Ontario Community Newspapers

Flesherton Advance, 12 Mar 1885, p. 2

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A I Ik* -Ml. lll.lg UtO, . Tne furnace lifts IU wtlli of black, A it uliinTii 'Hi Ik (mm i-n.l to end ; And througb th ^nuiy chimney utuck ( iiunuiml t'.auu- anil uuuku aiceud ; Tbe mgbt ooiues down witb wind and hail, A hhul vim crowd, uu toy rain ; Tbe tim ben creak ID every gile, The iiui<ti bowli at every |*ne : Dolicioui con of roiy beat, Alluring belter, huge anil warm, To begcari drenched in luow and iltet, The dri'lmg outcast* u( the bturui ' At that i Jo iluor rude iiuapei api>ear ID one thick swirl ul uuiuuiiug uuw ; With luirth ami jit aud savage cheer The bourn ul darkneeii coma ami gu I No ooTcr thin (or ebon n friendi. No happy roof of mau anil maid ; A chiinuey hot (or larger uii.lt*. A hearth fur ruder purpose laid ! All iiiuht their Hwrlteriug nre are fed, Ttu-ir mighty bellow* roar again Who keep tbe du-ky forges red, With brawuy labor Mtving men. Tbe black-bruwril idlers, straggling in, The hardy miaeri, tough aud t>uiall, Tbe kuDtty (oieman, wared of (kin Tbli gvuerou* roof receive! them all. The voicts rie. the uiru retreat, Tumultuom clamor strikes tbe town, When, white with overpowering heat, Tbe molten mail comet puriug down ! THAT MAUTIFIJL RIVER. CHAPTER XLM1I. "Laurie 1 Laurie I come aud carry my flowers for me ! ' called a voice. It was swret aud clear as a chime of silver bells, bu . it pieiotd St. Leon Le R jy's bear! like a i>word-[oiut. It thrilled and quivered through him, itirritig him witb a blended joy aud pain. He littened, and again tbe wet voice cried : " Come, my ion ! Mamma ii waiting for you." They were calling at Belle Vue St. Lean and hi* mother. Mr. Ford bad enter tained them gracioutly in tbe ipleudid blne-and-gold drawing room, but Mrs. Lynn oould not be found. " Sbe must be out walking," said ber uuole diiappoiutedly, and after a while he itviitd them to come out into the rose-garden. Sbe might be there, he said. It was a favorite haunt of ben. So, in tbe (retinnesi and beauty of the July morning, they went out into tbe gravelled patbi lying wbitely in tbe inn- soiue, forming such an exquisite contrast to tbe green grass and tbe beds of glori- ous ever blooming rose*, witb tbe moruing dew (till shining on their bright petal* ; and while they walked that voice same to 8t. Leon like an echo of tbe buried past- dead and buried for eight long years. " Sbe is here. I will bring ber to yon," Mr. Ford said, nervously, itarting away from them ; and they pause by a little oryital fountain throwing up diamond spray into tbe clear, bright air, and wait St. Leon with bis heart beating strangely, Drilled to blended ecstaoy and d spair by a voice. 'Her voice is like " Mrs. Le Roy oegms ; then shut* her lip* ovsr the nnipoken name, vexed with berielf that she was about to tadden the tenor of ber idol'* thoughts. " Let us walk on a little further," be amends abruptly, and a few more step* bring them open a picture. Mr. Ford has found bia oieoe. He i* (tending talking to ber earnestly, making no move to return to hi* guest*. Perhape be is explaining to her tbe fact of tbsir pre senoe. " Am I going mad ?" St. Lwn asks him self, witb stern, set lips and wildly staring eye*. She Ii not ol as, as I divine ; Bbe comti from another, itiller world of tbe dead. Tbe tide of years rolls backward. He ha* forgotten Mrs. Lynn, tbe authoress, as if tbe bad never been. This slender, stately woman with ber white hand resting lightly on Mr. Ford'i arm i* a ghost from the past ; tbe dark, uplifted eyes, tbe tender crimson mouth, tbs waving, golden hair, are like ben whom, for a little while, be believed to be an angel, but finding her only a faulty mortal, be had sternly put away from him. 83 like, so like, tbat be oannot take bis eyet from the white -robed form with tbe wide iun-hat tilted carelessly back from tbe low white brow with its cluster- ing waves cf sunny hair, and tbe white bands full of roses, most of them dewy crimson, as if sbe loved that color best. While be gazes like one itupified, they turn and walk toward him. St. Leon i* oooEoious of a little admonitory pinob administered by bis mother's slim fingeri, and tries to rouse himself to the occasion. In a minute he is conscious of a lamentable failure as be meets Mrs. Lynn's dark eyes upturned to his in oalm surprise. Sbe is by far tbe cooler of the two, and directly he finds biauif walking by her Bide along tbe gravelled path, the elder couple pacing sedately after them. He is aware that be has not distinguished himself in thin meeting with tbe gifted authoress. His words have been few and incoherent not worthy of St. Leon Le Roy. He rallies) himself with a desperate effort and make* the first remark that comes into bii head : " You like flower*, Mrs. Lynn ?" ia tbe hackneyed observation. " I love them," the answers, quickly, and be is mitantly reminded of another who "loved," not "liked, "the fragrant, dewy darlmgi. " Yon see, I bave gathered almost more tban I oan carry," *he goes on, looking lovingly at tbe great bunch in her hands. " I called my eon Laurie to help me, but be is chasing a butterfly, I dare say, and out of sound of my voice." " Permit me," be *ays, taking them oour teonsly from ber, and at tbe unavoidable touch of their bandi a hot crimson finih mounts to bu brow, bis heart beat* pain- fully. " I mutt go away from her presently,' be says to himself, impatiently. " I have no self possession at all. What a ninny Mn. Lynn must believe me. And yet and yet, she is so like a ghost from my dead pant that I lose my tenses looking on her perfect face!" " We have aome very rare flower* al Eden," be says, " I bops yon will come and see them since you are to fond of them Yon shall carry away all yon like." "Thank yon. I shall be sure to come,' she answer*. " I know I have h:ard, 1 mean that tbe flowers at Eden are won derfnl." " I hop* they will justify yonr expecta- tions," be lays. " Shall we sit down here and rest, Mri. Lynn ? Yon must be tired ?" They sit down on a rustle bench side by lids, and tbe elderly couple follow luit at some dwtanoe. It is a lovely morning and a lovely scene. Tbe golden sunshine sifts down through e .fy bough* all about them, tbe air is sweet witb tbe song of birds and tbe breath of dowers, tbe blue waves of the Hudton are visible at some little distance lending additional beauty to the charming scene. Mr*. Lyun looks away to the river and St. Leon looks at her, trying to oouvitoe him- self tbat her likeness to the dead is not so great as be had fancied. " Laurel was a girl this is a woman," be tells himself. He is right. Mrs. Lynn it vsry young, but tbe sweet gravity, tbe exquisite msjesty of womanhood are Btauipeu on ber pure, white brow. Thought, intellect, experience, are blended with ber mil youthful beauty, iu oharoiing combination. Laurel bad been a beautiful rosebud, Mrs. Lynn was a per- ftotrose. And yet he sbid to biumelt Laurel at twenty-live would bave beeu Mra. Lynn'i counterpart. While ehe looked dreamily offal the river with those dark, heavily fringed eyes aud be looked at her, a silence fall between them. It was broken by the laughter of a child. A beautiful boy oame running down tbe path toward them and stopped at bis mother's knee. " Ob, mamma, I am so tired," be panted, breathlessly, bis rosy lip* parted witb happy laUKhter, " and I did uot catch my beautiful butteitly after all !" Tbe lovely youug mother turned toward ber child. Her obeek was very pale, there was a strange light in ber dark eyes. " Laurie, do you cot see tbe geutleman ?" sbe said. " Uo and speak to him. Mr. Le Roy, tbis ii my stu, Laurence." He did uot blame ber tor the sweet ring of triumph iu her voice. The boy waa as Uandsome and spirited as a little prince. He had great, fltuhiog dark eyes aud olueter- ing dark hair combined with perfect featuree at once proud and gentle. Hi* beautiful rosy lipi seemed made for smile* aud kisses. Ui dark-blue velvet suit bet t if hi* tine tpirited little ngure to tbe greatest perfection. Mr. Le Roy drew tbe manly little fellow to bii side. 1 am very ulad to make the acquaint anoe of so important a person as Mrs. Lynn's son," be said. " Ho* old are yon, Master Laurence ?" Almost eight," said tbe little lad, and bis mother amended in a low voice, that bad somehow a strange quiver in its sweet- nesr, " Seven and a half, Mr. Ls Roy." Then in a sadder cadence, " Tbe only ton of bii mother, aud she i* a widow." ' I have no papa, Mr. Le Roy," laid the manly little fellow, in a tone of regret. Other boy* bave fine times witb their papa*, they tell me, but I do not even remember mine. He died before I waa >orn." Do not weary tbe gentleman witb a recital of your family history, my dear," interposed bin mother, gently. "Go now and speak to tbe lady who is sitting with Uncle Carlyle." Tbe child went away, followed by Mr. Le Roy's glance. He could not understand tbe strange yearning that drew him to tbe princely little lad. " I have fancied you must be very proud of tbe books you have written, Mrs. Lynn," is said impulsively. " I can fancy tbat yon are prouder still ol your son." " 1 am," sbt answered, in a voice full of love and pride. " I oannot tell you bow I love my boy, Mr. Le Roy. It stems to m* tbat be is tb* most beautiful, tbe most intelligent, toe most loving Isd in tbe orld. Do you blame me .'" suddenly lift- ing ber dark, grave eye* to bis face. " Should not you be proud of snob a ton, Mr. L* Roy ?" No, I do not blame you," be answered. I am quite inre I should be proud ot inch a fine little son." and a thrill of Borrow and self-reproach went through him a* be recalled the words hi* mother bad spoken to him eight long years ago. " In a liule bile there would have been au heir to Eden." A buried hope ! Ah 1 if only he had t>eeu a little less hard and oold ! II only Laurel bad told him ber precious secret ! He must bave forgiven ber then. He could not have withheld bit pardon. There was tomething in Mn. Lynn'i tone be oould not understand. Waa it a taunt at bis childlessness T Or was it only a mother's triumph iu her treasure ? H* looked at tbe beautiful faoe. It was faintly flushed, tbe drooping lasbes were dewey witb unfallen tear*. Some deep emotion stirred ber heart and made the roses on ber breast rise and fall with its intensity. While he puzzled over it, there oame a startled ory from Mr. Ford. Mrs. Le Roy bad fallen from ber seat in a dead faint. St. Leon hastened to her. They raised ber up, but it was some little time before be recovered. None oould understand what bad caused ber twoon. ' Sbe waa sitting with Laurie on ber knee talking very brightly and pleasantly, and quite suddenly all at onoe, as it were ber arms dropped from around tbe child and the fell like one dead," said Mr. Ford. I oannot understand it. Has yonr mother any heart disease, Mr. Le Roy ?" " None, but she it not very strong," St. Leon answered. " 3bs very seldom goei out." Then she opened her eyes and looked at him. " Take me home, St. Leon," she said, " I am very tired." Mn. Lynn pressed her cordially to remain at Belle Vne until shs waa better " No, I oinoot stay now," Mri. Le Roy aniwered gravely. " But you will pardon my dieplay of weakness, Mr*. Lynn, and you will oome to see me soon will yon not?" Mra. Lynn promised with a smile tbat she would certainly accept tbe invitation " And theobild yon will be sure to bring him .'" said Mrs. Le Roy, kitting the won during little faoe. "It yon wish it," absented the beautiful young authoress, and ber face grew paler still when Mrs. Le Koy impulsively kissed ber cheek. St. Leon wondered why ber small band was so oold a* be pressed it lightly at parting. He would have woo- dtred yet more could he bave seen the white agonized fane sbe turned upon Mr Ford when they bad gone away. CHAPTER XL1X. Carlyle Ford went up to the oeautiful woman and took her oold trembling bands gently in bit. Sbe was a pale an death and she shivered as if an ioy wavs had irokeu over ber. 11 My dear, this baa been too much for ron," he said. " 1 ee now that we should lever bave oome hire." aim. Lynn did not answer. Sbe only drew ber white bands from his, and, sick- ng down, covered hi r face witb them. Hue remained thus some minutes), aud her uuole saw that the bright tears were rain- ing througb ber nogerr, and her graceful iguie heaving with deep emotion. The child had returned to his sport witb tbe butterflies aud flowers as soou as the visitors departed. They were aloue, and in a little wkile Mr*. Lynn looktd up and brushed tbe tears from her beuaiiful I Perhaps you are right," she laid. " It may be tbat I wan wrong to meet him at 11. But 1 had tbe greatest lotigiug to see him after all these year*. And, after all, I vras no coward, uuole Carlyle. I did nut bftsk down before Aim. I was oalm aud proud. He did not dream tbat I was othualhau I teemed." No, you played your part well," he said. I was delighted witb your dignity aud grace. Mr. Le Roy was the more agitated of tbsUwo. He was struck by the resem- >lauoe. He showed deep, though repressed emotion." I think you give him credit for too much feeling," cried Mn. Lynn, with a toorofnl flash in ber dark eyes. " He has !orgotten long ago." Perhaps so," said Mr. Ford, " yet I am inclined to thiuk otherwise. And tbe lady sbe oould not keep her eyee off you and tbe child. She oould uot help seeing tbe .ikeness between hrr son and your son, I'm sure. It was startling. The boy i* muoh more like Mr. Le Roy than he in like you. Tbe same hair and eyes, the same proud !eaturee, ouly he has your beautiful, tender mouth. Why did tbe lady faint '.'" I oannot tell," Mn. Lynn aniwered, drearily. " I think she was unnerved by tbe resem- blance. It brought back the paet too vividly, ily darling, they bave not forgotten, as you think. I foresee a reconciliation," be aaid. Never !" ci led Mn Lynn, with aurling jp* and flashing eyes. " I may be weak enough to care for him still, but I oan uever forget, and I will never return to nm. I am a child no longer. I am a woman, aud ciy pride is equal to bis own!" The handsome, kindly faoe of old Mr. Ford looked grave and puzzled. " My dear, IB it right to cherish such pride ?" be asked, elowly. " Were it not setter to oondoue Ibe past to forgive and forget ? Are you right to keep tbe heir of tided from hU own t" " rode Carlyle, are yon anxious to get rid of me ?" asked tbe lovely, gifted woman, wistfully. No, no, desr 1 What should I do without you and tbe boy ?" be cried. But I do not went to be seltinb ; I do not want to keep St. Leon Le Roy's happiness from aim." Tbe warm color flashed into ber cheeks ; she laughed bitterly. His happiness!" she cried. His hap- piness ! In hi* pride and cruelty he threw it away. He is at proud and oold now at ie wss then. He would take me back no sooner now tbau bs would then. Hut why do ws talk ot tbess things ? He will never lave tbe apftauoe. He will never know tue truth. Tkey have raised a costly monn- nisuttoBt. Leon Le Roy's belored wife- lot them that is tbe end." " Eight years," be said, musingly. At least be has been faithful to her memory. It ie strange tbat be ha* not married again if not for love, at least for the lake of an heir." Sbe caught ber breath sharply , ber lovely faoe grew deathly white. " Married ! married '." the cried, iharply. Why do you talk of luob tbingt, I'uole Carlyle ?" "I did not mean to pain yon, Laurel," he aniwered. " But, my dear, it teems 10 strange. Le Roy has a prinoely estate and fine old name. It would be only natural if he should ih to Isave it to bis own descendants." " So be shall," tbe taid. " When I am dead, he shall have Laurie. I have every- thing arranged in the clearest fashion. There will be no dittioulty in proving bis identity. But, t'nole Carlyle, do not let us talk of these thing. They hurt me." II You want to be alone," be said. Very well, dear ; I will go and play witb my boy. Forgive me for Haying tboee things that burl you ; I did not mean to do to." H* went away, aud Laurel innk down wearily, ber bauda clinched tightly together, a look of woe and dread on her lovely face. Married again '" she uttered, hoarsely. Well, and it be should, what is there to prevent him ? Could I speak ? would I apeak? No! And yet-ab, Heaven! tbe fatal glamor is on me still. It is a mad love nothing lets I" Tbe wind sighed in the treet, the mur- mur of the rivir oame to ber softly, tbe sweet oalm day seemed to woo ber to for getfulness, but tbe beautiful woman who bad won fame and wealth and honor iu those long yean since sbe had been put away from her bnaband'i heart, tat silent, with a look of mute despair on her fair young faee. Tbat mad love, that terrible temptation of ber girlhood, bad spoiled her life. ^. "It is a mad love," she repeated to herself. " How my face burned, aud my heart beat, when I met him. All tbe old madness surged up within me, tbe love, the sorrow, the shame at my deceit. It it a wonder I did not fall down dead st hii feet ! No one ever loved more deeply than I loved 8t. Leon Le Roy," the went on, after a pause. " If be bad forgiven my fault tbat night when he bad found me out, I should have been the bappieit woman in the world, initead of being tbe most wretched, as I am I Ah I why did I ever oome back here ? It was a blind mistake It has reopened tbe old wound, and it ii bleeding, bleeding. Ah, heaven, shall 1 never learn indifference? Shall I never aear my cureless wound ? I must go away soon. I was weak and wild ever to bave oome here witb Unele Carlyle." CHAPTER L. 81. Leon Le Roy and his mother had a very quiet drive homewards. Both were bu*y witb their own thought*. The lady leaned back against the cushions of the phaeton with closed eyes, and a look ol grave thought on ber pale, wan features. St. ) ,t<on. with hi* calm, dark eyes, and sternly set lipi, wasjim much absorbed an "he waa in grave earnest thought. He sat very quietly holding tbe rein*, and neither spoks until bey bad reached home. Then, when they were sitting together, St. Leon, witb an open book before him, ber keen eyes noted that he bad uot turned a page tor bait au tour, aud she spoke abruptly : St. Laon, what do you think ot tbe amoua authoress ?" His bead dropped still lower over bis look, as be answered quietly : Sbe i* very beautiful aud brilliant. 1 had not expected to find ber to young aud 'air." Sbe it tbe loveliest woman I ever saw," said Mr*. Le Roy. 1 YIH," be answered, simply, in bis gravely q'jial tone. He din uot care to talk. He was like oneiuaitrange, trance-like dream. HUeoul lad been shaken and stirred to its depths >y the beautilul woman who bad flashed jufore him with hi* dead wife's fsoe and Toioe aud the orimnon roses in her bauds, such an Laursl bad loved to gather. The tide of time rolled backward, aud in place of tbe proud, oalm woman, the gifted genius before whom he bad bowed to-day, oame a vision of a simple, dark-eyed girl, wandering througb the grounds at Eden, Hitting among the fragrant flowers, herself tbe fairest rose of all. Did she love fcioa, tbat beautiful impostor, St. Leon Le Roy isked himself, as be bad done many times lefore in tbe eight years, while that mar- >le oroa* bad towered above the dead heart, whose secret now would never be told ? Did sbe love him, indeed ? Had she siuued through ber love, not for wealth and position as he had believed that terrible igbt? And there oame baok to him througb tbe mist of years tbe memory of .hat beautiful, tearful face, and tbe plead ng voice. " Ab, if only I had forgiven ber !" be said to himself, in au agony of remorse ai.d regret. " Sbe loved me. I was mad to doubt it. Save for ber one fault, ber one deception, Laurel Vane was pure and true aud innocent. I was bard and oold. Few men but would bave forgiven her tucb a transgression for love't sake." Hit faoe fell forward on tbe open pages >f tbe book where be bad been reading drearily enough some mournful linet tbat teemed to fit his mood : (ilitteri tbe dew and sblnss tin river. L'p cotueii tbe lily and drlei ber bell, Hut two ar walking apart forever And wave their bands for a mute farewell. A light touch fell on the bowed bead wboee raven look* were threaded witb silver that grief, not time, had blanched. He glanced up, startled, into bis motbsr's wistful faoe. 1 Well," be said, with a slight contraction of his straight, dark brow*. There was a itraoge, repressed emotion n her faoe as she answered : " It is not uvH, St. Leon. You are unnerved, troubled, thoughtful eveu beyond our wont. Will yon forgive me fcr atking why ?" Tbe dark inscrutable eye* looked at ber gravely. " I might turn your deedi upon yourself ," ie laid. Why did you faint in the gardeu at Belle Vne to-day?" (She flushed and then grew very pale again. I will tell you tbe truth," sbe said, " or a part of it at least. I was unnerved and startled by tbs terrible resemblance of tbe oeautiful Mrs. Lynn to " My lost wits," be said, slowly, filling up ber paicful pause. So yon notioed it ?" she laid. Could cne help it?" he asked ID bis slow, repressed voice. " Why do you call it a terrible resemblance, mother ?" She is so like, 13 like she is tbs living image of what Laurel must bave been now if she lived ! And the obild, St. Leon, tbe child "ibe broke down suddenly, and burst into wild, hysterical sobbing. Shocked by the passionate grief eo unusual in his itately lady -mother, be drew hi* arm tenderly around ber and led ber to a seat, kneeling down humbly before ber. Mother, doe* tbe old wound still ache o bitterly ?" he said, in blended pity and remorse. " I bad tbonght tbe pain of it was past. Ah, I oan never forgive myself for tbe madness, tbe cruelty, tbat robbed von of tbe daughter you loved !" 1 And the grandchild I expected," she sobbed, bitterly. " Ab, St. Leon, I oan never forget bow my hopes were blasted ! Forgive me for those weak tears, my son. All tbe old regret and sorrow wsrs ttirred anew in my heart to-day by the sight of Mrs. Lynn and ber beautiful obild." He nad no answer for her. He was too proud and reserved to tell bis mother tbe truth tbat he, too, bad been shaken by a ghost from tbe past tbat day. He knelt by ber silently, letting ber sob out all ber griel and sorrow against hi* shoulder, and when ibe had grown calmer he said, gently : " Mother, dear, you must not tee tbit Mrs. Lynn again. It agitates you too much. After all, it is only a resemblance. She might not feel flattered if sbe knew tbat we compared ber with my simple, little girl-wife, dead so long ago. Let me take you away to tbe leasbore or tbe mountain* while Mrs. Lynn remains at Belle Vne." But (be negatived tbe preposition in extreme alarm. " It could only afford me pleasure to see Mrs. Lynn again," she declared, " I love ber for her likeness to tbs dead. I am unwiiliog to loss a single chance of seeiut ber. And I promise you, St. Leon, tbat 1 will not lose my elf -control again at I die to-day in the first shook of meeting ber. 1 will be as oalm and oold at the is." CHAPTER LI. A few days later Mr. Ford brought hi* niece and ber son to oall at Eden. Tbe brilliant writer looked very elegant and diitinguitbed in ber dresa of soft, rich black silk and lace. A dainty bonnet ol black lace and gleaming jet rested on the dark golden waves of her hair, and let cf to tbe greatest advantage her blond loveli ness, lighted by tuob dark and ntar-like eye*. A toft color glowed on ber rounded oheeki, and ber eyes were bright witb repressed excitement, but no trace of her heart 't emotion showed in her oalm, gra- cious manner as ibe bowed to ber band some host and greeted hi* itately mother, Sbe bad schooled herself to calmness, and no heartless queen of society ever bore her- **lf witb more nonchalant ease and outward coldness than did Laurel in the boor when *be re-entered tbe borne she bad left long year* before, a wretched, despairing child, for whom life teemed over and done. Now, as tbe stepped aorors the threshold, a beau- tiful, proud, anoeestful woman, whom tbs world delighted to honor, the remembered thai broken-hearted child witb a pang of >itterness tbat steeled her heart to tbe Hoftnest tbat bad melted it for a moment. Sue would be cold aud calm for tbe sake of the girl to eruelly put away from ber bus- >and's heart, so cruelly misjudged and scorned. Yet, as it all runbed over ber again, sbe wondered as ube bad wounored over and over in tbe past, buw she bad ivi-d through ber sorrow that sorrow vhiob sbe bad said so many times would kill ber when it oauie. Tbe day dragi through, though morale keep out tbe BUII, Aud thai th* heart will break, yet brikenly live on. Sbe said tbe pathetic lines over to her- self, wearily, eveu as she touched Hi. Leon's land with her owu and luokud at him witb a smile a imile bright but cold like a moouliubt on snow. He bad no ausweiiog smile lu return. Hii faoe wan almost u>rn iu its marble pallor aud intensity of repressed emotion. His firm white band was cold a* ice as it touched tbe rosy palm so graciously exteuded ; bit voice gad a strange tone, eveu to himself, as he wel oumed ber to his home. ' Tou have the most beautiful borne on tbe Hudeon. Eden is far more beautiful than Belle Vne," she taid to him, with ber bright, oold smile. 'I am glad you like my home. It will always have au added obarm iu my eyea since Mrs. Lynn has deigned to praue it," 9i. Leon answered, gallantly. Bbe thanked him almost mockingly, and then their conversation turned upon tbe safe ground of generalities upon art, and Books, and foreign travel, where both were at home. He found Mrs. Lynn his equal in every sense. Her mind was rarely cultured aud stored with knowledge, her thoughts were beautiful and crystal clear. Bbe held ber owu with the ea*e aud grace cf one who knew tbe world, yet retained tbe native innocence and frankness of a child. St. Leon's hauteur aud reserve n.elted before tbe obarm of her manner, and he became his natural self again . meeting ber on her own ground with piliebed words aud brilliant thought*. Their glances met each other's calmly, telling LO tales of that "auld lang tyne" when " eyes looked love to eyes that spake Two mak*n ! what had they to 'to Witb vowi foresworn and loves untro* ' Mrs. Le Roy gave her attention to Mr. Ford and tbe child. Sbe bad drawn little Laurence to a seat by ber tide, and was showing bin. some fine engraving*. Sbe could act keep her fascinated eyes from tbe beautiful, spirited, boyish faoe tbat bore *uoh a itartling resemblance to tbat of ber own son. Mr. Ford watched her closely, and be saw tbat bar heart had gone out to the obild, and that she was trying to win bii love in return. He looked on approv- ingly, longing in tbe depth* of hi* unselfish heart, for a reconciliation between tbe long parted bnaband and wife. iTo be eontloaed.) M I I'l \ I I I OK II tl III I .111. A < Ily in !>,,,. \t .in, n W k. t , . Wsrhrn. On Friday morning I looked out of my cabm window to nnd that we were tied up at tbe most yellow wharf tbat I ever saw, and in front of a large, barn-like building. I did not dream that we were at Asuncion, but, going on deck, found that tbe barn was tbe custom -house for Paraguay, and tbat wbsn ws went ssbore we were in tbe city of the republics incognita. A very nice little city we found it to be. Not tbat it n pretty or pretentious, or worth visiting but it is an enterpriting, republican, go-ahead place. Most of the bousee are small and old, and are built without any regard to being on tbs streets. Yon cannot imagine a more irregular assemblage of bouses, but the symmetry with which the public build- ings ars built offset this. Tbe President's bouse, Government House, arsenal, barracks and custom-house stand on wide boulevards and, with the exception of tbe latter, ars as well built as tbe similar buildings in any American city of tbe same rank. The word " asuneion," you know, is not Spanish for " ascension," a* we used to believe when icbool boys, but (or assume tion, and in the case ot the Paraguayan city i* well bestowed, for it is not often in South America tbat there oan be found a city that is more assuming politically socially and generally. Appropriations ars voted by Congress, and that body alto fixes the salaries of ths officials. Tbe President receives 10,000. tbe Vice President 18.000, the Ministry ?l,50o. Congressmen t.500, and the judges of the Supreme Court 1150. The population is about 100,000, and what i* strauge about i* tbat there are only iifl.OOO men and 370 000 women. < if course, tbe female* are the farmer*, producer* and laborert. They work slavishly, and are very poor. While tbe men lit at home and drink and smoke they indefatigably toil and lupport tbe families. Waahec >n,,,,. A Portlsnd sailor said the other day, " I hope I will die at sea, for it would be lone some in tbs graveyard." George Peabody's birthday is no longer publicly observed in the town in which he waa born, and which now bears hit name. A dsy nursery for children whose parents work in the mills i* soon to be started in Manchester, N.H., under tbe auspioet of the city missionary, Mm Mary E Oray. A singular hole has been discovered in the solid granite ledge on Star Island Isles of Shoals. It is five feet six inche* deep and two feet three inches in diameter, and perfectly circular. It is situated just above high water mark, and when diicov- ered was packed full of pebbles and gravel. It has been christened " Neptune's Punob Bowl." Rev. Amasa Southworth, of the Portland Bethel, ha* some 400 small libraries, which be lends to sailor*. Hs makes the book- cases bimself, and (ills them with books of amusement, history, fiction, biography and travel, witb such religions works as are practical and Interesting, instead of doc- trinal and dogmatic. These libraries are exchanged whenever tbe vessel which has one returns to port. Because Patti cried or made believe sbe did when singing " Home, Sweet Home," in St. Louis, a paper in a rival city says " Ths thought of home i* enough to make anybody weep that is, if they happen to be temporarily ifjourning in St. Lottil."

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