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“Dangerous! I am their brother,” said Bertie, with a laugh and a. blush, and a look of ingenious gratitude and thanks. “We’re all in the suns boat, and have a. right-to be friends. Here’s 00-day as bright as June, and nothing particular to do with itâ€"let us all go l” “Fifteen miles,” said I, “and back again ; and do you think I ebuld take a dangerous fellow like you among so many girls?’ “ \Vith the greatest of pleasure. I should like Above all things to go over to Estcourt and see your arrangements, Clare. 1 am told they are quite admxrable,” said Mrs. Robert, Croftou. “ And no one is admitted! It will be quite a privilege,” cried Mrs; Cgofmu of Stoke. ‘ “May I be of the party, aunt?” said Lucy, quietlyâ€"so quietly, as if this gentle girl had no will of her own, but lived only at my pleasure, that it would have been barbarous to say no. I gave in at. last against my will. We set out, the whole party of us, except the elder gentlemen, the three Mr. Croftons, who had no partic- ular mind to follow their wives over the country on such an errand. Henry and Bertie were to ride. ‘Ve elder ladies and the children filled two carriages, while Mar; Crolton of Stoke, who was the least thing of a hoyden, proposed riding with “the boys," as she was pleased to call them. Alice, the other Mary Crofton, and the little Fortescues were in the other carriage. Alice was no horsewomun, and I saw with a. momentary regret the young people can- tering before us, Bernie keeping close by Lucy’s rein. That, of course, was a mere accident; but; still I should have prefer. ed that Alice had been there. Lucy seemed to manage her horse with as much quietness, and ease, and propriety as she did everything else, not: exuberant like the Stoke Many. who was wild with simple spirits and girlish gayety. But then I was vexed and put out by discovering again, for the fifth or sixth time, that I knew “AndI can mount you, Lucy,” said Derwent; “ are you up to fifteen miles? Rather a long stretch for a lady. I expect you’ll both give in long before you rest:h Estcourt," “ Does Lucy ride?” asked I, in suprise. “ The best horseman I know." said Der- went, laughing while she with the rest went to get ready. I was suprisedâ€"perhaps something more than surprised--for all Lucy’s attainments came upon me unexpectedly. Modesty perhaps, and humbleness ofmind. & desire not to boast; but it was somewhat annoying to find out the gift of one’s inmate and companion so suddenly. Virtue so superior and out of the way somehow never gets the appreciation which it is supposed to deserve. It was past noon when we reached Est- court. There was no lessons going on then. Ehe teachers had gone home, and half of the children, the other half, in that holiday time were doing their own pleasure. This pleasure consisted in some secret and mys- terious work, about which I, dropping in by chance and alone to my old morning-room, found them clustering their heads as busy as possible. They were rather disturbed at my sudden entrance, and plunged the work into a. mighty work<table of Miss Austin’s, one and all exclaiming in dismay, “ If Alice should see it ! ” Then the secret was confid- ed to me after I had taken an oath of strict silence. It was a. wedding present for Claraâ€"a magnificent table-cover worked in twelve squares, one by every girl in Est- courtâ€"a mystery which the sisterhood were bound under grievous penalties not to di- vulge till the completion of the work. “But Mrs. Crofton will not tell 'I” said the least of the little embroiderers, looking doubt- fully in my face. I :apeated my vow with the greatest seriousness. “ And oh. please, don’t let Alice come here ! ” cried another. I could not promise that, but remained till Miss Austin’s Work-table was carefully ocked'lp; then surely, the secret was safe. CHAPTER VII. "I want to have a. peep at old Esteem-c, Cousin Clara, before 1 leave,” said Bertie; “ can’t you drive over some day 2â€"“, is not so very far.” nothing about Lucy, and that she did not; choose to bestow any of her confidence on me. I could not help thinking over it as we drove along. Was it my fault? Yet why should she have hesitated to tell me that she rode and llked riding? To be sure she did not hesitate, she only said nothing about ill. It was her vyay. After this little adventure I returned to the drawing‘rmm, where Miss Austin had re eived the pzrty, and where the young people waited for luncheon with agreeable impatience. The two Mrs. Croftons and the two Miss Croftons looked about them with considemble amazement, especially the elder ladies, and Lucy cast quiet in- vestigating looks at the door. But there wan only plain, homely, iron-gray Miss Austin who was now so confirmed and es- tablished in her authority as to be half re- sentful of the intrusion of visitors upon her quiet. Nothing to be seen .' The astonish- ment burst forth at lost. “ But this is not the establishment ; we see none of Mrs. Crofton's arrangements here." said, in a. tone of disappointment, my namesake of Stoke. “ Indeed, I do not, think I promised to uhow you any," said I. “I brought; you to me Estcourt, which is a. very cosy old house, and has a little picture gallery and uhamber of state, which strangers often Ask to see ; for otherwise we have no ar- ingemenha bate.” THE NEW INMATE OF HILFONT. A THRILLING STORY OF OLD ENG ' “ Look here. Alice," cried Bertie, “ here’ a. mark of old times : here‘s where you scribbled in the days of your youth, and [spoiled the title-page, and caught a blow- ing up. Look here ! and your name written in my own admirable handâ€"writing as it was in those days ; yet you leave such a valuable autograph lying about anywhere â€"for shame ‘.” Bernie’s speech restored my good humor. “ Do you call Escourt anywhere, you saucy boy?” said I. “ Leave the memorial where it is; I like to seeit. Come, luncheon is ready. The children are somewhere about t it is holiday time, and there is noth- ing to do. But as we are going to share their roast mutton, we shall see them at table. Come ; but I am afraid there is only simple fare.” By this time Alice, blushing, yet looking somewhat indignauc, had Withdrawn be- hind Miss Austin‘s chair ; and Bertie. gen- erouslv troubled and uneasy for her, follow- ed her there with a book in his hand, fond- ly calling her attention to it. With amazed faces, my visitors followed to the dining-room. “ I don’t. undersmud it at all," said Mrs. Robert Grafton to Mrs. Crofton obeoke, in an audible whisper, which I could not, help overheating. “ The arrangements here are those of a gentleman’s house; where are the children kept, do you suppose? ” The other lad} shooli her héid ; she was as much in the dark as my respectable sister-in-law. “ If this is charity, I only wish my chil- dren were as well off,” continued Mrs. Robert, who was a lawyers wife, and lived, in Russell Square, and they did not at all know how to treat the six little girls, who, though shy, were as frank in their speech, so far as I was concerned, as though they had been Croftons. Mrs. Robert looked round the room, and held up her hands in telegraphic horror. She was shocked to think that my orphans were so well 03' and m virtuousindignation was quite ready to suggest that scores of poor children mlght have been educated and clothed in blue frocks and white tippets for the sum which supported in this luxury my unjustly favored twelve. It might have been sold for so much. and. given to the poor. I could read that ancient sentiment in my sister-in-law’s face; but I fear she was thinking, not of the poor, but of her own Harry and Mary, Frank and Edward, who had no such gardens as those of Estcourt to luxuriate in. As for Lucy, she began to enter into conversation with the little girl next her, and asked how she liked to be ‘ here, and said how kind Mrs. Crofton was, till the child was stricken mute with amaze- ment, not knowing. till it was suggested to her, that there was anything so very re- ‘ markable in her'lot. Atallthis Alice Harley ‘ looked on with a thoughtful face; she had ceased to speak to any of our party, and sat by herself among the little girls, with l a certain air of» pride and resentment which “ Yes, my dear,” said Mrs. Robert ; “but the institutionâ€"the asylumâ€"J’ “ Mra. Crofton means the rooms for the orphans, aunt,” explained Lucy. The morning after this. expedition, I found Clara. and Alice together in very close con- versation in their own room. The rest of the party were all down-stairs, discussing their plans for the d sy; but the two sisters had contrived to steal away immediately after breakfast. Alice was seated on the ottoman at the foot of the bed, while Clara half knelt, half sat on the floor before her, leaning on her sister’s knee. Alice was the speaker, and Clara’s earnest little face was gazing up to her with wistful wonder and distress. They both started and looked a. little confused as I entered. “Why are you here, children '2” said I. “Oh, please, we would rather not go down : we would rather not go anywhere, Mrs.Croftou,” said Alice. “Nobody will ever miss us : we will stay here.” “ And how do you know nobody will miss you?” said I, "Am I nobody, and Mr. Crofton, and Bertie, and the children? Is Alice cross to-day, Clam, tell me ?” “Why are you here, children '2” said I. “Have you no opinions or inclinations to add to the general council as to what is to he done toâ€"day ?” “ Alice is never cross, said my godchild, with some spirit; “but, oh. please speak to her ; she says such dreadful things. She has been so low and dull ever since yester- day.” “ Oh, godmamma, listen to her !” cried Clara, with a. sudden burs’- of tears ; “ she has been going on so all the morning, and just when this has happened to me, and we were all to be so happy. Speak to her, godmamma !" 7 “ A governess !” said I ; not. plgase, Alice. \Vha: It was an odd scene in its way, and not a very pleasant one, though 1 am very sure there was nothing in the roast mutton and rice pudding, which my honest Bertie de- molished to such alarming extent. to make anybody envious. Yet I found the two Mrs. Croftons quite Without interest in the picture gallery and the chamber of state. Lucy desired to be left behind to make ac- quaintance with the little girls whom she was so eager to show hersell on an equality with ; but'of ail the other incidents of that visit, I was most concerned by the sudden cloud which covered Alice Harley’s face. ” Low and dull? I do not understand that. Has any one vexed you Alice ‘1" “ No," said Alice, with a certain youth- ful dignity ; “ only Ihave been thinking, if you please, Mrs. Crnfton, I think I ought to go out: as a governess.” “ Ah, we are not children now,” said Alice, pathetically. “ When we were child. ten it did not matter. \Ve had no experi- ence, we did not uuderstandanythiug ; but now l” and Alice ended with a profound sigh, and shook her head sorrowfully, as \hough all the troubles of existence Were I never remembkr to have before. And Bertie was side to speak of old times hear at the other side of quietly Informing Mrs. C that she was an orphan, :1 than these children, and 0: should have been very glm to Estcourb. “ Where, I suppose, ath qualifies them all for governesses,” said Lucy. “ So good of her! I thought I should have had to be a. governess too.” CHAPTER VIII. other side of the table Lucy ‘rming Mrs. Crofton of Stoke | an orphan, and “ no better” hildren, and once thought she been very glad to be admitted LAND have seen on her tace was not now by her times, and she could “ indeed I do does the child an now," said we were child. had no experi- anythiug ; but I was sorry for the poor child, yet I could scarcely help laughing. “Do, you know, that one is always the better for telling one‘s troubles?" said I. “Come, open your hearts and let me know what they are.” “Mrs. Croison,” said Alice, solemnly, after a little pause, “I ought to go out, as agoverness ; I know I ought. Clara is go- ing to be married. and to be rich, and I hope she will be very,very happy; but I have read in books how gentlemen feel to their wives’ families, and I will not go with her to fret her husband ; so Clara. has no cause to be angry, nor grieved either. and that, is one part of it quite settled and clear.” “Very well; now for the other,” said I. I rather think Alice was half ofl‘ended that I received her “settled and clear" so Quietly, and consented toil; with so much readiness. She looked as if she would like to cry, but after another little pause pro- ceeded again. “Auditheu, mamma. has not very much for'the rest at home. Icould not go to make them poorer. I will go and hen. governess, please !” hanging heavy upon that pretty white brow. “Let us 5'50 into it quietly,”said I, show- ing no sympathy for the sudden break-down which accompanied this exclamation. “Is it because mamma has told you she has very little, or because you have seen the other ones suffering from your presence, that you have come to this sudden resolution, Alice?” “Mamma would do anything rather then let me think myself a burden,” said Alice. with indignation. “It wa'sl some of the little ones, then, said I. “0h, godmamma !” cried Clam, “you do not think so; you know better It was what some one said yesterday, when you were at Estcourt, about the girls." now. I kan it is all true. I should never have learned anything but for your kind- ness. I have no right to be proud, and say they were cruel to tell me so. I did not know indeed we were all brought up for governesses; but I must not, be dependent on mamma, who is poor. I must do my duty now, 1 know.” “ I trust. you will,” said I; “but do you think, Alice, Mrs. Robert; Croimn is a. much better judge than I am, and than mamma, what, your duty is?” “ Oh, it was not Mrs. Robert Crofton ; it was rvery one,” said Alice, turning away was ivery one," said Alice, turning away her face. “ Alice is naughty, Clara,’ said I, “and ill-tempered. She is punishing you and me for other people’s faults ; never mind ! We are good, and don’t deserve it. Now listen to me, you foolish little girl. Young ladies in novels go out as governesses when there is no necessity for it, to show that they are high-minded, and of an independent spirit, and to exhibit the cruelty of all those un- fortunate people who employ governesses ; but, I had much rather my Alice did not do that. I had ratherâ€"now don’t; look aston- ished : you are a geublewoman ; you can’t help being a. gent-lewoman, whatever you may do. I had rather, for my own part, see my Alice the housemaid at home.” . ) “ Andl don’t. mean to be ungrateful,” cried poor Alice through her tears ; “ but if mamma was too poor to bring us up at home, I ought to work for hey, {and help her “ Did mamma. ask you to take us, Mrs. Grafton?” she said, with a little timidity. “I remember long ago something Lady Greenfield said about an orphan asylum, and it: all came back again yesterday. Did mamma. ask you take us '3" Alice rose with a blush to do as I told her; but pauSed when she had taken a. step or two toward§ the table. _ “ The housemaid !” They both looked at me with pale faces and diluted eyes. “ To be sure, the housemaid ! Don’t you think it: would be delightful to be able to do everything all with your own hands and head and nobody helping you, for mamma. and the children at home '3” At which saying Alice suddenly got up and kissed me, and a bright blush of sur- priae and pleasure, shame and satisfaction, flew over her face. She perceived what I meant, but so did nab Clara, whose little head was running on herown future grand- eur, and who repeated that; terrible name of housemaid with dismay. “ Yes, my dear child,” said I, delivering a. little speech for the occasion (which was an indulgence, however, which I rarely permitted myself.) "I don’t agree with the working-women idea very much. I don’t think any lady does an unbecoming office when she sweeps her own hearth and serves her own table. Serving one’s own, even in menial oflices. is a. privilege, and does not lower in all ranks. I think they are happy who can do it; but everthing that is not necessary is unbecoming. Your mamma’s income is a certain one, if it is not very large, and you can do your duty in great deal better by remaining at home; Look me up that text which speaks of voluntary humility and will worship, Alice forfa. punishment. When I take to preach, I shall take that and harp upon it; but I hope my dear little girl has had her share of the lesson, and will not require any more.” In a. moment they were both clinging round me, Lwining their soft, arms about my neck and my waist. My heart warmed. I felt the dull pain that was always there eased and relieved Wibh a. sudden sensation of happiness. I had children ; I was not a. dry free. 1‘1 Lhink I got a. little of it,” said I. “and comforted myself. So now, children, when Mrs. Robert Croften, or any- body else, says anything stupld about Est- courb, tell them ph_ey_do_npt know.’_’ I left after awhile looking even brighter than usual, and with all the cloud. blown over ; but still I was uneasy about the chil- dren. twee not Mrs. Robert; it WM every one. They were tender little hearts, and they were at the most. sensitive age; I should have been my glad to have sent them “my {mm Hillnnt, to be out el trouble ; but that was impos- sible. Then I could say to Mrs. Robert, “00 nob say anything about an orplmn asylum. please ; Estcourt is not an orphan Asylum, and the little Harleys are more highly connecied than Iam.” But I could not :amluswnd so far as to make any such request t) Lucy. I know by instinct how obligiisgly she would consent, and what care him would take to “save the feelings” of AuntClara’s young friends. But that they must hear something of the kind sooner or later, and had better gel; it over now; and second, that. Mr. Sedgewwk was coming twmormw; Der-went had invited him to join our Christmas putty. I was a. little curious to see how he behaved to his lictle fiance, and felt; that; his arrival would at least; effect; a diversion in any lit/Pie schemes of annoyance toward my two girls. However the conclusion of my thoughts about, Alice and Clara wss twofold. First, it was just this, Ifesr, which provoked me in anticipation. and made me perfectly silent on the subject as far as she was con- cernetL However, Lucy was fully occupied at present with her relations, the other Croftous, amongst all of whom she wasvery popular, and who one and all congratulat- ed me on possessing her. It was delightful to see her unselfishness, her consideration for others, Mrs. (lrofton of Stoke assured me that very night, and how she watched my every movement, and tried to anticipate my wishes. I said ” Yes,” and I dare say my excellent kinswomau thought me very ungrateful. A Clenuly and Convenlent Way of Deliver- ing Fuel. In the European countries the custom of delivering coal in bags is universul. These are filled at the yardâ€"so many to the ton â€"and these are carried on the back of the driver, or his assistant, to their place in the house, where they are emptied, a clean- ly and simple operation, that, offers no ob- struction to traffic, and that, should com- mend ibself to every one as the only sensible plan of doing the job. A Great Plague Raging In Chinaâ€"Identi- cal With the London Plague of the Seventeenth Century. Reports that have thus far this year reached us regarding the existence of contagious dissaSes have not been startling although in several places a diminutive epidemic has been announced. Chicago has had several hundred cases of smallpox; Brooklyn had 778 cases of measles in May and 106 in the first four days of the present month ; and cholera. is said to have broken out in the sacred city of Mecca, in St. Naz- aire on the weszern coast of Francein several districts in Russia. and Prussia, and in Lis. bon. These outbreaks, however, have not been alarming but from Chins comes a story that is. In Hong Kong, Canton and other cities at great plague has been raging since March. The scourge carries ofi‘ whole familes during a night and the terrified Chinese, who are the principal victims, spend their time in parading the streets, night and day. praying to their Josses. The mortality is said to be fearful, reach: ing eighty per cent. in some localities, and the disease is spreading despite the efforts of the authorities to check its growth. Attending physicians say it is almost identical with the great London plague of the seventeenth century. and is traceable to the filthy habits of the Chinese, and the wretchedly inadequate system of drainage. There is little or no reason for Christendom to fear a visitation of such a kind. A Lion Dlsregards n. Kafllr and Takes an Englishman. “Though lions are timid enough in the daytime," said a well-seasoned African hunter, “when the sun has set and darkness comes on they become bold and fearless, and often when urged by hunger reckless and daring. It is by no means unusual for oxen to be seized at the yoke or horses to be killed inside a stable, or when tied to the wheel of a wagon ; while in Meshone- land alone four men were carried off and eaten by lions during the first two years of the occupation of that country. One of these unfortunates was a young man who was about to start a. market garden in the neighborhood of Umtali settlement. He had gone away with a. cart. and four oxen to buy some native meal at one of the Kaflir kraals, and had outspanned for the night at a. spot: about six miles distant from the little township. The oxen were tied up to the yokes. and Mr. Teale was lying asleep under the cart, alongside of a native, when a lion walked up and seizing him by the shoulder carried him off and killed and ate him. This lion, be it noted, showed a. re- fined taste in disregarding the Kaffir and seizing the European.” The city of Bauian, in Great Bucharia, is cut in the side of B mountain. There are Manitoba. protests against. the influx of undesirable immigrants. 12,000 artificial caves some very large, and two statues, one ninety, the other twenty fact high, each hewu from a single stone. PREFERRE D WHITE MEAT. CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. DELIVERING THE COAL. (To BE CONTINUED.) COAL IN BAGS. Gathered from Various Polnts from the Atlantlc to the Pacific. Dugald. M anitoba, wants a doctor. West Selkirk is to have a. bicycle club. _ Aug. 15m will be Kingston’s Civic holi- day. PURELY CANADIAN NEWS INTERESTING ITEMS ABOUT OUR OWN COUNTRY. Stratford’a rate of taxation may be 22 mills. Augqu 6th is the date for Guelph’s civic holiday. The Lutheran Synod will meet, next year in Elmira. Patrick O‘G rady, a very old resident of Paris, is dead at, the age of 70. Dundas is opposed to converting the H. & D. Railway into a. trolley line. Rev. Mr. Presser, Baptist, has moved from Leamington to Bidgetowu. Andrew A. Wylie, customs appraiser, died at Hamilton at the age of 68- The Kslmar station on the ORR. has been burned. A {our-foot live snake is on exhibition in a. Dundas street, Window, London. The Methodist church of Princeton is ba- ing repaired. Acheese factory is to be established on Simcoe Island. A large party of Scandinavian immigrants will go into the Edmmlon diatrica. Sweet potatoes are being grown this sea.- son on Cedar Island. Chippewa Bay. It, is reported that a. barge line will run from Owen Sound to Duluth. Canada. has now 8,477 post offices, an in- crease of 189 since last year. Diphtheria is prevalent in some parts of New Brunswick. Chairman Skene, of the Gall: Public School Board, has resigned. Rev. James Ballantyne, London, Ont” has moved to Ottawa. A lodge of the [Knights of Pythias is be- ing formed at Rat Portage. Mrs. Hannah Sparr, one of Stratford's oldest: residents, is dead. Two artillery men have deserted from “A” battery Kingston. The Hudson Bay Company’s store at Rat Portage is to be enlarged. A lodge of I. O. F. is to be established at Massey Station, Manitoulin. A new school building is to be erected at Fort William, the cost of which will be $18,900. London has issued 1,111 dog tags and about 200 untagged dogs yet. roan} the streets. Canada has thirty-eight divisions of the Brotherhood of Looomotive Engineers. The corner-stone of St. Paul’s Evangeli- cal Lutheran church in Ellice township baa just been laid. The Hobbs Hardware Company 01 Lou- dou pays $1,000 every week in wages to in employees. The county of Wentworth has a net balance on hand of $12,528.23 over all lia- bilities. The Baptist Convention for Manitoba and the North-“Test will convene at; Winnipeg July 9th. Rat, Portage is swarming with commer- cials, prospectors and capitalists from all points of the compass. A consignment of orchids and amaryllis from British India has just been received at St. Thoma; Col. C. S. Jones and Major T. Harry Jones, of the Dufierin Rifles of Brantford, have resigned. Joseph D. Johnston, of Lower Fo:t Garry, died recently. He was formerly of Mont< real and London. Peter Barnett, a retired farmer living near Fergus, attempted suicide by cutting his throat with a ruler. The Beckett Mountain Park Company, (Limited,) with a. capital stock of $40,000, has been incorporated. Miss A. Laven, of the Welland High School has been appointed entrance examin- er by the Separate School Board. Cuétom receipts in Halifax last month were $71,667.36. 3 decrease oi$2,703.23 compared with May, 1893. Judges and lawyers in Kent County are agitating the appointment of a shorthand reporter to record the evidence and judg- ments in important cases. The St. John, N. 3.. Board of Trade has decided to send a delegation to Ottawa. to oppose the fast Atlantic subsidy. The cotton factory at Monoton, N. 8., re- sumed operations, the workmen having ac- cepted a. cut of 10 per cent. in their wages. A four hundred and fifty pound bear, slain the other day in Antigonish county, N‘S., had killed twenty-five sheep of difl‘er- enb farmers. Mr. Ephraim Lumley, of Ridgebown, is suing the Wabash Railway for $20,000, for injuries sustained in a. switching :accident on that road some four years ago. The Maritime Grand Council of the Royal Templars of Temperance will be held on July 9, 10 and 11 at Woodstock, N. B. At a recent meeting of the \Vatford and Zion Congregational churches it. was decided to extend a. call to the Rev. Mr. Madill, of Alton. A company of rich Winnipeg gentlemen will develop the new found coal beds at Buffalo Point, Lake of the Woods. The London Y.M.C.A. will put its new building on the old Durand property. The Free Library Board will have one corner of the Int. At one time a. sharper tried to retain him, and was smoothing over his crooked con. duct, as well as he knew how, when the judge astonished him by exclaiming: It is always refreshing to learn of lawyers who will not. undertake an unjust cause. Ofnjuclge“ 1m_ Parley _ his_ biograplxer_sa.y§: He Helieved in thé justice at Bis cliexit’s cause; he would not enlist; in it otherwise. “ I think you have acted like an infernal scoundrei. sir !” “ Is there any charge for that. opinion I” “ Yes, sir; five dollars "' Large Fee.