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l MR. - CHAPTER X. Wilmot was just leaving Mr. Esholt’s room with a. number of letters and other documents in his hand, when a servant came to tell him that there was a gentleman at the door who desired particularly to speak with him. Wilmot went at once, thinking it was probably a messenger from Mr. Kim< her; but the person he found waiting in the entrance hall was a total stranger to him. He was an under-sized, dark-complexioned, dapper-looking man, apparently about thirty years old. He had keen bright- glaiicing eyes, an insinuating manner, and a soft sleeky voice. He wore a suit of mourn- ing, new and very shiny, with two large jet studs showing prominently on the ample bosom of his shirt. VVilniot bit his lip as he went forward, as if to keep down some in- ward agitation. “ You are Mr. VVilinot Ilurrell, I pre‘ Sume?” said the stranger, seeming to take him in at a glance from head to foot. “That is my name,” answered \Vilmot stifily. “ As I have called on a private matter of some importance, I had better, perhaps, begin by introducing myself,” went on the other, as he extracted a card from his case and presented it with a smile and a little bow. \Vilmot took it, and read thereon a name he had never heard before : “ Mr. Reginald Vampy. ” “ You say you have called to see me on a private matter,” he said, his eyes Wander- ing from the card to the stranger’s face and then back again. He was evidently ill at ease about something. “ Preciselyâ€"I see you are busy ”â€"â€"with a glance at the lettersâ€"~“ but five minutes will suffice for me to say all I have to say.” After a. moment’s hesitation, Wilinot said : “ Come this way, Mr. Vampys" and with that he led the way towards the study. Mr. Vanipy followed with a remark or two as to the unsettled state of the weather, to which the other hardly responded. As soon as they were inside the room and the door shut, the little precautionary measure already describ- ed took place, after which the two men sat down at the table, facing each other. Tn Agnes. hiding there in the dark against her will, the situation was one that filled her with dismay. There was no way out but through the study. Should she, or should she not, make her presence known? But how account for being there ‘.’-â€"how ex- plain whys'm did not come forward at the moment \Vilmot drew back the pnrlir’rfi and announce herself? But even while she was asking herself these questions, the two men bean to speak, and she recognised that the moment for retreat had gone by. With her consent or without it, she must perforce stay where she was till the interview should come to an end. “ As your time is valuable, and mine, perhaps, scarcely less so." began Mr.Va'npy, “ I will not waste it by beating about. the bush. Brevity, as I take it, is not merely the soul of wit, but that of business as well. I have here in my possession "â€"and he pro- duced a bulky pocket-book as he spokeâ€"“ a certain slip of paper bearing your signature on one side of itand that of Mr. Robert Esh- olt on the other. It is, in fact, a. bill, drawn at two mouths‘ date, for the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds, and will fall due a fortnight from to-day. In all probability. you recognise the document in question? " Mr. Vampy held up a slip of paper bet-ween his thumb and finger as he spoke. If ‘.'v'ilmot Burrell’s face had been pale before, it was aslien now. His mouth work- ed with a. strange nervous twitching. For a few moments all power of speech seemed taken from him. Mr. Vampy put back the - slip into his pocket-book and quietly waited. At length Wilinot spoke. “ The bill you held was given on the distinct understandâ€" ing that it should be accepted as deposit, and not be discounted or allowed to change hands in any way.” “ That is a point respecting what I have no iniormation,"replied Mr. Vainpy in his quiet precise way ; “ but in business circum- stances sometimes alter cases, and as a mat- ter of fact the bill has come into my people’s hands in the ordinary course of such trans- actions." Again there was a. brief silence. \‘Vilmot seemed to be weighing every word in his mind before giving utterance to it. “ Even granting such to be the case, Mr. Vainpyâ€" although, mind you, a. gross breach of con- fidence must have been committed some- where in order to make such a thing possible 'â€"the bill does not fall due for a fortnight, consequentlyâ€"you will pardon my saying soâ€"I fail in some degree to gather the pur- port of your call upon me this evening.” A peculiar smile wrinkled the curves of Mr. Vainpy’s mouth and peered out of the corners of his eyes. It was not a pleasant smile, and \Vilmot’s marrow seemed to turn to ice as he saw it. “ The reason of my visit, Mr. Burrell, is not far to seek. My people have had a pre- vious acquaintance with the signature of Mr. Esholt, who, as you are doubtless aware, writes a very bold bluff sort of hand. Now, singular to say, our cashierâ€"he is one of the most suspicious of mortalsâ€"is not altogether satisfied with the endorsement of the bill I showed youjust now. He says that it differs in two or three small but very recognisable particulars from Mr. Esholt’s usual signa- ture, and that when that gentleman wrote it, if write it he did, he must either have been ill orâ€"shall we sayâ€"slightly “ mel< ‘ BY T. W. low.” or in fact anything you please except in his ordinary business mood. Such being,r the state of the case, my firm h'eve deputed me to wait upon you, or upon Mr. Esholt, or both of you with the view of satisfying that most. suspicious of cashiers that the en- dorsement in question is really that of the person it purports to be. I hope I have made myself clearly understood?” Of a surety he had done that. as Wilmot acknowledged to himself with an inward s'iiver. “ Pray, Mr. Vampy,” he contrived to say presently, “ may I inquire the name of the firm you so ably represent?" “ That is a. detail, Mr. Burrell, which at this stage of the affair I grieve to say 1 am not at liberty to enlighten you on. When I called at your \Vater Street office this afternoon,” he continued, “ and was inform- ed that I should find you here, I was also told that Mr. Esholt was ill. I’os. )lv, however, he is not too ill to see me for half a minute, so as to eiiable me to satisfy my o mph with regard to the little matter s ‘ Ni} which has brought me here. Perhaps, Mr. Burrell, you will kindly ascertain whether Mr. Esholt will favour me with an inter- view." As he spoke he took out his Watch and glanced at. it. VVilmot felt as nearly all hunted animals are said to feel when brought to bay. He could not turn and rend his foe, much as he would have liked to do so, but he could at SPEIGHT. least Set him at defiance and dare. him to, do his worst. Like many other men, he was only a coward up to a certain and now that the worst had to be faced, now that no door of retreat seemed left open braced themselves to him, his nerves like bands of steel. Leaning for- ward, with his elbows on the table, and looking his \‘istor straight in the eyes, he said in a cold hard voice that was not without a touch of defiance in it : “ \Vhat should you say, Mr. Vampy, or whatever your name may be, if I were to tell you that the endorsement on that bill was not written by Mr. Robert hlsliolt T" “ I should say that you would be telling . me nothing more than I had a very strong suspicion of already.” Wilmot sank back in his chair and stared at the other, as not knowing what to say next. Mr. Vampy’s irritating smile once more crept over his face. “ I was pretty well as. sured before I entered this house,” he went ‘ on, “ that Mr. Esholt‘s pen had never writ- ten in his name on the back of the bill in my possession. ” “ In that case, sir, may I ask once more to what I am indebted for the honour- of this interview? I presume your only ob- ject in coming here was to inform .Vlr’ Esholt of your clever discovery; why, then, you should have sought this preliminary in‘ terviewwith me,1 am at a loss to understand. Mr. Esholt is up-stairs, and although far from‘well, I have no doubt he will see you on a matter which so closely concerns the interests of both of you Shall I ring for a servant, Mr. Vampy, to take up your card Y" He half rose from his chair as he asked the last question. “ I admire your impetuosity, Mr. Bur- rell,” answered the other in his sleek evenly modulated tones, “although, under the cir~ cumstances, it is perhaps scarcely judicious on your part to give way to it. Apparently it has not suggested itself to you that in com~ ing here I might possibly be actuated by a motive very different from the one you have imputed to me.” A great throb of hope seemed to vibrate through every nerve in Wilmot’s body ; he half caught his breath for a. moment ; then he said in a faint voice : “'Go on, sir, if you please.” “ I presume, Mr. Burrell, that when the little document to which our conversation refers was first launched on an unappreeia- tive world, there was some likelihood of its going duly honoured when it should fall ue?" “ Every likelihood, Mr. Vampyâ€"a likeli- hood which is as strong to-day as it was six weeks ago.” “ I am glad to hear itâ€"very glad, for your sake, Mr. Burrell. Supposing, in that caseâ€"I merely say Sit/lpflsfny - our firm should see their way to allow the hill to come to maturity in their owu hands and without negotiating it further, it may be accepted as a fact that it woold he met in due course on its presentation on the twenty-fourth '1” “ That may be accepted as an undoubted fact, Mr. Vampy,” he replied, but with just a shade of hesitation, which did not escape the otlier‘s notice. “ That is to say, one may accept anything as a fact in a world in which promissory notes play such an important part.” Mr. Vainpy chuckled softly to himself, and then resumed more soberly : “ So far, so good. Our firm, Mr. Burrell, while actuated by every desire to conduct their business on purely philan- thropic principles, find themselves under the unfortunate necessity of doing as their neighbours do. You will scarcely, there- fore, be surprised at my asking you What return you would be prepared to make in consideration of the service just hinted at by me 1’” \Vilmot moistened his parched lips with his tongue. Then he said: “ Will you tell me what return it is in my power tomake ‘2" “ I will. The bill I hold is for the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds. You shall give me a supplementary documentâ€"merely your own note of handâ€"for a further sum of onehnndred ouiids makinw in '1“ three' ' W ”â€" - t. And . . p , 9 ~ , of mice and men you know the res I the unmet“; wpumw MG hop hundred and fifty, which amount you will be in a position to meet this day fortnight ~â€"eh ‘2” - Wilmot Burrell set his teeth hard and clenched his hands. He was so utterly taken aback that he needed a few moments to re- cover himself. But the brain works nimbly in the great crises of our lives. “If I am in a position to meet two hundred and fifty pounds on the twenty-fourth, I shall be in a position to meet another hundred,” he said to himself. “ Should I not lie in a, position to meet either, then one piece of paper will be just of as much or as little value as the other.” Mr. Vampy had picked up a book and was glancing over the title-page. Presently he said : “ Well, Mr. llurrell, what say you ‘2 Do you accept our proposition ‘2” “ I accept it.” " Good. On the supposition that you might do so, I brought With me alittlc form duly drawn up, to which I will presently get you to atlix your signature. lcfore doing so, however, I must ask you to be good enough to enlighten me as to the means you propose to adopt, or the source from which you propose deriving the funds to enable you to meet your engagements on the day in question." If \‘-."ilinot had been staggered before, he was doubly so now. He stared at the little man in black as if he only half comprehend- ed his meaning. Mr. Vainpy looked at his watch for the secone time. “ Pardon, me," said \Yilxiot at length, a little stiflly, “ but you are seeking to inquire ‘ into private matters which concern myself alone." “ Pardon me. not our interview confidential iiatuic throughout? \Vlicii you come to think the matter over you will recognise that I am asking of you nothing unreasonable. You have promised to mp3), 1- certain engagement by a certain Mr. Burrell, but of a private and point ; - is» date ; all I want to know is the method by which you purpose arrii'ing at the result in ucstion. Without doubting your bona fides , in the least, you will allow me to hint that ‘ there is nothing to hinder you between now and the twenty-fourth from starting for Paris, orNew York, or Timbuctoo, in which case what, may I ask, would be the value of the little bill which my firm, wisely or un- wisely, have taken upon themselves to dis- l count ? ” ' \Viluiot abruptly pushed back his chair and began to pace the room like a man in a. strait from which he sees no way of escape. l “ Come, come, Mr. l’nirrell," said Mr. l Vampy in a tone of mild banter: “ there's . not the slightest necessity for yen to I put yourself about. A little confidential information is all I ask for, which there )0 ‘can no difficulty in your aifordingi me. May I he allowed to hint that pos- ‘ sibly there‘s a bit of horse-flesh at the; bottom of your little difficultiesâ€"that perhaps you are looking forwardâ€"eh? to the Croxton Autumn Meeting, this day week, to recoup your fortunes and set you on your legs again? Come, now, Mr. l Burrell, confide in incâ€"make a clean breast of it.” “ You‘ve hit the right nail on the head, Vampy l" exclaimed \Vilniot in one ofthose sudden bursts of confidence to which (les. perate men sometimes give way. “ l‘vc laid 'l sixteen to one on Pt’rc‘é’phoné’ for the Crox- . ton Cup: and if she pulls it off, I Shall be l able to wipe the slate clean and have a. clear » thou. into the bargain." “ Bravo, Mr. Burrell, bravo ! \Vhen a man takes to riding across country, he should ride boldly or not at all. I hope with alll my heart Pf‘rs phone will show the others a i clean pair of heelsâ€"all the more because I happen to ll‘lVC a. couple of livers on her myself, sothat you and I may be said to row in the same boat. Still, there are un- certainties in all things mundane, not ex- cepting horse-racing, and I am sure you are far too astute an individual not to have at least two strings to your bow in the little game you are now playing. Supposing for : a moment l’nrsflplmnf does not come in first â€"wliat then ‘3" The momentary elation which had shown itself in Wilmct's eyes a minute or two be- 3 fore had now died out again; his fax put ‘v on the same dull ashen line it had worn earlier in the interview. He had resumed ; his seat. and was nervously tearing a sheet , of paper into minute shreds. After a mo- : ment or two he said, but without raisiiighis eyes from the table: ” Even if that should 4 happen which you say might happenâ€"not ' that it will, mind you-~I have other means left of meeting my engagements when they fall due.” “And those means [Vampy's silky voice. There was no reply. The sheet of paper [was still being torn and retorn. “I am r awaiting your answer, Mr. Burrell. Time is on the wing, as some poet has Very justly remarked." lVilinot drew in his breath and set his j teeth hard for a moment ; then he said, in slow sullen tones, still without looking up : “ We have a big settlingday at the office on the twenty-fourth.” “ I understand. The bill will be met by you out of the day‘s proceeds. " Wilmo‘. nolded. “ And after thatâ€" But that is a, matter 1 which concerns yourself alone. So long as my , people can rely on having their money, they 2 have nothing to do with anything further. iAs it happens, I have some acquaintance with the interior Working of Mr. Esholt's office ; but I had no idea, Mr Burrell, that ‘ are l”â€"~queried you held a. position in it sufficiently onerous , ' and confidential to allow of your being able : toâ€"well, to meet a liability like the one we 'have been discussing, without running the risk of any immediate unpleasant conse- | quences to yourself.” “The explanation is simple enough,” i answered Wilmot, still sullenly, for at no. Mr. Burrcll, so far as time was he one to stand being cafecliised freedom of ,, the valleys and sovereianties of O without resenting it. “So long as Mr. - Esholt is away ill, Mr. Kimber, the head- clerk and cashier, undertakes the general management of the business, While his own ordinary duties are divided between myself . ‘ and another clerk. ” “Nothing could be clearer so far,"- answcred Mr. Vampy blandly. “ But i supposingâ€"and We always have . to suppose a. great deal in these matters ~supposing Mr. Esholt should be well enough to return to business earlier than the twenty-fourth, and Mr. Kimber- were to resume his ordinary functionsâ€" what then ‘2 No answer. “ It seems to me, Mr. Burr-ell, that there is still a little screw loose somewhereâ€"just ,a possibility, in fact, that your house of cards may come tumbling about your cars at t the last moment. “ The best-laid schemes i l in such a case, What would become of my poor little bill? Have you nothing further i to suggest, Mr. Burrell ‘l” y “ Nothing." It was indeed a house of g f cards that he had built for himself; he re- l , cognised that fact now, in the pitiless light ‘ thrown on it by his visitor, as he had ; never had the courage to recognise it before. ' “It seems to me.” said Mr. Vampy, after 1 . a pause, during which he had been softly l l tapping on the table with the nails of his . right hand, “ that there is one way, and l one only, by means of which my people will be able to make themselves absolutely sure of their money, and you at the same time 1 i have one mm o chanceallbi'dcd you of pulling . yourself together andof running straight for r the future. " 1 \Viliiiot looked up, and the eyes of the, two men met. \Yilinot's eyes asked tlic‘ t question his lips were powerless to ale l I As if in answer to it, Mr. Vninpy lcancdl 2 forward a little way and said in n. low iin- l Vpressive tones : " Mr. Esliolf must not be; , well enough to go back to business by the l i t'w'eiity-fourtli.” I (To BE CONTINUED.) ._. v_‘»m ~ ‘4..._ ._ . I ingenious Australians, ; A novel plan for extinguishing a church ,5 , debt has been hit upon in Melbourne, Aus- ‘ 'tralia. The church oommittec~or vestry,l as the case may beâ€"dividc the total debt. lainong themselves, and each man insures his , tlifc for the amount that falls to his share. 5 The policies are transferred to the church, ‘ and the annual payments on them are made } voiit of the collections. Then, of course, as the members of t.‘0llllllli,lCC “ (liOp off,” the sums insured on lllt’ll'l:\'€S(Il'0PlIl,lll)(l later, , . when the only survivor dies the last install- I inciit of the church debt: is paid. l â€"â€"â€" l The forest area of the United States is1 estimated at 481,764,508 acres. chance of its being renewed. .ticularly pressing in their applications to ~ refused the bouquets and baskets of flowers . whereas this spring she not only received _ 1 Carlo. - widow the Duchesse de Richelieu, a dough- . CiVil list of the sovereiin of Monaco by the i already notified the latter that he has no in- < teution of renewing the lease, and accordâ€" .”Prinee” Roland Bonaparte and Prince .pal shareholders of the Casino company, .f'irtlie transfer of their operations toAndorra, : d‘Andorra (the Stangers’ Club of Andorra) ‘ in northern Italy ; 'Aix-les-Bains: and even at Belgrade and x since the days of Charlemagne, who, in the ' sacred “'Books of the Valley”â€"-the Diges- MONACO. .‘llonlc (‘arlo to be Closed Forever 1119 “real. Humming l'mce no More. On the 16th of April, 1892, the great gambling establishment at Monaco will close a its doors forever. On that day the agree- ment between the government of the prin< cipality and the world-famed hell of Monte . Carlo expires, and there is not the rcmotcst It was the knowledge of the present ruler‘s detcrmin- ed attitude in the matter which has alone prevented the French government from availing itself of its position as suxerain powor to take immediate steps toward the suppression of this plaguespot of Europeâ€"- steps which both President Grcvy and l’resi« dent Carnot have rcpeatedly been urged to adopt, not only by popular sentiment, but also by nearly every one of the great mon- archies of the Old World. Russia, Germany, Italy, and Great Britain have been par- the Paris government to put a. stop to the scandal :and it may safely be averred that Queen Victoria would never have conde- scended to pay such marked and gracious attention during her recent stay at Grasse to the Prince and l’rincess of Monaco had she not received satisfactory assurance concern- ing the approaching close of the gambling palace at Monte Carlo. On the occasion of her former stays in the south of France the strict and stern old lady had indignantly , sent to her by the late Prince Charles III., f i the reigning Prince and Princess at Grasse with all the honors due to sovereigns, but even went so far as to send, first, her ambas- sador, the Earl Lytton, and a. day later her daughter, Princess Beatrice, with Prince Battenberg, to return the visit at Monte 1 Prince Albert, whose marriage acouple of years ago with the enormously Wealthy ter of the New Orleans and Parisian banker Heine, has enabled him to dispense with the ' $600,000 annually contributed toward the management of the Monte Carlo Casino, has ingly M. Blanc, and his two brothers-in-law, Constantine Radzivoile, who are the princi- have already perfected their arrangements the little I’yreuean republic on the Franco- Spanish frontier line. Under theirauspices a company out ill-“Ed the Cercle des Etrangers . has been successfully floated at Paris, and no less than forty thousandSlOO shares have i already been disposed of at alieavy premium. All the plans for the new buildings at An< dorra have been perfected, and to those 1 who are acquainted with the French Riviera it may be of interest to learn that the new theatre designed for Andorra is an exact re- production of the theatre on the Jetty promenade at Nice It was not until after much hesitation that the syndicate owning the Monte Carlo Casi- no concession deeiiled upon Andorra as the scene of their future operations. They had previously endeavored to secure an abiding- plaee for their roulette, their trenteet-qua- mute, and their rouge-etâ€"noir tables in sever- al other parts of Europeâ€"including Valduz, I the capital of the little principality of Liechtenstein ; San Marino, thetiuy republic , at Saxons-les-Bains ; at Sofia. Everywhere, however, their overtures were rejected, and after discussing the rival merits of Tangier and Andorra, they finally decided in favor of the latter. | Andorra has been an independent republic year 778, confimed the rights, privileges, and Andorra.” The territory comprises about 160 square miles, andthe'population numbers 1 about 6000. It is governed by a council of twenty-four members, elected for four years by four heads of families in each parish. The council elect a first and second syndic, or mayor, to preside and to wield the exe- cutive power. The costume of these two . dignitaries is of a. character to strike awe into the hearts of those who may eventually visit the little republic for the purpose of trying their luck at the gambling-tables. It is composed of silver-buckled shoes, bluel stockings, red garters. gray knee-breaches, l broad scarlet sash, black cloak, catalan cap, ' and a. gigantic black cocked hat perched on top of the cap. They take their oath of office by laying their left hand on the Iium and the 1’01ilo.râ€"iu which the history, the traditions, the laws, and the customs of clessly jumbled together. The primitive character of the people may be estimated by the fact that the salary and allowances of the first syndic ~tlie chief magistrate of the republicâ€"- amount to the magnificent sum of sixty pesetas, or about twelve dollars, per an~ nuin. ____...â€"-â€"â€"â€" For a Girl's Summer Trunk. If you weara fluffy hang, you Want your [ alcohol lamp. If you wear laced shoes, you want a dozen pairs of shoe-strings. If you varnish or polish your shoes, you want a new bottle of blacking. If you are inclined to sunburn, you want a pot of strawberry cream or some cold cream. lfyou are fond of reading, you want your favorite books. If you ever use pins, you want a block of black ones and a paper of white ones. I Ii" you are a good girl and mend your clothes, you want some spools of thread, your needles, your thiinble and some but- tons. If you make yourself sweet with infant- powder and a pull, you want a sealed pack- : age of powder. If you use bonnet pins to fasten on your hat, you want a dozen of them. If you are inclined to be iibtcnipered and petulant, you want unlimited patience. If you are inclined to be careless and in- considerate, yon want a very large package of energy and friendliness. And if you are lacking in politeness, then you want to remember that surely she who claims to be a, Christian, must, before everyt thingr else, be gentle in her mannersâ€"[The Ladle - Ilome Journal. .‘â€"â€"__.__â€"â€"â€"â€" London consumed in April, 1891, an aver- age of rid-12,163 gallons of watera day more fthon it. did in April, 1390. . that's where you have been, is it? 3 the conduct of the Prince of Wales l \. scene he TIT-BITS. ,2 After the Circus/flu “ Is everything reversed in tL glass, papa? ” asked Jimuiieboy. ’a' “ Yesâ€"everything," said papa. «' “ Then I’m glad I’m not a. looking», boy," observed Jimmieboy. “ I don’t this I’d like to have an elephant ride around a. circus ring on my shoulders.” He is More Comfortable Now. “ I am indeed grieved to hear that your poor husband has gone to a better world l” . ” Thank ye, sir ;l)ut, poor dear ! it’s just as well. This ’ere cold climate never suited his complaint.” .(HuUuu Mm 9i A Feathered Alarmist. ' " y “ Mr. Carter, I’m ’most afeard we won’t wake up at four in the mornin,’ so I’ve had Kitridge bring up our old rooster t’ tie t' the leg 0’ yer bed. He ginerally begins 13’ crew ’bout that time in the mornin’,an’s purty sure t’ wake up folks wot hain’t used t’ ,hearin’ ’im.” Where to Begin. He (despondently). “ My dear, we really must economize. Now what Can we get along without ?” She. “ I really don’t know, Frank, unless its your appetite.” Made Some Difference. “ Yes,” she murmured, “ I loved him. He was not worthy of me, but I felt I could not I give him up. the ocean.” “Did that make any difi'erence in your feelings ‘3” “ Yes. The second day out I felt as if I could give up everything.” And she changed the subject. So my parents took me across 9. Delay in The Proceedings. Mrs. Slimsou (to littleW’illie Slimson,who has been taking in the ball game). “ So You just wait till your father gets home, young man, and he will give you a. good trouncing l” Willie (confidently). “ He won’t be home yet awhile. He staid for the last inning.” RoyaIâ€"Ocmlists. “ I see the Prince of Bavaria, being a skil- ful oculist, treats the poor among his sub- jects without charge. What a contrast to I" “ Yes ; but you must admit that the Eng- lish Prince is doing a good deal t6 :pen the eyes of his future subjects.” Her Weakness. 0 Woman, in our hours of ease Uncertain, coy, and hard to please, When pain and anguish wring the brow, Then none so cheaply pleased as thou l VVe’ve only to submit to take Hot rhubarb tea and anti-ache, And gizzard oil and ipecac, And porous plasters on the back, A flaxseed poultice, catnip tea, And Quackem’s pet discovery, Hotwater bags, and sweets beside, And camphor nasally applied, And caster oil and Vaseline, And coals with feathers burnt between, And soothing syrup, paregoric, Goldwater cloths, and drinks caloric, And all the housewife’s categoryâ€"â€" ’ I‘is then we see her in her glory, Needing, to make her bliss complete, But mustard plasters on our feet. A Misfit Marriage License. . I “Igot a license here day before yester- day," said a man to a clerk in the Vital ‘ Statistics Office. “ That docyment gave permission of the people of this sovereign State for the uniting in wedlock of Jeremiah Sassafras and Annabel McJunkin.” “ Yes.” “ I paid fifty cents for that license in good hard cash.” “ Well. what of it? " “ Annabel McJuiikin won’t have me.” “ That’s bad. Went back on her pro- mise, did she? ” “ Not exactly, sir. You see she hadn’t promised to marry me.” “ Then why did you get a. license? ” “ It was this Way. I loved her, and wanted to marry her ; and I thought if I got a license, and took it to her, she’d see I meant business, and would come to time.” “ And it didn’t work? “ No, sir. I showed her the big seal of the State, and told her that the eyes of the whole commonwealth, through the duly nalifiedofficers, were upon her, and that her duty was to obey the mandate of the law.” “ What did she say to that? ” “ She only laughed.” “ That‘s very sad.” “ Sad’s no name for it, sir; andesnt to know what’s to be done." “ I don’t see any remedy." “Is a weak girl with red hair to defy the authority of the State ‘3” “ That's about the way of it.” “ Can't you send an oflicer to impress upon her the dignity of the commonwealth, and to make her understand that the docy- ments issued by this office are not to be rifled with 1’" “ No." “ Well, I suppose I can get my money back, can’t I 7 " H No." “ Here’s the license just as it was when I took it away fiom here, not a bit the worse for wear.” “We can’t take it back, sir, or refund the fee." “ And you can’t compel the girl to marry me after issuing that license and charging me good money for it ‘2 ” 65 No.” “ Then that settles it. The government of the present day is a hollow mockery. IIenccforth I am an anarchist of the rcddest redness. You hear me, insolent minion of a supine and powerless State 1 I go, but I return l The day of vengeance draw nigh, sir. Beware ! You shall hear‘ rem me again, and when you hear me tremble l" And Jeremiah Sassafras wa- cone.â€" [Harper's Brizar. ‘ The president of the Bank of Manitoba, reports that institution in a flourishing conn (lition. {fl 1’ a l vs-