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W mCH WAS THE HEIRESSI OK,…
W mCH WAS THE HEIRESS I OK, THE CURSE OF ADRIAN BLAIR, By EDITH C. KENYON, Author of I I Jack's Cousin Kate," The Squire of Lonsdale," "A Poor Relation," etc. etc. CHAPTER XXIII. I ADRIAN BLAIR AND DORIS. I "I WON'T see her, Mrs. Blair, I won't!" Oh, but, sir, I'm afraid she will think it very rude if you refuse to let her come in." Surely I can have whom I please in my bed- room ? Does the girl think I am a poor man, tc be read to and humbugged with tracts ? I won't have it, I say." "The young lady has been very good to you," expostulated Mrs. Jones. "Why, it's she, sir, who mainly pays for everything you have." She Why, surely you took what money was required out of my purse ?" Your purse, sir. I did not see one." It was in my pocket when I fell down that cursed hole." It was not in your pocket, sir, when we got you out, and brought you here. Miss Blair will be tired of waiting, please, sir." "But it was in my pocket," protested the sick man. I must have lost it." Indeed, you must have lost it before you came here, and no wonder, for your clothes were terrible torn." Ah he groaned. "Let Miss Blair come in at once, if she wants to-do you hear?" Doris came in at once. "I hope you are a little better ? she said, standing by his bedside, a a vision of beauty, in her dainty white gown and broad-brimmed hat. Adrian Blair looked at her, but seemed quite unable to speak. He was very weak and ill. The state in which his leg was found made it difficult to set, and some fever supervened, which left him now feeling very exhausted. "I fear you are suffering to-day," said Doris, again, trying to look kindly at him, and not to remember, just then, how cruelly he had mauled and injured her father, and how badly he had treated poor Dora. I ought to thank you," said Adrian Blair. "I ought to thank you for what you have done." "Oh, no, please do not," "said Doris, quickly, adding, See, look, I have brought you some grapes—such fine ones. My father is very proud of his grapes always." Adrian glanced askance at the great purple grapes she showed him, nestling amongst vine leaves in a pretty ornamental basket, then he turned his head away, and two great tears trickled slowly down his face. Doris was deeply touched, she took her fragile little handkerchief, wiped the tears away, and then fanned him, as if it were for that purpose she had drawn it out. "Does Mr. Blair know you are here, and that I am nere, and that you have done all this for me ? asked Adrian, at length. Well, no. You see my father is ill at present, and we do not quite tell him everything." "Ah, I suppose I have caused him some suffer- ing," muttered Adrian. It's very forgiving of you Miss-Miss "Blair," Doris supplied the name, wondering that he had a difficulty in finding it when it was ais own. "Miss Blair," said the invalid, in a peculiar way, but do you think it right," he added. Is it right when Mr. Blair does not know ? Of course I think it right, or I should not do it," said Doris. "These are not the days of slavery. When people are grown up, like me, they can surely use their own judgment as to what they should do." Certainly. And, if I mistake not, my cousin is fcpt to be a little tyrannical. He was as a boy- tod as the boy is, so is the father." Adrian spoke ^"lie'is a very good father," said Doris, loyally. "Is he?" yes, of course he is. The best of fathers- bnlv he and I do not always think alike." No ? No. Not always," and Doris sighed, while a troubled, weary look stole over her young face. You have a trouble now," said the sick man, with concern. "Doris, tell me what it is?" The girl started when he used her name thus familiarly, then she remembered that as her father's cousin he might imagine that he had a right to call her so. Now her eyes filled with tears, and the hand which was fanning him trembled a little. Life is not always smooth," she said. You are unhappy," exclaimed the other, in a tone of deep feeling. My dear, tell me what it is?" "Oh, I cannot," said Doris. "I have been always happy until now," she added. "Tell me, dear child, what ails you now I" Doris shook her head. There was great entreaty t in the sick man's tone. But how could she tell him her love trouble? "Is it about that young gentleman I saw you With ? asked Adrian, suddenly. Doris nodded. At least she might admit so much. Doesn't your father like him ? No. Yes. But no, he does not want us-to get-too friendly," you know, faltered Doris. "But why not?" Archie Scott, although a gentleman, is com- paratively poor," sighed Doris. But you are rich ? Yes." II I don't approve of fathers being too merce- j nary," said Adrian. "Some will sacrifice their children's tenderest feelings for the chimerical advantages of riches and a high position in this world." It isn't right," murmured Doris. "No, my dear, it is not, it is not. And I think girls are foolish when they submit to such tyranny." We must honour and obey," began Doris, When he interrupted her. There is an exception to every rule," he said. When parents are miserly, greedy of money, and ambitious in a worldly oonse-like Ambrose Blair —they should not be too strictly obeyed—in fact, I consider they have forfeited all right to their children's obedience." Doris opened wide surprised eyes, and looked at him as if she found this new doctrine very agree- able. In fact, her heart was so won by it, that she began to take him irto her confidence." Archie is so fond of me, and I of him," she said, with another gentle sigh. But papa was so rough with him the other day, he turned him out of the house, and forbad him ever to come near." That was because he wanted to become engaged to you ? Yes." Had he declared his love ? Yes." Doris blushed as she softly whispered the answer. And you love him ? Yes. I said so." "And you are forbidden to meet, or be Engaged ?" Yes." And you are making no attempt even to see eaoh other ? "No." You would like to meet Archie once again?" Yes, I should indeed. There are so many things I should like to say to him." Well, you shall. He was here this morning before you came. He had only been gone half- an-hour when I heard your carriage." Oh, I wish we had met! cried Doris. "Well, you can easily do so. He promised to l %rne again to-morrow at the same time." "Did he?" Yes." "Oh, dear," Doris sighed. Will you come too ? Oh, if I may ?" The girl's tone was full of longing." "You may, because I ash you to do so." My father would be so angry if he knew." He shall not know. Who is to tell him ? The tnatteris quite simple. Archie Î3 going to bring re some wine. You can bring me some flowers. I do long for some roses." "And you shall have them," cried Doris, rap. turously, all her scruples disappearing as she pic- ked the joy of the meeting with her lover. I "Thank you, dear. Now go, I am in pain." Adrian turned away his head that she might not see his features, which were convulsed with grief. Something in the tone of his voice made Doris suspect he was suffering. She hurried into the other room, and bade Mrs. Jones get him a cordial. Yes, Miss. And do you please leave him tc me. He's been talking too long," said the good woman, fussing about. Doris waited in the other room until she was told that the sufferer was easier, then she went home, but no longer feeling melancholy and op- pressed. She would accept this chance of meeting Archie again. Mr. Adrian Blair was quite right. Fathers who gave way to bad ambitioiis--aiid, surely, to be greedy about rank when one had plenty of money was bad-forfeited in a measure the right to their daughters' obedience. A longing to confide in someone, and gain the additional strength of another person's approval, made her tell Dora her love story that evening when they were in her dressing-room together, brushing their long hair and talking confidentially, as girls do. And she was so intent upon it, and so absorbed, that she did not notice Dora's start of surprise, as she spoke of her love for Archie, nor the pained look which came into her poor face, as she listened. Do you think I am right in going to see Archie to-morrow," asked Doris, in conclusion. I'm afraid not," replied Dora, shaking her head. "Dora, haven't you heard all I have been telling you about Mr. Adrian Blair's saying that when parents are so "Yes, yes," I heard, interrupted Dora. "It sounded very plausible, Doris, dear, but you must consider who said it. You know it makes such a difference who says a thing." Well, your father said it," replied Doris, quickly. Doris, he is about the last person whose advice I should follow," said Dora. Dutiful exclaimed Doris. I must say you are a fine person to preach to me about honouring and obeying parents." Doris Dora's tone was full of pain. Now, tell me, Dora," went on the other, not heeding it, if your father forbade you to do some- thing you felt you ought to do, should you feel bound to obey him ?" "No, no," cried Dora, the memory of years of ill-treatment and neglect on his part recurring to her mind. "You know, Doris," she added, "I consider he has forfeited all claims to my obedience." You're a fine one to preach to cried Doris, with contempt. "Doris!" expostulated Dora. Had Doris for- gotten all her sufferings, and how she fled from the violence of her father and his wife to her for shelter, whilst yet a little child ? But love is apt to make people selfish. Doris had begun to like this man, who espoused her cause, and comforted her so much by his advice. She was not looking at the matter from Dora's point of view. In fact, Dora's past sufferings seemed to her as nothing compared to her own present pain about her love-affair, "Well, I liked your father now," she said, "and I'm sure he talked very sensibly." Dora said nothing. She only brushed away a tear, and picked up her belongings. "It is time we went to bed," she remarked, after a little while: good night, Doris." Good night," answered Doris, somewhat care- lessly. Then a sudden thought struck her, and she added, earnestly, Of course, you will not breathe a word to anyone of what I propose doiiig. Then Dora, looking straight at her, answered firmly, I could not reveal your confidence, Doris. I shall not say a word to anyone about what you propose doing. Of course I shall not." No, of course you will not," said Doris, running up to her impulsively, and twining her arms about her neck, "and I'm sorry I was so horrid, dear. I don't know what came over me. But forgive me, I do feel so unhappy to-night" and she burst into tears. Dora was quite a quarter of an hour, after that, in comforting and pacifying Doris, and she was very tired when at last she stole away to her bed- room. Yet even then she did not go to bed. Instead, she took out her little Russian leather writing- case, selected a sheet of paper, and began to write— DRAB. LORD HERBERT, The other night when I spoke as J. did. I WI¡.S mistaken about a most imxjortant matter-" Then she broke off, and bent a tear-stained face over the paper. It would not do to send it. Why, oh why are girls forbidden by a sense of propriety from sometimes overstepping a little the ). barriers which custom and tradition have hedged around them ? Why may they not say to the man they love, who loves them so devotedly, When I said No,' I did not understand my own mind." Or, "I acted under a misapprehension, thinking a dear friend loved you, and had the prior claim upon your love, but now I know she does not, I hasten to say that I do love you." What misery to both parties would be saved .if women sometimes had the courage to carry out their convictions Alas Dora had not on this occasion. She closed her writing-case, and with a deep sigh, put it away. CHAPTER XXIV. I THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS. ] With a feeling of timidity, because she felt she was transgressing her father's commands, and yet with anticipations of delight, because she was going to meet her lover, Doris drove her pretty ponies through the wood towards the Summer- house the following morning. She had a little difficulty in getting off, for Douglas, who accom- panied Lord Herbert to his home on the latter's sudden disappearance from Waddington Hall, had returned late the evening before, and that morning he hung about Doris of whom he was very fond, thus preventing her doing exactly as she liked. But now, at last, she was alone, except for the page and her ponies, Monnie and Bonnie; and the sweet autumn air fanned her brow, whilst the slight breeze murmured in the trees overhead. What would Archie say ? What would she say to him ? What would result from their interview ? She loved him so dearly, she could not give him up at her father's command, that was certain, and Archie would be true to her. Perhaps his father would mediate for them with her father ? But no, she feared he was too weak of will and too timid, he would be much more likely to take the side of the stronger party, and preach the duty of sub- mission and obedience to the young people. Dora, too, seemed to disapprove, but she had routed her arguments by a suggestion of her own seemingly un- dutiful conduct in running away from her father. Dora had not liked that home thrust—but it had done its work, for she said no more of her dis- approval. How slowly Donnie and Monnie were trotting to-day Archie would be there first. Every minute would seem so long to him whilst he waited. He would be wondering if she had been prevented coming. Gently, Bonnie! Steady Monnie she cried, admonishingly, for the little ponies danced and curvetted as she made them turn almost into the brushwood at or.e side of the road, to make room I for a closed brougham drawn by two horses, which j met them, and, passing rapidly, disappeared round I a bend in the road. It was very unusual to meet a carriage in that wood, and especially one coming from the direc- tion of the Summerhouse, as was this one Doris ] wondered a little who could have been in it. She j knew it was not the doctor's carriage, in fact it j was a hired one. Had someone been in the Sum- merhouse to see the sick man ? However, now the Summerhouse was within sight. In a few moments she would know all j about the matter. In a few moments she and i Archie Scott would meet. Her eyes brightened j with happy anticipations, the bright colour came t into her cheeks, she looked radiantly happy. Generally it is the unexpected which happens. When in a few moments, Doris appeared at the Summerhouse, and tripped lightly up the steps to I. the door, she was immensely startled to find every thing in a state of confusion. "Oh, Miss Doris," cried Mrs. Jones, intones of consternation, he's gone he's gone J Yes, Doris, he has gone," said Archie, coming into the room from the now empty bedroom. M'm, he be gone sure enough," said Jamie from j into the room from the now empty bedroom. M'm, he be gone sure enough," said Jamie from j his, couch by the fire. Who has gone ? cried Doris." Not—not Mr. Blair ? I Yes, miss," cried Mrs. Jones, she came and carried bim off all in a jiffy. And I'm that flu ttered- "But who did it?" interrupted Doris, with wide open eyes of surprise. She knew the doctor had forbidden his patient to be moved for weeks. "His wife did it, Doris," said Archie. "By George she's a termagant, is that woman He didn't want to go. But Mrs. Blair said something in his ear, and, after that, he dare not open his mouth—not before her. When we were quite alone, he bade me tell you that he would have given five years of his life only to see you again for half an hour. I had something to tell her," he said, something she ought to know." Then Mrs. Blair swept down upon him saying that he was mad and that if he did not come with her she would put him into an asylum straight away. Tell that tale," she said to him, to anybody, and I will prove it is the hallucination of a madman." She fairly dumfounded me," said Mrs. Jones. What with one thing and what with another. Then her servants put the poor gentleman into the carriage, none too comfortably for his poor leg I am afraid-and she threw them bank notes on the table, and was gone all in a minute. There's plenty of money," and she turned over the notes ruefully, but money's not all. No, M'm, it isn't. I'd rather now have a kindly word of thanks and a 'good-bye' said from that poor gent- leman than so much money." "Did she take him away before he thanked you ? asked Doris. Yes, m'm." He daren't open his mouth before her," cried Archie." They seemed to dislike each other. ] wonder what made her come for him." I'm afraid I told her where he was," said Ddris, "I thought she ought to know. But, dear me, she did not seem inclined to do anything at all for him." Well, he daren't resist her, he daren't resist her," muttered Mrs. Jones then, recollecting the position of the lover, she said, "Perhaps, miss, you'd like to go into the rooms just above and have a little talk with Mr. Scott. I've put a couple of chairs in and just a bit of table. Mr. Blair," he says to me, they are lovers, Mrs. Jones, you must just make one of the upper rooms decent for them to sit down in.' And sc I did." Upon my word, he was a brick," said Archie, come, my darling." But Doris stood still, with her eyes fixed upon the open door in horror. Her father stood there Ambrose Blair, leaning on his stick, had toil- somely, for he was still very stiff-ascended the outside steps, and now he stood gazing, with frowning brows, at this forbidden meeting of the lovers. Doris!" his voice sounded horrible in its harsh- ness and menace. "Papa!" Doris threw back her pretty head, and faced him with some of his own spirit. "How dare you come here to meet that-that —fellow ? he thundered. "I dare, because he is my accepted lover— Liar cried her father, lifting his hand as if to strike her in his wrath. But he did not touch her, for, in a moment, Archie had struck the outstretched hand on one side, crying, "Strike me, sir! Strike me Not J her!" Maddened with rage, Ambrose struck out at him, a. mighty blow which hurled him across the room. This was more than the young man could stand even from the father of the girl he loved. He therefore flew at Ambrose, and, seizing him by the collar, endeavoured to shake him, but in vain. The iron frame of the elder man never moved. "Archie, oh, Archie!" implored Doris, trying to pull him away from her father. Now, Squire, don't, don't," cried poor Mrs. Jones, laying her hand on Ambrose's sleeve-so light was her timid touch she did not feel his irrn." You coward You great lubberly coward jried Ambrose, trying to wheedle a poor silly girl behind her father's back. Who are you to marry a Blair—my daughter-the heiress of Waddington ? "Iarn Archie Soott, as you know," said the young man, standing back a little and holding Doris firmly by the hand, "and I have as good a right as any other gentleman to love your daughter." As good a right!" sneered Ambrose Blair. My family is as old as yours," went on Archie, and if we are not rich, well, money is not every- thing— And, papa, I shall have enough for us both," interrupted Doris, "I don't care to be very, very rich 1 don't indeed." "Don't you?" cried her father," then, by heavens, you shall be. But you shall never, never share your riches with that fool "Oh, don'tsaythat,papa,"cried poor Doris, fling- ing herself down at his feet, and clasping them with both her trembling hands. "Psoa papa! do not break my heart." "Silence!" thundered her father, holding tip his hand wamingly." As for you, he added, you are no gentleman, or you would not act in this way 1 therefore say to you now, once for all, you shall never marry my daughter. Never, never, never—do you hear? Oh, sir, sir," cried Mrs. Jones, the tears rain- ing down her shallow cheeks, as she heard these words. "Don't," she added earnestly, "forget them words of her dear ma's when she was dying, I Mav G o(i,' she says, 'reward good to those who do good to you and evil to those who do you harm Now, sir, I pray you, don't go for to get that same evil. Ambrose glared at the woman, then walking up to Archie, he shook his fist in his face. The young man sprang on one side. Doris, he cried, Oh, Doris, if he were not your father "But he is," cried Doris, "and he is ill and suffering. Archie be patient. Bear with him for my sake." Then Ambrose said something low in the young man's ear which Doris did not hear but which was more than he could bear. With a tremendous effort, Archie kept silence, but he wheeled round to leave the house and the man who had so insulted him, as he did so unfortu- nately he came in contact with the elder man raised fist, and was struck by it a rather smart blow upon the mouth. Scarcely knowing what he did, Archie returned the blow upon the other's ear. Ambrose fell at once, and struck his head as he did so upon the great stone fender. Blood flowed from the wound. The Squire of Waddington lay where he had fallen on the floor. He was stunned, if not dead. But, indeed, he seemed to have nc life about him. For a moment or two they all looked at him iD consternation. Then Archie cried, There, Doris, look what I have done, and hate me, hate me for it!" The girl fell on her knees by her prostrate parent, and, unfastening his vest, laid her little hand upon his heart. She could not feel it beating, and grew pale to the very lips. Archie, he is dead," she cried, "you've killed my father, you've killed him Archie threw himself upon his knees beside her, and bathed Mr. Blair's brow with some water Mrs. Jones brought. "Perhaps he is only fainting," he said, in a choked voice. Put your hand here over his heart," cried poor Doris, excitedly. Archie did so, but could feel no movement. He. too, grew deadly pale. "He's gone! He's gone!" exclaimed Mrs. Jones, in tones of consternation, while Jamie sobbed Gone gone lugubriously. No, no, no," cried Doris, her young voice full of pain. "Fetch a doctor, Archie, fetch Dr. King! Perhaps he can restore him—artificial respiration. Oh, be quick be quick I will fetch him," cried Archie, springing tc his feet and running out. Almost at the door he met Dr. King, who was coming to see Adrian Blair. Archie hurried him up the steps and intc the house, explaining, almost incoherently, and in much agitation, the facts-so surprising to the doctor-of Adrian Blair's disappearance, and the Squire's apparently dying condition. Dr. King quickly comprehended, and, hastening to the patient's bedside, bent over him for a few minutes, examining him with the greatest care. Then he looked up at Archie, shook his head, and pointed meaningly to the door. Archie sprang to his feet, and, with a look of anguish, held out both hands to Doris in mute farewell. The girl's face was livid. She shrank from him. Those hands that had killed her father might not touch her. Not even looking at him, she bent over her poor father's form, sighing deeply, and wringing her hands. Archie gave one short, sharp cry, like that of some wounded animal. Then he rushed out of the room, down the steps, and away from the place. (To be continued).
CHRISTMAS GAMES.
CHRISTMAS GAMES. A NIGHT'S AMUSEMENT TOP, YOUNG AN-D nT,D The demand for games for young and old is ever new at Christ-mas time, though a stern critic may complain that society is too much given to rather childish games. At Christmas however, we have full license to be as frivolous and merry as we please. It is good "to be as children" for once in a way; anyh-ow, we havp. the duty laid upon us to amUIÐ the little ones, and if we can amuse ourselves at the same time, so much the merrier. The following games are somewhat original, and may be recommended f,)r Christmas parties for old and young. AN ARTISTIC EFFOItf. Where there is a blackboard within reach it is very amusing to make each person, with eyes blindfolded, draw a given subject thereon. At Christma.s subjects seasonable should be given. The results of the unfortunat.e artists' work ara ludicrous, as may be supposed. MOTHER GOOSE RHYMES. An amusing form of entertainment is for each person to be given a subject and made to write a Mother Goose rhyme of more than two lines containing the given word. This is a difficult thing for many people to do, and many absurd verses are the result, while a clever rhymester can convulse the entire party. After all thr, people playing have written their contributions these are all collected in a bowl and drawn forth one by one and read to the assembly, who try to guess the author. A NEW GAME. A hostess recently led her guests into the drawing-room, where a large table had been cleared, and chairs arranged round it. The guests sat in couples, and on the table a pile of slips of paper. Each .slip was numbered, and contained a quotation from a famous author or poet, and it remained for the participants to guess that writer's name. The guests were each furnished with a card and pencil, with the num- bers written out to correspond to the quotations, with a blank beside for the author, whose name was supposed to be supplied by the owner of the card. By playing partners the fun was all the meT- rier. The couple securing the largest number of correct answers each win a prize, and the couple who guess the fewest should receive some comic gifts. INITIAL ADJECTIVES. Another successful game is for the initials of famous men and women to be used in describing ■< their personality. 1 To do this every guest has a card and a. pencil, as in the other game, but after the numbers on the card will read strange phrases, as, for in- stance, "A Cunning Delineator," which it is not difficult to guess stands for Arthur Conan Doyle, the famous detective story writer. An- other might be "Fearless Nurse," meaning Flor- ence Nightingale. Of course, the time should be limited, and any intercourse on the subject be- tween the participants strictly forbidden. The list of synonyms strictly run up to twenty-five or thirty at least, and from fifteen minutes to half lID hour allowed for guessing. n COMMERCE. A new and original game is called "commerce," A new and original game is called "commerce," and the requisites are tidfiiijg articles done up in packages, three to every small guest. The parcels contain very inexpensive little things. A selec- tion of toys from the stock of any penny U paive- ment merchant" would be capital. Each pack- age has an ordinary playing card slipped1 under the string, and the mate to the cam' is taken from another pack; these are then shuffled and dealt around to each player, who has, in addi- tion to his cards, a small dish containing about twenty-five beans. Then someone, stationed there for that pur- pose, calls off the number of the card on one of the parcels, for instance, the eight of hearts anyone holding the corresponding eight of hearts receives the package; and so on until all are distributed. All now open their bundles very secretly, and if the contents are something they want to keep, nothing more is done with it, but otherwise they tie the article up carefully again, so as not to betray its shape, and try to eisll it to one of their neighbours for any number of beans. The game is rather good fan, and much laughter is caused by the ridiculous articles-dgne up in the bundles."—"Daily Chronicle."
I i FEROCIOUS CATS.
FEROCIOUS CATS. A remarkable conflict between a bull and two wild cats took place recently at Elkdale, New York. Hearing unusual sounds in a barn where he kept his young Holstein bull, Leon Goodrich went there to investigate. The animal was bel- lowing as if in great pain, and now and then came savage screams and fierce snarlings. Goodrich thought a large dog had got into the barn and was worrying the bull, and hurried on. Upon opening the barn door he saw a large wild cat with its teeth buried in the bull's nostrils, while another wildcat was tearing at the animal's flanks. The bull was rushing about the enclosure, trying in vain to shake the wildcat from his nose by dashing it against the side of the barn. Without a thought of the peril Goodrich seized the cat that was fastened to the bull's nose and it at once released its hold and turned upon the farmer and attempted to get at his throat. Goodrich, struggling with the animal, backed to the door, pushed it open, and sprang into the yard, quickly followed by the bull and the other wild- cat. Once in the yard the bull by a sweeping turn of his head caught the cat on his horns and flung it violently against the barn. The cat fell stunned, and before it could recover the bull ripped it open. This had occupied but a moment, but during that time Farmer Goodrich had a severe struggle in defending himself against the other cat, and in preventing it from getting at his throat. His clothes were nearly torn from him, and he had been severely bitten about the head and shoulders. He had no weapon, but he at last succeeded in getting both hands on the wildcat's throat, and clutched it so tightly that the animal was forced to release its hold and Goodrich hurled it with all his strength against the stone wall sur- rounding the yard. The animal struggled to its feet and would have renewed the battle at once, but at that moment the bull, which had just van- quished the first cat, plunged forward and caught the second cat on one horn, and, with a quick movement, disembowled the impaled animal and tossed it high into the air. Both farmer and bull were severely injured.
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In a thickly-populated district between New- castle and North Shields a large otter has been found killed by the "live rail" on the electric railway, says the "Field." Estimating that the Rand coolies will con- sume at least 300 pigs per week, the Director of Agriculture in Orange River Colony advises far- mers to turn their attention to raising swine. May Island now possesses a foghorn which can be heard eighteen miles away. Several similar ones are to be installed in neighbouring hg t- houses to safeguard the ships entering the Firth of Forth.
I THE BALTIC OUTRAGE. t
I THE BALTIC OUTRAGE. t HOW THE RUSSIANS FIRED UPON THEIR OWN j I SHIPS.—OFFICIAL ADMISSION. J At last Russia has admitted that the j mysterious shots which struck some vessels of ] the Baltic Fleet on the night of the Dogger Bank outrage were fired by other vessels of the squadron. It will be remembered that several { Russian sailors were wounded, and that a chaplain was so severely injured that he after- { ward-s died and was buried at Tangier. With f ( true Russian procrastination, the facts were not allowed to leak out till Monday, when an offieul admission of them was made. The following was issued by the Naval Head- quarters Staff at St. Petersburg:- According to supplementary information from j Admiral Roshdestvensky's aide-de-camp con- earning the North "Sea incident of October 21. 1 after the Kniaz Suvaroff had ceased firing there suddenly appeared on the left of the ironclad division the two searchlights of the cruisers Dmitri Donskoi and Aurora lighting up the division. The Dmitri Donskoi showed her night signals, whereupon, for fear Lest pro- jectiles from the hindmost ships of the division should hit our own vessels either direct or by ricochet, a general signal to cease fire was made from the ironclad Kniaz Suvaroff, and was at once carried out. The whole of the firing lasted 1 less than ten minutes. Communications by wireless telegraph stated that five projectiles had struck the cruiser Aurora, some ricochetting and' others hitting her direct. Three were 75 millimetre and two 47 millimetre shells. The chaplain was seriously injured and a petty officer was slightly wounded. The former subsequently succumbed at Tangier. j I FATHER'S DESPAIR. HANGS HIS IMBECILE SON AND THEN 5 HIMSELF. J The body of a man named Douglass was on Monday found hanging with that of his imbecile son in their house at Gateshead. Douglass and his son usually slept in the same room, while Mrs. Douglass, with her daughter, occupied an- j other apartment. On Monday morning Mrs. Douglass, on rising, was unable to open the ;• kitchen door, and sent for police help. Con- j stable Scott, on arrival, climbed through the kitchen window and found the bodies hanging j side by side in the scullery. Douglass was par- tially dressed, but his son was clad in a night- 1 dress only. It is supposed that the father had lifted the lad, who was a cripple as well as an imbecile, from the bed and hanged him to a hook in the ceiling. He left a note stating that being out of work and having an imbecile son had led j him to commit the deed, for which he prayed his wife's forgiveness. Mrs. Douglass says she can- I not imagine what led her husband to commit ] such an act. He had only been out of work three weeks, and they had no fear of immediate ] want, being in comfortable circumstances. —
CONSIDERING REDISTRIBUTION,…
CONSIDERING REDISTRIBUTION, Mr. Balfour, in a communication to the Lan- cashire and Cheshire Division of the National Union of Conservative Associations, statesj "The question of redistribution of seats is engaging the earnest attention of the Govern- i ment, and as regards the alien immigration question, I promised in the House of Commons on July 14 last that the matter should be dealt j with early next session." j
I LORD ROSEBERr AT GLASGOW.…
I LORD ROSEBERr AT GLASGOW. Lord Roeebery addressed a Liberal gathering at St. Andrew's Hall, Glasgow, on Monday night, f One of his main topics was the fiscal question, jj Mr. Balfour, he said, had exhorted his followers j to come into the open, but he had avoided with j extraordinary skill giving an opinion on the | leading question of the hour. One thing, how- j ever, was certain. Mr. Balfour was the nead of j the Protectionist party. Whether he was going j to follow the party or leave, it, he was bound to j be a Protectionist. Lord Rosebery then launched I out into a characteristic simile. "In. the history of every puntsman," he said, "there comes a critical moment, due either to his own unskilful- ness or to the action of the current, when he ha-s to make the decisive choice whether he will j go overboard with the pole, or whether he will t remain in the punt without the pole. If he, goes i overboard with the pole he may be drowned; if j he keeps in the punt without the pole he may drift onwards without guidance to perdition. The pole in this case is the Conservative party. Mr. Balfour is navigating the punt, and pro- bably the safest thing for him to do would be to take his courage in his hand, and go overboard with the pole. He would run little danger of being drowned. There is no finality about Pro- tection. We begin with a 10 per cent. duty and end with a Dingley tariff." The proposed, con- ference, Lord Rosebery declared, wa.s not for the union of the Empire, but for the union of the Conservative party. It almost looks as if the destinies of Great Britain are to be regulated by huge trusts. We siee, on the one side, all the aristocracy, journalism, and the wealth of the country, and on the other-so far as we can judge from the by-elections—the people."
i THE HOOLEY-LAWSON CASE.…
THE HOOLEY-LAWSON CASE. JUDGE WILL SIT TILL FEBRUARY IF NECESSARY. For the eleventh day the trial of Messrs. Hooley and Lawson was resumed at the Old Bailey on Monday, and a brief dialogue which occurred between Mr. Justice A. T. Lawrence and Mr. Lawson seemed to indicate that many days are to pass before the trial comes to a close. Mr. Muir was questioning a, witness as to the amounts Mr. Lawson had received from the Construction Company, when Mr. Lawson interrupted with the remark that if that matter were gone into he would want to explain every item. The judge said he could not stop the evidence. "I shall have to go into every figure of a thousand items," said Mr. Lawson. "You are perfectly at liberty to have any witness recalled," replied the judge. "I'd have to recall the lot," retorted Mr. Lawson, with a despairing shrug of his shoulders. "If I've got to prove every item this trial won't end until February next." "The jury and I are very difficult people to frighten," replied the judge, with a bland smile. rCIf necessary, we will sit here till next February to get the rights of this case." MR. BOOLEY-S DEFENCE. The case for the prosecution in the trial of Messrs. E. T. Hooley and H. J. Lawson at the Old Bailey was closed on Tuesday, and a long argument followed upon a point of law raised by Mr. Rufus Isaacs, K.C., in defence of Mr. Hooley. Mr. Isaacs argued that there was no case to go to the jury against Mr. Hooley. With reference to the charge of false pretences, it resolved itself into one of "aiding and abetting" Mr. Lawson, and there was not a tittle of documentary evi- dence nor one statement that could be relied upon to support this. j Mr. Lawson was not "de jure" manager of the Construction Company, although he jmight be so "de facto" but as to that he had So concern inasmuch as no proof had been given of Mr. Lawson's appointment by the directors. If this were so there was clearly no criminal liability j upon Mr. Lawson for publishing Sir Kenneth Mackenzie's speech at the Hotel Cecil. The Solicitor-General having replied, the judge said he was against Mr. Isaacs on the i point as to Mr. Lawson's managership of the Construction Company. With regard to the » counts against Mr. Hooley for "aiding and abet- j ting," he should leave them for the jury's de- i cision. j The hearing was again adjourned. j I
[No title]
One of the most remaarkable plaoes of worship I in the world is the miners' chapel in Myndd Menigdd Colliery, Swansea, where for more than. half a, century the workers have assembled each morning for worship. This sanctuary issituated close, to the bottom of the shaft, and the only light is that obtained from a solitary Davy lamp, hung over the pulpit from the ceiling. The oldest miner in the colliery is generally chosen to officiate. This is believed to be the only in- stance of a chapel in a coal-mine,
ART AND LITERATUIiE. 1,.*i…
ART AND LITERATUIiE. 1,i I Shakespeare in French ic about to be seen under remarkable conditions on the Paris. stage. M. Antoine is organising a great production of "King Lear" unabridged. M. Maurice Maeter- linck, in an appreciative review of this under- taking, regards it as the most important dramatic event in ths history of the French stage. The considered judgment of the eminent Belgian critic upon the position held by "King Lear" in the dramatic literature of the world, is so striking as to be worth reproducing. In his view there, is not, in the dramatic literature of any age or any nation, any dramatic poem which, for power, grandeur, or pathos, can compare with the tra- gedy of Lear. The Classical Association of Scotland has just been treated to a paper by Prof. George Saints- bury on the "Literary Teaching of Ancient and Modern Languages." Speaking of the practice of learning by heart extracts from Greek and Latin poetry, Professor Saintsbury said that the common denunciation of this practice as unin- telligent, was itself as unintelligent ss anything could be. He had the profoundeet belief that English literature and the English language could not be taught satisfactorily except through comparison with and illustration from those clas- sical tongues to which the language owed so much and the literature so much more. Emeritus Prof. Butcher (London) said it was the attempt to compose in another language that first made him aware what an artistic thing EngEsh could; be. Painless methods and the multiplicity of subjects were the bane of education. The eale of the various pictures and sketches by Verestchagin, the famous Russian artist, who was drowned some little while ago in one of the naval engagements at Port Arthur, promises to be an event of some moment. It is to take place next month at St. Petersburg, under tbe direc- tion of the Imperial Society for the Encourage- ment of Art, in whose, rooms the whole collec- tion is to be exhibited beforehand. Several im- portant canvases are included among the sixty pictures which are to be offered for sale, and there are, besides, some six hundred studies and sketches. A valuation of the works has been made by two prominent artists, who have fixed the resarve prices. An admirable example of the work of John Phillip has just been presented by Sir Charles Tennant to the Corporation Art Gallery at Glas- gow. This picture, "The Assignation," belongs to the artist's later period, and is reckoned s one of his more memorable performances. It finds its permanent home appropriately enough in the northern city, with which Sir Charles has been so long and so intimately connected, for Phillip was unquestionably one of the ablest of the many Scottish artists who have done so much to build up the reputation of the Britieh s'chool. Il connection with the new volume, "At Shapespeare's Shrine," which is being published simultaneously in England and America^, the editor (Dr. Charles Forshaw, of Bradford) has received the following letter from His Majesty the King, at Windsor Castle, in acknowledg- ment of an advance copy of the work, which has been forwarded to him:—"Sir,—I have had the honour of submitting your letter to the King, and am commanded by His Majesty to inform, you in reply that he is happy to accept the copy of your work entitled "At Shakespsare's Shrine," which you have sent him.—I am. Sir, your obedient servant, KNOLLYS." The invaluable Local Government. Reports, which were only established in 1603, have already attained their share of recognition by the Bench. When Morris v. Beal, a recent decision of the Divisional Court, taking the Crown paper, upon the contested point as to whether landlord or tenant was to bear the expense of structural alterations required by a local authority before granting a certificate for an underground bakehouse, an advanced proof, the only report then extant, of Goldstein v. Hollingsworth, 2 L. G. R. 879, a decision of the same Court much in point, was handed up to andacooptec1 by the Bench with approval; and upon the argument of the same case Valpy v. St. Leonard's Wharf Co., 1 L. G. R. 305, nowhere else reported, was cited as a recognised authority. On October 28 of the present sittings when the rivers pollution case of West Riding of Yorkshire Rivers Board v. Preston and Son was before the Divisional Court, then taking civil paper, the report of the West Riding of Yorkshire Rivers Board v. Gaunt and Son, 1 L. G. R. 133, was cited by counsel, Mr. Danckwerts, K.C., and handed up to the Bench as being the best, report of that decision to be found; and a day or two later when Stone v. Tyler, a case on the Crown paper involving the construction of section 26 of the Weights and Measures Act, 1878, was argued, King v. Spencer, 2 L. G. R. 979, the most, recent decision on the point, and at that time reported nowhere else, was cited and pro- nounced by the Bench to be an eminently satis- factory report of their judgment. Without multiplying instances it is gratifying to observe that these Reports, limited as they are simply to cases connected with local government administration, the construction of by-laws of all sorts, and general domestic legislation, should be frequently cited, and occasionally three daya out of four when a Divisional Court sits to deal with the Crown paper. The Reports reflect in every way the greatest credit upon the discerning editor, Mr. Casson, of the "Local Government Chronicle." No local authority anywhere can afford to be without them. Blue Book (Cd. 2315), issued by the King's printers, should be studied by every writer of detective stories or of stories dealing in any way with the administration of justice, for it con- tains the report of the Committee of Inquiry into | the case of Mr. Beck, a case we should like to think was unique of its kind if we could lay that flattering unction to our soul. Considering the observations of the committee upon the conduct of the Home Office subordinates, their want of i legal training, and consequent inability to appre- ciate the points of a, petition, we should say the probabilities are all against this case being unique. Take, for instance, the views of a Home Office clerk on the alibi set up by Mr. Beck's | counsel, namely, that he was out of the country in 1877 and could not therefore be identical with the convict John Smith. What does this impor- 1 tant official-practically armed with the power to keep an innocent man in prison or release him -sa.yY He says: "It was a clever ruse, for how < could his. (Beck's) witnesses be disproved? It I would have been very difficult indeedv I should j think." The committee very properly point out I the monstrous nature of this pronouncement, j "It would almost seem to suggest that a defence of an alibi was defective and a ruse because it would have been so difficult for the Crown to of an alibi was defective and a ruse because it would have been so difficult for the Crown to [ answer it. Could anyone who fully appreciated the vital importance of the alibi izi the chain of the prisoner's defence, and realised that the judge's ruling had excluded it, have framed this minute?" The committee go on to show how dif- ferent this alibi was from most alibis (which are not incompatible with the prisoner's presence at a particular spot on a particular day), for "the presence of Mr. Beck in Peru on any single day in the whole period embracing Smitli's frauds and, his imprisonment would have sufficed to prove his plea." One wond how many other minutes of this kind the clerk in question wrote. Surely a strict inquiry into each such case is now needed, for victims of .similar miscarriages of justice may be lying in cells at this moment. Miss McCaul'a very interesting new work, en- titled, "Under the Care tilf the Japanese War Office," contains numerous illustrations from photographs. It gives a great insight into iid-to- date Red Cross work. Dr. James Cantlie is writing a book with the title "Physical Efficiency," which will be issued with suitable illustrations by Messrs. Putn am. Messrs. Putnam will publish at an early date I. a. volume on the internal affairs in the bongo State. The author declines to allow that the Belgian Administration constitutes a reign of horror. Messrs. Williams and Norgate will issue shortly a third part of Dr. A. H. Church's | work, "On the Relation of Pliyllot&xis to I Mechanical Laws," which will be devoted, to [ "Secondary Growth Phenomena," and will also [ Hayes and the author. It will be illustrated with a number of figures..
I -HORRIBLE -BRIGANDAGE.&
HORRIBLE BRIGANDAGE. & A tragedy which strips Sicilian brigandage oi everything but its most brutally repulsive aspect has just taken place in the district of Alcamo, not far from Palermo, where a boy of eleven years, named Grimando, the child of well-to-do parents, was carried off last week, and next day the parents received a written intimation that unless 1400 was paid over at a certain lonely spot by November 27, their son would be killed. From fears for the little victim's life the police refrained from open action, but they quietly begun an investi- gation which threw suspicion on three men, who were arrested and confessed to having flung the boy into a deep well, where his mangled body has just been found. —