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r'. -. o‘i ! w UNDER a__ CLOUD. a TEliILLING TALE OF HUMAN LIFE. CHAPTER XX. 'rna xoasixc PAPER. No one by any stretch of the im’agination could have called the admiral a good reader. In fact, a person might very well have been considered to be strictly within the limits of truth if he had declared the old oflicer to be the warst reader he ever heard. But so it was, from the crookedness of human nature, that he always made a point of reading every piece of news in the paper which he considered interesting, aloud, for the benefit of those with him at the break- fast table. Matters happen strangely quite as fre- quently as they go on in the regular groove of routine,and hence it happened one morn- ing at breakfast. that is to say, on the morning after the tragedy at the convict prison, that Sir Mark put on his gold spec- taclesas soon as he had finished his eggs and bacon and one cup of cofiee,and,taking the freshly aired paper, opened it with a good deal of rustling noise, and coughed. Edie looked across at her cousin with a mischievous smile but Myra was gazing thoughtfully before her, and the glance missed its mark “Hum ! ha i” growled Sir Mark, “ ‘ Lon- don, South, and Channel. Same as number Confonnd number three! Who wants to refer to that? Oh here we are : "Light winds, shifting to the east. Fine three.’ generally. ’ Climate’s improving, girls. More coffee, Myra. Pass my cup, Edie, dear. " He skimmed over the summary, and the police cases, found nothing particular, and went on to .the sessions, stopping to refresh himself from Edie wondered what her cousin’s thoughts might be. “ Dear me !” exclaimed the admiral sud- denly ; “ how singular! I must read you another forgery of then turned to time to time, while this, girls. Here’s foreign banknotes.” The click of Myra’s teacup as she sudden- ly set it down made the admiral drop the paper and read in his child’s blank face the terrible slip he had made. “ 0 Myra, my darling!” he cried apolo- getieally ; “I am so sorry ;"and he turned to Edie, who looked daggers. “It is nothing, papa," said Myra coldly, as she tried hard to master her emotion. “But it is something, my dear. I wouldn't have said a word only I caught sight of Percy Guest’s name as junior part- ner for the defense." It was Edie's turn now to look startled, and Sir Mark hurriedly fixed upon her to become the scapegoat for his awkward allusion, and divert Myra’s attention. “Can't congratulate the prisoner upon his counsel," he said. " The man’s too young and inexperienced. Only the other day a mere student. It’s like putting a midshipmau as second. in command of an ironclad.” Edie's eyes now seemed to dart flames, and she looked up boldly at her uncle. “ Oh, yes,” he said, “I mean it. Very nice fellow, Percy Guest, in a social way, but I should be sorry to trust an important case with him. Here, I’ll read it, and see what it's all about. No ; never mind, I know you girls don’t care about law." The morning meal had been commenced cheerfully. There was sunshine without and at the table, Edie had thought how bright and well her cousin looked, and argued pleasant times of the future. “ If she could only feel herselffree,”was her constant thought when Myra gave way to some fit of despondency. “ I'm sure that she loves Malcolm Stratton, and what is the good of a stupid old law if all it does is to make people uncomfortable. I wish I knew the Archbishop of Canterbury or the judge of the Court of Divorce, or whoever it is settles those things. I’d soon make them see matters in a different light. Poor Myra would be obedient then, and there’d be an end of all this moping. I believe she delights in making herself mis- erable.” It was just when Edie had reached this point and she was stirring her tea, and thinking how easily she could settle mat- ters if she were at the head of affairs, so as to make every body happy, herself included, when her uncle made his malapropos re- marks. There was no more sunshine in the dinin room after that. Myra looked cold an pale, the admiral was uncomicrtable behind the paper, in which he enveloped himself as in a cloud, from which came a hand at intervals to feelabout the table in an absurd way for toast or his coffee cup, which was twice nearly overturned. Then he became visible for a moment or two as he turned the paper, but it closed him in again, and from behind it there came, now and then, a fidgeting, nervous cough, which was as annoying to the utterer as to those who listened. “ Going out today, girls '3 ” asked Sir Mark at last, but without removing the paper. ' glances. ‘ child now, father. tumbler, and Edie and Myra exchanged Then, rising slowly with her hand pressed to her breast, Myra made as it to go to the other side of the table, but her strength failed her, and as her father cleared his throat with a _sonorous cough, she clung to the edge, crumbling up the white cloth in her damp, fingers. forced carelessness. “For my wants.” me at the club? By so much about walking as I used.” I as if by accident, so that he could see be~ yond one side. tended to take the restrani her cousin. he made no sound, it over again, and rose from his chair. you ill 2" she cried hoarsely: about my husband.” “Edie, ring ! Mark. “ No, stop” ! cried Myra. I tell news in that paper about my husband. Give it to me. I will see." thrust the paper behind him. “No, no, face growing mottled and strange. “I say there is. father, and you are deceiving me.” “Well, yes, a little, my darling,” he said Not for your ears, dear. Another time when you are cool and‘ Edie, my dear, come to Myra, my child, leave hastily . “A little. calm, you know. her ; talk to her. it to me.” ' Myra’s hand went to her throat‘as if she were stifling, but once more she forced back her emotion. ’ “Something aboutâ€"the prisonâ€"my hus- band ‘2" “Yes, yes, my dear. Nothing so very particular. Now doâ€"do leave it to me,and, try to be calm. You frighten me. There there, my pet,” he continued, tryingto take her hand ; “go to your room for a bit with Edie. andâ€"yes, yes, lie down.” “Give me the paper,” she said hoarsely. “ No, no, I cannot, indeed, my dear.” “ Ah !” cried the agitated girl wildly. “I knowâ€"they have set him free '2" Sir Mark glanced at, his niece, and then passed his hand over his beaded forehead. “ Yes, yes, my dear,” he faltered; “ he is free." “ lAh and he will come here and claim me, and thenâ€"” She reeled as if to fall, but her force of will was too great, and she mastered her emotion again, stepped forward, and seized the- paper, her senses swim- ming as she turned it again and again, till the large type of the telegram caught her attention. Then she closed her eyes for a few mom- ents, drewa long breath, and they saw her compress her lips and read without a tremor: DARING ATTEMPTED ESCAPE. ssnious swear. Our correspondent atGrey Clifl~ telegraphs of a desperate attempt made by three of the convicts at The Foreland last night about eight o’clock. By some means they managed to elude the vigilance of the warders after the cells had been visited and lights were out, reached the yard, and scaled the lofty wall. Then, favored by the darkness of the night, they threaded their way among the sentries, and reached the cliffs ofthedangerous rocky coast,where, their evasion having been discovered they was brought to bay by a party of armed warders. 1n the atlray which ensued two of the warders were dangerously wounded with stones, and the convicts were making their way down the slid to the sea when orders were given to fire. One of the men was shot down, while. in the desperate attempt to escape recapture, the others went herdlong down the almost perpendi- cular precipice which guards the eastern side of the Foreland. , Upon the warders descending with i. you. unch'n “id Edie ah‘rply' {or he, ropes, two of the men were brought up,one cousin had given her aiiimploring look, and the girl Could see that Myra was greatly agitated still ; “ the carriage is coming round at two. Shall we drop you at the club 8 ” “Great Heavens ! " ejaculated the old man in a tone which startled both his hearers, and as if expectant from some pre- monition, Myra thrust back her chair and sat gazing at the paper wildly. “ What is it, uncle E" cried Edie. ” Eh? 0h. nothing, my dear," said Sir Mark confusedly, as no rusiled the paper and hurriedly turned it. “ More horrors. These editors seem to revel in them, or the public do. So shooking ; no sooner is one at an end, than another begins." He had screened his face again as quick- ly as he could, for he was a miserable dis- wxih a shot through the leg, the other suffering from a badly fractured skull while, in spite of the vigorous search by the boats of H.515. Merlin, the body of the third man,which had been heard to plunge into the sea, was not recovered. We re- ret to add that» the man injured by his all expired in the ambulance on the way back to the prison. He was the notorious convict Barron. or Dale, sentenced to seven y'ears’ penal servitude,about a twelvemonth ago, for the daring fraud upon the Russian Government by the issue of forged ruble notes. ‘ The paper fell from h'yra's hands as she stood there motionless, and apparently unmoved by the tidings she had read. Then turning slowly, she held out her hand to Edie, who obeyed the imploring look in her Edie rose too, but throwing up her head, Myra motioned her back imperiously, and stood for a few moments with her lips parted and eyes dilated, gazing at the pa- per, as if devouring its contents while from behind. it came the admiral's voice with part," he said, with a clumsy ef- fort to hide his own emotion, "Iani begin- ing to think that the ordinary daily news- apers are unsuitable reading for young adies, who had better keep to the magazines and journals specially devoted to their There was no word spoken in return,and after another cough,the old man continued: "What was that you said aboutdropping all means, yes. My leg was rather bad in the night, Don’t care Still there was no reply, and, as if struck by the notion that he had been left alone in the room, Sir Mark coughed again nerv- ously, and slowly moved himself in his chair, to turn the paper slightly aside, and, He sat there the next moment petrified, and staring at his daughter’s wildly excitc ed face, for resting one hand on the table, she was leaning toward his, her hand ex- paper, and her eyes questioning his. while Edie,looking terribly agitated, was also leaning forward as if to Sir Mark’s lips parted and moved, but l'hen . recovering him- self, he hastily closed the paper, doubled “ Myra, my darling !” he cried, “are Her lips now moved in turn, but without a sound at first ; then she threw back her head, and her eyes grew more dilated as “ That paperâ€"there is newsâ€"something She is ill,” cried Sir " I am not a you that there is Sir Mark was ‘as agitated now as his child, and with a hurried gesture, perfect- ly natural under the circumstances, be my child,” he stammered, with his florid eyes, and led her from the dining-room to her own chamber without a word. l FAMOUS BATTLES. “ Myra,” she whispered then, and she-Some or the Great Conflicts Fought ll pressed closely towards her cousin, whose lips now parted, and she heard almost like a sigh: " Freeâ€"free 23' “ Talk to me, dear talk to me,” whisper- ed Edie. like that.” Myra turned to her, caught her cousin to her breast, and kissed her rapidly twice Then, thrusting her away, she whispered. faintly: “Go nowâ€"go,dear. I can bear no more;" and when, a few moments later, Edie lookâ€" ed back fron: the door she was about to close,Myra was in the act of sinking upon her knees by the bedside, where she buried her face in her hands. But hardly had the door closed when she sprang to her feet, and hurried across to shoot the bolt, and then stand with her hands to her head, and starting eyes, pic- turing in imagination the scene of the past night. The «darkness and James Barronâ€" her husbandâ€"the man who had haunted her night and day in connection with the hour when he would come back and claim her, not at the end of seven years, but earlier released before his timeâ€"that man â€"while she sat below in her room at the pianoâ€"yes, she recalled vividly every minute of the previous nightâ€"she sat playing the melodies of old ballads, favor- ites of her father, with Percy Guest talk- ing to Edie, and at that time this man was fighting to escapeâ€"this man, her horror. And had he succeeded he would have come there. > She shuddered as, from the brief descrip- tion of the struggle, she saw him trying to descend the rocky face of the cliff, stumble when shots were fired, and fall headlong upon the cruel stones. It was horribleâ€"too horrible to bear ; and yet she felt obliged to dwell upon it all, and go over it again and again, shud- dering at the pictures her active brain evoked till the agony was maddening. Then, to make her horror culminate, doubt stepped in to ask her, as if in an insiduous whisper,whether she could believe it to be all true, and not some reporter's error. ' She felt as if she were withering beneath some cold mental blast, and in spite of the horror, her hopes and dreams, which would have place, shrank back again. For it might be a mistake. Some other wretched man had striven to escape, and in the hurry and darkness had been mistaken for her hus~ band. ‘ But hope came again directly, and while shuddering at the thoughts, she recalled how explicit it had all been. There could be no mistake. ‘ She was Wife no longerâ€" tied no more by those hated bonds to a wretched adventurerâ€"a forgetâ€"whose sole aim had been to get her father's moneyâ€"- she was free, and Malcolm Stratton had told herâ€"â€" She shuddered again at the horror of dwelling upon such thoughts at a moment when her ears were stunned by the news of death; but the thoughts were imperious. She had never loved this man, ‘and the ceremony had only been performed under misapprehension. Once more she was free â€"free to follow the bent of her affectionsâ€" free to give herself to the man she knew she loved. ' What had Malcolm Stratton saidâ€"what had he said ? A mist had been gathering about her mental vision, and she staggered toward her bedside, once more to sink down and bury her burning face in her hands, for her emotion was greater than she could bear. (TO BE CONTINUED. ) « Her Adam’s Fall. It was the custom not many years ago, in certain parts of Scotland, for the minister to make catechetical visitations among his people. Au amusing ancedote is related of a worthy Scotch woman who, intent upon her own trouble, made honest but personal answer to the minister's questions. Her husband, whose name was Adam, had one very serious fault, forwhich he had been severely reproved by the minister. Seeing the good man approaching one day, Adam, who wasjustgettingover a driskin spell, hid himself under the bed and told his wife to say that he was off fishing. . The minister came in and was politely received by Jenny. He began by asking if she had studied the catechism which he had left at his last visit. “ ’Deed, sir,an’ I has studied it a muckle bit,” was her answer. Thinking to test her knowledge a little, the minister asked, “Weel, Jenny, can ye tell me the cause 0’ Adam’s fall?” Jenny’s mind was too much occupied with the misdeeds of herown Adam to give any thought to the great progenitor of the human race, and she replied wrth some warmth : “ ’Deed, sir, it was naething else but drink ;” and then she turned towards the bed and said : “Adam ye may as well come out, for the doctor keiis brawly what’s the matter ; some clashin’ deevils o’ neebors hae telt him a' boot it. Sae coom oot an’ speak for yoursel." Eloquence Interrupted. During a political campaign, a well- known lawyer in a Western state was addressing an audience composed princi- pally of farmers. Like a wise speakerâ€" and ashrewd candidateâ€"he tried to suit his speech to the occasion. In a tone which he evidently considered both cordial and honest, and with a winning smile, he began: “My friends, my sympathies have always been with the tillers of the soil. My father was a practical farmer, and so was my grandfather before him. I myself was born on a farm, and was, so to speak, reared between two stalks of corn." Here his eloquence was rudely interrupt- ed by the trumpet tones of a farmer in the rear of the hall. “Jimminy crickets!" he shouted, “if you aint a pumpkin!" The house “came down," and the candi- date, for the moment, at least, was badly embarrassed. Her Smiles. She smiled on me. Her eyes were brown, And on her head a lovely crown Of golden tresses capped a brew. As white as snow. I see it new. I asked her to be mine, and sheâ€"- Alack, slack, she smiled at me. “ It frighters me when you look 1 cl Ancient and modern Times. At the battle of Agincourt 62,000 men 400 or 18 per cent. ‘ At the battle of Bannockburn there were 30,000 men engaged, the slain number- ed 38,000, or 28 per cent. The Battle of the Forty was a duel be- tWeen twenty French and the same number ' of Italian knights about 1591). At Gettysburg 140,000 men were opposed, and of this number the total Federal loss was 28,198 : the total Confederate loss was 37,000. The battle of Barnet was one of the most decisive ever fought. It was in 1471, .and closed the age of baron rule in Eng- land. The Battle of the British Soldiers is a name given to the battle of Inkermann, November 5, 1854, because the British troops bore the brunt of the fighting. At Poitiers, in 1356, 80,000 French were defeated by the Black Prince with less than 50,000 men. The F renoh King, John, was captured and his army completely routed. The Battle of the Diamond was a fight between the Protestants and Catholics of Ireland in 1795. It had its name from Dia- mond in the County Antrim where it was fought. At Sadowa 402,000 men were opposed, of whom 33,000 were killed,wounded or taken prisoners. This was 8 per cent. a far smaller figure than in any leading battle of the Napoleonic wars. The battle of the Moat was a conflict be- fore Medina, between Mohammed and Abu Sofian. It was so called because most of the fighting was done in the most that Mo- hammed had dug to protect the city from I the besiegers. The Tearless Battle was fought between the Spartans on one side and the Arcadians and Arjives on the other, B. C. 367. Not a Spartan fell in the engagement, and so, Plutarch says, the Lacedemonianspalled it the Tearless Battle. The Battle of the Thirty was a duel, fought in 1351, near Josselin, in FraiiceJiy thirty English and thirty French Knights, to settle a. boundary dispute. At first the English were successful but the French ralli- ed and finally won the day. In the battle of Marengo 58,000 men par- ticipated and of that number 13,000 were killed or wounded, about 22 per cent. Na- poleon thought Marengo his greatest vic- tory. He always kept throughout life the uniform worn on that day. The battle of Brandywine was one of the worst of Washington’s numerous defeats. The name originated, it is said, from a Dutch brandy distillery on the banks of the stream Brentwine, variously spelled, being a Dutch name for brandy,or “burned wine. " The Battle of the Emperors was fought at Austerlitz, 1805. The Emperors present were Napoleon. Francis of Austria and Alexander of Russia. Over 170,000. men were actually engaged in the battle, and of this number 23,000 were killed or wound- ed, cr 13 per cent. of the whole. The Battle of Arbela is wrongly named, as it was fought B. C. 331 at Gaugemela, “the camels’ house,” twenty miles from Arbela. The Greeks, with 50,000 men, op- posed the Persians with 1,000,000. The Greek historians claim that 300,000 dead Persians were left on the field. At the Battle of Thrasymene, between the Romans and the'Carthaginians, there were 65,000 men engaged. The Romans were taken by purprise and defeated with great slaughter. The total number of men killed on both sides was 17,000, or about 27 per cent. of the number engaged in the con- flict. The Battle of the rocks is another name for the Battle of Falkenstein, in 1814. The French mountaineers posted themselves on the heights and let loose great masses of rock and earth on the German attacking force. Whole ranks were overthrown by a single avalanche, and the attack was abandoned. The Battle of Nations was the conflict in 1813 at Leipsig. The nations engaged were the French, Austrians, Russians and Prussians.’ The allies numbered 160,000, the French almost as many. The fighting continued during three days; the allies lost nearly 50,000 men in killed and wound- ed ; the French 60,000. At Gravelotte there were 320,000 men opposed, and the killed and wounded num- bered 48,000. The French suffered most, because they were compelled to undertake an attack on a very strong position defend- ed by the whole German force. The French defeat at Gravelotte resulted in the fall of Metz and the surrender of Bazaine’s army. The Battle of the Butchers and Carpen- ters was a civil strife between two factions in Paris in 1413. The Duke of Burgundy armed and led the butchers; the Duke of Orleans armed and led the carpenters. A regular battle was fought in the streets and public squares of Paris ; the carpenters were victorious and drove the butchers out of the city. The Battle of Belahoe is famous in Irish history as a spoiling of the spoilers. Two chieftains, O’Neil and O'Donnell, had made a thieving excursion into a neighboring territory and were returning with their plunder, when they met an English force, and, after a brief and feeble resistance, ran away, leaving their booty in the hands of the English. At Waterloo 149,000 men were engaged, of whom 51,000 were killed, wounded or taken prisoners. In proportion to the number engaged Waterloo was one of the bloodiest battles of history, no less than 35 per cent. of the whole number being placed here do combat. The British artil- lery fired 0,467 rounds,. or one for every Frenchman killed in the battle. The Battle of Dettingen, 1743. was the last in which an English King appeared in person ona battlefield. This was fought by the English against the French. in behalf of Maria Theresa, of Austria. The Kin was George IL, who proved himself a vs iant little man, and at the peril of his life led the troops against the enemy and won I. victory. W The best burglar-proof sales are made of alternate layers of hard and soft metal which are welded together. This combine. iion will not yield to either dr.ll or sledge hammer. ware present, and the slain numbered 11,- E Mm\\\~\\\\\‘~“ \\\ \\ \\“ The Lawyer. ni' Joiix main, Tonoxrohcaa'. “‘ho pleads his case “aainst wind and tide.“ And swings his robe from side to side. As roud as any new mode bride! he consequential Lawyer! . 3 Who loves his client and his brief.- _ -‘ let who expounds beyomi belief. V Till all around gasp for relief. ‘ From the long winded Luwi‘ci‘! “’ho gathers evidence with care, And knows how best to “split a hair.“ That makes the. honest Judge to store! The cute and cunning Lawyer! Who knows the merits. of each cnsc. Defines the motive, time and place. Cross-questions witness face to face! The cool, clear-headed Lawyer! Who looksjust spoiling for a figh'. To right s wrong or wrong a right. Because he is a legal lightl The enterprising Lawyer! How glad and happy does he feel To win a case after appeal. And makes defendant squirm and squeal At costs from plaintiff‘s Lawyer: To say that Justice must be blind Is but a libel most unkind.- Sho swing: a sword in front. behind. To scare both J udgc mid Lawyer! He helps us in our time of need. From cruel wrong or faulty deed,â€" Let's not flrgct he has to foodâ€" Feo well )our faithful Lawyer. A Husking Song. Husk away ! As the ours we hurl. Ribbed and bonded with gold and pearl. Let. our mil to tune kcop timc. Proving boys we have cars for rhyme. Singing guyly as birds at morn. To music's measure we toss the corn. Husk away, till close of day, Then for ll. dance with the girlsâ€"hurrah l Husk away! "l‘is the farmer's creed- Friendly work should be done with speed: Neighborly hearts to fingers Spry Leno n vigor that makes things fly. Zeal of friendship and frolic born Makes quick work with a. neighbor‘s corn. Husk away. till close of day. Then for the fiddle and funâ€"hurrah! Husk away! In our harbors \vnit Goodly ships for their pearly frci hi,â€" \Vaits fort in grist the niiller‘s w 1001. \ths the housewife for fresh ground meal Walt we all for the sweet suppawn, Crowning dish of our feast of corn. Husk away, till close of day, Then for frolic and funâ€"hurrah! Husk away! In the rosy west Sinks the glowing sun to rest; Ere the shadows of twilight. gray Darken the face of the dying day, From its scabbard the last cur torn ' Shall cap yon hillock of shining corn. Husk away! The time for play Is close at hand, then for sport-hurrah! .â€"._._. Love and Life. Sweet! we were ha py, you and I, Ere words of war are came between ; Ere storms of pasSion swept our sky, That all so blue and bright had been, But like a mad stream dashing. Its vernal bunks o'ersplnshing, Our sword-like speech came flashing, And sundercd all etween. Love! it was as heavens are Upon a clear and. cloudlcss night, When every golden. gleaming star That earthward smiles is shining bright, But peace afar was driven. Byjealous doubtin s rivcn, Till love’s serenest eaven Was turned to darkest night. Life! it was sweet and free from care, For love. and faith lulyou. were life; And both in you seeme doubly fair. Who were with double fairness rlfc, But from the wordy shower or doubt; and angel's hour Sprung forth a bitter flower To potsoniove and life. Sleep Sweet. Sleep sweet within this quiet room Oh, thou, whOe’er thou art. And let no mournful yesterday Disturb thy peaceful heart. Nor let tomorrow scare th rest With dreams of coming l l. Tlg Maker is thy changeless fric lid. is love surrounds thee stlll. Forget thyself and all the world, Put out each feverish light ; The stars are watching overhead. Sleep sweetâ€"Goodnight! Good-night! “â€" And He Got Two Fair Fares. Lady (_to cabman)â€"“ We .can’t ride. Crowded intoa cab, we are sure to crush our sleeves l” ’1 T '9‘ “'3 w . l I . M’ 'I’!’ .c a: v' Cabmanâ€"“ O, that’s provided for, mad- am! 11' cab has sleeve protectors con- structe on theharmonica principle. \Vhen they are drawn out you have plenty of room side by side !" â€"â€"â€"â€"-â€".-â€"-â€"â€"â€"â€"â€" Dot’s Theory. Little Dickâ€"“ Why is women wearing vests like men 2" A Little Dotâ€"“Vests has a strap and buckle behind, you know, and I ’xpccts the womens wants to lace themselves up like the men do." The Only Course. Son (resding)â€"" ‘ There is a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.’ What kind of a tide does that mean 2" r Practical Father~“Tied down to busi- ness." According to London Electricity, a Mr Hill, of Manchester, who seems to have in- vented a number of curious contrivances, has lately devised an electrical parrot teacher, which is made up of a phonograph, a motor, an eleclro-magnet and a battery. . ...;.... . - 1.. saa-..“ .v. . _T_ _~â€"-â€"â€"â€"._. : g». 11":-