MOFEWINAL CAKII.
a L.FIUTZ,
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW,
Office Front Room, Over PobIoHIco.
BLOOMSBURG, PA.
LB, WALLER,
' ATTORNEY-AT-LAW,
lMoomsburg, Fa
omce orer 1st National Panic
U. FUNK,
' ATTORNEY-AT-LAW.
BLOOIU1CM, PA,
Oico In Bnt'a BnHdlfig.
"t OHN M. CLAUK,
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
AMD
JUSTICE OF THE PEAOE,
Uloomibcki, Pa
0mc OTcr Morcr Proa. Drug Store.
p W. MILLER,
V ATTOKMSr-AT-LAWi
Offlcoln Brower'sbuUotogeoondOoor.room No. J
Uloonsbarg, ra.
B.
FRANK ZARK,
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW.
Bloomsbure, l'a.
O nee comer ol Ctntt atd alt Mitcle.Cla.il a
Buiimnir.
Can be consulted In German,
QEO. E. ELWELL
ATTORNEY-AT -LAW.
. Bloombuubg, Pa.
Office on First floor, front room of Cot
DMniAH.BuUdinK, Main street, below Ex.
change Hotel.
pAUL E. WIRT,
Attornoy-at-Law.
Office In CoLomiAM Bdildimo, Uoom No. , second
B00r' BLOOMSBURG, PA.
jj V. WHITE,
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW,
BLOOMSBURG, PA.
Office In Browcrs' Building, 2nd floor,
may 1-tf
' 8 IICOBB. I S.WINTJRSTMH.
KNORR & WINTER8TEEN,
AttornoyB-at-Law.
omoe In lKliationai Bank buUdlng, second noor,
nrstdoortothelelt Corner ot Main and Market
atreeta Bloomaburg, Pa.
fVl'ennom and Bounlia Vollectid.
P. BILLMEYER,
(DISTRICT ATTORNEY.)
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW,
STOfllco over Dcntlcr's slioo store,
llloorusburg, Pn. apt-30.80.
ry. a. RIIAWN.
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW.
Catawlua, Pa.
oace.oorner ot Third and Matnatracta.
M
ICUAEL F. EYERLY,
Conveyancer, Collector of Claims.
LEGAL ADVICE IN TBE. SETTLEMENT OP
ESTATES, C
nromce' in Dcnters building with P. P. BUI
roeier, attorney.al-law, front looms, snd noor
Bloomabunr, Pa. apr--M.
yy- s. smith,
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
Berwick, Pa.
n
It, UONORA A. R0BBIN8.
Offlce and residence, West First street. Blooms
burg, Pa. noTMsair.
B. McKELVY, M. D.,8urgeon and Fby
. Blclan. north aide Main strcet,below Market
D
R. JVC. RUTTER,
PHYSICIAN &8UKGK0N,
omce. North Market street,
Bloomsburg, Fa
r. n wir' u i) vlllM? Rurtrnnn and
l'WOclan. Office oorner ot Bock and Market
ireei.
EXCHANGE HOTEL.
W. R. TUBBS, PROPRIETOR
BLOOMSBtratJ.PA.
OrrOSlTK COBRT HOCBB
Large and convenient sample rooms, lmth room,
hot and cold water; and an modern conveniences.
Tl
F. HARTMAN
BJOTBSIMTB TOT rOtlOWIKO
AMERICAN 1NBURANCE COMPANIES
North American ot Philadelphia.
Pranklln, ". "
Pennsylvania, " "
York, ot PennsylTanla.
turnover, ot N.-Y. i
queens, ot London.
NortUBrttlsh. ot London.
Ufflos on Market Btreut, No. t, Bloomsbnrg.
oot.14, 1-
F
IBE INSURANCE
CfirtrsTIAN V. KNA1T, BLOOMBBDKO.PA,
m bhcii ants', of nkwabk, n. j.
olinton, n. v.
Peoples' n. y.
r hading, pa. .
Tbeee old coki-obationb are well seasoned by
ae and ma xasTan and nave never yet had a
I oss settled by any court of law. Their assets are
au Invested In solid skocwtii are liable to the
b'utrinlj and honwti.t adlustodand
oaldas soon as determined by cuhistian r.
KKirrVar-KUL Aflam and awbtm bloomsscbo,
Pa.
The people ot Columbia county should patron
Ue the agency where losses u- any are settled and
call by one of ther own citizens.
P PROMPTNESS. EOUTTY. PAIR DEALING.
17REA8 BROWN'S INBURANOE
X? AGENCY. 'Moyer'a new building, Mais street,
Bloomsburg, Pa. Assets
fitna Insurance Co., ot Hartford, Conn fJ,OM,w)
Koyal of Liverpool il'mtam
Lancashire iu,uuu,uuu
Plre Association. Philadelphia i'lK-IiS
Phcnnlx, ot London.
London Lancashire, ot England J-ffiS
llartfordot Hartford...... MMS
Springfield Eire and M arlne. .......... . S.ufW!
'as the agencies are direct, policies are written
or the insured without delay In the office at
Bloomsburg, oct. vs, ai-
-TTTAINWRIGHT &CO.,
WHOLESALE GROCERS,
PllILADKLl'llIA, PA.
DUB, fcYHUIB, COrFBE, bfGAll, M0LA6SE&
iUOB, BPIOKe, UIOAKB bODA, ETO., ETO.
N. K. Corner Second and Arch bta.
tarordcrs will receive prompt attention.
jy II, HOUSE,
DENTIST,
BLooMSBUita, Columbia County, Pa
All styles ot work done in a auperlor manner, work
warranted aa repreaented. Tiarn Eitbact
id witbodt Paim by the use ot Gas, and
freeof ohargewbenartmclalteetb
are Inserted.
Offlco In Barton's building, Main street,
below Market, live doors below Kleims
drug store, tlrst floor.
'Jobe open at all hour$ during the da
NovM-ly
pURSEL'S BARBKR BHOP,
Uudtr Exohango Hotel.
Tho Toneorlal Art in all its LranebcB.
HOT AND COLD BATHS.
Haruie B. Purskl,
lyinar25 J'ropriutor.
Benton Hotel,
LEMUEL DRAKE, Prop'r.
This well-known hotel has been re-opened and
many Improvements made for tho accommodation
ot the traveling public The bar and table are
supplied v, Ith the Lest the market affords. A large
ana commodious stable Is connected with the
uuuu, 'renoa always reasonauie.
imayb7 LEMUEL DRAKE, lroprletor.
SUBSCRIBE FOR
THE, COLUMBIAN,
3. E.ELWELL, - . . ,
J K BITTENBEHBEB. f r8Prietor.
NO ONE NEED
Remain
A DYSPEPTIC.
"I have been mlTering for
over two years with Dyspep
sin. For the last year I
could nottako a drink ot col. I
water nor eat any meat with,
out vomiting it up. My lifo
was a misery. 1 had had re
commended Simmons Liver
Regulator, of which I am
now taking the second bottle,
and tho fact is that words
cannot expicm the relief I
feol. My nppuitc is very
good, and I digrbt everything
thoroughly. I sleep well now,
and I ined to bo very rtstl-8.
I am fleshing up fast; good
strong food and Simmons
Liver Regulator have done it
all. I write this in hopes of
benefiting somo ono who has
suffered as I did, and would
tako oath to these statements
if dcBiied."
E. S. Baixou, Syracuse, Neb.
SCOTT'S
EMULSION
OF PURE COD LITER OIL
OS
Almost asPalatabloas Milk.
Tho only pirparatlon of COI MVKR OIL that
can bo taken readily and toleratod for a long time
by delicate Ktoinarh
1KB AS A 11KMEDT FOB f0SiaPT10y,
sutoni.ois un.nio.w, a.muih, ia..
KKAI, Ul.lUMrV, t ill (IMS AMI III1I0AT At'.
H,Cfll)NS anil all HAMIXll DLMIKl'l.llS II?
Cllll.imt.N It l martellon. In I la rrnnlli.
lroticTlbed and omlorscU by tho bee, Physicians
in the countries of tho world.
FOR SALE BY ALL DRUGGISTS.
oct-M-iy
MANY LAMP CHIMNEYS ABE
oflorod for salo ropresentccl
as good as tho Famous
PEARLTOP
DOT THEY
ARE NOT!
And llko all Counterfeits lack tho
Uemarkablo LASTING Qttulltici
OF THE GENUINE.
ASH FOR TIZE
MLTOP
And Iris 1st
THIS
Exact
ABEL
on Each
CHIMNEY
PatOoU 30 . 1S83.
The PEARL TOP is
Manufactured (ISLV by
GO,A,MAC0ETH&CO,,
riTTSBUltaU. IA.
dec 8 66 n o 4 co.
CLOTKINGlo CLOTHING
G. W. BERTSOH,
THE MERCHANT TAILOR.
ients' Furnishing Goods, Bats Si Caps
OF EVERY DESCRIPTION.
Suits mado to order at short notice
and a fit alway s guaranteed or no sale.
Call and examine tho larnest and beBt
selected stock of goods ever shown in
Columbia county.
Store next door to First National Bank,
MAIN STREET,
filoonisburg Pa.
ORNAMENTAL IRON FENCES
OK CAST Oil WllOUGHT HtON.
Suitable for
Yards,
Cemetery Lots
and
Public Grounds
:o;
TuerouowiDgsnowB iuo i ic. ..u.m.v, -u u.
the several beautiful styles ot Fence manufactured
by the undertJgncd.
For Iieautr and Durability they arounsurpass
ed. sot up by experienced hands ana warrantee;
to give satrsiaction.
Prices and specimens of othor do
signs sent to any addross.
Address
a m. Hi!
BLOOMSBURG PA-
BLOOMSBURG MING MILL
tha nnrlnr-Hfirnnri hnvlntr nut hlB Planing Ml
on Kallroad Street, In nrst-ciass condition, Is p'e
pared to qo au ainus oi wura. m u
FRAMES, SASH, DOORS,
BLINDS.MOUDINGS,
FLOORING, Etc.
turnisued at roasonablerrlces. All lumber usea
la woll soasonod and none but skilled workmen
aro employed.
ESTIMATES FOE BD1IDJNGS
nrnlslied on application. Plana and srecinca
ons prepared by an eiperiencca uraununumu
CIIAULES KUUfi,
niooiusbur?;, 1'w
M, C, SLOAN & BRO
RL00MSBURC4, PA.
moufacturers ot
CARRIAGES BUDGIES, PHAETONS
SltlCKS, WAGCNS &C
FlrstrClass work always on hand,
SEPA JllWQ NEA TL Y D OHh.
Prict rtduccdto tuit the timu.
npon fmSm
thm V&Um1K!C7
Wm
mmm
THE WITCH'S HEAD.
y h. niDER nAaoAim
CHAPTER XXXVI.
tNTnOSPKOTIVB.
Eva reached her homo, nfter tho mrftlnff
on tho Hoo, Jurt beforo luncheon 11 mo, Her
imsuanci was now acting as locum Unions for
tho rector of ono of tho Plymouth parishes.
They had moved thui from place to ploeo for
years, waiting for tho Kesterwlck living to
iau vacant, ana Eva likal tho roving life
well enough It diverted her thoughts.
Presently sho heard her husband enter,
bringing somebody elso with blm, and sum
moned up tno sweet smile, for which she was
remarkable, to greet him.
In another Instant ho was In tho room, fol
lowed by a fresh faced subaltern, whoso ap
pearance reminded her of tbo picture of
cherubs. Mr. l'lowden had chanced but
little shico wo saw him Inst, with the excep
tion that bis hair was now streaked with gray,
and tho whole face rather stouter, Other
wise tho cold, gray eyes were ns cold as ever,
and the countenance of Plowdon was what
tho countcnanco of Plowden had alwnys Imen
powerful, Intelligent and conrso looking.
"Lot mo introduce my friend, Lieut. Jasper,
to you, my dear," bo said, In bis full, strong
voice, which was yet unpleasant to tho ear,
"Wo met at Capt. Johnstone's, nud as It Is n
long way to go to tho barracks for lunch, I
asked him to come and tako pot luck with us."
Tho cherubic Jasper bad screwed an eye
glass Into his round eye, and through it was
contemplating Evn with astonished ecstasy;
but, like most vory 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 as a iicrsonal compliment,
"I am delighted," she murmurtxl, and held
out her hand.
The cherub, suddenly awaking to tho fact,
dropped his eyeglass, and, plunging at it,
seized it as a piko does a little fish and shook
it with enthusiasm.
Eva smiled again.
"Shall we go to lunch C sho wild, sweetly;
and they wont to lunch, she sailing down In
front of them with tho grace of a swniL
At lunch Itself the conversation flagged
rather; that is, Mr. Plowden talked witli nil
the facility of an' extemporary preacher: the
cherub gazed at this pale, dark eyed angel;
and Eva, fully occupied with her own
thoughts, contributed a great many apprecia
tive smiles and a fow random remarks. Just
as they were, to her intense relief, Hearing
tho conclusion of the meal, a messenger nr
rivcxl to summon Mr. Plowden to christen a
dying baby. He got up at once, for ho was
punctilious in the performance of his duties,
and, making excuses to his guest, departed
on bis errand, thus forcing Eva to carry on
the conversation.
"Have you been in Plymouth long, Mr.
Jasper!" she asked. The eyeglass dropped
spasmodically.
"Plymouth? oh, dear, no; I only landed
this morning."
"Landed! Indeed! Where from? I did
not know that any boat was iu except the
Conway Castlo."
"Well, I enmo by her; from tho Zulu war,
you know. I was invalided borne tor lever,"
Tho cherub suddenly became intensely ln
tcrcstlng to Eva, for it had struck her that
Ernest must have come from tbero.
"Indeed! Ihopeiyou had a pleasant pas
sage. It depends so mucn on your ieuow
Dassencors, does It not!"
"Oh, yes, we uad a very nice lot ot men ou
board, wounded officers, mostly. There wen
a couolo of very decent civilians, too, a giant
of a fellow called Jones, and a blind baronet,
Sir Ernest Kershaw."
Eva's bosom heaved.
"I onco know a Mr, Ernest Kershaw; I
wonder If it Is tho same? Ho was tall, and
had dark eyes."
That's tho man: ho only cot his title
month nco. A melancholy sort of chnp, I
thought; but then, ho can't see now. That
Jones is a wonderful fellow, though could
pull two heavy men up nt once, ns easily n
you would lift a puppy dog. Saw him do it
myself, I knew them both out there."
"Uhl w hero did you meet menu
"Well, it was rather curious. I suppose
you heard of tho great disaster at that place
with an awful name, wen, i was ni
beastly holo called Ilelpmakaar, when a
fellow camo riding liko anything from
Ilorke'B Drift, telling us what had hapiiened,
and that tho Zulus were coming. Bo no ail
set to and worked liko mad, and just as we
had got the place a Uttlo ut tor tueni, some
body shouted time UO saw tueni coming.
That was jibt ns it wo3 getting dark. 1 ran
to the wall to look, and saw, not the Zulus,
but n creat bli fellow carrying a dead fellow
In his arms, followed by a KafTer leading
tbrco horses. At lonst 1 tnougut tno ieuow
was dead, but ho wasn't, ho had been struck
by lightning. We let him in, and 6ucu a
sisht as they were you never saw, all soaked
with blood from top to tool"
"Ahl And how did thoy como UKe tuati '
"Thev were tho only survivors of a volun
teer corns called Alston's Horse. Thoy killed
nil tho Zulus that wero attacking them, when
the Zulus had killed everybody except them.
Then they camo awny, and tho blind fellow,
that Is, Bir Ernest, got strucK in a storm
fellows often do out there,"
Eva nut further Questions, and listened
with breathless interest to tho story of
Ernest's and Jeremy's wonderful esenjio, bo
far as tho details wero known to mr. jasper,
tjuito regardless of tho pitiless flro that young
genllemnn was Keeping on ucrbeu luiuuu
his eyeglass. At last, reluctantly enough, ho
roso to co.
"I must bo ofT now, Mrs. l'lowden; I want
to go and call on Sir Ernest at tho hotel. He
lent mo n Derringer pUtol to pmctlco at a
bottlo with and I forgot to give It nackv
Eva turned tho full battery of her beauti
ful eyes uiion ldin. Sho saw that tho young
gentleman was struck and determined to
make uso of him. Women aro unscrupulous
when thev bnvo an end In vlow.
"I am so sorry you must go, nut i nopo you
will come and fceo me again and tell mo some
moro nbout tho war and tho battles."
You aro very kind," ho stammered, "I
shall lio deliirhtoiL"
Ho did not think It necessary to add mat
be had not bad tho luck to suo a shot fired
himself. Why should lie?
"Ily tbo way, if you aro going to soo Sir
Ernest, do you think you could givo him a
private messuiro from mo? I have u reason
for not wishing to lo overheard."
"Oh, yes, I daro pay I can. Nothing would
clvo me irreater pleasure."
"You aro very good." Anothor glance.
"Will you tell him that I avlsu ho would tako
a Ily and come to soo mo! I fchall be in all
this afternoon."
A pang of jealousy 6hot through tho
chenibla lnvsom. but ho comforted himself
with tho reflection that a fine woman liko
Hint could not caro for a "blind fellow,"
"Oh. certainly. I will try."
"Thank vou." and she extended her hand.
Ho took It, and, intoxicated by those superb
nves. ventured to press It gently. A mild
n onder took posmssIou of Eva's mind, that
anybody so very young could have develoid
such an astonishing amount of impudence,
but sho dIJ not resent tbo pressure. Wliat
did sho care about having her hand squeezed
when it was a question of seeing Ernest!
Poor, deluded cberubl
CHAPTER XXXVII.
AFTE11 MANY DAYS. -
Within an hour after the departure of
Lieut. Jasper, Eva heard a fly draw up at
tho door. Then enmo njx interval and the
sound of two jieoplo waiting up tho steps,
one of whom stumblul a good deal; then
n rlne.
"Is Mrs. riowden at home!" said a clear
vnl. the well remembered touos of which
sent tho blood to hor bead, and then back to
ber heart with a rush.
Y. sir."
"Oh I Watt here, flyman. Now, my good
clrl. I must ask vou to givo mo your hand,
for I am not In n condition to And my way
nlmiit stramro nlaces."
Another pause, and tho drawing room door
opened, and tho maid camo In leading Ernest,
wlm woro a curious, uruwii i"u ui moiuvu.
"Howdoyoudol''sho said, ill n low voice,
imimr and taking him by tho baud. "That
will do, Jano." ...
He did uot apeak till tho door closed ; he
only looked at ber wilb thoso searching blind
"'xlius they met again after many years.
Bho led bun to a sofa, and ho 6ut down.
"Do not leave go of my hand," he paid
quickly; "I have not yet got used to talking
to people iu tbo dark,"
BLOOMSBURG, PA., FRIDAY, AUGUST 19,
Bho sat down on tho sofa besloo him, reeling
frightened and yet happy. For nwhllo they
remained silent; apparently thoy could find
nothing to say, and nf tcr dil tllenco seemed
most fitting, Sho had never thought to sit
hand in hand with blm again. Sho looked nt
him; there was no need for her to keep n
guard over hor loving glancos, for ho was
blind. At length sho broke (he silence.
"V cro you surprised to got my inessngoP
, sho asked, gently,
i cs; it was iiko getting a mossngo from
tho dead. I never expected to 6eo you again.
I thought that you bad quite passed out of
my life."
So you hail forgotten mor
"Why do you say such n thinglo mo! You
must knotv, Evn, that It is Impossible for mo
to forget you; I almost wish that it wero pos
sible. I meant that you ti.nl pnssod out of
my outward life, for out of my mind you can
nover pass."
I-.vn hung her head and was silent, and yet
hh words sent a thrill of happiness through
her. So sbo had not quite lost him after all.
"Jjliten, Eva," Ernest went on, gathering
himself together, and speaking sternly enough
now, and with n straugo suppressed energy
Hint frightened her, "How you camo to do
wlint you havo done you liest know,"
"It Is done: do not let us speak of It, I was
not altogether to blame," sho broko in.
"I was not going to sjieak of It. IJut I was
going to say this, now whilo I havo tho
chance, liecauso time to short, andlthinlclt
right that you should know tho truth. I was
going to tell you first that for what you havo
dono I freely forgive you."
"Oh, Ernest I"
"It Is," ho wont on, not heeding her, "a
question that you can settle with your con
science and your God, Hut I wish to tell
you what It is that you havo dono. You havo
wrecked my lifo, and inado It an unhappy
thing; you havo taken that from mo which I
can never havo to give again; you havo em
bittered my mind, and driven mo to sins of
which I should not otherwise havo dreamed.
I loved you, and you gavo mo proofs which I
could not doubt that I had won your lovo.
You lot mo lovo you, and then when tbo hour
of trial came you deserted and morally de
stroyed mo, and tho great and holy affection
that should havo been the blessing of my lift
has become Its runm"
Evn covered her face with her hands and
sat s'Jent.
"You do not answer mo, Eva," ho said pres
ently, with a littlo laugh, "rerhaps you find
what I bnvo to say dillicult to answer, or per
hniis you think I am taking a liberty."
"You aro very hard," sho said in a low
volco.
"Had you not better wait till I have dono
before you call mo hard! If I wished to bo
hard I should tell you that I no longer cored
for you, that my prevailing feeling toward
you wns ono of contempt. It would perhaps
mortify you to think that I had shaken oir
such heavy chains. Iiut It is not tho truth,
Eva. I lovo vou now, passionately as ever,
as I always havo loved you, as I always shall
love you. I hopo for nothing, 1 asK tor
nothing; in this business It has always been
my part to give, not to rccclvo. I despise
myself for it, but so it is."
Bho laid her hand upon his shoulder, "bparo
me, Ernest," sho wbisiiered.
"X havo very littlo moro to say, only this: i
bellovo all thlj I havo given you has not been
given uselessly. I bellovo that tho lovo of
the flesh will dio with tho flesh. But my lovo
for you has been something moro and higher
than that, or how has it lived witnout hope,
and. In snito of its dishonor, through so many
years! It is of the spirit, and I bellovo that
its lifo will bo liko that of the spirit, unend
ing, and that when this, hateful life is done
with I shall In somo strango way reap its
fruits with you."
"Why do you bellovo that, UrnestP
"Why do I lieliovo It! I cannot tell you.
rerhora it is nothing but tho mocking fantasy
of a mind broken down with brooding on its
grief. In trouble wo grow toward tho light
llko 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 uod lays bis heavy
band upou us. Heaven is sorrow's solo am
bition. No, Eva, I do not know why I bellovo
it; certainly you have given mo no grounds
for faith, but I do believo it, and it comforts
mo. By the way, how did you know that I
was here!"
"I passed you on tho Hoo this morning walk
ing with Dorothy."
Ernest started,
"I felt jou puss," bo said, "and asked Doro
thy who it was. Sho said sho did not know."
"Sho know, but I mado a sign to her not to
say.'
"Oh I"
"Ernest, will you promise mo something?"
asked Evi, w.ldly.
"What Hit?"
"Nothing. I havo changed my mind
nothing nt nil."
The promto that sho was about to ask was
that he would not marry Dorothy, but her
better nature roso In rebellion against it.
Thou thoy talked awhile of hrncst's life
abroad.
"Well," said Ernest, rising after a pause.
"good by, Eva."
"It is a very cruel word," sho murmured.
"Yes, it U cruel, but not moro cruel than
tiniest."
"It has been n happiness to seo you, Ernest."
He shrugged his shoulders as ho answered;
"Has it? For myself I am not sure if It
has lwen a happiness or a misery, I must
bnvo a year or two of quiet and darkness to
think it over lieforo I mnko up my mind.
Will you kindly ring tho boll for tho servant
to tnko me away!"
Half unconsciously sho obeyed him. and
then she camo and took his hand and looked
with all her eyes and all ber soul into bis face.
It was fortunate that ho could not see ber,
"Oh, Ernest, you are bllndl" sho cried,
scarcely knowing what sho said.
He laughed a hard littlo laugh,
"Yes, Eva, I am us blind now as you have
been always."
"Eruohtl Krnestl how can I Hvo without
seeing you! I lovo you I" and she fell into his
arms.
Ho kissed her, nnd then somehow, bo never
knew how, found tho strength to put her
from him. rcrhajis it was becauso bo heard
the servant coming.
Next moment the borvant camo and led hli.i
awny.
As soon as ho was gone Evu iiung herself
on to tho sofa and sobbed as though her heart
would break.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
HOW IT ALL CAME ABOUT
How did it all como about!
Let us try and discover.
Sometimes Dorothy and Ernest would go
out riding together, for, blind as ho was,
Ernest could not bo persuaded to givo up bis
riding. It was a pretty sight to seo them;
Ernest mounted on his towering black stal
lion, the Devil, which, In bis hands, was as
gentle as a lamb, but with everybody else
fully justified his appellation, and Dorothy on
a cream colored cob Mr. Cardus had given
her. holding 111 her right band a stoel guiding
rein linked to tho Dovil's bit. In this way
thev would wander all over tho countryside.
and sometimes, wbon a good piece of tuff
presented itself, oven venture on a sharp can
tor. And so from week's end to week's end Do
rothy was ever by Ernest's sldo, reading to
hlin, writing for blm, walking and riding
with blm, weavlug herself into tho substance
of his lifo.
And at last there came one sunny August
day, when they wero slttiug together iu the
shade of the chancel of Titheburg Abbey. It
was a favoiito siiot of theirs, for the gray old
walls sheltered them from the glare of tho
sun and the breath ot the winds. It was a
spot, too, rich iu memories of the doud iwst,
and a pleasant nloco to sit.
Through tho gaping window places cama
tbo murmur of tho ocean and the warmth of
the harvest sunshine; jmd gazing out by tho
chancel doorway, Dorothy could seo tbo long
lights ot the afternoon dance and sparkle ou
tho emerald waves.
Hho had been reading to blm, and the book
lay idle on ber kneus as she gated dreamily
at thoso lights and shadows, a sweet picture
of iicnslvo womanhood. Ho, too, had re
lapsed into silence, and was evidently think
ing deeply,
l'rcseutly she roused herself.
"Doll, will you bo angry with mo if I say
something!''
"I supposo you can say what you like."
"Yes; but will you listen!"
"If you siieuk, I cannot help hearing."
"Well, then, Doll now don't bo angry,
dear."
"Oh, Ernest, bow you aggravate inol Can't
you get It out, and have dono with it!'1
"AU right, Doll) I'll ate-ani straight al,ead
tilts time It Is thist 1 nnvo sometimes laio
ly been vain enough to think that you cared
a littlo about me, Doll, al though I am as blind
as n bat I want to ask you if it is true. You
must tell mo plainly, Doll, becauso I cannot
soo your eyes to learn the truth from them."
Sho turned qulto pale at his words, and her
eyes rested upon bis blind orbs with a look of
unutterable tenderness. So it hod como at
last.
"Why do you ask mo that question, Erneetl
Whothcr or no I care for you, I am very sure
that you do not caro for me."
"You ore not qulto right there, Doll, but I
will tell you why I ask it; it is not out of
mere curiosity.
"You know all tho history of my lifo, Doll,
or nt least most of it, You know how I loved
Evn and gavo her all that a foolish youngster
can givo to n weak woman gave it in such a
way that I ctn never havo It bock again.
Well, sho deserted mo: I have lost her. The
host happiness of my lifo has been wrecked
beyond redemption; that Is n fact that must
lio accepted as mucn as tno lace ot my iiunii
ncS3. I nm physically and morally crippled,
nnd certainly In no fit state to ask a woman
to marry mo nu the ground of my iierwinal
ndvaiitagex. Hut If, my dear Doll, you should,
as I bavo sometimes thought, happen to care
about, any thing so worthless, then you eo tho
nffalr assumes a different nspoct."
"I don t quite understand you. What UO
you mennP sho said In a low voice.
"I mean that In that rnso I will nsB you if
you will-tako mo for it husband."
"You do not lovo me, -lirnost; l suouid
wenry you."
Ho felt for her band, found It, and took it
in bis own. Sho mado no resistance
"Dear," he said, "it is this way: I can never
givo you that passion I havo given Eva, be
cause, thank God, tho human heart can givo
birth to it but onco in a life; but I can anil
will givo you a husliand's tenderost love.
You are very dear to me, Dull, though It is
not iu tho snmo way that Evn Is dear. I
bavo always loved you as n sister, and I
think that I should mnko you n goo I hus
band. But, lieforo you answer me, I want
you to thoroughly understand about Eva.
Whether I marry or not, I fear that I
shall never lw ublo to shako hor out of my
mind. At one tlmo I thought that jwi haps If
I mado lovo to other women I might lio nblo
to do so, on tho principle that one nail dl Ives
out another. But it was n failure; for a
month or two I got tho better of my thoughts,
then they would get tho better of me again.
Besides, to tell you tho truth, I nm not quite
euro that I wish to do so. My troublo nbout
this woman has become n part of myself. It
Is, as I told you, my 'evil destiny,' and goes
whero I go. And now, dear Doll, you will
seo why I asked you If you really cared for
mo, before I asked you to marry me. If you
do not caro for me, then It will clearly not bo
worth your whilo to marry me, for X am
about as poor a catch as a man can well bo;
if you do, well, then it Is a matter for your
consideration."
Sho paused n whilo and answered:
"Supposo that the positions wero reversed,
Ernest; nt least supposo tills: Supposo that
you had lovod your Eva all your lite, but sho
had not loved you except as a brother, having
given her heart to some other man, who was,
say, married to somebody else, or in somo
way separated from ber. Will, supposing
that this man died, nnd that ono day Eva
came' to you and said: 'Ernest, my dear, I
cannot lovo you as I loved him w ho has gone,
and whom I ono day hopo to rejoin in heaven,
but If you wish itj'aud it will mnko you tho
happier, I will be your true and tender wife,
and the mother of your children.' What
should you answer ber, Ernest?"
"Answer! why, I supposo that I should tuko
ber at hor word, and bo thankful. Why, to
hear her volco day by day would In itself bo
a happiness. Yes, I think thus, I should tako
her at her word."
"And so, dear Ernest, do I tako you at your
word; for as It Is with you about Eva, so It Is
with me about you. As a child I loved you,
over slnco I havo been a woman I bavo loved
you moro and more, even through ull thoso
cold years of absence. And when you camo
unek, ahl then It was to mo as It would bo to
you if you suddenly onco more saw the light
of day. Ernest, my boloved, you nro nil my
lifo to mo, and I tako you at your word, my
dear. I will bo your wlfo."
Ho stretched out his arms, found her, drew
her to him, and klssod her on the lips.
"Doll, I don't deserve that you should lovo
me so; it makes mo feel ashamed that I havo
not moro to givo you In return."
"Ernest, you will givo mo all you can; X
mean to make you grow very fond of mo.
I'erbnis ono day you will givo mo every
thing." lie hesitated a Uttlo whilo lieforo bo spoko
again.
"Doll," ho said, "you aro quite sure that
you do not mind nbout Eva?"
"Aly dear Ernest, X nccept Eva as a fact,
and make tho liest of hor, just as I should if I
wanted to marry a man with a monomania
that ho was Henry VIII."
Doll, you know I call her my evil destiny,
Tho fact is, I am afraid of her; she over
powers raj reason. Well, now, Doll, what
I am driving at is tins: Supposing not that
I think sho will that she were to crop up
again and tako it into her head to try and
make a fool of mel Bho mlghtsuoceed, Doll."
"Ernest, will you promlso mo something on
your honor? '
"Yes, door.';
"I'romiso mo that you will hide from mo
nothing that passes between Eva and your
self, If anything over should pass, nnd tlint in
tins matter you mil nlwimi consider mo not
In the light of a wife, but of n trusted friend,"
"Wliy do you ask mo to promlso thatr
"Becauso then I shall, 1 hope, bo ablo to
keep you both out ot troublo. You aro not
lit to look after yourselves, either of you."
"I promise. And now, Doll, there Is ono
more thing. It is somehow fixed in ray mind
that my fate aud that woman's are Inter
twined. X lieliovo that what wo aro now
passing through Is but a single phase ot inter
woven existence; Hint we have perhaps
already fussed through many stages, and that
many higher stages and developments await
us. Of courso it may l fantasy, but nt any
rato I bellovo It. Tho question Is, Do you
caro to link your lifo wltb that of a man who
holds sucli a belief I"
"Ernest, I daro say your belief is n truo
one, nt any rato for ycu who beliove it; for it
seems probable that ns wo sow so shall we
reap, as wu spiritually imagine so shall wo
spiritually inherit, since causes must in tlmo
produce effects. These beliefs aro not im
planted in our hearts for nothing, and surely
in the w lde heavens there is room for the
realization of them all. But I too liavo my
beliefs, and one of theia is, that in God's great
Hereafter every loving and deserving soul
will be with the soul thus loved and desired.
For him, or her nt any rato, the other will
bo there forming a part of his or her lite,
though perhaps it may elsewhere aud with
others also bo pursuing its own desires and
satisfying Its own aspirations, bo you see,
Ernest, your bullets will not interfere wttli
mine, nor shall I bo nfrnld of losing you In
another place. And now, Ernest, my heart's
lovo, take my hand, and let mo lead you
homo; take my hand as you have taken my
heart, and never let go of it again till at last
I die."
And so hand iu band they went homo
together, through tho lights and shadows of
tho twilight,
CHAPl'ER XXXIX.
THE WITCH'S head.
A littlo wedding party stood beforo tbo
altar in Kesterwlck church. It was a very
small urty, consisting, Indeed, only of Er
nest, Dorothy, Mr. Uidus, Jeremy and a
fow Idlers, who, setlng the diunli door open,
had strolled in to soo what was going on.
Indeed tho marriage hail been kept n pro
found secret, for aluco ho hod been blind
Ernest bad developed n great dlsllko to lielng
stared nt. Nor Indeed bad bo any liking for
the system under which u woman proclaims.
with loud nud unseemly rejoicings, that sbo
lias found u man to marry her, and tho clan
of her relations celebrate ber dejiarturo with
a few outwurd und visible tears and much
inward and spiritual joy.
But among that small crowd, unobserved
by any of them, qulto closo up iu tho shadow
of ono of tho massivo pillars, sat a veiled
woman. Bhe sat qulto quiet and sun; 6no
might bavo been curved in stone; but as tbo
service went on ho raised ber thick veil and
Usui ber keen brown eyes upon tho two who
stood lief oi n t he altar. And as she did so tho
lips of this duutou y lady trembled a little,
and n mist of trouble roso from the unhealthy
marshes ot her mind and clouded her lino cut
features. Long und steadily she gazed, then
dropjiod tho veil again and sold beneath ber
breath:
"Was it worth whilo for this? Well I bavo
1887:
seen blm."
Then sho roso, did this shadowy, noblo
looking lady, an'd glided from tho church,
bearing nwny with her tho haunting burden
of her sin.
And Ernest! Ho stool there and said tho
resHinse3 In his clear, manly volco; but oven
as ho did so there roso lieforo hlin tho sem
blance of tho littlo room In fal away Pre
toria, and of the vision which lie bad hod ot
this very church, nnd of n man standing
whero ho himself stood now, nnd ft lovely
woman standing where stood Dorothy, bis
wife. Well, it was gone, as all Visions go, as
we, who aro but visions of a longer life, go
too. It was gone, gone Into that awful limbo
of tho mst which Is over opening its insatia
ble maw and swallowing us nnd our Joys nnd
our sorrows making n meal of tho atoms of
to-day, that It may support Itself till tho
atoms ot to-morrow nro ready for Its nppo
tlto. It was gono, and ho was married, and Do
rothy his wlfo stood there wreathed in smiles
and blushes which bo could not sue, nnd Mr.
Halford's volco, now grown weak and quaver
ing, was formulating heartfelt congratula
tions, which were lielng repented In the gi
gantic echo of Jeremy's deep tones, and in his
uncle's quick, jerky utterances. Bo ho took
Dorothy hi wlfo Into his arms and kissed
ber, and she led him down the church to the
old vestry, Into which so many thousand
nowly married couples bad inscil duiing tho
courso of tho last six centuries, and signed
bis name where they placed his pen upon the
parchment, wondering tho whilo if ho was
signing it straight, and then went out, and
was helped into tho carriage nnd driven
borne.
Ernest nnd bis wlfo went upon no honey
moon; theystopHil quietly there at tho old
house and liegau to accustom themselves to
their now relationship. Indeed, to tho out
sider ntuny rate, there seemed to bo littlo
dllieicnco between It nnd the former one, for
they could not bo much moro together now
than they bad been before. Yet In Dorothy's
face there wns a dllterence. A great tieaco,
on utter satisfaction which had been wanting
beforo, came down and brooded ujioii it nnd
made it beautiful. Bho both lookod and was
a happy woman.
A month passed. Mr. Cardus had been
busy from morning until night. Ho was
always n busy man, writing daily wltb his
own hand an almost incredible number of
letters, for bo carried on all, or nearly nil,
his great alfalrs by correspondence, but of
lato his work seemed to ha o doubled.
One Saturday Mr, Cardus' business seemed
to como to a sudden stop. Ho wrote somo
letters aud put them to go to post, and then
bo went to admire his orchid.
"Lifo," lio said aloud to himself , "shall bo
i uichlds now; my work Is dona I will
build a now house for Brazilian sorts, and
spend 200 on stocking It. Well, I can af
ford it."
This was about 5 o'clock. Half an hour
later, when be had well examined his flowers,
ue strolled out ntneuurg abbey way, and
there ho met Ernest and his w ifo, who bad
oecn sitting m tueir tavorlto spot.
"iveu, my dears," ho said, "and how aro
you?"
"1'retty jolly, undo, thank j-ou, and bow
aro youi"
"X? Oh, X am very jolly Indeed for an old
man; as jolly as an individual who has just
bid good by to work forever should bo," bo
said.
"Why, Reginald, what do you mean!"
"Mean, Dorothy, my dear! I mean that X
havo wound up iny alfalrs and retired on a
modest competence. Ah, you young people
should be grateful to me, for let mo tell you
that everything is now in apple pie order, uud
when X slip oil you will have no trouble ot
all, except to iay tho probate duty, and that
will bo considerable. I nover quite knew till
a week ago how rich I was; but, as I said the
other day, everything I havo touched has
turned to gold. It will bo a largo fortune for
you to manage, my dears; you will And it a
great responsibility."
"I hopo you will live many years to mav
ago it yourself," said Ernest.
Alter dinner tho conversation turned upon
that fatal day when Alston's Horse was n iped
out at Isaudhlwaua. It was a painful sub
ject both to Ernest and Jeremy, but the for
mer was gratifying his uncle's curiosity by
explaining to blm how that last dread struggle
with the six Zulus camo to determluo itself in
their favor.
"And how was it," asked Mr. Cardus, "that
you managed to get the better of tho fellow
you rolled down tho hill with!"
"Xlocauso tho assegai broko, and, fortunately
enough, the blade was left In my hand.
W hero is it, Dour (for Jeremy had brought it
homo with him).
Dorothy got up and reached the broken as
segai, which had about eight inches of shaft,
from its place over the mantelpiece.
"Now then, Jeremy, If you will be so good
as to sprawl upon your back on tho iloor, 1
will just show my undo what happened."
Jeremy compiled, not without grumbling
ubout dirtying his dress coat.
"Now, Jeremy, my boy, whero aro you!
Oh, tbero , Well, excuse my taking tho lib
erty of kneeling on your chest, nnd holloa out
if tho assegai goes into you, If wo aro going
to havo a iierformance at nil, it may a3 well
bo a realistic one. Now, uncle, you seo w hen
we finished rolling, which was just as this
assegai snnpjd iu two, us luck would havo
it I was uppermost, and managed to get ray
kneo on my friend's left nrm and to hold his
right with my left. 1 hen, lieforo he could
get looso, I drove this bit of spear through tho
sido of his throat, just there, so that it cut tho
jugular vein, and ho died shortly afterward
and now you know all about it,"
Hero Ernest roso and laid the spear upon
tho tablo, and Jeremy, entering into tbo
spirit of the thing, began to dio as artistically
a regard lor uis uress coat would anow.
Just then Dorothy, looking up, saw her
grandfather Atterleigh's distorted faco peer
ing round tho wall of tho inglenook, whero bo
was sitting in the dark, and looking at tho
scene of mimic slaughter with that samo
curious gazo that ho had worn on several oc
casions lately, lie withdrew bis head at
once.
Get up, Joremy," said his sister, sharply,
"and stop writhing about there liko a great
snake. You look as though you bad been
murdered; it ishorrlhlol"
Jeremy nroso laughing, and, bavlug ob
tained Dolly's permission, thoy all lit their
pipes, and sitting there in tho fading light,
fell to talking aliout mat sad scene ot slaugh
ter, which, indeed, appeared that night to
have n strango fascluation lor Mr, uardus.
Ho asked Ernest and Jeremy aliout it again
and again bow this man was killed, and
that did they dio ot once, and so on,
Tho subject was always distressing to
Ernest, and ono to which bo rarely alluded,
full as It was for blm ot the most painful
recollections, especially thoso connected with
his dear friend Alston and his son.
Dorothy knew tms, and know loo mat
Ernest would bo down on his luck for at least
a day after tho conversation, which sho did
her best to stop. At last sbo succeeded, but
tho melancholy associations connected wun
tho talk bad apparently already dono
their work, for everybody lapsed Into
tho mo6t complete silence, and sat groupod
together at tho top end of tho old oait
table as quiet as though they wero cut
In stono. Meanwhllo tho twilight deepened,
nnd littlo gusts of wind arose, and
gently shook tho old fashioned window lat
tices, making a 60und as though feeble hands
were trying to throw them ojien. i uo ouu
ovenlng light crept from place to place, and
threw great shadow s about tho room, giancou
upon tho armor on Its imnclod walls, and at
last liegau to dio away into darkness. Tbo
wholo sceno was eerie, ana tor seme unknown
reason it oppressed Dorothy, She wondered
why everybody was so silent, nnd yet sbo
herself did uot feel equal to nreaking wo si
lence; there was a load uKn ber boart
Just then u curious thing happened, jvs
tho reader may remember, tho caso contain
ing tao wonderful mummied bead, found by
Eva Ceswlck, had years before licen placed
by Jeremy upon a bracket at the end of tbo
room. Round about this caso bung various
pieces of armor, and among others, above it,
suspended by a pleoo of string from n pro
jecting book, was a heavy Iron guuutlct
For many years twenty or moro It had
bung from tbo book, but now nt last tho
string was worn through, and oven ns Doro
thy was wondeiing at tho lloncc, it gavo
way, Down came tbo boavy Iron band with
a crash, and, as it passod, it caught tho latch
of the long, air tight case, and jarred tha
door wide open.
Everybody in tho room sprung to tbelr
feet, and as they did so a last ray from tha
setting tun struggled through ono ot tbo
windows and rested upou the oiicnod caso,
stulnliis it and all about it tho huoot blood,
THE COLUMBIAN, VOL XXI.N0 83
COLUMBIA UBMOOll AT, VOL. tl, ROM
and filling tho fearful crystnt eyes witmn
with n lurid light How thoy glowed and
shono, to bo sure, after their long years of
sleep for the caso had scarcely been opened
for years while tholr tremulous glanco, now
dull, now Intense, according as tbo light
played upon them, apiwarwl to wander round
nnd round the room, ns though In search of
somebody or something.
It was an awful sight that that ray of sun
light showed, as it ployed upon the trembling
crystal orl, tho scornful deathly features,
and tho matchless hair that streamed on
either sldo. Together with the sudden break
in tho silence caused by tho crashing fall of
tho gauntlet, It provod, as It bad dono many
years before, altogether too much for tho
beholders' nerves,
"What is that!" asked Ernest, with a start,
ns tho gauntlet fell,
Dorothy glanced up and gavo a littlo cry of
horror. "Oh, that dreadful head I it is look,
ing at us."
They all roso to their feet, and Dorothy,
seizing Ernest by ono band, nnd covering ber
eyes with the other, retreated, slowly followed
by tho others, toward tho swing door. Soon
thoy had reached tho door, wero through It,
down tho passage, and out in tho peaceful
stillness of the evening. Then Jeremy spoke,
and his language was mote forcible than
polite.
"Well, lam Mowed!" ho said, wiping tho
cold iicrsplratton from his forehead.
"0, Reginald! I do wish you would get
that horrible thing out of the house; there
has been nothing but misfortune over slnco it
has been here. I cannot bear It, I cannot
bear Itl" said Dolly, hysterically.
"Nonsense, you superstitious child I" an
swered Mr. Cardus, who was now recovering
from his start "Tho gauntlet knocked tho
door open, tlint was alL It is nothing but a
mummied bend; but, if you don't liko it, I
will send It to tho British museum to-morrow."
"Oh, please do, Reginald," answered
Dorothy, who appeared qulto unhinged.
So hurriod had been tho retreat from tho
sitting room that everybody bad forgotten
"Hard Riding" Attcrlclgh sitting in the dark
In the inglenook. But tho bustle in tho room
bail attracted blm, and already, before thoy
bad left, be bad projected his large head
covered with the tangled gray locks and bo
,gun to stare about. Presently his eyes fell
upon the crystal orbs, and then, to blm, tho
orbs appeared to ccaso their wanderings and
rest upou his eyes. or awnue tno two neoos
stared at each other thus the golden head
without a body in the box, and the gray head
that, thrust out as it was from tho Inglo wall,
seemed to havo no body either. They stared
and stared, till at last tho golden head got tho
mastery of tho gray head, nnd tha old man
crept from his comer, crept down tho room
till ho was almost beneath the baleful eyes,
and nodded, nodded, nodded at them.
And they too soetned to uod, nod, nod at
him. Then ho retreated backward as slowly
as ho had como, nodding all tho while, till ho
como to whero tho broken assegai lay upon
tho tablo, and taking it, thrust It up his
sloovo. As be did so, tho ray of light failed
nnd tho fiery eyes went out It was as
though tho thick white lids and long eye
lashes had dropped over them.
Nono of tbo other four returned to the sit
ting room that night
When ho bad recovered from his fright
Jeremy went into his little room, tho samo in
which ho used to stuff birds as a boy, and
busied himself with bis farm accounts. Mr.
Cardus, Dorothy and Ernest walked about
together in tho balmy moonlight, for very
shortly after tho twilight bad departed tho
great harvest moon camo up and flooded tbo
world with light Mr. Cardus was iu a talk
ative, excited mood that night Ho talked
about his affairs, which he had now finally
wound up, and about Mary Attcrlclgh, men
tioning littlo tricks of maimer and voice
which wero reproduced in Dorothy, Ho
talked, too, about Ernest's and Dorothy's
marriago, and said It was a comfort to blm.
Finally, about 10 o'clock, ho said that be was
tired and was going to bed.
"God bless you, my dear; sleep welll Good
night I" he said. "We will settle about that
now orchid houso to-morrow. Good night,
good night"
Shortly afterward Dorothy and Ernest also
went to bed, reaching their room by a back
entrance, for thoy neither of them felt inclined
to come under tho Are of the crystal eyes
again, and soon they wero asleep In each
other's arms.
Tho minutes stole on one by one through
tho silence of tho dead night, bearing their
records with them to tho archives of tho past.
Eleven o'clock camo and fled away ; inidi light
camo too, and swept on batliko wings across
tho world. Everywhere on land, sky and
sea there was silence, nothing Cut silence,
sleeping In tho moonlight
Hark I 0, heavens what wus that!
One fearful, heart rending yell of agony,
ringing all through tho ancient house, rattling
tho casements, shaking tho armor against tho
paneled walls, pulsing and throbbing In hor
rible notes out mto tho night, echoing and
dying far away over tho seal
Ami then sllcuco again, sllcnco sleeping in
tho moonlight
They sprung from their beds, did overy
living soul beneath tlint room, and rushed in
their night gear, men and women together,
Into tho sitting room. Tho crystal eyes
seemed to bo awako again, for tho moon was
up and played upon them, causing them now
aud then to flash out In gleams ot opalescent
'ight
Somebody lit a candle, somebody missed
Mr, Cardus; surely bo could never bavo slopt
through itl Yes, lie bad slept through It.
They rushed nnd tumbled, n confused mass of
white, Into tho room where ho Iny. Ho was
there, sure enoug'-, nnd ho slept very sound,
with a rod gash in his throat, from which tho
blood fell in heavy drops down, down to tho
ground.
Thoy stood aghast, and, as they stood, from
tbo courtyard outddo there camo a sound of
galloping hoofs. They knew tho sound of tho
galloping it was that of Ernest's great black
stallion.
A milo or moro nway out on tho marshes,
Just before you como to tho well known
quicksands, which have, tradition toys, swal
lowed so many unfortunates, and which
shudder jmlpably at times nnd nro unpleasant
to look on, stands a lock house, inhabited by
ono solitary man who has charge of tho sluice.
On this very night It is nocessury for him to
open his sluice gates ut a particular moment,
and now be 6tands awaiting that propitious
tlmo. Ho is an ancient mariner; his bauds
are in bis jiockets, bis plpo iu his mouth, his
oyes nro fixed upon tho son. Wo bavo met
him before. Suddenly bo hears tbo sound ot
a powerful borso galloping furiously. Ho
turns, and his balr legtns to ilsoupon bis
bead, for this is what he sees in tho bright
moonlight:
Fast, fast toward him thunders a great
coal black horse, snorting wittf mingled rago
and terror, and ou its liaro back there sits,
with n grip ot iron, a man an old man, for
bis gray locks stream out behind blm, who
waves above his head tho fragment of a
spear,
On thoy come. Ileroro thcra is a wido
sluice; if they are mortal they will turn or
plunge into it No, tho great black horso
gathers himself and springs Into tho air,
By Heaven, ho has cleared Itl No horse
ever took that leap before, or will again. On
at whirlwind speed toward the shuddering
quicksand 200 yards away I
Splash I borso and man nro in it, making
tho moist mass shako and treniblo for twenty
yard round. Tho bright moonlight shows It
all. The horse shrieks in fear and agony, as
only a horso can; tho man on its back waves
tha spear.
Tho horso vanishes, tho man vanishes, tho
s)K-ar gllttera'an Instant longer in the moon
light, and then vanishes, too. They havo all
vanished forever.
They bavo all vanished, and again tbo por
foct silence sleeps in tho moonlight.
"Bust me," says tho ancient one aloud, and
shaking with n mortal dread, "bust me, I
bavo stood still and seed many a queer thing,
but I nover sood n thing liko that I" and ho
turned and fled as fast as bis old legs would
carry blm forgetful of Dutch cheeses und of
slulco gates, forgetful of everything except
that demon horsu and man.
Thus ended "Hard Hiding AttcrlelghV
muddest gallop, and thus, too, ended tho
story of Mr. Cardus aud his lovcugo,
CHAPTER XL.
DOllOTIIY'S THUWII.
Many yean passod lieforo Eva l'lowden re
turned to Kesterwlck, and then sho was car
ried thither. Alivo tbo did uot return, nor
during all thoso years did sbo and Kmest over
moet
Thoy burial bw, in obedience to her last
wishes, there In the churchyard where lay
generation upon generation of her ancient
race, and the daisies grew ftboro her head.
Twice hail they bloomed over her lieforo Hlr
Enjest Kershaw stood by tho spot, hallowed
by the presence of what had held the spirit of
tho woman ho had loved.
IIo was a grizzled man of nearly BO now,
nor were streaks of gray wanting In Dorothy's
balr, as they stood that summer evening by
Eva's grave. Many things had happened to
tbo 'pair slnco Mr. Cardus' trnglo death.
They had had children omo they had lost,
some remained honest English lads and
lam, with their father's eyes. They hod
enjoyod great wealth, and siient it royally,
giving with both hands to all who needed.
They bad drunk deep of tho cup of this
world's Joys and sorrows. Ernest had gone
into parliament, nnd mado something of a
name there. Then, lmtlent for the active
lifo of earlier days, ho hail accepted a high
colonial appointment, for which, notwith
standing his blindness, his wealth and parlia
mentary reputation eminently fitted him.
Now ho hsd Just returned from tilling tho
governorship of one ot the Australian
colonics.
"Not qulto cured yet, Ernest P said Dorothy,
interrogatively.
"Yos, Dorothy," he answered with a little
sigh. "I think I nm cured. At any rate," ho
went on, at sho took his hand to lead him
away from tbo grave, "I havo lenrnodto ac
cept tho decrees of Provldonco without mur
muring, 1 havo dono with dreams, and out
lived pessimism. Life would, It Is true, havo
been a different thing for mo if wor Evn had
not deserted me, for sho iioisoncd its waters
nt tbo fount, and bo they havo always tasted
rather bitter. But happiness is not tho end
and object of man's existence, and it I could
I do not think I would undo tbo past Tako
mo to tho old Hat tombstone, Dolly, near tho
door."
Bho led blm to it, and be sat down.
"Ah," bo went on, "how beautiful she wasl
Was there ever woman liko her, I wonder!
And now her bones Uo there; her bounty Is
all gone, nnd there live of her only tho unend
ing Issues of what sho did. I have only to
think, Dolly, and I can seo her as I raw her a
score ot times passing In and out of this
church door. Yes, I can seo her, and the
jieoplo round ber, and tho clothes sbo wore,
and tho smilo in her beautiful dark eyes for
her eyes socmed to smile, you remember,
Dolly. How I worshiped ber, too, with all
my heart and soul and strength, as though
she were an angel I and that was my mistake,
Dolly. Sho was only a woman a weak
woman."
"You said Just now that you were cured,
Ernest; ono would hardly think it to hear
you talk," put In Dorothy, smiling.
"Yos, Doll, I am cured ; you have cured me.
my doar wife, for you havo crept into my
life and taken possession of It, so that there
is littlo room for anybody else, and now, Do
rothy, I lovo you with nil my heart."
She pressed his band and smiled again, for
sho know that she had triumphed, and that
ho did love her, truly love her, and that his
passion for Eva was a poor thing compared
to what It bad been twenty years beforo
more Indeed of a tender regret, not un
mingled with a starry hopo, than a passion at
all. Dorothy was u clover littlo icrson, and
understood something of Ernest and tho
human heart in general. Sho bad thought
long ago that sho would w In Ernest altogether
to ber in the end. By what tenderness, by
what devotion and nobility of character sho
accomplished this tho reader who knows her
con well imagine, but in the end she did ac
complish It, as sho deserved to. The contrast
between tho conduct of tho two women who
had mainly influenced bis life was too marked
for Ernest, a man of u just and reasonablo
mind, to altogether ignore, and when onco ho
camo to comparisons tho natural results fol
lowed. And yet, though he learned to lovo
Dorothy so dearly, it cannot be said that he
forgot Eva, because there are some things
that a man can never forget, slnco they are a
part of his Inner lifo, and of theso first lovo
Is unfortunately ono.
"Ernest," went on Dorothy, "you remem
ber what you to:a mo when you asked mo to
marry you in Titheburg Abbey, about your
belief that your affection for Eva would out
last tbo woi Id, and find a continued expres
sion In tho lives to come. Do you etill be
lievo thatP
"Yes, Doll, to a great extent"
Ills wlfo sat and thought for a minute.
"Ernest," sho said, presontly.
"Yes," dear.
"I havo managed to bold my own against
Eva in this world, when she hod-all tho
chances and all the beauty on her side, and
what I havo to say about your theories now
is, that when wo get to tho next, and are all
beautiful, It will bo very strange if I don't -manago
to hold It there. She bad berchanco
and sho threw it away; now I havo got mino
nnd I don't moan to throw it away, cither In
this world or tho next"
Ernest laughed a little. "I must say, my
dear, it would bo a very poor heaven if you
wero not there."
"I should think so indeed. Thoso whom
God hath, joined together let no man put
asunder, or woman either. But what is tbo
good of our stopping hero to talk sueh stuff
about things of w hicb we really understand
nothing? Come, Ernest, Jeremy and tho
boys will bo waiting for us."
And so hand in baud they went on home
ward through the quiet twilight
THE END.
A Ynung ltepurtvr'B Wit.
I onco know a boy reporter on a daily in
the interior of the stato who was mado of tho
right sort of stuff, and was a success from
tho word "go." I recall an instance of his
pluck and foresight. He was sent to tho
county jail to reirort the hanging of two
criminals. Ho visited the cell of the con
demned men, with the minister, etc., and
wroto out a detailed reiiort on tho spot Then
ho met with an appalling setback. Tho re
porter of a rival daily said to the sheriff:
"This young man is not of nge. Tho low
does not allow a minor to witness an execu
tion." The sherill was surprised. "Stuart,
aro you not of agoP ho nsked. "I am not,"
frankly replied tho boy reporter. "Then you
cannot witness tho execution," decided the
thei ilt, and ho locked blm up In his private
room.
Was this tho end of It! Not with him, you
can Just bet .He called to u boy through the
grating, handed him n quarter, bis premred
copy and a noto to tho editor Informing him
of tbo predicament be wns In. The ofllco
wasn't far oil and tho boy was fleet footed.
The editor ran up stairs, distributed tho takis
of copy among tho compositors, hurried to
tho Jail, witnessed tho execution and left tho
jail with tho rival reporter, who had his re
Jiort still iu hand. Ktuart's quick wit cn
ubled his paper to bo out nn hour In advance
of thf other and to absorb much of tbo mar
ket Theyoungreportor soonowned nnofflca
of bis ow n, built a largo establishment, over
taxed his energies (probably) and was called
to a premature grhvo. He hadn't mistaken
bis calling. "Observer" In Philadelphia CulL
TIib Word or a West I'olnter.
Cadets preserve order anj quiet In tbo bar
racks, as thoy do in ranks, under an organi
zation which makes certain cadet officers rc
sK)nsibIo. As will bo at onco seen, mi or
ganization such as this must depend for its
porf ectlon on the character of tho students,
and, aliovo all, on their honesty nnd vera
city. These nro, and must be, unimpeacha
ble. The word of a cadet is never questioned
by the authorities, and, as a consequence, a
cadet of uuy experience at the academy has
never been known to tell a falsehood, or to
try to deceive.
For every detected violation of tho regula
tions, the cadet is reported. If bo has uu ex
planation to offer iu filiation of the. offense,
or If, as is sometimes tho case, ho is rerted
In error, it is only neceary for him to make
tho explanation, and unquestioning credence
Is given to bis statement
No action is over taken by tho authorities
which reflects in any way upon the honor of u
cadet, unless It Is well assured that his honor
is involved, when, by tho action of a court
martial, or tho more summary jstwedure by
tbo secretary of war, the guilty one's connec
tion with the academy is severed. Oen.
Wesley Merrit in Y'outh's Companion.
ruttenlni; llj.li.n In a Cellar.
My Amerlcau friend tells mo be has what
might bo called a corner on oysters. It seems
to bo rather a unique Idea, and so I give the
publlo tho benefit of It. He goes down to
Billingsgate und buys 100 Blue Points in the
shell for about a Ho places them on the
floor ot bis coal cellar at homo und then feeds
them on corn meal or somo such stuff until
they aro as fat as it U possible fur an oyster
to get, and "all very line und large." I had
somo hesitation about believing this story; it
soemea vo me ratuer strango that ovMeni
could bo reared iu tho cellar llko so many
chickens; but he assures me it is true. He
says, after tho wetted com meal is strewn
rouiid the oysters, that If you return to their
lair you will find tho shells that wero cKmuI
all wide open, and that If you touch ono of
them it will Instantly close, whereupon tho
other ninety-nine will shut up shop until won
leaft Luko Bhurp Iu Detroit Free lYem.
"I tt,ii,k iic cream is delicious,
uoorgi, bin' uh ; "J juel Ioo it.
'Hut don't yt.u know il.ai it's very
daiit;i'iouhT" iiKjuiied Gm igc, untuHly.
"Yes, I suppoie it is dai ytrous, but
l'txi i'o lowaid, ticoige."