. , . . ' .• s. . • . - . ' _ / 71 !" . . 44- '—' '.. 1 ;' , -• ' 1 ;: _.'. .f,,: ~, s' . . .;... : ‘ .. .''' ; ‘ : ''';:"--1 . :- i:''''' s - '',....1 :;... :...-.. : ....'5.,--.. ..,'...)\-.'...:' !.1 ':.,. :.;: -.',:i ): . I: '. ' .'' ~- 1 1 ~ ~ , , . ...- . ... .. _ . . , a \ 1 . • .1 , .. , ~ -' ,„ ••:' , ' ,',',.',.• -V. :. t, '::: ~,';;;.. ..:" , ~,., ..,.,-- . .-;,- , - , .z . ,' _ 1 ' • • .• . • i . :-,-.. -.,-, ' ,',..: - -.. , :-.• 1 , ....y.::,. ..- ~ ..1. i, 1y . .: -, ' ~,, • ~,, , ......., . , .-., . ~. ;.,;., „ ;_. *- • ' I . ~.- -:. .., . :,- ..t ~..2f.'.-_,.'.- 4 , : i .-._-- .•., ,' , ' - • '' . •' . . , ''' i' - . , . , ' '.- • '--.-- .'"' J ' i : . '' :' f°."\ '....4: '.k. '; .' ' .•.- ~.. /... ' " 1 .: :‘ :.•' ' ; 18 : ''. ''' ' • .. • '' ' - 4 ' ' ..--.,."•'::.. . ...',. ,• . ...,: . ..:i r .,... .; ' l ' ' '.." '. -, .. ',''., ...-:, ' . . ,' ' ...: -.:' •,: 1 ,. ': , ' ' , ..',- ' - -'. s t '.'' • .": *.: '' f '' ' ' '' ' ' .... . '. '' ' '*, '--' '' ',? t . ).;..; C F . • : '*: : - :/,„:, ) s ' • ... . . ^ , ~ . t , . ~ .. ~ • .. . . ...-. . t 4'.;',1,‘•"; ';':: , • :,.. ' Y ` ,-', ' . 4.% . 7. „.. ...„.. : .7 . ' 7:- ,0 . ', ?,1 4 -1 i ' : 4 ;: . :',. - d, , ;,, 4 • t. t • . . , . . . .- . ~ ' • ~. .. • ... , . . • 4 't ''' - : C :' .' ."' ''' i' ' . - ' • '::. .•i - d :' ' ,'` • ::s :,. .'- - . ' ; ' i. . : .:-.....;..,, ;,,, - . 1 ,.. -..:- 1 - ';:::, '''', ''.:°‘: s ' ' i •:-. ' t. '',. : '''. ‘........., : +--, , . " ',. : - 's. —`, .- 4 "! .. "."'''' , .< = ' ''' ; :irs.. ; , `..-i:.: .•,......; ' :-,# :s. ;',,V , ..... ',.. ' . ',..- ':: t ".,i; :.- . . . -,',:f . ' \,:.' .' ' . '"':.,.-.-.. , 7 ., :,':r; - -`'.';''•:_,,"'' t , ""i, , -"":' . ..: .. :-,,;" ••••;"•: ,'," ' : , -‘....';C.,„: - 4 '.:: '. ::; -:.,; '`. l';' i ., -:: :' .' , ~ • • :': • , , .: , : .- ~"' .:- ~' ,- :.. .. ~_ :r•mgaillLi's'• i'. :, - :.- • - „''- , ii ... . 4 4:: :';' ' 1 : . '.s . ,t,, . -,-, ,—•-, , .--, ... • -,. " 1, , ' - -.- • , .; -...- . . .. ~_ .; .., f_. -.- ... , ... ' . .. '' ,_ ‘: . ~ .. • , - : .-.,,,i' ‘ ,...1. .. ~ . f ' ~.... .. '.,... ~., , . f .. ~- .„, ~..,-;- ..,........— i i: ::: ,. : . : ....., ~..,:-: . ;:. ..'..„. : ,. ; ;',..,,,,....... f .... ; ', ~,,,,.. ~.,: .p .,4,.., ~... . . ' . • .- '! :- . ... •-•- —.....'!7-..).; : ' ..:') •••••‘ ' - :-•-: .;--:.-, ... - - ~..........::. ~ ~,-..,,,. .. --.. ~., ... , • H AW L E Y NOTHING IS: LOSIY Where js the snow / 'Tis not long ago it cover'd the earth or , yci ite ; iNe heard not its footsteps soft and light; yet there it was in the:morning bright ; • NOW it path vanishittaway'froni aigtit Not a tra,ee'remains In fields or lanes.' Where is the frost ? - I . . .They are gone and lost— The forms of beauty it gailYrinideA, The pictures rare on NV i at 14 1 ,CI "Be silent," it said .; the brdek obef'd. The frost. work's 'wild piques all aid fade ; At thesinile.of the sun All.was undone. "Where is 'the rain'? Pattering, iticaniql Dancing along with a , chent,SOilrld; A liras' bed is flehla it and ; Each drop came on the roof "with abound. Where is the rain ? lntth lett the ground, What good hathit so .soon . Ever, ever • par best eralewioe • -1, I ' Seemeth to tall like the melted suovq , ;l • We worked out our ,thought 'wisely and slow The - seed we sow —but it will not • grow ; • Our hopes, our resolves—where do they go ? What (loth remain' • ,'l4mory and Pain. \, Nothing. is . - NO Snow nor frost , Tbat come to enrich the ear fl ; S'e thank them when the, ripening gn i iin 13 waving over the hill and plain, • - Anti the pleasant rain springs from earth amain All enclet.ll in good Water and food. • . Never despaii Disappointment :be 's ' • Though hope seefneth vain, be patient still ; Thy good intents - G6d will fulfill, Thy hand 1 , 5 . . weak;' Ells vv-111— b coteplltingthy liie 7 tvork still. The good .endeavor , Is lost teror; : THE. TWO BAOHELORg. IT WAS in the summer 0f'.61:. that Jack Ferrars and myself, ten gay : baabe:ors of thirty, weary with the business that, had bturd in upon us during= the win ter MOP ths, rentedz„betweiLus.„.a.amall . 01 , ,itiog in the Western Hiihlands, 'with a view of recruitinc , b our whsted energies in a pastime of which we were both very 'gl. I admired Ferrars almost passion tely. He was a fine, handiome fellow. yellow hair and blonde moustache; possessed the *gentlemanly manners easy - flow of conversation which I. teemed above all things. But my at ichment to Jack was no mere passing. Inii:ation of hal brilliant perts and fas lating manners ;, it dated as far `back when we were boys at schdol, and had on e on in an interrupted flow ever since, :r , •ngthened by the test of time. We id, - moreover, . numberless things in iaimon, among the most. important of, neli was—we Were both confirmed delorit ; in good troth, proud ,of 1 he tme—bachelors who never intende.l to anything but bachelors,' and,,we took peculiar delight inKsaying SQ,'4O. vow aliegiance to one anotherin a . lllltltiner, it would have done credit tot the'Cor- An brothers. • It WaB therefore with brilliant iantici liuns of the delight we were to experi ! in each others society,that, we found TiAlres the occupants. of a.pretty villa, the outskirts of a litte odtlaildish >. in the Highlands, far removed from friends and acquaintances. '• , With a sigh of relief, and a delight ' le! ling of freedom, we ._wheeled our a s into au open bow•window on the lit of our arfival, and, lighting cigars. 'own_ to enjoy the really beautiful tie before 118. In the foreground lay, own smoothly cut lawn and rectan-; lar flower beds, with the moonlight' `ingin pale, bright bars over the Sleept 'towers. and beyond, the, silver loch, 'nee we could distinctly hel*,ithe. lief; linth of some late pleasure seekers, ley rowed slowly _homewards; 'Whit. ;e the loch. the rose Lin dark JILT outline against the pa4k; hiAuty th e s k y.l J 'ett as apropos of the scene, bad been lting as best he could, between the is . o f his cizar, Lott BYron's Lake 1 1 1; and an animated discussion, h had afterwards !inset' , merits and tits of that mach ':maligned' poet.. 'uddenly interrupted br a burst (if finest mosic I had ever.] ard. .`was a splendid'sopranik iciee v accom. 11 `. 1 1 by the guitar, singing the old pa 'le Scottish song; Auld Robin le expression thrown - into the yoice simple and exquiSit.e.When the minor ke, struck o jack snatch= tip cigar from his lips and leaned .for. 4 , 1 in breathless, attikadE',las if afraid, , I ` , 1 ' a single vihrition, and did not %ail, until thit..Bo6g 1144,:ceaSed ''lt strangely affected myself..' thad . listened to the 8400 son before .bl4* Iso soul-thrilling of Ati the CR USE R • --mei. •Oli. last: Cadence_ died away ' .borne -over the srlyery Water to, the dark hills, it seethed tO, if it .was. an angel's whisperioY er the death, bed of it child. 'The sounds proce,edt:d from, the open drawing room wiiidOws ;tile villa' next 'our own', an 1 :1 when "( at • last' they crased, 444; resuming his cigar-in the most'pro- Saic fashion, remarkd : "lly Jove that wns.goodsinging, Bob. That Is better. tha s u 1 a box, at the opera eh, rild fellOw _ "4's the finest singing, withent,ex'peP. tion, l l , ever listened.to. I hope won't, meet Ole :fair possessor of 'such an ex quiskte I ans l wered. "What an= absurd'. fellow you are ! Why s ‘!Qh, because,. if -she's -pretty, feel as If I should hill in love.with her.r • `Tslititivl= •llardink , don't talk like an idiot ' Ten:H•to ionet she's..: an old- Wietoh, with sun ken jaws, with powder ehOgli pti' her face to last a lOrd justiesig f9r . . " f‘ll•4l;n4ist: .ope . she .is,_ :__then ,my heart run sne,hi .a chance .of being , , .Ctiptltted." a,-eonsti&nated fool Harding" w , tp the flattering oniuin of my frieLd •. • • 2 • . iS i n,-riV , y(lif think so, Jack, but if a .. i fool Or, no fool,:ii : th, is a .pretty. young girl, ..1 '‘vpuld not giv' a Sispereelor jour: .ellaii&S 'of retaining your bachelor': no -tionSrnuch longer." . . . 1, hamed - forward Siiiiling,.. to :-eatell a glimpse - of' his expr'ession in the dint . light:.. .A..-baughty- curl _ was , on 'his: hp; and d,lOok of scorn in his blue'eyeS,Wbich disappared:with .a - liidierous rapility as' soon i ,itSjlte Observed "bat . I. Wass rallying hini.' , - -; - .'-' :‘ "Ali; B )b, no fear of that, you and ae jelly enough tokether not to and abnuepretty girls, however easeinating, else wed beeti inarriefi long ago," "1 h , gan to think .zo, Jack, and, upon my word, I often .wo?der how a fellow ltke you, upon' whom scores of designing mammas have had th'eir envious eyes,was never. caught." • ' . - . GI : sya.3 just going to, make -the same remark about you,'' sad Jack, with a laugivhs he strafed his handiome mous tache.' * "4 , eeins to the w 're a couple of ex treinly ch.,yer ftll,lw ," I a:rswfred ,ris ing. ' • . ~ . . "We're a couple or extremely e lucky fe'lloWs„ati,ariy __rate, to . have safely es caped all the snares and fascinations laid for us," returned Fearrars, shrugging his broad• shoulders and looking the per ionitication of happy. !bachelorhood as he thus disburdened himself of his anti •matrimonial notions. "But what say •you to a bit 'of supper, old boy ? It is getting late." . 1 . . i , ' I agreed, and we both descended . to` the dining room. Mrs. Atason, .the- wor-, thy housekeeper, had lighted a fire in honor of our arrival, and the:dying ern 'hers now cast a dark red glow on the 1 w ,alls, making a decidedly -comfortable appearance, - notwithstanding it was a fine autumn night. ,;.*hen we,turned up the gas. a cosy little - s.ipper laid out for two was displayed,' and the wine and, fruit we had been using fJr dinner still stood,' lin the sideboard.' Never were therei two happier, jollier, or :more sin to blieght bachelors than lerrars and I the , , t night we eat .chatting over our wal nuts and caret and laying our schemes of enjoyment,- untiP the small hours warned us that it. wasiigh time we were ti in the primary enjovt nt of sleep. , "(foodhight, Jacl,T I 'said'. as at last ,zi we separated , for our, re.,p-ctive.rooms. ' , -"Gtiod morning. rather' echoed Jack, gshe:shutr his -.door ';. '"and I hope the host of Robiti Gray on't disturb your slumber." i ' . - • \ A sharp rat-tat on y bedroom door, and the, familiar '"EIllo old, boy I" of ,ack, outside, awoke e from one of the most delightful and refreshing sleeps I had enjoyed fora long time. To say the least of it, 1 felt.fierce I be thus awaken ed. - ' ' _ .. , . . , "Confouni- you Fe rrars. What do. yon , Want ? ' Be off !" lishouted. "Get up, old !boy, get tip ; if you're not out of bed before I count ten, you 'shall : have no breakfast. . One---two•— three:--" , , ~ Tne threat was too awful to be antlei ilated; and before he lhad Counted the given number,lhad ‘tMlocked the door for, him. He came-inith a merry look in. hid - blue ,eyes, - and - hrowing -himself down on the bed I h ' so unwillingly vaeated, began kicking the., white noun ' :pane with, his dirty oot. . , , "Jack, look what' yo 're doing," I said 'ointing to tt- mud pa ch on -.the clean inen. , "Mrs. -Mason '. ill. think I tam bled into bed last ,nigh in the'disreput ,ab)e'condition of not flowing - 'very well what 1 was alio l / 4 4.7 i ' .1 "Just_ tell her I didl Bob, and she'll tie - delighted to.put on a `fresh.. counter ' Pane, ram sure. But o you'know "What I was doing:this morning while You were driving your pigs to mrket?" i , - "Feeding- the . eh ick 1 ,11f 1 ) ,probably;". I answer,ed, _ feeling °rose. -at Jack's gOod "Gtt - la agalo." • - • • , •. MON- PRO e --- A , : " : No.; .if ,you don't choosey.to , ttll4ne; mt cririoo y 'w!ll• - w4it," .I. r rettirned ...as I. arranged .My neck -tip. -i: ,-:i:;: - . , ' : " Wel I, then;; I. ; cibeen - getting, on .good, terms. Wit 4. :11 , ,1r5. , gaSon; and - - i.fibiling;oPt. O. 0 our,,frietids of muSical ,repute 'next.. Oar are.,...; -• ..i '-.: ,: :,: , -! ,1 : ' ;1.::': ...i.::- ."Tlie,dipken.yyoti: tiai.'e.ri. 1 ejlientated, thiusing,i4 theT. adjustmOnt: . 0.:-InY.::thirt studs._ JUck,.nedded, his." .. . , bltieieyes fairly 1 . danei ng. *it hi.: „merriin,etiL .. -`:. ` , ,Se/ di . ' the , re- :suit of, yonr,..enquirles iS (7 ---..'',- - ,; , ...•. 1 '.• ‘-‘That.,ithe . stou6hold- :mitaiiitil f ,or, a , Oolonel JEtallarn,.,:liiii..wife.and otte.daugh , :. .ter.7' ..-.:ii:..1- :'., , , ':' , -N ~ ..'i , 'r.. •--.-' '' : "rs'ibig all . yoti.„inow,.iti)ot them ?" .f asked, .. , : - por, h at-, 0 iEfip - ppinted. At - the. ."liiagerileSs i')(..the: delaj.ls, afa,.. - ,put,the finisli*Angtouch to m5.tM1et.. ,, :,.... - .: , ..... `•You Ungrateful scmindrek-,;Why, ,tbe people . enly :ari.iyed, here , ....tvio.,:4aya-40, and ..Mrs. gasaa. herself , . only_ - - gtit. the in. forniation 1 this Jnoriwig...froni .-0w .Pakees bay at.theon" d . ~ .: .. . .-,-• -,. ,- ,' - • - f. `,.‘•Ahl. Oemit's sur.4 fo, to ccitivet.„.B4 come, let'd, go down stairs and - ..see.:if ' , we. can gt:t a. look at.. Colon .l 'Hallam or his .pretty daughter." : •.' ,•.:.‘. ~ ..;,••_ a .... 'lt was gli 'riot's ' morning.:'. ; sun 'shine was dancing , gleefully On'..thef stir. face of .tht. 16014 and:: the .11 , ..i#ers: ; were liftilig.f.her.dewy heads and : lilting ',the breakfast. roth with their fragrance. ..A : very, temp frig. repast stood . aWcaiting .. us on the table. and Jack's blue :eyes looked not amiss behind the coffee tir.'4,-,." . "Al:honkh . thl3 is quite pletiont, Jack,: you lock iilmost ..good enough to kiss, ity.dear,"ll remarked, .lis .1 t. 4 the cup he haniird 1 - :.: - me. , „, • 'Come,: 't a chat Is, .yottr: c i . ,:ffee sweet enough ?'' lie... - re:timed, '• aftYetiOnately twirling the, .ends. of his bloAdemous-: tache. • i - - r:-- i "0h,.-it's there, all: right,"•l-*.tid, allud-: ing to the handsome appendage ;. - .."1- didn't make any mistake. about that:". - Ile turned hiS laughing - eyi':s• on me' tor.llll instant, : and no - ;sooner, had they wandered to the. window again, than lie started tering.l4l . n: 3 tow-- 7 whew I - . I swot:Ai:l) too, following lii;s . eyea. in- IttiringiV,. find there over th - e„ - low,heclge . that, 'diy ideil the ' gardens,. - I eatigh t a:gh t of a 'yOunglgiri - in a-fresh morning. dress, engaged_mlentting- flowers, acid daintily. lirNtiging iihent-iu a :boquet.:,,What. we saw of her (face under. the :broad, rimmed,. hat that - shaded it-was Vright-aridibeituti -., "Good heavens -! ~-1111313. , - . ,E(.41- # ,". • - s aid Jack: - , -1 - : -.•-- --- . ,-..1 .7 .-- -.- . • ! "By ;.Jove !. Miss Hallam,'.' I • echoed. And:we both looked into,:each other's faces and. liiughed oughtright.. "What are you _laughing at ?'". asked Jack,: with -the utmost inconsistency, as he - stit•down , and resumed'his breakfast. ' - • °Jig what you, are laughing ar,"-I re-, turned.: 1 - I •'. , . . „- •LShe's not old or, ugiy,, : either,'! be ie . - marked afteir a pause., - . • "By Jove; she . isn't I" 1' answered as I glilpedr a- mouthful of my' highly-Sugared coffee.. .. 1 "Are: you "No.- Ark .:- "It doestil she is or la] . ' 'Aron =are [ very. sorry.?" e you glad . ?" 't matter a' rap , to me what ot „ 4.cynicul old baehelor, Fer- ,•• tow. gi g." 1 I mean - "I . iledine able." • • to return'-- -the .:compliment, ,'oti to keep it" ,i 1; with thanks, as not suit- "When I ,want to expatiate, on the charms of aloung lady, you,,get as sour ae vii etrar • now, you• know it's true • so :.at a word :gip reply, but hurry . tw, old boy—tempuS foga ; and. I.pulled - out my 'Watch. We were both in a hurry to-be Off to our sport, and so - on fill.; thoughts of•liiiss Hallam were, forgone: , in, the bustle of arranging; our shooting, gear. The wag onette was- hrought round- to the . door, and two very happy heart4hole bache - ; fors sprang lightly into, it; and were bow eled away. doWn the gravel path, through the gate and!out of .sight. We had a 'pretty good day's sport; on .the \ moors; and ieturned home in the best of humOr with ourselves and , tired, enough to enjOy . thOroughly an .after,din ner lounge in -our drawing-room,', which we had c,nverted pro _tern. into a smok ing room, anilorriamented in every avail able;place with meershaums, tobaccO, and , _ • cigar boxes. • . • • Upon thiepvening, Jack, who was a fair player on the -pianoforte,- was` per forming the "Blue Bells Scotland," withmuch elaborate flouring' and cross ing of hands', and I, of the audience, tas stretahed on three chairs at .the *inflow, lazily smoking my Cigar, in that sort of half dreatnyl comatose, state that one feels ,in the 1 -enjoyment of well earned rest. I cannot say that: W9B altogether in rapture. 'oVer the "Blue Bells, but perhaps they, helped to promote the pleasant tenor of my - thoughts as 'Jay _with my Pyeathalf. shut, letting the Smoke from.my ,wee curl affectionately' in the fol . & of aeon's lace curtaitts)- "Etow'-jolty l Farrars and I are togeth r er," chuckled 'to ; "this little trip of ; ours going - to;be;.sltogether• a success. Girls are -.well:enough to meet -7---r-7 „ • , "CeaSiOi.ahy, lit- u uore t l Now ; supt.ose I mist ad of Jack, sue ,wuttithi'Ll be C6llleoli 1111 r 'leis the house was with, visitors and - servanti, and—" [? . I;Just that interesting juncture of ruminations tie flonrishing; add dashing dt..the.piarihtstopped, • and pus: ently, the climes on'-which my legs`tested. w_rre pulled .from titider, me, and I was left ignominiously` sprawling on the ca* 1,0, With:Jack's face grinningdown in my' lane hi evident- "eiljoyment.'of my:dist:am fiture. • But the, fallidid not cause-Meto forget;the thread ,of )11y,meditationis, ant: us I gathered hp, niyt elegant limbs, I re-, marked - 1' ' r'• • u.l'dy . wife would' ant' - have done that, Jack.” "No ; she would hive. kissed the poor,. tired darling, and :thrown aishawl gently over hint; to . keep -him` frOm catching ,colcV said. Jack in itone of mock`it' happiness,"aflec- I re adjnsted the t ° ;r a' n l3' ;d e' u l r a e' u °- g f h i d 4 )lll .. esi 'a t s- I . re chair's: .."Hark`''. whatis that`-?" The stillness of tlie night outgidewas • broken by the same equisite music we had listened to on the previous evening. !In an - Instant our ban terWas huShed. It -was a gay lively air Nvi i tiCh I recrgniied las a' selection fr..m "St mien CS frolic," and the singer e4en. more at ' home in thiS stvle tlintr. in the pathetic. made Tr--f-vi us `joykos as a bird in spring, anti had . It , 1100 been ton . 'lazy, I would have daileed, in very extiber-• Ltince'of my spit its. • itJack; w must - g - ! • * t a ii_ininiduetion to 'that lip le girf,' . I 'crier;. ilerolving my' haft finished cigar out of window. - Bit , to my surprise;lil ink seemed in no ni4iod to talk, and kePt„ scaring out of the wind ,w, r:aking . noi-.itotioe of my re= mark. 'Feeling aggriO'ed at not being in. with the ii. 1)08itioll 1 mid' contetupt ex rected for proposing 4,itcli a„-thing, I went over\ and slightly:, ishOok him, at which . he ran his finzeis through _ids blonde curls, and looking ),up, with an ex pret.sion el innocent asked: •, 1 "What is it ?" • 1 ''Wouldn't you like an introduction to Miss Hallam ! "Why, yes ;of course Harding ; you needn't have shaken a fe- s llqW half out of his 'senses, to ask that silly.question," and Jack:readjusted his broad Shoulders and Irelapsed into-siience again. 1 1 4 . •' .1 tried - to talkof Miss Hallani,- literatuie, politics, but all to'i 'no purpose. He sat staring out of the : window; as if ; the seven wonders of the world were nisi ble op our path of moonlit lawn. •Itath er I left him stargazing and retired to bed, but as, I went, up stairs i must , own -to a little curiosity* as -to the , cause that had made ,my amiable and.' talkative friend suddenly so ;laconic and, disagreeable. • The- warm August days ripened into .mellow September. Since the night of Jack's ',revery, a change had .certainly come ovrr hint, but as yet he:left me un itiformed as to the caulk.. Sometimes his old - gayety would i-ettirn; 'but it was sure. to be followed ;by a . fit. of:more som bre silence than bef..re.. I chaffed '_bout, it often, but hie testy replies Myer iably'shut the•up.'