i 1 V r V n f ! B. P. HOHWEIER, THE OONSTITUTION-THK UNION AN L THE ENFORCEMKKT OF THE LAWS. Editor and Proprietor. VOL. XLVI. MIFFLINTOWN. JUNIATA COUNTY. PENNA.. WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 17. 1892. NO. 9. HI 'I V 1 IK- WINTER APPLES. bat cheer t there that Is half so good. In the snowy waste of a Winter's uiicbC, a,s a dancing Ore ol hickory wood And an easy chair la Us mellow lltcht, Vml a pearniain apple, ruddy and sleek, it a Jenneting Willi a freckled cneekt a russet apple Is fair to view. With a tawnr tint like an Autumn leaf. The warmth of a ripened corn fleld's hue, Or a golden bint of a harvest sheaf ; a.nd the wholesome breath of the finished year s held in a wli esap's blooming sphere. IUct brln i yon a thought of the orchard trees, In blossom April and leafj June, and the sleepy droning of bumble bees, In the lazy light of Hie afternoon, and the uncled clover and bobolinks, rider ltlie-. an l earden pinks. It you've somewhere left, with Its gables wide, A farmhouse set In an orchard old, Vou'll see It nil In the winter tide. At hi of a pippin's preen and gold, Or a P' arnialn auule, ruudy and sleek, J a J Dueling with a freckled cheek. A CHANCE EX COUNTER. 1 met her just on t side the railway itation, in one of the great Italian towns; indeed, it was in theomnibus of the hotel to which I was going, and which stood there, as they all do for h long time, awaiting the collection of the luggage. She was quite young, Dot twenty, a girl so perfeotly comn,e il taut, so well-dressed from head to loot, so evidently accustomed to be cared for and looked after, that her little air of bewilderment and distress, nd the way in which she looked about as if seeking some familiar face, was all the more noticeable. I hope I should have been as sorry for a more ordinary specimen of humanity, but I certainly should not have been so much interest ed. She was not alone, however, at this moment, but was accompanied by a man, who put her into the omnibus with sundry expressions of encourage ment, and descriptions of how she would find her smaller luggage outside, etc. to which she replied with profuse thanks, without ever ceasing her anxious look round the wide space before the railway station, which was crowded with p ople coming and going. "I'll look round in the evening and see if yon have beard anything," he said to which sue replied ry begging mm not to take the trouble, not to disturb himself, with many renewed expres sions of thanks for his kindness to her. fie patted her on the shoulder, as be shook hands with her, encouragingly. He was a man twioe her age and had a friendly look and an American accent There was not about him the smallest traoe of a Don Giovanni: yet that pat on the shoulder immediately quickeued my growing desire to intervene. She was not a beautiful girl in my exper ience beautiful girls are very rare; but her features were very agTeeable, her oomplexion of that Olanc mat, which the French admire so much, her hair of pretty chestnut color, the outlines of her soft, young face distinct, though verv delicate and fair. But it was the littfe air, which could scarcely be called personal distinction, yet which made it impossible for the girl to look common under any circumstances the perfect physical training and well-being, the perfection of care and regard for her comfort, and (he selection of the ap propriate and becoming in every per sonal detail, which suggested that ev. ry precaution had surrounded her and everything possible been done for her, from tier cradle up which struck one most. Her dress was quite simple, yet of the best kind. The train by which we both arrived was a through train, in which most of the passengers had travelled all night; but she had none of the fagged and disorderly air,, which so (almost invariably appears in the afternoon at least, c f the day after a night journey. It was, evident ly, natural for her to look pale, so that tuere was no change in that respect; and her pretty hair was as much in order as, on the head of nineteen, it had any need to be. After facing each other a minute or two in the omnibus, which was still waiting for my luggage which my maid, an experienced polyglot in her way, with a large command of nouns and very small of verbs, was looking after I broke through my English reserve (which never was my strong point,) and asked "Have you lost your luggage?" which, indeed, was tlie sup position I had made. The girl seemed much relieved to be able to speak "Oh, no," she said, "much worse than that. I have lost my mother and father. They were to meet me here by this train, and they have neither come nor sent any one, nd 1 don't know what to do. That gentleman said I had better go to the hotel th.a omnibus belongs to that it was the best, and that they might be there; or I could send and try to find them, or perhaps there might be a telegram, or. I can't think how they could have failed me: it was all settled exactly how I was to travel, and the hour the train arrived, and everything:. I thought I could travel quite well by myself, but 1 will never try it again," said my little friend with fervor: and she added a melancholy story of her troubles by the way. How she had been placed by her friends in a sleeping-carriage, in which she was not to be disturbed which went through," that magic word to the unaccustomed traveller and would have no trouble till she came to her journey's end, when she would step into the arms of her mother. All so beautifully arrang ed, no trouble at all instead of which he had been made to jump up at four in the morning, to hasten on her "things," and to change into another carriage; and now at the end where she hoped all her troubles were over, there was no mamma on the platform, no body looking out for her and she would not have known what to do, or where to look but for that kind man, who hid himself lost his luggage, and had to go back to the frontier to look after it. "He said this was the best hotel, and I had better go to it, and then telegraph," she repeated, looking out as the omnibus got, into motion, with wistful eyes at the passengers in the streets. "Yom must stay with mo till they turn np," said I, "that will be the sim plest way; if they are not at the Leon d'Oro, we can send the porter ronnd to the other hotels, and you will soon hear of them, you may be sure. They must have been detained somehow, or mistaken the hour, or but till you hear of them, you must stay with me." "Oh, mav I? thank you so very much," cried the girl, with a light of relief on her soft face; and then she returned to the tribulations of the journey, and the horror of not seeing any face she knew whon she arrived. And I can't speak a word I" she added, in a soft accent of woudering despair. We can speak a great many words, Johnson and I," I replied, "they are not very nicely put together, and a critic might object to our conversa tional style, but we manage to got on and nowadays there is no difficulty in getting on, for everybody speaks Inglish at all the hotels; so yon may be qnite at your ease as far as that is concerned. It used to bo very differ ent in my time. 1 remember ," and then I began little story of J old experiences, hoping to divert her, but though she listened civilly for a moment, and gave me a small smile, I could see that my elderly ancedotes had no interest for the little girl. Her eyes strayed after every new pair ap pearing in the street, with a special interest in stout persons, which revealed to me the vision of a portly mamma. And what a state of mind that portly mamma must be in, if she were an ordinary English mother, and was now figuring to herself her daugh ter's arrival in the midst of a popula tion composed chiefly of Italian brig ands ready to pounce upon her and her goods, as the ordinary British matron is accustomed to suppose, I shuddered to imagine. In the meantime I may as well men tion who 1 myself am, and how it was that I was specially adapted to take this little stray in hand. I am Miss Stanley-Drummond, of a family not unknown on either side of the House, middle-aged, or a little more (people draw that line so differently, according to their own ideas or shall I say their own yearB?), one of the many unmar ried English ladies who are to be found in all the hotels npon every highway in Europe, and even. I believe beyond Europe. 1 am obliged to say that I think there are far too many of us about the world. I am not one who despises my own kind, or pretends to prefer men's society, or any of those affectations which are current; but I confess that I like a little variety and that to be surrounded solely by persons of my own sex, in pretty much the same condition of life, about my own age, and, in short, reproductions of me with little local differences, is a thing I find tiresome. At Bordighera, for instance, and various other such places, there were about twenty of us round the modest table d'hote to about three menl And such menl A mild old parson, of whom one could never cer tainly nay which was he and which was his wire; a delicate youth, taking care of himself; and some other nondescript. This was too much of a good thing. The spinster ladies of Eugland are a very good thing: my dearest friends are among them: but toujour perdrix the proverb is somewhat mnsty. Apparently men don't feel the same objection to herd continually with their liko, or else clubs and smoking rooms would not be so attractive to them. But perhaps this is because they have been more widwly scattered about the world, and have more varied experiences with which to edify each other. I, for my part, should like a little more variety among my daily associates; though I confess I do not see how it is to be mended. For it would be as impossible to interfere with the liberty of the British subject and forbid the elderly single woman to travel, as it would be to attempt to make them un like each other, which is beyond the power of man. It is true that there is sometimes among us a married woman in proud possession of a young daugh ter, who makes a little varie'y; but as she has generally been a widow for years, and relapsed into our habits and ways, without the independence on which we pique ourselves, the differ ence is often infinitesimal. The youug daughters, indeed; but then it is hard upon the poor girls to be bronght out of their opening day into our robust, hut often cynical, afternoon, and harms their natural development. One says to them instinctively, "Ah, in my time!" as I could not refrain from do ing even to my little friend in the om nibus; and our time was much gayer than theirs, with so much more fun, and dancing and laughing in it, and so many more of the other individuals to dance and laugh with! or so, at least, it appears now. This would be a hopeless digression, however, ii it were not necessary to show how suitable 1 was to take up the lost stranger. If there had been a man of my party he would have certainly sug gested that I knew nothing whatever about the girl, and that probably she was an impostor with designs upon my jewel box. (N. B. My jewel box is not very richly provided, and I never take it about with me when I travel. ) I may be told that men are more, not less, charitable than ladies to feminine wanderers who are young and pretty: but this I do not believe. There may be cases in which sentiments other than charitable come in; but I have al ways found thorn very suspicious of what they call adventuresses perhaps because they know more of that kind than we do. Having no men of my party, Johnson, who possesses certain of their qualities, assumed the part, and looked very severely at my poor little girl; though how anyone with half an eye should not have seen the perfect simple fact of that little personage I cannot understand. However, when we arrived at the hotel, I left the child to give her own instructions as to tele grams, and explain the search for the missing parents upon which she de sired the porter that guide, philos opher and friend of all perplexed travellers at once to be sent: which she did with the distinctness of a per son quite accustomed to give orders, and not afraid to explain the dilemma in which she found herself. It was only then that I heard her name, and I confess that it startled me a little to hear her give, not one, but two, names of tho persons to be inquired after, whom she had, notwithstanding, de scribed to me as her mother and father with a curious transposition of, the usual order. "He had better go to all the best hotels, and ask if there is any one of the name of Hall or Kobertson. Mrs. Kobertson or Hall, or if there is auv telegram for me;I am Miss Kobert son," she said. It was all very prettily said, with tho perfect simplicity of child who has nothing to conceal; but 1 confess that it is startled me for a moment, and Johnson gave me a look I Decidedly, besides being as tall and strong, and usually a sort of protector in any trouble for her heart is as big as her body Johnson is as suspicious as a man. However, I need not say this made no difference to me, and when we were seated together upstairs in the rooms which had been engaged for me beforehand (I like to travel comfortably) beside a nice little fire, with our cloaks and wraps thrown off, and Johnson already in the room be yond wi'h her Etna making a pleasant fragrance of tea, the mystery was very speedily and very simply unfolded. I need not say that I was full of curios ity; but 1 am not sure that It was this feeling or rather a still n ore natural impulse which made me suggest that if the porter found them, of course her father would come immediately to take her to the much-desired mamma. "Oh. mother will come herself," she said quickly; and then with a little embarrassed laugh, "You will think it the strangest thing bnt though, of course, I shall have to call him father, and there is no other name to give him I have never seen him jet." "You have Asver seen jour father 1" X cried. And then she told me w'.th a little blush, as if she were somehow in fault, twisting about a little ring on her finger, with her eyes fixed upon it, that she had been for a long time in school in Uermany for her education, though her home was in England: that aa Mamma's health would not permit her to live in either country, ahe bad been spending the winter on the Riviera, at Nice and other places; and that, as a matter of fact Mrs. Robertson had married and become Mrs. Hall since her daughter saw her last. "And I can't get need to the new name," ahe said; "I am always forget ting: perhaps that is why we have miss ed each other, for I am afraid now that I directed the telegram when I started to Mrs. Robertson instead of Mrs. HalL And 1 have never seen him at all." "It is curious, certaloly, but I hope you will like him vary much when you do see him " I aaid. cue gave her bead the faintest little shake, but she said "Oh, I hope so," hurriedly, as if that was a discussion into which she did not care to enter. Poor little thing! her heart was sore over this new relationship. It must be hard npon the children when a woman marries again, though, of course, to forbid a woman to marry again, or even disapprove of her for doing so at least, without full knowledge of the circumstances would be harder still. We sat there for a little very comfort able, enjoying the rest and quiet after the jingle and shaking of the train; and then I proposed that we should go down to the table d'hote dinner. Table d'hote, like other things, are not what they used to be. When I was a girl they were amusing, and one saw all sorts of people. They are not in the least amusing now, bat I keep the old habit of going down to them, partly because it is less trouble, and also be cause I object to the smell of food in my private room. My little companion followed me languidly, declaring that she did not want anything and wonld rather stay upstairs; but 1 know that at her age appetite comes with the sight of food, however any contrariety or misfortune may seem to have driven it away. We were but balf-way down the stairs, however, when we encountered the minairariif th lintnl comino-nn. uvnm. r o r ' i panied by a stout and comely lady 1 a a) It a A 1 1 a : with her full but charming countenance half hidden under a gauze veil, and followed by a man who was not so prepossessing. And then I heard a little scream behind me, and I was nearly poshed over while my charge made a spring into her mother's arms. I ought to have been delighted, 1 know; but I fear the only pleasure this cave me was the conviction that there and then Johnson must be convinced that she was no impostor, and that every word of her story was true. Of course, Mrs. Kobertson, or Hall, overwhelmed me with thanks. What would Eflie have done witbont me? How could she thaDk me enough for my goodness to her chuai Also, ol course, the upshot was that 1 went down to the table d hole much dimin- ished in my prospective glory (for I had felt that the ganeral interest and 80 much more explicit and straightfor curiosity would be excited by the sight j war1 than anything among ua, she be- of my pretty little companion) and much abashed in my spirits, having a very dull and lonely meal to look forward to, instead of the cheerful and amusing repast with 1 had expected, with, what almost seemed something like a daughter of my own by my side which prognostic came perfectly true It was a most uninteresting assembly at the table a note, which was served at small tables, very nice for a family, bnt solitary for one person, whr was thus made to feel beyond doubt that she was dining absolutely alone, though in sight of all the world. After dinner while I sat lonely over my fire, feeling very tired, yet without energy enough to go to bed, the mother and daughter came to see me. Mrs. Robertson, or rather Mrs. Hall bnt I instinctively felt the same difficulty as her child did about the name, which was wholly ridiculous on my part, as I had never heard of the woman before was by no means of the perfect appearance of ladyhood and gentleness which dis tinguished her daughter. She was a pretty woman, rather florid, with a laughing, simple face; the kind of woman one could not but like, but who evidently was open to be married by any schemer who chose, or to do any thing which was warmly urged upon ber, and which it could be made pleas ant to do. She was dressed as like a bride as a certain lingering sense oj decorum and what was perhaps more effectual consciousness that light colors were not becoming to ber ample figure, would permit her to be: her hair built up on the top of her head in all manners of puffs and bows (she had pretty hair), and her gown made ac cording to the last and most elaborate ruler of fashion. How she had man aged to exeroise so muoh good taste in respect to her child, and to show so little in herself, was what I could not make out, and there was a mixture in her of elation and nervousness which was still more surprising to me. It was evident tbat she was very proud of ber new husband whom she quoted at every moment. Colonel Hall had gone to smoke bis cigar, "for you know, nothing will ever make up for the want of their smoke," she said (as if 1 either knew or cared anything about it!) Colonel Hall was the brother of Sir Hubert Hall, "who had such a beauti- ful place in Derbyshire; I am sure you ' . v..... . - must nave neara oi it. uoionei nun bad a nephew with him who wonld make it more oheerful for Eflie, "for naturally at present, though it's so silly of bim, he is mostly taken up with me." All this was said with the bridle and blush, the look of ostentatious happiness and shy delight which is either obnoxious or idiotic even in a youDg bride: but in an elderly, or at least middle-aged one, intolerable; and yet the woman was so fresh, and natur al, and kind so ntce in one word, that one could not help liking her after all. And in the midst of all the flatter of pleasure and pride there was something else, an occasional thrill of anxiety, a sudden start at any sound "Do you think that was Colonel Hall, Effie " and "Hush, I thought I heard my husband call" which showed me that she was a little afraid of this brand new possession of hers. She carried tie girl off at last in a panic, after a furtive glance at the clock, crying out, "Oh, Effie. we must go, the Colonel will be waiting," with clang of all the brace lets and bangles with which she was profusely hung about, which betrayed something like a trembling. Effie gave me a look which was full of wonder and questioning, wistful, half frighten ed, unsatisfied. It was evident tbat she was very fond of her mother, but not accustomed to be very reapeotf ul of her, or confide in her judgment; and be had no intention, poor child, of asking me, stranger, what I thought, Bat she could not keep the trouble and the question out of her eyes. CHAPTER II. I am an old fool. Here I am still fortnight later lingering on in a town which I know by heart, every corner in which, every church, every picture I have seen till I am tired all on ac count of the little girl whom I have picked up at the station, a perfect stranger, fifteen days ago. In the first place, there is a kind of a plot going on against the poor little thing, which the mother, even if she fully tees it, is powerless to prevent. How can I prevent it, or do anything at all in the matter you may well ask? 1 can't answer; and vet I keep on put ting off my departure one day after of use to Effie, who certainly doe's .ft VctU cling to me as I scarcely could bm!.JJ another, with a vague notion ol being thought possible on so short 4 m ' i.f-i Alrl.! w-n 1 tied that gentlemen's character in my mind. A ruined roue, orje of the sort of people one sees about Monte Carlo,!.. ... r J with, face full of records deep fur- rows of dissipation dug .n it, and the ! Effi ' d j look of one who perpetually turns night T " , " VhI7Vor,f.I into dav; but yet a man who has always , mlnl ffi , Haliv kept adoat somehow by good luck.good 1 8he g-J f J JJSSto whfch?I frionHa nr tha rlnannration that tnakna " " . - a courageous person surmount every thing, iso mistaking me caste to wuicn this man belongs, nor the sort of a i ,! i, .r.,1 n.K.hl. never pays'. And he knows every body, and does not seem to be cut by anyone, so far as I have been able to see; and as this place is on a very high road to every where, of course a number nf unifirf' twnnlA hflVA floated aprnsa us. he IB what he calls himself, and no ad veutnrer. Some of my acquaintances, however, who know him, have thrown the light I expected on the situation. 'Where did Ned Hall pick np that wo man? Is she very rioh? And what does he have Freddy hanging about him for?' one of them said to me. The man who said this is a man whose ac quaintances are many and various, and who is not at ail Puritanical. That I am one of them mytelf arises solely irom me lact '""T" u?" ever since he was born, and to do him from the fact that he has known me I ever Bince ne was uoru, uu. justice he has no objection to decent . , , . - . , pec nle. He gave me a bint. however. 1 wn ft a n V "If Vrti AQFA O rWifl C as no wentawaj " '" 7 that htt e girl as you seem to do, get her out of ed Hall s clutches as soon a you CKU. uuw uu a c0 vu of his clutches?'' said I; "he is her stepfather, and I am a stranger. " "Then mind jou keep her clear of Freddy." said this oracle. How could I keep her clear of Freddy? (What a ridiculous custom that is, by the way, of the "smart," to call all their own kind by such familiar nameal Of course, I could think of this young man only as i reddy, as if I loved him. man oniy rreaay,a .oveu mm, 7hflea?J k?eV0t g Ft , disliked his look extremely). But 1 did wnat was the only thing I could do. I lingered on, much to Johnson's dis eu" "J me, orougut amrai oy one oi iuudocou- ndences nmoug tne maids, wniou are uaiiit; uiicrcaLOU, n't, nuu tusicwj ui looking sulky threw herself into tffie's interests heart and soul. "Do you think Miss Drummond," she said to me one day, as she was get- ' ting something out of one of the boxes ! 1 had asked 'or it in fear and trem- bing expecting every moment that John ' would ask me severely if it was my wish that she should unpack every thing, in this place where we bad in tended to stay only two days? Bat in- sieaaoi putting sucu an unanswerable J, - l l. question to me this was ail she said: .ch Mi8e DrnmmonJf" she said tbrow "Do you think. Miss Drummond I j hergeIf down on the me as our young lady u quite happy with1''h 8hock which mft(,8 the wallg ..wE f t k it "V bat a question, Johnson, said I, but very quietly, for my state of mind was most conciliatory; "why ahouldn t J she be happy with her mother? She is very fond of her mother, 1 m ?iV . . .. -1 t i t he has set his heart on marrying Eflie "That may be, said Johnson; she to f retiay ne saya if I oppose it I was kneeling down with her head over1, uiiu r.i it; i ..11 the box, and sometimes was not very audible in consequenoe. "There's nat nral affection, of course, and I don't say as I don't like Mrs. Hall myself.and Miss Ferris (the maid of course), says as a kinder person doesn't exist; but no headpiece, aud that easy taken in." Here there was a little lapse, or I should not have allowed my maid to discourse i noon the 1708B1D of the servanta. vou may be sure W finally this came out! , " . , ui " M wW thetm' b"? "ft7 Ba 'n,1?U' and the rich one is Miss tme.and that s why the Colonel means to marry her to his nephew right of. Mounson, saiu j, severely -now dare you come and talk to me of what Mrs. Hall's maid or some other ant " "And that Master Freddy." Johnson, going on with perfeot Ber' ..! 881(1 COm- j posure, as she lifted out the things wanted and put them on the bed, "is a bad lot." "What can I do?" I cried in de- spair. Johnson had her back to me. laying out my things. "I know what I'd do; I'd ask her to come along of us Naples, and a nice companion she'd be be for you, too. And I'd pack and un- Jack for her and do her hair, willing!" ohnson said. . I n AV T M At I noil n I riini! V To sav that I had alreadv thou eh t of thi8 plal Bnd inJeed had it by 8eTerai nint8 and sngg insinuated it by several hints and suggestions, will make it apparent to every one what a greet comfort and relief it was to me when Johnson "spoke up,' own phraseology, like this. t- use her a put my plans before Mrs. Hall that very day. "I think," I said, "you have done Milan so very completely, and Colonel Hall seems to be longiug so for his dear Riviera again, dou't you think you could spare Effie to make a little run with me further south?" Eflie did not say anvthmg, but she lilted hnr eyes to me with such thanks in them! Her mother fidgeted and grew nervons, though she put her hand effusively on mine, as she had a way of doing, and thanked me as the kindest friend in the world, "I am sure she would like it of all things; but then bhe has never seen the Riviera." "Of course," said I, "we couli come back that way." "Oh, dear," said Mrs. Hall, I wish I knew what to dot It would be such an advantage to Effie to go with von, Miss Drummond; but the Colonel has gron so fond of her, and be would like to show her Nice and all that coast him self." "When we come back," I said. "Oh," said Mrs. Hall again, "I wish I knew what I ought to do!" The reason why she thought it would be an advantage to Effie to go with me was, because I am what people call well connected, and could introduce the girl Into the society of a few lords ,'and ladies just as it was the great dis- tiaotion of the Colonel that he was hail fellow well met with all the titles at Monte Carlo. And between these two advantages, not to speak of the enor mous influence of her new husband, the poor lady did not know which was befct. But her iubtinrt tol 1 her thut Freddy was a danger from which her little girl ought to be lit free. Mrs. Hall's money had all come from trade; her husband had been a wealthy manu facturer. Ii is no unusual thing in those circumstances to think a connec tion with rank and fashion the most desirable thing in the wot Id; bnt I don't know how this really kind, simple woman had been takeu possession of by it. I discovered afterwards that Johnson's communication was qnite commercial circles), and that Efhe s was the great foitune. Colonel Hal), presumably, had made a mistake, thinking his wife had everything and the full disposal of the money, and now was not ready with any reply. "x think your mother la charming, s - . m fa V ,A. " la: "Ah, isntshe, he? jost as sweet as she can be?" said the girl, with a flush of pleasure; "and so pretty, don't you think, and younger than I am, Miss Drummond? Bat that is not an answer to my question," the said very gravely, looking me in the face. TmLtTke "tie is like so many men, ' raid 1, a little time to make oat what is individual in him. But I am afraid I dont like the nephew at alL" "Oh, isn't he odious I" Effie cried. And this was the young man who was now constantly by her side. She was never allowed to escape from hiin. He sat next to her at the theatre, gave her bis arm coming and going, stood over her, bending down as if they were having the most intimate of con versations, when she sat down anywhere, was ready to accompany her wherever she went, to walk, with her, to talk with . . . . ' ,i WK . her to brin(? her flower8 .nd bonb ,ns, .. P ..... , ,., vvery klwuuuij Hint tutoi vuum Ke. He was not ill-looking, and he was well- bred enough; and not unamusing. The won u m t w nnaccn8lom9d 6noh .tteution.did not fall a victim to them; but there is an instinct that sometimes (not always heaven knows), protects the innocent. Effie a very frank, little innocent girl, thinking not yet of love at all, or, rather, with a schoolboy's aversion to it, than a romance on the subject, could not endur9 this persecution. She straggled with it, making a continual effort to be free. Bnt what was her j 8trenh .gain8t ro many? r, at first, even her mother was 1 th i,;j !i I am uw ativi warn, j w v., a w w thinking it was a case ol love at hr?t sight with Fred, her einple vanity enchanted that her daughter should so soon have fulfilled the chief end of woman -or rather of girl. I dou't know bo it was tbat light broke upon her on the subject; but it did, overcom ing both her love for, and the dread of ( her husband, which latter feeling in creased day by day. Probably she heard something from him at last, some un guarded word which put Freddy's true motives, and his uncle's meaning in an unmistakable light. She came up to me 1 was on the second floor, bat ttey were au premier, living in tho highest style. She looked like a ghost - if such a thing as a portly ghost -VM.V could be conceived with panting breath tLa efttelt agitation, tumble, !) what shall I do? what shall I ..what j. the matter?.. t CTled. n ,,. m T t The Colonel JhAS Rone doWnstairs to smoke his cigar. Oh. Miss Drummond, married m. And she abhors bim and I don't like him my self and what am 1 to do?" "Dear Mrs. Ball, you are her only protector, you must make a staud for J Will IfUIIUi Against my husband!" cried the woman wringing her hands were so covered with rings that "Oh, how ' . i . a i am I to make any Btand agaiist him? ,' and yet 1 know its only for her money, nd she loathes the sight of him. Oh, Mi Drnmmnnd. tll me. tll m. what Miss Drummond, tell me, tell me, what am I to do?" 'My dear Mrs. Hall, you must de- fend Tour daughter li t .,u,n,. ho has nobody else to protect her; surely that is the first duty you can have." "Oh!" she oried again, "you don't know what it is to be divided between Airrt anil fi a csiva aim vill Ka ilia nrn , - . I" 7 x of fortune hunters wherever she goes, ' and that Freddy will take care of her. Miss Drnmmond, you are so sensible. , and you know those kind of people I better than I do vou are one of them you know, though you give yourself no airs. Oh, Miss Drummond, would you o sneak, lust one word to colonel Hall.' One of the Monte Carlo set! it was very unlike her), an 1 had to hurry not much of a compliment. But, to be bock to the hotel to fet-h it, and ret sure, that was not what the poor lady ! ting in when the lights were nearly nil meant. "How could I speak to him?" L said, "how could I interfere when her mother is here? 1 who am almost a stranger? It is qnite impossible. I would do anything for Effie, anything but that. Aiet her como with me. ; That is the only thing to do, it would cut the knot, if Master r reddy fol lowed us, yon may be sure he would get little encouragement from me." "I thought of that," she said, sadly, "but the Colonel would never allow it I mentioned it, and it pnt him into such a rage I don't mean, Miss Drum mond, into a rage with me I but be can't bear to be contradicted and he has so set his heart on this. He says Freddy will be a changed man with a nice wife and that he is very fond of her; . though he doesn't disguise that but for her money And Freddy is Sir Hu bert's son, Miss Drummond; his second eon, bnt the eldest is very delicate. And oh!" The poor woman clasped her hands, and looked piteously into my face. "Bnt you have just told me that she hates him. " "That is true! that is true!" Bhe said, "but do you think it always matters. Miss Drummond, what a girl thinks? one changes one's mind so, at that age?'' "How do you think you could ever bring her to consent?' J said; "and besides, if yen married her to Freddy Hall, you would never forgive yourself aa long as you live." She fell crying like a child while I poke. "Ohf" ahe said, among her sobs, "if I only could get her sent home to her uncle, who would take good care of her; but then all the posi tion and all the advantages will bt sacrificed that I've been slrugfling so to secure for ber and she's such a lady, qni'e a little priocss, isn't she, Miss lrauimond? aud my pride has been to get her into the best society. Bat it's all mercantile, all manufactur ing, such a different, different position iu the north!'' "Do you think, Mrs. Hall, that Ef fie would get into the b.-st society as Freddy Hall's wife?" She gave me a startled look. "He is a baronet s son, and has the ve y be t of connections," she said. But next moment she started np at some imagin ary sound. "Oh, I must go; the Col onel must not think that I have been talking it over with any one. Oh Miss Drummond, if you wonld but say a word to bim!" the poor lady cried. Next day Effie came to me with traces of tears about her eyes. She looked sullen and dark, with a sort of stubborn resistance in her, yet trem bling too. She talked about nothing for a little while, with difficulty, while I, awaiting what I saw was o 'ining, made no advance towards the one subject that occupied our thoughts. At last she burst forth; Miss Drummond, they want to make me marry Freddy Hal.!" abruptly, like a ebot from a gun. "My dear," I said; "that he wan ted it, and the Colonel wante 1 it, has b een evident enough for some time past." Uh, what do I care for what he wants, or the Colonel! It's mother! mother! she has not slept all night; and she's been crying till you can scarcely see the bine of her eyes, poor, poor mammal And she favs what is she to do? I think she thinks be will kill her if I don't consent." "But that is nonsense, Effie," said I, "he may make her unhappy, but not half as unhappy as she would be if you did consent That is to say, my dear, if von really feel that you could not consent wit a a good grace." I said this to save my conscience, for indeed, it is true that girls at that a?e often do not know their own mind; as bow should they on such a subject, poor littl things! She looked at me indig nactly, the tears drying in her eyes with the fire of her surprise. "1 hate him," she said, "and so do you. 1 know, 1 know you do. But mother did say one thing; she said, 'Oh how I wish I could send you to your uncle.' Now if I could get to my uncle, I should he safe. Dear Alias Drummond, you picked me up at the railway; will you let Johnson take me to the night train after everybody bis gone to bed? I am sure I could slip out, and nobody would see; and if she pat me into a lady's carriage, the S ig nore Sole, don't yon know, that one al ways sees written np. I should have nobody to meet me at the other end tliia lima ' fiha raw! tha tnari VAllina np in her eyes, "as I should have had nobody here, but for von. But that would not matter, for I have got, oh. so much experience now. And when Tnn ..,m .t 4rnv,i. j wu ' AAA wvr usstw sjicav ktvuwav j v u don t think of little things.' Oh, the premature philosophy that comes with 'ho first knowledge of the world! A wild idea came into my mi ad. At first it seemed too daring and dreadful to be thought of, to take such a responsibility; but then t save the child from Buch a fate! "Eflie," I said, "dry your eyes, and go down st lira aud look as c lit erf ill as you ca j. I have thought of something. Give mo to-night to think it all over, aud to-morrow I will tell you what I will do." Tbat evening Johnson and I had a long consultation. I told ber that il she ever breathed a word to any ser vant in thA lion A. or. indeAd. to unv J one for the next week I suould give her instant notice, wages, and board wages, and never speak to her again; and then I unfolded my plan. 1 can not tell the relief it was to mv mind ! when 1 found that Johnson had no ob jection to make, if not that it was a pity to lost the twenty-four hoars, and tbat we had better start to-night But this, I thought, was not at all the wisest tiling to do. Accordingly, next morning, I let everybody know that 1 was coin on to Rome and Naples, as bad always been my intention, by the niirlit tra n. I went solemnly down ft. ;rt to Mrs. Hall, and told her all my ila s, and repeated my invitation to Eflie. The Colonel was present. J which was exactly what I waited, ami 1 pressed it upon her how good it wonld be for the child. The poor laly looked at him and she looked at me. with imploring eyes. "Oh, I wish, wish we could let her go! It would be such a thing for ber Dear Edward don't you tbiuk for six weeks or so, at Miss Drummond siys, we might lei her go?" "Yon know it is perfectly out of the question, with au the ar rangements e h ive made," he replied. ' Bnt arrangements were made to be de parted from, said i, "ot miue, an. swered the Colonel and poor Mrs. Hall cried and k used me and wished, a id wished, but, seeing it could not be. was glad to get rid of me and the dis approval in mv eves. Accordingly, Johnson and I and all oar luggage started in time for. the train to the south. There was anothei train coina north, in short. fh thronirh , train to Paris and England, a few hours lat.T. And it happened tbat I Johnson forcot something (which was out, by special favor of the nndei porter, who was a great f i tend of hers. found what she wanted, almost in the dark, at the top of the first flight of stairs, and, hurryin off to her cai, be fore even tbe under porter could fol lowto help her, brought to me what she ha I gone to fetch which was nothing lets than Effie: very white, very much excited, yet composed, and with all h r wits about her as when I saw her first. I need scarcely add that the train we ent bv was the tram to Paris, and !., ii..;n .t,.i . IUBI UJ MUUUl KUHT 1'in.im nit wo " VJ . 1 1 a . i.,. u ,n unl.oH Pim'.n.l " " in. "i! ' -- -'".") "Ul 1 una i and more than that Lancashire where I had the satisf iction of placing her, as perfect a litt'e well-bred person ' as ever,' with scaroely a sign npon her of her long journey, in her Uncle't hands. He inhabited a handsome biq bouse, in a beautiful country, witii gardens and grounds and every luxury though it was so near a great town: and had an air of wealth which was not obtrus'vo a person altogether of most reassuring and satisfactory appearance. Half-a-dozen Colonel Halls I could well see would not get that child out of Mr. Kobertson's hands. And was this all I ever saw of Eflie, between two railways as it were, flit ting in and out of my life? 1 saw a great deal more)of her, and her further story was by no means without interest, and'ended very pleasantly; bnt of this no more can be said here. Colone Hall, I believe, telegraphed all over (he country, to Florence and. to Home tc top us, but as we had not gone in that direction, these telegraphs did ua nq barm. WOBLD'S FAIR. TBB WORLD S COMOBKSS ACXTXiIABT. This constitutes the intellectual and moral branch of the Exposition. Its motto is, "Not Matter, but Mind," and it is organized to provide for the pre sentation, by papers, addresses and discussion, of the mental aud moral status and achievements of tbe human rice. Under its auspices, a series of congresses will be held in Chicago dur ing the progress of the Exposition, in, which, it is already assured, will partic ipate a great many of the ablest living representatives in the various fields of intellectual effort and moral endeavor. The Auxiliary embraces between fif teen and twenty main Departments, such as Literature, Government, Ed ucation, Music, Science, Art, Engi neering, etc., in each of which are sulHlivibiona. A programme is being arranged for congresses in each of these Departments and divisions, in which specialists and advanced think ers may participate in discussing the vital and important questions, and pre senting the best and latent achieve ments of tbe human mind in each. Dnrine the Exposition tbe Auxiliary will have the use of a magnificent per manent Art Palace, which the Chicago Art Institute, aided by tbe jL.xpoa.tion I Directory, is about erectiug on the lake front. This will have two larc audience rooms, each of 3,500 capacity, and from twenty to thirty smaller rooms, of capacity ranging from 3U0 to 750. The great Auditorium will also be utilized for tbe larger congresses nd numerous other halls are available when required. Facb congress will be supervised by a committee of persons actively interested in its peculiar held. acceptance of such responsibility hav ing already been given. The prospects are that fully 100 congt esses altogether will he held. It is the intention to publish their proceedings in enduring form. Detailed information concern ing the Auxilia-y, or any of its Depart ments or divisions, can be obtained oi its president, Charles C. Bonney. TBB BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS. The participation of women in the Exposition promises to be one of its most interesting as well as novel fea tures. With a commodious and impos ing building, designed by a young ludy architect, and with an abundance of monev, and with full recognition. and aid by the L nited Suites Uovern ment and the Exposition Directory, the w imen have an opportunity of showing in most signal manner, the condition of their sex throughout the world, what are the achievements of woman in the various branches of hu man endeavor, and what if her adapta bility to different occupations and lines of industrial and charitable work. Under the direction of the Board's president Mrs. Potter Palmer the work of tbe organization, and of enlisting the interest of women throughout tbe t nited States and in foreign countries, has progressed to a most satisfactory stage. PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION. The actual erection of the Exposi tion buildings began in June, 1891. Now all of them are being pushed rap idly towards completion. Already sev eral are under root. About 4,000 workmen are employed- Work pro ceeds day and night. Women's building. This is farthest advanced of all. It is roofed aud al most completely exteriorly. Covered and adorned with "staff," it appears like a marble palace. The furnishing of the interior is proceeding. Mines building. Tbe framework is up, and finishing touches are being pnt on the iron and glass roof. The "staff" is being applied. Electricity. Framework completed up to gallery floor, and nearly all of the great steel trusses for the roof in place. Horticulture. The pavilions are up to the roof line. The west curtain is roofed and windows are being placed. Tbe iron work of the dome is being put in position. Transportation. Framework practi cally completed, as also roof sheathing over galleries. Clear-story trusses are being raised. - Administration. Structural work of tho four pavilions completed and ex terior covering being applied. Iron work in place up to base of dome, 170 feet from ground. Machinery Hall. Floor and 0.000 supporting piers completed; super structure going up, and foundation for annex being laid. Agriculture. Interior columns and gallery girders and joists in position, and tho gre it iron columns supporting the roof being placed. Of tho 7,000, 000 feet of lumber which the building will contain, more than half is already utilized. Manufactures and Liberal Arts. The thirty aud one-half acres of floor ing are laid, and the superstructure is begun. The hnge steel trusses for the roof, which together will contain more metal, by 50 per cent, th n the Brook lyn hridgp, s ill soon be raised. Art Galleries. Basement and floor are completed, and the brick walls have reached an average height of ten feet above the second floor. More than 5,0X),0t)0 brick are already laid. Fisheries. The gallery trusses of the main building are placed, and the iron framework of both pavilions is completed. Forestry. This is about throe fourths niii. he 1, and will be occupied bv the model makers until spring, when the outside rustic work will be put on, and the temporary roof will be replaced bv a thatched one. Dairy. All the columns are up to the roof line, and the gallery floor is being laid. Work on tbe Illinois State building and on the U. S. Government building is being pushed rapidly. The imita- i lion paitiesuip is oompietea vo we completed i - deck level. Insurance is placed and inoreased on the buildings as their construction proceeds. The amount now carried is above $1,000,000. During the Exposi tion, it is estimated, not less than $150,000,000 or $200,000,000 of insur ance will be cariied on the buildings and exhibits. All possible precautions are taken against fire. The Exposition grounds are already provided with a full equip ment of fire engines and apparatus. In the construction of the buildings about 60,000,000 feet of lumber and 18,0:0 tons of steel and iron will he used. In their adornment will be util ized nearly 84,000 pieces of ornamental "staff" work, of which about oue-lhird are already completed. If toc seek rect in this life, how wilt thou then Attain to the everlasting rest? Dispose not thyself for much rest, but for great patience. Seek true peace not in earth, bnt in heaven; not in men, nor any other creature, but i Uxalon, NEWa IX BRIEF. Mexico dentists pull a tooth for 12. There are CS7 languages spoken in Europe. Tonatoes wore not cultivated seventy-five years ago. The co I bank of Xewfoundland is six hundred mile.' long. Fresno, CaL, boast of a 45 pound sweet putato. The better class of tlie Phillipplce Islanders smoae cigars a fojt long. Ths Brit:sh Parliament has met at eleven places besides Westminster. An avenge acre or grass newly mowed weighs nearly two and one-half tons. ITarry W. Wood, of Lansing, Mich., dislocated his shoulder while stretching himself. CiHgula, the Roman Emperor, caused a poet to be thrown to the wild beasts of the arena, Apples were worth from 12 J to 25 cents each in the reign of Henry VII, of England. In the Solomon Islands the market quo atlon on a "good quality'' wife Is 10,000 cocoa nuts. Tbe Kuss'.an Government will lend the Central Famine Cimmiltee $25, 000,010 ithout interest. Immense flocks of crows have ex terminated the grass-hopper pest in some parts of California. The Persian carpets which adorned the halls of the Suah's Palace at Tehe ran have been in use for 200 years. taeen "Victoria's crown kept with, other royal reg.ilia under stroug guard at the old tower. Is worth about $6iX), 003. A deer was shot in a Bohemian forest, on whose bead was a huge ball of bone or bonis in the place of th usual antlers. Kennebunk, Me., claims tbe young est grandfather iu tbe State, in the per son of David Parent, who Is only thirty six years of age. Humboldt County, California, hai a population of 33,000 aud $17,000,0JU taxable wealth, but it is unconnected with the woild by railroads. - 15. ink notes In Austria-Hungary are printed on one tide in German, and tb oi her in M.tgyar, for the benefit of tbe UuDgariaus. The Orst vessel launched by tbs early American colonists was the Bless ine of the Btv, laun hed in Massachu setts Bay, July 4, 1631. Four skeletons of giants have been unearthed nt-ar Florence, Ma Th ;re is a tradition that four mule loads of gold are buried In the same vicinity. Fire-proof and time-proof books, w th leaves and covers of sheets of as brStos, and prlntlug in gold aud allvex letters, have been sugeted. Venezuela has Ofty-six hoi Id ay I every vear. Oa th-se occasions tbe p ople close their stores aud enjoy them selves In chick -n fights and other tropi cal amusemeLts. Monev loaned to Luke Hayden, of Torrington, In 1801. was recently paid into tbe Connecticut School Fund. Six times tne amount of the original loan has been paid In inter-st. The total area of bog land in Ire land Is 2,810.000 acres, of which 1,. 254,000 is mountain bog, and the other is available for fueL The av erage thickness of the peat Is twelre leet, . A house in Dedham, Mass., built in 1535, Is occupied by a family, tbede S' tndants of the ong nal builder. They appreciate the antiquity, and will show visitors all through it for 2j cents. The Persian Government has abol ished the tobacco monopoly, lnedmni fyini the company and permitting It a monopoly of export. Tbe priests forced tu.s by forbidding tlie people to smoke. A mulatto servant named Robert Smith, who died lu St. Louis Mo., ra eenlly, had been employed for many years as "hat man'' in a hotel, where his surprising memory entbled him K furnish every gutst who left the din ng room with bis proper headgear. '' The report from the new artesian well In Huron, South Dakota, show that it is the most wonderful weU known to exist. The water spouts ui a distance of HO feet, a d the amount flowing from tho well is estimated at 8000 to 40,010 gallons per minute. In Boktan they talk of a band ol English crusaders who strayed awa) from their lea lers about 1150, A, D., and settle! in Kurds'an, and mingling their bliod with the native stock, so tbat it Is ra-'gerous for the Britons to be too severe about the fault of th Kurds. A curiosity has been found In a Alpena county, Mich., wood. Two hemlock tree, the trunks of which art fifteen inches 11 diameter, are growini six feet apart. At the height of tec feet from the ?rouml the trunks unite, forming an arch and then forma slngli setm eighty feet high. The creature having the greatest number of distinct eyes is tbe chiton, I species of mclluse, In the shell of which has been found as many as 11,000 sep arate and dls'inct eyes. Bv an act of the British Parliament which was passed March 20. 1P67, and came into force June 1 of that er,tht C inadian province", Omario and Que bec and New Brunswick and Nova Sco tia, were federally united into one Do minion of CanaJa. In Nicaragua, Central America, the statues of the godf were generally p aced at the foot of the pyramids, while the native fathers north placed theirs at the summit or in temples. While hieroglyphics are common ou dols, walls and pottery, yet t':e patint researches of our arcliKlogist havi recovered but little of the man ners and habits of tbeie abori gines. Jumbo, a horse owned by a Savir nock shipbuilder. Is said to be the lar g st horse ui Connecticut.. He I nearlj seven teet high and weighs 1700 pounds. Hp Is a power! ul animal, and has drag ged with apparent ease a two ton load. With tbe children he Is a great favorite. It costs a good de tl to feed him, a bt lias eight pecks ot oats a', each meal and makes away with two hundred poundi 3f hay every week. His shoes are ol unutual size aud weigh four poundi sach. Acookdeo to rumor, the Pope i said to have conola led to buy the en tire Borghese Gallery, on the BtrengU of an agreement by which that cele krated art collection will become the nrofsv'J' of the Vatican. Y -TV- A