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V 4 V â- * 5 ;5 T < â- â€¢*- OR, A BROTHER'S PROHISE CHAPTKH XIII. >jt,h 'vliat boiserly vohomcnce IToc- tor si)rai!2 into tlie wo.ltcr of car- nugo. Iiow iio .'lakod his thirsty |iwot>(/. (now .sliortpued, now darting like- a lObiii), how uiiiu.y wunt down before his ousel â€" the fi'ltiiiR' forth hero of tliese things W(ndd tLMve no C'ssenliiil jjiii-poFc. Jt is enougli to sny that his soul was e'la<l witliin Iiim when he loolced and saw the last of the llis|ianiolans slink behind the city walls, leaving that on the road tliey cared not to think on. Tie foilnrn liope of Pal- metto had trodden the wine-press : the vintage of victory was tl^eirs : yet, truly, a price had been paid. The prite was the heavier when Hector stumbled, an aimle?s bullet kindling hell in his right shoulder. As he fell he lauglied, lialf in iron- ical amuscinont lliat he- was struck so late in the day, when the light was won, half in happy wonder at hi.s so good fortune. Good foi tune he counted it to shed blood for Mad- (lalena's sake, and best of all for- tunes to die for her. Nay, since there could bo no gleam of hope that he might ever have the hand who ah"eady held the heartâ€" what fortune was there to seek but thi.s l«£t best of death, or if not seek nt least lake with welcome (jf open lirnis and laughter at the core ? IJut yet â€" the work to be done. Even as ho laughed his eyes closed to the whirl about him, and when hrt awoke it was to feel a lean Mep- histopheles of a surgeon stirring up the furnace in his wound with a porceluiu-tipped probe. The torture of digging out the bit of lead he bore with the suii'e that lighted his lips when he fell, and grimly silent took the surgeon's coniplinicni.s on his f.irtitude. His lirst spoken word was .'\lasdair tlic faithful, who in obedience to the word gathered in the genertils to council. They bustled to the call with o'Tervesccnce of sympathy, but Hector's left hand waved thanks and a desire for peace, and they Etilled to hear. "Don Miguel." , The old man Ciune to the front. "Scnor tlrant !" "Shall we rcsiuMC oui' â€" conversa- tion ?" "As you please, senor." "Ti.cn we shall. This morning, the hour of battle tiroke iu on our talk, just as 1 had demanded from you a retractation of certain light remarks you had made about her Majesty "1 shall be honored to receive them. My genera li.-simo will ox- plain. Adios ! " The au;aze(l liravo whcehfil <iii the generals ;iS Hon Miguel swung Iiaugli- tily to his quarterK "Arest !" he cried. ".\ricst," reiterated llamiros. "Scnor (Irant, perbaps you will make matteis clear to Uon .Augus- tJn." "A word (Ices it," said Hector calmly. "In the hearing of these gentjemcn and myself, Don Miguel uttered rtmiarks reflecting on the honor of her Majesty. I demanded a withdravvi-1. Hi; refused to budge. Instead, therefore, of handing over my duties to Don Miguel, I resigned them in favor of General Raniiros. (leneral Kamiros has placed him un- der arrest. That is all." "That is all I" (lamed Don Angus- tin, "that is all ! "Wliat did he say? Her Afajesty's honor ! What did he say ?" "Gentlemen," broke in HaJniros, "it is better that Don Augustin should hear the story from Senor Ornnt. Our presence may be a bar to freedom of speech. We will witli- flraw. Come." "You \vi 1 stay," shouted Bravo. "As generalissimo," said Kamiros quietly, "I take orders from her Majesty, and from hei- Majesty only. Come, gentlemen." Hector and Bravo wore alone, not unnatural tumult storming in the breast of each. To Hector had come the most dif- ficult mojiient of his life â€" far more trying than the bw-ning second when jthe bonds of restraint fell from him Hike smouldei'iiig flax, and Maddalena iiQ ] was at lus heart ore he knew â€" for he I felt that he must confess to this [ man the full tale of the pa.st twenty- foiu' hours, and in some wa.v offer I justification or palliation, "i'et why Itritl'.er justilication or palliation? he 'thought. AVhy does a man think it necessary to seek excuses for loving a wom.an, since the facts that she is she and' he is he are inevitable, insur- mountable, and loving' is the most constantly natural of u.11 phenomena'.' The siui may sink for ever, the moon pale to wan death, the stars beconjo black pebbles, the tides dry tip and the wind call no more, man and woman grow blind, deaf, dumb stund)lers in the void dark, yet in the palpable night a hand shall grope and find its mate, and Love triumph by sheer persistence of vit- ality ivgainst the thousand Torque- Queen Maddalena. J ask vou again i ""\'''-« "* ^'^^'^^ '^o t'>o"eht Hector " and to withdraw those remarks." Don MJguel looked stubborn. "Otherwise, as I said before, I must give you the lie. The matter is urgent. I am, as you see, incap- acitated from performing active duty, and according to usage 1 must delegate my poweis to the senior general, but I cannot, 1 must not. 1 shall not, hand over my connnand to one who lacl<s lo.valty towards her Majesty, iu (jutward bea.ring or speech, in thought or spirit." "Siuely, Don Miguel's vigor in the Cght of to-day " began Tornielli. "is guarantee of his loyaJl.v '.' It was an expression, not a guarantee. 1 must have a. complete withdrawal of all that Don Miguel uttered in my hearing this moiidng. Come sir, your answer." "1 withdraw â€" as regards yourself, Senor_ Grant." "1 did not ORk for that : 1 do not ask for it. My demand concerns " "I do not withdraw, and 1 shall not withdraw one word of what 1 Baid concerning her Majesty. 1 have the use of my e.ycs, sir." "Then, gentlemen," said Hector, white to the lips, "1 call .vou to witless that 1 gi\e Don Miguel the lie. .'\s soon as 1 am recovered from my wound I shall place myself at his disposal. Jf he insists on im- mediate reparation, 1 shall strive to meet him. Tu the meantime 1 le- tign connnanl in favor of General Kamiro.M. Your discretion will tell you. Scnoi' Uaniiros, how to deal «ith Don Miguel. Your servant, aeneialissimo," and with bin left l)nn<l Hector saluteil as he lay. "I demand an audience of her Majest.v," cried Don iUiguel. "I shall not submit to be superseded In this high-honded fashion. 1 shall " .\ look from l-lc-^tor stiffened Iho DOW Renernlis'inio. We advanced to- n'ards Pon Miguel. "Con-itler your.'elt under artost. General. Your sword, sir. And â- ow bo good enough to retire to your tent, tuid remain there until 1 •hall ac(|uaint .vou with the course of action to be pur.sucd." Tiio.v made a Inne for him. At the tent door he faced Don 'Augustin enteiing. "Well nci, Don Miguel. Her Majesty has heard of your enthus- iasm to-day. .Mas ! that it was not more pi-oduclivij of success. Rut her Majesty honors the will as much *H the deed, ant' j-'^o bade me csnvsy ler thiudis to you anil press your hniid fwi ler." From tb* very stunmit of his in- jured dignity Don Miguel looked dow n on the dwarfed chamberlain. "Your raT-dk)n. Don Augustin. 1 â- lay not accept her Majesty's thanks led against it ;-^et. When I am relen.s<Hj from I donâ€" tha( very the thought braced him to look at Bravo with lioncst eyes â€" the whole story of his love showing in them. Stij], somewhere at the back of his brain, lurked the impression that Bravo might hold him culpable, as one might hold a thief whose rough linge;s had the intent to touch a treasure, even if they had not actual- ly dosed on it. To Uravo the moinont was all Pain. He loved Maddiilona as the apple of his eye. He loved Hector just ao much. The dilTerenco in af- fection lay not in degree, but ' in kind. Maddalena was the daughter and the tjueen; Hector the son. Bis heart spoke for them, his memoiy, his own empty life â€" and yet, theie was Palmetto and the ulJiniate hap- piness of thousands, tlic stilling of iivalries and the gathe; ing into the broad bo::-om of freedom a whole weary people. He gazed long after the retreating generals, his thoughts bus,y OS bees, hovering desirous about the sweet blossoms of rom- ance, but ever and again i-etuining to the white hoiicyless flowerage of duty ' and so, resolute with tV.o ten- derness of full knowledge, ho came to where Hector lay and took hiiu by the free hand. "Hector," he said, usir.g the namo for the (irst time, "1 know allâ€" l.ho Queen has told me all," "Ml V" "Eveiytl.ing." ".My love V" "Yes." "Her love â- .•" "Yes." "And last nigfht V" "1 .said 'every tliiui "And youâ€" you "Well, what of mo ? Tl'.e old man tent for a few Mxin attempt to aroused by the n^.' 'Yon concicmn us â€" you grudge us ' audience of Mentor some, of a gallant nature â€" the Uind of man that takes a young maiden's heart ere it knows. She knew nothing of men : she had .seei\ only old fellows like myself whom 1 had engaged to be her tutors. "yes, I nuide some allowance for the con- jtingcncy. 'Wheti the occiu^ion ;u"ises. .said 1, '1 shall deal with it : the man must be removedâ€" -he shall be removed.' Then .^ou came. Karly and early I thouglit I saw this fore- shadowed. 'We will wail,' said I, 'he is the man for the work : when it jS liono ho shall go.' A'ul I would have kept to my inte.it, but I have grown to knov.- \ou â€" nay, more, my son, 1 h.ave tome to love .you !" "Don Augustin \ " "1 know that yuu are big enough of soul to go of youi'self when the Work is done. You will return to your world in the whirl of London : you will not forget â€" no, no : you are strong enough to live on the memory of your great hour, when you loved ami were loved b.v a (|ueen. From your distance you will look across to Palmetto and see her live for her people, a finer queen because she drank the cup with you : a finer queen, a stronger woman, lie-aiise whatever she has given you you have returned threefil.l. "If it were possible ! These old e.yes would desire to .see nothing hap- pier â€" if only it were possible; but it is not, it is not '' He took Hector's free hand and pressed it with a sympathy and ten- derness one did not Inok for fromi the grizzled chandierluin. "Y"ou wonder, pci-haps, how it is that 1 am not full of blame for you, loud with upbraidings, hot with auger. Listen â€" in n. woid 1 tell you the seci-et of m.v life, the reiLSon why 1 am lonely in my old age, wifeless and childless. Maddalena is a'l the world to you : her mother, a fairer Maddlcna, was all the world to me â€" her memory keeps me living now for tlio daughter. How can I reproach, when I myself dtu-ed to lift my eyes so high ?" rose and paced the moments in almost mu-ster the emotion unbosoming of a secret fivt>-and-twenty years old. But after a little he grew calm, help- ed more than he knew by the silence which Hector preserved as more fitt- ing than any speech. "Now," ho said, "you nuist. make me a promise." "I know what ^ ou would ask," said Hector. "Wclj-?" "That as soon as this affair is fin- shall depart '.'" too heavy a demand '/" m.v own proposal." it is set tiedi'.'" surelyâ€" surely. " "I expected no other answer." "There could be no other " "Ah ! Hector, my son, how my heart bleeds for hei- â€" far more than for you, for you will go hack to your work with a rich remembrance while she must sacrifice hotsell for her coiintry â€" must miur,y " "Let us not talk of the future, Don Augustin," said Hector ; the vision was too piiinful not to be thrust aside. "Let us rather sjieak of the present, wheie there is so much to do. And first, about Don Miguel. That matter must be settled sjieod- ily." "It must be settled this night." "But .suiely we must take time to consult her Majesty." "Her Majesty must not know of it." "(!od knows I would spare her this but it concerns her so closel.v." "No, no," said Don Augustin, w^ith .some slight return of his old imi)er- iousness. "Tell me all the circum- stances, and let me judge lirst." Tic telling did not take long. "And now." said Bravo, "go back and let me have a ftill accoiuit of your sojourn at Friganeta. It may supply the .spring that moves Don Miguel." Hector had no groat liking for the task, but he thought it best to give the whole story of Asunta's desper- ate proffer of her love, because he felt that the usually eas.v-going Don AUgucl was but the merest pujipct in hi.s daughter's revengeful Inintls. "Ah!" cried Bravo, when the truth Hashed on him, "she is the viper we biivo nursed in our bosom;;. Yes, the Queen must know : wo men a. e powei le.ss to deal with a. woman: only a good woman can oppose and o\e:'come this devil. J. must back to Caldera at once." But Don Augustin was saved his journc.y. 'J'here was some clamor out.Mt.'e the tent and the voite of a woman was heard, and inuiiciiatcl.v ' t';ereaftcr eiUeied Ahi.vdair to an- nounce that' Dona Asuhta dvn5;,ndiMl steps to avert even though I ished. I "Is it "It is "Then "Oh 1 our hourâ€" knowing how iiupo.ssiblo it all is?" "Neither condemn uor grudge. Take your hour, both of you. Y'ou will lind it all too .short: \vet in the years to come you will have something to remember, something to make the dtdl days easier." "Are you not to blame me 7" "Why ? "Â¥00 cannot help loving her. She is the Queen." "Yes, yes." "She loves .vou. Again I say, she is the Queen." There was silence (or a few mom- ents "She told .vou ?" " "M.v heart is running over,' anid she. â- ! must speak, 1 mu.st tell my best f I lend the new secret of my life. Hector," she said, "Hector" â€" and the ne.xt instant she wna sobbing on my old .shoulder. I moro than half fear- ed this : 1 hoped agflin.it it, 1 |>»ay- .iuaog rgo. In Lon- Jirst niKitl when you Mfest ' •Atwai r I came to the |l feared it. paluee iu B!«omsh"ry- Vou were young, hund- liector looked to Don Augustin in some di.MUa.v. onl.v to see deep trou- ble in the old lUHn's e.ves. lOach waited fi>i' each to spenk : the silence was elo(|uent of perturluiticn;. lOre they had founil woi^s. or even thoughts to e.\j)ress in words, Asvm- ta fo:C8d her way past Ala.silair, and aUhough somewhat disconcerted nt the presence of Bravo, began to pour out invective and wild imgre- cation ".\hi.! .vou ahnll Jia.y dearly for 1hi.-i, Senor Hon Generulis«imo Grant from Nowhere ! Not content with insulting; the daughter, you insult the father â€" .vou, .scum of an adven- turer I You "" â- 'Dona .Asunta !"" thimdcred Bravo. "â- |*ra.v remember who you arc ! Do not make mo forget that you arc a woman. Do not force me to have .vou removed ! Do not make wc lower Wie iUenl 1 have formed of Palmetto womanheod."' "What care 1 lor your idenJs, blind dotard ! It*>-ou cannot !»ee the pwil that threatens ralniotto. and take father aille !" lay. Kvon claim 1 Ciiiiâ€" and I will â€" to prison with my at tlie oi:der of this â€" can- pointing to Hector wliere he if her words did not pro- ber acce.ss of madners, her looks left no room for doubt. Her e.ves glared with fury, now flaming into lire, and anon steeling into a cold vindictivenc^s that was still more appalling. Her features were divtortiHl with bitterness, and tlu- inus;les of her face and neck and temples billowed with the uiuiirbed tides of passion. She moved within a small .space, taking but a step this wa.v, a step that, and never re- maining still for <a single s(>conii ; a wild beast caged, seeking for a. weak bar to be out at her deadly work. Hoctoi' an<l Bravo, in spite of their natural distiuiet, wore more than half fa-scinated by her i)y1hoiioss fury: but Alasdair, whom none re- garded, stood alert by the door, readj' to spring upon her should her madness break the last barrier of restraint. "It is unlike a lady of Palmetto to hold such language,"' said Dun Au- gustin, "and it ill becomes the dignit.y of an Ortona to sjjeaR thus of a wounded man to his face." "Lady !" she sneered. "I am no lady. I have shed all that tinsel. 3 am a woman, and I denmnd justice â€" btit where to look for it ? To whom shall I appeal ? To the Queen his mistress '?'" "Madame !" "Shall I repent it? shall I repent it ?" "This is treason the cruellesi, !" cried Bravo. "O ! 1 have the courage to say it again ! My father had the courage to say it. and you send him to prison. I am ready to go thei-e, too. Wh.v don't you send for .your gaol- ers ? Have you no fetters for me ?" Her voice rote into a scream. "Dona Asunta !" pleaded Don Au- gustin, taking another course, "Dona Asunta, would you have the whole cam|) hear you ?" "Ajid why not ? Let everybody knowâ€" let all Palmetto knowâ€" that ono of Palmetto's daughters was in- sulted by this smootii villain, who casts her off when he finds higher prey willing and road.y to drop into Ijls mouth. Lot all Palmetto know it â€" then I uut.y got justice." "Justice, Dona Asunta!" At the sweet sound of that low voice a thrill of surju-ised horror ran thiough Hector and Bravo, for it was the Queen who spoke; A.sunta hor.self was struck out of madness for a monjent. Bravo turned to the voice with unutterable sorrow in his eyes â€" how he wovild h.ivo given all his remaining da.vs to have spar- ed her the scene that was now in- evitable. And Hector â€" torn between the healing happiness of the sight of her, of the sound of her voice, and terror that she should be drawn into this sorbid brawl â€" Hector for a moment covered his eyes with his hand. "I waited (or .vou, Don .\ugustin," said Maddalena aside in a low tone, "until I could cnduie it no longer. I sent you to bring me news of â€" of my wounded gem^ral. 1 regret that 1 troid^led you with m.v orders : I shall not err again, sir." "O ! niadame, you are unjust!" But she had turned from hiiu. "Y'ou spoke of justice, I'ona A.s- unla. I am here." But tin; flame had gojie down to a sullen .smolder. She hold her peace. "Is it a wrong yoiu' Queen camiot set right '.'" Again no answer. "Come, Dona Asunta, what is the injuslice'.' Who has wronged jou?" The di'ect question was oil to the fire. Like a lightning flosii, the an- swer leaped hot with hale and the hiss of malevolence. "You." "1 ? I, the Queen, \\r(u:g you !" "You. not the Queen â€" you, his lover !" CPo bo continued.) JAPANHSE COURAGIO. The little men of Japan who have dared to face the Uussian boar can give the world many thrilling stories of courage, and many of clever stia- tagem as well. (Ino of the jiowerful noble.s of the olden time was forced to flee from his c;nem.y in haste. He hid in s\ barrel and was borne awa.v b.v servant H. who. meeting the eiuun.v. declared that the b.Tiicl contained food. "If lliere is anything living in it th(>re will bo blood on m.v sword, " said the nobleman's onein.v, and thrust his weapon into the bariv.l. It went through the hidden nvut's legs and made a terrible wound. But he. witli quick tluuniit. wijied the Idndi^ on the hem of bis garment as it Wall dinAvu oui , so that it went out clean and he was not discovei-ed. *â- ' UNDERGROUND LONDON. How Five Hundred Miles of Sew- ex-s Are Managed. The average Londoner is possibly unaware that nearly i'SttO miles ol sewers are situated bi'iieath his fowt and this incliKles oid.v the large sew- ers, several of them so large that • number of boats could float down them ab.rea.'!t, says Tit-Bits. Aad .some idea of the onormQUS cost ol draining London may be gathered from the fact that the drainage works and nuichincry alone co.st §40.- 000,001) stculing. The three main scwer.s in the Mot- ro|)olis run from I'leet Street to Hanipstead, from Blackfriars to Ab- bey ]\Iills. and fioni Harrow to Old I'"ord. Connected with these are a nrultitiule of smaller sewers meiujur- ing about 12 fc'ot. in diameter, which make London one of the best-dfainod cities in the world. A thousand men are omplo.yed all the .vear round, not even excejiting .Sundays, in keeping London proper- l.v drained, and the stujiendou.s total of 1.000,000,000 tons of sewage ia chemically treated everv twelve months and taken away in sludge ve-ssils to the North Sea. It might be suppo.sed that the occupation ia an mdiealthy one for the men engag- ed, b\it this is not so, as the .sewage is treateil with protophosi)hate or iron and lime water, which clarifies it as it passes to the great reservoira ready to be taken away. During a wet summer the pumping macliinery which draws away the rain water might be expected to be very heavily taxed, and the .sewers also; but beside there being a number ol storm chaiuiels which arc only utilis- ed when the volume el water in th« nmiii sewers is abnurinal. the pumj)- ing machinerv at Ahhe.v I\lills alone is capable of iitting ISo.tJOO.OOO gal- lons of water to a height of <10 feet every day, which in other words, im- plies that London could never be de- stroyed by floods. At Barking, where the sludge ia dealt with, there are fourteen sewers measuring ;!0 feet across; that is to sa.v, any one of them would be wide enough for a small tug-boat to pass down. Here the sludge, after beinjj chemically treated, has to go through enormous iron cages, resembling gi- gantic coliinder.s. which keep back so- lid objects, such as pieces of wood, old boots, and so forth, whilst not inCrequently valuable articles of ji-w- eller.y are fouiul wedged between th« bars of a cage. The vessels used to convey th( sludge to the North Sea are not hs any means the hulks cue might ox. poet to Ihid engaged in the work They are luxuriously litted with eos.i apartments for the men and li.ehtet throughout b.v elcctricit.v. :l'";icl barge cari-ies 1,000 tons of sludge, and when fifty miles from thi; coa.st the cargo is distributi-d o\ er an aivn of several miles. Cojjnected with the sewer under Lud,gate Hill is the. old Koman sub- terranean bath, which is the oldest structure in f-.ondon, and must havn been in existence long before a sln.ulo brick of the pi-esent Cily was laid. At one time it wa.H apiiroacbod b.M a subway, but this has long sine* di.sapjjoared, though the Imll-.. whirl measures some It feet to 10 fet. across still remains. lOig. THE .S.AMIO COLOH. .Sceni; â€" A railwa.v carriage, lishman (luldressing Yankee in ojj posite corner) â€" "Kxcuso me, this ii not a smoking cnrriaee." No rei)Iy. Pive mimites Inter (more brus(|uely; â€""I must reall.v trouble you to put out that cigar," .Still no reply. One minute later. "Hang it, sir. it you don't j)ut that cig.u- out I'l; h.ave .vou removed." Still suj)ci'h imHn'erencu on pnrt ol Yankee. 'I'riiin stois. lOuglislunnj calls guard and rociuests removal ol Yankee. The latter breaks in, cooly; "(itiard, exajiiine that nuui's tii:k' otâ€" it's t hird-dasB." Guard does so, I'nds the statetneni corrocT., and nii'.ri,hos the Knglislunai out, to the great astonishment ol the other occupanis of the carriagi-. After the train had again .starlec another occupant, unable to reslruii his eurio.sit.v, asks; 'How did Mn. know what ticket he had'?'" Ynnke(! (with a .viiwn)â€" ".Saw il .slicking out of bis waistcoat pocket .Same color ns my own, I gue.«.s!" MUCK'S D]WCOUKA(.HNO QUKST. Mike is a. married manâ€" a ver.v much nwrried man. He has ninrried fewer than four times, anil all wl\ea are still to the fore. According to ^Michuel's own account «t the Dublin ussi/e.s. whore he was tried for bigam.v and found guilt.v, hfs experiences have not been alto- gether sntisfnclor.y. The judge, in I-nssing senlenco. expressed his wo7i- der that the prissner could be such a hartjj'neil villain as to ileludo so many woiu«n. "Ycr honor." r.nid Mike. Apologcti- call.v, "1 Was only thryin" to got a good 010, an' it's not nisyl" INCJKNIOU.S SPH)EU,S. The Ho.val Societ.y in London w.u recenti.v entertained with an account by Mr. H. I. Pocock. of a s|-idi'r o: the Deaidae fninil.v. living in Austriv lia, which makes its habitation alouji the ,si-aKhore, in the en-vices of the rocks, between higli and luw-wnti-i marks. This locutiiui is seloeted. no noidoubl. t>.'cause it abouiid.H with the his I food that these spiders |)refer. Bu» I when tho tirle is in their homes am covered with water. Instead of de- serlinK them, however, the spiders .-iolvo till' riilljcult.v b.v means of closo ly woven shi-cIs of silk, which they stretch over the entrances, and with- in which they Imprinon .siilUcieiit air to keap them alive dm-ing the time that lln-.v remain submerged. .A man iloi.'sn't sing into n ^l"*"^ graph for tbe purpose oC trying to l)reak (he record. "Your w»rshi|).'" said n solicitor to the Beach, "evor.v l)od.y knows that 1 aai inciij'iubio of lending inyself to a aieaN cause." "True, your wor' ship," chiiu*d ill bis legal opponent, "lay luarned Mend never lends liAoi* self tw o vaeKn cause; be alwayn K^tx .ca.'h liown'." 1 /