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I i -S.V iM f. 'X. *v. i A WOMAN'S LOVE | t)R, A BROTHER'S PROHISE .f ''. ♦â-  '.'liAi'l'lon VI.â€" Conllmied. "Ii. 1m iiotliing, it is rioUilng. Aiiy â-  Innii w'oirhniaVc ilono tile sama In my |)!acc. ' ' '•llul no i!i(iii lins. uiy friend." Silence fill uixm thorn. Hector's nalural di.stiihlc for priii.-if liiwl caus*- <id luni to avert lii.s e^cw from the Qucon while .she had liuon .spcuJiiiig; ^ut now, nilcr a little, ho ventured to look at her. The gaze of love is ' f:'anioralioL<s)vo. It takua in nlttj «n>J .ivvift jjlawc more U>au u fasti- dious nnthroponieti-isl luiifht cata- loKuo la n .year of labor, '["lie lovcra eye is like the loiis ot a camera. fc>- cua.sing on the scrimtive plalo of the memory, a now iiiiujje of the world's de.sire eacii lime it looka. It vyijs a Htuv ima£e of JUaddalciia tliat was at that moment recorded in Hactor's inaniory. alio waa standing. Her head, with ItH darli waves of liaii- falling Buioothiy over tlie low, broad brow, waa licld hi({li. witli a pride that waa not selfifih, a pride in tlio man tlio liad called her friend. Her cheeks were llualied with the same hoMcat admiration. Hor eyes shone with that unconscious light that makes a man, when first he sees it, liold his breatli with awe oiid fear â€" awe tliat so great delight is within hi; grai>j), fear that ho may be im- nginiiig only that he .sees it. He has but to si)enk ami tho light may wanishâ€" or it may giow and be a Jainp unto his feci for all the days â€" tho Gleam of IjOve's Holy Grail. Hector -saw tho light ami held his breath. Hut his heart sang, and his Mood beat in lii.s temples with Jo.\ous rhythm, and Hope whisiiored In Ills ear. IJcsidc tlio red rose in her hair she woro no oKioinment, save > UtUc c)r\icili.>c on her bosom, a si .toss will) a gold Christ. Tho fo. of her blaitk roliQ, fell in soft lines ii;,at •gavn tendorjiess to the grace iind hiajesty of her yet g'irlisli figure, tall and simple a.s a huuel wand Simplicity should clot-he a quoon r.s witli a garniont, and bo the only or- iiamoiit of her majosty. In Madldnl- ciia simplicity and quoeiUir.dSs were rarely met. From her hoaxl'a «Town to hur foot's solo sl>e was fair; a king's mate. hcrsoU a very queen. She took tho cross from hor breast together wit-u its hair-fine chain of gold, and holding it ^n her hand lookod long at it, her lips moving in l":rc heart prayer. Then she kiss- ed ihe -symbol, and lifting her head Ja.co<.l Hector witli Ironk eyes. "Of old," she said, "when knights went out. to war, they took with theni a talisman, a holy relic, or a love-lokcm, to come between them and j)eril or to be comfort at the end. This seems strange and out of placo in our nge " H«c'lor dissentocl. for he waa a devout Hoinan Catholic, aa were all tho umnibers of his branch of the CIhu (Irant. ' "But I had the thought of giving you this." she continued, "to bo a Hihieid or a comfort. Will you take It from mo ?" At»d sho held out tho ci'oss to him in her- open palm. "Madam," he aaid: as he took it from her luuid. "if it does not shipld luo from tlungorâ€" though I do not Beo whore danger lies â€" It shall be a comfort to nie, twlro over." After this thero was a littlo trtl- ence, awkwiu-d yet pleasurable. Mad- dHlona was the first to break it. 'Vou will not see Don Augustin liofore you leave. There is some private business of his own which Boeuis to ociMipy all 'his attention. He wept out of town to-<lay, and will not be back for three days yet " "1 did want to .sec him," .<»aid Hector. "to get fidl information from him on many points," "Yon will find all you can want in till' i.a[)er8 I have given you." Again tliere waa a littlo .slilence. Ho<-tor spo;<o fust this time. "Then, madam," he said, "since I have yet much to do, have I your pormis.sion to depart?" •She heWl out her hand silently, and as he gazed upon her ere ho stooped to kiss it, ho saw tliat in her eyes were tears. Yet when he raised his head again she waa iiniiliug. "I'arewell," he said. '"Ood keep your Majesty !" "[â- 'aiewcU," she said. "God go with you I" That night Hector .spent In waJdng dreums, but next day he was tlie man of action. Mtul.y afternoon found him in l,ivorpool at the olllcos of Ihe (Jrango King. He sent in his nuuio. "I am afraid you can't see Mr. Bmith just now." said the dork. "He has nn appointment with you for six o'clock on .board the Jebba, hasn't he, Mr^ Graut*" •Yos" ' Then 1 think I'd go on hoard •jkI make myself comfortjibln. if 1 wore \<)u. Mr. Smith will bo with you by six." .'^o Hector made his way to the duck.s. pro-sentod himxolf to tffiie cap- tain of tbfe Jobba, and vraa received as if ho were a. princ« Six o'clack camo, but brought no Mr Smith with It. tJiven come, aii'l^ Hoctor 'b«v«Ji tn (P'ow ansfous. Al h-,st, tit «â-  (IN . lo eight, a cab drove up to tlie gangwoy, and Thomas Smilih came on board. "i>vening, Ornnfe." "1 thought you- were never coming, sir." "Sorry I'm late. Whore's I'each- cy ?" "Ilore, sir," said the captain. "Iteady ?" > "Yes, fUT." "ITion you'd better clear. Ten minutes gained is ten minutes naved at tho other eivd." The captain walked away rapidly. "Well, Grant, are you hungry V" Hector stared. "Let's go and have .some dinner." The Orango K^ing lod the way to tho saloon, and Ifcctor followed in half-amused bewilderment. He ven- tured one or two remarks, but they were met with abstracted Mlence. Hector looked up from his soup to see through the portltoiea landing- .stago and warehouses and funnels and masts -slippiiig by witli ever- increaaing speed. "How ai'e you going to get back, sir ? Drop into n tug ?" ,,, ^ ' The Orange Kln,^ laughed j*'. i ' "No, no; I'm coiTiiiig witE you."' "To Palmetto?" "Vta *•" . : ., â-  •. , . -:. CnAl»TEU V3I. As night fell on the seventh day, the Isle of Palms roso from the sea- Three peaks, crowned with cloud. grow out of tho Atlantic and cast a triple shadow on the darkening wet- ter^ -The Jebba smote her way straight into tiio black j)ath. and two hours later the anchor plunged into the waters of I'alm Hay, Tliore were now a thousand stars In the deep blue sky; a ^thousand lights gleamed along the low. lino of tho shore; dim lanterns gUnunored from the sterns of swarming boats; thero was un intoxirntlng hiingle of boatmen's calls and splash of oars, light songs, and thrumming of giatar and- mandolin. Here seemed the gates of fairyland, opening upon tliD foam of perilous seas. The practical days of the voyage, when ways and means and myriad details were discus-sed and settled with tlio Orange King, vanished from Hector's memory â€" burned in tlie white flame of romance, as a hand- ful of worthless straw is consumed. The magic of the night and the dim land and tho water took him. A lovo song that was passionate yet melancholy, importunate yet fearful, half-Impersonal y*t wliolly haunting, siKUod his heart ,and held it still. The subtle sircll of -the land, so good to nostrils tl nt for days have known only the ; nit of the sea â€" something of the "el' :nal scents" â€" completed tlio subjugation begun b.y all the glamour of the hour and place. To crown surrender, camo to hlH mint! rcniembranco of Ma'ddalona, bidding lilm f|ire>vcll with tho bravo sinile that hid her tears. Not even the discoiiitoit of landing could break tho si^ell that bound him; nay, not ovea the terrors of tho caixa- tera. -\8 soon as their boat had touched the stops the hotel commissionaire, who had annexed the Orange King and Hector â€" their bodies, souls, and baggageâ€" -sprang an to the Mole and lanced the dark with a tiery cry of "CarruacliB I" Out of the gloom drifted a dusty vehicle, drawn by a dusty mule, and driven by a diisty demon, half I'almotto, half nogro, who wore a Fra Diavolo hat, a I-'ra Diavolo grin, and portentous Fra Diavolo iiavaja in his blood-red sa.sii. 'i'hoy took their dusty seats be- neath tho awning of the tartona, an<l began speedily to taste all tho un- (M-oved delights of the carratera. Two .solid miles of it did lliey en- dure, for Palm City lies away from tho port, snugly curled among min- iature hills, its blaze of electric light showing, a poised nebula, amid tho blue dark. Two solid miles of bump and thump and ilump; of unceasing switchback, of Jolt and jar and jig and jumble; of niundin balancing on one wheel and the other; of tarlanoro's cursing; of conmilssionulrc's admiration and sharp yelps of encouragement; of clutching hclplossne.'ia on the pari of Hector and tho Oran^jo King. On one side glimmered the white tops of Ihe breakers, on the other the yawn of the ditch made itself felt. 1'wo miles as the crow flii>a â€" four as the tnrtana thumps. Hut all things end, ovou the cturatora, and Hector laughed when, under the portico of tho hotel in tho s(|uara of San Uor- nardino, he saw the Orango King prod himself affectionately for brok- en bones. The night was sleepless. Dawn had scarcely get her first pink streamor floating in the sky ore Hector pushed aside hia mosquito curtains; and, with a last anathema on all tho bloo<laiickers of the night, passed through the open windows on to th« balcony. Tho Ht|uare was silont, save for a fow garrulous sparrows that squab- bled viciously in the roailwaj-. To the riflit roae ona of the Kttlo hills that ring Palmetto oQ tlic land side â€" roso .so dlose to tho ajiil of the miuareitjiat Hector almost felt Uiat be cQOld put oui hi* hati^ and pluck oil somo of the toy villas that dott- ed It up to the siuamit. "A back- cloth in a comic opora." he murmur- ed. Thore were hundreds of tiny dwellings, washed white and blue and yellow and green, vivid and fresh, and all so still; no sign of movomcnt or curl of hearth-smoke hinted at life; and betwc«.'n the patUius of flamboyant color the dead grey of the hill.S'ide lay under the dust of siin-BCorchcd centuries. No blade of grass, no leaf made plcfinant green. True, trees lined the square, but the burnt leaves were smothorod with cobwebs that sagged beneath their burden of grey dust. 'I'b the left the square oponotl into 'I'liana. the Piccndilly and Hond Street of I'ulmetlo, aiid beyond Triiuia shone the Atlantic eastward to Africa, a very perfect an<l un- broken blUQ. Liltlo by littlo as 'tlie \lay leaped higher, life bejjati to stir. Old wo- men in black maiitilliis, young wom- en in shawls of pale yellow and bril- liant ros<>-piiik, passed on their way to early muss, lingers busy vi;ith ro.surios. A country cart with stono from the quarries of Terrino rum- bled over the cobbles, tho driver standing precariously on the end of the long wooden brake. A goat- keeper walked drowsily along, fol- lowed by his little flock jangling their bolls. Wow and again he stopped by a door, and sealing him- self on the edge of Uie pavement (liow milk into the ran ct a waiting housewife. I'anniered mulos and a-sses paced slowly with their loads towards the municipal dust-heaps- A tertanero watered his jade f^t the public trough, and a string of horses clattered by for a dip in the bay. Softly, mellowed by distance, came the long notes of a bugle blown at the Hispaniolan camp, u mile to the southward of the cit.v. Ten thou- sand Hisjjaniolan troops lay there â€" infantry, cavalrv, and artillery. The long call roused Hector from the reverie into which he had fallon- He sighed and re-entered his bedroom for a cigarette. He had not struck the match when a tap sounded on tho door. It was a waiter, alreadv shaven and sleek, yet witli something of that unkempt bandit look about him tluit all I'almettos jiossess, though they be the most iiacKic of men. model hu.sliands, and fathers of families. "Will the senor have colTee ?" "No, got me some grapes and a couple of bananas, and I will have a glass of that wine I had last night â€"what do you call It ?â€" .ice " ".Soco genorosa *?" "That's it." "Then will you have the Knglish breakfast at nine, or the Polmetto br.eakfast at eleven •.''â-  Hector laughed to himself. Eng- lish breakfast ? Not surely; bacon and eggs the eternal he had left be- hind. "Palmetto breakfast, please." When the waiter returned with the fruit and wine he brought also a yellow police form for Hector to fill up with his full name, age, profes- sion, etc. Hector wrote in the par- ticulars the waiter looked attentive- ly at him, seeming to examine his every feature with devouring inter- est. At last the man could contain his curiosity no longer. He stepped be- hind Hector and looked over his shoulder. lOvldently ho saw some- thing which -satislied him. for step- ping back a pace or two he drew from his faja a cross-hilt dagger, having the letter II embossed nt tho junction of blade and heft. This ho slipped under Hector's arm. and laid on the sheet of yellow paper. Hector, catching the gleam of steel had tho momentary impulse to start up and tUitih tlic fellow by the throat, but ere he movetl he saw tho silver R- He sat still, and spoke without turning his head. "Give mo the word," he said. "For Palmetto, freedom !" answer- ed the man. 'Freedom is but half," said Hec- tor. "Freedom and Maddalena is all !" was the reply. "Her Majesty tjuoen Maddalcnn," said Hector. "Whom God preserve !" came tho whispered an;?wer. Hector still went on writing. "How did you know me?" he ask- ed. "Word waa given to us that my lord was coming. "Well ?" "Wo have seen my lord's picture." How could that be, since Hector had not been photogrnpged for ten years, and then in a group of Mag- istrands in Aberdeen ? Hut doiibt- le.ss. llravo had had him snapshott- ed. Hector smiled. Ho did not loarn until later of the portrait of the Palmetto preux chevalier, Itald- assare do la Liiz, whose memory is vencn-ated in the Isle of Palms, as is that of Wallace or Hrure in Scot- land, of Arthur the King in Kngland of Bayard in France. So ho passed by the question of his picture. '"What is your rank ? ' said Hec- tor. "I am a sergeant in E company of tho second regimoiit, my lord." "Your colonel's nRm"! ?" "Don Miguel Ortona y Cajal, my lord." "Who resides " "On Uia estates near Toldo. my lord." "You muit,t not cell me 'ray lord.' "As my lord plpin.>»«9â€" senor." Hector flntahed writing. He turn- ed and hajided the paper to the de- ferential waiter, .who receivcfl >t as if it had been a royal decree. ".\ro there any more of the fafHi- ful in tlkia house 7" "Wo are twenty-live here, .s«nor. otid of these dglitee.i long tor the day of freedom." "Good t Your name '}" "•Juan Gastuldi. uiy â€" Bonor.'.' ' "Very well. Tliut will do now." (To be Continued.) NEW SOUfiCES OV EUBBEE. Boots of & Plant Found on the African Plains. A French botanist. In the course of his oxplorationa, says tho Scientific .American, a few weeks ago. in the sandy plains of tho f'roncU Congo. dl'Jcovoied a plant the bark of which contained a large (|Mantity of fibrous rubber. .\t the time scarcely any attontion waa paid to the discovery, but owing lo the scarcity of rublier and its higli coiiunercial value, whiih is in reality so prohibitive as to pre- vent a very wide cmplo,^Tnent of the aubstanre,' attempts are being motie in lOngland to turn this new dis- covery to commercial usb. 'Hie plant also thrives profusely in N'ortlerii Nigeria, ond it is these forcs.ls which are lo be exploited. \ sample of tho plant has boon anal- yzed by tho l)Otattlcal authorities of Kow Gardens, London, and tlieso in- vestigations show that the rubber o-xisls in the roots in sufRciontly large (|Uantitios to warrant do^'clop- mont. The name of tho plant is I,ondoIf>hia thrallonii. It is to be found in many places on the west coast of Africa. One firm which is alreaJdy cngagod in the maaiifatture of this rubber is placing it upon the market at "r> cents a pound, and it is in every respect equal to tho or- dinary rubber. ; • India rubber has become such an itidispensable ni.iterial in the aits and sciences that users will be gltul to learn that a fresh source of -sup- ply is said to have been • found in tins white mangrove tree, which grows plentifully in tho sw.impj- lands along the coast of Central Quroiisland. Tlio sap is obtained b.y making incisions in the bark of the tree and allowing it to run into tins. .Some samples of the rubber thus oIj- taincd are said to have brought SI a pound in Englaml. An i<len of the importance of tho rubber trade may be learned from the statement that the ITnited States and England alone absorb over fifty million pounds an- nuaUv. 4> BREATHING AND COURAGE. Get More Oxygen Into Your I.ungs. Tl'.n importance of learning breathe properly lias often been to MEN SELL_TFE1R VALUB OF HETTEE. hJ £NGLANj2. Cases in Police Courts Practise r.o bo Qu Common. Readers of Wr. Hardy' Ixrtn remindi'd of tho oi>oi ters of "i'he liuiyor of Ca«f by the case at Marlborou| Poboe Court the other day was shown that the defeml got ri.i of his wife by sollil a, couple of uhillincs. h'ov " for tliis commercial form some jo'iriialist-5 havj .searj r^ccrd.s of a century ago,| diiced numi-rous instances \ being led to the cattle there knocked down to tl biddiM", anys the London GlJ Uut it is not neces-sary t| anythinj? like lui) years sabs of v/ive-i- Thore arel modern in.starice.s to iiiainf ar.a rtion that wife selling Hriti-sh custom- There arc| of people who still believe transfer a wife to anothel a cash pa,vmont is a I<?gal [ tiou and a valid dis.solutionl menial ties. As a popurar[ ranks with the idea that or wife be absent and unhecj seven years the other is free again. AN ESTABLISni^D CUJ In Yorkahiro generally. Sheffield in particular, this I of wife selling is still so fir| tabljshed and frequently that it has little loss than of a local law. I_e,j;oiids of Shetfield grindl ill drunlon bouts sell theirl for a qu.jrt of ale are well IJut now-a-days such transac no longer coiiduct'^d olT-hatu are invested with formality, Kcss this document which li ,1 case at the SheiReld t'ouii! ia 1887: "At the Royal Oak. ; 1, Abraham lioothroyd, a!jrei uiy wife Clara to Willia.m I the sum of ."> shillings." At Leeds A.ssiz.?3 in 189.">. I Giblions was tried for bigaiu. adn.iitted that ho had marrii' man while his first wife Wi but he pleaded that us ho I her lie waa entitled to marr^ She was a yoiiug woman and even though he constantly gi good hidings, she troubled h in- tiring of lier. he sold hor tc sisted on by medical men. who teU;dier for 3s. Gd. She went qu us that we shall be healthier if we I ingl.v. and hud married hi habitually take deep breaths and thus chasei-. completely (ill our lungs; but deepi a NOMIXAL YALIJF/ bre.itliing is now put forward as a , , ... courage-iwlver. |./" '='"'1 'â- â- '''"' '' ^'' ^"^ "«,V^ When the prospect looks rather ^'"^ I-u'cW ^uoney is smalL black, and there is an insidious sug-'"Ot due to low valuation ot gestion somewhere within yo.i that '^'•'"- }'"^ ^, "0'"inal sum is the best thing vou can do is to gOi^t'O" ^^, "'«-'« the bargain a^ to tlH- A.ntipodes and make a fresh'"'"-'' ^^"^ '''S'^' doctrine of "v slart: when you have an attack of the blues, and droad to open your -. coived" is so far understood vulgar mind. The .sale, indeed morning 'letters lest one shall" con- 1;°.°'- "'«"« ^i^ojco. His hor tain information thi.t will upset some' t'"^ "'^^^ ,'â- . I** *''"."''; "^y '"•" .'"'^ better go into the open, or approach: an open window, stand with your' arms akimbo (in order to givo yourj of the children of the marriai big maintenance of them. In a caae at 'Doucaster in li purchas-r, instead of payin chest full playV and take acepl'^Sf'Td to take over the vondoi breaths chilarcn with the wife. This i l?roatl«- through the nose and ex- '^°f. """'"' f''*^''l f'K"'->'il later halo through the mouth slowly. Uo I?"'''^'' ^""'t- ' ,^'^'', '-""'sboro, this .-.cveral times, inhaling till yam- ^- .„^^^^'^; 'â- â€¢'"^'•''' 'â- i^'ids. i lungs will not hold more; every time "''"'"S to take your wife .and vou do it, vou will find that vou can !,» '"'"'; ''"^^ '^ Z''^'' ^"'i'e take in a little more than vou did I «• J^ • """l .'^'^'•'i''' J° '"• IJo"'' last time. Go back lo your '("tters f'r'"^' ., '"Sned, Ellen Tart, again, and vou will be inclined lo ' ^' laugh at your fears. Do this as a! COMMt>N PRACTICE regular thing, and fear will not trou-| Though Lancashire is so k blc you. lY'orkshire no salo of wives e.re In verification of this statement. | in the county Palatine. Uut ii everyone knows how a walk in the ton. in Derbyshire, a collier s open will "put life into you" on a wife for foiirpence in 1382. I; fresh morning; it is because more there was a remarkable case oxygen gets into the lungs. If you per; the wife of an abscotidini practise deep breathing, you get more tor had a baiter placed abi oxygen as a regular thing, and your neck and was lod into tho courage does not play tricks with place on .Saturday afternoon you. ferod for sale by auction as o her husband's assets. But thci no bidders .-.lud no sale. About four years ago Irth "" ough, near Northampton, sup] HOW NATIONS .SLKEP. Considering that wo all sjiend an average oni-third of our whole southern instance A she lives in bed. it is not wonderful that ,,„,.tid,,j n„. streets with a be a good deal of care, oxpon.se, and j,,^ „,,„„ ^i, persons to know trouble is expended on our sloei>iiig |,p |,^<| tluu afternoon "soUl : places. In Great Uritnin the mi- ,,„pathed" his wife to .John - healthy feather bed is being driven proclaimed the names of two out by the healthier mattress, [•rench pinions as witnesses to tho t beds are noted for thoir hardness, an* Uoh. The purchase money w German bod.o are -s<. ridiciilousiy --jiion shillings. Haring Gould cit that foreign visitors arc often much^iiar sales in the West couutr loo big for them- M.any Norwegian; t„ ^^ back more than thirty beds are made to pull out from r,-\v„ul,! mean the oYtenaion of t! ce-ssi-s- The hammock rules in .South ipft to intolerable lenijth for and Central America. The Indians of ^,„.y ^^„ „(,.,. .selling was aluio Guinea plait most beautiful bam- nmj, mocka out of gra-ss, which they dvej .,.,,„^ j^ ^^ practiced as f.v, prettily- Japanese lie upon matting ^^ it is will come as a .*.rpri laid out on the f^oor with a 8tiir,:,„„^t rov^iU-vn. In addition t< uncomfortable wooden hcad-ivst- It northern Instances would take an Englishman .vears to get accuatomcd t<.> such a bed of torture- Tho Chinosa use low bed- steads, often elaborately carved- But their only mattress and coverleta are made of matting. In winter they put on heavy clothes w.added with cotton, in which they sleep. Of all ix>ople. the easiest to suit in the way of Bleeping quarters are negroes. Anl'^ho has just brtmghl a buck African negro, Hko a wild animal,; the parlor wheri> .she is sit niuiiy a sold to-day in the east end o don. but of all such cases o country only a few are reveal public knowledge. Aunt Clara (to her young i c*n curl up aoywboi'c. Cashleighâ€" "A dog )a a man's l>egt friend, because ho never forsakes him." HardtlpiK*â€" "That's right. A wan on n not btirrow money from a dog." â- (5ood gracious, Toniniy, whi you doing with that hiickef It down to the kitehen fit Toniiuyâ€" "1 want yo'j to k Aunt tiara: 'cuuac I hoard P«l iiig when you kick the Uuckct got J.T.OOO."