(Published by Arrangement)
THE PRIVATE SECHETARY,
DY
EVELYN SHARP
[COPYRIGHT.]
PART L
It was on a cheerless day, at that season of thì gain a hen the only signs of vegetation to fic seen in the fields are decayed turnip-tops, and heaps of faded couch grass, that two men were speeding towards the Eastern counties in a smoking carriage as fast as the five o'clock express from Liverpool Street could carry them. One of them, evidently the younger, was talk ing incessantly as though he had no cares of his own and had never felt it incumbent upon him to shoulder those of other people gratuit. ously. His face was a small, round, shrewd looking one, and it surmounted an undersized, unphysical body, which he has been ill-judged enough to accentuate by wearing a long, loose overcoat, reaching to his feet.
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1899.
that she carried her off at this point to her room; and he saw no no more of her than a bedraggled, dust stained, little figure, underu battered straw hat.
"He an explorer ? exclaimed Alphonse. I prescription, as evinced in its effect on-Joan, "Cah no, you are mistaken, Miss Joan, assure you. He never set foot in Africa in his life, Frenchmen never travel far from their boule wards, you know, and he is a Frenchman to the core, in spite of his English father and his English education. Isn't it so van ami?"
"I suppose it is, yes," answered Arthair feeling there were slight drawbacks to the rélé he had adopted.
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Then if you aru not an expilous, why did you assume a knowledge of a country you had never visited? i call that presumptuous, Mr. Marston," said Jean in a reproachful tone, and she addressed the rest of her remark to Alphonse.
Talking about the drst. Britannia struck by Hadrian, Mr. Marston," said old Mr. Crockley, looking up from the book in which he had been buried since the beginning of dinner, there is a curious fat mentioned here in connection with it that might possibly interest you, seeing thest you seem to know something of that branch of bumismatic art.”“
No one had even mentioned the first Britannia struck by Hadrian, and Arthur was not aware of having given the slightest proof "Tener, mon ami," he cried, as he began to realise slowly that his conversation was falling of a knowledge of coins; but as Mr. Crookley's on unappreciative cars, "what have you to comethed of introducing his subject was appar
ently well-known to his daughters, and as plain of after all? You've lots of money-"
Alphonse was holding the, attention of bath of them at that moment by il thrilling
"So have all the beastly shopkeepers in Tottenham Court Road," growled his cam panion from the other end of the carriage.
And your name is in all, the papers, eu/en-
I might be a fashionable swindler for that," "And you are enjoying the glory of having explored where no white man has gone before; and you were smart enough to do it in Africa, which is all the rage just now, and society is at your feet. What more can you want?"
"More? Good heavens, Alphonse, there's lots more," said the other grimly. You've left out the mothers who always want to know if you have met their youngest sens who went out to the Cape last year, and who offer you their eldest daughters in the same breath. And you take the eldest daughters into dinner, and they put you down as a fraud, because you never killed a lion, and always had lots to eat. I wish I had never come to England!”
"And I wish I were in your shoes, that's all," rejoined Alphonse "give me your opportunities, and see what I'd make of them
Done with you," suddenly exclaimed the elder man, throwing away his half-smoked cigar, and ́sitting "upright, ""Alphonse, “my boy, I've got an idea,"
Han Don't lose it then, will you?" "These people, the Crookleys, have never seen me since I was a boy; and we are the same-colouring-you-and-f. Why shouldn't. we exchange identities just for the fortnight we are there, eh? Do you twig 7"
A keen look crept into the small eyes of bis
account of how he had lived on two ounces of porridge a day, made out of sour inval, for thice months, the cx-African explorer submitted to his fate and assented in monosyllables to a mass of information he had never intended to provoke.
"It's been the most beastly evening. I've ever spent," he said to Alphonse, when they parted for the night.
"You're never satisfied," answered his qnon dam secretary, who had been enjoying himsel mightily. Of course you're not playing first fiddle, but you'll get over that I have had to, a foi, What do you say to the old man ?"
"Conceited old one. And the youngest gir! is a prig, and the eldest one alarms me, she is so painfully honest,"
Did ever maiden have such varying moods? he asked himself, wonderingly as a Alphonse was not there to tell him that Joans were a common occurrence in the civilised world, he continued his sorulations on her remarkably original character, undisturbed.
It was on the following morning, when he had left Alphonse in the library to finish of some letters, that he met her alone for the first time. There was a wood at the back of the house, and he came suddenly upon her among the trees lying on the loose sandy soil with her dar to the ground. She jumped up impatiently as he unered an exclamation of surprise, and knitted her brows at him,
"You've spoilt it, and they won't come out now," she said in a disappointed tone.
Who are they,' please?" "My rabbits, of course; they all know me, and they come when i call them, if there is no e about. There are lots of rabbits here, and papa won't allow anyone to shoot them, so they But they won't come are quite tame with ine. But now."
Shall I go away?" He asked, penitently, "Ch, it wouldn't be any good, so you might as well stay now you've coine. But you mustn't shoot anything while you're here. I know yeu brought your gun, I saw it in the hall."
*Se, I didn't," he said. eagerly, "it was my friend's," which was true,
"It had your name on it, Mr. Marston" she said, eyeing him keenly,
He remembered, and stumbled over his ans- wer
Oh ah, yes, I was forgetting. But ra promise you not to shoot anything,
"Tells stories," was her juental note. She- bad sunk down listlessly on some faggots, and he leaned against a tree and looked down at
her.
“Do you mind smoking ?" he asked her. She opened her eyes.
I never tried. What are you thinking of?" "You mistake nie. Of course I meant, do Ah, true. Mais, ce sont des femmes et j'y fuis mon bonheur. We must wake them up, you mind if I have a cigarette?" they are ten terribly primitive for words. That's "Of course 1 don't. What a ridicululos enough to ruin any woman, from an entertain-question to ask! Why should I mind?" And ing point of view, bien enicula, By the way, he laughed. how could you promise to help that little one Upon thy word, I don't know why you with her French? You'll betray the whole should, in the open air.
But it is a custoury game if you are so rash.
question to ask a lady,"
fle lighted his cigarette, and she suffed a yawn.
"I was fairly bet in said Arthur glumily, "and how could you rovent all that wash abone South Afrim? Any encyclopedia world bring you up if they were to look it up."
"But they won't, it's not in their line.
Iper ceive they have put wrong bags in our ins so we inust exchange contents."
Arthur Wikle could hardly believe his ears when he awoke easly next morning to the sound
Cinossible! We should be found out; of laughter under his window, pure, girlish, 1
people staying in the house or something, You're a public character now, Wild.he an swered, and seemed to dismiss the idea with a laugh.
"Not the lenst possibility of discovery. Listen to me. The Crookleys are not like ordinary people. Old Crookley is an eccentric antiquarian, who has so far cut himself off from the outer world that he not only lives in this outlandishi place, which is ten miles from a town or a station, but he won't even allow a newspaper to be brought into the house, nor a visitor to be asked to lunch. Our invita. tion was a perfectly abnormal event, Ile only asked me out of, respect to a fancied obligation he owes my dead father, and he allowed me to bring you, because i said i could not travel without my secretary, So it would be as safe as tumbs, and I could enjoy the luxury of being a nobody for tourteen days. Shall we try it? I really mean it, Alphonse."
Je commence d'avoir des yeux, But has he no family, your old curmudgeon?
"His wife is dead
"That's good. Et puis?" "I believe there are some daughters, but don't let that excito you. They have never moved out of the place since their birth, and they have been brought up on antiquities. So they won't be lively. And if they are like the father, their looks won't redeem them."
"Sons ?"
There are none, fortunately,"
་
It is hardly necessary to reproduce any more of the conversation between the two travellers. It is enough to say that when the train at last deposited them at their destination, a sleepy market town in Suffolk, Alphonse Marston had assumed the name of Arthur Wilde for a season, and the great African explorer, who had recent- ly taken London by storm, had consented to elip into the shoes of his own half-French secretary and friend.
"And are you, too, interested in the folk-lore of the Aryan nations, Miss,rookley ?"
"Oh yes, indeed, Mr. Marston, it is my favourite study; although I find the jewellery of the Roman matrons almost as fascinating answered the youngest Miss Croukley, with her eyes fixed demurely on her soup plate,
“Ah yes, to be sure, yes," said the supposed Alphonse, hastily, "that's the kind of stuff they put into museums where nobody goes, isn't it? Doesn't the jewellery in the shops down Bond Street hold any attraction for you, too?"
He caught a glimpse of her eyes then, but they were hastily lowered again, and the same absurdly precise childish tone answered him. back-
"I have never been to a museum, and I did not know they kept antiquities in Bond Street, Ianot Bond Street a dreadfully dissipated place? I have never been away from home, you know," she added with a deep sigh.
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careless laughter, that would make any man's pulse beat faster and inspire him with an ardent wish to discover the maker of it. Could sherg be another daughter who had not appeared the night before?
Kate, Kate," cried a mocking, mirthful voice which seemed to have a ring of same- thing familiar in it, "Oh Kate, come out, such a glorious morning as it is too have been riding Skip all round the fields, and they are white with hour frost,, and all the beech-leaves are coming down with lite cracks and shivers, and no one is about, not even an African explorey, or a grumpy old French secretary. Kate, Kate, do you hear? Come out, do."
There was
the noise of a window sash being softly opened a little way off, and Catharine's voice sounded in the crisp morning air.
"Child! chill: will, you never grow old? Bare feet, and loose hair, and no saddle. And you promised me last night not to play any more pranks for for a fortnight. And you will catch your death in this frost."
"But, Kate," pleaded the merry voice, grown plaintive, I am going to have my breakfast before they are down so that I needn't mention antiquities till lunch time, and I am sure you would have been tempted to play him tricks if you had sat next to him, and he had glared at you, and never smiled all the time. But oh the jewellery of the Roman matrons, and the folk-lore of the Aryan nations!" and the peal of laughter broke out again..
"There, go along, Joan. No, I am not com ing out at this unearthly hour, and you will wake the whole house up if you stay there."
There was a clatter of a horse's hoofs down the drive, and the window was closed again, The great African explorer lay awake, and wondered how he could have been so deceived. And she had thought him grumpy. The post brought him a good many letters that morning, which were finally transferred from Alphonse's plate to his own pocket; and the two men spent most of the hours before lunch time in the library. The temporary answering them resumption of his own character during this operation restored some of Arthur's self-respect, which had received so rude a shock in the ear ly hours of the morning, and he walked into the dining-room when the second gong sound. ed, with a swiftly-nade resolve to have his re- venge on his little toracotor.
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i
Where is Mr. Wilde 3 she asked, abruptly. "In the house, finishing some letters." 1 thought you were his secretary ?" "Solar, but there are some things he wilt do himself. Quite unnecessary, of course, but Wilde is full of odd cranks as perhaps you've noticed
He felt he deserved some satisfaction for having none of the defat. She was putting him down as meanly jealous, in her mind.
But surely he is your friend? You ought to support him through thick and thin." Her
voice sounded contemputous.
"Is that how you treat your friends?" »I don't know. 1 never had a friend, except Kate. I think I would kill anyone who treated her badly." He caught a glimpse of her clenched fists and her flashing eyes, and believed her.
"I was at casting any aspersion upon Will he went on, but he has his faults like every
one else."
What does that matter? You have no right to drag them up. You have not been all over Afica, and shot eight lions, and lots of buffaloes, and elephants, and-and-leopárds,
have woo?"
"No," he answered truthfully, and realised with a feeling of horror that Alphonse bad not wasted his time. "Is that what Wilde has done?"
"It's only a very little part of what he has done," she answered, dreamily, "oh, it is splendid to be an explorer like that. If I were a man, I would not rest until I had done what he has done, and more too. I think he is a grand character. He is what I have always. imagined a man should be. And then a man like you presumes to run him down behind, bis back! I would have more manliness than to be jealous of a great man, even if I hadn't the wits to be a great man man myself."
This was serious. What had Alphonse been coing?
"When did he tell you all this?" he asked, cautiously,
Last night, in the conservatory, after dinner I think I never had such a happy evening before. I will never say anything against African explorers again; I was a foolish child before and Mr. Wilde with his great life experience, and his magnificent character, has made me a woman. Ah! why am I telling you all this? I forgot you were there. But you must rever say a word against him again. I won't tolerate it."
So she had not gone to bed after all, and that was where Alphonse had been all the evening, He was beginning to doubt the simplicity of this country-bred damsel.
"I assure you had no intention of depre: ciating Wilde, we are immense chums, he and "Is your sister not well to-day?" he asked! I am glad he has interested you so much. Catharine with a sudden sensation of disappoint. Now tell me, Miss Joan, do you find African ment at the sight of the empty chair next his explorations as thrilling as Roman antiquities? He had merely meant to make a mild Joke own.
to change the conversation. But she sprang to her feet with red cheeks, and confronted him angrily.
"Oh yes, thank you. She generally stays out all day when it is fine like this," said Catharine, hastily. "Have you been for a walk this morning?"
"No-yes, I don't quite know. But i suppose she takes her books with her? She is such a student, is she not?" he continued, curiously. "-1-don't know—at least-diû you say fish, Mr. Marston ?" So the subject was dropped again.
Now you are laughing at me. How can you? No one has ever laughed at me before. I know I was a silly child the first night you came, I offer you my apologies for it. Is not that enough 7"
Certainly, she was unsophisticated. In a really distressed tone he was trying to justify himself in her eyes, when she turned and vani shed down a side path. He lost his way in attempting to follow her, and came in late to lunch and he sought out Alphonse when that
1861 v. 1899.
A HISTORICAL PARALLEL
claim. So the Transvaal holds that the ser
Not since April. 1861, when the Confederate guns facing Fort Sumter waited only the order to fire, and the whole manhood of the South was drilling and inning, has the world seen such a situation as exists to day in South Africa. But close as the parallel between the military situs tion then and now is, the parallel between the history of the diplomacy which led up to the Civil War in America and the diplomacy which has produced the present state off affairs in South Africa is still closer. It may, then, he worth our while to study it with some attention. In each case the issue was at first sight uncertain.. The South, like the Transvaal, knew what it wanted and was ready to go to all lengths to attain it. I had, through its chosen representatives, declared that slavery was legally and morally right, and it had not serupled to quote Scripture in defence of its situde of the Englishman or the Outlander for all practical purposes, one free one is murally, and pelitically right, and the same-is It cannot understand the frame of mind of those who declare with Abraham Lincoln that "the rule of a minority as a permanent arrange- ment is wholly inadmissible. A constitutional majority is the only true sovereign of a free people. Whoever rejects it dues of necessity fly to anarchy or to despotism." What now exists in the Transvaal is the coercion of the unarmed majority by a small minority armed to the teeth. Ifthat majority were of a less master- ful
temper than the average Englishman, the arrangement might exist for,some years more. But the Outlander being what he is, no peace can be purchased by any compromise which does not free him from his servitude. In the case both of the South and of the Transvaal, the party which stood up against progress and civilization believed in the justice of its cause. The Southerner was by temperament religious, Jefferson Davis, before he left Washington; | before the final rupture, wrestled in prayer offering up more than once the supplication: May God have us in His holy keeping, and grant that, before it is too late, peaceful conn- sels may prevail." Like President Kinger, be prayed, sincerely enough, for peace, but would do nothing to attain it. The fact that aman can lift his voice in prayer does not prove his cause just. Religion blessed the massacre of the Waldenses and the persecution of Dreyfus Like England the North had, for the hair. splitter, the worst of the diplomatic argument. For those who looked beneath the surface the binal issue was there plain ennagh, but then, men do not always look below the surface. If the purpose of the North was to maintain the Union, the paramountcy of progress and civil ization on the North American continent, it was open to the charge that the very existence of the United States testified to the right of seces sion. As the thirteen States had seceded from the British Empire, softhe Confederate States, it was widely argued, could secede from the Union, and any attempt to re-conquer them on the part of the North would be a war aggression and spoliation. Seward said openly that "with the attempt to maintain union by civil war there would be danger of reaction against the Administration," and hedged, though to his action and speeches in the past the critical position was in largemeasure doc. Chase, like Seward a prominent member of Lincoln's Cabinet, was for adjustment" in other words, surrender. Judge Nelson held that coercion could not be carried out without very serious violation of the constitu sion and statute." General Scott, the United States commander, was for saying "Wayward sisters, depart in peace." Simon Cameron, the Secretary for War, advocated peace by any sacrifice of feeling-I may say,of principle "
'BLOOD-GUN,TINESS."
أه
now
MINORITY RULE.
AMIGHT FIT THE SUN !
"A projectile would need to leave the earth Just at the present time there is a debaty as to which issue England shall tight upine with a velocity of about seven miles in a second virtual claim of the Boer to damiane South (neglecting the resistance of the atmosphere), in order to escape into space and go on for ever Africa, or the redress of the Outlanders' wrongs by giving the majority the power which can until it hit something. But on Eros a velocity, of 100ft. in a second would probably suffice. stitutionally inheres in it in a free State, so there was dispute in the North as to whether the Calculating in advance the mouiant when the stand should be made against the virtual lain earth would be nearest, and carefully regulat of the South in dominate in the Union; ining his initial speed and the direction of his defiance of its weaktiess in population, or upon flight, an inhabitant of Eros could, so far as the claim of the North to limit slavery. V really gravitation is concerned, have himself shot from a catapult so that.he would sail through space the two issues in either case were inextricably
and arrive on the earth." entangled, the one involving the other and the other including the one. Slavery in the one case, servitude in the other, is the institutins which bad got to go, "A house divided against itself cannot stand," and just as the South was bound to domine in the United States and to cry its cherished institution into the free States if the North had surrendered, su, if the Englishmay's subject position in the Transvaal is permitted to last longer, the Englishnian in Cap of the Dutch.
Colony must seiner or later become the Peace cannot exist
A VOYAGE TO. NATALA
ON BOARD THE TRANSPORT "SÚTLEJ.",
THE DEVONS AT SEA,
[PY ONE WHO WAS WITH THEM.]
As may be remembered, the Ilired Transport No. 12--the Sutlej of the P. and O. Service. left Bombay for Natal on September 1st with the major part of the 1st. Devonshires, the City of London also sailing on that date with the Headquarters Stall and the remaining part of the same Regiment. After sailing in company for twenty-four hours, the two
and continued the voyage alone and it was not ships gradually drew apart from one another auti? the morning of the 5th October that they again lay together off The Bluff at Port
Natal
while there is inequality of the white races on one side of an artificial line and equality on the other side. South Africa is by nature a whole, but is at this moment split in two divis sions by the action of an armed and reactionary minority. Just as in the United States the policy of peace at any price was trip by the North for years, with the result that. matters grew steadily worse, in South Africa peace and compromise his had a fair trial, with what success we know. Eighteen years of conciliation has brought us to the brink of
After the first two days at sea, when all war, and the sword alone can cut the Gordinhands had throughly shaken themselves. clear of the inevitable sea sickness, the men, knot of difficulty.
on the Sulle quickly settled into the way and NO COMPROMISE,
routine of ship board life and seemed to The lug," said President Lideon, in Decem-horoughly enter into and enjoy the novelty ber, 1860, bus to come, and better now than and duties of the fortnight's voyage through later. Entertain no proposition for a compro- which moderate seas and fine weather were mise. The instant you do so they have us experienced, though with occasional squalis of under again; all our labour is losi, and sooner rain in the vicinity of the equator or later must be done over again.". The con- The daily routine during the voyage was fiict, in the mind of this clear-sighted, moderate that which was best calculated to maintain. statesman, was an irrepressible" one-one the goal spirits and high state of efficiency. which had to be fought out, and which could in which the Devinstires embarker. At not be shirked or avoided. There can now be 3-30 am, the reveille was sounded and at no doubt as to the correctness of his views. 1.5-49 the troops tumbled up from the troop Arbitration was then, as now, paraded as a and upper decks, collected and stowed their remedy, and it is interesting and instructive blankets in the appoined place for the day, to see how he deals with it. "If the policy and received their" rations for the ensuing of the Government upon vital questions affect twenty-four hours. The time between this ing the whole people is to be irrevocably and nine o'clock was employed in rifle in fixed by decisions of a count," he said, spection," when the men, a certain number. instant they are made the people | each morning, filed before their company com will have ceased to be their own rulers, | mander, or officer, each with his weapon and having to that extent practically resigned their answerable individually for its cleanliness and government into the hands of that eminent | cfficiency. Al 7 o'clock breakfast was served, After the meal the troup decks were cleared Arial" Ta'find independent, disinterested
while the mess orderlies remained beb w tó. judges is impossible. The Continent is against
make ready for their daily inspection by the England, right or wrong. There are no rules which apply to the present cas, for inter Commanding Officer and Commander of the national law nowhere lays down that the cause slip. of progress is the right one. Moreover, an ime mediate decision must be reached; with the Alabama, Behring Sea, Delaga Bay, and Venezuela tribunals before us as example, we know, if we do not deceive ourselves, that this is impossible.
"the
We have seen that in 1861 the right of the North to interfere with the "domestic institutions" of the South was disputed. So to-day, England's right to intervene is impeached by the very journals which supported the United States in their just determination to end the Spanish misgovernment af Cuba-though Spain and Cuba were independent of the United States- and which clamoured for British intervention in Armenia and Crete, though Crete and Turkey were in no sense under the suzerainty or sovereignty of England. We have only to turn to the file of the Daily Chronicle for early 1898 if arguments are required. But the Little Englander is nothing if not illogical, and attempts to convince him are well-nigh. useless.
One last word. In. 1861 Lincoln's Govern ment were charged with failing to appreciate the seriousness of the military position. There exist today. The delays in the despatch of an adequate forte to South Africa have caused widespread uneasiness, and shaken the world's belief in England's power of organization and in her military resources.-P. 3. Gazette.
were reasons for their inaction which do not
A NEW WORLD.
IS THE RECENTLY DISCOVERED PLANET
INHABITED?
If the North made its stand upon, slavery, fresh difficulties arose. The negro's cause was not popular in the North, and just as English men are to-day adjured "not to kill their bro- ther Boers for worthless Jews, capitalists, and Outlanders, the scum of the earth" (see the Little England journals passin), so the North was adjured not to kill its brothers of the South for worthless niggers." The very sections who had fought most ardently for abolition trembled
that it had become a decisive issue. Horace Greeley, after scream- ing denunciations of the South, was seized with panic, and entreated the United States Government to surrender. Wendell Phillips declared: "Mr. Jefferson Davis is angry and
In about eighteen meaths from now the new planet Eros, whose accidental discovery a year Mr. Abraham Lincoln is mad, and they agree to fight...... Nothing but madness can provoke ago created such a profound sersation in astronomical circles, will be again comparative- A war." Read Kruger for Davis and Chambers or the earth, and for its tire careful lain for Lincoln, and we have one view of the situation to-day, Phillips went further and
study Professor E. C. Pickering, of the Harvard actually asserted, just as many of the Transvaal
Observatory, proposes to construct a special advocates do at this moment, that the South, telescope. had the right to manage its own domestic institutions without external interfence. Chan- cellor Walworth a distinguished Northerner said, "It would be as brutal to send men to butcher our brethren of the Southern States ns it would be to massacre them in the Northern States." Yet, has the judgment of posterity confirmed the opinions, and con demned Abraham Lincoln ? In Boston itself, | where' slavery had always been most hated." a very large and respectable meeting was em- phatically in favour of compromise."
JOHN BROWN AND JAMESON. Such moral cowardice, such inability to sec the palpable and overshadowing issues, is, as we know by painful experience, only too com mon among men, even those reputed the best and wisest. The sentimental, the timid, the disappointed politician, the man eager for notoriety, the wrongheaded, those who find themselves tied by previous utterances, are all apt to flinch in a great cruis. They see before them the certain risk and danger of war; their imagination conjures up vague alarms; and they do not perceive that there may be yet greater dangers in refusing "to
"No? That is a great pity," he said fervently, and wondered if she would talk this sort of bosh for a whole fortnight. He looked across the table to see how his friend was getting. The only glimpses he was destined to have on, The real Alphonse was discoursing of her that day were from his window. He brilliantly on some district of the world that was dressing for dinner in the evening, when Arthur concluded was meant to be Africa her voice again sounded from the path below, The eldest daughter, a slender sweet-looking rather subdued in tone, and without any accom- meal was over, in anything but a placid frame į risks and yet a democracy men too, are
girl, who had none of the affected airs of her sister, Joan, if she also had none of her coy prettiness, was listening with a gravity which showed that she was used to playing the patient listener in her own home and patur blushed with trepidation at some of the Arthur avild assertions the fellow was asking her to believe. waggon in the moonlight, and watched the lions walk down the road, snifing at the rug that covered me as they passed: And such moonlight as it is too; you do not know what moonlight is in England"
panying laughter.
"Oh, Joan, darling, how tired you look," said her sister's voice from the lawn, why did you stay out so late?"
of mind.
face the music,” In a. peculiarly apt to believe that the assurances of an adversary are given in good faith. Because Mr. Davis or Kruger has promised this or that, they must be taken at their word. It is natum that the doubters' own Government should be distrusted, but the enemy's Government must never be disbelieved. If this temper prevailed upon both sides in a negotiation, it would, Existing on one side only, as in 1861 or 1899, it is mischievous because it tends to favour a one-sided surrender.
Que penses-tu cried the volatile French- man with a burst of laughter, "I shall not break, her heart, I promise you. But she is a Don't be cross, Kate; 1 could not help it, it woman, and I am a man; and there is nothing was such a lovely day had been all over the else to do, pour passer le temps. What will hills and isn't it different when the sun goes It may mean nothing to you, but it is a in 7 Oh, need i come in to dinner? shoud serious matter to that child, and am respon
to bed, and I don't want to meet Lions? Why I have lain in my bullock- so like to 8 hate people who go and though our positions are ostensibly rovarsed. perhaps, contribute to a peaceful settlemant.
sible for you, Alphonse, while we are here al those men a explore a place you know nothing whatever We have neither of us any right to make love
things you are not in about, and then tell
Now, to a woman under an assumed name. a position to contradict."
do you understand?" The elder girl with cautious intent seemed "Perfectly, my dear friend; I entreat you not to be endeavouring to silence her, though in- to be alarmed. It shall go no further, on my effectually, for Joan" began again in a scarcely honour. At the end of the fortnight, only ten subdued key-
days more, nous verrous,"
.
What an instructive fact, murmured Joan thoughtfully, "I had no idea, they had a dif forent moon out in Africa; now, how can that be managed I wonder?
It is the same moon, but they keep it cleaner," explained Arthur.
Oh So you are an explorer too? How Improving it ought to be to have two explorers staying in the house a at once! Did you hear that;. Catherine ? Mr. Marston is an explorer “TOU,“
, as well as French scholar i hope I shall Ke able to resaam myself four asking him to many questions while he is here. You will rebuke me if I do, Mr. Marston," and she lifted. two blue eyes to his face with a look which was almost vacant In its simplicity,
Joan, dear, please don't, said her sister in a pained tone, though there seemed no-im- mediate cause for her tobuke.
**I don't care who hears me. They should'nt come spoiling everything. Nobody wanted them. He's just as bad as the other, with his great serious face and his stupid questions Why should we all be supposed to be soaked
"What a cursed arrangement it is, muttered Arthur, and there the matter dropped."
(To be concluded)
Eros belongs to the mysterious ring of the asteroids, but under the impulso of forces not yet clearly understood it bas wandered, or been driven, from the asteroidal zone, which lica between Mars and Jupiter, until now it swings in and out, across the spliers of Mars's orbit, and once every twenty-one months comes,
RUSHING INTO NEARER VIEW,
closer and closer, as if some strange affinity to the earth were drawing it on.
It was first detected at Berlin in August 1898, when it unexpectedly imprinted its image on a photographic plate exposed to the sky at the Urania Observatory. Astronomers were astounded at its nearness to our globe. The dimensions and mass of Eros are unknown. Undoubtedly, however, its most vastly exceeds that of any comet which Has ever been seen. Precipitated into collision with the earth, Professor Garrett P. Serviss points out, it could not fail to produce the most direful conse- quences. A dozen comets combined in one and darting upon the earth with all their force would not cause an equal disaster.
Flying through space at a speed of more than fifteen miles in a second, Eros would -strike a blow incomparably more terrific than that of a cannon-ball fifty miles in diameter, fired with the velocity of the swiftest modern projectile. It would not break nor tear, but would melt its way through the target. Rock would be turned to vapour where it struck!
But, Professor Serviss reassures the timid, no reason exists for apprehension. Eros is not going to harm the earth, but will furnish means of solving scientific questions which, but for its discovery, might have remained for ever unsolved.
Is Eros inhabited?
The planet certainly
All ducks and mess-tables were thatoughly swept and scrubbed, holes and coniers disinfected, mess utensils cleaned and brightened and everything rendered ship-simpe and correct before 10-30, when the senior officers made their round of inspection, visiting, ench part of the ship to ascertain that all was in a state of fitness, cleanliness and comfort. From the hours of 7-30, to 9-30, signalling parties were constantly at practice with the hand-flags; and from 9-30 to to-30 all available men-that is, as many as the upper decks would accom; modate were daily put through an hour's course of physical drill exercises as taught by Sandow, for the proper development of the, muscles muscles of whose existence one never: dreams until their use is demonstrated under the instruction of a sergeant on a rolling deck. The rest of the day was at the men's own dia- posal, but for the few required in fatigue parties to carry out necessary details of work, such as hauling upstores or stowing regimental baggage, etc. Dinner was served a 12-30 and supper. or lea al 4-30; the blankets were served out at. 6 and the troops were at liberty to coil up for the night on the troop decks or upon the humi cane deck, beneath the shelter of the awnings, The Last Post "the signal for silence and "lights out "was sounded at B-30, when the Orderly Officer and ship's Troop Officer made. rounds to ensure that all was en régle for the night.
The monotony of the voyage was relieved by reading and playing the various games, which, with an aniple store of books and papers, were supplied for the troops' use before the ship left Bombay. On certain afternoons, when the regimental sports were not under way, the Band, give selections and on two occasions smoking concerts were held on the quarter-deck, at which functions the men of Devon proved themselves by no means deficient in the sense of humour-or in their ability to completely enjoy themselves. The sports, organised by the officers, were attended by all, and the various events, including the time. honoured potato race, wheel-barrow-race, etc, there that three afternoons were occupied were keenly contested; so many entries were
before the Finals" could be played of A matter of great excitement was a tug-of-war between the N. C. O's and Officers--won, by the bye, in a walk-over by the Officers;
The ship made in speed various runs of from 270 to 320 miles a day and throughout the whole
voyage met with but one other vessel, and caught just but two glimpses of land
of Agalega Island and the southem ex tremity of Madagascar, passed on and- October: It was not until the moming of the 4th when the Purnea, from Calcutta, carrying the both Rifles, drew near enough in order to signal, that any communication was oblaineble outside the ship. Attempts were, made to signal to and from the ships by means: of the heliograph, but it was found that owing. to the heeling or pitching it was impossible ta, direct the rays.
The Sulle anchored off Durban in the fore noon of sth October. The Purnea followed closely, and within an hour or so the City of Lon but also dropped her anchor in the road- siend
The troops were disembarked in, the most wretched weather and entrained immediately. on arrival alongside the quay at Port Natal, The Rifles left during the afternoon, and the Devons, in three trains, were all despatched towards Ladysmith as soon afterwards ás possi. ble. The last train, its open trucks packed with men, commenced its climb towards, the uplande shortly before midnight.-Exchange,
Moses, H. E. H. McLean, Grace H, McRay, A. L. MacDonald, Mrs. E Moune, G. H.
UNULAIMEN LETTERS AT THE POST OFFICE.
Letters for the following persons in un- has not an atmosphere like that of the earth, In another respect 1861 and 1899 run on for je is so small that its fofce of gravitation parallel lines. Both the North and England cannot suffice to retain such gases as oxygen claimed at the Post Office by and nitrogen. Nor has it water.
Ah Moo, Mrs. had been to some extent put in the wrong
- Marthens; A.. "Yet," contends Professors Serviss, "what Allsopp, G. F. E. previous violence to thais adversarias, John
right have we to gasert that intelligence and Ahbasa. Brown's incursion into Virginia was not the
life are impossible where we cannot exist for Almond, R. W. disgraceful and dishonourable fiasco that the Jameson Raid was but it could scarcely be lack of something to breathe or to drink; Abbott, E. justified, except on the broad issue that slavery, Thought is not circumscribed by the air nor by Allhusen, Mr. E. like the servitude of the Outlanders, was mor the occans.
"Blake, Ri E. A very little indulgence of the imagination, Barnett, A. in antiquities just because papa hates every "Sir," began the seedy-looking individual as ally wrong, Brown at least fought to the last,
death of a saint, stirring the based on terrestrial facts, will show curious Beeck & Co., A. thing that isn't two thousand years old He be approached the cashier in a down-town and died the should have had more sense should like to office, have seen better days, and if you will religious North its very foundations. His scenes among the suppositious inhabitants of Brooks, Captain tre hh mit with day on the hills, it would kindly render me a little assistance soul, as the great wansong of the Union troops Eros. If they chase they could celebrate the Bingham,Į. E. do him lots of good."
very sorry, interrupted the cashier, "but I can
meeting of their planet and the earth by send- Barker, A. M. ran, "weat marching on
ing out into space projectiles which, if properly | Baber, Miss Z. do nothing for you today. Charity should for which he died. Jameson's raiders left no begin at home, you know. Thank you, sir," such example of devotion, and to that extent directed, would eventually reach the earth. Blum, M.
Bird, E. G. replied the mendicant as he extracted a memo their failure was far more disastrous to Eng Eros may not be more than twenty miles in randum book and pencil from a mysterious ligh interests than was the failure of Brown to diameter, and, on that supposition, a strong Bukal, Jacob
man standing upon its surface could throw a Balmer, Miss J. recess in his apparel, What is your homeNorthern Interests. Both incidents increased address, please, and what time shall I call 2". the exasperation on either side.
stone which
Buckley, P.
The stage of his toilet did not allow Arthur to make his presence known by announc ing from the window that nothing would please him better than to be punished in this manner; and Gatharine evidently belleved so little in the efficacy of the
to secure the cause
...
McLeod, Mr. and Mrs,
Maldajad, P. Marcovich, S.
SMArthur, Mrs.),
Maclagan, Misad
Martini, Sig Nathan Sons, N, P, Nissim, L. R. Olbes, F.... O'Donoghue, Miss M. Odin, L
Paul W. E.
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