[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] THE MISSING MILLIONAIRE; OR, Who Killed Rose Hammond ?|1903-12-19|County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] THE…

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[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] THE MISSING MILLIONAIRE; OR, Who Killed Rose Hammond ? BY M. O. ROWSELL. CHAPTER XXV. PANYER LANE AGAIN. MIGSON'S WHARF contained rich store before September waned into chill October. The "Albatross" had sailed into port in all her resuscitated beauty. Her captain, a man of brains ashore as on sea, had made good use of his enforced leisure along the Gold Coast. Among other strokes of business he had speculated in a share of a gold-dust venture, and the gold had proved magnifi- cent. While thus feathering his own nest, the captain did not forget the interests of the Panyer Lane firm, and he arrived in London with his head full of the sale and barter and commercial transactions which he had to propose to the two partners. His honest, bronzed faced clouded over with disappointment when he learned that neither the one nor the other of them was in town. The head clerk in Panyer Lane told him that Mr. Cleeves was away down at De Vere Court, and, in fact, now came rarely to the office. He did not speak in very regret- ful tones. Panyer Lane seemed as if it; could spare the senior partner's presence without a tear shed, for Cleeves's fascinations were reserved for other scenes than the clerks' office, and there were times when only the necessity of daily bread induced them to put up with his morose humours and haughty insolence respect for Temple, great as it might be, hardly counterbalancing their dis- satisfaction. Mr. Temple had met with a bad accident a fortnight since, and had been at death's door, and the bulletins from St. Wolfram's were still far from cheering. Yes the accident had occurred at St. Wolf- ram's, not far from the Vicarage. He had been set upon by ruffians, who had almost lone him to death, and left him, stunned and bleeding from several wounds, in a ditch. The worst had gone dangerously near the temple, and brain-fever had supervened. No the miscreants had got off. Not a very difficult matter in that lonely spot, within so short a distance from the sea as it was. Nothing was easier than to sneak off in a boat, and dart away into concealment among the thickets patched along the lonely inlets af the neighbourhood. It might have been the work of poachers—that seemed the only explanation for Mr. Temple was a man who never made enemies—though, of course, ifc. did not follow that he had none. It was the more regrettable, as business had of late been looking up a bit; and the "AII)atross"-oh, yes, it was Mr. Temple himself who had informed them of her safety, the night before his accident. Of course, Mr. Cleeves was aware of the plea- sant circumstance, but Mr. Cleeves had said he had important private affairs engrossing his time, and if the "Albatross" business demanded his immediate attention, it was presumable that he, the head clerk who spoke, had enough brains to give the attention; and this presumption being well warranted, the affairs of the richly-ladened ship were ex cellently well looked after. Besides the head Klerk's share in the direction of the matter, it was wonderful what intelligence Blinker displayed in his branch of the work of un- loadillg the cargo. The man's honesty was unimpeachable, and both Cleeves and Temple were accustomed to leave him in charge of the wharf with a confidence that sometimes astonished those who were less thoroughly acquainted with his idiosyncrasies. His bodily strength seemed to have profited by his curious mental vacancy. His taciturnity was only a superadded qualification for his post. Blinker was not to be pumped of the affairs of Migson's, much less bribed, though he dearly loved money. The chink of a silver sixpence delighted "Softy's" ear as greatly as the crackle of a bank-note has been known to charm the most brilliant intellects. The worst of Blinker was the ineradicable hatred, amounting to malice, which he bore to anyone who had the ill- luck to offend him. He was as implacable as an elephant, and since his tongue so rarely stirred, it was not always possible to know his real estimate of those about him. Among the treasures which the captain had brought home were some diamonds, for which he had made a barter in kind, satis- factory to the native seller of the gems but the test of their market value in Europe was yet to be made. A morning or so after his arrival, Captain Smith, took the little case containing the stones from his pocket, and began to examine them-while he was waiting to see a man by appointment—in the little office at the wharf apportioned to Temple. Blinker, who was pottering about outside among the new wares, and occasionally came to the office door for instructions where to stow them, displayed a supreme indifference at the sight of the stones, though his eye had just before gleamed joyously enough when the capt ain tendered him a shilling for some smal I personal service the man had performed for him. Suddenlyaloud shout from below attracted Smith's attention, as if some accident to the ever-working crane had occurred, and he rushed out in such haste to ascertain what was the matter, that he left his treasure on the desk, signing hurriedly to Blinker to stay where he was, in charge. The mishap below was more awkward than disastrous. A bale of some rich gold embroideries had burst its ligaments after being attached to the crane, and the precious material had tumbled incontinently into the mud, whither the tide was rapidly rising. The work of carefully getting the stuff together without permanent injury occupied all hands for the next quarter of an hour, and Captain Smith lent his assistance, for- getful for the moment of all else. The re- membrance, however, of his diamonds soon flashed upon him, and he hurried to relieve Blinker of his responsibilities. There were six diamonds in all, and five of them lay on the little scrap of dark green velvet in which they were kept. The sixth was in Blinker's hands, and he was examin- ing it with careful scrutiny by the light of the office window, through which the midday sunlight streamed brilliantly. So absorbed was he in his occupation that only when Smith entered the office, aftei pausing for a moment in the doorway, did he become .aware of his return. Then he laid the stone beside its companions with a grunt of approval, using his left hand, the fingers of his other hand being engaged in pressing upon the defective feature as if it were pain- ing him. "You've got something theer, cap'n," he said, with a smile whose shrewdness stag- gered the captain. "Think so?" said Smith, drily. As pretty a little bit of glarss as ever the Arcade's got ter show," said Blinker, passing out into the warehouse, as he continued the conversation. Yes; it's an eye-opener, I'm inclined to think," said the captain, still more drily. "What d'yer say?" challenged Blinker, returning, and looking the captain full in the face with his eye, and both arms heaped up With small packages. "A fine stone." Foin enough for you to be wrappin' of 'em up afore you leave 'em that way again." You know a good thing when you see it," said the captain. "For why, not bein' seen every day," sententiously said Blinker, "it needs vally- ing when you do spot it." I shouldn't have guessed you to be such a Dbilosopher," smiled the captain. Blinker only answered by nitcfimg up IllS braces, and shambling away to the open trap-door to help swing the crane, and for the rest of the day, he was silent according to his wont, especially after one of his lapses into loquacity. In the course of the afternoon Mr. John- stone looked in at Panyer Lane. He had been away in the north, but having read some account in the papers of the murderous attack on Temple, he called to ascertain if the reported details were correct, adding that lie thought of going to St. Wolfram's to see if he could be of any service, since he knew the interest that his friend Elmore took in the young man. Moreover, the moii I h which Temple was to take for con- sidet i-tion of Elmore's proposition was near- ing iis end. Johnstone, however, said that he was also aware of the return of the missing ship; that in itself would probably influence Temple's decision. Meanwhile, that, the victim of the outrage would have any future to decide upon as far as this world was concerned, seemed very doubtful, and Mr. J ohnstone departed with a heavy be,.i,i-I. for St. Wolfram's. As he crossed the park with the intention of calling first at the Grange, he met Cleeves. It was past seven o'clock, and nearly dark, and Johnstone, who had not been very favourably impressed with him on the occasion of meeting him at Mr. Belton's, had more than half a mind to avoid passing him by turning off along a side-path. lie changed his mind, however, and raising his hat as they came up wiLh each other, bade him good-evening, adding that maybe Cleeves had been to St. Wolf- ram's. Cleeves, whose countenance by the dim light looked ominously sullen, replied that he had been at the Vicarage to make a business call on Mr. Carteret. "Thenye'll have heard the latest of Mr. Temple ?" said Johnstone. Cleeves smiled superciliously, and shrugged his shoulders. "One hears so much of Mr. Temple," lie said, that I confess I did not make very close inquiry. These injuries always have to take their course. As far as I can under- stand, he has himself to blame for them. He knows that the neighbourhood has a bad reputation after dark. Poachers, and even smugglers, are not stamped out yet. What on earth took him that way, I cannot con- ceive. The vicar tells me that Mr. Elmore is using that old, half-ruined place down by the shore, to store some of his goods in." "And in that, case ? said Johnstone. In that case lie may have requested Temple to see after them, since he himself dares not show his face- "Dare!" blazed Johnstone. "What are you saying? You'll never lend yourself to the belief that Elmore is guilty of that foul crime—that accusation some villain has invented for his own ends ?" "Then why doesn't he come forward and clear himself? said Cleeves, with a mocking laugh. Perhaps the innate caution of Mr. John- stone from beyond the Tweed silenced the indignant words which rushed to his lips. 61 Really, my dear sir," went on Cleeves., if you as his friend have the slightest notion of where he is concealing himself, you would do him a good turn by giving a bint to the detective department in Scotland Yard. The longer Elmore persists in keeping out of the way, of course the blacker it looks against him and he must be run down at last-it is inevitable." "You think so ? "I am convinced of it; the police are so hot upon it. They are so positive, you see, that he is their man. I have it from Detec- tive Jackson's own lips." You have been in communication with him ? They—er—it appears that they spotted a certain little dinner Elmore gave at the Métropole on the night of the murder, and as one of his guests on the occasion they sought me out." "It is to be presumed that they know of the motive for the crime," sarcastically- said Johnstone. "They have evidence that I Elmore was acquainted with the girl?" lie added, as Cleeves lifted his head question- ingiy. That he knew that there was such a person as Rose Hammond ? "She was a St. Wolfram's woman," said Cleeves, and Elmore beilig 1, Oi that ilk. Varra conclusive, nae doubt," SM>i!Johnstone. "The poor girl appeal's to have borne a good character in 8t.. Vin- cent Street, but married tio-" "Seemingly," shrugged Cleeves. "But you know it is not difficult to wear wedding-ring. It does not help you much." It should help_far enough, I'm thinking, to prompt inquiries after Mr. Hammond," said Johnstone. Cleeves laughed. "Mr. Hammond appears to have been an unknown quantity in St. Vincent Street." "Mr. Hammond may own an alias. Mr. Hcimrnond, the husband of the murdered woman, may have wearied of his wife. The world does not want for dirty actions, Mr. l/ieeves." Aiul Johnstone passed on, leaving Cleeves standing on the edge of the path, looking ^r'en<^ James Elmore. What does that sententious meddler want down here?" he muttered to himself, as he pursued his way, lashing with the light cane he carried the wayside grass and ferns. Cleeves had been to the old Chantry, leaving De Vere Court by a circuitous route, he had made his way to the old Cliatti,t-y, where lie was admitted by the guardian of the ancient pest-house. The day had been lowering, and as evening set in a heavy sea- mist enveloped the level land for some j distance in. The one point visible to Cleeves as the man opened the door was his vigilant eye. It seemed to gleam with preternatural clearness and intelligence, but its promise was disappointing. Never had Blinker been more tactiturn. "Anything fresh ?" inquired Cleeves, as he halted inside the courtyard, while Blinker locked the door, and restored the inner bolts to their places. The man made no reply beyond a slight shake of the head, as he stood with about the animation of a well-made scarecrow near the foot of the winding staircase and pre- pared to follow. "Keep where you are," commanded Cleeves. I can go alone." The man obeyed for the length of time that Cleeves was visible, which was some distance up on account of the broken condi- tion of the masonry. Then he shambled round to a remote angle of the building, the base of whose wall was densely bramble and weed grown. Pushing some of this aside with his foot, he knelt down and removed several loose stones close to the ground. The gap thus disclosed, showed a more capacious hollow within, and wriggling into the gap on all-foi'-s, Blinker, after turning to replace the brambles, was lost to sight. Having overcome the perils of his ascent, Cleeves reached the door of the room in which his prisoner sat, gazing apathetically into the illmy atmosphere illumined by the hanging lamp. She looked more like a dream woman than a creature of actual life, her face colourless as the folds of the white cling- ing, wrapper-like gown she wore. The removals from the Grange had included an oak chest filled with garments of old- world pattern-sacques and mantles and petticoats of rich brocades and old time- yellowed lace. Whether this had been by chance or intention, it had served a good purpose, for the woman had beguiled the awful tedium of captivity in fashioning these habiliments into wearable attire. Some of them needed but slight alterations, and the white, warm-lined paduasoy wrapper was a welcome change in that damp place from the thin summer gown she had worn on the fatal occasion of her visit to the wharf. It seemed to Cleeves that never had Norna looked more beautiful than at that, moment seated in the great old carved chair, Lhe light of the lamp restirJg upon her beautiful hair, careles.sTy tied hack from the broad brow, and touching the fathomless depths of her eyes, veiled by the long laslies-eyes weary and tear-worn, I but touched with the beauty of some hope that despair and suffering might not crush. I CHAPTER XXVI. I IN DURANCE. "MR. CLEEVES The slight rustle of the old arras curtains concealing the door roused Norna from her listless attitude. Like some fever-stricken victim on whom the fell grip of disease has relaxed to seize again more cruelly—like the ray of light shining in the storm to perish next instant in the clouds, Noma's misery had been tenfold increased by that moment of hope which had come to her. The lorture of doubt Jest after all the man in the boat had not been Horace appalled her. The dis- tance, the glamour of moonlight, the hurry of the moment, her own eagerness fathering the belief that it was her husband came back upon her mind with the chill of ice-cold waves—for it had not been Temple, then it was an enemy, since any disinterested person would scarcely have passed the matter over. Common-sense and humanity would have prompted measures for her rescue. Yet she had been so convinced that it was Horace— the boat had been so near, the light so bril- liantly clear upon his features; but the days bad passed—how many she had not kept count; they might have been weeks, years, centuries, for the weary hopelessness of them. How many a time she had longed for death to hush away thought in utter forget- fulness-if, indeed, death is a forgetfulness. At least, death would have shielded her from persecution, from this hideous mesh of mys- tery entangling her. Only the exercise of the strong, pure belief she held in the supre- macy of good over evil, of truth over lies, in the unchanging, unchangeable trust in mutual love, bound her to this life. Even as she sat listening to the swell of the water seething sullenly in the mist round the walls, the yearning to fling herself upon the mercy of wind and waves—to make a last, effort for this life or sink into peace- held her in thrall so deeply that she had not heard the stealthy pushing of the bolls, and only when the arras stirred she lifted her eyes with the listlessness that had grown habitual, thinking it might be Nance re- turning from her little turret-chamber, whither she had gone, or Blinker, who always put in an appearance about that hour of the evening, coming as he went, mute as a statute, and deep to boot, judging from the absolute imperviousness of his face. "Mr. Cleeves and she rose with a shrink- ing terror in her eyes, mingled with defiance, that conjured a slnile to his-thin, mocking lips but he did not speak, as he let the arras drop behind him and advanced a few paces into the room. "I fear I startled you," he said, in tones that fell soft and musical as dropping water, and fraught with a respectful sympathy that quickened her attention. "Believe me, Mrs. Temple-" She started, and he passed his delicate, long fingers over his lips, sweeping the gentle smile away into a melancholy gravity. "Yes," he went on, "Mrs. Temple, the whirligig of time brings round curious revolutions. My worthy partner was per- haps wise in his secret methods of securing so great a prize as Miss Norna Hatherleigh, since the knowledge how many sought to compete in the race for such wealth—that is, to wear the colours of such a charming lady as-" He paused and took a catching breath, which might have meant an effort to subdue agitation, and his melancholy com- posure regained its way. "All the same, these clandestine marriages rarely make for happiness," he added- Is that your experience, Mr. Cleeves?" said Norna, coldly. He started, and one of his oblique glances shot from beneath his lowered eyelids. "You are crllel," he replied, "as women love to be, as a cat is with a, mouse-" "Or a human monster with a trapped creature," she interrupted, quickly. Once more he winched visibly under her cold, keen glance. If I made a secret marriage," went on Norna, "I am not aware that, I had not the right to do as-" You pleased," laughed Cleeves. "As I judged best." "Setting Mr. Elmore's consent not at a, pin's value." A strange, mirthless laugh broke from Norn a. Poor Uncle James was not worthy to be consulted," said Cleeves, writhing. consulted," said Cleeves, writhing. "That is how I regarded it," said Norna. "My uncle has no legal claim upon me "Butthe tie of blood." She shivered. I do not know by what, right you are here to-to remind me of it," she said, haughtily. ( To be continued).

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f A PEER FALLS DEAD. I Lord Abinger fell suddenly at a Paris restaurant last week-end, and was found to be in a serious condition. He was taken to a hospital, where he expired shortly afterwards. Lord Abinger had been staying for two days at an hotel in the Avenue des Champs Elysees. The doctors state that he succumbed to embolism of the heart. The Commissioner of Police of the quarter of St. George's, Paris, has furnished the following details regarding the death of his lordship — "Last night a young man of 30, Lord Abinger, staying at a hotel in the Avenue des Champs < Elysees, was having supper with a friend in a restaurant in the Rue Pigalle. Feeling suddenly j unwell he attempted to go out, but was seized with vertigo and fell on the staircase. He was CQnveyed to the hospital, but died on the way. I His body was then taken to the station in the Rue St. George's. Medical examination showed ¡ that death was due to natural causes, and. was I brought about by congestion. The British Embassy has been informed of the affair. After a consultation the Embassy requested that the body should be taken, to the mortuary at the Montmartre Cemetery." James Yorke Macgregor Scarlett, Baron Abinger, was the fourth holder of the title, and was only 32. His mother was a daughter of Commodore Magruder, of the United States Navy, and a niece of Major-General J. B. I Magruder, late Commander of the Confederate I Forces in Texas. Lord Abinger was once captain in the 3rd Battalion Cameron High- landers, and served with the Imperial Yeomanry in the late war. He was a, Deputy-Lieutenant » and a J.P. of Inverness-shire. The first peer, | Sir James Scarlett, w7as the distinguished lawyer | who filled the office of Chief Baron of the I Exchequer. j The deceased baron was unmarried, and will j be succeeded in the title by Mr. Shelley Leopold j Lawrence, son of Lieutenant-Colonel James Yorke Campbell Scarlett, grandson of the first j baron. He was born in-1872.

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I FUN AND FANCY. j

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I FUN AND FANCY. The men say the greatest fun in getting married is the wedding trip. Women say it it getting the presents. Father: "Mary, 11 o'clock is altogether too late for that young man to stay he ought to start for home at 10." Daughter: "But he does, papa." "Confound the railways exclaimed Subbuba. as he entered the office an hour late, and took off his coat. "Train kite again, I suppose?" asked Townley. "Not at all. For the first time in six months the measly thing was in time, and, of course, I missed it." A woman gets as furious with the woman who don't admire her husband as she gets jealous of the one who does. "We women will have the last word, you know." Saying which, Miss Nippy picked up a new novel and opened it at the concluding chapter. Customer: "I see you advertise bicycles from one penny to one hundred pounds." Dealer: "Yes, sir." "What kind of bicycles do you sell for a penny?" "Sweetstuff ones." Some babies not only believe in early rising, but insist on everyone in hearing acting on the same principle. Judge: "The jury have found you guilty of bigamy. Have you anything to say before I pass sentence upon you?" Prisoner: "Well, judge, I'll leave it to you if havin' two wives ain't punishment enough." I HELPFUL NATURE. The cyclone zipped across his fields And cleaned the ground in manner neat; 'Twas followed by a thunder storm Whien shocked the ripened corn and wheat. Timms: "I hope you'll join us in a little anniversary celebration to-morrow at our home?" Binns: rt Delighted to do. so. Wedding anni- versary or birthday?" Timms: "No. The cook's been with us just a year. You cannot be of a sonny disposition if you have nothing else but daughters. The day before a man gets married is several hours longer than the day before the rent is to be paid. The look of worry and anxiety on an average married woman's face should convince the girls that men in general are not worth the exertion necessary to capture them. Mrs. Crimsonbeak: "What does it mean, John, when the man throws the bat down and retires to the bench?" Mr. Crimsonbeak: "Why, it means the same as when a woman leaves the room and slams the door after her." First Spinster: "What do you think the coming man will be like?" Second Spinster (wearily) "Oh, I don't know. I don't believe he's coming. I have given up looking for him." It was well-known in staggeringly high society that the beautiful Lady Violet had never been kissed before and as, after a long, languorous embrace, the athletic young Earl of Mountararat released his hold, she gazed upon his lovelorn eyes, and asked: "And do the poor indulge in tiiis way, cheri?" "Quite frequently, little one," the young earl replied. "Well, well, well! And do they experience the same sensations as we do, dear?" "Absolutely." "Dear, dear, dear Why, it's much too good for the working- classes." They had been talking as they walked. She bad remarked, pathetically: "Oh, it must be terrible to a man to be rejected by a woman "Indeed it must/' was his response. Then, after a little while, with sympathetic disingenuous- ness, she exclaimed: "it doesn't seem that I could ever have the heart to do it." And there came a silence between them as he thought it over. Old Lady: "Just my luck!" Caller: "What's wrong?" Old Lady: "I've just heard of six sure cures for rheumatism, and not one of our family has got it." Little Teddy was being taken home by his aunt, to view the baby sister that had arrived the day before. On the way they met a lady friend of his aunt's. "Well, my little man," said the lady, "have you any brothers or sisters? "Yes," said Teddy, "I'se dot two bruvvers and one sister." "And how old is your sister?'" asked the lady. "She's noffink yet, replied Teddy, but I'm two years old." Our landlady was evidently trying to prepare us for a good long fast, and every day the dinner got a little smaller. And at last one Sunday the climax arrived. She had provided a duck for dinner, which was hardly large enough to satisfy one man, let alone sixteen. We looked at it dis- dainfully, and our sarcastic member said "Humph I wonder you didn't serve that duck with its feathers as well; it would be a bit bigger then." "The next time, Mr. Brown," she re- plied, "I'll serve it with the bill as well. That will make it a lot bigger." Silence followed, and we all felt that the boarding-house, landlady had scored yet once again. First Passenger (irritably): "Where are, your eyes?" Celtic Passenger (pleasantly): "In me head." First Passenger (warming up): "Well, can't you see my feetf Celtic Passenger (more pleasantly) "No, ye have shoes on." Jimpson: "That woman ran right into my arms." Minson: "Well, what did you do? Did you apologise!" "No, I embraced the opportunity." "Miss Tennis," said Mr. Spudds, tenderly, "let me tell you the old, old story." "I'd rather hear something new and true," replied the up-to- date young lady. "I'm glad to know," remarked Miss Cayenne, "that Mr. and Mrs. Jinkles are living far more happily than they were formerly." Indeed?" "Yes. I am informed that they haven't spoken to each other for weeks." Miss Kilduff: "How did Blanche manage to get a husband?" Miss Kittish: "She utilised a matrimonial agency. "She surely didn't What matrimonial agency did she utilise?" "A hammock." A large crowd had collected outside the gates of Buckingham Palace, and were waiting to see the Queen. All at once a Post Office van passed. "Well," remarked a gentleman who had been standing for a very long time, "we've seen the Royal Mail, even if we haven't seen the Royal Female!" A gentleman who was going bald in the centre of his head was taking his usual afternoon nap on a couch, behind which was standing a little girl about six years old. The little girl was looking inquisitively at the reclining head, and could not make, out what, the bald patch was. She gazed at it for a short time, and at last touched it with her finger, but even then it seemed to her mysterious. "Father," she exclaimed, after further examination, "whatever are you doing with a bit of your face on your head? He: "Will you marry me?" She: "No." He "Whom are you going to marry? She "I shall marry whom I please." He: "Well, you please me Wife (at 1 a.m.) "Wake up, John a burglar is trying to get in." John (grasping revolver) "Ah wait till he opens the window, and then I will shoot." Wife: "Why not shoot now?" John "What, and break a pane of glass "Pa, won't you buy me a watch?" "What for, my boy?" "I want to swap it to Billy Wiggins for one of his pups." 11 Mr. Ruskin once lent a volume of Plato to one of his neighbouring farmers, and when the book was returned asked: "Well, how did you like Plato?" "First-rate," said the farmer: "I see he's got some of my ideas." "Daddy," said a boy to his father, "I've got a pencil which will write green, purple, crim- son, or any colour you like." "Not the same pencil, my son." "You daren't bet me six- pence it won't, daddy." "I'll give you sixpence if it will," said the old man. The youngster dived into his pocket, produced the stump of a common lead-pencil, and wrote on a piece of paper the words-" magenta, green, crimson, purple," etc. "There, daddy, say it won't write any colour you like now. Fork over that six- pence."

WOMAN'S WORLD J

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WOMAN'S WORLD J FOR EVERY DAY WEAR Tweed or cloth gowns for every- day wear are short and altogether comfortable. I saw (says "Vera," in The Echo") a particularly pretty effect in this style only the other day—the wearer was a very pretty woman, by-the-bye, and that does make a difference to a gown, doesn't it ? This dress, then, was in biscuit-coloured doth, both the skirt and basqued coat being slashed, and then united with thick brown chenille cords. The coat had a cape to it of quite the 1830 order, and this, too, carried a trimming of the brown cord, simulating a "laced up" effect. Stole and muff were of dark sable, and the hat was large and made completely of brown chenille, with a veil of the same colour. The short skirt exhibited just a suspicion of brown silk flounces underneath, as it swung in walking, and hrown boots carried out the scheme to the bitter end." NERVOUS HEADACHE. When a nervous headache and an imperative engagement occur on the same date, as they often do, When a nervous headache and an imperative engagement occur on the same date, as they often do, try this treatment. Take a hot bath liberally tinctured with toilet vinegar. Put on a dressing-gown, lie in a shaded room, and, if possible, go to sleep for half an hour. On awaken- ing rub the back of the neck gently with any toilet water, and rub the muscles of. the face also. Drink a cup of hot bouillon, milk, or cocoa. Rest a little longer. If this treatment fails to put you in trim for the engagement there is no help for you, and you must either break it or keep it at the peril of your health. TRYINCI WBATHER. Cold weather has many draw- I backs, and one of them is that woman does not look her best. Exhilarating, it may be, says "Madame," but undoubtedly trying. To begin with, only a comparative few can indulge in the sumptuous fur garments that mitigate the hard- ships of a cold day, and most of us are perforce content to shiver through the winter with the addition of a fur muff and collarette added to an ordinary costume. No wonder then that we looked pinched and miserable, huddled up in every available wrap till we are like walking bundles of cloth. For it never seems to be accepted that England is a very cold place, and that we might well emulate a Russian or Green- land costume to attain any real comfort. A WOMAN WHO WORRIED. I- A doctor finds it difficult somet times to secure for the patien- the quiet necessary for his re- covery. One doctor, however, was equal to the emergency. The fussy, worrying wife of a man who was ill came up to him a,s he was leaving the house, asking: "Oh doctor, how is he ? How is he to-day ?" Above everything, he must positively have quiet, so I have written out a prescription here for a couple of opium powders," replied the doctor. When shall he take them ? When shall I give them to him ?" Him ?" said the doctor. I've prescribed them for you." FLUFFING THE HAIR. A good substitute for the curling- iron lies in flufar.g or artificially thickening the hair with the comb. Take a section of hair, i and, while grasping it firmly in the left hand and holding it straight out from the head, brush the short hair lightly back towards the roots with the comb. Do this on both sides of the strand you hold, and close to the head. When the hair has thickened up into a curly mass, go on to the next strand. When you have thickened all around your head, proceed with your hair as usual. You will find that, while shorter than before, it is fluffy and light, and will form a natural pompadour. J COMFORT FOR INVALIDS. A point to be observed in the invalid's room is: Never put a patient in a direct line of. draught, that is, between the I open window or door and the fireplace. A sick, I room must be thoroughly well ventilated without ¡ draught. A hospital nurse once gave me the fol- lowing excellent little wrinkle concerning ventila- J tion. The simplest plan, she said, is to have a lath ventilator: This lath, about six inches wide and the length of the window, should be slipped just inside the window sash at the bottom. First, open the window from the lower part, then fit in the lath and shut down the window on to it. In this way you get ventilation by raising up the lower sash; the air comes in at the division and goes upwards towards the ceiling. This lath ventilator is only applicable with the sash windows. If you have no lath, open the windows at the top and draw down the Venetian blind a little way. A sick person, however ill, cannot do without ventila- tion. In dusty weather cover the window-opening with a piece of muslin to which the dust wilt cling; in foggy weather use a piece of flannel for the purpose of keeping out impurities. THE WISE WIFE. A wise young wife knows that | home is more than half what you j make it, and that a builder of a happy home is a success indeed. She knows that it takes two to prolong a family quarrel; one can, therefore, terminate it. She I knows that filling a house with bargains is what r, I keeps a couple from owning the house in which I they place them. She knows that if we thought ail we said we'd be wise, but if we said all we thought we'd be foolish. She knows that some people sneer I at love in a cottage, but love that could wish to live anywhere else is not love. She knows that ¡' proud people seldom have friends. In prosperity they know nobody; in adversity no one knows them. She knows that to make long-lived friend- ships one must be slow in making them. She knows that the woman who gains a trifle meanly is meaner than the trifle. She knows that it is less pain to learn in youth than to be ignorant in old age." She knows that if she cannot throw brightness over her home it is best not to throw a wet blanket over it. She knows that the wife who thinks she is perfect is generally the most im- perfect. FASHION'S I JEWELS. "More coronets and tiaras will I be seen during the coming season I than ever beforesaid an autho- I rity on the subject of fashion's j jewels, and the miniature King's crown set on top of the head, either perfectly straight or tilted a little to one side, will be much worn. In Paris they are making crowns of this style entirely of jet, and the coiffure upon which it is worn is a tiny knot drawn up through the open part of the crown. The ornament for the hair has two clusters of diamond flowers to be worn one at either side of the high coiffure, and these are caught together withtwosmall chains of diamonds, which fall across the back of the head. Some of these novel head- pieces represent stars or sunbursts linked by the same delicate chain of sparkling gems. A quaint revival is the stomacher in flower design, each petal solidly encrusted with tiny pearls. The designs are exactly like those of the smaller onsa- ments worn by our ancestors. Another revival is the grandmother's gold beads, which to-day take I the form of golden spheres to be worn round the I throat. From Switzerland come beautiful mufi- chains made of the mountain stones in purple, brown, rich' green, black, red, blue, or cream, to match the dress. No chain is used to separate the long, narrow bits of stone; they are fastened quite close together. Coral is coming in again, and long chains of this stone are very adaptable. Some of the handsomest corsage ornaments and collars are made of corals and diamonds. Another of fashion's fads is thumb-rings, so, too, is the wearing of mis- matched pearl earrings, say, black in one ear and white or pink in the other. There is one thing," ] said the jewel artist, that women should be care- ful to observe, and that is the combination of jewels. It is never in good taste to wear any gem with one of another colour unless it be a diamond. This is the first rule of jewel etiquette." I .1

[No title]

HOME HINTS.

Newyddion

Dyfynnu

Rhannu

HOME HINTS. For cleaning paint generally, cold tea is excellent but for white paint milk is still better. To keep cut flowers fresh, add a small piece of charcoal to the water in which they are placed. If salad dressing curdles when being mixed, add a little cold water, stir quickly, and it will become quite smooth. Marble may be easily cleaned with a cloth dipped in turpentine, and then polish with a clean and perfectly dry cloth. When washing knives, never let their handles go into water, as it discolours the ivory and also loosens the blades. Orange peel thrown into hard water will not only soften it, but will also make it most fragrant and refreshing for the toilet. If a chimney catches fire, throw a handful of sulpber into the grate. As the sulphurous fumes ascend, the fire in the chimney will die out. To make oilcloth wear well spread sawdust evenly over the floor before laying it down. This plan will also deaden the sound of footsteps. Before attempting to turn out a jelly, place the mould for a few seconds in hot water. You will then be to turn out the jelly without the fear of breukiii- it. To remove grcuse spots cover them with clean brown paper, or, better still, blotting paper, and press with a hot iron. Shift the paper several times as it absorbs the grease. An excellent furniture cream is made thus: Finely shred one ounce of ordinary beeswax, half an ounce of Castile soap. Mix gradually with half a pint of turpentine and half a pint of boiling rain- water. Lavatory pipes may be cleansed of soap and slime by placing a good handful of common salt in the bottom of the basin overnight. The salt will gradually melt, and the first flush of water in the morning will clear the pipe. To SET THE COLOUR IN WASHING DRESSES. —Almost any colour may be set by soaking the material before washing in water containing ox- gall. A teaspoonful of ox-gall to a gallon of water will be right. Vinegar in the rinsing water of pink and green materials will brighten the colours; soda answers the same purpose for violet and lilac. To make red wash for -bricks, put an ounce of glue into three quarts of water, and gently heat till the glue is dissolved. Then add an ounce of alum. Mix together half a pound of Venetian red and half an ounce of Spanish brown. Gradually pour the liquid on to the powder, stirring care- fully to make it perfectly smooth. Thoroughly clean the bricks and then apply the wash to them with a large, flat brush. The colour may be varied to taste by altering the proportions of red and brown. To preserve natural flowers by the wax solution process, dip the flowers in melted paraffin, with- drawing them quickly. The liquid should only be just hot enough to maintain its fluidity, and the flowers should be dippe lone at a time, held by the stalks, and moved about for an instant to get ride of air bubbles. Fresh cut flowers, free from moisture, n)Rke excellent specimens in this way. INFLUENZA.—This modern plague is again busy among us, but in a new guise, so that people often think that there is nothing more the matter with them than swollen glands. Unless the patient be wary and take care of those glands by remaining warm in bed, he is likely soon to be fighting and struggling for breath in a bad attack of pneumonia, for under its present form influenza is quite as dangerous as ever. At the first sign of influenza the patient should go to bed, and there stay until every sign of it has departed. The diet should be milk, beef-tea, milk puddings, and tea and toasted bread, no stimulants being given except by the doctor's orders. TIME TABLE FOR BOILING.—Potatoes, half an hour, unless small, when rather less. Peas and asparagus, 20 to 25 minutes. Cabbage and cauli- flower, 25 minutes to half an hour. String beans, if slit or sliced slantwise and thin, 25 minutes. Lima beans, if very young, half an hour; old, 40 to 50 minutes. Carrots and turnips, 45 minutes when young one hour in winter. Beetroots, one hour in summer, an hour and a half to two hours in winter. Onions, medium size, one hour. ITALIAN Soup.-Make some good gravy or skim soup, flavoured with plenty of vegetables and seasonings, including pepper and salt. Make • paste as follows: Take about three-quarters of a pint of flour, a little salt, and about a pennyworth of dried saffron. Have all thoroughly mixed, break an egg into the centre of the flour, mix it with a paste, and divide into four parts. Roll each piece of paste out very thin and about the same size. Place one on top of the other, and cut into shreds from the end. These shreds may be very thick or thin according to taste. When the stock has been boiling for five minutes scatter the paste lightly into it, and cook for a few minutes longer. BAKED COD. Procure a good piece of the middle cut of the cod and divide it into steaks three-quarters of an inch thick. Mix together two tablespoonfuls of salad oil, a pinch of cayenne pepper, a teaspoonful each of chopped parsley, chopped gherkin and shallot. Skin and bone an anchovy, pound it finely, and add to the mixture with a squeeze of lemon juice. When these ingredients are thoroughly blended, rub them over both sides of each piece of cod. Wrap the fish in buttered paper, and bake for three-quarters of an hour, serve in the papers, and garnish nicely with sprigs of parsley.—"London Journal." APRICOT CAKE.—Rub 4oz. of butter into pb. of flour, and add 4oz. of caster sugar, half-teaspoon- ful of ground cinnamon, and the same of bakmg soda; mix with one egg and as much milk as will make a stiff batter; roll out and cut into two rounds. Open a tin of preserved apricots, put a layer in the centre of one of them put on the cover and bake for half an hour. When no apricots are at hand apples may be used. COFFEE CUSTARDS.T-oa pint of strong clear coffee, add two sheets of gelatine, and sweeten to taste; let it cool, and half fill as many custard cups as there is coffee for; make a custard with three eggs and three cupfuls of milk or cream, and flavour it with bay leaf or ratafia; when the coffee has quite set, fill up the caps with the custard, and sprinkle a little ground cinnamon or desiccated cocoanut over the top. TURNING OUT CUSTARD PUDDING.—Melt some butter and lightly coat a mould with it; when beginning to cool stick on some glae6 cherries and candied angelica; make a boiled custard in the proportion given above, and flavour in the same way; crumble as much stale sponge cake as will half fill the mould, and mix it well with the custard; dissolve three sheets of gelatine in a little hot milk, and add it to the mixture pour it carefully into the mould and put it aside to set; turn it into a glass dish, and decorate it with some bright fruit jelly. I- SHAPE OF BEEF.—Cut up lib. of beef steak into smail pieces, and simmer till tender, together with some whole vegetables, a small bit of bacon, pre- viously scalded, pepper, salt, and enough water to cover all, adding to it as it wastes away; pick out the meat and arrange it in a suitable mould; strain the gravy, and add half a teaspoonful of extract, and. if necessary, a drop or two of Parisian essence-; pour it over the meat and stand it in a cool place; cut up some of the vegetables, and when the shape is turned out arrange them round it in any fanciful pattern preferred.—A. L. O. S., in the Agricultural Gazette."

Papurau Newydd Cymru

County Observer and Monmouthshire Central Advertiser Abergavenny and Raglan Herald Usk and Pontypool Messenger and Chepstow Argus

8 erthygl ar y dudalen hon