delivered. That, however, doesn't ocu-at-the man was out. W. Jones went in next, and Yaughan Was not out till Perry's second ever. J. Fi Eher- tedk Vaughan's place, but was soon out. G. Highley followed in, and soonafteir,our, umpice. walked «S-tL«-neld witfe -batakaen. ami said "Iwon't stand any in this w«ither."This ^apptaied iarjreit • had bowied ttoeje balls of im o+er, ••Jsfcfcfiq? <#b' "go.- St. HiMl'ff captain came to me and said: Unless you liajwu the. over and take you* men off the field yourself, I shall cslaim a win." Now, if anyone will just look at the laws of cricket, they will see there that it is the umpirtt, not the captains, who decide whether the game shall continue or not. If I had taken my men off the field without the consent of the um- pires then St. Hilda's could have claimed a win, but I didn't interfere. About finishing the over, well I don't think the rules say anything onthe sul^ect. However, to satisfy them I went in With my brother, G. Highley, to finish the over, our umpire refusing to go back to the wicket. My brother was out to Jarrett's second ball (jour cor- respondent says first ball, likewise 0. Phillips)," which, according to the umpire, was the last, but Jarrett claimed" one more, which he didn't get. My brother was out to tht last ball bowled. Ifow your correspondent got Phillips bowled by Jarrett I don't know, it most certainly did not happen at, Panteg, because he didn't go in. Now about agree- to play it out in spite of weather, well, neither my- self nor our umpire agreed to anything of the kind, if anyone else did, well-it doesn't count. Why didn't your correspondent state that it was Cwm- bran 2nd xi. that played them ? Our first team was at Newport playing the Glasswork's team on the same date, so they need- not flatter; themselves that they were playing Cwmbran first team. I am not writing this to draw anyone into a correspondence on the subject, but I think your correspondent might have given us his name. I have no wish to detract one jot from the play of the St. Hilda's team, but if individuals choose to make themselves obnoxious, it is their fault not mine. St. Hilda's had the best of the game, and may have won had it been played out, but it was not a certainty (cricket is very uncertain), seeing that two men did nearly all the scoring for them. You will see why W. Jones retired by the foregoing, and I may add that it was in the sixth not the third over that the um- pire took me and my brother elf- the field. I.may also say, that wttet took place after the umpire stopped play doesn't count either. It would appear from your correspondent's account, that our men were being got out about every other ball. It was bad enough, bht> not fruite so bad as that. I will say no more about it, only that, what I have said is the truth pure and simple. Apologising 'for troubling you so much, and hoping you will find room in your column for this letter, I beg to remain, yours, &c., 1, Prospect-Place, OWEN E. IIIGHLEY Captain, Cwfco.bran 2nd xi. I have been asked by one or two would-be players if we are to have a football club tor Poiitypool this year. All I know is tnat a meet-, ing or two have been held (though I believe but .poorly attended) and it was decide^, to form a Pontypool'Thursday Football Club, but-l don't fancy that the officers have been yet appointed. I would strongly recommend the promoters to bestir themselves, as it is quite time fixtures were arranged. I have had the names- of several young men given me, who are both respectable and good and I don't see why we in Pontvpool cannot form a club equal to the White Star* Amongst others, I might mention ie names of W. O. Phillips, Arthur Saxon, D. R. Morgan H. Bird, E. J. Fox, C. E. Mends and R- Pritcnard, as a fair basis for a good club. I hope someone \jill take the matter up without delay. Since writing the above par, I bayo received a note that a meeting was held on Tuesday evening last, at the Crown Hotel, Pontypool, vilen there was a fair attendance. Mr. W. O. Philips was voted to the chair. was 'i^nani- niously decided, on the proposition of Mr. C. E Mends, seconded by Mr. Henderson, to form a club to be called the Pontypool Football Club. Mr. H. TIml was unanimously appointed captain* and Mr. 11. pochard vice-captain. It was decided to ask Mr II. Tanner to act as treasurer, and Mr. P. J. Osborne as secretary. The fol- lowing were elected on the commit-tee Messrs. H. Oakes. T. T. Osborne, A. Saxon, C. E. Francis, 1 and C. E. Mends. The entrance fee Was fixed at 2'x. 6d., and a rule made that the same is to be paid by the 1st November. The colour selected Were dark blue jerseys with light blue sash, and caps and stockings to match. The secretary pro. tern, was requested to endea- vour to get thereation Grounds (Matches on Thursdays only), and to call a general meeting or: Friday week. Votes of thanhB to Mr. Pbilhps for presiding, and tQ Mr. Mends for calling the meeting, were passed and acknowledged,- -r jf- Having :-i"de a fair start, I hope the young men oi' l^oii'ypool will rally around. 1 here is plenty oi li1;rul in the town for a good team, and anyone w^hine to join should communicate With Mi\p?- J f)sborne«' 5( Higl5st.mt £ pool, at once. I liave been asli^d te mention that a meeting of the Biu":iHVOii White Star Football Club Wpl be held at tie. Golden Boot Inn, Blaenavon, on Saturday nfexv, when the election of officers »rtd other busmen will'be tranwted. 11 i T A general meeting of members of the PontypooJ. Biey^Clnb will be held at headquart^te on Monffi^ evening next at 8 o'clock. Meqlbers plea||gnote. The clock presented by Mr. All- marklor the road race is onview in that gentle- maq^^iop window in CTOle.-street.^ It ia a han«wmt, marble timepiecfe; and is ticketed as of the value of £ 310s. This Jm! th^poupie of ^jjojjg^ held by the club will npa a |tt!cent set

Ig^Hlitiea of the Newcastle Flo^^ Show Cetnmifkee on account of the damage done by the recent gale amount to 4560, and the assets reach £225, leaving a deficiency of E335. f < -The War Office, jMg-jQfcJ&ft rifle range in the Isle of Man for troops armed witn the magazine rifle, the provision of s^oj xanges being found ve^T diffl^nSt by tbe_ militaiy '&WitiSaSLM"i: Atelegram from Paris states that the French Cabinet Council have voted a §redit,-of 1,000,QPC^ franca in aid of the shgertot: ffoft |he twrriWpt cyclone in Martimqpte. The' number gpf the dead; has now reached 387. John Dobson, stationer, 56 years of age, residing in,Hill'e yard Gowthprpe, Selby, has conunitte^ puicide by hanging Mmself. The deceafcM was a widower, is said to have been' armlnn^ heavily during the past week or two. Senhor Pinheiro Ohagas his beeno appetnteo Portuguese Plenipotentiary to conduct ;>tWt :< Portuguese Plenipotentiary to conduct ;>tWt :< negotiations with Great Britain for fthei renewal of the treaty in reference to the Portughese po*efr > Hons in India. i1 ■H lions in India. i1 ■H