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[All Bights Reserved.] THE…
[All Bights Reserved.] THE FLOWER OF THE SUN. BY JULIAN ASHTON. AUTHOR OF SiThe Temptation of Adrian Norreys" Love's Reward" A Spirit's Curse," &c., &c. CHAPTER XI. I CAN! I OUGHT I WILL! „ ONLY a shaded lamp in one corner threw a soft light over the room, except, indeed, a dull glimer from the red. cumbers of the fire. It was the chamber where Gordon Tranby lay dying. For the doctors had warned Meta that her husband might not live through the night, and that, at the longest he could not survive another twenty-four hours. Every comfort, every luxury, which could relieve the monotomy of sickness, or lighten its painful burden-if, ever so slightly—was there. Costly hothouse iruits, ice, champagne of rare vintage, ex- quisite orchids—at which the invalid gazed lovingly, for were they not of his own raising ? —stood on a table near the foot of the large, sumptuously canopied bed. Wealth, profuse and lavish; the evidences of it were on every side. The door opened softly, and Meta entered. The nurse rose at her approach, and merely whisper- ing, I shall be in the next room, madam. Call me if I am needed," left the room. Meta was calm and composed, but her face bore traces of recent weeping, and her hand trembled as she affectionately took her husband's. It lay on the silken coverlet, passive and feeble. His eyes had been closed hitherto, but he opened them at her touch, and smiled lovingly as she seated her- self close beside him. "I am glad you have come, my dear," he whispered. I feel as if my voice may fail me at any minute, and I wanted to tell you something. You know that the doctors can do nothing more ?" Meta bowed her head, and her tears fell fast. One dropped upon his hand. I am not afraid to die, my wife but I am so grieved to part with you. We have only been married six months, and they have been such happy ones to me." He waited for a moment to collect his weak energies for another effort, and then went on: 1 knew that I could not expect a young and beautiful girl like you, dear-and you are beauti- ful, and I have taken such a pride in it-to love a middle aged husband like me as devotedly as you might have loved a younger man. I did not look for impossibilities. But I hoped I could make you fairly happy; I tried to, and for myself, I never knew what real happiness was till I married you. .And you have been the best of wives to me, Meta. And would have continued so if we had been spared to live many years together. I am sure of that; for I know your goodness now. So listen, dear. But first give me a little of something to drink." She held the champagne glass to his lips, and he continued— My will was made this afternoon, Meta. It is properly drawn up, and witnessed. I have left Cecil Archdall five thousand pounds; he is my only surviving relative after you. There are a few small bequests to friends and servants. Everything else is left to you." Gordon, dear husband, do not speak of this now. I don't care to hear it: and you have so little strength to talk, that I would far rather we spoke of other things. And I don't want what—what you said just now. If I have enough to live quietly on, somewhere, I shall be quite contented. I don't think I have any right to all your money, I don't indeed." No one else has so good a right as my own loved wife," he said with a faint smile, and cer- tainly no one else deserves it so well. It is all yours, dear Meta, a rent roll of some eight thou- sand ji year, Tranby Hall, and—after these legacies are paid, a balance at the Bank of England of twenty-two thousand pounds. And, my dear wife He paused a minute, and looked at her affection- ately. It is left quite unconditionally, Meta. I would not fetter it with any condition. My solicitor urged me to make it depend on your remaining un- married. I would not listen to him. It would be an insult to you, and a complete contradiction of my love for you. No, Meta you are mine while I live; but I have no right to control your freedom after I die. It may be, dear, that some time in the future you may find someone who would brighten life for you and give you a true love in exchange for your own. If that time ever comes, all I ask is: be prudent, choose wisely, and sometimes give a kinctly remembrance to the old one who loved you with all his heart and soul." Gordon, I won't hear another word on such a subject. It wounds me, I can't bear it. I have loved you more than you know, for all ytfur kind- ness to me." "That is welcome' news, dear wife. Now I am very tired, and can sleep a little, I think. One kiss, Meta." She gave him many, and still holding his hand watched him sink into a heavy, troubled sleep. As she sat there, in the silence of the dimly lit room her thoughts came thick and fast. Was she wholly to blame if she let her musings wander to her strangely changed fortunes. A few months be- fore, a poor girl; now, the uncontrolled mistress of a great fortune, a large estate, a splendid house. She was touched by the unstinted generosity of her husband; she looked affectionately at him sleeping there. What brought that thought into her mind at such an instant ? Who can explain the strange mysterious workings of our mental faculties ? Cecil Arehdall; oh, why had his presence come before her just then ? He loved her still; he had all but told her so. He was coming to England to find her, and ask her to be his wife, when he unexpectedly met her; met her, a bride lost to him. He had not been faith- less; it was a cruel decree of fate which had .parted them for ever. For ever? No; surely not. Would he not ask her again ? Some day, in a fitting time. And the joy of giving him herself and her wealth, to prove how she loved him He could not doubt it then. Stay, she cannot, must not let her mind wander in such a direction as this. It is wrong; it is wicked, while her husband still lingers lingers beyond the reach of hope, of help. A few hours only of life are left to him, and then- Meta Tranby sprang up suddenly, and clasped her hands tightly together. How could she have forgotten ? how strange it should have been not recalled by memory before this. The Elixir of Life the Flower of the Sun. There, in that very room, it was at that moment hidden in a secret drawer of her locked dressing case, the tiny glass phial which could bring him back from the edge of the grave. It was not too late. She crossed the room to open her dressing case, but the door opened softly, and Cecil Arehdall entered. Noiselessly he approached the bed and looked at his uncle. Pity, genuine pity, was clearly evident on his face. With a sigh, he turned to Meta and whispered, Is there no hope ?" She forced herself with a great effort to reply. "The doctors say there is none." He nodded, and turned to go. But at the door he gave her one look a look in which was strangely blenclecl-passionate love and the smile of confi- dent hope. She read it clearly. The door closed, and he was gone. Then began one of those fierce, desperate battles between the Devil's urgings, and Duty's peremp- tory demands such a struggle as takes place every day between "I ought," and" I would;" secret struggles unknown to all except the All-Seeing Eye; sometimes won; sometimes lost. What was it to be now ? How would the contest end ? "Can you hesitate for an instant?" said that still, small voice, which whispers within each one of us. The voice deeply implanted within us: Conscience. Quick, before it is too late. Restore him to life and strength again. You can and you Jmow-you feel-you ought." 'But how can I tell whether I ought ?" urged the other voice which ceaselessly wars against Con- science the voice of Selfish Desire. It is wrong, surely, to interfere with the orderings of Provi- dence and natural law. Who am I that I should arrest the hand of Death again and again in this unhallowed way ? Is it not most sinful presump- ,tion. Did you reason thus when for your own curiosity you brought Rose Flinton back from the very edge of the grave sternly demanded Conscience, with a persistency which would not be denied. No; you had no such invented scruples then." But I resolved in my own mind never to use this terrible power again. I saw my rash folly, my impious daring, and determined to renounce this awful responsibility. How can I break a vow which I know was right ?" Had you never met Cecil Archdall, would you have hesitated for a moment," thundered the voice which champions the right. "You know, you dare not deny it even to yourself, that he alone is the one cause of your wavering. If you let that_ man die, you—with the powers to restore him—will be a murderess. And you will have done this foul deed of utter selfishness, that you may ultimately marry your lover, and endow him with your wealth. Now; now, you cannot refuse to recognise the issue. Choose: and choose quickly. And at any sacrifice, at any cost, choose the path of duty. Before you lie two ways; the way of peace of mind and conscious integrity and tha other the way of guilty shame and secret crime. Now choose." And then the storm-tossed, convulsed girl flung herself on her knees and prayed. Gordon, drink this," and Meta raised him gently as she spoke, while with trembling hands and white face she placed a small glass to his lips. Why did you wake me ?" he murmured, I was sleeping so well. You should have let me rest, Meta." Drink it, my husband," she said tenderly, and he drained one tiny draught, while his wife watched him anxiously as he lay wearily back. Suddenly a strong shudder passed over his frame, and he gasped for breath. Then the face grew ashy pale and though he could not speak he fixed his eyes on his wife'with a painful look of mourn- ful reproach. But Meta, watching him with breathless intensity, saw a faint trace of colour re turning to his pallid face and the breathing became easier and more regular. Presently he found, voice to ask feebly, "What have done ? It is strange: I think I feel stronger. What does it mean ?" Do not speak now, dearest husband, my own Gordon," she said, kissing him gently. "Try to sleep again I believe you will recover now, and that we may live in each other's love for some years to come." And Gordon Tranby did recover, to the (almost incredulous) surprise of the learned physicians who had attended him, and who declared they had never known such a marvellous rally of the vital powers from an almost pulseless state of enfeeble- ment. But neither they, nor their patient, ever knew the secret of that recovery. Persistently as he questioned his wife, he never elicited the slightest information from Meta. "You are restored; I did it. Let that suffice: except this one solemn truth, that deeply as I love you (and I love you, my hus- band, more than I ever did, more than you will ever know), I could never do it again, however much I might desire." For Meta Tranby wisely destroyed that old manuscript of Yussuf the Arabian. The Flower of the Sun the Elixir of Life, was not, she saw, a power that weak, misjudging mortals may wield. That can be rightly exercised by Infinite Wisdom and Love, and by IT alone. [THE END.]
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. I
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. ALLEGED SUCCESS OF THE BACCELLI CURE. Signor Baccelli, Minister of Agriculture, pre- siding at the opening sitting of the National Con- gress of Medicine at Pisa on October 27, delivered a speech in which he explained more fully than in his speech at Novara the method discovered by him for the cure of foot-and-mouth disease. The" speaker said that, some time after having been appointed Minister of Agriculture, he happened to be at Civita Vecchia, and hear- ing that there were cases of foot-and-mcuth disease in the neighbourhood, he instructed the veterinary surgeon of the town to employ in the treatment of diseased cattle the Baccelli therapeutic method, which consisted in in- jecting sublimate of mercury into the veins. He prescribed the following doses: For calves, 2 to 4 centigrammes for each injection, according to the seriousness of the case for adult animals, 4 to 6 centigrammes; and for bulls, 6 to 8 centigrammes. The solution was to contain 75 milligrammes of sodium chloride (common salt) for every 4 centi- grammes of sublimate of mercury. Out of 52 cases of the disease 52 were cured. In Sardinia, where the Baccelli method was also employed, there were 26 rapid and complete cures out of 26 cases. In short, all the cattle which underwent treatment at Civita Vecchia, in Sardinia, and elsewhere, were promptly and completely cured by the treatment. Signor Baccelli was warmly applauded, and re- ceived many congratulations on his success. :.J
A GREAT FINANCIER. I
A GREAT FINANCIER. The death of Dr. von Siemens deprives Germany of the services of a financial and administrative genius of no mean order. He was among the most distinguished of those men who have carried Ger- man enterprise with increasing success into the four corners of the globe. He was a merchant king in the truest sense of the word. It was under his guidance that the Deutsche Bank, from com- paratively small beginnings, attained its present dimensions, and the ability of that institution at a time of financial depression like the present to en- large the scope of its assistance to sound industrial undertakings furnishes striking testimony of the soundness of Dr. von Siemens's administration. Dr. von Siemens was a nephew of Werner Siemens, the founder of the great engineering firm, and was ennobled by the present Emperor on the conclu- sion of the agreement with Turkey which secured to the Deutsche Bank and German industry and finance the construction of the Anatolian Railway. In politics Dr. von Siemens was a Moderate Liberal of the Free Trade school, and one of his latest works was the foundation of the Com- mercial Treaty League for the purpose of fighting the Agrarian Tariff. He was, perhaps, the only possible candidate for Ministerial honours among the Liberals, and when he retired from the directorate of the Deutsche Bank it was widely believed that he was preparing to accept the port- folio which was shortly to be laid down by Herr von Miquel. The actual cause of his retirement, however, was the disease which has now termi- nated his career at the age of 62.
OUR UNKNOWN NATIONAL DEBT.…
OUR UNKNOWN NATIONAL DEBT. I The New York Journal says the British Gov- ernment has an unknown national debt which all the money in the universe could not pay off. This is a claim for C2,500,000, with interest since 1310. The claimants are the descendants of the famous Peruzzis who were the great bankers of Florence in the middle ages. The warlike King Edward III. of England professed a great affection for the head of the Peruzzi family. At the same time he bor- rowed large sums of money from the banker. The King had already strained his resources in fighting the Scotch, and when he made war on France he needed the help of the Florentine bankers very much and obtained it. He was suc- cessful in his war, as the historic names of Crecy and Poictiers attest, but that did not fill his coffers. In the year 1340 Edward's debt to Peruzzi and his brother Florentine bankers amounted to 1,355,000 golden florins, or about £ 2.500,000 of our money—a colossal sum in those days. Banker Peruzzi at last summed up courage enough to ask the terrible King for his money, but his Majesty begged him not to mention the subject again. When the banker pressed him further the King issued a proclamation announcing that owing to a lack of ready money and for the good of the kingdom, he should postpone the payment of all his debts indefinitely. The proclamation was regarded as a very statesmanlike document in England, and Edward has ever retained his repu- tation as one of the wisest of the early English Kings. His action almost ruined the bankers of Florence.
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PROSPECTS in the colonies for emigrants are not particularly good. Local labour is sufficient in South Australia, but there are openings for farm labourers and engineer fitters in Tasmania. In Western Australia there is a demand for compe- tent mechanics in the building and other trades at Northam, Perth, and Dongarra, and for saw-mill hands at Albany; but otherwise local labour is sufficient, being in excess in some places. There is no demand for miners, but farm labourers are wanted in the country districts; and some, not much, unskilled labour is required, but not at Coolgardie, Kalgoorlie, or Fremantle. Work is plen- tiful in New Zealand in the building, engineering, clothing, and bootmaking trades. There are no general labourers out of work, and female machinists are wanted at Chnstchurch. As to South Africa, Natal railways require a few skilled platelayers'who fare from 25 to 40 years of age, and who have had at least five years' railway experience; candidates may apply to the Agent- General for Natal, stating age, height, and experi- ence, and enclosing testimonials. Building trade operatives are wanted in Cape Colony otherwise, persons are warned not to proceed to South Africa, unless possessed of ample means or of definite engagements. BURGLARS in New York have been trying an in- genious way of securing their entry into houses unmolested. Gentlemen of the marauding per- suasion enter ordinary telephone (pay) stations and call up the house of some wealthy citizen. If the calls are answered the callers state they have made a mistake as to the numbers, and ring off. When no answers are given the predatory gang conclude that the houses called up are empty, and immediately go round and start operations. Num- bers of burglaries have been perpetrated in this way, and the police seem quite helpless in the matter, the only information at their command being that the thieves "are well dressed and gentlemanly in appearance." MR. T. LOUGH, M.P. for Islington, has achieved fame in a new direction. One of the cycling papers has been running a competition amongst its readers to decide the best friend of cyclists, and Mr. Lough has come out at the head of the poll with 1018. It has been a close contest, for Mr. A. J. Balfour, Sir Howard Vincent, and Mr, T. H. Woollen ran second with 1016 votes each. The King comes eighth with 458 votes, while Mr. E. R. Shipton, the secretary of the Cyclists' Tour- ing Club, who might have been thought to come out somewhere near the top, has done no better than twelfth with 150 votes.
HOME HINTS. I
HOME HINTS. I A SLICB of bread boiled in pea soup prevents the peas from sinking to the bottom and burning on to the saucepan. THE skin of an old fowl should be taken off be- fore cooking, as it is apt to give a bitter taste to the liquor in which it is boiled. NEVER drink water that has stood all night in a bedroom, for, as water absorbs the impurities of the air, it is most unwholesome. GOLD lace may be cleaned by rubbing with a flannel well dusted with powdered ammonia, and then polished with a soft handkerchief. GOOD apple sauce is made as follows: Pare and slice three large apples and stew slowly to a pulp with one ounce of brown sugar and a gill of water. To FRESHEN LEATHER SEATS OF CHAIRS.— Rub -svith;a,soft cloth dipped into beaten white of egg then polish with a silk handkerchief or very soft duster. SPRINKLE salt immediately over any spot inhere something has boiled over on the stove, so that the place may be more easily cleaned. This plan also stops the bad odour. To cook white haricot beans, steep the beans or twenty-four hours in cold water and drain. Set in a saucepan of cold water with a large onion and a small piece of dripping. Boil for two hours, strain, remove the onion, add a small piece of but- fer, stir all together, and scatter chopped parsley over. JAM SANDWICH is a useful way of using scraps of pastry. Roll the pastry very thin and with it cover a baking sheet. Spread with raspberry jam, or any other preserve, cover with another thin layer of paste, closing the edges. Bake in a very sharp oven and then cut into neat pieces to resemble sandwiches. Sift castor sugar over and serve on a d'oily. FRENCH HERRINGS. Take as many fresh herrings as you wish to use. Cut the fish open, and remove the backbones, then wash and dry thoroughly in a clean cloth. Take each piece of fish, brush over the inside with beatun egg, season with chopped onion, pepper and salt, and press together. When all are done in this way, have a pan of boiling fat ready, brush over each herring j with egg, dip into fine breadcrumbs and fry till cooked. Serve very hot after drying on paper before the fire.-Londoii Journal. SAVOURY CUTLETS.—Take some cutlets from the best end of a neck of mutton, trim them care- fully, dip, in egg, sprinkle with pepper, salt, finely- ground sweet herbs, and chopped parsley, with just a scrap of onion. Dip again carefully in egg, sprinkle with breadcrumbs, then fry in boiling fat, drain before the fire, then dish. ROMAN PIE.—Grease a pie-dish, lay in a layer of cooked vermicelli all over the bottom and up the sides, fill with minced beef, hard-boiled egg, and grated cheese and chopped macaroni—cooked— seasoning, and a little good gravy; cover with vermicelli. Heat through in a moderate oven, but do not let top get hard. PICKWICK PUDDING.—Butter a mould and stick large pieces of citron over it. Add six sponge cakes broken, three spoonfuls of brown sugar, four eggs, half a pint of milk, and a glass of brandy. Steam tins pudding an hour. For sauce, raspberry jam and brandy mixed, and pour round it when sent to the table. This is an excellent pudding. RABBIT GOOSE.—One rabbit, half a pound of fat bacon, one pound and a half of potatoes, half a pound of onions, one tablespoonful of sage, half a pint of water, two tablespoonfuls of chopped parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Cut all up and place in layers till dish is full, having potatoes on the top. Cook in a slow oven for two hours. SALMON PUDDING.—Half a pound of boiled salmon, two egs, two ounces of butter, a good- sized cup of breadcrumbs soaked in milk. Put the salmon into a morter, and pound; add a good seasoning of cayenne, mace, and salt. Mix all well together, and bake in a pie-dish three-quarters of an hour; when done, turn out of the dish, and serve it covered with good anchovy sauce. Any fish rved this way is very good. WHITENING THE SKIN. -A few drops of tincture of benzoin in the water in which the face is washed-used by many in place of soap—will be found to have a whitening effect upon the skin. EGG-AND-CRUMB PUDDING. Mix one break- fastcupful of breadcrumbs, one egg beaten up, one pint of milk, two tablespoonfuls of sugar, a pinch of salt, and a little nutmeg. Mix all together and bake in a moderate oven three-quarters of an hour, until nicely brown. STAINS FROM WALL-PAPER.—The marks where people have rested their heads on wall-paper may be removed by mixing pipeclay with water to the consistency of cream, laying it on the, spot, and allowing it to remain till the following day, when it may be easily removed with a penknife or a brush. To CLEAN AND TIGHTEN CANE-SEATED CHAIRS. —Turn up the chair-bottom, and with hot water and a sponge wash the cane-work, so that it may be thoroughly soaked. Should it be very dirty, use a little soap. Let it dry in the air, and it will be as tight and firm as when new, provided the cane be not broken. GREEN LINEN BLINDS.—When cleaning, lay the blinds on a board and scrub gently with a brush, using cold rainwater and soap—carpet soap, if possible. Lay flat in a tub of cold water to rinse, take the blind by the top end in both hands, draw it out of the water, and suspend from a clothes-line in a sheltered place, where it will dry and not be blown out of shape. STONE STAIRS AND FLOORS.—To clean these, wash them down, and then with a painter's brush apply to each step which the carpet does not cover the following preparation Boil pipeclay with equal parts of water and beer. If there be any spots of grease on'the stairs, before using thepipeclay scrape them off. Then on each spot put a little soap-lees and unslaked lime. Let it lie a few minutes, then rub hard, and wash it off. This imixture will also serve to take candle-grease or oil out of floors or stones passages. To SWEETEN BUTTER.—Butter, either fresh or salt, possessing a disagreeable flavour, may be rendered perfectly sweet by the addition of a little carbonate of soda. The proportion is two drachms and a half of carbonate of soda to three pounds of butter. In making fresh butter the soda is to be added after all the milk is worked out, and ready for making up. The unpleasant smell is produced by an acid, which is generated by peculiarities in the constitution of some cows, by the condition of certain fodders, or by the length of time the cream is kept before being churned, but too often by the dairy utensils not being kept thoroughly clean. SCALDS AND BURNS.—When any part of the clothing adheres, it should be carefully cut round, so that any blisters that may be formed should not be broken. It should be observed that the first step towards a cure is to exclude all air, for this reason, perhaps, the most simple and best r*unedy, and one always at hand, is a simple application of flour to the part affected, which by excluding the air and absorbing the moisture, even in extreme cases, affords immediate relief. Another remedy strongly recommended is a mixture of alum and water, in the proportion of a pound of alum to a quart of water. The burn or scald should be bathed in it with a linen rag, and, if necessary, thl3 linen rag should be bound upon the part, and kept moistened for two or three days, or longer, accord- ing to the case.-Spare Moments.
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(C PAPA, how do people in the Weather Bureau J find out what kind of weather we are going to j have ?" I didn't know that they did, my son." I
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M. PAUL BOURQMJ: in his account of a visit to New York, says that one of the most striking things to the newcomer is the incredible numbei of people-" non seulement ("'homines, mais meme de jolies femme "-in whose mouths the glitter of gold plates accompanies every word and smile. This is not so astonishing when one remembers that in the course of last year no fewer than 3.000,000 artificial teeth were placed "in America only. But one would imagine that the men who have the reputation of being the cleverest dentists in the world would be able to Bx the teeth in their clients' mouths so that the glitter of the gold plate might not strike the observant foreigner. Or is this curious display of "wealth" only another freak of fashion ? Il' appears that Germany is to follow the example of France in prohibiting automobile races upon the public roads. A decree to this effect has lately appeared in the journals, signed by Baron von Hammerstein, Minister of the Interior. FOR some time the making of flags from slag, the refuse of the-blastfurnaces, has been carried on in various parts of the country, including Barrow-in-Furness. At the latter place a process has been adopted for the manufacture of bricks for building purpose from the same material. All the iron is extracted from the slag, and nothing but^a rich cement is left. It is stated that the bricks are of good quality. THE deepest borehole known, made by the Prus- sian Government, is at Paruschowitz, near Ratibor, in Upper Silesia. Though finished in 1893, particulars of valuable observations made have never been published, until now supplied by the Prussian Government to a British Association committee. The total depth is, says Engineering, about 6572ft.; the diameter decreases from 3-6in. down to 2-7in. The upper half of the bore is tubed.
OUR SHORT STORY. I
OUR SHORT STORY. CELIA'S VANITY. I tell you, Annabel, that he shall fall in love with me." The light of a fervent resolve shone In Celia Sellerby's eyes, and sat proudly upon ter well. turned lips, full with the life-blood of youth. Her sister, five years her senior, timid, reserv ed. little Annabel, smiled timorously. Your charms have never before failed to worh their destined havoc among men," she modestly replied; and in the spring a young man's aspira- tion is said to be love. It is still spring and you cannot have many rivals hereabout to Mr. Rains- ford's affections." Celia turned petulantly from the window. Then why does the man disdain my over- tures ?" she exclaimed, almost bitterly. "Am I getting old, stale, ugly-" You grow lovelier every day, Celia," interposed the other with honest conviction. Then why is Jim Rainsford so blind to it ? He is not a sphinx, or a fool. If I had not cared a rap whether he fell in love with me or not he would have fluttered around like the rest and scorched his wings Do you care, dear ?" interpolated Annabel. Of course I do. How stupid you are Should I worry my head over the man like this if I didn't care ? You are as dense as he is. Of course I care." The unexpected: appearance of Jim Rainsford cut the conversation short. Mr. Rainsford! I thought you had gone insect hunting, as usual ?" No, Miss Celia, I have been bird-nesting for a change, and I have found the loveliest little bull- finch's nest you ever saw. Won't you and your sister come and look at it. Only to the hawthorn hedge yonder." Annabel sprang readily to her feet, but Celia, who had been standing, sank upon a handy couch with a weary No, thank you, Mr. Rainsford, I have a headache, and the scent of the may oppresses me. Annabel, when she returns, will weave me'such a vivid description of the bird's nest as shall give me as much pleasure as if I accompanied you. Oh, please don't pity my poor head. I am quite content to stay here- alone Glancing up under cover of the shapely hand that pressed her seemingly throbbing brow, she saw the mixture of doubt and bewilderment that lay upon her sister's face, and the grave compas- sion that seemed to flow from the man's grey eyes, and it was all she could do to restrain her joy until the pair had left the house; then she cried exult- ingly- Silly old Annabel! She is horrified because I invented an excuse she would call a lie. But I liked that expression in Jim Rainsford's eyes. It was pity, not adoration, I admit; but pity is akin to love. He will succumb to a short. course of dexterous cold shoulder, I can see!" She began to map out the course of cold shoulder, but at the end of ten minutes tbereflashed upon her exultation a possibility so alarming that she sprang to her feet and ran for her hat. By the footpath, the white-blooming hawthorn hedge was only a three minutes' walk, but Celia chose the more circuitous and less exposed approach by way of the orchards. Ten minutes after starting she was daintily pick- ing her steps through a straggling coppice, with her skirts held tightly against the insinuating wild roses that trailed their thorny offshoots un- checked. Then she reached the hawthorn hedge and stopped, listening intently. Chance had been a sure guide. From the other side of the thick, heavily perfumed hedge, floated voices, low-pitched and earnest. Celia caught her breath and heard- Have I spoken too soon ? I am afraid I took you unawares. Does a man's love frighten a woman ? I have no experience. As your sister would say I am a chip of Nature, and like that lark singing yonder to his mate a volume of love, un- fettered by any social amenities, guided only by impulse, so I blurted out my feelings to you, with- out a word of warning. Shall I ask the question again later ? You are pale, I have frightened you. I am so sorry. How canti make amends ? Not-no, don't say that!—not by forgetting you. That is impossible. Would you like me to forget you ? Please tell me." Celia's brain was swimming. She clasped her hand to her brow to steady her senses, and- though she had only heard what, ten minutes earlier, she had vaguely suspected she might hear —she bit her lips to pallor, with rage. To think that the man upon whom, for the past, month, she had vainly expended every art and cajolery known to feminine artifice, should all the time have been nursing a real affection for another woman was blow enough to her vanity; but worse still was the knowledge that the woman v. iio had won the admiration she had so ardently striven to draw unto herself should be her own elder sister, the modest, insignificant little sister who never be- fore had dared to show the light of her gentleness where the more luxuriant glories of the spoilt Celia were being displayed. The realisation set her passion ablaze. Still, of course, Annabel would not dare to accept the offer. Her presumption could take her no further than she had gone already. She knew that Celia did care whether or not Jim Rainsford fell in love with her, and, knowing that, she would not dare, even if she were so inclined, to accept the man's offer of marriage. The voices had moved along the hedge, and Celia, aghast with amazement, had failed to follow. She could not do so now without risk of revealing herself, and it was useless to stand there, a butt for the satire of a lark's ravishing love song. So she crept back to the house, and her own room, sullen, fretful, a prey to her wounded vanity. "But Annabel dare not accept his offer," she assured herself again and again. And when I have brought that man to his senses, and to my feet—and I will !-I will I-then shall I be re- venged." i » It was almost two hours later when Annabel, guilty-looking, pale and careworn, crept into Celia's room. So you've come at last, Annabel. Of course, you refused him ?" Celia's amazing greeting staggered the little woman's wits. Flushing and flustered she could but stammer- How-how did you know ?" I followed you, suspecting the man, and over- heard his amatory declarations. But of course you did not accept the proposal." No. I—did not-accept his proposal." Of course not. You realised, as I did, that it was made in a spirit of pique, because I had cold- shouldered him. But don't cry, Annabel. I don't blame you. I know you didn't encourage him. It was no fault of yours. What did you say to him ?" I—I said it—was impossible Exactly. It was—and is. But for pity's sake don't cry. There really is nothing to cry about. Up to, now, I admit, Jim Rainsford has been proof against my fascinations, but I am going to alter that." But you cannot—now!" Why not ?" He has gone away." When ?" He went when I declared it was impossible, an hour ago." "But he will come back-to-day, to-morrow, next week-" "He will not. Oh, Celia, he win not. I-I know him. He will never come back while I—we —you are stopping here. He left excuses for our hostess, who is out; said a telegram had cut his spring holiday short; and then he rode off to the station on his bicycle, leaving his luggage to follow, and-and he- What is the matter out there, Celia ?" Standing tearfully by the window, Annabel's attention had been attracted to half a dozen farm labourers advancing slowly up the gravel path to the house, bearing upon a litter of lashed hurdles a burden with a gentle reverence that told its own story. The procession passed beyond an angle of the house and out of view. The two sisters hastened from the room, dumb with fear they dared not ex- press. At the top of the stairs they encountered a flying maid. What has happened, Rosic ?" I Oh, miss. Mr. Rainsford's been in a dreadful cycle accident. They're carrying his-his body into"the house." His—his what ?" The suppressed shriek was Annabel's. Yes. miss. He's killed." The maid fled to do her bidding, and Celia shivering, returned to her room. Annabel, followed her. Celia began to cry. Annabel's ei: q were dry now, hard and dry as a macadam road in time of drought. Killed!" she murmured, and repeated It, as though to familiarise her ears with the sound. Killed Then she saw with a shock, that her beautiful sister was weeping, and the life-long habit of ministering to Celia's comfort in times of distress momentarily damped the poignancy t2 her own dumb grief. "Poor Celia! Poor child!" she murmured. "It is hard for you to bear, I know, but you must try, for the sake of others, not to give way to But Celia flung her sister from her, hot temper blazing in her eyes. How dare you, Annabel!" she cried. How dare you remind me, now, when the man is lying dead in the house, that even while he was drawing his last breath I was plotting how to fascinate his affections, so that I might have the pleasure of refusing them when he made the offer. Go away, you heartless woman Oh, go away, or I shall hurt you in my madness Startled, amazed, as in a dream, Annabel obeyed But at the door she turned, a quivering question npon her lips. Celia, you told me you cared whether he fell in love with you or not. Did you not love him ?" Love him ? Oh, do go away, Annabel. Your presence makes my wickedness unbearable. Can't you understand it was only vanity that made me long to bring him, like the rest of mankind, to my feet ?" This time Annabel went, creeping softly down the stairs to the dining-room, directed by a buzz of modulated voices. A multitude of maddened fancies careered around her brain, but dominating them all, was the despairing cry of what might have been had she but known that vanity, and not love, had in- spired Celia to the conquest of Jim Rainsford's affection. The dining-room door was unfastened. Annabel pushed it and slipped inside. The mistress of the house was out, but the ser- vants and the farm labourers stood around the j room in murmuring awe, awaiting the coming of the doctor. On the long, polished table lay the improvised ambulance, and its still, silent burden. Annabel paused, gasped for strength, and with a great effort walked steadily to the table. For a full minute her dry eyes regarded the inanimate face that looked blindly and dumbly up to hers; then she bent over and, unabashed, oblivious, in fact, to her sun oundings, she touched the still forehead with uer I'PS- „ The eyelids quivered. The nostrils dilated, and the breath of life fanned Annabel's cheeks. See!" she cried. He is not dead-only stun- ned My love My own love He will live! He is living! He wiH-" Her swooning body was caught by a farm labourer. And Jim Rainsford did live, and Celia's vanity received a mortal wound. It was already dead- if not forgotten—when, as chief bridesmaid, she attended Annabel at the latter's wedding.
NAPOLEON'S COAT. I
NAPOLEON'S COAT. Concerning Napoleon's grey coat which is now j At the Invalides, the Journal des Debats pub- J lishes an anecdote which appears in Formentin's work on Meissonier. The great painter wished to make a study of the coat itself, and asked for the loan of it from the Louvre, where it was then placed. He was informed that the rules were against such a proceeding, and refused M. Larron- met's proposal that he should come to the Louvre and copy it there. He appealed to a higher autho- rity, saying, M. le Ministre, if Napoleon I. were still living he would lend me that coat." Mais non," replied the Minister, is he were living he would be wearing it."
THE WOMAN'S WORLD.
THE WOMAN'S WORLD. FRENCH women have adopted a new tint for the hair that is said to be neither red. gold, nor brown, but a combination of all. In line with this is the new perfumed powder for the hair, made in different colours to match the different shades, which also comes from Paris. From Cuba comes a. scented water for the hair, which is said to be distilled by Cuban women from the natural blos- soms. ONE of the most essential parts of home-nursing (counsels a writer in the Evening News) is strict adherence to the doctor's orders. In cases where the illness is likely to be prolonged, or where in- fection is feared, a bedroom at the top of the house is most suitable. Select if possible a room with a south aspect to nurse a patient in. In in- fectious cases the less furniture in the room the better. A narrow metal-framed bedstead is the most convenient to tend a sick person in. The window of a sick room should never be closed. The bottom sash should be slightly raised, causing a current of air through the centre of the window,, and the space below should be filled in, A ther- mometer should be placed on the edge of the bed and not merely on the wall. The larger the bed- room the better for all nursing-in no case should it be less than 1000 cubic feet. WHEN dusting a room in which a patient lies, damp the duster first to prevent the dust flying about. Sprinkle tea-leaves on the floor before sweeping, and in fever cases burn the dust in the room. Admit as much sun into the sick room as possible, except in cases of eye trouble. The tem- perature of a sick room should be kept at about 60deg., except in lung cases, when it should h. 75deg. Use a flannel when washing a patient, not a sponge, and feed before washing in the morning, or it may cause exhaustion. Any one who has to lie for long on the back should have it rubbed with spirits of wine after washing. The best time for giving a bath to a patient is twelve noon. A bath- thermometer can be bought for very little, and serves to ascertain the exact temperature of the water. POPPY-HEAD fomentations are made from eight poppy heads, crushed, upon which boiling water is poured. Dip a piece of flannel in, wring out, and apply hot. To wring out hot fomentations place the flannel or spongio-pylene in the centre of a dry towel and twist both ends of the towel in opposite directions. THE virtue of a poultice lies in its heat, softness and moisture, therefore it should be changed frequently. Half an inch is the thickness of a poulice generally required. It is best spread on cotton-wool and covered with oil-silk. Crushed linseed should be used in making a linseed poultice. Always make the basin hot in which a poultice is to be made. Sprinkle the linseed into boiling water, stirring all the time till it becomes stiff and almost dry. The spoon should be kept wet that is used to spread the linseed on to the linen or cotton-wool. The cover of a poultice should be larg. enough to allow the edges to be turned up over the linseed. The poultice should be put next the skin with nothing between it and the linseed. If it is well made not a grain of the linseed will stick to the skin. If a poultice is covered over with oil-skin and flannel it will retain its heat and moisture much longer. POCKETS are to be seen in some of the dainty little late autumn costumes. There are two in the jacket of a plain little blue cloth, very dark, the skirt madfc- plain, no stitching, and no flounce around the lower edge, which still has something of a flare. The blouse in which the pockets appear is very much like those which have been worn, a short blouse straight in the back and blousing in front, and finished at the waist by a shaped bolt of the material. There are two trim little pockets set up on either side of the front, each finished with a little metal-rimmed cloth button. There is a velvet turndown collar and revers of stitched silk, and there is a neat little suit. FASHION prophets say that feathers are to be worn more than ever the coming season, especially the long, handsome ostrich plumes. SILK-FASHIONED mohair has formed a very favourite material for travelling costumes; and for the fall, in black, blue, grey, and brown, will be brought out a very handsome mercerised mohair Sicilienne of such lustrous quality as to surpass brilliantine and very closely resemble some of the finest silks. GUIPURE and Arabian laces and mock jewels will be employed extensively for trimming this winter. Embroidery on the fabric has returned, and a charming effort is produced by an artistic arrangement of leaves and blossoms. LACE threaded with black velvet ribbon-this fashion has not m the least abated. It cannot be said to be more fashionable than ever, because long ago the force of this popular and very effec- tive and becoming mode could no further go. A VERY smart costume just brought out and de- scribed in the Sun has a double-breasted tight- fitting coat with an open-fronted rounded basque reaching to the knees, and furnished with a triple cape collar, with the edges unfinished and a high Directoire collar of velvet, and fastened with velvet bottons, this last being another feature of the season. TUCKED tussore silk in the form of vest and sleeve puffs is sometimes very effectively blended with beaver cloth and finished with gold cord and buttons. Ivory moire silk is still being utilised for eoat coltars and revers on costumes of zibeline cloth, and one of the new brown cloth gowns was ornamented on the skirt with motifs of coarse string-coloured lace, and on the bodice with a roll of beaver fur, the full vest and under sleeves being of ivory silk, while a very dainty toilette was shown in beige cloth trimmed with coral sprays in tinted velour, the square collar, revers, and waistband being all composed of ivory cloth strapped with brown velvet, and the vest of beige-coloured drawn taffeta. VERY few plain sleeves are seen, the majority being either bell shaped and a good deal trimmed or bishop shaped, ending in a wide wristband, and buttons of many kinds, but particularly velvet, oxidised silver, and enamel appear on coats and bodices. MODELS of dainty lingerie displayed in shop windows indicate very correctly (remarks the Daily Express) a fact which woman of fashion at least are appreciating, namely, that underwear is fast developing into a most expensive department of the wardrobe. The beauty and real exquisite- ness of the filmy negliges, petticoats, under- bodices, and all the unseen accessories to woman's toilette are each year and each season becoming more of an item to the one who pays the bills. As to colour, red and dark blue are the shades the winter's fashion seems about to decree as most fetching. EARRINGS are undoubtedly entering on a new era of popularity. Shopkeepers say they are sel- ling a tremendous number. It is even argued by some enthusiasts that the wearing of earrings is a healthy practice, relieving chronic headache. "Do English cooks understand to any extent whatever the art of seasoning ?" is a question under discussion by a certain set of housewives who are making a study of the cooking question. CANOPIED draperies over windows are being in- troduced into many homes for the winter months. They are very attractive when hung on light frames, with curtains to drape the window about a foot and a half in depth. THE spider web" game, long popular with children, has been of late put to use by an enter- prising hostess for grown people. Sober men and women followed a string hither and thither over the house, upstairs and down, creating much gaiety in the tangling up of strings and people. At the end of each string was found a souvenir.