Richmond Hill Public Library News Index

York Herald, 24 Mar 1887, p. 4

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“ Well, Doll, whvy do yBu stop ’2” he said, imggtienfilyz It was a tragic, almost a dreadful scene. The passions it revealed were too intense for words, as no brush can justly paint a landscape made viv1d by the unnatural flex-cenan _of the lightning. She made f: step toward them as though to address him, andthe blind eyes fell upon her lovely face and wandered over it. It made her mad. His eyes were on her face, and yet he could not see.her. Q God ! Dorothy saw the motion and moved by an overmestering instinct threw herself between them in an attitude of protection not unmixed with defiance. And so, for a. second, their eyes flashing and their bosoms heaving with emotion, the two women stood face to face, and the blind pathetic eyes wandered uneasily over both, feeling a. presence they were unable to define. looking happy with her!” How dared she touch her love? How dared he look hapy with her? Those were the thoughts which flashed through her troulglegi mind. ‘ And Eva, too, looked at them, and she, too, saw the face she had never thought to see again. With all her eyes, and with her lips parted as though to cry out, she gazed at the sight before herâ€"slowly, slowly, taking in all it meant. They were nearly level now. Then there leaped up into her eyes and faceâ€"the eyes and face which a second before had been so calm and statue-like, a wild light of love, and intensity of passion- ate and jealous desire, such as is not often to be seen on the faces of women. “Ernest there, and Ernest blind, and _bei_ng l_ed by thief yanq_of20ro§hy,_apd filindnees, according to this little lady’s ideas, evidently sprang from the presence of a our and an unsatisfied hunger for copper coin. Sometimes it does. The tall, graceful lady looked up carelessly, saying, “ Hush, dear!” She was quite close to them now, for they were walking toward each other, and Dorothy gave a great gasp, for before her stood Eva Plowdenl There was no doubt about it. She was paler and haughtier-looking than of yore ; but it was she. No one who had once seen her could mistake that queenly beauty. Certainly Dorothy could not mis- take it. “ Nothing; I hurt myself.” They were quite gl‘gse upw. ‘ “What; is the matter, Doll?” said Ernest, carelessly. He was thinking of othe}: tbipgs. . THE CHOICE OF THREE: “ 0 mother,” she heard her call out in the clear voice of childhood, “ there is such a. nice blind man ! He isn’t 'old and ugly, and he hasn’t a. dog, and he doesn’t ask for pennies. Why is he blind if he hasn’t a dog and doesn’t aslffor peniiies?” 7"1 am very glad, dear Ernest,” she ansWered; and they walked on in silence. At that moment, a. little girl, who was trundling a. hoop down the gravel~path, stopped her hoop to look at the pair. She was very pretty, with large dark eyes, but Dorothy noticed that she had a. curious mark upon her forehead. Presently Dorothy saw her run back toward an extremely tall and graceful woman, who was sauntering along, followed at some dis- tance by a nurse With a baby in her arms, and turning occasionally to look at the beds of spring flowers, hyacinths and tulips which borderegl the path._ “0 Ernest, but you have been unfortu- nate, and now your sight has gone ; but perhaps Critchett or Couper will be able to do sqqxething fpr that.” “ All the Critchets and Coupers in the world will never do anything for it, my dear. but you must remember that, where I only lost my sight, many others lost their lives, and it is supposed to be better to lose your sight than your life. Besides, blindness has its advantages; it gives you so much more time to think, and it humbles you so. You can have no idea what it is like, Doll. Intense, everlasting blackness hedging you in like a wall, one long, long night. even when the sunlight is beating on your face ; and out of the night, voices and the touchings of hands, like the voices and touchings of the departed spirits. Your physical body is as helpless and as much at the mercy of the world as your spiritual body is in the hands of the Almighty. And things grow dim to you too; you begin to wonder what familiar faces and sights are like, as you wonder about the exact appearance of those who died many years ago, or of places you have not seen for years. All of which, my dear Doll, is very favorable to thought. When next you lie awake for five or six hours in the night, try to reckon all the things which occupy your brain, then imagine such wakefulness and its accompanying thoughts extended over the period of your natural life, and you will get some idea of the depth and breadth and height of total blindness.” “Oh, no, don’t pity me. Everybody has his troublesâ€"this is mine.” “ Do you know, Doll,” he said, “coming back to you and to your gentle kindness, is like coming into the peace and quiet of a sheltered harbor after beating the full brunt of the storm ‘2” J ust then a. cloud which had obscured the sun passed away, and its full light struck upon his face. “ There,” he went on, “it is like that. It is like emerging into the sweet sunshine after riding for miles through the rain and mist. You bring peace with you, my dear. I have not felt such eace for years as I feel holdâ€" ing your han to-d‘ay‘.” a His words struck her, and she did not know what to answer. so she only pressed his hands in tlzokgxg of her mpte sxmguthy. He understood her meaning ; EheLfacuyl‘ ties 9f the blind arg vgry quick: _ flis voicé broke the spell. Eva withdrew Patience? Yes, that's the woman's game, The dull delight of solitude, Where rank on rank she tries to frame, And speech and laughter ne’er intrude. Nwlt after night, beside the fire, hen evening's lonely lamp is lit, Oppressed with thoughts that vex and tire, Among the cards her fingers flit. The woman’s game! On some poor king The sequence of her play is built; The queen comes after,hap1ess thing! And next the knave with grinning guilt. Then all her treasures, one by one, ‘ Aye film'qu away go swgll plge pile; Atfiilhistfldhav 1615.735; fiwfieii Vthatr ié done; Begin again; the night beguile. A woman's game; to sit and wait; Build and rebuild, though fate destroy Shuffle the cards, for soon or late There comes an end to grief and joy. A man may fight, or sow or reap, Divide the seas, or traverse the earth ; She can but drudge, or pray or weep, What is her life or luving worth ‘2 She sits there when the day is dead, Lonely and listless. Do you dare D(ny, when all is done and said, That woman’s game is solitaire ‘! A minister may love his wife, From every ill protect her ; But love her as he may, alas! At; last he’s only Rector. And thoughshe may quite rapid be, No race-horse going faster, She’ll find, however wild and free, That he is always Pastor. They studied grammar in the school Together out in Carson, And after they were both made one She found him still a. Parson. And though he boasts he feels as young As when he first beheld her, His congregation 3.11 assert That he is yet the Elder. “ Pastoral Poetry." A NOVEL. Solitaire. â€"Y¢mkers Statesman â€"Railway Journal‘ -â€"Toledo American At lunch itself the conversation flagged rather; that is. Mr. Plowden talked with all the facility of an extemporary teacher ; the cherub gazed at this pale, arkâ€"eyed angel; and Eva, fully occupied with her own thoughts, contribfited‘a‘few apprecia- tive smiles, and a. few random; remarks. Just as they were, to her int‘enSe relief, The cherub, suddenly awaking to the fact, dropped his eyeglass, and, plunging at it, seized it as a pike does a little fish, and shook it with enthusiasm. Eva smiled again. “ Shall we go to lunch ?” she said, sweetly; and they went to lunch, she sail- ing down in front of them with the grace of a swan. ‘ “i am delighted,” she murmured, and held out her hand. The cherubic Jasper had serewed an eyeâ€" glass into his round eye, and through it was contemplating Eva. with astonished ecstasy; but like most beautiful women, she was used to that sort of thing, and it only amused her faintly. Mr. Plowden, too, was used to it, and took it ass. personal compliment. ‘ ‘ V“ Let me introduce my friend Lieutenant Jasper to you, my dear,” he said in his full, strong voice, which was yet unpleasant to the ear. “ We met at Captain Johnstone’s, and, as it is a long way to go to the barracks for lunch, I asked him to come and take potvluck with us.” In another instant he was in the room, followed by a. fresh-faced subaltern, whose appearance reminded her of the pictures of cherubs. Mr. Plowden had changed but little since we saw him last, with the exception that his hair was now streaked with gray, and the whole face rather stouter. Otherwise the cold gray eyes «were as cold as ever, and the countenance of Plowden was what the countenance of Plowden had always been~powerful, intel- ligent and coarse:looking._ _ her arm, which was half-outstretched, and touched her lips with her finger as though to enjoin silence. Then a. deep misery spread itself over her flushed face; her head sank low, and she passed thence with rapid steps. Presently the nurse vsith the baby followed her, and Dorothy noticed vaguely that the child had also amark upon his forehead. The whole thing had not taken forty seconds. “ Doll,” saié, with a. wildvoice, and com- mepging to tremble, “who was that passed us ‘1” “'I don’t knowâ€"a lady with children.” It was a fib, but she could not tell him then ; an instinct warned her not to do so. “ 0h ! It is strange, Doll, strange ; but, do you know, I felt just now as though Eva were very near me ? Come, let us go home 1” “ A lady,” was the answer. “ A lady ; yes, I know thatâ€" what lady}? Eva. reached her home, after the meeting on the Hoe, just before luncheon-time. Her husband Was now acting as locum ttmmls for the rector of one of the Plymouth parishes. They had moved thus from place to place for years waiting for the Kesterwick living to fall vacant, and Eva. liked the roving life well enoughâ€"it Sliverted her thoughts. Presently she heard her husbahd enter, bringing somebody else with him, and summoned up the sweet smile for which she was remarkable to greet him. Just then the cloud got over the sun again, and they walked home in the shadow. Apparently, too, all their talka- tiveness had gone the way of the sun. They had nothing to say. Eva Plowden could scarcely be said to be a happy woman. A refined woman who has deliberately married one man when she loves another is not as a rule happy after- ward, unless indeed she is blessed or cursed with a singularly callous nature. But there are degrees and degrees of unhappiness. Such a fate as Eva’s would have killed Dorothy, and would have driven Florence, bad as she might otherwise be, to suicide or madness. But with Eva herself it was not so; she was not sufl‘lciently fine strung to suffer thus. Hers was not a very happy life, and that was all about it. She had been most miserable; but when the first burst of her misery had passed, like the raving storm that sometimes ushers in a wet December day, she had more or less reconciled herselfâ€"likea sensible womanâ€" to her position. The day was always rather wet, it is true, but still the sun peeped out now and again, and if life was not exactly a joyous thing, it was at least endurable. Presently, however, two paints became clear in the confusion of her mind, taking shape and form as distinct and indes- putable mental facts, and these wereâ€"~first, that she was wildly jealous of Dorothy; second, that it was her fixed determination to see Ernest. She regretted now that she had been too overcome to ‘go up and speak to him, for see him she must and would; indeed, her sick longing to look upon his face ant] hear his voice filled her with alarm. And yet with it all she loved Ernest in her heart as much as ever; his memory was inexpressibly dear to her, and her regrets were sometimes very bitter. On the whole, however, she had got over it wonder- fully, better than anybody, who could have witnessed her agony some years before, when Florence told her the whole truth immediately after the wedding would have thought possible. The Sabine women, we are told, offered every reasonable resist- ance to their outrage by the Romans, but before long gave the strongest proof of reconciliation to their lot. There was something of the Sabine woman about Eva. Indeed, the contrast between her state of mind as regarded Ernest, and Ernest’s state of mind as regarded her, would make a curious study. They each loved the other,and yet how different had the results of that love been on the two natures! To Eva it had been and was a sorrow, some» times a very real one; to Ernest, the des- truction of all that made life \worth living. The contrast, indeed, was almost pitiable, it was so striking; so wide a gulf was fixed between the two. The passion of the one was a wretched thing compared to the other. But both were real; it was merely a difference of degree. If Evas affection was weak when measured by Ernest’s, it was because the soil in which it grew was poorer. She gave all she had to give. As for Mr. Plowden, he could not but feel that on the whole his matrimonial speculation had answered very well. He was honestly fond of his wife, and as he had a right to be, very proud of her At times she was cold and capriotous and at times she was sarcastic; but, take it altogether, she made him .a good and serviceable wife, and lifted him up many pegs in the social scale. People saw that though Plowden was not a gentleman, he had managed to marry a lady, and a very lovely lady too; and he was tolerated, indeed to a certain extent courted, for the sake of his wife. It was prinm ally to attain this end that he had marrie her, so he had every reason to be satisfied with- his bargain, and he was, besides, proud to be the legal owner of so handsome a creature. At that moment indeed she realized how great, how bitter, how complete was the mistake she had made, and what a beautiâ€" ful thing life might have been for her, if things had gone differently. But, remem- bering how things were, she bowed her head and passed on, for thetime completely c'rushed. Eva often thought of her' old lover, though, except in the vaguest way, she had heard nothing of him for years. Indeed; she was, as it happened, thinking of him tenderly enough that very morning when her little girl had called her attention to the “ nice blind man.” And when she at last, in a way which seemed to her, little short of miraculous, set eyes again upon his face, all her smoldering passion broke into flame, and she felt that she still loved him with all her strength, such as it was. CHAPTER XXXIX INTROSPECTIVE “ I waé no? going to speak of it. But I was going to say this, now while I have the chance, became time is short, and I think “ Listen, Eva,” Ernest went on, g&ther- ing himself together, and speaking sternly enough now, and with a suppressed energy that frightened her. ‘1 How you came to do what you haye dong you best know." “ It is acne ; do not 161: 119 speak of it. I wasinot altogether to blamq,” she broke in. Eva hung her head and was silent, and yet his words sent a. thrill of happiness through her. So she had not quite lost him after it all. “ Were you surprised to get my mes- sage ?” she asked, gently. “ Yes; it was like getting a message from the dead. I never expected to see you again ; I thought that you had quite passed out of my life.” “ So you had forgotten me ‘2” . “ Why do you say such a. thing to me ? You must know, Eva, that it is impossible for me to forget you ; I almost wish that it were possible. I meant that you had passed out of my outward life, for out of my mind you can never pass.” nearing the conclusion of the meal, a. messenger arrived to summon Mr. Pl’owden to ohristen a. dying baby. He got up at once, for he was punctilious in the perform- ance of his duties, and, making excuses to his guest, departed on his errand. thus forcing Eve to carry on the conversation. She ‘sat down on the sofa beside him feeling frightened and yet happy. For a while they remained silent; apparently they could find nothing to say, and after all silence seemed most fitting. She had never thought to sit hand in hand with him again. She looked at him; there was no need for her to keep a guard over her loving glances, for he was blind. At length she broke the silence. “ Have you been in Plymouth long, Mr. Jasper?” she asked. The eye-glass dropped spasmodically. “ Plymouth ? oh, dear, no, I only landed this mogning." "VLa’hdedé’ Indequ Where from? I did not know tnat any boat was in except the Conwsiy Casth.” The cherub suddexlfy became intensely interesting to Eva, for it had struck her that Ernest must have come from there. He did not speak till the door closed '; he only looked at her with those searching blind eyes. Thus they met again after many years. She led him to a sofa and he sat down. “ Do not leave go of my hand,” he said. quickly ; “ I have not yet got used to talk- ing to people in the dark.” “ Well, fcame by her, from the Zulu War, you know. I was invalided home forfever.” . “Indeed! I hope you had a. pleasant passage. It; depends so much on your felloy-passengerg, goes it not_ ?”_ I “ Oh, yes, we had a. very nice lot of men on board, wounded ofiicers mostly. There were a couple of very decent civilians, too, a giant of a. fellow called Jones, and a. blind baronet, Sir Ernest Kershaw.” Eva’s bosom heaved. “ I once knew a Mr. Ernest Kershaw ; I wonder if it is the same ? He was tall, and had dark eyes.” -" How do you do ?” she said, in a low voice, coming and taking him by the hand. â€"~:Thq§ will do, Juli " “ That’s the man ; he only got his title a. month or two ago. A melancholy sort of a. chap, I thought ; but then he can’t seenow. That Jones is a wonderful fellow, though ~could pull two heavy men up at once, as easily as you would lift a puppyâ€"dog. Saw him do it myself. I knew them both out there.” Another pause, and the drawingâ€"roam door Opened, and the maid came in leading Ernest, who wore a. curious, drawn look upon his face. “ Is Mrs. Plowden at home ?”sa.id a. clear voice, the well-remembered tones of which sent the blood to her head and then back to her heart with a rush. “ Yes, sir.” - “ Oh ! Wait here, flyman. Now, my good girl, I must ask you to give me your hand, for I am not in a condition to find my way about strange places.” “ Oh i Where did you meet them ‘2” “ Well, it was rather curious. I suppose you heard of the great disaster at that place with an awful name. Well, I was at a beastly hole called Help Makaar, when a fellow came riding like anything from Rorke’s Drift, telling us what had happened, and that the Zulus were coming. So we all set to and worked like mad, and just as we had got the place a little fit for them, somebody shouted that he saw them coming. That was just as it was getting dark. I ran to the wall to look, and saw, not the Zulus, but a great big fellow carrying a dead fellow in his arms, followed by a Kafir leading three horses. At least I thought the fellow was dead, but he wasn’t he had been struck by lightning. We let him in , and such a sight as there Were you never saw, all soaked with blood from top to toe l” AFTER MANY DAYS. Within an hour after the departure of Lieut. Jasper, Eva heard a. fly draw up at the door. Then came an interval and the sound of two people walking up the steps, one of whom stumbled a good deal; then a ring. He took it, and intoxicated by those superb eyes, ventured to press it tenderly. A mild wonder took possession of Eva’s. mind, that anybody so very young could have developed such anastonishing amount ‘ of impudence, but she did not resent the} pressure. What did she care about having ‘ her hand squeezed when it was a question of seeing Ernest ? Poor, deluded cherub! “I must be off now, Mrs. Plowden; I want to go and call on Sir Ernest at the hotel. He lent me a Derringer pistol to practice at a bottle with, and I forgot to give it back.” Eva turned the full battery of her beautiful eyes upon him. She saw that the young gentleman was struck, and determined to make use of him. Women are unscrupulous when they have an end in View. ' ' v V “ Ah! And how did they come like that ?” “ They were the only survivors of a. volunteer corps called Alston’s Horse. They killed all the Zulus that were attacking them, when the Zulus had killed every- body except them. Then they came away, and the blind fellow, that is, Sir Ernest, got struck in a. stormâ€"#fellows often do out there.” - Eva put further questions, and listened with breathless interest to the story of Ernest’s and Jeremy’s wonderful escape, so far as the details were known to Mr. Jasper, quite regardless of the pitiless fire that young gentleman was keeping on her- self through his eyeglass. At last, reluct- antly enough, he rose to go. “ I am so sorry you must go, but I hope 'you will gems and neg me again,. and tell me some inbre about the" War and tfie battles.” “ You are very good.” Another glance. “Will you tell him that I wish he would take a fly and come to see me? I shall be in all this afternoon." He did not thci’nk it necéssa‘ry to aim that he had not had the luck to see a. shot fired himgelf. 7 Why should he 7 A pang of jealousy shot through the cherubic bosom, but he comforted himself with the reflection that a fine woman like that could not-care for a “ blind fellow.” “Oh, certainly, I will try.” “Thank you,” and -she extended her hand. “You are very kind,” he stammered; “ Inshaillbe delighjzegi.” “ By»the-way, if you are going to see Sir Ernest, do you think you could give him a private message from me? I have a, reason for not wishing it to be overheard.” “Oh, yes, f dare say I can. Nothing wou_lfl give me greatuggplegsurp.” CHAPTER XL. A Dubuque, Prohibition Iowa, under- taker recently ordered stock from a Michi- gan coflin manufactory, and added this postscript to the order: “ Put in one of the caskets a. gallon of Old Crow whiskey and bill as embalming fluid.” The ancient Peruvians used to flatten their heads. ' . In an old valise belonging to O. 0. Put» ney, a. miner who was killed by an avalanche at Bay Horse, Idaho, were found some faded love letters, a. few bones, and a. note saying, “ I wish these bones buried with me.” Mormon husbandâ€"Yes : I have an engagement with Miss Brigham. She is to give mg her answer to-night. it right that you should know the truth. I ‘ was going to tell you first that for what you have done I freely forgive you." “'0 Ernest !” “ It is,” he went on, not heeding her, “a question that you can settle with your conscience and your God. But I wish to tell you what it is that you have done. You have wrecked my life, and made it an unhappy thing; you have taken that from me which I can never have to give again ; you have embittered my mind, and driven me to sins of which I should not otherwise have dreamed. I loved you. and you gave me proofs which I could not doubt that I had won your love. You let me love you, and then when the hour of trial came you deserted and morally destroyed me, and the great and holy afiectiou that should have been the blessing of my life has become its curse.” Mormon wife (to husband)â€"Are you going out, dear ? “ Well, ma,” persisted Bobby, “ can’t I go if I’ll just skate straight ahead and not try to do any fancy work ?”»Puck. Cornpromising \Vith the Day. “ No, Bobby,” said his mother, “you cannot go skating to-day. It’s Sunday,y0u know.” When Dorothy saw a freshâ€"faced young officer, who had come up to see Ernest, mysteriously lead him aside, and whisper something in his ear, which caused him to turn first red and then white, she, being a shrewd observer, thought it curious. But when Ernest asked her to ring the bell and then ordered a fly to be brought round at once, the idea of Eva at once flashed into her mind. She and no other must be at the bottom of this ystery. Presently the fly was announce , and Ernest went ofl‘ without a word, leaving her to the tender mercies of the cherub, who was contem- plating her with his round eye as he had contemplated Eva, and finding her also charming. It must be remembered that he had but just returned from South Africa, and was prepared faut (le mieux, to fall in love with an apple-woman. How much more then wouldhe succumb to the charms of the stately Eva and the extremely fascinating Dorothy ! It was some time before the latter could get rid of him and his eye-glass. On an ordinary occasion she would have been glad enough to entertain him, for Dorothy liked a little male society. and the cherub, though he did look so painfully young, was not half a bad fellow, and after all his whole soul was in his eyeglass, and his staring was meant ‘ to be complimentary. But just now she had a purpose in her little head. and was heartily glad when he departed to reflect over the rival attractions of the two charmers. He shrugged his shoulders as he .answered ; “ Has it ? For myself I am not sure if it has been a. happiness or a misery. I must have a year or two of quiet darkness to think it; over before I make up my mind. Will you kindly ring the bell for the servant to teke me away_?” “ You do not answer me, Eva," he said, presently with a. little laugh. “ Perhaps you find what I have to say difficult to answer, or perhaps you think I am taking a libgrty.” Eva covered her face with her hands and sat silent. "' Yoi are very hard,” she said in a low V0108. “Had you not better wait till I have done before you call me hard ? If I wished to be hard, I should tell you that Ino longer cared for you. that my prevailing feeling toward you was one of contempt. It would perhaps mortify you to think that I had shaken off such heavy chains But it is not the truth, Eva. I love you now, passionately as ever, as I always have loved you, as I always shall love you. I hope for nothing, I ask for nothing; in this business it has always been my part to give, not to receive. I despise myself for it, but so it is.” “ I have very little more to say, only this: I believe all this I have given you has not been given uselessly. I believe that the love of the flesh will die with the flesh. But my love for you has been something more and higher than that, or how has it lived without hope, and, in spite of its dis- honor, through so many ears? It is of the spirit, and I believe its ife will be like that of the spirit, unending, and that when this hateful life is done with I shall in some strange way reap its fruits with you.” “ Why do you believe that, Ernest ?” “ Why do I believe it 7 I can not tell you. Perhaps it is nothing but the phantasy of a mind broken down with brooding on its grief. In trouble we grow toward the light like a plant in the dark, you know. As a crushed flower smells sweet, so all that is most beautiful and aspiring in human nature is called into life when God lays His heavy hand upon us. Heaven is snrrow’s sole ambition. No, Eva, I do not know why I believe it, certainly you have given me no grounds for faith, but I do believe it, and it comforts me. By- the-way, how did you know I was here?” She laid her hand upon his shoulder. “ Spgrfa me, Ernesjz_,”»she whispered. Ernéét started. “I felt you pass," he said, “ and asked Dorothy who it was. She said she did not know.” “ She knew, but I made a sign to her not to say." u g” “ Ernest, will you promise me_some~ thing ?” asked Eva, wildly. “What is it ?” “Nothing. I have changed my mind â€"- nofihing at all.” “ I pissed you oh the Hoe this morning waking with DQtOi:hy_.”_ _ The promise that she was about to ask was, that he would not marry Dorothy, but her better nature rose in rebellion against it. Then they talked awhile of Ernest’s life abroad. “ Yes, it is cruel, but not more ‘cruel than phe rest.” He kissed her, and then somehow, he never knew how, found the strength to put her from him. Perhaps it was because he heard the servant coming. Next moment the servfint came and led him away. As 300;} as he was gone Eva. flung herself on the sofa. and sobbed as though her heart would break. )" Y‘It igya. very cruel word,” she mur‘ muted. “It has been a happiness to see you, Ernest.” “ 0 Ernest, you are blind 1” she cried, soggcqu kpoyvingwhaitghg sqid. _ He liughedâ€"A; hard little laugh. u Yes, Eva, I am as blind now as you have been always.” “Ernest! Ernest! how can I live withâ€" out seeing you ? I love you !” and she fell into his arms. “ Well,"- said Ernest, rising after a pause, jf gogddgy, Eva.” Half unconsciously she obeyed him, and then she came and took hishand and looked with all her eyes and all her soul into his face. It was fortunate that he could not see her. (To be continued.) Life in Utah. Nothing is prettier for little boys than the Eton suits, with kilt. vest and short Eton jacket, which slopes open from the throat to the waist line. is square cornered there and crosses to the back, where it is slightly pointed. A pointed vest of cor» duroy or pique covers the front of the waist of the kilt skirt, is lapped down the front and has pearl buttons set closely toâ€" THE- LADIES’ COLUMN. A charming travelling costume worn by one of the early departures for Europe had a plain skirt of dark electric»blue moire, draped with cashmere 0f the same shade; the tight, round waist had handkerchief fronts crossing over a vest of the moire,and full sleeves gathered at the elbow to deep moire cuffs. The waist was belted with watered ribbon. The long coat, reaching to the hem of the skirt, was of heavy blue camel’s hair lined with brown fur, and the turban was of the same material trimmed with the fur. Sad Fate of Old World Professional Beauties. LATEST FASHION AND OTHER GOSSIP According to a. society writer, since Miss Esstlake, the actress, made her first appear- ance in this country in her soft, clinging garments, swaying in harmony with every step of the wearer, society has been on the qui m’ve to discover the secret and gain, if possible, a. tithe at least of the swish and sway and rythmic movement which seemed to make the garment worn by Helle instinct with life and motion. The secret has been discovered, and the reigning belles in tip- top circles in New York are more capti- vating than ever before. These picturesque gowns are made of some soft, clinging material, and. worn over' divided skirts, making the dress necessarily conform to the gait of the wearer. The secret is said to have been discovered by the costumer of Rosina. Vokes and imparted to a select few of his customers. There is in London a tendency to give a hint of the Greek simplicity and richness of drapery in the newest costumesâ€"a result of the Greek plays and tableaux in which many of the fashionable women took part. Some charming ones have been shown in white and daffodiLyellow China Grapes that skilfully combine the beauties of ancient and modern dress. Covert coats of light tan and mastic liv- ery cloth, and with the lapped seams, are constantly growing in popularity. They are to be found ready made in the big dryâ€" goods shops. The collars are very high, and many of them button across with a little strap of the cloth; most of them singlebreasted and with three pockets, one of them high up on the left breast. Mrs. Langtry, before she disappeared from English society, had seen many other ladies raised by royal favor to the now ex- tinct position of “ professional beauty.” There is hardly one of these ladies whose fate is not worthy of commiseration and whose confessions would not be valuable. Their reigns terminated in various ways. One offended by observing that a certain waist was not so thin as formerly; another, that a certain head of hair was not as thick as of yore; a third, in a festive moment, poured a teaspoonful of ice-cream down a royal shirt-collar ; a fourth falsely and wickedly stated to her friends that a cer- tain bracelet was a royal gift, whereas in truth and in fact it was bought out of the hard earnings of her husband’s brain. The position of reigning favorite involved untold expenses, for to know the Prince involved knowing his set, who were numerous and thirsty, and for whose accommodation in a house often of the tiniest the friends of a lifetime had perforce to be discarded. Fulsome was the adulation poured upon the beauty during her brief reign, and cruel were the slights and snubs put upon her when it ended, and when nothing remained to remind her of it but shattered health, an alienated husband and an infuriated father- in-law. In such circumstances there is nothing for lovely women to do but to go and winter on the Riviera. The future of such a fallen star is dark indeed, unless, of course, her husband can secure election as member of Parliament, when she can get back into society by another dockâ€"London Pall Mall Budget. Little visites of plush are worn for after- noon calls and to the matinees, and at night to the play. They are of a shape to match the costume sometimes, but more generally seal-brown, which goes well with any cos- tume. They reach only some two inches below the waist-line behind, and have sling sleeves. The stitchings on the backs of the fash- ionable four-button English gloves grow broader and broader and the buttons con- stantly increase in size. The favorite color is a reddish mahogany shade, with the stitchings of black. This Week's Fashion Notes. The most fashionable fabrics for spring wear will be of cotton. The skirts of almost all walking dresses are made quite plain, or with a. very narâ€" row pleating set underneath the edge. Woman has no vote in Iowa, but she is allowed to hold office if she can be elected. According to the official register for 1887 three counties have Recorders who do not belong to the voting sex; ten counties have women Superintendents of Public Schools; a woman’s name stands in the executive department of the official register; she forms one of the 'Board of Honored Curators of the State Horticultural Society, and has a seat among the Educa- tional Examiners in Agriculture and Medicine. The Governor has recently a pointed a woman visitor to the Insame Hospital, and two of them act as trustees of the reformatories. Altogether Iowa women make a pretty good showing in public life, and the mere fact of not being allowed to vote ought not to trouble them very much. red. According to the New York correspon- dents women are considered by publishers to be among the best judges of manuscript. Whether it be her critical judgment or her critical instinct, her conclusion as to whether an embryo book or magazine article will take with the public or not is pretty sure to be correct. A new departure in the ways of women is the formation of a. fire brigade. Accord. ing to the London Fireman, this has been done by a thousand girls employed in a Liverpool cigar factory. They are well officered and drilled, and at a recent blaze in the factory turned out “ to a. man ” and did most effectual work in subduing the flames. At a. recent wedding in New York the bride wore adress more than a. century old. It was made for her maternal great- grandmother in 1778 and worn at her wed- ding, when Alexander Hamilton was groomsmun and General Washington and his stafl were present as guests. It was worn for the second time by the bride’s mother forty-five years ago. Ladies ih Greenland used to color their faces blue and yellow. The ladies of Guzemt stain their teeth a sable color which they think adds to their beauty. The two best female violinists in the States are Miss Duke, daughter of General Basil Duke, of Kentucky, and Miss Maud Tarleton, of Baltimore. “’hilns of the Toilet. J apan ladies gild their teeth. The ladies of the Indies paint their teeth The Fate of Professional Beauties. How to Make Garments “ Cling." A clerk in Louisville invested $50 in pork at a bucket shop the other day, and succeeded in running it up to $5,000. Then he determined to make it $10,000 and quit and get married. His $5,000 crept up almost to the desired amount, and then the market took aturn against him and in a few hours he didn’t have even the original 950. He will not marry this spring. gether. This is pretty in brown or blue serge and Suede-colored or white vest and braid, the color of the vest around the jacket and on the front pleats of the skirt. Black silk hats are worn with these. One of several gamecoeks that were being shipped to Portland, Ore,,esca.ped from the coop and the baggage car, and allthe'eflorps of the train hands to catch it were unavail‘ ing until a bright brakeman released another cock. In a. moment the two had engaged in battle, and were easily picked up. Dresses for little girls are made with plain low, square-necked waists, slightly pointed in front, made of fine embroidery or of cashmere, or India. foulards. Tiny pearl buttons in rows close together trim the revers. A single full skirt is worn with these waists. The strapped Gretchen waists, instead of having square openings, are made in a V to the waist in front and have merely a low square neck behind; embroidered edges, two inches wide; is turned down around theV front and square back and is slightly gathered in the arm- hole. An Albany preacher, watching some of his flock as they were having great fun tobogganing, was asked by one of them why he did not take the toboggan for a text. He said that that was a good idea, and that next Sunday he’d preach on winter sports. He was as good as his word, choosing for his text the last four words of the first verse ofthe twentyAsixth Psalm. A feature of the new bead passementeries is the use of open meshes in the midst of otherwise solid designs. Points and long leaves with one straight edge are the newest patterns in gimps. A great deal of metal cord or gold bullion gimp is shown for wool dresses or coats, and there are cashmere- colored bead trimmings for silks and velvets, in dark, quiet colors that will not be conspicuous. For wool dresses are galloons and pointed braids made of narrow plaited mohair braid in open de- signs in one color, or two tones, or in contrast. Farmers who raise turkeys in Lehigh County, Pa“, drive them to market as they would sheep. Sometimes flocks of 200 are thus driven along the public roads. Florida. fruit men say that the straw- berry crop this year will nearly double that of last year. White gloves are becoming popular for evening wear. Tan are now worn in the twenty-button lengths only with the darker shades of evening dresses. l’alest prim- rose, lilac and mastic are the most popular, and despite the frequent announcement of elbow gloves, well-dressed women continue to wear them up to the shoulder. To holel them in place upon slim arms a little elastic is caught to the inside edge of the glove with a few invisible stitches. It is best to add this even when the arm is plump, as it keeps the glove smooth and saves the injury that frequent smoothing and pulling up causes. The pet cat belonging to Mrs. Lucy lain, of Hannibal, Mo., brought a. mouse into the parlor recently, and with it a small piece of paper money. Mrs. Cain thought nothing about the occurrence until one day last week, when she discovered that a roll of bills was missing from her bureau drawer. Then she put two and two together and began a vigorous search of the premises. The missing bills were finally unearthed in a corner of the cellar, where a. colony of mice had made a. nest of them. ’Squire Royal, the tax-collector of Taylor County, Pa., took out a well-worn overcoat to sell to an old clothes man, a few days ago, and found 3190 in bills rolled up in a sheet of notepaper. The ’Squire is confi dent that the money is his own, but he has no recollection of having placed it in the pocket. Rev. Mr. Judar, of Medicine Hat, will be the next rector of All Saints’ Church in Winnipeg. A woman who bought an oldvfashioned bureau at a second-hand store in Cincinnati discovered a secret drawer which contained $1,300 in gold and old bank bills. Money was so scarce in certain counties of Southwestern Texas during the earlier part of the winter that in some instances the skins of javelina hogs were used as a circulating medium, and ‘possum skins were frequently offered in liquidation of grocery bills. The reported excitement in Newfoundâ€" land over the disallownnce of the Bait Act is said to be greatly exaggerated. In consequence of the retirement of Mr. Brown from the Provincial Cabinet, Mr. Norquay will resume the position of Pro- vincial Treasurer and Mr. Lariviere will again become Provincial Secretary. It is proposed to add a. “ Victoria wing ” to the Guelph General Hospital in com- mgporfition of itrhg Qilgeil’s jlibilee. The trial of “ Dressy Man," for the murâ€" der of Constable Cowan at Fort Pitt during the late rebellion, was commenceé at Regina to-day, and resulted in a verdict of not guilty. The Boston Globe “thinks “the non-inter- course Bill will be a good thing for Canada when the immigration boom commences in A991- _ Advices from Montreal indicate that Archbishop Tache continues in poor health and has, in consequence, abandoned his projected trip to Rome. ‘The London World says that Lady Rose- bery’s diamonds caused quite a. sensation at the Calcutta Smte ball last month, at which were present many distinguished Visitors. A Winnipeg despatcli says: The cases against Mr. Walker, cliarge&witll personat. ing at the Dominion election oontest,'and Mr. Claugh, accused of forgery in connec- tion with the Springfield Provincial voters’ lists, have fallen through. The national societies of this city are moving with aview to arranging for the proper reception of immigrants on their arrival here. It is reported that Parliament will be asked at the coming session to authorize an increase in the Northwest Mounted Police Force, and that each post will be supplied with a. Nordenfeldt gun. Warning has been given by the Imperial Privy Council that unless the losses which have occurred among animals curried on deck while crossing the Atlantic are reduced. the carriage of animals on deck during the winter will probably be prohibited. An important motion is being argued at Osgoode Hall on behalf of the Ontario A: Sault Ste. Marie Railway Company to re- strain the Canadian Pacific Railway Com- pany from constructing a branch line over the plaintiff’s proposed route from Algoma Mills to Sault Ste. Marie. A Chicago detective has arrived here to seek the extradition of Trimacyco, the Italian murderer. Snowslides in the mountains have temporarin interfered with the moving of trains in that section. Coal is selling at $20 a ton at Macleod, though it is only twenty-five miles from the Galt mines. Asnow blockade is the cause. Queer Things About Mnuey. Lute North west News. Latest News Notes. THE coox's BEST FRiéNfi How a \Voma‘n Solved a, Vexatio us Problem in Domestic Life. " DUNN’S‘ BAKING EQWDER Mrs. Benedict’s business is that of a rat- catcher,a new profession now fairly opened to women, and one which Mrs.Benedict, at least, has made lucrative, says the New York Star. The business of rat extermina- tion is not strictly new, and yet Mrs. Bene- dict is fairly entitled to rank as its inventor, at least in an important sense. She has raised it to the dignity of a profession. It has always been easy for housewives who were troubled with rats to poison them, but the problem has been to induce them to die outside their haunts. They have usually preferred to retire to their inaccessible re- treats in the walls as soon as they have felt the symptoms of arSenical poisoning, and the low state of sanitary science pre- vailing in their communities is such that poisoned rats are never properly buried or ‘ incinerated by their associates. The prob- lem has been how to kill rats without bringing unpleasant odors into the house. Mrs. Benedict has found out how to induce rats to die on the kitchen floor. Like many inventors, she is somewhat indebted to accident. She was engaged, it appears, in the domestic manufacture of plaster casts of various kinds. One of her devices was to mix Wheaten flour with her pulverized plaster of Paris, so that the gluten of the flour might make the paste less brittle. One evening she had visitors who rang the door- bell just as she was sifting the mixed plas- ter and flour for the third time by way of mixing them intimately, as the chemist says. She had already set a dish of water at hand, intending to make an experimental cast at once, and when the doorâ€"bell rang she hastily removed her apron and went to welcome her guests, leaving her materials upon the kitchen table. Her guests stayed until bed-time, and when they bade her adieu, Mrs. Benedict went in bed without returning to the kitchen. What happened in the night was this : A rat made his Way up the legs of the table to the top, wherehe was speedily joined by others. The dish of flour and plaster was easily reached, and the rats ate freely and hastily of it, as it is their custom to do. It was a rather dry supper, and water being near each rat turned to drink. The water drunk first wet the plaster in the rats’ stomachs, and then, in technical phrase, “ set ” it ; that is to say, the plaster thus made into paste, instantly grew hard in each rat’s stomach and put an end to any exercise of that organ. The rats decided Mr. Mallock’s question : “ Is life worth living ?” in the negative without quitting the table. The next morning thirteen of them lay dead in a circle around the water dish. Mrs. Benedict, when she entered the kitchen for the purpose of making her fire, saw them and actedâ€"that is to say, she screamed and climbed upon a chair. From that position she studied the scene and very soon saw the cause. Like a wise woman, she kept her secret and made profit of it. She undertook, for a consideration, to clear the premises of her neighbors of the pests, and succeeded. It was not long before the town was as free of this sort of vermin as if the pied piper of Hamclin had travelled that way. A Quebec despatch says the records of the Quebec Observatory Show that there are actually 108 inches of snow on the ground there, an amount that has not been fecorded sinde 1873 Three years ago seventeen bachelors of Keystone, Dak., entered into a. solemn compact never to marry. Eleven of them are already husbands and two of them are soon to wed. . nwhum, Branch 0555; 37nYonge at, Toronto Paid $5 for a Kiss. Edouard Briseon, a barber, was fined $5 yesterday afternoon by the Recorder for assaultmg Miss Angers, daughter of Sergt. Angers. He explained to the Recorde; that the style of the younglady as he passed her on Craig street the evening previous so for- cibly struck him that he involuntarlly put his arm around her waist and kissed her on the cheeln~MmLtreal Star. , _ _ _ _ _ v - u. I have n posItIvu remedy for the nbove (linen-o ; by "I ma thousands urmues of the worst kind null orong Itnndlng have been cured. Indeed, so strong I: my {Nth In It. efficacy, that I wI‘] send TWO BOTTLE FREE, touthu with n VALUABLE TREA’I‘ISE on this diam to any iufiarer. Give exprpu and 1’. 0‘ addrau. DR. " SLOC'UM, Of practical importance would be a bottle of the only sure-pop corn cureâ€"Putnam‘s Painless Corn Extraotorâ€" which can be had at any drug store. A continuation of the honeymoon and the removal of coma both assured by its use. Beware of imita- tions. I had rheumatism four years in Michi- gan, and during four months could not move without help. I spent over $1,000 without benefit. McCollom’s Rheumatic Repellant cured me so I can work hard and enjoy good health.--â€"GJ~:0RGE KETCHABAW, Bayhmn, Ont. Are those who court fortunewthose who are always looking.' oub for and investigatingthe nppormnities that are offered. Send our ad» dress to Hallett & (10., Portland, Mame, and they will mail you, free, full particulars about work that you can do while living at 110nm, wherever you are located, and earn from $5 to $25 per day and upwards. Capital not required. You are started free Both sexes. All ages. Some have earned over in a single day. All ' new, WESEEMPTION. An absolute aeiiial ié’ given an Winnipeg to the reported negotiation for the sale of the Manitoba. & Northwestern Road to the Grand Trunk. The pay car of the Canadian Pacific Railway, which is now out on the Western division, was ditched near Medicine Hat on Tuesday and was badly damaged. Mr. Pugsley. President of the Regina, & Long Lake Railway, who arrived at Win- nipeg from the East yesterday, said con- struction operations would be commenced as soon as the weather permits, and than: the line will be built to the South Sas- katchewan before the snow comes next fall. A conference was held on Tuesday at Owen Sound between the Town Council and Board of Trade and Mr. \Vragge, Chief Engineer of the Grand Trunk, at which the latter gentleman promised to report favorably to Mr. Hickson on the proposed extension from Tara or Allendale to Owen Sound. Work will be commenced immediately on the railway from \Vinnipeg to the inter- national boundarv, arrangements for con- nection with the Northern Pacific Railway at the boundary having already been made. A maiden lady says that if single life is bad it stands to reason that double life is twice as bad“ But ladifls rarely understand mathenmtics. Customer (to boy in coal officeâ€"J‘ A ton(of stove. How much is it ‘2” Boyâ€"“Six- fifty, an’ 25 cents forputtin’ it in.” Customer â€"vâ€"“ Well, you will have to slate it.” Boy“ “ Slate it ? That coal is half slate now, mister."~Nwm York Sun. DEATH 0N RATS. A Wedding Present Fortune F awn-i tes DCNIA. 12. 8'1. Late Railway News.

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