Barry Herald

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVIMD.) THE HUSBAND'S SECRET, OR LOST IN THE DARK. BY RICHARD DOWLING. Author of Under St. PauVs" etc., etc. CHAPTER XIX. PRESENT As soon as Retcard found himself in Rockfall he lost not a moment in carrying out his plan. He went straight to the police station, where he was well known, and having easily procured a private interview with the head constable, who was specially summoned from his home. laid all tha facts of the case before that functionary and furthermore, to remove any doubt there might be about his good faith and sincerity, threw down the five hundred pounds in confirmation of his story. The head-constable was a man of judgment and decision. He took the money, counted it, locked it up, and, having called in a constable, gave Retcard in charge of him saying Mr. Retcard has giving himself up as an accessory after the fact in a smuggling transaction attempted on this coast last night, in which lives were lost. You will detain him here until 1 return. He can have any refreshment be wants, and may sit here in my room but is not to leave this place. You under- stand ?" Here the head constable whispered something to the constable. 1, Yes, sir." The head constable then turned to Retcard, and said: "This may seem an extreme measure con- sidering your coming of your own free will, but you will not regret it if all you say is true." Nothing could Buit me better." answered Retcard, sinking with a sigh of relief into a chair. "Pre had a long walk, and am blown, and tired, and hungry. But for heaven's sake be quick, or they'll lynch him." The head-constable left the room with calm manner and slow step. In less than half- an-hour he walked back, and sat down by the fire with Retcard. In a little time the head-constable was sum- moned. He left the office, returned slowly, and took up his old position. i Ketcsrd looked at him in amazement. The other noticed the took of surprise on the clerk's face, and said You are surprised to see me return, and you are naturally disappointed that it was notyonr breakfast'?'c :J.. I am indeed surprised and disappointed to see you back,, but I am not thinking of my break- fast." Why then are you surprised to see me back ?" W.hy n shouted Retcard, starting to his feet, seizing his hat, and rushing to the door. The constable placed himself between the door and the little clerk, and said politely: You can- not go, sir." Confound it!" cried the little man impatiently; will you sit there, head-eonftable, while they are murdering that unfortunate man I" Retcard having thrown down the cards he held two haul s ago, feared that this cool and matter-of-fact treatment of his great intelligence was a poor requital for his disinterested heroism. The head-constable smiled placidly, bruised a piece of spluttering coal with his toe, and ans- wered very slowly, very quietly I am greatly afraid that if it is that young man's fate to be murdered by those men I shall be compelled to sit here while they are murdering him." "Well then, you coldblooded monster, if you are going to sit there doing nothing I don't intend following your example." You shall follow my example," said the head-, constable, with as little trace of interest or excite- ment as though he were repeating the multiplica- tion table in bed to put himself to sleep. "But, sir," cried the little man ho ly, "you must be aware that your detention of me here jnder the circumstances is illegal." Well. I don't mind going so far as to admit it 8 irregular." "Irregular, sir; irregular! I know the law, sir, and it is illegal, a false imprisonment. Where is my statement made by me, read over to me, and signed by me? Where, in fact, sir, is my oral statement that I came to give myself up as an accomplice after the fact? I never said anything of the kind and moreover, I never intended doing anything of the kind.' '• It was only m v joke," said the head-constable with a humble smile, only my joke. You can take a joke, Mr. Ketcard, from an old friend. Why, you and I have been friends time out of mind." "Well then, sir, as that was your little joke about the giving myself up and my confession, I suppose it is another part of your little joke to pretend that I am detained here at present? I -li ?' The clerk was now purple with indignation and rage. You may go now, Farny," said the head-con- stable to the man at the door. Then turning to Retcard. who walked up and down the room in fierce excitement, he said Retcard, keep quiet. You know me pretty well now. and you know I am no fool. You know that old Spalding threatened to do for you if you mentioned your intorview with him to anyone. Now if he saw you coming from this omce, or if any of his pals saw you, they mi ht grow nasty and suspicious, and knock your brains out; and I want to keep you safe and sound here, for when you come into your monev maybe you'll remember the man whose little joke helped you to live to enjoy it." 11 Into what money?" cried Retcard, pausing in his walk and looking in bewilderment "I know very well I shall never put a finger on that live hundred again." Bah! Five hundred' cried the head con- stable contemptuously; "what's five hundred com- pared to what s coming to you ?" Why what on earth is coming to me?" The reward for informing on a smuggler, the share in the value of the cargo or duty don't be too simple, Retcard." "Confoun me, but I never thought of that cried the clerk, as he dropped into a chair com- pletely overcome by the splendid vision these words opened up to him. Then, after awhile, he asked But have you done anything?" All that need be done. Eight mounted men are now galloping across the downs to Greenlee, and two boat-loads of armed men are now pulling to Bai nicle Bay, ten men are gone on foot across the downs, and I have made all ready for getting the aid of the military should I want them.' 11 The statements reconciled Retcard to the head- 1 constable's room and inaction. He sat there gating into the fire, and indulging his fervid ima ination in dreams of the vast sum he should come into for informing about the smuggling, and irving to decide what he should do with this Yirtuously acquired wealth. Meanwhile, as the head-constable had said, a party of eight mounted men and ten on foot had started over the downs for Greenlee, and two boats carrying armed coastguards were swiftly approaching Barnacle Bay under the steep cliffs. • he horsemen had received no orders but to make all the haste they could to Greenlee and prevent violence there. The men on foot had been instructed to keep as close as possible to the edges of the cliffs, leave two men at Barnacle Bay. and push on with the rest to Greenlee, taking note of anything they might see or that might arise on the way. The horsemen galloped the footmen went at (illick march." The footmen, as directed, kept close to the edge of the cliff. It was no part. of their duty to search the house of old Spalding that duty devolved on othei 8. So the ten men kept on. W hen they arrived at Barnacle Fay they ex- amined the ground carefully, for although there was nothing round about behind which an enemy could lurk, it was well to take all reasonable pre- cautions. ,\o one now anticipated resistance or attack from the smugglers. All believed that the cargo had been successfully landed and as the catas- trophe occurred twelve hours ago there bad been not only time to land the cargo, but to make all snug as well. The two men posted at. Barnacle Bav were merely to prevent anyone ascending by that way One man as long as he lived could have prevented the whole army of Xerxes from coming up that ^When the two men had been posted the eight continued their march. They found nothing to challenge attention until they had got more than half the way between the Bay and Lookout Head. 1 he coastguard sergeant led the way. His eyes were fixed ahead. He had told those who came after him to keep a bright look-out right and left. The carbines were loaded and shouldered, and the men strode on in perfect silence. The sergeant marched two paces in adva, the man had a square determined-looking face He had lost a brother by the crime ot last night, and there was an expression of dull heavj ger- mination in hie face that indicated be dure no levity among the men, and would e on y glad of a chance of using his authority to t¡he nt- most should he: meet resistance from any band connected with the appalling outrage. „ Suddenly, like blows struck against tbO chff came the words of command o. }lalt ) Ground arms 1 Ready!" All eves weye swiftly directed in front. The r.ii,n drew up, dropped their carbines, and then raising them to their knees, there came through the stillness the clatter of the locks as they cocked their pieces. \-(; man to fire until he gets orders," said the sergeant without turning his head, and in a lower voice ban the loud swift words of command. j hen once more came the strong-driven word of command "Line! Form! Present!" The carbines, all but the sergeant's, were raised and focussed upon one point right ahead and close to the edge of the cliff. CHAPTER XX. COMING HOME." THJI; two boats from Rockfall for Barnacle Pay kept close in-shore. Rowing round coast so close in-shore after all the bad weather was not very pleasant, tor the boats had to pull through the trough and along the crest of the sea. The leading and larger boat contained fourteen men, and pulled six oars the second and smaller boat con- tained ten men and the lieutenant in charge. She pulled four oars. Uhe leading boat could run away from the second, being long and built for speed whereas the latter was short, and built for bad weather. But it was essential that the two should keep together. In one way the fact, that it was Christmas Day was lucky on perhaps no other day of the year could so large a force of coas, guards be mustered in Rockfall. The men had come in on leave from outlying stations to the westward, and upon being informed of the occurrences of the night before, and of I he natul e of the services demanded of their comrades on duty, they had to a man volun- teered for the boats. When William Spalding had drawn the boat toward him at the bottom of the precipitous path at Barnacle Bay, he stepped in firmly, and then turned his flushed determined face upward to the cliffs. No one above him. His daring eyes encountered nothing but the dark wet sides of the threatening and oppressive rocks. The cliffs were slimy and cold and deadly-looking, as though they had turned their faces away finally from man and would aid man no more. leneath Spalding's feet rose and fell, in soft dull pulses, the gray waters of the deep sluggish Bay. He was familiar with the sound of the sea in all its moods. He had no poetic or imaginative feeling about the sea, but like all sailors he was superstitious, and in the heart of nearly all super- stition is the crudest form of poetry—the poetry of the Fears. There were for him many features of novelty in the situation. He had often been in positions of great peril before, but never quite so alone; and besides, it was now some years since he had had any direct connection with the desperate trade of smuggling. Although he had passed middle age he was si ill hale and heai ty, and counted upon living many a long year yet after he had secured the great prize out there and got his share of it. Of course it would be a little while before they could move that cargo. Confound it, though! he was counting as though his perfidious son had not informed against him. liut then, who could tell ?-perhaps they had lynched the traitor before he had come to his senses or could speak. He looked up again at the cliffs standing dark above him and ignoring him. Then seizing the rocks with his hands he began slowly and cau- tiously pushing the boat in the direction of the cave. That feeling of loneliness persisted, and would not be driven away. The feeling was new to him, and he could now ill endure new feelings of a depressing or saddening character. What could have happened to the missing man, Reynolds ? Ay, maybe he was dead with the rest. A slight shudder went through him at the thought—the Rest. Often as he had violated the laws of Cod and man before, up to this he had been clear of the stain of bloodshed. But as day by day the great scheme matured in his mind the Ieno, mity of the crime became lost in the splendour of the plan and the munificent reward that waited upon its success. Suddenly he ceased to push the boat along by the shove, dropped on his knees and gazed earnestly into the water. He rose cautiously after awhile, and looked around and upward, and whis- pered as though he was taking the solitude into his confidence, and trying to form an alliance with earth and air against water. I thought I saw waving in the water by the rocks the arm of a man- the arm of a man who wanted help: and when I looked closer the arm was gone—gone in among the swaying seaweeds that hold the places where dying men cling their last. One of those men could not have drifted here since. No. no; none of them could wave an arm now they are Stiff in death." He once mo-e applied himself to getting the boat alon<; by the ro ks. His teeth were set, and his face now pale and wrinkled. Still his arms were strong and his gripe sure, and the boat moved quickly towards the mouth of the cave. Seizing a rock at the entrance, he swung the boat's bow inward, and then with one powerful push the little craft shot out of the light into the obscurity of the vault. As soon as the boat was concealed by the cave, William Spalding sat down to rest and think. There was no hurry. Even if they did come in pursuit of him he should hear the oars. and would have plenty of time for escape into the upper cave before they could enter the lower one. His plan of escape was very complete, and all the means were at hand and in order. In the first place, that morning early, as soon as all the men had gone and he found himself alone, lie had taken a grappling iron in the upper cave and to this fixed seven fathoms of inch-ropei Having placed the grappling-iron in the floor of the ave on a bed of smooth rock, with two of its flukes against a ledge of rock, and a bale of tobacco,on it to keep it steady, he had thrown the other end of the rope down the throat of the cavo into tipe cave below. Owing to the shape of the great Black Bell Bock the line lay flat on its sur- face the whole way down, and owing to the sea- weed and mosses clinging to the Bell the rope would lie perfectly concealed from any ordinary torch or Idimp light examination likely to be made in the cave. W hen hoisting the goods into the ,upper cave he had had this scheme of concealment in view, and had been careful to place three thicknesses of tarpaulin and a sail spread over j that portion of the surface of the Bell likely to be rubbed by the men or the ascending bales. The Vigil of the Moon had had two boats, one of which had been sunk with a kedge anchor made fast to thn thwarts: in the other boat he now sat. To the bottom of that boat he had tacked down with strips of sailcloth the iron anchor-stock of the Vigil of the Moon's bower-anchor. There was one oar in the boat he sat in. and now he was in the act of lashing that oar with two pieces of spunyaru to the thwarts of the boat. j £ een in full light the rocks of the cave were a ruddy b own. Before descending from the upper cive on that morning he had placed by the shaft a piece of ruddy-brown sail—tanned sail;,and as he descended he drew this tanned sail across the head of the shaft, so that the light of a bull's-eye lantern could show no trace whatever of the open- ing, could discover no difference between that piece of sailcloth and the rocks around. When he first drew upon the rope as he was about to descend, be noticed one thing with sur- prise the grappling-iron did not seem to have come fully home to the ledge, for it sprang with him six inches before it held firm. He thought that in putting on the bale of tobacco he must have pushed back the grappling. However, when the iron did come to it held splendidly, and as he des- cended he congratulated himself upon the firmness and steadiness of the rope. His plan of escape and concealment was ingeni- ous but simple. As soon as he was a little rested he should find that rope, hold on by it, pull the cork out of the bottom of the boat, put the cork in his teeth that it might not be fopnd iioating about to tell tales-he had been ve, y careful to have anything else that might be floating about picked up and, just as the boat was about to sink; put his feet a ainst the side of the I ..ell and clamber up into the cave above. Then he should draw up the line replace the covering at the top"bf the sllaft. and bid defiance to discovery-always ex- cepting Markham betrayed him. hven in casehis son turned traitor he could stand a long siege. He had plenty of provisions and arms intho upper cave, and as long as he could raise a hand tostrike or move a. finger to pull a trigger, no one could come up that shaft against his will. j In case his hiding place was not discovered he shou d remain there until the first fury of pursuit was over and then get off in and. The removal of the cargo from that cave presented great difficul- ties undor the most favourable circumstances, but it was time enough to think of overcdmiug those by-and-by. When he wanted to leave the cave nothing was easier than to drop a grappling-iron into the sunken boat, raise her to the surface, and bale her out. StiJl he in that boat; resting his, chin in his palm and his elbow on his knee The tide was still rising and there was plenty of time. It was not Yet high water, and he could reach the rope from thi boat at quarter ebb. There wag a fascination in thus, as it were, dating capture. There was the boat all ready lor scuttling here was the line on the' rock -ail. ready, for his escape. there was no necessity for him to anticipate matters. He'd wait and rest awhile. It was impossible to see anything clearly in the green gloom of the cave. rlhe low arch giving en- trance to it was a gleaming patch of light. When the eyes were turned even for a moment on it and then cast round the cave, nothing whatever could be even dimly discerned. So he kept his back to the light to prevent his eyes being dazzled. He was on the inner side of the Bell, and under the flat bottom of the huge pendent rock a feeble gleam of sickly light lay on the stagnant water of the cave, and threw up out of the darkness the side of the boat in which he sat. It was impossible to see anything in the cave distinctly, but it was possible to think and to hear. He could not see what the long seaweeds were doing in the darkness of the shrouded waters that whispered to the obscure sides of the cave. Were those long winding arms of seaweed clasped around anything unusual, anything which had floated there from the narrow strait at Greenlee ? Absurd! And yet what strange noises the water was making in that corner over there! What unac- countable breathings and sighings the water made in that corner over there, the deepest and darkest corner of all Confound these foolish fancies! He was getting as fearful as a girl in his age. Confound the water and the whisperings of it. Why should he not go up into the cave and lie down and sleep? He needed sleep more than childish fancies. Ay, it would bo best to go aloft and lie down. He takes the cork out of the bottom and puts the cork carefully in his mouth. He can feel the water beat against his boots; he can hear the rush of the water in through the hole in the bottom. The boat is only a punt, and in five to eight minutes she will fill and sink. He pushes the stern of the boat in under the Bell, so that he may in sealing the Bell have the firmest bearing part of the boat, the midship, for his feet. He seizes the rope, and chuckles to himself al the notion of anyone trying to mount that slimy, slippery surface without the aid of a rope. He th,-usts his hand down into the water in the boat and satisfies himself that the anchor-stock retains its position. All ritlit. The anchor-stock is quite secure, and she will sink down like a plummet into the three fathoms of water beneath him in less than two minutes. The water is now halfway up his calf, and tha boat begins to set heavily fo ward as the water deepens in her bow. lie shifts a little aft to trim her. He 'seizes the line and holds it steadily in his hand. It is so pleasant to feel that reassuring rope, the rope by which he is to gain safety. His hand embraces the line affectionately, and a smile of triump steals slowly and grimly over his face. One minute more and the boat will be full enough, and she will go down and he will clamber up and laugh at them all. Laugh at them all, for if they do find out the upper cave and try to smoke him out or starve him out. there is plenty of gunpowder up there to make worse murder than I Lookout Head saw last nLht. The boat now begins to rock heavily at his teast motion, it is time to be going. He runs his hand up the line as far as his arm will reach, laughs softly to himself, and then leans slowly and deliberately on the rope He hears the boat suck up out of the water as she is relieved of some of his weight. He bears the boat suck as he pulls, but although his hand has not slipped his hand is on",g,t level with his mouth and his feet are still on the gunwale of the boat! Heavens and earth what is this? Hastily he stretches up both his arms high as he can and seizes the rope. Again he draws, again he hears the boat suck up as the weight is reduced again his hands come down, this time to his breast, and still his feet are on the gunwale of the boat! Madness, what is this Can the men who mutter in the water over there, the darkest night of water over there, the dead men whose bodies he slew. whose voices he heard awhile ago, have crept across under the stealthy water and caught him by the feet. rlued his feet to the gunwale of the sinking boat ? With a low moan he steps down off the gun- wale of the boat on her skin amidships; as he does so his face comes on a level with the bottom of the Black Bell. His face is to the light, and between him and the light at the mouth of the cave he sees a thin dark line close to his eyes His mouth opens, the Jcork he has held in it drops ove board. He knows what has happened. the grappling iron in the cave above has iurnped the ledge and is coming home the line will bear no weight.' It is impossible for him to ascend the Bell,'and in less than half a minut-e the boat under him will go down. The cork," he cries, the cork! What have I done with the cork ?" Then he remembers that he had put it in his mouth. The cork is gone! The boat is going down. The grappling is coming home 0 For a few seconds he dabbles about in the water vainly searching for the cork, then abandons all hope of recovering it. "The grappling is coming home -and to what kind of home am I going!" he thinks in his anguish and terror. Then a thought strikes him, and with speed of despair he grasps at the one hope. Is is too late to plug the hole with his thumb. (To be Continued).

MANUFACTURING EGGS. The latest profession is that of colouring eggs. It has been introduced by a Parisian who until lately was an assistant in a museum. In that capacity learnt the value of rare eggs, and being of an enterprising disposition, he started in bnsiness on his own account. He had little capital wherewith to launch out, but money was not indis- pensable. His first customer was a collector who wished to add a penguin's egg to his assortment. This the dealer manufactured out of gypsum, and the buyer never dreamt but that a penguin had laid it. As a rule, however, this- wideawake, if not too honest, Frenchman uses the shell of some common egg, taking care that it resembles in size and shape the one desired. A duck's egg he can transform into one worth from £2 to ;E2 His. Almost every collector of bird's eggs desires to have one or two finely marked nightingale's eggs, and is willing to pay a high price for them. The Parisian dealer was well aware of this little weakness, and, larks being more abundant than nightingales, he found no difficulty in getting larks'eggs and colouring them so that they were exactly like the genuine article as deposited in remote places by the timorous songster of the night. He has forwarded specimens of his skill to col- lectors in all countries, and it does not appear that any of them ever discovered that be was a fraud. Hereafter, collectors will probably be more cautious about buying eggs, especially from foreign dealers.

NEWSPAPERS AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM. An interesting account of the inner working of the British Museum is given by Mr. W. B. Northrop in the Temple Magazine. It seems that newspapers u'pon their arrival are opened—i.e., the wrappers taken off-they are then folded, counted, sorted ir.to alphabetical order, and registered in ledgers. After registration in the ledgers they are again sorted into "London," "Provincial," "Scotch," and "Irish." The separate numbers are then placed away in a pigeon-hole allotted to each paper in the different rooms. With the exception of a few marked "Special," such as the Times and certain leading provincial dailies, the papers remain in the Copyright Office until the end of theyear, when they are collected, tied up in separate bundles, and made ready for the bind- ing department.

STATISTICS from the taxing department of the Berlin municipality show that of 530,000. persons paying taxes in Berlin over 295,000 have an income between £ 45 and £ 150 per annum. Only 43,000 pay on incomes of over E150. Twelve persons have an income over E50,000, and one person has EIOO,OOG. There are only 759 persons who pay property tax on property valued at between £ 50,000 and £ 100,000 337 pay taxes ft property over this amount. ) The, rioliest man in Berlin assesses his property at £ 1.450.000.

THE DEAD BARONESS: A STORY OF DECEIT. Some men there are," wrote the Vicar of Nei-lev in the course of his May-day sermon, "who carty deception through their lives as easily as you or iiiv brother, wears his coat." A gentle knock at the study door interrupted him. He put down his pen and sighed. Of late his brain had not worked so freely as of old. It irked him even to hark back to the beginning of the thread in a pargraph. There were many reasons for this, but principally two. Cotne in, my dear," he said rather wearily, and his daughter Kate entered. Forgive me for troubling you, father, but I'm going to see old Dingly. He was very low-spirited yesterday, and the doctor says-" I don't'care what the doctor says, Kate. Dingley is a consistent sham. He has been like this ever since I have been in Nesley. A man who can walk two miles to church to receive his doles and yet at other times- But you are looking, Badly, my child." It is nothing, father." The girl's cheeks flushed quickly and as quickly lost their colour. They both thought the same thought. Was Harrv Gibbons nothing ? But Kate Carton was the quicker to dismiss the thought. Three years had passed since Harry went away. She ought to be stronger instead of weaker as the period increased. Well! Do as you like about that old reprobate, my dear. The walk may benefit you. I see the lilacs are out. Spring is on us now, with all its joy- ful aspirations." Kate could not help smiling a little as she nodded acquiescence. The vicar of Nesley often seemed to be striving desperately to be cheerful. And yet lie had no particular disappointment to gnaw at his life's heart; though as far as she (Kate) knew, he was without one of the ingredients which make for happi- ness in the life of the ordinary country parson. Then the vicar recurred to his sermon. Who carry deception through their lives as easily as you or I, rny-" He had got thus far in the reperusal of the sentence when he threw his pen upon the Turkey carpet. Heaven forgive me!" he cried. There must be an end of it. This hypocrisy chokes me at the soul." I He went to the door and called Kate." Yes, father." Come here, please." I The pretty eyes which Harry had so often said were without their rivals in all the continents opened wide this time as they looked on the vicar. Sit down, my dear. I have a—confession to make to you," said Mr. Carton. A confession ?" "Yes. I have sinned. I know it now. I have known it a long time. You remember—Harry Gibbon's—disappearance?" [j ¡,t J "Father! As if" f I, Of course. 'Well, it was due to me. I—told untruths to him. I did not want you to marry him. Indeed, you were too young. But the real reason was that I hoped Francis Whycherly felt towards YOtl-" Oh, father, father how could you ?" whispered Kate Carton, horror-stricken. Ay, how could I ? But I did it, misled, like other parents, I suppose, by worldly ambition. And ever since the squire's son's death I have been possessed by remorse about it. Kate, my dear, your old father is ashamed of himself." There was silence for a moment or two while the vicar and his daughter looked at each other. Kate was the first to move. Never mind, dear," she said quietly, as she put her hand on her father's shoulder "you did it for the best. And, of course, it is foolish to talk about forgiveness. And now I'll go to old Dingley." She kissed her father. But in the hall outside she burst into tears. As for the vicar, he tore up his sermon and de- cided to choose another text. At all costs," he said to himself, I must see if the boy cannot be brought back to Nesley. My own happiness depends on it and Kate s. Harry Gibbons had stayed at the vicar-a ge to be crammed for a Government exam. It was then that he had fallen in love with Kate Carton. He could not well have helped it. But the vicar's intimation one morning that his daughter was destined for the squire's son had upset Harry's plans altogether. He was hot-tempered and impetuous. That was why he vanished from Nesley without a word of Good-bye to Kate. He also threw up his chance of a Civil Service appointment. To hi in now. three years afterwards, came from his club in London Mr. Carton's plaintive appeal: Dear Harry,—I am driven by conscience and a regard for poor Kate to humble myself to you. Though I know nothing of your present circum- stances, and you as a man of the world, may laugh at me, I must confess the wrong I did you and Kate when you left. us. Such love as i believe you core her was more than returned by my daughter, and your departure well-nigh broke her heart. She never felt the least interest in young Wycherly, who is now dead. I More than this I need not say. Can you forgive me ? Your sorrowing old tutor, RAYMOND CAKTOX." Harry Gibbons, at twenty-six, read this letter twice before looking up. He was in the breakfast room of a sumptuous villa at Homburg. The coffee was on the table. He read the letter a third time with contracted brows. Then he left the room, and, snatching up hat and stick, went out of the house. For an hour he paced up and down one of the fashionable promenades of the place, seeing no one, but a prey to agonising thoughts. Then he as suddenly returned to the Villa Theresa. Is madame up?" he asked of the maid-servant who answered his bell. Not yet, mein Herr," was the reply. "Good Then tell her when she comes dcwn that I am called off to Berlin—to Berlin, you understand. Do not tell her until she is at breakfast." This settled, Harry Gibbons tumed his back on the Villa Theresa for ever. Two days later, having telegraphed to the vicar of Nesley, he presented himself at. the dear ivy-draped little house with a set, anxious face and a disturbed heart. The vicar chanced to be in the garden, and thus ] intercepted him. "My dear, dear boy!" he exclaimed as be held out both hands. Welcome indeed It is peace and forgiveness between us-^l^ite ? Absolutely. I am under immeasurable obliga- tions to you for your goodness in writing," said Harry Gibbon. „ "You are changed, my boy- The wear and tear of life, vicar. Even a man with a few hundreds a year of private income has his troubles." And Kate—do you still-as you said in your letter, Harry——?" Where is she ? It is a matter that may, I think, in the circumstances, be left to her and myself to 11 decide, if you will pardon roe: Mr. Carton showed surprise. This was not the Harry Gibbons he had known. n She is in the drawing-room. he said. Go to her. I will stay among my flowers. If in the course of half an hour you can both come to me and tell me that the "vil I did has not borne evil fruit I shall be blessed indeed." Harry Gibbons's lips .twitched as he nodded. He entered the house, and the vicar took up his watering- pot with trembling fingers. But ere the half-hour was past Jiate and young Gibbons joined him on the jawn. One look at his daughter's face was enough- tie had not seen such an expression since his pupil had left the vicarage. It's all right, sir," said Gibbons. Time has only the more endeared her to me, and Kate's love. she says, is unchanged. The vicar folded his hand8 tightly together and glanced towards the heavens. The marriage took place in six weeks. There was no apparent reason why it should not. After a month at Lynton, Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons settled down vry happily In an old manor house near Nesley. Kate was herself again. Everyone said so. She told her friends that she was, she feared, almost sin- fully contented. Harry's devotion was complete. And yet no one more than perceived that her husband was not the old HarrJ Gibbons.. "What i» it, Harry, that worries you so?" she asked him one August day. He turned the question aside. A caress sufficed for answer. But the vicar also was puzzled by the sternness at times of his son-in-law's countenance. r. Are you sure, Harry," he asked him once, that I did well to write to you?" That, sir, the future may decide," he replied with a laugh that was not gay. You have—nothing on your mind, I do hope?" Heaps of things-heeps. But I do not propose to 'I trouble you by recounting them. However the time in October—when Harry Gibbons told the vicar of the chief trouble that was on his mind. J I never, loved Kate so much as at present, but I'm sick of keeping up this abominable deception, I he said. And then he confounded the vicar by telling him that he was married beforte'he idtoKsd Kate, and that his wife had already got scent vf him. I believe I married her out of pique—you can guess why—nearly three years ago. She is a German baroness and very rich. Much older than I am, too. I left her when I got your letter." The vicar put his hands to his head. Heaven help us al1 be moaned. The two men were standing thus, face to face with their blasted happiness, when the door bell rang. Well, sir, what shall I do asked Harry. Before the vicar could answer, the housemaid interrupted them. If you please, sir, there's a foreign lady here in a fit. She asked if Mr. Gibbons was in. and when 1 said Yes she dropped down on her all-fours." But already Harry was in the hall and supporting the lady's head. Caroline," he exclaimed. it is 1." She opened her eyes, looked at him, shivered, and all was over. The maid was despatched for the doctor, and in the meantime they carried the dead baroness into the study. It was long before Harry Gibbons paid any heed to the vicar's prattle on several subjects. Then he said decidedly I will fetch Kate. She must know all." Nor would he be dissuaded. But Kate's forgiveness was not hard to obtain, for. as she said, the very crime was committed for love of her. About one thing the vicar, his daughter, and son- in-law were agreed That Harry Gibbons's inheri- tance from the baroness should be"devoted wholly to charitable purposes. Another thing: Kate made up her mind that this new crave in the Nesley churchyard should never lack flowers, the more so that her husband's name did not appear above it.

RECENT EVENTS IN EGYPT. TALKS WITH THE KHEDIVE AXD DUKE OF COXXACGirT. —KHALIFA'S ADVANCE. Saturday (says the Daily Telegraph's war corre- spondent) was a red-letter day in the history of Cairo. In the morning enormous crowds, composed of natives and of niost of the visitors -it present here, flocked to see the departure of the Holy Carpet and the pilgrims for Mecca. This spectacle was of an unusually imposing cha- racter. The Khedivial troops presented a remark- ablv smart, soldier-like appearance at the ceremony. which was attended by the Jfhedive and all the notables. Later on I had the honour of an interview with his Highness. The Khedive exprefsed great satisfaction at the conduct of his armies and at the result of the recent campaign. He did not think that the Khalifa was in the least dangerous, or likely to prove trouble- some for a long time to come However, the Bag- gara were born bandits, and before the country could settle down they would have to be suppressed. Egypt. the Khedive was glad to say. was making remarkable progress. ki the course of the DPxt, year, if not earlier, he hoped to make a tour of in- epection through the country, proceeding as farsoutii at least as Fashoda. In the course of the afternoon his Highness laid the founaation-stone of the National Bank of Egypt. There was a large attendance at this ceremony, those present including Lord Cromer, the members of the Agency Staff.the foreign representatives,theE^yptian Princts. nitd There were brilliant illumina- tions and fireworks in front of the Abdin Palace. The Duke and Duchess of Connaught attended the grand military tattoo at the Esbekieh Gard-er.s. Large numbers of all classes witnessed the affair, which passed off most successfully. I have had the honour of a brief conversation with his Royal Highness the Duke of Cor.naught. He told me-that his trip to the south had been re- plete with interest, and that he had good weather. He remarked that he was sure the battle of Atbara must have been a hard fight, and that the victory there was a brilliant affair. Many of the bodies are still to be seen upon the field and in the trendies. His Royal Highness and his party remained en- camped there during one night. Omdurman. he went on to say, was an ideal ¡ ground for a battlefield. No general could have de- ) sired- a better position for an action with the enemy. j As a soldier he would have been pleased to have been there. The Soudan campaigns, his Royal Highness, I pointed out, were naturally full of difficulties, but were withal a splendid school for the officers and men. The work done during those campaigns was remarkable and admirable. At Khartoum the building operations were pro- gressing rapidly, and the city was being recreated. Perhaps 2000 workmen were employed in erecting the Gordon Mission and other structures. The Duke and Duchess of Connaught gave a dinner at which Lord Cromer and a number of distinguished personages were present. It is stated that either Sir Reginald Wingate or Colonel Maxwell will succeed to the position of second in command of the Egyptian Army, vacated by General Sir A. Hunter. Sir R. Wingate is the senior and the adjutant-general, but his services in that capacity are deemed well-nigh indispensable. I understand that the Sirdar is disposing of the effects contained in his home in Cairo. Colonel Maxwell accompanied Marchand's party beyond the Sobat. The White Nile is quite low and fordable. and the country is quiet. It now appears that all the previous estimates respecting Ahmed Fedil's forces at Gedarif were erronious. and that the Dervish Emir had nearly 14.000 warriors. Even after Colonel Lewis's tight with him at Rosaires, on the Blue Nile. he got olf.) with 2000 men. Such is the fairly credible information now given to me. It is also said that he is with that force on the White Nile, operating with the Khalifa. • The situation presents the following features. The occasion is now as favourable as any for operations. but if a postponement, as is now being discussed, is enforced, no movement will be made before June and the hot weather. As I have said, the Nile is low, and the Shab'nka cataract is impassable, and there is little water in the river sources, but Shabluka can be passed by the best steamers. Were it closed the portage would be neither long nor difficult. Another point is that over 3000 of the native troops are new recruits, that number of time- expired men having left the army at the frc. These and the veterans require a slirlkinz down ] before it is safe to lead them against the Khalifa s forces. The whole army needs a rest. But the real obstacle in the way is to be found in the fact that to engage and finally crush Abdul]::h would necessitate a money vote, and that there s hesitation about asking for it. It is quite certain that the longer the Khalifa is left undisturbed the more his strength will increase. and he may receive arms and help from an outside source that would involve an expedition in the autumn, costing not three-quarters of a million sterling, but many millions. Everybody feels that the Khalifa must be ulti- mately followed up and dealt with, and that the sooner it is done the better. The official view here is that all movements of troops south or attempts to run the Khalifa to earth are to be delayed until next September. In truth, a belief is current that Abdullah cannot be followed into his fastnesses, and the danger of pur- suing him through the thick bush is always put for- ward, but where savages can run civilised troops can win a way and achieve success. Several officers have left Cairo for the front including Colonel Drage. of the Transport Depart- ment, and Captain Graham, the Sirdar's Aide-de- Camp. Food supplies and preparations for an advance are going forward.

LAJDY LECHMERE AND THE LIOX. Mr. H. W. Seton-Karr. the brother of the Conser- vative member for St. Helens, has sent some inter- esting details of his lion-hunting expedition to Somaliland. He writes as follows You will be glad to hear that yesterday Sir Edmund Lechmere killed a fine lion in the open. Lady Lechmere was close to her husband, and they were both on foot. The distance from the lion was 23 yards. I reserved my fire in case, of the lion charging. Lady Lechmere is a second Lady Baker. We were all very 'done. having following the lion's tracks at a fast rate from 10.30 a.m. till 2.35 p.m., when we suddenly came on it. We might have had to follow farther. only, luckily, it had killed a fine oryx beisa (a large antelope allied to the gemsbok of Mashoraland). and was lying by it. We had heard the lion roaring in the ear-iy hours of the morning. The other two members of our party had killed a lion, and two lions and a rhinoceros respectively 10 days ago. and probably others by now. The men gave us three English cheers when we got to camp. The climate is delicious, but we are all very sunburnt. The caravans are working splendidly, but we have lost some camels."

THE Royal Society ot Painter-Etchers has this year recognised in an appropriate way the importance of an artistic development which has during recent years assumed considerable proportions. A large part or the wall space in the exhibition which is to open next week in the gallery of the Royal Water-colour Society. is to be devoted to. book plates; and the collection cf them brought together for this occasion promises to be thoroughly interesting and representative. It is well that a branch of the etchers' art which gives very pleasant results, should receive this official recogni- tioa. s

POST FREE. Of neglecting your health. Especially so, if you suffer from any NERVOUS DISEASE. You may be assured that your condition will not* improve, and that you will go from bad to worse if you do not have your ailments properly attended to. If you sutler from Lost Manhood, Youthful Imprudence, fflll •Spermatorrhoea, Exhausted Vitality, Despondencv, ly Brain Fag, Dimness of Sight, Blotches on the Shill, Loss of lemùry Noises in the Ears, M c];:¡ncJ¡o!y. Li'-er C'on- madder and Kidney Com- plaints, or any form of disease affecting the I rinarv Organs. Y"U have only to write to me for particulars of a SURE CURE for your malady. Thou- &Tl>i sands of Sufferers have benefitted Lv this means of cure, and tli** advice I have given them. Send ad-lressed envelope, which must he plainly written, to Henry Davis, Esq., CopforcS Lodge, Chichester Place, Brighton, Sussex, England and name this paper.

A MOTHERS' PATHETIC VIGIL. Thousands of travellers through Spalding Station during the past few years have, writes a correspon- dent, had their curiosity momentarily aroused by the sight of a fresh-coloured, unkempt old lady, standing in an expectant attitude on the up platform, but few are aware of the pathetic circumstances accounting for the poor old soul's presence. It appears that her sailor son some years ago perished at sea. and the shock in some degree weakened the mother's brain. She firmly believes that her sailor-boy is still alive, and will return to her so every day—frequently several times a day—she goes down to the station to welcome her long-lost son, expecting that he will alight from a Grimsby train. Very sad is the weary expression on the woman's face when she realises that her errand has once more been fruitless, but her failure of to-day is always forgotten to-morrow.

THE BOER AS OUTLANDER. Mr. Chamberlain is reported to have found a body of Boer citizens who are eager to admit the British claims to suzerainty. A number of Mr. Kruger's fellow- countrymen, who are law-students in London, have been greatly disturbed by a recent order of the Inns of Court that, in future, none but British subjects shall be called to the Bar. They have, therefore, com- bined to urge their right to separate treatment, on the ground of the relations existing between this country and their own. Some of them have also ap- prc-ached Mr. Chamberlain, who has promised that their claim to rank as British subjects shall be care- fully considered. Meanwhile it may be pointed out that relations have certain responsibilities, from which even Dutch uncles are not exempt. Onr new friends must persuade Mr. Krugerthat what is sauce for the barrister is sauce for the Outlander.

THE COMING BUDGET. There has been considerable speculation in the lobby of the House of Commons on the forthcoming Budget. No one seems to doubt (says the Luitg Telegraph)that there will be a deficit, but the estimates of its extent vary a good deal. There are those who think that it will be something like and there are others who hold that the figure may easily run to £ 2,500,000. It will probably be some-lit lie time before a definite opinion ran be offered on this point. Meantime, the sources whence the Clian- cellor of the Exchequer will seek to obtain additional money are being canvassed with a good deal of anxiety. On one point opinion is practically unani- mous, viz., that Sir Michael Hicks-Beach will not propose to add to the income-tax, which at present stands at Sd. in the pound. There is a strong feeling on both sides of the House that as we are at the moment entirely free from war scares it would be wholly unjustifiable to increase this burden. Members insist that the impost is one winch should not be robbed of future elasticity by a further addition at the present moment. Granted that the income-tax-will not be raised. what are the other sources to which the Chancellor of the Exchequer it lively to turn? It.is not con- sidered probable that he will reimpose that portion of the tobacco duty which he remitted last year. or that he will favour the suggestion of M. per lb. duty on sugar. There are two other ideas which have their advocates. Some people would add to the tea duty, and others again would further increase the taxation of beer and spirits. It is considered very doubtful whether the Government will resort to either of these expedients. Indeed, the latter of the two if believed to be out of the question. It will not be all surprising if. when the Budget comes to be unfolded, it is found that the Chancellor of the Exchequer contemplates, in addition to a temporary suspension of the hinting Fund, the raising of a certain amount of extra taxa- tion from a new and hitherto untapped source.

CAMBRIDGE LOCAL EXAMINA- TIONS, The Cambridge local examination class lists show that the total number of candidates entered for the examinations, which were held in December last, was 15.941. Of these, however. 1220 were examined at centres in the colonies. In the senior examina- -a tion 43 boys are placed in the first class, 150 are placed in the other honour classes. 229 have satisfied the examiners, and US have failed; 16 girls are placed in the first class. 164 are placed in the other honour classes, 828 have satisfied the examiners, and 323 have failed. Sufficient merit has been shown by 263 boys and 104 girls to entitle them to exemption from one or both parts of the previous examination. Of the junior candidates,393 boys are placed in the first class, 1100 are placed in the other honour classes. 2310 have sat isfied the examiners, and 111S are rejected; 49 girls are placed in the first class, 440 are placed in the other honour classes. 1465 have satisfied the examiners, and 723 are re- jected. In the preliminary examination, which is designed for candidates under 14 years of age, 276 bovs and 129 <rir!s are placed in the honour classes. 1935 boys and 1303 girls have satisfied the examiners. and 703 beys and 401 g-irls are rejected. The awards of scholarships and prizes, the reports of the ex- aminers. the tables showing the success or failure of the individual candidates in each subject, and also the class lists for the colonial centres, are expected to be published in the course of this month.

A FASCINATING ISLAND. Of all fascinating places under the sun, said a gentleman who had travelled the island of Tahiti, one of the Society Islands, is the most fasci- nating. In that country—a little earth lost in a vast ocean—Nature has done everything to rnakeindolent souls bappy. The climate is temperate and even all the year round, the vegetation is luxuriant, the women beautiful, and the nights, full of perfume and mystical light, stir the most practical mind to love of meditation and dreaming. The influence of this dreamy, lazy life is very insidious. It is not neces- sary to work, as the island furnishes food without the labour of tillage. I know a number of Americans and French who have gone there for a visit, and have become so enraptured wifh the lan- guorous existence that, like the visitors to lotus- land, they lie down and forget friends, home, ambi- tion, and everything. I remember how I used to feel the influence steal upon me. Many a time I wished earnestly to cast my lot with those languorous people. I can look back now and see myself as I lay one night against a cocoanut tree in a sort of ecstasy of meditation. Overhead was a sky bright with a million stars. Sounds came to me in a strange fashion, blending into a murmur. A short distance away a group of natives, girls and men, were shout- ing the rhythmic chant of the upu-upa dance. I thought of myself on the little isle, with ocean on every side and New Orleans so many miles distant. Nothing seemed real to me but that spot in which one could hear indistinctly the chant of the singers and the sobbing of the waves; a mysterious charm possessed me."

IN connection with the death of Sir Lambert Plav- fair a good story is recalled to the effect that when stationed at Aden, hearing of the presence of a Frencn frigate in the Red Sea, he immediately rowed over to Perim and hoisted the British flag. The French Government complained, and difficulties en- sued, but when a clerk acting on orders looked up Perim in the archives, he made the astonishing dis- covery that the place had been occupied in 1799 owing to the alarm caused by the Napoleonic in- vasion of Egypt. Hence came the reply, We do not understand the French objection. Perim has been British for over 50 years." A PHENOMENON, the cause of which has not yet been satisfactorily explained, was described at a recent meeting of the British Association. Discs of loaf sugar were mounted on a lathe and rapidly rotated while a hammer played lightly against them. An almost continuous radiation of light was thus pro- duced from the sugar. It was shown that the light did not arise from heating of the sugar, and it is believed to be caused by some change taking place in the sugar crystals. The act of crystallisation is known .to be sometimes accompanied by flashes of light. The practical bearing of these experiments is on the j question of th& possibility- of obtaining artificial light by method as yet untried.

TADEMA'S FAVOURITE MODEL. Mr. Alma Tadema had reproduced the portrait o. his wife in nearly all his pictures, and of this a quaint story is told by M.A.P. A good many years ago an exhibition of his pictures was held at the Grosvenor Gallery. At the private view a well- meaning but ignorant lady was heard to remark that she noticed the artist always painted the same auburn-haired model in every picture- On a marble staircase, reading on a seat. covered with a shower of roses, gazing cut to a blue sea. reclining on a couch, being read to out of Sappho v in a sculptor's studio, even in a bath If I were the artist's wife," said the ingenious one. I should be awfully jeaioui of his painting the same model in every picture." But it was Mrs. Tadema all the time

SILK TRADE IX ENGLAND. During the past 60 years our general trade and prosperity have enormously developed under the favourable turn that has been given to all enterprise by the application of steam inventions of all kinds, says CUII/merrial Intelligence, and greater facil)« ties for trade that opened the world to our mer- chandise in cottons, woollens, and metals. Our wealth has increased, and the population of the United Kingdom has increased to 38,000,000 sciHlsl., but during this cycle of sixty years the home silk manufacturing trade has gradually dwindled away. In 1898 we shall have imported over 20 millions sterling of manufactured silk goods, free of duty, from France and all parts of the earth. while our imports of raw material to be made up into manu- factured goods will not amount to more than one million sterling, and with the labour necessary to work this material into the manufactured article our home production will not amount to more than a miserable two or three millions sterling. It will thus be seen that our consumption of silk goods amounts yearly to 22 or 23 millions sterling, the great bulk of which comes from abroad. We may gather from the comparison that in 1538 our population of 25 millions consumed every year 8s. 6d. per head of British-made hand-loom woven silk goods of pure, honest, good wearing qualities. and in 1898 our population of 38 millions consumed about 10s. 6d. per head of foreign-made goods, and only about Is. 6d. per head of British-made silks. This deficiency ought really to be remedied, as there is no reason why we cannot weave in England the raw silks of India, Canton, Shanghai, and Japan that are now far more carefully prepared for the loom at the lowest possible prices in the countries of production than they were in 1838. There are many complaints of the bad wearing qualities of many goods woven abroad, and the establishment of silk factories in England bound down to an agree- ment to produce only the purest, most durable, and good wearing silk goods ought to prove a commercial success and a highly profitable undertaking to the shareholders. Considering the increased purchasing power of tbe-present generation, silk as an article of wearing apparel should be far more popular than it is. and we ought to arrive at a consumption of 20s. per head of the population per annum.

A PLEASANT BERTH. Two bluejackets were once overheard arguing as to who had the least work to do on board a man-of- war. It's the Parson." said one. "'Ow d'ye make that out ?" queried the other. 'Cos "e's got no work to do, and all day to do it in." You ain't quite got it, Bill," retorted his friend, while an inspired grin illumined his features. It ain't the Parson, it's the Cap'n o' Marines." 'Ow s that ?" Well, as you say, the Parson's got no work to do, and all day to do it in but the Cap'n o' Marines as nothing to do and all day to do it in. and 'as a Lawtemt o' Marines to elp 'tm to do it!"

SALMON WITH LABELS. The Scottish Fishery Board, anxious to add to, what is known of the habits of the salmon, have marked quite a number of Tay salmon, and it is not unlikely that several of these fish will fall to the rod of the Tay anglers this autumn. The marked salmon carries with him on his travels a small silver plate tied to the dorsal fin by means of silver wire and on the label is a number corresponding to that of the particulars when the fish was marked. When a marked salmon is caught the understanding is that it be sent to the Board for examination-which may learn hard for the angler. But the Board are pre- pared to give him 2a. 6d. as a reward, and pay for the fish (if "clean ") at the London price of the day.

THE CENTRE PARISH OF ENGLAND The Earl of Aylesford will shortly have at his di. posal the living of Meriden, in Warwickshire. Cer tainly it is not of much monetary value: but Meriden is a delightful place, standing in the heart of War- wickshire, and claiming that its village aross. on the high road from Birmingham to Coventry, marks the central spot of England. Here lived, till his death a few years ago, General Whichcot.e, one of the last survivors of the battle of Waterloo. Church and vicarage-house top a small hill, which commands views of Packington and right away te the Shrop- shire Wrekin. The woodmen of Arden have their meetings at Meriden in summer, and he golfer it I Here at all times.

A MUSICAL EDUCATION. Interviewed by a representative of the London Argus, Sir Hubert Parry, director of the Royal College of Music, said We have about 400 pupils here at present, drawn from all parts of the country and from almost every class. A thoroughly repre- sentative body of young men and women, I should think and our constant aim and education policy is to give them as wide and deep a musical training as we possibly can. We don't take them for a mere lesson. or a term, or to make them technically skil- ful in some one branch of the musical art. No, not that; on the contrary, our endeavour is-and upon chis feature I make bold to say we pride ourselves— to thoroughly educate them musically while they are with us, so that when they eventually leave the college they may be able, if they will, to make a profession of their art."

TOLD ON A LINER. A man who lately came over from America told bhe writer that on board the steamer one of the passengers went up to another in the smoking-room and asked him to have a drink with him. The person thus invited continued reading a newspaper and made no reply. The other again asked him to drink with him. No answer again. A third invitation was then given in these words: Sir, I have asked you in as friendly. a way as possible to drink with me. and each time you went on with your reading, and had not the civility to answer me. Now I ask you for the third time if you will drink wine, whisky, or anything else with me ? The man then put his paper and answered very quietly: Do you see that glass, sir? Well, if I were to take eveD- quarter of it, I could not leave off until I had drunk all the liquor on board. This iB why I wooW bo* drink with you."

SIR KTOOLF IS LATIN, who was recently a Maiestv at Windsor, possesses a greater o the Soudan and Mahdism than any living Ewopean, and has been able to render invaluable service British and Egyptian Governments during en years. Slatin Pasha, as he is known in Jigyp 18 a Viennese, and was chosen by Gordon w en on y as Governor of Darfur. Be long held ^eMahdi at bay. winning no fewer than 26 engageme ut he was ultimately over-powered andrap^ in*: ft prisoner* II years, until be i h Father Ohrwalder in 1893.. j DR. ROBERTSON NICOIX has been paying a visit to ,he famous cemetery_at Florence, on the beloved heights overlookingPiesoK ^ere Mre. Browning and Landor and plough and Theodore Parker lie buried. He found Theodore Parker's grave well tended. The m^«nal has a Curious erhetoric&1> appropriate look. Of ah the memorial graves in that little £ r°un'. ,a ^Tage Landor's is the most neglected and forlorn. Thi is a reRrMO)L w pioua Landonans. of whom there are yet a few.