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W NOTES AND COAIMENI'S. Although, owing to the censorship J'nich just now is enforced with es- pecial rigor. it is.dillicult to obtain precise information concerning the disturbances in Central and southern Russia the outbreaks are known to have agrarian aims, and they indi- cate that a revolutionary spirit has at last been connuuuictited to the peasantry. Hitherto the agriculturâ€" ists, who are the descendants of the serfs emancipated in 1861, and who constitute a vast majority of the Russian population, have exhibited a kind of religious faith in their “Lit.â€" UO 1“thl‘." as they call the Czar. and, consequently, have been looked upon as the blllWill'k of the absolut- ist system. Their loyalty has proved unshakable, although the economical situation of the village. communities has been far from satisfactory. beâ€" cause of the severe pressure of an inâ€" creasing population on the allot- ments of land made forty years ago, and because the redemption payments for those lands, exacted in the form of rents, have been acknowledged, even by the candid bureaucrats, to be excessive. NOW it appears that. the agents of the revolutionary party have turned to account the trust. imposed in the Czar by the peasantry, and have cir- culated a report that: the “Little Father" has ordered that the lands, which in 1861 were reserved for the nobles, shall be divided among the emancipated serfs. In many parts of central and southern Russia the peasants have credited this report, and have proceeded to act. upon it. distributing among .themselves the lands and movablcs of the neighborâ€" ing proprietors. It seems that; the proceedings were orderly and peace- ful so long as no resistance was of- fered by the proprietors or their res- ident agents, but, when the civil and military authorities were called upon for protection, riot, incendiarism and bloodshed ensued. I That the present uprising will be put down by the military power at the disposal of the bureaucracy can« not for a moment be doubted, but the shrewd upholders of the absolut- ist system will recognize an omen of grave future danger in the fact that the feeling of discontent, and the fe- verish desire of change,-which had al- ready spread from the students in universities to the workmen in fac- tories and shops, have come to be shared by the tillers of the soil, from whom at least nineâ€"tenths of the rank and file of the standing army are recruited. It was demon- strated in Germany in 1848 that, from the moment that the revoluâ€" tionary spirit animates a whole pop- ulation, from the highly educated classes down to the laboring millions the officers and soldiers will sooner or later be infected in their turn, and will cease to be the docile instru- ments of an autocratic Government. It. is, in truth, only a question of time when Russia, like the rest of Christian Europe, will have to acâ€" knowledge the right of the people to some share in the management of poâ€" litical and economical affairs, and the present upheaval among the stolâ€" id and conservative moujiks indicates that. the time may not be distant. I, We do not attach much credit to the report that the young Czar Nicholas II. proposes to adopt. the scheme of constitutional government conceived and nearly carried out by Loris Meiikofl‘ in the spring of 1881. There is no doubt that a charter givâ€" ing selfâ€"government to Russia had been signed. by Alexander 11., and was being printed on the day when that sovereign was murdered. After some hesitation, however, his suc- cessor, Alexander 11L, repudiated the document, and throughout his reign pursued a reactional policy. We do not believe that a change of heart has been experienced by the bureau- crats, who, during the last twenty years, have brought to naught most of the preceding reforms, and who even at one time contemplated a re- ii.troduction of manorial rights, which would have constituted a step toward the revival of serfdom. Neithâ€" er have we any evidence for the as- sumption that. the present Sovereign is capable of the broad, humanitarâ€" ianisni and of the inflexible resolves for which his grandfather was disâ€" tinguished. So long as the Russian Emperor is a man possessed of only ordinary strength of purpose, a Loris Melikofl‘ is far more likely to share the fate of a. Turgot or :1 Neck- er than to succeed in introducing drastic and regenerating reforms. Seductive promises may, indoor, be made from time to time at St. Pet- crsburg for the purpose of allaying popular commotions, but when the storm blOWS over the pi‘tilllSC‘S are. unlikely to be kept. emmeeoeeemme 3 My £50 ' Engagement. : be vasewnveeeeweeeseaeee “Well,” I said, addressing Harry Ilford as the door of his shop closed behind a departing customer, "1 should have thought that a swell like that would have been able to run to something better than a Ilu'eeâ€"halfpenny Manila. out of cash I expect." llarry smiled. “Possibly,” he reâ€" plied, "but it may be merely a question of taste or of stinginess. one can never tell. Even a Sherlock Holmes might be deceived if he beâ€" gan making deductions as to a. man’s social or financial position from the brand of cigars he smokes. I don't say he would, but he might be. I remember once myselfâ€"but it’s rather a 'long yarn, and you may be in a hurry, sir,” “Not a bit of it,” 1 said, light~ ing a fresh pipe and settling myself comfortably in the. chair llford proâ€" vides for loungers. "I hope," I add- ed, “the yarn deals with theâ€"the interesting period of your life." lie nodded assent, fully underâ€" standing my delicate reference to his somewhat irregular "past." The“ interrupted only by an occasional customerâ€"for the night was wet and cheerless and few people were about -â€"he told me the following story One morning about a year since, just before my poor, forgiving old dad died and left me this business, I was sitting in my diggings look- ing over the paper when I came upon an advertisement that ran, as nearâ€" ly as I can remember, like this :â€" WANTEI).â€"Immediately, for a few days only, a young gentleman of good manners and appearance to undertake a mission of some diffi- culty in the interests of suffering humanity. A large honorarium givâ€" en at the concludion of the enterâ€" priseâ€"Apply by letter to X., 15a. Embankment. Court, Chat-ing ()ross. Well, I thought to myself when I’d read the thing through two or three times, I wonder what the. game is. Something risky. probably ; anyhow, it'll only cost a» penny stamp to try and find out. With which I sat down and wrote a. letter applying for the post advertised there and then. A little later on I went out and dropped my missivo into the nearest pillarâ€"box, and next morning T icâ€" ceived a reply, signed “William Myriâ€" fleld," asking me to call after six the same evening. Accordingly, a few minutes after the hour named, I dismounted iron; a Favorite 'bus at the corner of Northumbcrland Avenue and soon found myself in Embankment Court â€"a narrow, outâ€"ofâ€"datelooking thorâ€" oughfare in the vicinity of the Adel~ phi arches. Making my way to No. 15a, I had scarcely knocked before the door was opened by a yo'inglshâ€" looking man, who inqxireo‘ in a low tone whether I was Mr. Ilford. When I had answered in the affirmative he conducted me upstairs to :1. small back room on the first floor. which contained two chairs. a. bed. and a table strewn with newspapers. “Sorry we're so untidy," he marked, when we were seated, “but this is only a temporary office. The society will soon be more conveâ€" niently located, I expect. .lu fact, our tenancy of this room terminates to-morrow.” 1‘0- “Society,” I murmured, as he stopped. “Yes,” he said, "of course. But I forgot you didn't know. I’m the secretary of the Society for Benefitâ€" ing the Undeserving. You seo”â€"as I was about to interruptâ€""tho dc- serving have plenty done for them and, after all, they're in a minority -â€"a small minority, perhapsâ€"so that it is only right the others should have a look in. At least, that's my view ; don't you agree with me _?” “i'm not sure yet," I replied. “(:0 on. I’m anxious to hear all about the (liflicult mission you want undertaken. That is, if the place advertised is not already filled.” He laughed. “Oh, no,” he said, it’s not, filled. There have been plenty of applicants, but none of them will take the job 011. Listen ! The society requires a. thousand pounds for a more than usually unâ€" deserving case by next Monday, and their object in advertising was to find someone who'd get it for them.” At this I looked fixedly at Mr. William llIynfield, and observed that, in spite of his light and airy .way of speaking, he was evidently trying to determine what kind of a man he had to deal with. So I resohed to give him a lead. "Mr. Mynfield," I said, "I'm a bit of a physiognomist, andâ€"well, i don’t gather from your face that you're quite so philanthropic as you make out. I haven't much faith in societies whose operations are con- ducte}! from a fellow’s bedroom ; and, in short,-I reckon you’re the more than usually undeserving case yourself.” “0h, 1â€",” he began. "And," I interrupted, "that the mission for the benefit of suffering humanity is for your own benefit, ch 7” "What then ?" he said. can‘t separate the individual the mass.” “No.” I agreed ; “but now that we’re beginning to understand each other let' us come to the point. What's the game and what's the pay ? Out with it ; you needn’t l-e afraid. Good gracious, man, I sus- pected some swindle was afoot from “You from the first. I shouldn't have answered your advertisement. else." "H’m," he remarked, "the other chaps who've been here were downâ€" zit-heel mugs who thought. me mad, but you're evidently sharp enough, air. Ilford. Your dress and appearâ€" ance, too, are all that could be wished. i should really think my advertisement had not been wasted, after all, if only 1 could be sure you're to be trusted." 1 rose as if to go. “If you can‘t tatke my word for it, we may as well part. company,” 1 Said. “I'll bid ,vou good evening.” “Don‘t. be a fool," he cried, with a sudden change of manner. “Sit down again." I complied, with a shrug of the shoulders. "The pay ‘2" I asked. “i'ifty pounds, if successful." "Ah, and the work ?" Mynfield again looked at me du- hiously, but a moment, later cried, suddenly, "Very Well, I“ trust you. Time presses, and I can't do other- wise. The job must be done to-mor- row, and it's one that needs a smart man. 1 bet you'll manage it, though if you’ll only follow my instrucâ€" tions.” “I'll do my best ; fire away." "Very well, then. I must explain in the first place that until a. fort- night ago I was for some years con- fidential assistant to Mr. George Codicot, head of the firm of Cooicot &‘ (30., the big Westrend jewellers and Iiawnbrokers. I left his service hurriedly, under painful circum- stances that need not be entered into now, but before doing so I took a. few useful notes as to his future movements. To-morrow he goes to Brighton, and it Will be your task. since it obviously can’t be mine, to shadow himâ€"on his homoward jour- hey, that is; it'll be better to keep out of the way till then. He’ll leme Brighton by the 7.10 train, which runs right through to Victoria withâ€" out stopping, and he'll travel first class. You must get into the same compartment, and manage somehow or other to substitute the small black bag I Shall give you toâ€"night for a. similar one he'll have with him. The latter you'll hand to me .at Victoria, where I shall await you and in exchange I’ll hand you fifty pounds in gold, and the transaction will be finished. What do you say ? Will you take it on '2” “Supposing I were how should I know my man "Easin enough. I’ll describe him. He’s a fellow of medium height, wears a beard, and an overcoat to say ‘yes.’ .n- trimmed with astrachan ; will pro- bably be smoking a cigar, and, as likely as not, will have a drink in the refreshment room before the train starts. Then of course, there'll be the bag to look out for." "ll’iii.’ Altogether I understand Mr. Codicot to be the sort of chap that emits an aroma of opulence, ch ‘2” “You've put it well." “Now as to the contents of the bag." “Jewellery. A and several smaller placed together in case.” "How do you know as much :7” tiara, a necklace, articles, all a brown leather “Because the things come into Codicot’s possession about. this time every year. They belong to Lady Gwelton, who is a widow and lives at Brighton, and whose income is paid to her annually in May, but don't last the twelve months out. So she’s arranged with Codicot to supply imitations, and advance her it big enough sum on the originals to keep her going till her next. pay- ment becomes due. Toâ€"morrow, for 'thc fourth year, I think, he will take down the fakes and a crossed cheq'uc and bring backâ€"well, what he will actually get home with depends on you." "It seems to me,” I remarked, as Mynhcld paused, “that so much deâ€" pends on me that fifty pounds is a ridiculously inadequate payment for my services. Suppose I were to stick to the jewellery instead '2" Mynfield laughed. “if you tried to get rid of it. in this country you’d precious soon find yourself in chokee," he said. "You may bet (‘odicot won’t wait long before raisâ€" ing a hue and cry directly he dis- co\ers he‘s been had. That won’t. hurt me, however, for I’ve. already made arrangements to bolt to the Continent to-inorrow nightâ€"never mind where. No, you mustn’t try to swindle me, Mr. llford, and you must to Content with what I offerâ€"if you can earn it. that is.” “I don’t know that i can,” I an- sweied. glooni'ily. “Suppose the n compartment's full of people '2 “Not. likely to be, this time of the your ; Lesides, L‘odicot has a theory â€"-that a perSon travelling with \alnâ€" able luggage shouldn't attract n0- tice by appearing to take unusual care of it. As likely as not he’ll put the bug on the rack, or at least on the seat beside him. Of course, if he keeps hold of it all the lime it'll 111al~Le your job a. little dilllcult. es- pecially if there should be anyone else in the compartment." “1 should just think it will," I rejoined. "Ilowcver, I can't. afford to let the chance of making a. bit go by. Pay my first class return fare to Brighton and I'll see what I can do. If I succeed, so much the better for both of us ; if I don‘t, so much the worse. I shan’t take any big risks, mind." Mynfleld wanted me to pay the fare myself, but eventually gave way on the point and handed me the money together with tire bag he had spoken of. Then, with a pro- mise to meet him, as arranged. Victoria Station on the ft)ll()'-.\'ill‘_! evening, and a. joke about the eon:â€" ing dissolution of the Soriety for i 0110 :Il Benefiting the Uudeserving, I took my departure. Well, Sir, I need not describe myl proceedings on the following day in detail. It. will be enough to say that I went down to Brighton by a morning train, and, although the month was February and the air Cold, i passed several pleasant hours in the King's Road. Just after six o‘clock I turned into West street, and, ina'k‘ing my way to the station, entered the refreshment room, where I obtained a bun and a glass of beer. Carrying this frugal fare from the bar counter, I placed it with my bag on a small table near the door and sat down to watch and wait. At ten minutes to sewn l was reâ€" Warded by seeing a bearded man pass me, who wore. a coat trimmed with astrachan, carried a bag lile' mine, and seemed in Livery other respect to tally with Mynficld's desâ€" eription. “Codicot, without. doubt," I murmured, as I saw him advance to the bar and, removing his (igar from his mouth, give some order to the barmaid. The next moment. a small glass, apparently containing whisky, was set in front of him. "Codicot, without doubt,” I murâ€" mured again, as I turned and glanc- ed casually round the room. I was met by a most unpleasant sight, for there, coming thronin the door, was a second iudltidiual, close- ly resembling the first, in appearance and attire, carrying also an ordinâ€" ary blan leather bag and smoking a cigar. Ilero was an llllCXpGthtl dilemma, indeed. How on earth was I to identify my man ‘? I thought of the "aroma of opuâ€" lence" I was to look for, and I soon made up my mind how to act. I would go behind the two men in turnâ€"for the second, like the first, was drinking whisky by this timeâ€" and I would shadow him who was indulging in the more expensive smoke. It seemed impossible to im- agine that a wellâ€"to~do pawnbroker could possibly affect any brand but the bestâ€"impossible l. I may perhaps remind you here: sir, that my poor father had brought me. up to the tobacco trade, and that before I quarrelled with him and went astray for a time I'd ac- quired quite enough experience to tell a good thing from an inferior in the cigar line. You will understand then, that my task proved an easy one, when I say that the first man who had entered the refreshment room was smoking a twoponny Mexican, while the sec- ond was on the point of finishing a high class Havana. I naturally at once decided that. Mr. Codicot. No. 2 should be honored with my at- tentionsâ€"of course, supposing that he went by the 7.10 train. Well, to make a long story short, he did go by that train, and when I had seen him get into a first-class compartment, and settle himself in one of the farther corners, I pretendâ€" ed to be a friend of his and bribed the guard to put nobody else in the compartment. Then, when the train was on the point of starting and I had seen the other fellow also inâ€" stalled in a “first” some distance to the rear, I jumped in, and we were whistled off. Before we had Park I had come to reached Preston the conclusion that I was in for a nice soft job after all. The difficulties I had ex-- pected, and some of which I had come prepared to meet, had not arisen. On the contrary, what could be better than that the bag I want ed should be on the rack opposite to me, while its owner reclined against, the cushions underneath it fast asleep 2‘ I waited a few minutes, then canâ€" tiously but swiftly I took down my own bag from the rack aboxe me. and in a twinkling the exchange Was effected. Having felt that my friend's bag contained a boxâ€"shaped article. which I was quite satisfied was: Lady Gwelton's jewel-case, I put it on the rack and sat still watching the sleeper, in the hope that he would not awaken until the train was nearing its destination. Ilere again the. matter fell out as I wished, for we had left East t'royâ€" don behind us when at last my coin- panion stirred, and opening his eyes looked blinkineg towards me. His first renmrk, however, gave 1110‘ a sort of shook. It was simply 2 “Well, I’m hanged i” "No," I said, "you’ve been asleep, that's all. We'll soon be in now. I hope you’ve had pleasant dreams ‘9" i meant, if possible, to keep him cu- gaged in conversation till we reachâ€" ed Victoria. “l’m hanged l” he repeated. "The sea air must 'a.ve overcome me to send me off like that. Sen air and a little somethin’ else, oh ‘2” lie gave a hoarse chuckle, and conâ€" tinued confidentially. “You see, I ain't accustomed to 'olithtys. Travel first. good clothes on, good liquor. and the may best cigars. Twice a year I 'ave a day in Brighton, in l-‘ebruary before people begin spring clennin', in August before they startI autumn ditto ; glass why, ch 2’ .Wcll' I don’t mind tellin’ you l'm a chim- Hey-cleaner, that's “hat I am.” I groaned inwardly as he proceed-i ed, with a selfâ€"satisfied air. “Yes. you can call me sweep. if, you like. I ain't proud, though on a day like this I'm as good as an_v-: yes, even as old three balls,1 !\\'l10 I saw at the station. but who‘ wouldn't set- iiif‘. llai'csay 'e'll Set?" .1110 to-iiua'row, when 1 take bat-kl this he bury ('0le '0 'im to ininrl.i ‘s-Z’d one like it on ‘iinself toâ€"’ ,- .xâ€"l.hss-.~d if 'e 'adn’t. You see, ' to let uncle ’ave my best1 (-Iotl‘es to take care of. as I only“ ‘.\.:i.t them twice a your. 'l". kecpsl got suit“ ion“ Ithouglzt of that. 17?} "s, - HEltMOINE SHIRT WAIST. Au elaborately designed shirtâ€"waist made over a fitted lining, has an ex~ qllisltely shaped yoke, tucks down the front. and a fitted strap about the neck. The woman who desires to have considerable work on her shirtâ€"waist cannot, do better than to follow the Hermoine design, and the pattern is eminently adapted to any of the light woolen fabrics and also ‘ to silk. Quantities of material Thirtyâ€"two and thirty-four bust measure will require four and one half yards of silk tWenty inches wide. Thirty-six bust measure will require four and threeâ€"quarter yards of silk twenty inches wide. Thirty- eight and forty bust measure will require five and onefourth yards of silk twenty inches wide. required.â€" moths out. and so forth. Codicot the blokc’s name is ; 'e was robbed by one of 'is chaps a week or two back, so I’ve ’eard ; p’rhaps that makes ‘im grumpy." I was much too agitated to do more than nod ; but seemingly quite contented to do the talking himself the chimneyâ€"cleaner went on : “Yes, I've done the gentleman for the first and last time for six months. Only thing now to gel) 'ome, give my sister the shell work- box I've got in my fang; up there-â€" I ain’t got a missus, but I always take my sister a little soovceneerâ€" and then to work again.” With which he gave another ohuctkle and, to my relief, subsided into silo ice. A few minutes later we arrived at Victoria. I seized the sweep's bag and, jumping from the train, with a. muttered good-night to its owner,, ran along the platform, wondering whether I should be able to blqu Mynfield into believing I'd brought him the cargo he Wanted. I meant to try, and when I’d given up my ticket and found him duly waiting I whispered, hastily “It’s all right, but hurry along : the bounder may discover what's happened. We'd better part as Soon as possible. Got the coin ’2" “Yes, yes,”Jie answered, evidently as anxious to finish the business as I was, and he opened a purse cram- med fnll of glittering sovereigns. “You'll find fifty there, sure en- ough,” he added, closing the purse and putting it in my hand. “Thanks. thanks,” I replied, as I gave him the bag. "Good ludk and goodâ€"bye." He disappeared in the and I never saw him again. Well, sir, I think my adiventnro proves that a man's position can't be judged from his cigar, and when you've heard the end of it I expect you’ll agree with me that, in spite of "combines" and things of that sort, it's better to look to the toâ€" bacco trade than to one's wits for a. living. When I got home to my diggiugs that night and opened the purse which Mynf‘ield had given me, I had the pleasure of discovering that its glittering sovereigns were made of brass and bore the efligy, not of Queen ViCtoria. but of Mr. Kruger. They used to Sell them in the Streets at a penny each till the police stop- ped it.~â€"â€"London 'i‘itâ€"llits. _..â€"+â€"â€"â€"â€"â€" - Sill? t‘APl’i‘ULATlfiD. “May I dream that you will be mine ‘2“ pleaded St. Clair Maginnis, darkness addressing the fair Minerva Mcâ€" (liliicnddy. “Really, Mr. Muginnis," replied the stately girl. “I should not preâ€" sume to exercise a censorship over your dreams. Dream as you please ; but do not fail to remember that dreams go by contruries.” "Thank you for the suggestion, Miss Mctiillicuddy. I had not I shall dream that you will not marry me.” “I am yours," she hastened add. for she saw it, was us: .' efl‘n-i: nt It) hold out against so a. dreamer. A \i‘tliiKi-Iil. Strangzi-râ€"“iliiat do you do all day here 2’" Nativ V“W-.itrh the tide come in." Sin'an;;.‘â€""But when you're not dong that 1’" Natixtw‘wl'atrl; t' tide goin' out." to Iâ€"