Ontario Community Newspapers

Flesherton Advance, 28 Sep 1893, p. 2

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KERSHAM MANOR. -'H.U'TKK III. IfXANIl AND Viirt. "Tin- ptlnf il ulem.mi in companionship i' .n. but difference of tir- iwramcnt. ' - JOHN Moid . \ Mrs. Deuison had not been a happy wife, congeries of congregation* under one head WM called, and me minister'* wife was jri no wy responsible for the varying de- grees of comfort aud convenience w.iicn her family might enjoy. Luckily for Mrs. D.-nison, her ..-iilistic buV.be Mldom put hV mi happiness into faculty had not been large'y developed. Ho'r I*. The fact* of her history jrere very ' ' s he had simple taste*, and wa* well con nnpl. A book-seller'* daughter ahe bad t-nt to accept what WM given tolwr by the lived the tirt twenty-two year* of her life : wife of the chief orticial of the congregation in a large provincial town in the north of M" " Circuit Steward " was his proper England. Here a young bank clerk bad won designation upon whom it devolved to see ber heart, and jilted her for a woman in a | that the household linen wat sufficient and higher social position. Mr. Denison Ihen I that ihe eup* and saucers would go round. came to the town ami wooed her without | Of course these matten depended on the knowiug of her previous "disappointment." , >* and the wealth of the congregation. She WM too *hy, too reticent to do more who paid expeiMo*. Hence cama much than hint to him that ihe had uffere-d ; and '. picinresnue variety into tho preacher*' live*, he WM not a man to lake a hint very quick- Mr*. D'.MIISOII had known what it WM to ly.even when ihe told him that she thought ' leve a really fine house, " well found " in he could "never love again." Not till after I everything, and take up her abode in a the marriage did he due-over thai she had [ badly-built cottage in the country a veri- been actually engaged to another man; and taHle cottage with biick floors and damp he had never forgiven her for the conceal- j wall*, where ihe caught a cold, the effect* ment. He was of an intensely jealous dis- of which lasted for the reit of her life. She position, and jumped at once to the conclu- ' WM used to these changes now. But there ion that he still cherished an affection for I wa. .till a little tremulous anxiety M to her old lover. Perhaps ihe did. At any I what the next house would be like, and a rate it took her year* to forget the bitter ! patient resignation to unknown drawback*, wordsin which liereproauhedher forth* pMt ! which nobody had thought il worlh while Her growing affection for him died down to ] to describe in letters to her beforehand, the roots, if even t!ie root* were not utterly I write of nearly thirty years ago. The destroyed. Somtlimo* ihe felt a positive ' standard of comfort and culture has now aversion from hi* wordi and way*. j been raised all over the country. Even She wa* a woman of higher nature than ; tiny village congregation*, I am told, look her husband. He winced a little now and more sharply after the temporal welfare of then when this superiority made itself felt, their pastor, than they did m those far-off He learned unconsciously to triumph day*. But in Ksther s youth ahe and her in the power that his bitter tongue parents hud hardship, to bear which a ha.lbrcught him ; for, from the moment when lie reproached her with her love for later genuralion would not think of putting up with. She bad learned a little trite another man, he gained unlimited power ' philosophy from her variousexperiences: "to over her actions, if not over her mind. H enul I control her with a look. In deference to him she put aside her natural tastes, re- strained an onginsJly uremia tongue and rather huty tcinynr. It seemed as if the felt that she hail wronged him, and wanted to make amends. She msde him an excell- ent wife. Hut at I eirt she felt >o i.otimes tha' the was dead. A* years went on and common interests increased the hiiHband and wife tried to keep pence with one another. There WM the Mild to occupy br : his niin:iterial work for him. But he never could induce her to tca.ili in the schools, to, take claaas, " to le%d iu prayer," after tho fashion of other ministers' wive*. She visiic.l the poor sometimes, and worked for them in- il>-fat nritbly. But ihe could not speak even to her own child about re- ligion. Naturally reset veil, she felt as ! seal had been set upon her lip*. As long as her husband di I not b-lteve in her sincerity -*'! lie stiil unci inioi de- oUred tint he did not she could not say one word. Shu bp.'ime a remarkably silent woman. She wrote veises, mostly on re- ligious subjects, now and th<-n, ai.d sent tin in to denominational magi/incs, but (be never talked ubout these productions of her pen. .Unit" Denison felt it very hard that she should sympathi/.- with hjir. so little, al- though he had done his best to prevent her from doing so. They seldom discuned the question* that were agitating In* mind. As far * he knew, ihe was orthodox ID all her woman, dreued in satum and velvets. She had prominent, fine dark eyes aud bla curls, fastened to her temples by combs ; her manner was gracious and pro- piriit ry. ,Sl.e had Lnughl gifts with bsr I p-iultry and agg and butter, and evi- dently desired to be very kind : but it nri-i be confessed that Mrs. 1'enison wish ed her away just then. In fact, Mrs. Deni- sjn felt herself at a disudvautaue. She WM dusty and tired with her journey ; her old Xowu, her Paiiley sliawl, seemed faded and old-fashioned berde Mr*. Fairbairn's newer rinery ; she knew that her bonnet, with its border of yleated net and love-rib" syllables to Mra. Deniaon'* kindly remarks. made her molt memorable speech wh n lunister spoke to her iu his officially ministerial way, asking her whether she liked going to chapel. " No," she said bluntly ; " I hate it. I don't often go." Mr. Neavti betrayed some uneMinets. !! said that Phillis WM in very poor hea'th, aud was not often able to sit through the whole service. " She had {tinted last Sun- day night in chap ! and had to be carried out" " 1 pretended to faint," siid Phillis to take things a* they came," "to be thankful for what she had," "to think of persons who hail neither food nor home," aud similar axioms of which none of us take much heed in later years. Mrs. Denison WM not a woman who made com- plaints. Mr. Denison'* head was always in the clou. Is ; and if his fe.-t-were caught in thp briers, or torn by jagged stones, be did not seem to think it no'eary to talk about the pain. vertheleis, if it had not been for that little tragedy of ruined happiness, and that overhanging doubt abort the future, which nobo'ly put into words, the Deniions* lives would have been tranquil and content enough. But with the fair vessel of Love wrecked on the one band and I'aith goim* down upon the other, what was left of the gallant little fleet of liopee and joy, with which this man and this woman had started forth in the morninq of life to- gether ? CHA1TK.K IV. w ii > i rnv. "li- [rili. in nuohuW junio doth nilemelon*. l-ontf. turren ullenco, ><iaare with my d. - wauvwowm. i The journey to Woo:lbury seemed endless to Ktther. The Denisons arrived at their de-it inatmn alxiutkix o'clock on a dull evening iu Sep- tember. There wa* a long drive from the ! station to the house in which they were: lo | live. Ksther had to be adm .nhed to keep Esther .|uite audibly. "I wu so tired of the irmon. " There was a (hocked silence, and Mrs. DenUon began to think that the Kairbairn* were right in their estimation of Phillis. The roguish eye. looked scarchingly into Kitlier'* but meeting only a pu/xled re- sponse, were gravely dropped again. Mr. Neave hurriedly interposed some question about the next Sunday', services, and the children were lot alone. But after that speech he seemed rather in a hurry to get away, and made an CX.MIM about the girl's c nigh, and the danger of the night air. " She wanted to Me your little girl," he said to Mr*. DenUon, half smiling, and blinking his red eyes. Mrs. Denison did not look charmed. A* the children had wilhdrawn to a *ofa at the farther end of tr.e room, he sank his voice and began to offer excanea for his granddaughter's be- havior. " She's an odd little fish, with a queer temper," be .aid ; " but *he'* *o deli- cate that we let her have a good bit of her own way. She'* very weak ; I doubt if he'll live t> grow up. " Yes, I shall," said Pnillis decidedly, from the sofa. She had the ears of a ferret and the eyes of a lynx fa. -u which her grandfather WM liable to forget. "I don't mean to die until I have cnfoyed myself a little ; I don't enjoy myself now. '' The old man looked fretted and disturbed. "We'd better go," he said ruing from his chair rather abruptly. "You'll be wanting to unpack your thing*, Mrs. DenUon. Say good-by, Phil." I'hil offered her hand rather lulkily. Ksther WM going to kiss her, a* young creature* will kit* whenever they meet; but the child turned her head away with luch an air of not desiring the salute that Ksther \ \ deited, abaahed. But just as the visitor- 1 were going, Phil looked back and imiled so archly that Kuther forgave her. It hardly needed the whisper, "Come and *ee me *oon, and I'll show you my books," to make Ksther radiantly aware that .he had found a congenial spirit of a tricksy sort. "A sad specimen of a spoiled child,'' mid more for Knher'i benefit than I on, its silk "curtain," and it* large ribbon bow* tied under the chin, WM some what I imp and shabby, and Ihat it had a trick of slipping; ever so little to one side. Her long Sadie boa WM a little torn, and her ((loves were visibly mend.-d. Now Mr*. 1 1 -niton *a* not a slovenly person, and ahe WM vexed to be seen in this plight; but then she had been traveling nil day, and it would have been unreasonable to expect her to travsl in good clothes, lieing also very shy, she *at almost silent, wishing Ihat K nber would come in. Ksther had far more aplo:nb than her mother. Ksther came at last, wit i her ugly mush- room hat at the luck of her head, showing all the little curls that in these days would have been cut short and fostered into a "fringe," but which were then only deemed "untidy." The circuit car had proved less phlegmatic than her appearance indicated. She had of late, moreover, chiefly inhabit- ed the coal-hole. The consequence WM that Kither'i pudgy little paw* were very black, and decorated by several brilliantly red scratches. She shook bands unwilling- ly with the visitors, whom she SIM not at all glad to ice, and then hung over the back of her mother'* chair, moving on easily from one fool to the other. "How old are you, my dear?" Mked Mrs. Fairbairn, who had not found the minister'* wife very communicative. "I'm eleven," said K*tl<ir, fidgeting more than ever. "Kleven ! What a big girl she U, Mrs, Denison, I'm sure. I hope she is good and useful to yon." "She is a good child," Mid Mrs. Deniion with a momentary imile. Ksther felt aware of a sudden glow of pleasure, and looked shyly at Mrs. Fairbairn from under her long eyelnshe* to see whether the Steward's wife were not very much im- pressed by this piece of information. Visions of dying shortly and having her life written M that of a phenomenally good young person flitted across her mind. Mrs. F.iirbairn, however, went on speak- ing without another glance ai Ksther. "I am sorry to see," she Mid solemnly, "that , . Mr. XelvehM brought hi. naughty little he thought .o. when Hhilh. WM . I OMIM. .. U! I i W tit. Thr King or tli.bcualaxl will I* * granddaughter with him this afternoon. I aw her I came in, and 1 took the oppor- tunity of telling her thai she WM a very naughty girl. She mimicked tiy daughter to her face at the Sabbath school last week. I told b-r thai if I were her gtandm&rama I should give ber a Rood wip ing; and she actually laughed and said how glad *he WM that 1 was not her grandmamma. Don't lot your little itirl make friend* with her, please, Mr*. Denisou. I just thought that I would pntyouon your guard." "Oh, thank you," aaid Mr*. Denison, v'lh rather a jtart led effort after gratitude. And then the visitor* took their [pave. 'They aeero nice, plain, quiet people gone. A* a matter of fact, he was greatly taken with Phil'i bright eyes and saucy speeches. So were all men. Mi** Phil wa* a confirmed flirt at ten year* oM. Mr*. Denison wa* witer. " I should be sorry to hear Either _ in that silly way," she saiil, calling powerful engine of quiet ridicule to her aid. " When the poor child is older she will know better." " May I BO to ae her *oon ?" asked Esth- er, palpitating with anxiety, and unable to keep a prudent silence. " I think not," .aid Mrs. IVnison. Either burst into sudden passionate tears, the fruit of fatigue and excitement. " It's all all because of what Mis. Fairbairn belief*. Hut nobody really knew what itl11 . 'or *he could not conWm her excite- | Margaret l^ni*on fell. He wa* ready 1 n>en| . ""i jumped up and down on enough *o inutfine that .he despised bun for hii< vacillation, his fear of risking ma- terial interests for conscience'* sake. If she would but remonstrate, he said to 'urn self, he would know what to do. In On. way he paid a reluctant homage to her t, which he secretly acknowledged lo be better than hi* own. He had not the leait suipicion that *he nil in lim^nl ti> unfold her thoughts to him, but <v*i afraid of a repulse. She hod been repuUod, wounded, trampled upon so often, her seat as if she were set with wire*. "Oh, look, mother, wrat beau- tiful tree* ! Mother, do you think there will he a large garden, and a room for me to play in M well a. a drawing-room Oh, I hopo that there will iie a cat !" The grief of Esther'* life at present WM that she had been forced to leave her favor ite tabby In-hind. The congregation oblig ingly provided cat*. Tiie cab drew up at a tall, narrow, 'od brick house, wedged in between two larger those DenUons," Mr*. Fairbairn *id when she WM in the car.iage with her daognKr. ' " ld '^"'.h"' '*' "J*"* \* a< *, then "But law. Caroline, horn .babbv .be i. I I ' nl "><l with tear of what wou!d follow wonder if she'd l;e offended if 1 offered her a piece of itulf out of your grandpa'* hop ?" Mrs. Fairbairn's father WM a IKt'-T. now oTy ask:;.' 'for^n. Thlr 1 ,; """ "' ' "' "' '"' *" *** ! i. a .tage of menul development in winch ""'H 1 " " ut " lhc P<"> men ^ There were , emotion i, .hunned like a d,..a.c. and ex- ! W ^<Z'?*' **y\ oitemcnt looked upon as torture. When Ihe nerves have bt en ove shrinks an much from . '"h ' nerves have been 'oventruDg th.ir owner! '1'lftSS F 1 ""' 1 There WM no rom the viWation caused De d to kn ^''' hl ^ e o a 2*" : the door , w " " by pleasure a. from that produced by pain. : ? nce P ne<l b / "rwoman in the ruty V Tl,u. M:,r.ret DenisU .h^ Wk | -" P~ ^ ^l fT^., M "l even when her husband showed that he would now be glad ol her sympathy or her love. She wanted to be let alone. If James would no longur taU'H her with the l>a*t *he e.iuld hear lilenc* and lolitude. Her heart had never recovered from the h'.oir .U-iilt to it one dreadful night, when, n the 'nut anger of hi* discovery of hei .list love, her husband had threatened to ml h- i h.i. It to n-r parents' home, Uo separ- ate her from their now.born child. Ho bad told her that sue had shamefully de. him. 'J he acceptance of his condemniti.'n had crushed I. -r spirit. Some women will din of a sin sooner than of a sorrow. It i-.-tned to her that she had been dying ever I nee. The. one sweetening element in James 1>. union's life was hu love for hTs little daughter. He might snmrtimes lie harsh nju.t to her, . indeed lie WAP to ' ly of his acquaintance, I. in hu loved rlvall the time. He liked tohave ," Mill in the study, to ill, with < leac with her. her than Id, .he was less her , th ,, ..trai.l of him In later yrarx an Inrrea!, 1 md tpinpcramoni .!>. V; y I'VVIMC r. It WM ^ ralhur than for bit wife tha? oval hi. true sentiments. H* ly try to . .1.1 .IT his daughter '.lie mind ii,.' n .inothi i K.-ihei anil his idnas w thont lin .wing it, and I girl >r Tier for Iffhi to con startled in later days K. lind them labele~*A\V*n.i. "heteri.'lm." Aflir tlm letters of invitation had been re- ceived early in the suiiiiin-r, Mrs. Dnnisnn p- k. She always I.PKMI thin ' coup I. of m mthi Iwlore the removal, wbi< h took place in August, so thai I held should be rush and luistlp at lh" en I. Tlips.' "llittings" v two or three, years were burdensome. '. ^,'town up amongst 1 fen i ton heaved a ih of relief at vision of light* in the background ; she had known what it WM to arrive at the new house and find that the steward's | wife had forgotten to order fires and food. Mary Ai.n. an importation painfully se- cured and carried sway .rom her "belong- ings" in Gloucestershire, alighted first, and In-gan to help the cabmen and charwoman with the luggage. The bulkier boxe* had been tent beforehand, and were blocking up tho narrow hall. The charwoman bobbed a curtsey to the new minister and held out a friendly hand. "Vra. Sims," she said, af- fably introducing herself, "and a joined meinbur, sir, theae fotty years." "Very glad to see yon, Mr*. Sim*," said Mr. I)eni*on; whereupon Mrs. Sims shook hands with his wifa and daughter, and nodded from superior height to Mary Ann. "If you goes into the be*t parlor, sir," remarked Mrs. Sims confidentially, "you will find Mis. Fnirbairn waiting. The (in nil Si c ward's lady, you know, sir. That's ber carriage and pair a-walkiug up and (own the street. And Miss I'airhairn'i with her. And the Chapel Steward'* in the dining-room." i had already made a dive into the kitchen, where she *w n bright lire and an imperturbable eat on the hearth. Mr. Deni inn looked at his wife. "You had Iwlter go to Mr*. Fairhaini while I speak lo Mr. Noam." he said. Mrs. Sim* sniffed nigniffrantly. " Mr*. Fairbairn's not a lady as like, to h kept waiting, mum,'' she murmured behind her Kairbairn's father draper. " She really isn't fit to be seen. And no old-fashioned." " She may have better things for Sun- day," Mid Miss Fairbairn. " But I don't know that it matter* much. I don't think that a minister'! wife ought to dres* well It doesn't look M though she were spirit- ually minded." " Spiritually minded ornoi, I like to see a woman in a good gown," an id Mm. Fair- bairn, whose heart WM kind iu spite of her occasional pomposity. Meanwhile, Mr. Denison was making the acquaintance of his other visitors. Mr. Neave WM a tall, spare man, with long, white hair, deep-sot eye* with red rims, a pendulous chin, *nd an irreselute mouth He wore rusty black clothe* with a loosely tied white cravat, and walked witn a itlck. Hi* manner wa* exceedingly severe reprimand, perhaps, for neither fath- er nor mother possessed a naturally tranquil temper. Bnt Mr. Denison did not catch the words, and Mrs. Denison understood and sympa- thized with the child'* nervous excitement more than she would hare liked to allow. " Yon had better go to bed; yon are tired," she naid. "Soaml we are all tired. You need not cry about it Rather. Come away with me and we will unfasten your box. It was again.t her principle* to rare** the child after an outbreak of what WM, in- deed, nothing but "naughty temoer"; hut she helped her to undress and kissed her very lovingly when she WM in bed. And when Ktther was Mleep the mother came in onoe or twice to look at the flashed cheeks on which the long lashei were still wet. Once, during those visits, th* child began to mutter and turn in her sleep; Mrs. Dan- (son bent down to catch thi words. Ksther's emotional ditponition gave her anxiety grim. Hut his bands, like Ksther's were i sometime*. Had she got into one of her Denis. ,n shrank a little from her u-enest, which *hu dared not for the her rebuke in a " joined member"; Mr- S^** Vl ' r allcrw ir '' calld proud b) "Comr into the drawing-room Well .hTk", "'" tai<l '"""" "" tr '- !ltl "K'y Stewards -..^ w , """Why '>. "Hn Im ted lightly with a ,,, Ul lip amongst pen- .7""'" ' " J ' *l\y pi. !,.. loi-the Itmersncy, " i ho u to onrielves ?" K, Mmo4( M they iniMied their cvsirm of per:o,l.c he fn " ow "' ml w " B ' nU ttj Utttodravlni olMMd her privat* dMik* '" " "\otbutwlntu ..klu.lof them to it an the proipect of a re- I ^ vor y n >agnilicenlper*onagl(i wa* inoval. For In i r!.|.T I hero wa* always ' : i. iin I to ixi b.o in I . - i>v *8.ther . eyes at least) awaue.' them.. Mr*. y,j r i the wife of a wealthy Jfltit-innrijhant, . house r n|,| be in- who h. -hi |KisitionT>JMhe chnpe|| i-lera house ' WAS t.ik 'c I to Iw prosfiot wln-n ti, .i u ' (u.'ii'ahd I.T f-tif " t'iroujt," M Moll i "iiiiistor arrived. She WM a handsome not to clean M they might have lieen. He looked the typiial Uiasenting minister much more than Mr. l>er.ison ; but he was The t. liable was already spread liiiinn-room. Here Mr. Deninon uimniiable little month .. cm. .1 alway. r.-ily those curving lips, through me meal lurking defiance to issue fri..u She sat (jnirily of tea ainl l>rrad aud buil*r, replying only in mono- dates of nervous midnight terror? lint I'.uher was dreaming of very mun- dane 'hniL;*. Sue opened her eye. for a bedside, then fell off to sleep ftgMn, mur- muring a sentence of her dream. "Oh, mother," she said, "I with the Circuit hadn't xiven m . ur h a cross cat '" Mr*. iK'Dison was reassured. (TO I1B CONTI!TtI>.) a builder an. I joiner by trade, and reputed nn.me.nt and saw the kindly face at her to be nearly a. ii-jh a* Mr. Fairlxirn Inni- Kit in the .tood gravely conversing with hi* gueut, vntil Mrs. Denison an 1 Ksther presently appear- l upon the scene. Kit ber looked round with infinite curios- ity for " The naughty girl." She had often heard of the i;enus, but failed hitherto to come aero** a specimen. What wa* il like, lo be a really naughty girl, a definitely wicked person ? If anybody had spoken of K-ith.-r in the term* uied hy Mrs. l-'u.iil>airn, Ksther felt that *ho would have gladly sank into the earth. Hut Mr. Neave's grand- daughter looked at her with laughing eye*, not at all at though ihe were impressed by the gravity of the sum- 1'hillis VVyatt ws"the name of the naughty girl. Ksther looked at her with a mixture of repulsion and respect. In five minutes *he WM in love with her. I'lullin'i little hand had stolen into hers under the tthla cloth M thoy sat demurely side by side at tea. And Ksther'i hearl could not resilt this invitation to friendli- ness, although she had not yet exchanged half a do/. 'ii words with her visitor. I'hilli* had a delightful woodland air almut her. Her fair, fine brown hair wav- ed about her he.ul in innumerable ihort, oft curl*, of whimsical hghtnee* and way- wardiica*. Her eyes were hazel, more re- mai kabl* for brilliance and power of ex- prewioit than for actual beauty. They were set in hollows of purple shadow thai spoke of uncertain health, and the sharply cut little face was very colorless. The mouth was Chillis'* moat perfect feature. The lips had a bowlike curve and a charm- ing upward curl at the corners, melting imper 'sptibly into the delicate cheek. It wa. thin mouth, with all its beauty, that hot i axe. 1 her. It WM a naughty, scornful. IM-I ll.r.i I rr n I li..l you ever Me a horse cry? askt a writer. Many people believe that horses do not.weep, but those who have h*d much to do with these faithful en-Mures know that on several o -ca*ii>ns they will shed tears, M well a* express sorrow in the most heartbreaking manner. In the west where the hardiness of the ponies cause* the n ler. tu almost overlook the necessity of provid- ing for their needs, it is quite common when the weather is extremely oold to leave an nnblanketed pony tied up for two or three hours when the temperature is nearly aero and while iu owner u transacting business. In this case the .utfering is evi- denced by the crie*, which are almost like oba, and unmistakable tears freeze on the cheeks liko icicles. \\ hen a horse falls iu the street and gets injured, the shock generally numb* its sen- se* so much that it does not either cry or 'ii, but under some conditions an injured home will solicit lympathy in the most dis- tinct manner. I remember a favorite horse of my own trod on a nail long enough to pierce it* foot. The poor thing hobbled up to me on three legs and cried as nearly like a child in trouble as anything I can describe. The sight wa. a very touching one, M was also the crippled animal's gratitude when ilo- nail wa* pulled out and the wound dr*sel. Bora to (ood !>eV that i* born with tact. Whatever can be knownof earth w< know, sneet. 1 l.nr.y ""i- men in their snail- shell* curie. I : N . ..iid one man in GCUOA, .t \o on' of the dark crtaird tln World. The Matabele of South Africa have ne;r lefcated in battle. War and pillage are their kusinea*, and they think theu- telves invincible. On the -e of war with the Imperial llntish South Afi'..* Co-npany, they p ociatm that one Malabele Warnor -in defeat lour Englishmen. When the ty- ntit who rule* them WM told t>f a o^U- * onary that " Ood u greater than you," t le thunderom re*pone " You lie," wa shouted back by the regiment, around th King. Tney nave yet to teat their valor and ctrength in atruggle with whre men, and are likely to emerge from the conlhct with diminished idea* of their importance. The ciu*e of the trouble i* that King Lo- bengnla, though he ceded to the chartered company the rich gold field* of Manhona- land, has resolved to Mttrt hi* allege.) right to plunder and enslave the nktives of that duiriut M his father did before him. Since the cession of Mashonaland the terrorized na'ivec have had a respite ; but on July 'J last, while a miuionary wa. holding ser- vice. almost under the shadow of Fort Vic- toria, an impi or native regiment of the MaUbcle fell upon Ifee unsuspecting settle- ment, massacred the helples* people with- out mercy, burned their huts, and ran oflf with their women and grain. When asked toexplain his conduct the King replied that he had relinquished no right to do as he pleased with hi* vassals, and when he waut- el slave* or cattle, he should raid the Ma- thona* whether the Ilritwh liked it or not. Since then he ha* established two impis in Maihonaland, ha* driven hi* cattle into the central part of Matabeleland, a sure sign that he means mischief ; and the Britiih are preparing for the struggle which they know u coining. Some year* ago Montagu Kerr, the first white man to cross MMhonaland, described the niitery of it* people. He found their hut* perched on the hilltop* and the nar- row pathways to them barricaded. They were constantly looking for the coming of the enemy whom they were powerless to resist. They were an abject, broken heart ed people, weakened, phyiically and intel- lectually, by the preasure of constant ter- ror. They welcomed the coming of the white* M a bleating from heaven, and hai beguu to walk erect in hope and confidence, to till the ground, and sell their produce to the newcomers, when the old peril WM *o unexpectedly renewed laal summer. The Matabele are of Xulu origin though not pure Xulu*. In the half century since their father* left Xululand a Urge admix- ture of foreign blood has come into the tribe through marriage with the women they have captured. They are to-day the rnoet powerful native nation in South Africa. Their only law is the King'* will. Most of the able-bodied men are in the army, and every regiment can be called together at a moment'* notice. Every young man is ironically called "a girl" until he has bath- ed hi* assegai in human blood. Their for- ay* for nany yean were carried fir north toward the Xambesi, and west Uirough Bechuanaland; but their most haple** vic- tims were the Mashonas, who, though oooa a powerful people and spread over a large territory, have been nearly exterminated. The world WM surprised, threw years ago, when Lobengula at last consented to admit white colonists to MMhonaland. The sub- sidy offered him wn tempting, and ho wallowed the bait and let the while men in. Before the day that miner* thronged into Mashonalaod in crowd*, only a favor- ed hunter WM now and then admitted to the King's domains, and a handful o> :nis- sionaries, who had knocked at the door* for years, were the only permanent white residents The King had followed the ex- ample of hi* father, who said to the envoy sent by the Vramvaal Kepublic to a*k that miners be admitted to the country : "Load up your wagons with thrae stone* you say contain gold, and go. Bat don't you bring any Dutch women here, or any cattle, sheep, or goat*. I won't have you building houses in my country." Four thousand of the white, are there now, and they are going to .lay. Of course tha raiding and masaacre of native* of Maali iniland, the part of Matabeleland that i* now under civilized rule, will not be tolerated. If l.oliennula persists in hi* foolhardy ooarae, he will get a lenon that will destroy hi* pcMtige in the eyes of hi* people, ami there will b one despot th* ICM in Africa. Tbr Orr/<-nlu Trmglsl. Helen Watereon, a well-known and ex- ec* Jingly clever female American tufTragiat, recently gave expre**ion to opinions that will be slowly acuepted by her own MX and may cost ber some of the celebrity she ha* honestly achieved. Mia* Watenon ex- pre*se* herself ubaUn'.ially M tired to death of having women'* work regarded as of in- tereet bc*u*e it i* done by women. She would have women do what they can a* well M they can and take the consequence*, competing with human being* rather than with men and ihe emphatically rebukes the i.terhood for constant') crying out: " Sec this was done by a woman; did you think he could do it so well ?" All tr.i* : good as far M it goes and the learned lady is landing on proper ground. Tho time ii surely pawing away when men shall make it a point to condescendingly acknowledge the ability of the other sex. It i* a xpiare, honest and legitimate struggle be- tween the two great force* of society, but there is*, alight difference in the case* which Mias Watenon in hr enthusiasm appear* to have entirely over'ooked. She apparent- ly overlooked the all important factor in such an argument that this i* essentially an ge ol differentiation. Men have their peculiar pursuits and inter**!*. Women M nalurullyjare concerned with matters that do not appeal to the tastes or method* of the great I Am. In objecting to that featu -e in .in rent journalism which gives a separate column or page to wom-i she resents the recognition of her personality M if that dis- tinction et her outside of the pale of bu- rn HUM. If MM Walerion stopped to think Rhe would find he was engaged in an at- tempt to unscx her sex. But we will not p-rmit it. Woman can never '.> regarded apirtfrom her sweet femininity no matter in what work she it engaged. When she cesses to ihine iu that characteristic she fails in her vocation, and is of no value to t he world or society. liainer up pleasant thought* in your miu 1, .'or pleaaant thought* . ake pleasant livta.

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