Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
11 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
[PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL AHBAIRORABST.…
[PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL AHBAIRORABST. ] THE GIRLS OF THE HOUSE, By F. FRANKFORT MOORE. Author of "A Whirlwind Harvest," "I Forbid the Boons," &c. &c. [COPYBIGHT.] I CHAPTER XXVIII. I Before the departure of the 11.42 train for Husbandman's Selwood on Saturday Christopher Wakefield Foxcroft, the author of "Owls and Cherubs"—he was always fond of Shakesperian titles, they were so obscure—found out that his nev,- novel had caught the public fancy, though of course a few days must still pass, his publisher told him, before he could say if the demand for the book would continue. It was plain, however, that if the demand were suddenly to come to an end the blame for such a contretemps would not have to be attributed to its treatment by the critics; for they were for the most part extremely prompt in their reviews, and there was not a re- •VKW that did not stimulate the curiosity of practical book buyers. Some abused the author for not having made all his characters sympathetic; and the public knew by this that there was no lame child in the book, and rejoiced accordingly. Others said that the book was full of epigrams, but that epigrams never yet made a book & per- manent success and the public knew by this that the book was full of epigrams, and bought it. But no class of reviewer was so hard on it as to call it an epoch-making book; and the author was giad, for he haa had a sufficient experience of the dulness of epoch-making books to hope that he would never be accused of producing one of them. The epoch-making books which were in his mind had, after making the epoch, quietly died; 110 the grub after weaving its cocoon about itaelf has no further part in the life of the world around it. The epoch-making grubs of Grub-street after one such achievement usually disappear from view. Chris found his reviews encouraging; but it was only when his friend Professor Seyder, who met him at 11.41 at Victoria Station, gave him his hand, saying: "I have read 'Owls and Cherubs.' It is an admirable book," that he realised that he had scored a success. It so happened that Professor Seyder, in ad- dition to knowing more than any living man on all scientific subjects known to men, knew a good deal more of novels—French and English-than any living woman; and upon several occasions he had won a reputation for literary acumen for the "Morning's Wing" by prophesying a success for certain books which Chris had sent to him for re- view, and which had certainly become notable suc- cesses. The reviewer who can "spot a winner" in fiction is, of course, never regarded with the same interest as is the sporting editor who does the same in. regard to a race, but still he commands a certain amount of respect within a limited circle and Chris had ample confidence in his friend's judgment, even though he did praise "Owls and Cherubs." And it turned out that what Chris had said about spring being in the country was perfectly true. The train ran through bright green hedge- rows, and there was some warmth in the air at last. He called his friend's attention to these facts before telling him exactly why he had desired his company in the region of Husbandman's Selwood. He was anxious to convince him that even if he might be asked to contribute to the solution of the question of the geology of Drellincourt Farm, he would still benefit by a couple of days spent among hedgerows and within sight of lambs that were really white as to their fleece. He narrated all his experiences and his sus- picions to his friend Seyder, and Seyder said, "The chances are that there is nothing worth talking about in this particular farm>-that this fellow Mellor only wants to be thought a little more of a country gentleman: a gentleman farmer —that title has a good old English ring about it. He may want to be alluded to as a typical English yeoman—the yeoman has come to the front lately." "He has gone to the front at any rate, and that's something," said Chris. "Then you think that Mellor's vanity is at the bottom of the whole busi- ness—that he gave his surveyor instructions to avoid so much as glancing at the farm buildings, that he brought J evons down to the place and sent him back with a bagful of the soil, solely to gratify his vanity?" "There is nothing so useful to a really practical man as imagination," said Professor Seyder. "That is why I do my best to encourage my students to read all the novels they can lay their bauds on. The most practical men that the world lias ever known have been dreamers. "You think that Mellor is dreaming of being thought the ideal English country gentleman?" "I mean that your imaginative mind will cause you to be more than a match for Mellor, with all his business cleverness, if he has really hit upon a good thing in this farm. You wisely disregard the whisper of science that the chances of his having hit upon a good thing in this farm are about ten thousand to one." "Situated as I am I cannot afford to neglect even that one chance out of the ten thousand," said Chris. "Man, just think what I should suffer if it turned out that-that-well, coal, I suppose, is out of the question. Is iron equally out of the question?"" "Only a trifle more so, said Seyder. "Never mind, you have acted in accordance with the dic- tates of your imagination, and no one who does that can be far wrong." In the aftfernoon Chris and his friend trudged through the bright green lanes made musical by the blackbird and the thrush, across bright green meadows under blue skies made musical with the lark, to Drellincourt Farm. "Neither coal nor iron," said the man of science when they had walked across a few of the fields. "Nothing but the usual poor soil of an exhausted farm. But I'll go over the whole thousand acres to satisfy you—and myself. I am on the side of the angels, for angels are the product of the im- agination." Chris was dumb. There was something of a droop about his head. He was wondering if he should walk on to Drellincourt Station, to send the telegram to Mr. Vickers asking him to call upon the Miss Selwoods and state that he, Chris, was strongly in favour of accepting Mellor's terms, when his companion stopped with the dead suddenness of a dog that runs its nose up against a dead wall of scent, so to speak. He had reached the grey seam which had ar- rested the attention of Mr. Mellor's surveyor. "'What's the matter?" asked Chris. "What are you looking at there?" There was a long interval before the man of science spoke. He stooped down and lifted a hand- ful of the soil and allowed it to run through his fingers. Then he laughed loud and long. "How much did Mellor offer for the farm?" he asked at last. "Twenty-five thousand pounds,M replied Chris. "Do you mean to say that my surmise- "And this seam crosses three fields and then spreads out like a fan-I can trace it across that rising ground-half a mile of it! Foxcroft, the man of imagination is worth a millionaire without it. We are standing beside the richest vein of pyrotid in England." "Pyrotid—I have heard the name, but at this moment I forget in what connection," faltered Chris. "Surely even a newspaper man has heard of pyrotid. Pyrotid is one oi the most recent dis- coveries of one of our youngest geologists. It is the sand which has solved the problem of the wood pavement. Applied to the blocks it not only pre- serves the wood from decay, it gives the surface a roughness which increases in damp—just when it is most needed-and it sells for something like four pounds a ton. It was thought that there was onlV one seam of it in England." "And how many tons of it are about us?" "Probably a hundred and fifty thousand—pos- sibly a million. We are standing on the richest soil in England at the present moment, and the man of imagination has brought the price of pvrotid down with a rush from four pounds a ton to three pounds ten shillings." "1 should like to kick Mellor over every acre of the farm," said Chris simply. And that was the aspiration which remained uppermost with him for several hours. It remained with him all the time he continued walking with his friend bver the barren place of untold riches, and his friend made him acquainted with the incident of the discovery of the remark- able properties of the soil which had prevented the satisfactory cultivation of any form of cereal upon it But before he had returned to the Rectory, the impulse to commit an assault upon the person of M" Mellor had given place to a great longing to get bv the side of those two girls who had faced the ruin of their house so bravely and had shewn no intention of resigning themselves to- the dis- aster which had come upon them. They had boldly thrown down the gauntlet to Fate, and they had conquered in the first encounter in the campaign. The detestable virtue of resignation was not their inheritance, and it now seemed as. if Fate had ap- plied to him for quarter. He felt that he would like to take the first train to London to have the joy of telling them that their house was safe— that thev had saved it by their forethought. He believed in his own capacity to prove to Muriel at any rate, that it was her forethought, in perceiving that the man whom she had promised to marry was the man to trust in spite of the fact that no daughter of her house had ever promised to marry a. man in so humble a position in life as that which he occupied, which had averted the disaster and brought prosperity to Selwood. Of course it was plain that if she had agreed to marry one of the men who had asked her-two of them were the heads of important families, and the third was even a more distinguished person; he had re- cently turned his brewery into a company, and had out of the generosity of his heart far over- capitalised it-Drellincourt Farm would have been sold to Mellor for twenty-five thousand pounds. But whether or not Muriel could be brought to took upon herself as the one who had been far- seeing enough to save the house of Sejwood, he would have the satisfaction of seeing her face the impending prosperity, and though he was not sure if she would face it with the same resolution aa she bad shewn in regard to the impending dis- aster, he was certain that it would be the greatest asteor, f his life to be the bearer of the tidings to her. jov Before his father's excellent sermon had come to a legitimate conclusion the next day people said it was so nice to see that the wickedness of London had left no impression upon the rector's son, for this was the second Sunday in succession on which he had come down to hear his father preach- Chris had come to perceive that it would not do for him to be precipitate in this matter. He would onlv be acting wisely were he to obtain further advice respecting the value of pyrotid on his re- turn to town, before going with the good news to llig daughters of Selwood. t He returned to town wi<th his friend on Sunday evening, and drove at once to th. office of the "Morning's Wing," where he learned that a gentle- man had called to see him a quarter of an hour before. He had left his card with a message written on it. He opened the envelope in which the card was enclosed, and then he lay back in his chair and laughed as he had never laughed before; for he read on the card the name of Mr. Mellor, and on the reverse the words, "Will return to see Mr. Foxcroft at 11 p.m." Chris laughed, and gave instructions for the re- ception of the man. He arrived at eleven-fire. He had begun to speak before he had quite entered the room, ignoring Chris's well-simulated obsequiousness in finding him a chair-he was ac- customed to such obsequiousness. It was his privilege to ignore it. "Vickers tells me that my friend Selwood has appointed you a sort of trustee for his, estate, and that you and his daughters have the power to de- cide all matters connected with it," said Mr. Mellor-and he had said so much before he had removed his hat. "Well, I want to have an answer akout that farm to-night," he continued without a pause. "I'm not accustomed, let me tell you, to this shilly-shally, sir. If you don't want to sell the farm just tell me so. There is no particular scarcity of farms to be sold in England just now." Then he stopped. Chris began to fear that the discussion might collapse at the outset. And he did not wa n tm that to happen: he was anxious to study Mr. Mellor for literary purposes. "I hope you have not been inconvenienced, Mr. 2?ellor," he said. "But I am sure that, as a business man, you will mak e some allowance for men like myself." "I have made allowances enough, my good fel- low," said Mr. Mellor through pursed-out lips. "Why should I make any concessions to you, I should like to know?" "Well, you see, I have nev?r been in a position of so much responsibility before," said Chris, and I feel that I should do the beat for Colonel Sel- wood. If I were to sanction the sale of the farm at a lower price than its full value I should never forgive myself." "Didn t Vickers tell you that I had offered twenty-five thousand for it, eh?" said Mellor. "Didn't he tell you that that was nearly double what anyone else would offer for it?" "Well, I admit that Mr. Vickers thought your offer a handsome one," said Chris. "Still 11 "Still—still what? Do you fancy that you can squeeze another thousand out of me, my good fellow? Do you fancy that you are cleverer than the lawyer to the family, who knows that after that blessed land had ruined two generations of farmers, Selwood himself took it in hand and dropped twelve thousand over it ? You think that because I'm Mellor you can squeeze me. You—you—squeeze me Do you, a rational man, think that I'm a good mark. for the blackmailer, Mr. Foxcroft?" Here Mr. Mellor put his hat very firmly on his head, and turned toward the door. "No, no, Mr. Mellor, I assure you; I should never think that you would submit to any form of blackmail," said Chris. "Well, it looks very like as if blackmail was on your mind," said Mellor, without taking off his hat. "I don't want Drellincourt Fajpn particu- larly only it's handy, and-well, I admit that I like having a tussle with something that has beaten other chaps. You've heard of my thoroughbred Roysterer-he killed two grooms and a stable boy. That's why I bought him. He hasn't killed me yet. He eats lumps of sugar out of my hand." "Beet or cane sugar, Mr. Mellor?" asked Chris in the tone of one intensely interested. Mr. Mellor did not understand what he meant. "Beet or cane-beet or- he muttered. "You may not be aware, Mr. Mellor," said Chris, "that beet sugar is conducive to gout—or some symptoms of gout, such as eczema. But cane "I didn't come here to talk about sugar, my good fellow," said Mellor. "Well, I suppose I may con- sider the matter as settled at last. But, mind you, if you don't want to take twenty-five thousand for the farm, just say so at once, and I'll wire my man to secure a big thing next my own place." "Will you tell me frankly, Mr. Mellor, that you believe that you are offering the full value for Drellincourt Farm?" asked Chris, playing with a pen. "Good Lord, sir," cried Mellor without a moment's hesitation, "I give you my sacred word that I'm offering some thousands of pounds— maybe ten thousand-more than the full value of the farm." "I want to do the best for the family, Mr. Mellor-you see that I do. Can I not persuade you to do something in advance of your offer?" asked Chris. "Look here, sir," said Melior, leaning towards him. "If you don't wish to cell the farm for the money I have offered just say so at once. It would please me—it would-I give you my word it would please me to hear you refuse." 1 can hardly resist your appeal, Mr. Mellor. I should be very glad to do something to please you," said Chris. *'But you will shew some self- denial, I am sure; you would see your way to make some advance upon twenty-five thousand." "Not a—Hang it all! Selwood is a decent chap, and he is fighting for the Empire," cried Mellor. Hang it all! I'm not the sort of man to haggle over a pound or two in a matter that concerns a soldier of the Queen. I'll make it guineas, my man." Chris did not want to see anything more of Mellor. His assumption of the air of a patron in regard to the man whom he was doing his best to rob-whom he had already robbed-though after all it was only business—was enough for Chris, avaricious though he was on all questions of copy for future use. He shook his head sadly, after he had worked out a sum on a piece of paper, saying: I'm afraid that I could not sanction the sale of the farm for twenty-six thousand two hundred and fifty pounds, Mr. Mellor." "Then you may keep it and be hanged to you!" cried Mellor, going to the door. But before he had turaed the handle, he looked round. I want to do something for Selwood," he said, "what is the figure that's in your mind, my good fellow?" If you say two hundred and fifty thousand pounds I'll consider your offer, but without pre- judice," said Chris. Mr. Mellor stared at him for a moment from the door. Then he walked across the room and stood in front of Chris's desk. Two hundred and—Are you mad!—Are you- oh, Jevons is a scoundrel!—-J evons has given me away!" said Mellor in the toce of a man who muses. "No," said Chris. You gave yourself away, my good Mr. Mellor; and now please take your- self away as quickly as possible. You are a poor sort of person, after all, Mr. Mellor. You are possibly the leading exponent of the cult of swagger and bounce and hustle, but you are a poor sort of person all the same. Now, be off with you." Then Mr. Mellor shewed himself to be a greater foof even than Chris took him to be; and he glanced at the door, and then leant over the desk, saying: "Mr. Foxcrsffc, you are the cleverest man I have met in my life. I am sure you are clever enough to look at this business from a strictly business stand point. You don't want to spend the rest of your life writing for a measley news- paper. Sixty thousand pounds in your hand to- day would give you, at four per cent. His voice had sunk to a whisper. In a whisper Chris interrupted him. H'sh, for heaven's sake!" he said. "Do you suggest that I should stand in with you in this transaction ?" Sixty thousand pound?—I'll give you my cheque on the spot-before I get the title deeds. If we float Drellincourt Farm-that is the only condition. Sixty thousand! You need never see an ink-bottle again. You'll stand in with us?" Then Chris got up from his chair and walked stealthily to the door, which he opened very gently. He looked up and down the passage on to the stone stairs at the further end. Then he returned to the room. All his old impulse to kick Mr. Mellor came back to him. But he resisted that impulse manfully. All that he did was to leave the door open and point to it, as if he feared that Mr. Mellor might not know his way from the desk to the door. "Look here," said Mr. Mellor, "you're no fool. I'll say seventy thousand." Still Chris managed to crush down his kicking impulse. He merely made a rush at Mr. Mellor, and knocked his hat off into the passage, and then gave it a kick that sent it down the stone staircase. Mr. Mellor was not the man to take so gross an insult without an attempt at retaliation- Meekness was not one of his attributes. He had followed his hat in a hurry for a few steps along the corridor, but as soon as his hat had cleared the edge of the staircase he saw the futility of trying to prevent a disaster to it. Then he turned with clenched hands and livid face to Chris. You-you-you young-Sir. you're no gentle- man!" creid Mr. Mellor, while he retreated. Chris heard him descend the stairs, and when he got to the first lobby, explain to the member of the staff who had picked up the hat that he had unfortunately hit it against the wire netting I 1 at the gas bracket. CHAPTER XXIX. In spite of the opinion given by Professor Seyder as to the properties to be found in the soil of a great portion of Drellincourt Farm-in spite also of the fact that Mr. Mellor had ad- mitted in his own way that his views of the value of the farm agreed (approximately) with those held by Professor Seyder, Chris Foxcroft felt that he could not be over-cautious in this par- ticular matter. He had proved to his own satis- faction that he was strong enough to control his impulses in regard to Mr. Mellor, and he had confidence that he would be able to control his longing to go to Muriel and Joan in order to tell them that the House of Selwood had been saved from disaster. What a. terrible thing it would be if he were to go to them with his story and afterwards find out that Drellincourt Farm was, after all, no more valuable than the head bailiff believed it to be! To be sure, Mellor had founded his opinion on the judgment of his two surveyors and Mr. Jevons —the last-named being one of the greatest authorities in England—while he himself had got the opinion of an eminent man of science. Still he was not entirely satisfied. He had brought up to town with him a bottleful of the grey vein, and he went boldly with it to the laboratory of the man who had discovered the properties of pyrotid, fortified by a letter from Professor Seyder. He was unfortunate enough not to find the man at his laboratory at the School of Science; but leaving his letter of introduction and a card, hoping that he might be fortunate enough to see him in an hour, he took the train to the Temple and sought Mr. Vickers in Lineoln's Inn Fields. He was fortunate enough to find him in his room, to which he was admitted after a word or two with the clerk who never had told a lie. Mr. Vickers was frigid. "I have just received a letter from Mr. Mellor in which he formally withdraws his offer, Mr. Foxcroft," said he. Chris smiled, saying: "Oh, really! Does he give any reason for this shilly-shally ?" Mr. Vickers Stared at the speaker pretty much as old Mr. Hardcastle must have stared at young Marlow when the latter said he would like to glance at the menu of supper. Brazen-faced impudence!" was the translation of the stare, and Chris knew it. He was weak enough to long for a victory over Mr. Vickers of the type of that which he had won over Mr. Mellor. Mr. Foxcroft, I must say that it is by your shilly-shallying-your unaccountable shilly-shally- I ing—the sale of this farm at a price far over its market value has been lost-lost to the family whose interests you profess to have at heart," said Mr. Vickers. Perhaps another purchaser may be found for it, Mr. Vickers," said he with the air of a penitent. The fact is that I felt sure that Mellor's threat to withdraw his offer was only bluff." Only bluff-only-Mr. Foxcroft, I feared from the outset that you did not understand business. I hope that in these circumstances you will not think it necessary to interfere should another opportunity occur of disposing of the farm." I am sorry that I can give no such promise to you, Mr. Vickers. Have you had any other offers for the farm?" To my amazement-but it is only a remark- able coincidence, nothing is likely to come of it- I have received three inquiries regarding it this morning," said Mr. Vickers. But I really must beg of you, Mr. Foxcroft, to allow me to "Three inquiries—three?" said Chris, musingly. Here was a development which he had not fore- seen. Suddenly a thought seemed to strike him. Good heavens!" he cried, "they have all given him away-all Mellor's satellites have given him away. Two of the applications came from Mellor's surveyors and the third from Jevons—is not that so, Mr. Vickers?" so, Undoubtedly two of the letters come from firms of land surveyors who have clients ready to treat for the farm," replied Mr. Vickers. And the third: Yes, I believe the name is Jevons. But do not go away with the idea than any one of them will offer the price Mr. Mellor suggested, Mr. Foxcroft." My dear Mr. Vickers, there is not one of them who would not be glad to multiply Mr. Mellor's offer by ten. I could have sold the farm to Mellor when he called on me last night for a hundred and fifty thousand pounds." Mr. Vickers stared again and then glanced toward the fender. He plainly wished to see that the poker was within easy reaoh. "Mr. Vickers, have you heard of pyrotid?" in- quired Chris, confidentially. Sir," said Mr. Vickers with dignity, I am not a betting man." It is not the name of a horse, but of a singular mineral," said Chris. It is worth four pounds a ton, and there are two hundred thousand tons of it on Drellincourt Farm. I found that out by the aid of a little shilly-shallying; but I admit that I got my cue regarding its existence from Mellor, for, Mr. Vickers, in the profession to which I belong, it is absolutely necessary for one to understand men." I must ask you to be explicit, Mr. Foxcroft," said the solioitor, with only a shade of nervous- ness in his tone. "I owe you an apology," said Chris. Yes, I will be explicit." And he was explicit. So was the discoverer of the properties of pyrotid when Chris waited upon him at the hour he had suggested. The contents of the bottle which Chris had left with him contained, as he proved by a simple experiment that completely baffled Chris to follow, a large percentage of pure pyrotid, and if anyone had five thousand tons of it, Colonel Waters, the head of the Wood Paving Syndicate, would buy it at the rate of four pounds one shilling and ninepence a ton, at the pit's mouth. His last doubt vanished into the odour of pot pourri—perhaps, after all, it was not really pot pourri-that pervaded the laboratory. He called a hansom-he felt that he might indulge in the luxurious peril of a hansom upon this occasion—and drove to Lady Humber's house; it was close upon five o'clock, so that he knew he had a very good chance of finding Muriel and her sister at tea. He ran upstairs to the miniature drawing-room, and found Muriel alone there. She was darning a rent in her painting blouse. Chris stood opposite the garment that bore the honourable stains of her work, and then he looked at the beautiful girl-the daughter of the historic house who had promised to love him—and then he did a queer thing; for he fell into the nearest chair, and putting his hands before his face, he wept as he had not wept for over twenty years. He had made a vainglorious boast in the presence of Mr. Vickers of his knowledge of men; but he knew nothing of his own heart and its workings. She was kneeling at his side in a moment, putting an arm about him. "What is the matter, dearest Chris?" she whispered, "Tell me the worst. It cannot be bad, dear; are we not together?" i I It is not the worst-it is the best," he cried. It is the best news that I bring-and yet-oh, it was too pathetic to see you-you-working at that-tha--like a sempstress, and all the time Selwood is empty—waiting for you." She was puzzled. You have overworked yourself; you are nervous. You must come with us to the theatre to-night. Mr. Meadows willinsist on it when he sees in what condition you ate. Here comes Joan. She will persuade you." Am I to come in?" said Joan. "Don't have me if you have something to talk about." Come in, Joan; old Chris has brought us some good news and-" Oh, Chris; he has been made a general; papa has been appointed to a brigade," cried Joan. Chris mopped away his tears. He sprang from his chair and walked to the window and looked out. The girls stood silent in the middle of the room. A maid entered with tray and teacups. She saw Miss Selwood's young man-that was naturally how he was referred to in the ancillary department-with his back to the young ladies. "A tiff!" thought the maid as she left the silent room. In a minute or two he had pulled himself to- gether. He went to the girls with a hand out- stretched to each. He kissed each of them. I am a bit of a fool," he said, as though he were generalising on the act: as though he were saying, "Any man who kisses two girls at once is a bit of a fool." You are overstrung, dear old Chris; we know that your novel is a great success-everyone says so," cried Joan soothingly, as one who is wise soothes one who is a fool. You will be betier when you have had a cup of tea," said Muriel. "It is not the novel-it is Selwood!" said he. Selwood is safe. Selwood is waiting for you. Your money troubles are at an end. Every penny of the mortgages can be paid off, and there will still be thousands left." Do take a cup of tea," said Muriel. And one of the cream cakes; they are hot this evening, for a wonder," said Joan. "Yes; it sounds like nonsense, doesn't it? Selwood free; out of pawn; but it is a fact," said Chris. Of course I'll have a cup of tea and one of the cream cakes. Whether that will con- vince you of my sanity or insanity I do not venture to say. No, on second thoughts, I'll not touch meat or drink—that's the correct wording of the old vow-until I tell you all there is to be told. It did not take him long to tell the story of the discovery of the pyrotid; only he tried to make them believe that it was by the merest chance that he had brought his friend Professor Seyder for a walk over Drellincourt Farm. He did not succeed in convincing them on this point. They knew perfectly well that they owed the discovery to him. But they were not the less glad on this account. They took the news of their good fortune as calmly as they had taken the news of their disaster. disa1s!11 have to finish the panels in Mr. Meadows's drawing-room," said Muriel seriously, "but I don't think that I shall accept any more orders." "I should think not," said Joan. "I frankly admit that I hate working for a living. Disci- pline? I detest discipline." But you were not afraid to face it when there was a need-that will be remembered against you as long as you live," said Chris. Oh, it is only a variation of Polonius's advice to his son," cried Joan. "Beware the entrance to a a workshop, but being in't—' well, work all you know. Oh, dear Chris, you have saved us- you have saved Selwood." Nonsense!" said he. "Do you mean to suggest that it was I who mixed the pyrotid with the soil of Drellincourt Farm? Good heavens' I never heard of pyrotid before Saturday. What is it that you are thinking of now, my Muriel?" I am thinking of South Africa," she said. And then the two sisters rushed into each other's arms. Chris stole away to the musio of their joyful sobbing. (To be concluded.)
IA PINT OF LEMON BLANC-MANGE…
I A PINT OF LEMON BLANC- MANGE FREE. For the benefit of those who appreciate a good Blanc-Mange, we wish to make it as widely known aa possible that a pint of most delicious Lemon Blanc-Mange, delicately tinted, and exquisitely flavoured with Lemon can be made from a Id. packet of "Eiffel Tower" Lemon Blanc-Mange Powder. You should obtain it from your Grocer. But for those who cannot get it we may say that Messrs. Foster, Clarke and Co., 3578, Eiffel Tower Factory, Maidatone (who are also the makers of the celebrated Eiffel Tower Lemon), are wisely sending sufficient to make a pint free on receipt of a postcard-we say wisely, because those whe once try it will certainly continue to use it.
[No title]
WRVXHAM HORSE SALBS.-It will be seen from our advertising columns that the entries for Messrs. Frank Lloyd and Sons great July- August sales at Wrexham close on Monday, July 22nd. £35 is offered in prizes. The first day is for harness horses and hunters. The second day is set apart for hackney show cobs and ponies, and includes twenty high-class and l z:eys from the well-known Tyddyn stud. Thursday, the last day, is for heavy, lurry and young horses. The auctioneers expect a great demand for all classes. Whitbread's. or Ind-Coope's, Ale and Stout, in pint bottles, can be had in single dozens from H. Martin & Co., Foregate-street, Chester.
CRICKET NOTES.
CRICKET NOTES. Bad tidings again reach us from Hoole, who appear to be very much on the down grade of late. On Saturday they should have made a short journey to play Ashton Hayes, but were unable to raise an eleven. With plenty of members, and everything that a club could wish for in the shape of financial assistance, the inability to raise eleven men is unaccountable, and we are forced to the conclusion that there must be a screw loose some- where. Either the management is at fault or the members do not take that interest in the doings of1 the club which was their wont in past seasons. No doubt the failure of the club to register a victory in its recent matches has something to do with, the apparent lack of interest, but surely the old adage, which is too well known for repetition here, is well worthy of a trial. The club has cer- tainly sustained a severe loss through the removal from Chester of H. J. Hill (the hard-working secretary), he having received a lucrative appoint- ment at Stockport, and the best wishes of the members for his future prosperity will follow him to his new sphere of labour. His place as secre- tary will indeed be hard to fill, for no official took more pains in his work in the interests of a club than did he. If another capable man can be found to fill his place and the members will only be per- suaded to devote at least two evenings a week to practice, Hoole can again become a stumbling block, and one of the hardest nuts to crack in the district. The return encounter between Boughton Hall and Knutsford, which took place at Knutsford on Saturday, brought out some interesting play. The homesters were seen to far better advantage than they were in the match of a fortnight ago, when our premier eleven gained an easy victory. On this occasion the home batsmen were found in a different mood, and made light of the bowling op- posed to them. Several excellent scores were made, chief among them being Hartley's 63, and two of 56, compiled by R. C. B. Fennell and L. Caldecutt. A fair start was made by the Knutsford men, 37 runs being regis- tered before the fall of the first wicket, Rivaz failing to deal with a good ball from Hales. Hartley and Fennell, by excellent cricket, then took the score to 120, a very good one for the second wicket. Four batsmen besides those mentioned obtained double figures, and at the fall of the sixth wicket the closure was applied. The total had then reached the huge one of 289, during the compilation of which the visiting captain tried no fewer than seven bowlers. Boughton Hall commenced the big task set them with P. M. Morris-Davies and H. Hack. From the outset things went badly with our premier eleven, as Morris-Davies received his quietus with the score at eight, and was shortly afterwards followed by Hack (13) with the score at 24. Henshall (23) and Gore (24) for a time stemmed the tide of dis- aster, and put on 41 runs before the fall of the third wicket. Darby (28 not out), Trampleasure (20) and Hales (17 not out) also batted carefully, and at the call of time 147 runs had been recorded for the loss of six batsmen. Knutsford thus had by far the best of the draw, being 142 runs in ad- vance. The total number of runs knocked up was very heavy for an afternoon's match, no fewer than 436 being recorded. The second string of Boughton Hall was at home to Eaton Park, and, as usual when these old rivals meet, the game was watched with more than or- dinary interest. From various causes the second eleven captain has not been able to place anything like a representative eleven on the field, and this was the case on Saturday. Hales, Jones and Blatherwick were required with the first, but able substitutes were found in T. Banks and P. Roberts, the latter donning the flannels for the first time this season. The visitors were strongly represented; in fact it appeared on paper to be the best side that has turned out to do duty for Eaton Park this season. Eaton Park had first turn with the bat, and were first represented by C. Stanyer and the Rev. J. R. Fuller, who faced the bowling of Halliday and Romney. The start was none too promising for Eaton, as Halliday found a weak spot in Stanyer's defence with but two runs on the board. A. Lewis followed in, and with the rev. gentleman as a partner matters assumed a different aspect. The pair made a long stand, several changes in the bowling proving fruitless, and it was not until the scoring board recorded 89, an addition of 87, that a separation was effected. At this point the rev. gentleman was well bowled by Halliday for a use- ful 16. His stay with Lewis was an admirable one, and at once placed the visitors on a sound footing. Lewis was also bowled by Halliday for an in- valuable item of 60. His display was an excellent one, stylish and free, and he thoroughly deserved the ovation he received on his return to the pavilion. A couple of batsmen were dismissed for the addition of five runs, but another admirable stand was made for the fifth wicket, which re- sulted in the scoring board receiving a fillip of 86 runs. Nelson batted in capital fashion, and was not dismissed until he had credited himself with 41 runs. Killick (37 not out) and Barton (10 not out) also followed tbe? good example already set, and with the score at 202 for five wickets the closure was applied. The number of extras was a heavy item, being no fewer than 24. Of the bowlers tried by Boughton-Hall Halliday came out with the best analysis, he taking three wickets at a cost of 59 runs. Roberts took one for 29, and Romney one for 38. Over the Boughton Hall innings it would be best to draw a veil, their exhibition\being poor in the extreme. Roberts, Douglas, Banks and Rjtfen- shaw were all dismissed ere 20 runs had been recorded. At this stage, however, the only bright part of the innings took place, this coming with the association of Halliday and Billington. Both batsmen played capitally, each making an earnest endeavour to retrieve the failure of the previous batsmen. In this they were successful, and despite several changes in the bowling the pencillers had to dot down 71 runs ere a separation was effected. Billington at this point was unfortunately run out after scoring 13. The next pair took the score to the three figures, but no sooner had this score been reached than another rot set in, three batsmen being sent back without the addition of a solitary run. The last wicket fell at 107, leaving Eaton Park handsome winners by 95 runs. Of Halliday's dashing innings of 69 enough cannot be written. It was the only redeeming feature of the innings, and he undoubtedly saved his side from an in- glorious display. To score 69 out of a total of 107 is not an everyday occurrence, and he is deserving of congratulation. His score included three sixes and eight fours, he on one occasion lifting the ball from one of the trundlers clean into the canal —a very fine hit. The homesters were rather un- fortunate in one respect, inasmuch as three man were run out, the result of smart fielding .n the part of the Eaton men. Of the bowlers tried by the visiting captain Aldis met with most success, claiming four victims. Nelson took two wickets and Killick one. The visit of the Chester Victoria eleven to Birkenhead Park, the home of the Birkenhead St. Mary's Club, will be long remembered as producing one of the most decisive and well- earned victories yet secured by the Cestrians. From the very commencement of the game the Victorians played like winners, their bowling, fielding and batting being up to a very high standard indeed. The home captain, on winning the toss, decided to take first turn on the capital wicket which had been got ready. C. Jones and E. Weston faced Lloyd and W. Roberts. Each bowler sent down a maiden, and then Lloyd in his second over clean bowled Weston, the score being 1. At the same totil C. Jones was smartly taken by Grice off W. Roberts. The score was only five when the next wicket fell, a good catch at point sending back W. A. Jones. This was a very bad start for the homesters, but further disasters were to follow, as for an additional two runs half the side was out for seven runs. At this point Davies and Jones became associated, and put on 13 runs before Davies had his wicket disarranged by Lloyd. Travis partnered Jones, and the best stand of the innings was made, resulting in the addition of 23 runs to the score, which eventually totalled up to 50. J. Jones was top scorer with 18, and Travis, 14, was the only other double figurist, and both men may be congratulated upon making a very plucky attempt to put a better appearance on the state of affairs. Lloyd and W. Roberts bowled unchanged, the former taking five wickets for 30 and the latter five for 19. The visitors were first represented at the crease by J. G. Jones and Atherton to the bowling of Travis and Gaskell. With the score at 8 the first wicket fell, Atherton being caught in the slips and thus making way for J. Roberts. Twenty- one runs were added for the second wicket before Roberts was bowled by Travis, his score (11) having been made by very good cricket. W. Roberts was the new comer, but after contributing three was bowled off his pads, the third wicket falling at 38. At this point Grice came out to partner Jones, and some very interesting cricket ensued. Several changes of bowling were tried, but without avail, and before long the winning hit was made by Jones amid considerable ap- plause. I The total was taken to 67 before Jones was given out lbw to Gaskell. The outgoing bats- man had played capital cricket. For over an hour he maintained a splendid defence, and his display was only marred by one chance when 25. Lloyd followed in, and at once commenced to lay about him lustily, and runs were put on at a merry pace until at 83 Grice was caught at mid-on after contributing an excellent 21. Fletcher followed in, but fell a victim to Travis in the slips before opening his account, the fielder bringing off a very clever account, Griffith joined Lloyd, and the bowling catch. was hit about in all directions until, with the total at 123, Lloyd paid the penalty by being bowled in trying to hit one from Travis. The retiring batsman had secured the top figures (32), his hits including a magnificent drive for 6. The total eventually reached 147, the last wicket putting on 18 runs before Hallmark, who also secured double figures, was stumped. Griffith, who went in sixth wicket down, carried out his bat for a well-played 17. Five bowlers were tried by the Birkenhead captain, and of these Travis came out with the capital analysis of four for 32. The Cestrians have every reason to be proud of themselves for the capital all-round dis- play they gave. A match was played at Mold on Saturday between an eleven of that club and Alun County School. The visitors were strongly represented, while Mold placed their best availahje team on the field. Taking first turn with the bat, the I visitors were seen to distinct advantage, no fewer than 150 runs being, knocked up for nine wickets, when the closure was applied. R. O. Lloyd was top scorer with 39, while double figures were also made by R. O. Arthur, Mr. Scargill, Mr. Davies, T. E. Baggatt, A. McGregor and Mr. Extras. The homesters performed miserably to the bowling of R. S. Davies and Mr. Birch, and were all dismissed for a paltry 23 runs. The two trundlers mentioned came out with flying colours in the trundling department, Davies taking six wiokets for eight and Mr. Birch four for 13. Mold were allowed another knock, but time alone saved them from a single innings defeat, as when time was called 70 runs only had been recorded r the loss of five wickets. Peters, Parry, Prince and Hughes were chiefly instrumental for the better show made by them in the second innings, each scoring double figures. £ An interesting and exciting match was played fat Barrow on Saturday between an eleven of that club and Ince. Batting first, the homesters suc- ceeded in knocking up 62, the Rev. H. A. Arnold again being top scorer with 29. W. Jones was the only other bat to obtain double figures with 15, and the innings was concluded for 62. Curiously enough, the Ince men succeeded i?n. equalising this score, an exciting game thus ending in a tie. W. Jones was top scorer for his side with 22. A keen struggle was anticipated on Saturday, when Helsby, who won the initial encounter, entertained the Frodsham premier team. The Athletic club won the toss, and elected to have first innings. The afternoon was fine and a goodly crowd witnessed the game. One feature which made the encounter more interesting was the fact that an old Frodsham player (Holford) was playing against his old comrades, having joined the wireworks' team. Howard (who made 77 not out the previous week) joined Cross at the wickets, Cowap and Holford trundling. From the outset runs came at a good pace, Howard in particular making some fine strokes, and being equally well at home all round the wicket. The game had not- been in progress long before Cross 1 was caught off Cowap, and Heywood took his place. This rising young player was unfor- tunate enough to place his leg where the bat ought to have been, and he paid the penalty. Shaw, F. Kennerley, Dr. Selby and Linaker only troubled the scorers to the extent of 13 between them, Cowap, who was trundling an excellent length, clean bowling the first three, while the latter was smartly run out with good fielding. The visitors' tail end, however, wagged well, and Robinson 13, Jeacock 10, Entwistle 10, and Mr. Extras 11, helped Howard to put on a most respectable total. The latter had all along batted in beautiful style, and was again top scorer in the match with a well-played 54. The innings realised 121, a far better show than at one period of the game seemed likely. Cowap was by far the most successful bowler, and gained eight out of nine wickets. The Rev. McKee and Nixon were the Helsby- ites' first representatives, and the start was disastrous, as Ashworth clean bowled Nixon without scoring. However, when Cartwright became associated with McKee the game soon underwent a different complexion, both batsmen getting the upper hand of the bowling. Kennerley took a turn vice Jeaoock, but with no result. The rev. gentleman kept up his reputation for consistency and played fine cricket. Cartwright was caught by Linaker after making a most useful 22, and Holford joined McKee only to walk back to the pavilion without scoring. When time was called Helsby had made 73 for the loss of five wickets, McKee carrying out his bat for 37, so that the draw appeared pretty even on paper. The second string of Helsby visited the Frod- sham juniors at the Athletic ground, and batting first, made 90, the bowling of the homesters being distinctly poor. The batting did not seem much better, as the whole side only made 20, the Helsby bowling being most deadly. On Saturday Denbigh paid Mold a visit, but much of the pleasure plus interest in the game was discounted for by the fact that there were several vacancies in the visiting team, which were fined up by substitutes requisitioned on the field of play. Denbigh batted first, and though under the circumstances a twelfth man was conceded to them, they only succeeded in raising an insignifi- oant 36, 13 of which total was from the bat of Oswald Moseley. For Mold, D. E. Lewis took five wickets at a cost of 9 runs, Astbury being next with four wickets for 11. The Mold batsmen soon commenced to make things hum. Hurst and D. E. Lewis started the innings, and victory had fallen to the lot of the side with a majority of 23 ere Lewis was caught by Jones off W. Griffiths. Eaton and North did little beyond enabling Hurst to augment his score, but on the arrival of Astbury to join Hurst another productive partnership was formed. Rapid scoring was the order until the hour for drawing stumps arrived to find the score 130 for three wickets. Hurst headed the score with 51 not out, while C. H. Astbury 29 not out, and D. E. Lewis 38, were formidable contributions. Two of the three Moldavian wickets captured were taken by the home groundsman, Griffiths. Tilstone Lodge's return match with Tattenhall, played on the ground of the former on Saturday, resulted in a win for the Tilstonians, making their ninth success out of ten matches played this season, the tenth being a draw with Malpas. Tilstone went to the wickets 'first and scored a total of 86, to which H. Wright contributed 24 and Loddington 17. R. H. Dories, who has done very well in the trundling department this season, was again in evidence, seven wickets falling to his share. The visitors opened their innings with W. Jones and Welch. The former was quickly disposed of, he falling a victim to a good ball from Lyons. The scoring throughout the visitors' innings was slow, except, perhaps, when Brierley and Davies, while in partnership, stole a march on the fielders and secured many runs and byes, which caused some amusement. The visitors' total score of 53 was beaten by the homesters' 54 for three wickets. The wickets fell to Lyons and Loddington, the former taking six for 17 runs and -!he latter three for 4 runs. One of the most exciting games played for a long time was that between the South Africans and Worcestershire, the game concluding on Wednesday in a tie. In the two innings each team scored precisely the same number of runs, namely, 433. This is a very rare occurrence, having happened only eight times with first class and once with second class. FIXTURES. The following fixtures will be played on the ground of the first-named club to-day (Satur- day) • Uxton v. Boughton Hall Boughton Hall 2nd v. Oxton 2nd Eaton Park v. Tarporley Chester Victoria v. Barrow Hoole v. Birkenhead St. Mary's Sankey v. Chester St. Mary's St. Mary's 2nd v. Chester Wesleyans Reaseheath v. Tilstone Lodge Chester Gasworks v Mollington Tattenhall v. Ashton Hayes West Derby v. Neston and District Neston and District 2nd v. West Derby 2nd Hawarden v. Shotton Maesfen v. Cholmondeley Ince v. Ellesmere Port Mold v. Brymbo Halkyn v. Mold 2nd Helsby 2nd v. Moore KNUTSFORD V. BOUGHTON HALL.—Played at Knutsford on Saturday. Score:- KNUTSFOED BOUGHTON HALL. H Hartley c Gore bHack.63 P W Morris-Davies bRivaz 5 F C Biva? b H?le8 19 H Hack c Hartley b Simp. ? B?O.B Fenn?ell ? c Tram- son 13 P'«a^rH b Gore 56 J Henaha!i c & C B Fen- WW I ennell run out i nell b T St Fennell 23 T Jackson b Hodkm30n.lC G P Gore b Harlow 24 L Caldecutt not out 66 E H Darby not out 28 T St Fennell b Douglas.31 J C TrMapteMure lbw b J Simpson not out U Eivaz 20 .G Harlow did not bat. C Jones run out  8 P W Hanna „ L Hales not out 17 G A BWington „ F Blatherwick did not bat E Hodkinson J P Doug-las „ Extras 30 Extras a Total (for 6wkts).2S9 Total (for 6 wkts) .147 ♦Innings declared closed. BOUGHTON HALL 2ND XI. v. EATON PARK.— Played at Boughton Hall on Saturday. Score :— EATON PARK. I BOUGHTON HALL. CAStanyerbHaJhday. P Roberts c Fuller b Bev J B Fuller b Hallid'yl'J Nelson 5 A Lewis b HaDiday 60 0 Dou?lM run out 0 H W M?ude b Roberts .3 T H Banks b Nelson 2 A Nelson b Bomney 41 J F Halliday c Nelson b <T Killick not out 37 Aldis 69 W barton not out 10 J Ravenshaw b Ki'iiick6 W Aldis did not bat F Billington run out .13 H Baillie I L Romney not out .?.? 5 S Ho?n?C? Park? er „ T Day b Aldis 0 U W Warner „ F Viner b AIdis.??? 0 I H Caldecutt run out 0 W Beade b Aldis 4 Extras 24 Extras 3 Total (for 5 wkts) .202 1 Total .107 BIRKSNHEAD ST. MART'S T. CHESTER VIe- TOIRIA.-Played at Birkenhead on Saturday. Score B'SE4D ST. MART'S. I CHESTER VICTORIA. C Jones c Grice b W J G Jones lbw b Gaskell. 29 Roberts 1 B Atherton c R ? Jones E Weston b B Lloyd 0 1 b Gaskell. 0 W A Jones c J G Jones b I J A Roberts b Travis 11 R Lloyd 2 W A Roberts b Travis 3 G Gaskell b W Roberts 4 G Grice c Gaskell b B E B E Jones 0 Grice b W Jones .21 Roberts 0 I R Lloyd b Travis .32 T J Davies b Lloyd 5 W Fletcher c Travis b B J Jones b Lloyd .18 Jones 0 J Travis c & b W Robertsl4 G Griffith not out.1i F Williams b W Roberts.. 1 H Lightfoot run out 2 R Jenkins b R Lloyd 0 A Rowlands run out 1 W O'Neil not out. 4 E T Hallmark at Weston I b Travis .11 Extras 1 Extras .iO Total 50 Total .147 FRODSHAM V. HICLSIR 'Played at Helsby on Saturday. Score FRODSHAM. I HELSBY. W Howard b Cowap .54 Bev C B McKee not out..37 S Cross c Crosland b J Nixon b Ashworth 0 C wa 5 F Cartwright c Linaker T» J M £ rH£ eyward lbw b I b Kennerley 22 Njyon 0 A Holford b Ashworth 0 W Shaw b Cowa.p 1 E Crosland c Hayward F Kennerley b Cowap 0 b Jeacock 11 Dr Selby b Cowap 6 J Crosland c Linaker b C Linaker run out 6 Kennerley 1 H Robinson b Cowap .13 F Cole not out  oi B Jeacock b Cowap 10 J Taylor did not bat J Entwistle b Cowap 10 H Cowap „ A Ashworth not out 5 1 W Haycraft t. 10 White „ Extras 111 Extras 2 Total .121 1 ToWE (ftomr 95 wkta) 73 TILSTONK LODGE v. TATTENHALL.-Played at Tilston Lodge on Saturday. Score:— TILSTONE LvDGE. I TATTENHALL. H Wright c Shepherd b W Jones b Lyons. 1 Davies .I J Welch b Lyons 4 B Hewitt c Ostrehan b W Woolley run out 1 Davies 5 I Rev A Ostrehan b Lyons 6 T Loddington b Ostrehan 17 R Brierley c Billington b J Brookes b Davies. 5 Lyons 9 T Goulding b Davies 9 R H Davies b Loddingtonl2 F Cross b levies a F Arthan c Cross b Lyons 0 J Hewitt c Ostrehan b W Challinor b Loddington 1 Davies 6 S Welch c J Hewitt b W Lyons c Ostrehan b Lyons 1 Shepherd 3 T Shepherd not out. 0 J Cadman b Shepherd 3 T Shei)herd not out 0 W Hewitt c Shepherd b b J Breen b Loddington 0 Davies 0 I A Billington not out 0 ) Kxtras 16 Extras .18 Total 861 Total.53 BARROW V. INCE. Played at Barrow on Saturday. Score BARROW. I INCE. J Okell b J Nield 1 W Brown b Dodd 2 Rev H A Arnold c W J Jones c & b Dodd 7 Nield b Booth .29 W Cartwright b Arnold. 6 F Dodd b W Nield 4 W Nield run out .2: G Wright c Jones b J C Cheers c Wright b Dodd u Nield l p Booth run out .11 W Jones b Booth 15 F Charlston b Dodd 1 H Jeffs c Booth b W Nield 3 J Nield run out. 6 J Gregory c Cheers b W J Turner c & b Arnold 1 Nield 0 A Garner not out 2 F Perkins b W Nield 0 F White lbw b Arnold 0 W Vernon b W Nield 0 I A Oweu not out 1 J Oweu b W Nield 2 Extras 6 Extras 4 Total 62 Total .62 MOLD v. DENBIGH.—Played at Mold on Saturday. Score:— DENBIGH. I MOLD. J Hughes c Heaton b F Hurst not out .51 North IDE Lewis c E Jones b D E Humphreys Roberts Griffiths .38 b D E Lewis 0 I W C Eaton b Saville 7 Oswald Mosley run out 13 A N North b Griffiths 7I Lawton c Jones b Astbury 1 C H Astbury not out .29 J H Gibbs b Astbury .0Gillespie did not bat B Simon b Astbury 0 I Simons Sinclair b Astbury 2 AW Lewis Saville b D E Lewis 4 Schofield „ W Griffiths at Hurst b B-Hamilton It Astbury 3 E Jo es H Jones c Jones b D E Lewis 1 A Williams c A W Lewis  b D k; Lewis 0 Extraa 8 Extras 4 Total 86 Total (for 3 wkts).130 ALUN COUNTY SCHOOL V. MOLD 2ND XI.- Played at Mold on Saturday. Score:- ALUN COUNTY SCHOOL. Mr Scargill c Price b W B V Lloyd c Price b J B Peters 12 Price 39 S Davies b Peters W Peters 9 R E Jones c M Jones b J 0 Arthur c Hughes b J B Price. 3 H Williams 24  A E Davies c & b S Peters 7 Mr L Davies b J H A McGregor not out .11 Williams .12 T C EvaDs not out 2 Mr Birch c J Williams b Extras .19 J Eaton 0 T E Baggott b M Jones.12 t Total (for 8 wkts).150 'Innings declared olosed. MOLD 2ND XI. 1st Innings. Snd Innings. T H Parry cLloyd bB S Davies 0 b B E Jones .17 W Peters lbw b B S Davies. 3 b BE Jones 0 S Prince c Scargill b Birch 0 b B V Lloyd 12 J H Williams c B E Jones b Birch 6 c & b R E Jones 4 J B Price b R S Davies 4 not out 5 J Hughes c A E Davies b B C Davies 7 not out 11 J Eaton b Birch 0 M Jones bSS Davie. 0 S Peters not out 1 c Arthur b B E Jones20 W C Hughes cBaggott b Birch 0 L Jones c L Davies b B 8 Davies 0 Extras 2 Extras 1 Total .23 Total.70 SHOTTON v. DODLICSTON.-Played at Shotten on Saturday. Score Shotton: G. Gordon b A. Owen 4, J. Taylor o Owen b J. Brammell 37. G. Jones (retired hurt) 31, T. W. Lewis c and b Johnson 22, F. Barrett b Johnson 5, N. Austin b Johnson 0, W. Rayne b Johnson 8, H. H. Millar b Johnson 0, H. Green b Milton 5, J. Hird b Milton 6, J. Edwards not out 3, extras 14, total 135. Dodleston: J. Euvin b Austin 4. J. Lawrence b Barrett 1, F. Owen c Millar b Austin 3, A Owen b Austin 0, J. Jones b Barrett 1, G. Milton b Green 4, M. Johnson b Gordon 10, ±4. H. Hulmston b Barrett 0, J. BrammeU b Barrett 11, H. Gillham not out 2, P. Hulmston run out 2, extras 1, total 38.
SHEPHERDS' FESTIVAL ATi BROUGHTON.
SHEPHERDS' FESTIVAL AT BROUGHTON. Glorious summer weather, enchanting scenery, and the many attractions of the event itself, combined to make the thirty-second annirsary of tie Busy Bee Lodge, No. 1347, Loyal Order of Alicient Shepherds, Hawarden District, a great success on Monday. Nearly 100 members assembled at the King's Head Inn, Broughton, shortly before ten o'clock, and, headed by the Connah's Quay Band, they marched through the village, dressed in their regalia, and called at several of the residences. Broughton was quite astir on this occasion, and the inhabitants for once seemed to be in a state of excitement. The brethren a?tt.e?nde? d divine service at the church, where the Kev. J. F. Hodges (vicar) gave an appropriate sermon from the text "But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel," taken from the 5th chapter of the First Epistle of Paul to Timothy. The Vicar remarked that the duty of belonging to a society like this could not be stated in stronger terms than in the words of his text.—After the usual dinner had been served a toast list Was gone through. The Rev. J. F. Hodges acted as chairman, and in proposing the loyal toast re- marked that one of the characteristics of the King was the good tact he invariably shewed. He was a worthy successor to the late and good Queen. Mr. T. Handley proposed The Clergy and Ministers of all Denominations," and coupled with the toast the name of the chairman, who remarked that it was the duty of every true clergyman to do all in his power to forward in every way the interests of the people over whom he had charge, not only spiritually, but in matters pertaining to their moral and mental well-being. Brother Hy. Bodsworth, D.M., next submitted the toast of "The Busy Bee Lodge and Hawarden District, and Mr. J. Thomas (secretary), in re- sponding, said they had made satisfactory pro- gress during the past year, taking everything into consideration. The Honorary Members was given by Bro. Samuel Lloyd, and Mr. Handley suitably returned thanks. The health of the medical officer. Dr. Roberts, was proposed by Bro. Samuel P. Crofts, and an interesting feature of the proceedings was the presentation of an emblem by Bro. E. Edwards to Bro. William Evans, P.M., for valuable services rendered. The latter expressed his thanks in suitable terms. It is pleasing to note from the annual report that the worth of the lodge up to December 31st, 1900, was ;C875 19s. 4d., being an increase on the year's wofking of £ 27 6s.Jl0id. The sick pay to mem- bers amounted to J6115 19s. 2d., and the year ended with a satisfactory balance in' hand. Amusements were provided in the shape of hobby horses, etc.
IF OTHERS ONLY KNEW
IF OTHERS ONLY KNEW SAYS MRS. EMILY HICKSON, OF 211, u FRANCIS-STREET, CHESTER. iurs. iiietson, or F rancis-street, Chester, has been cured of eczema, a rash on the left arm, and as the means used were perfectly simple and safe, it is right that other Chester residents should know how it was done. About 12 months ago," says Mrs. Hickson, I was attacked with a nasty red rash which broke out on my left arm. The pain and irritation were at times almost unbearable, and I used to feel as if I could scratch myself to pieces. I tried all aorta of ointments, but they did me no good, so I consulted a doctor, who told me I was suffering from eczema. He gave me some medicine for the blood and also some ointment, but somehow they did not seem to suit my case, for I got no better; in fact the eczema began to spread. Now about this time I heard a good deal of talk of Doan's Ointment, so I thought I would try it. I procured a box from Boots, the chemists in Eastgate Row, and I must say it is a wonderful ointment, for in a few days the itching left me, the rash began to disappear, and I am now quite cured. There is no sign of its returning, but I shall always keep a box of Doan's Ointment in the house in case it should ever show itself again. I am sure if others only knew what a splendid ointment this is, it would save a great deal of suffering." Dean's Ointment is splendid for all diseases of the skin, eczema, piles, hives, insect bites, sores, chilblains, etc. It is perfectly safe and very effective. Doan's Ointment is sold by all chemists and drug stores at 2s. 9d. per box (six boxes 13s. 9d.), or sent direct, post free on receint) of price, by the Proprietors, Foster-McClellan Co., 8, Wells-street, Oxford-street, London, W., Formerly 57, Shoe-lane. ——————
[No title]
On Friday morning a disastrous fire occurred at Messrs. Knight and Sons, Limited, brush and basket manufacturers, at Southampton. The whole building was gutted, the damage being estimated at several thousand pounds. Nearly 100 people are thrown out of employment by the conflagration. A FATAL FIGHT.-On Saturday night during a street fight at Birkenhead, a man named Thomas Garner Bamber, aged 25, fell to the ground unconscious, and died almost immediately. When the body was examined at the hospital the only external mark found was a black eye. On seeing what had happened, the man with whom Bamber was fighting, named Albert Halsall, a barman, ran away, but the police expect to arrest him. DONALD'S HAIR RESTORER is a perfect dressing for the Hair, combining the properties of a Hair Restorer and Hair Tonic. It prevents the Hair falling off, and restores Grey Hair to its original colour. It also promotes and strengthens the growth of the Hair, and gives it a beautiful appeanance. Contains nothing of the nature of a dye. A book, containing valuable hints on the preservation of the Hair, will be sent on applica- tion. 2?- per bottle, postage 3d. extra. Agents in all the principal towns. extra. Agents in & Co., Liveipool. Sole proprietors—DONALD & Co Chemists,The Cross, Chester.
Advertising
????????? ? ??T?t??k  ???ON?c?? ??%% The fined Messina Lemons are used in the manufacture of   E?el Tower Lemonade. You can neither make nor buy ¡ ?t ? another beverage that tastes so good or quenches thirst  ??a??, ? ? so well. No other drink so healthful, so conyenion4 I\ so inexpensive. A ?d. bottle makes 2 gallons. ???, To avoid disappointment Insist upon having M Ein'e! J ??? Tower"Lemonade. Jpamm ??\-{\?? ? Tower "Lemonade. .?'  M? ??S??.??J?- Foster Clark & Co., Maidat_ one. /?g?? "> J "J 1'Ih.
THE EARL OF HARRINGTON. I
THE EARL OF HARRINGTON. I I AN INTERESTING CELEBRITY. I The Celebrity at Home in this week's Wodd" is "The Earl of Harrington at Elvaston Castle, Derbyshire." The writer says :—" There is nothing of interest to be seen during the four miles' drive from Derby to Elvaston, and it cannot be said that the approach to the house by the north front and the stables is so imposing as it must have been when the gates brought from Malmaison- which are at the end of the south front-formed the principal entrance" The east front, facing Trent, is very fine, as it has a splendid avenue of yews and deodars four hundred yards long; while the total length of the straight drive is fully two miles. The gardens and pleasure- grounds, which cover something like ninety acres, are among the distinguishing features of Elvaston, for nowhere, probably, is there a greater variety of yews, which have been so planted as to form shady walks, and are cut into all sorts of fastastic shapes to represent crowns, peacocks, and other "fearful wildfowl." The great majority of the yews were planted by the fourth Earl of Harrington, who, after marrying Miss Foote, the actress, ceased beine a courtier, as he had been before, and came to live at Elvaston, I upon which he spent the greater part of his in- come, amounting to something like thirty thousand pounds a year. In order to have the satisfaction of seeing the fruit of his own I labours, he purchased large trees in all parts of I the country, and had cars constructed to bring them to Elvaston; and it was in his time that a maze was formed at the eorner of the east front, which the present Lord Harrington's father cut down, as he thought that it made the house damp. Two long stretches of elastic turf.bounded on bh sides by the yew walks and clumps of earn k?? orous trees—of which there is a great varie at Elvaston-form the archery and croquet grounds; and at the end of the latter is a Moorish garden, with a summer-house of quaint aspect which harmonises well with its surroundings. Passing the lake, which has been greatly enlarged, and the mud taken from it made into islands, with tufa brought from Italy to decorate them, Lord Harrington will bring you to his glass-houses, in which he I grows the finest of Muscat grapes and Mal- maison carnations, to say nothing of the choicest of peaches and other fruits to supply the shop at Charing Cross. For Lord Harrington, who has put up a mile run of glass and has a kitchen garden of eight acres, opened a shop at Charing Cross a few years ago for the sale of his surplus fruit and vegetables, and this shop, which is entirely in his own hands, is managed by an old keeper who was getting past his work and who talks broad Cheshire. Lord Harrington points to the progress of science in the shape of a motor mowing-machine; and among the notable trees in the gardens is a weeping willow supposed to be the tallest in the kingdom. I A PATHETIC INTEREST I attaches to the workshop, which was established by the late Lord Harrington, who spent a great deal of his time there making violins and turning, several of his violins being still there. For it was here that the Prince Imperial, when on a visit to Elvaston, where he ubed often to come for the hunting, fashioned the quaint wooden figure sawn out of wood which Lord Harrington puts into your hand, adding that if the Prince had followed the advice given him, and taken out a small horse instead of the regulation charger, he would have been able to mount and get away from the Zulus. It is in the workshop here that Lord Harrington takes refuge during a frost; and among his clever inventions is a contrivance for enabling a driver to open a gate without getting down from his seat, one of those things that seem so simple when once they axe thought of." After chattily describing the house the inter- viewer alludes to the Earl himself. After he had got through the rudimentary stages of his education, he went for a time to Queen's College, Ireland, where he may be said to have had his first experience of hunting, though as a boy he had ridden his pony and had acquired fondness for a sport to which he is, at the age of fifty-seven, still devoted. From Queen's College he passed to Oxford, where he had as his contemporaries Lord Rosebery, the late Lord Bute, the present Duke of Northumber- land, and Lord Ilchester, and it was during his Oxford days that, on the death of his cousin, the sixth Earl of Harrington, his father succeeded to the peerage, and he became Lord Petersham. Soon after leaving Oxford, where he chiefly distinguished himself by riding cross-country races. Lord Harrington married a daughter of the late and a sister of the present Lord Carrington, and they lived principally, until his father's death in 1881 at Gawsworth, a property near Maccles- field which belonged to the family, and did most of their hunting from there, having a pack of harriers which his father had given him. Twenty years have elapsed since he took up his residence at Elvaston, and soon afterwards he became Master of the South Notts Foxhounds, succeed- ing Mr. Rolleston. He has hunted them since that time at the request of the public and at his own expense, and as Elvaston Castle is outside his own country this is rather hard work, for he has always to make a very early start, and does not get home till late; but he is so keen that he is never absent, hunting five and sometimes six days a week, and has his reward in a pack of hounds which is fit to compare in the field or on the flags with any in the kingdom, and which has shewn better sport during the past season than most of those in the Shires. As soon as hunting is over, Lord and Lady Harrington go to London for the season, but they have no town house of their own, and are this year located in Lennox Gardens, Lord Harrington spending a good part of his time at Hurlingham and Ranelagh, for he is as FOND OF POLO L I I ? I I ?- I- -? I as ne is 01 nuniing, ana can ciaim to De one oi the senior players in England. It was in Malta, where he was staying during the winter of 1875. that he first bought his polo ponies, and after he had played on them he sold one of the number, named 'Awfully Jolly,' which did so well in England, and became the sire of so many good ponies, that he felt constrained to buy him back again. Since then he has been a regular player, and has come to be regarded as a great authority I on the game, while he has interested himself in starting the polo pony stud-book, and has been successful in rearing polo ponies at Elvaston. He holds strong views as a breeder, and believes that those animals might be very much improved, no matter what the size; and he points to the fact that the sort of pony which does best for polo is the very animal which is now found so useful in warfare. His views, for those who are interested in the subject, will be found very clearly expressed in the first volume of the 'Polo Pony Stud-Book'; and among the trophies of the game to be seen at Elvaston is that representing the 'Open Cup,' which he once won and once tied for when playing with the Peats. His efforts are not confined to Hurlingham and Ranelagh, at both of which clubs he is on the polo com- mittee for he plays at his own Derbyshire Club near Elvaston, at Rugby, and at Leamington, while he has also taken part in the International Tournaments of the Paris Polo Club at Bagatelle. It is inevitable that his services should be in great request as a judge at the polo pony and other horse shows; but although he cannot always refuse to act, he confesses that he does not like the work,.whioh one can readily under- stan d for there are few more thankless offices, outsiaers always Knowing so mucn Detter man the judge. For thirty years Lord Harrington has served in the Earl of Chester's Yeomanry, of which regiment he is now colonel in command, having as his predecessors the late Duke of West- minster, Colonel Warburton, and Lord de Tabley. The regiment, which formerly used to assemble in Chester, now camps out, and was one of the earliest to go in for a. Yeomanry tournament. This was at first spokeA of sarcastically as PETKBSHAU 8 FAD, I but it is now found to be very benencial to any regiment, one of the first duties of a jcommanding officer being to improve the riding. Lord Har- rington distinguished himself in many of these competitions, and in addition to his polo prizes, has many others which he won at the Agricultural Hall against all comers-notably in one year when he made a clean sweep of everything, riding a pony of his own breeding by his old favourite 'Awfully Jolly,' whioh, by its extraordinary good manners, enabled him to beat all the riding- manners, while for three years in succession he masters, while for three years in succession he won the tent-pegging competition. It might be thought that what with his hunting, his polo, and his regimental work there would be little time left for other pastimes; but he was, to use his own expression, almost born on the sea,' for his father was a great yachting man, and he him- self could swim as soon as he could walk. He had no yacht of his own until his father inherited the title, and it was soon after this that the latter gave him a boat called the Gurderava, which he had built in Ireland for Lord Temple- town. He then had the Gazelle, a yacht which belonged to Sir John Burgoyne, and on which the Empress Eugenie was brought over from Trouville to England at the fall of the Empire. Lord Harrington, who came perilously near to being lost in her off the west coast of France, kept her until 1881, since when he has had only small racing boats. Being among the senior members of the Royal Yacht Squadron, he always spends the month of August at Cowes, and has been elected on the committee for handi- capping, to which Lord Valletort and Sir Richard Bulkeley also belong. With September comes the preface to the regular hunting season in the shape of cub-hunting, and Lord Harrington, whose travels abroad have not extended farther than Malta and Tunis, spends the autumn and winter at Elvaston, taking little part in politics, strong Unionist though he is, but discharging his duties as parish counoillor with commendable zeal, he and Lady Harrington doing all that lies in their power to promote the well-being and happiness of those around them." —————— A ———————
;DROWNED ON HER HONEY.MOON.
DROWNED ON HER HONEY- MOON. A young married lady, eighteen years of age, wife of Mr. William S. Wedge, an American, was drowned at Stratford-on-Avon on Sunday morning. Mr. and Mrs. Wedge were spending their honeymoon at Stratford, where they had been staying for about a fortnight, and pro- posed travelling next Wednesday to London, where the bride's parents reside. The couple went on the river between four and five o'clock on Sunday morning, and while the lady was standing up in the boat she loat her balance and fell into the water. Mr. Wedge threw an oar to his wife and leaped into the water making a desperate effort to save her but, he being an imperfect swimmer and there being no assistance at hand, his attempt was unsuccessful, and he himself had a narrow escape. The body was not recovered until nearly three hours after the fatality. The couple were married in London only ten weeks ago, and had engaged the boat for a fortnight, and spent every morning and evening upon the river. Mr. Wedge, who is between 40 and 50 years of age, broke his leg about a month ago, and the injury naturally impeded his efferts to save his wife. He, however, plunged into the water a number of times, and only discontinued his efforts when completely exhausted. An hour later he was found on the bank of the river, in his wet clothes, completely prostrated with grief.
Advertising
x ILK! MILK!! MILK! WELFORD & SONS DAIRY COMPANY, LIMITED, can always entertain OFFERS of reliable DAIRIES of well cooled MILK. Full supply of brass-plated churns provided and weekly cheques.—Full particulars to the SECRETARY of the Company, Chief Dairy and Offices, Elgin Avenue, London, W. §" No shape but this can please your dainty eye. SHAKESPEABE. WMS M r S EMAUTI. SITV MODELS. PERFECT FIX. GOABAHTEED WEAK. THE Y & N DIAGONAL SEAM CORSETS Will not split in the seams nor tear in the fabric. Made in White, Black, and all the Fashionable Colours and Shades, in Italian Cloth, Satin, and Coutil; 4s. Ud., 5a. lld., H M N e 6a. lid., Valid, per pair, aad "Admirably modelled, es- quisitely neat and strong. THREE aatn WZDAI.C. ? Sold by the principal Drapera and Ladies' Outfitters. COCKLE'S PILLS. 8 COCKLE'S PILLS. < COCKLE'S PILLS. • In universal use since the dawn of the century. A tried and trusted family medicine, prescribed by medical men for the common ailments of every- day life, such as ACIDITY. HEARTBURN. INDIGESTION. BILIOUSNESS. SICK HEADACHE. DISORDERED LIVER. These famous Pills cleanse and regulate the whole system,leaving it free from all imp urities. They carry off all unhealthy humours; i are admirable in women's ail- ments, overcoming all irregulari- ties and maintaining the system in health, strength, and vigour. To use them always is to keep yourself in perfect health-the bowels free, the liver active, the 1 head clear, and the skin and com- j plexion free from blemish. IN USE FOR 94 YEARS. (I COCKLE'S PILLS. 8 COCKLE'S PillS. 8 COCKLE'S PillS. Cockle's Pills are purely vegetable- warranted free from mercury. May be had throughout the United Kingdom, in Boxes, at IS. I id.. 2s. gd., 4s. 6d., us., and 22s. 4, Great Ormond Street, London, W.C. Natural Med/otne  AAA  IPOn That WSueiats kest Bijl H tt IB I TDh<MaSt Weakèst Not onstipate Of. Ouopb.ll-. R.d Blood Fomlni CAPSULOIDS, HOT WEATHER THINS T" BLOOD. 3rin Blood is Blood without sufficient Iron. This Iron must be Hsmo?obin oritwmt??iselM? Capsuloids supply only P"? Hæmoglobin. Never r Ordinary Iron Pdls and Mixtures, because they do not contain H?mo?obin, and such Iron _ly pa?ses out through the stomach and bowels, always irritating the lining more or less. Thennrp fren^01^ ky taking CapYuloTds gives 8trength to bear the hottest weather with easf and opllraeassS ur£ e, and also cures chronic dis'S eases and ail- ments which are caused by AnemiaCWero^ When Ima Medicine is needed the best doctors prescribe Capsuloids, and the ?CCf «rong/y recommends them. CAPSULOIDS are sold at 2/9, 6 boxes for 151., by Local Agents, or by the Capsuloid Co., 31 Snow Hill', London. Agent-W. Davidson, 45. Garden-lane, Chcstert Send fo? JPatnphlet, •