The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Sumiuerlug on a firm. I'm hvln lu tho country now moo a<iaiet rarm, wb*f* 1 am fiM frum city oolso and tafo from urban harm , Aod Vd ,,f horrid cantaloupe* and early tutu- mor uinau. lUtdnp Dtbaeotf. orltp squa*h and blood red wuitu I have a room with Blaming roof ; no waarisoiu* deui;u II there upon the wall to gjeel those tired eves of luloe. But buM.t. coarae. aau J paper walli are those about my . Ton which I rub that fovored spot wberu mo- bar* fad. No narrow bath tub bar* I hero to lave myself within, Hut one larg U.iu on the floor, a dipper made of tin. Oh, how thu CO..UDR watert i>la<b and o'er my nuuldurt n ,w, l>S*i>ite ikieir I. .kiuu through the I'.iur, a*sua- ing all ujy wutv And.urvaaaiil.au cily iiol*e dotti break upon thu ear- Naught cave in* cooing of the frog>. the bluet of chanticleer. TbecruwiMK of tlu Durban tow, the lowing of the 1 These are the eole disturbances la this luy rural of life. tbU country how my den. And oh. the habits Toe breaJif ast set at S e. in -al admirw To rise at 4. and ore the sun hai tr.artod on its way. To dun my dud* anJ enter upon tho duties of the day I Instead of working at my dusk in hot (oersncker coat. TosMk tin- ti ; uaod tow the hay. to teed tbu bounding i.^at. To di..u ilirf inuee a day on pie, waibed duwu hy berry wim*. And lieu ih nun bas set at lasflreuruig at 'J This 1 a noble life to load , from caro and strife so frui . It tans inn ci .,-, ;., tne niuaelen gain, it fills the SOUl Hl'.llglM. But whn i,.-x; imuaiiT cume* this way, 1 fear I can't Kifni i To iwap i )ju nwat of brow and brawn for rural bod ami board. Henry lt< > > r' II u in- 11: j;imr. ADOPTED BY THE DEAN: A bTOSY Ui' TWO OOUMTBIK3 A* BOOU .. ibe door had closed, Berlba turned a^mn i the window, " 1 am o'iru ihe suspected Bomething," kbe win ; r i. > Ob, Ueorge, w* moil not risk it ; i.sprranc* ii so sharp, and ihe will pal t.-. i. ou the clew directly ! " " If there is any chance of that, yon most fiiiil sunn! uiear.rt of getting her oat of tbe way. Cuuld you not get grannie lo invite ber .' " O lorge igiokr in lo*, authorilative tonei ; Birtha'i brief terrified whispers were in subjection. Hhe had always Iwwed implicitly lo his judgement. "ritay, 1 have an idea," be said, after a Hence, ami then ensued a long whispered dialogue. Bertha agreeing in half heaitat iog tones to all the proposition*. The chime* Bin, k again they counted the note* brealblejjly. Il wa* a quarter lo ton ; George hurriedly took leave, and Bertha ol.i i. d ihu window, tremblingly put way her writing materials, and returned lo Ih* dritwu.g room. Hut her heart tuddeulv failed her when ihe aaw Ibe others illing no naturally at their work, and she fell a deep pang of remone a* ibe glanced I her father sli uping peacefully lu hi* arm- ohair, quit" urc micioo* what wa* In etore for him. Should *h* wrile lo Ueorge and nay that she e mid nol keep her promise thai whilit her father lived ihe mail stay wilh him ? llul jusl then Mrs. Mortlake l'X)ked np with hi r disagreeable smile. " Really. )ou ve had a nioe *ociableoven i ig, just after your own heart." Burtha liru.'ginl her shoulders ihe had < aught thu Iriok from Esperanoe and re- membered that after all, home wai by no mean* the |i- ac.-' il haven il looked, and iieinle*. wo., I ill. y really miss her .' For a week or two, pirhapi, but no more. " I am going to bed," ahu sai 1, in her uiaal v.i . . i Mrs. Mortlake, " I hav* a bad headache." Ksperanoe looked up oompaisionately. " lam "n lorry I 1 wish I had helped yoa wllh that writing." No one vise ipoke ; and Bertha, coloring deeply, left the room. How ihe longed lhal evening to ke alone I Much as she loved Esperanoe, ihe felt that ber pretence now woald bo almoil unbearable. Hbe hurriedly madu her preparation* far Ih* nUhl, and lay d >wn in Ih* darkoe** thank- ful for a few moment* of quint, in whloh ehe might think over the extraordinary aid mult HIM \peoind event* ot Ihe day. (ihe fobbed a little shn thought of thii, portly from an odd sort of attachment to the aolual In HI hardly lo be oalled love, bat a great deal more from terror and Ihe enae thai nhu wai about to what all Ihe world would hlaiiio. While *hu wan null crying, Eeperance oame up lo bed, xhading Ihe candle wllh her hand, an I moving about the room with noiieleae tep< for fear she would disturb her cousin. Ilertha watched her in lilenoe for *ome minute*, but ihe oould hardly bear to look at Ihe par*, child Ilk* faoe, il mads her feel sn guilty . al length a great ob **oap*d her, and Esperane* hadenud to comfort ber. "I* your head eo bail, oherie .' Lot me Miroku it for you." Ilertha allowed herself to be oareeieil for a minute, Ihon with wilh an irrepressible burst of lears *h* nobbed out, " Oh, Kiper- anos, if th* ulhrr* had been Ilk* yon, II would hav* been very different." " What would hav* been different ? " asked Kiperanoe, unabl* lo uuderiland her words. " Everything -life I " *obb*d Bertha, frighlened to Ihink how neatly ah* had betrayed hsrsslf. Bai Kiperanne) never dreamnt ot *ns pealing her ; *h* thought her merely unhappy and overtired, and Mid she would ling her to sleep , anil Berlba lay till liitniiini! to an old French hymn, and 1*1 her eyelids fall toward the end, but In reality ih* uevur *l*pl at all that night. Th* next day, howv*r, the wai quite elf poeneieed , It wai on* of tho** indiUn nol kprlng day* whsn every one feels languid Hhe eaeily p*r*uad*d Kiperanoe to itay Indoor*, and they read together a greater part of Ihe afternoon. Al dinner lum a not* arrived (or Ilertha , her color oame and want, but no on* observed h*r. Hbe opened and sal I II wai from Mrs. I'liimor*. " No on* ha* baan to ** granal* for the last week," observed Cornelia > What doe* ah* want, Bertha T " "Boa want* me to go down wllh Kiper- anoe to spend the evening wilh ber ; *he ay* she ii feeling very lonely and de- preeied; if w* ooald Hay the) night *o muob Ihe better . she bai heard that tbe carriage is being painted, and w* might not oare to walk both way*. What do yoa think, Ksperanoe ? " "I should lik* to go very much," said Esperanoe, brightly, ' we have not been out all day, and it would be so nice and cool now." " We will go down after dinner then," (aid Bertha, quietly ; " I don't know about slaying for Ibe night though ; we will aee how grannie i* when we gel there. If we do col come back by half put ten, Chriltabel, you will understand that grannie wai very preiliog, uud that we Hayed." Beriha'i oheeks were burning now, but no one noticed her. Everybody wai hot that evening there wai nothing unnatural in it. The curfew had just ceased ringing when the two cDuaine started. Bertha took her cloak and a imall bag, jast in case they sbonM htay for Ihi nighl, she said. They paa- .1 silently through the Vicar'i oqart, Ih .. liertba paused. I am juil going ii. o the cathedral f" a m. u al," ihe Mid ; -I left my ambi lla in - aisle at the i.iurnoon service ta^ae- bod> i. lay carry it utf if it ii left." " But the great doors will be locked," said Esperanca. " Yes, bat I navi both Ihe key*. We will come in here and go out by the well door il will col off a corner." She quietly opened the massive door, and locked il behind them. The light within wa* already growing dim owing to the stained glad windowi ; they looked about for tbe umbrella, walking alowly down the aisle to tbe cloied gate which led into the nave, but il was nol to be found. Bertha looked the gate. I am afraid we must give it op," she aid, in a (trained, unnatural voioe ; " the only place we did not look in was the veitry ; il U jut possible one of tbe vergers may have pet il there; j oil ran and see. Kill yoa ?" Ksprrauoe obeyed, walking half-way up Ihe aisle, trying the veitry door, bat il wa* fait locked ; then ihe turned baok to rejoin her couiin, quickening her ilepi a* ihe saw that she had gone into tbe nave. The iron i<ate wai dosed i she suppt >d Bertha had left il on Ihe latch ; the gate would nol yield. Wai Bertei playing her a trick, he wondered. Hhe called after her, feeling half amused, half frighlened ; her voice echoed long through the vaulted roof, bat there wai no reply, only ihecould bear that liertba walked more quickly, and the next moment Ihe great well door cloied behind her, Ihe key grated in the look, and Esper- anoe wa* left alone in the cathedral. For an instant ibe ilood half polrilisd with AitonJHhment, then glancing round he Haw thai Bertha had thrown down her cloak within the ubuir aisle, and beside il a little three cornered note ; she opened thii eagerly, and ruad Ihe few hue*, which had evidently beun written wilh a trembling hand I'.irgmi me, dear K.piranue ; I would not have left >..;i in ibis way, bat 1 feared you laeptcled me last nifht, and w* ooald nol beir really to implicate grannn ; th* blame of thi* will fall on no one but oar- elves. We shall travel all to-night ; to- morrow, by the time yon are released, 1 Ihink we shall he married. One* more, forgive me, and love me still, if vou can. BlUIHA." The note fell from Esperauoe's hand*, and a great ory of despair raug through the cathi- Iral. liertha had eloped with Ueorge, and she, tho only person who knew of it, wa* perfectly helples* t The horror ot lhal moment, Ihe dismay of lhal discovery altogether unnerved her. Mie turned Kiddy, and sunk down ou the cold stone*, her band prtustd tgainil her leinple* a* if lo *t*y tin- ftarlul thoughts which llashod through her brain. The cathedral wa* locked np for Ihe night . the verger* had beun their round* , no one would no up lo th* bilfry nun, for the curfuw had been rung. At the deanery no one would dream lhal anything was ami** , tbuy were at Ihi* very moment going on with their uiual routine Ihe dean perhaps in hi* observa- tory, Cornelia and Christabel quietly read- ing and working, all within live minutes' walk of bur. and yet it wa* as impossible to let them know those terrible tidings, a* if they had been al Ihe North Pole And when Ihedeandid know, would it nol almoet break hi* heart ! Il mail, It mail b* pre- vented I Again *he read through the note of explanation, and dwell one more on tho word*, " we ehall travel all nighl." They would probably start by the M 30 expreei, and already il must be nearly lime for it- even as ihe thought of it Ihe ohiints struck lh half hour, and the distant shriek of a railway whistle made itaelf heard. Again that wail of anguish broke from Ksperanoe, ami roverberalm! through the vast ompti ne* of the oetlirdral . ihe sprang lo h. r feat, and a eorl of madnee* seemed lo sei/e her ; ihe pulled and *hook Ihu iron gale a* if *h* would have lorn il fn n Us hinge*, then remembering thai thin would only lead lo Ihe nave, and more looked door*, ihe ruihed to the e**lern end ot Ihe aial* anil knocked and hammered with all her light al the south door. But Ih* door wai far from a thoroughfare, and no on* wan likely to hear her. Onoe *he caught Ihe eound of footstep* pa*ilng on Ihe path- way a few hundred yards from her, and knew lhal il must bit the polioeman on hi* rounds, and the oalled and knocked wllh the ilrenglh of despair, bai the echo** only mocked her voioe , Ihe ponderous door leemed to let noiound penetrate il, and the footitep* died away In th* distance -il was of no use. Her hand* were all bruised and Minding wllh th* unavailing attempt* , she sal down on the step and leaned her head againit Ihe hard, Iron studded door, crying iilteouily. Although the prevloni day ha. I been hoi, Ksperanoe wai thlv*ring with oold now. Hho orept up to on* of th* stove*, knowing thai lor a great part of the year they were kept up all night ; but the iin-s had bean discontinued for come daye, and Ihe iron bar* fell a* oold a* lo*. Then he remembered Berlha's oloak, whioh in list, evidently, have been left for her, and he went down to the Iron gat*) ono* mor*), h*r foot*l*p* eoholng *tr*ngly In Iheiileut nighl. Hhe ptokad up the cloak and moved baok >galn to th* crusadnr'* tomb, not orry lo be In the moonlight region again. Jusl then a freeh thought occurred to h*r mind The verger* woul I oom* round at o'clock to unlock the gales I bow should so* explain her presence to them r Bertha'* flight mait, is possible, be kept secret, and yet U ihe were found looked in the cathedral in thii uaaoooantable way they would sorely laipeot something. Bh*> hoped and prayed that the dean, or Cor- nelia, or tome on* who mart eventuality know, might oame before them, and in the conviction that all would in eome way be made right, she fell asleep. Claude Magnay wrote for room* at ihe Spread Etgla and made eager preparation* for hi* visit to Rilcheiter, invoking bled*- ingi on Lady Worihin^ton s head. He went by an evening train, and by an old coincidence met two of hi* Rilohester friend* at tbe ticket office the precsntor :i:i'i Mr. White, th* minor canon. Tho precentor liked Claude every one did, in fact and, moreover, next to moiio, he enjoyed nothing more than talking, so be invited him to supper at hi* home, and kept op a brisk current of talk till the clock struck twelve ; then Claude started up, laying that he wiihed to be early in the cathedral 10 aa to get the morning light. " It ii too late, I lappoie, to knock np one of the verger* .' " he asked. " I waclci to gel tbe keyi ; the dean uied to lend me bis, bat I oen hardly go around there now." The precentor at onoe produced his key*, and followed hi* gneit to the door. " A beaotifal moonlight eight, " be laid, looking oat. ' I would give something lo lake you lo the cathedral now, bat it'i againit rale* to go in at night, and except with regard to Wigner, yoa know, I am very obedient." Claude laugbi.i. and laid he woald be content with lix o'clock, then walked bank lo hi* hotel for a few hears' sleep and a dream of Eiperanoe. Tbe morning was ai bright and sunny as be ooald wiih. lie walked round by the deanery, and looked up wistfully at the windowi ; then remembering hii work, he hastened on to the cathedral, walked np the long, llagged path, and unlocked the louth door. Tatting down hii easel and bag, he gave himself up for a moment to silent [npymenl of the beauty around , he glanced down Ihe long vi>>ta of arches, then hi* eye traveled baok alowly till it wai arreite.l at the crusader'* tomB. Ilii heart beat wildly, and he hurried forward with eager though noiseleu itep*. Could u indeed be Espvranoe .' lie gazed long and wondertngly at the little figure. Hhe wa* nestled up into a corner, her head bad fallen forward and rested against the tomb, the soft wave* of dark hair oontraiting wilh the white etone-, her long, black lashee lay calmly, her cheek* were tlushed with I'.eep, one little brown hand clasped Ja\ itte's cro*i tightly, and her whole attitude and expression were of undisturbed peaoe. Borne alight sound roaaed her at lint ; the looked op expectantly, and a kilad light oame into her eye* a* she law Claude. 4 'Ah, I am so glad ! " ih* said ; " I knew cine one would be sent , 1 am *o glad il wa* you, Claode." The nun* slipped from her inadver- tently . he colored with pleasure. ' Have you beea locked ia oy accident .'" he aiked, wonderingly. Then the eoriowful look retarneJ lo ICsperaiu-e's faoe , she told him all, and asked hit advice, lie wa* much slartl.'d and (hocked,, but he would dwell on Itrrtha'i injustice to her, *:ii the cruelty ot shutting her thai inlo Ihe cathedral. " Thai iloee not matter, il is all over luw," ihe interrupted. " bat how am 1 to loll them at home .' What will they sa - lie at onoe turned his thoQKhli to has preeent diili -ultios, and *elf-denyint(er advited her lo no lo tbe deanery a* *oo.i ly poaiibla and tell Cornelia, leaving hir to bruak it to the dean. While they were mill talking il over th* olock (track eeven, and Ksperanoe moved toward the door, feeliug dreadfully slut afitr h.-r hard couch. " I moil go," sli > laid l\rmly, though the was beginning to ti mble al Ihe thought of ihis hard talk. " Tha house will be open now, and we must lose no timo. You are laviui; in Hilohe*tor, then T " Claude Msented. " 1 1 I* very wonderful that yoa should have happened lo ohooa* thi* day, but thing* alway* are arranged juit rightly, are they not .' " Claude thought *o loo, a* he watjoed ttu> little figure till il paised oat of light. And then Involuntarily an idea struck him bow would thii unlooked-for tarn of ill tin affect hi* hone*,' Would the deanery people leave Kilohoslrr al once, and bear Ksperanos wilh them .' C1IA1TKU \\\l. I'ornelia wai likn! one stunned ; she hoard KsperaiuK-'a vur.lt. felt her oareesee, and itrn^gled hard to graip Ihe meaning of tins terrible piece of new*, reading over and over again poor Kertha'e farewell note. Al last .lie bunt into tear* , her head wa* bowed on Keperanoe'i shoulder, and the strong, independent, hardened nature wa* thankful enough lo (.,! Itself infolded by loving, clinging arms. It hi had ben different, if Ihe home had been a happier one, this would never hav* happened there was th* 1 ephaps it wai wall for them all tba their thought* were neoeeearily diverted b th* dean'* iUoeii i il teemed anviaable tha tb*y abould all go away a* icon ai possible and this miking a convenient pnjlf it, i was arranged thai Cornelia ikould go wit ber father to Germany, whir* be wai to take a coane of bathi, wbili Mr*. Mart lak* went to visit some of her hatband' relative), taking Bella with her. Esperance was lect to the Friory. I was a great relief to her to be there ono more , the strain of the last few dayi hat been great, and the <)aiet of old Mrs. Pasi more's house seemed doably restful. She bad only been there a few hoari, bowdver when, from her retreat ia tbe garden ib heard the front door bell, and fearing som visitor from Hilchester who might ail tiresome question*, wa* a little vexed. The servant came acroe* the lawn to her. Mistress woald be glad if she woult itep into the drawing-room." She obeyed, not very willingly, and th inrpiiie wai all the greater when, on going in, ihe found the viiitor to be Claode Mag-nay. Mr*. 1'aumore was in the middle of th stock remark which old ladiei leem to enjoy making to yoong men" Remember him ? of coarse she did, why ihi hi nurstd him in long clothe* ' " Eiperanoe stood for a moment holding her brown itraw bat in her hand, her face wai glowing, and her heart beat quickly Mrs. Mortlake had told ber nol to go into Riloheiter more than ihe ooald help in order to avoid questions ; ihe had not been to the cathedral that day, and somehow ihe had to mixed Ihe bright morning greeting and th* few word* which hac always passed between ber and Claude when ihe went in to *ervice. Claude came forward eagerly to met her, and the c ople Shu roused herself at lail, and went to tell tbe dean and Chrislabel, while K*per- auoe hovered about rextlesaly, fearing to meet any one, and yet Anding aolilude almoil unendurable. Tbe dean did not appear at breakfast lime , Cornelia cent Keperanoe wllh a oup of lea to hn elndy, and she knook*d, and entered tremblingly. Her uncle's faoe wa* so changed, even in that short time, that he ootild hardly bear to look at il ; I is hand shook a* he took the cup from her , he looked while and *oared, yel then wa* a ounoo*, ilreamy hii|n his y*s Hbe bent down to kin him, but did not say anything. just a* she wan turning away, howevir, she fan. 'I.-. I he spok.i to her, and wailing. naught Ih* muttered word*, " Retribution ' Retribution ! the child Ii Ilk* her father, too!" Keneranoe pondered loon over that low ejaculation , did her undo lake tbl* trial a* a punishment for hi* hanhneii to her father and mother .' 1'erhape Uornalie had thi* in her tboughte too , It oerlaiuly did pa** through her mind thai eom* ilrang* fatality maul he attijohed to marriage* in tnelr family. Chriilabol, after a wl*f and nol very happy union, had returned to her father's house a* a widow, her own proepeot* of liappioeee had b*an ((appointed, and Burlha had marrlml rashly and dieobedlently. It wai too late now to think o( pre- vention , all that could b* done wa* to hnih up thi affair a* muoh a* poMible, and Ilertha wai M often away from home, and so lew friend* ID Ulloheeter, that for th* preoeiit oonoe>lm*nt would not be Jiffloull. (pent a pleasant afternoon. Claude reminded ber of her promised Hitting, and ihe referred prettily to Mrs 1'aiimore, whereupon Claude took tbe ipeektng-trampet.andinooeeded in miking grannie understand that he wanted to paint Esperanoe. Thie teemed quite gratify the old lady, and before he led u wai arranaged that be >hjuld come every afternoon U carry oa hi* work. Of oourie while he painted they talked, nd Kiperauoe, who wa* never qui<t for long al a lime, talked too. ani blaaned.an i showed the mo*t polling varieties of expreaiion. sometime* even forgot herself so far a* lo gesticulate. 10 that had she been an ordinary mode', Claude woaU have been enraged ; a* il wa*, however, he wa* all Ibe more delighted, and in ipile of her delinquencies, the picture wae a grsat sncoesi. lie found it very hard now not to tell her of hii love, bai he remembered Lady WorihiugV n'* advice, and wilh a sigh received *o respect French custom*. lie asked her trulead for Gainerd'* address in I'l.-koy*. hoping the might perhap* gue** why he wanted il, but she only looked provokingly innocent, and began to talk of coffee plantation*. One day, however, when lu walked out to thei'riory, he found Eiperanoe aumisiak ably grave and sad ; he even fancied she bad been crying. In the coorae of thn afternoon it transpired thai Mr*. Mortlake had cent for her , Bella wa* poorly, and they were going at once to Ihe seaiide. 1 do not want to leave gre>nnie," she explained, regretfully . " il is *o quid and happy here at the I'riory. Besides, to morrow i* my ,MIV de luuntue, and w* were to have a fete." But tbe trar* . ro not altogether for the loit fete, and, after all, the eighteenth birthday proved a day of strange, dawning joy. Claud* oame lo *ay good-bye Id her just before she etartKd, bringing with him some equiiile llower*. lie would nol have ventured to do so at another time, but Ihe fete day made a happy exonie, and his parting word* sent a glad thrill through Esperanoe. " Yon will nol be al tha sea side all tbv u iiner, I hope, for I (hall be in Kilcheitor again in two months' lime." Her pretence would make a difference to him, Ihcu She was lad to have Ihe rail- way carriage to herself that day. for she could not help banting oat into little rental u' snatches of eong. Ua*pard Im 1 had a rough, croae country ride ou his mare lllanohetle. It was Sun morning, and he had been to a (tor* twelve mile* off Id service ; now be wai coming back lo Mr Seymour'* bungalow very hoi and tired and hnngry. Mr. Ho) in m r wax standing at the door an he dismounted, llebimeelf did not mauagu to gel lo a Sunday aervioe more than otioe or twice In a year. You have hail a hot rule. lianparJ," Ihe name cf IV Mabillon was toj long lo please him. " I hope your parton gave you something very super Hue in the way of ermon* to mak up for it." ' Two in on*," said Qaspard. will. yawn, " lasting ju*t an hour, and out o( a congregation of thirty, twenty two were nodding before the end." Mr Hi'vinour made a gesture of com- panion, thru held oat two letter*. The poll ha* come ; there ie a reward for you." iiaiparl look Ih* letters, eorutinuing Ihim eagerly while he led Blanobutt*) round lo her ilabl*. then, having handed h*r over to one of the ooolie*. he entered the bungalow, threw himeelt baok ia a wicksr ohair and opened Ksperanoe'i letter. 11* wa* mucih itartled bv her new* of Btrlha'i marriage, and shocked to think of her night of loneliness and terror m Ihe oalh,lr*l , hut HID end ot her letter reeeiared him. lie liki-,1 to think ot her with kind old Mrs I'assmore, and wilh Claude MagnAy to enliven her every afternoon , there wa* a brighlnea* of ton*, loo, about her writing which made him feel happy about bar. However muoh ah* tried to make her Ultere uniformly cheerful, be alwaye managed lo find oat in what mood they had been written, and about thii letter there wa* an unusually buoyant heppiu***. He opened Ihe next one mor*) lelsurMs , wondering whom It wae from, then seeing the signature, wai glad and yel surprised that Claud* ihould writ* to him. lit*) bron. M! faoe wore a itartled expression a* be alowly deciphered the large. Irregular character*. 11* read on, however : Mr i<> Oa Mi>.i N, When we parted I did not know how very soon 1 should have to oome npon yoa for that promise*! favor, whloh yon were eo pleaeeo to have suggeeted to yoa la*t *amm*r. 1 am taking you al your word, however, and am goitgi to make a very **rtous and (real r*>iut*l. kui Bret lot a hill* explanation I wa* laying at Worlhlo|toa Hall la*t mas, and law yoar liner twice. I realised then for the first time bow rrujh I loved ber, and lino* then lime ha* only uregth- ened the** conviction*. I writ* cow to ask if yoa will oonieat to my proposing to wcursiiterf I shall col dwell upon my love for her I cannot writ* ol ii. and I believe yoa will andenland me. I think I cocld make her happy, and most earnestly bg that yon will allow me to ipaak to her. With regard to money consideration*, you already know that I am not rich, bat I am in receipt of a small yearly income from invested capital, and am making a good deal from my pictures 10, tbal I think I would iniare my life or do anything yoa like. I shall await yoar reply vry anxiously. My re.jaeit U a very great one ; bat 1 know yoa too well cot to f*el certain that yoa will grant it, if there i* no real obstacle in the way. Yours most truly, CLACIH MAOJIAY." Gaipard'i faoe wai a strange minors ot thankfulness, joy, and regret when he pot down the letter, lie liked Claude exceed- ingly, and felt that he could give Eiperanoo to him more willingly than to most men, bat in any case her marriage would involve a certain atnn ot Ion to himself. There could be no happy vision* of a home in Ceylon now. But Gatptrd bad unlearned bis eelfishneii in a hard school, and he loved Eiparaccj far loo much nol to rejoioa in this proepeoi of happmea* for ber. Before the Sunday wai over he had written brotherly letter to Claade, iccUxiag another lo be given lo Esperanos when be bad spoken to her ; and somehow the man he Ihongbt over thii new su^eslion the more he lised ii. nor had he much doubt what Esperanoe'* answer woald be. (To b Oonunaed) vaNiiffc WISDOM. A Terrlur Who Can* Hrwir at a K*ltle- nke> till*. Among tbe valuable dog* owned by J. F. Cooper, of Boa Lononil vineyard, n a lamny of ihoroaiihared wire-haired Mr- tiers. These Unit- oreatare* are very ght.andamDnx jiher achievcmsnM are quite expert at suake killing, loai they cave an intuitive- knowledge not only of how lo kill make*. >uihowto heal ihsm- elvcs if tbe snake geti the better of ad encounter was proved nol long since by au incident noticed by som> of the em- Ihe mother terrier bavicg discovered a rattlesnake ready coiled for a sprmg placed lerself at a safe distance and began bark- ox loudly for au assistant. Cue of bee laimly of terrier* responded to the call, when ihe twodofcs placed themselvei on* on either side cf ihu rattler, barking al it and (lowly approaching it from oppoaiM direction* uulil within abou. striking dis- lance for the eerpenl. To* exa*prated rattler at tail sprang at the vjuuger dog, when the mother i ^teat fury poanoid upon the make. The terrirrs seize |tb* serpent* about midway of Ibe body and thake them wuhout nit rcy unul life i* ex- inul. la thii caie tbe mother terrier attempted the usual mode of procedure, and wa* fairly sacoMif ul. bat the faDgi of the tuaks in tome way (track her. luilioting a wound ,l was evident lo Ihose watching her that u r sufferings btgau al once, but she did not lose her heal with fear. She ina.le for a bunch of tnake weed uot far oi and ate reely of it. Her next move wa* to a pool if water thai made a small muddy (pot. nto Ihi* th* plunged, rolling herself about nesery dite:tion and CON ering herswlf wilh mud. The onlookers nave her up for lj*t, ml the canine physician bad bealtvi her- self, and the nrxt morning was entirely all right, a* it the had never met hie rattle- uakeship tn deadly oombdt A Curtails t.ouduu Ohftrllv. Eduoational Food Fund is the singular ud ambiguous came ot a fund pruinaled by Ihe ilread and Food Kef orm League and he Louden Vi-gvtarian Society for tbe \tlleut purpose, among others, ot pro- i.:m>; food (or poor children m the ele- mentary school*. It i* wry harmleeo >ro*elytieing that aocompanirs ihi* charity when addresse* are drltvered lo the chil- Ireu explaining the advantage* cf cvreali ud pol*e*. and when they are induced la ing - The StaiT cf l.ifo is Wheat Meal tread." They eing for their diuurr*. after 11, and th* propagandist* have th* earn*** Mli*f thai they confer an nninenee boon in ih* poorer diitriots of Louden by thai) prcading the knowledge of cheap food*. L be tlrsi report ot Ihe fund stale* that the xperimental half penny dincers for *ohool hildron organised in conjunction with too .MI. Ion Schools lUnuer A**oiialiou hav* rovi'd most suocoMful. Th* leachere vporl thai Ibo children thoroughly enjoy he vegetarian eoop and wheat meet bread irovidmJ, and thai Iho syatemcrgam .d by h* two societies give ni\imiimlH<m>[it and minimntu trouble. The dinner* have also >roved nuoh good m-ani ot encou raging the apply of whaleeome, nonnshiug food oiitih ordinary trade ohauodi that il i*> ,'pi-d the sjstem will be largely extends*! eit winter. I .-n>U>n />auy .%.. f*l>i ii i of W hale*. An exciting *ooue wa* witueeeed off lillswick. in Shetland, on r'nday night. \ large ehoal of whale* wai observed *port- ng m ih* bav and many boat* were pevdily manned and put otT. After muoh rouble th* whales were nearly all driven shore or killed, Ihe total oat, h beittg esti ial*d at naarly li'.J. Home ot Ih* whale* tere killed la deep water anil sank, bat wenly cam* to the surface next morning nd were (roared. It ie anticipated that 11 cf them will be call aihorv in t >w It > to \ ' . , ii. . First Burglar -Wall, you're a brtxht 'on. Second Burglar What'* the matter T " Th* paper cay* there was toOO in nooey ia the drawer you got that gold toh from, an' you mixed il " " That'* so .' I'll go baok alter it to ight." * K.I le. V\.| I I, ,,|,. First lo uot take more than on* giil. Seoou.l l>o not take any girl. Third -IV not go to the pionlo. - " There I* a ctrange looking female at lh gate. Jupiter." (aid Hebe. > She wanla see yoa." 1* *h unarmed > ' Yes." U moat be Venu* ot Milo. Lot ber ID." '1 h* abah ol I'eisia ha* a great deair* to tail America, aad may ootn* lo a**) a* next L