Grey Highlands Newspapers

Flesherton Advance, 23 Mar 1893, p. 2

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SIR GUYS' WARD. A TH1ULLIM! STORY OF LOVE AND AUVEN'TURE- CHAPTKR.XVU - (Co-mnrru.) Sir liny, after leagiheued hesitation, evi- dently m ikes up hii mini! to do something, rvn.l, with lii face full of purpose, follows her. This devotion oa hi* prl 11 more lhu u in spue of her suspicions ha* I for. 'Cone to consols his 'sleepy Venus ' for llir damage done to her 'I'hnlian nose,'" she says to Taffy, with rather * bitter lauijh. "Little girls should neither quote lion J uan nor say ill-natured things," replies that youth, with an air of lofty rebuke, lint Lilian, not being in the mood for even Tally's playfulness, makes no answer, and walks away to her In-loved garden to sock consolation from the flowers. iVIiatever Guy's conference with Florence wa* about, it was short and decisive, as in five minute* he again emer/ed from ths house, and, looking vninly around him, starts in tear -li of Lilian. Presently at the end of the long lawn, be see* her. "Well, has her poor dear nose recovered all its pristine freshness 1 '" she asks him, in a rather reckless tone, as he come up to her. "Lilian." says Guy, abruptly, eagerly, taking uo notioe of this sally, indeed, carcely hearing, "it wa* all a mistake I could not speak i have arranged ii will you let me drive you to Mrs. Boileaus to n.orrow evening ?" "No, Ihankyou." a quick gloam in ''' | je'/Jt"^"^" Florence, why, let him then large eyes that should have warned him ; pend m> (ime WJUl ner aod , lot coln , 1^.. turing other people on matters that don't " Unhappy !" " Ye*,' petulantly, " miserable. Surely of late yon must have noticed how I avoid you. It is nothing but scold, sooUl, scold, all the t:me I am with you : and 1 confess I don't faucitii. Von might have known, without my telling you, tuat 1 detest being with you?" " I shall remember it for the future, r* turns be, in a low voice, falling back a step or two, and speaking coldly, although his heart is beating wildly with passionate pain aud anger. "Thank you," retort* Lilian : the kindest tln.ig you htve said to me for mauy a. day." Yet the rroment his back is turned she regret* this .-ude speech, and all the many others she huii given way to during the last fortnight Her own incivility vexes her, wounda her lo tl'e heart's core, for, however muchievinusly inclined and quick-tempered she may be, she is marvellously warm-heart- ed and kindly and fond. For full five minutes she walks to and fro, tormented by secret upbraiding!, and then a revulsion seism. Whatdoesit matterafter all, she thinks, with an impatient shrug of her pretty soft shoulders. A little plain speaking will do him no harm, in fact, may do him untold good. He hai been so - long that a en him L'olors. ' may do him untol.l good, ne nai o |.-it wa. all a mistake : , ( ed M(1 , M ml , hj , ; lfc lollg t | .plainly a moment ago. but' |^ u , iblnno ^ ver ,_ wil , . nUven U all with 1' orence; and M(l m(kk( . hinl .^ himself in his true co (\Vht his true colors nsy be ho does not specify even to herself.) Ami it he is so ' I would not make Florence unhappy for the world. Think of her nerves '." ' She will be quite as safe with Cyril or your cousin." " Which cousin ?" "C'hesney." " I think not, because I am going with Archibald." "You can eaiily break off wilh him, "anx- iously. " Hut supposing I do not wish to break of) with him '" " Am I to think, then, you prefer going with your cousin ?" in a frce/.mg tone. " Certainly I prefer his society to yours, ten thousand limes," forcibly ; " it was mere idleness made me say 1 wished to go with you. Hsd you agreed to my proposi- tion I should probably have c'nanged my muni afterwards, so everything is Iwtter as it is ; I am glad you did not answer me differently." "I did not answer you at all,' returns l -UY. unwisely. "No, you were afraid," returns she, with a mocking laugh that sends the red blood to his forehead. "What do yon mean!" lie askas angrily. "Nothing. It was foolish my mention- ing tin- subject. We are disputing about a mere tnrle. I am going with Archie what over happens, because I like him, and be- cause I know he is always glad to be will me." She turns as though to leave him, and (my impulsively catches her hand to de- tain her ; as he does so, his eyes fall upon the little white lingers imprisoned in Ins own, and there, upon one of them beside his own ring he see* another, newer. "Who gave you that?" he asks, impnl ively, knowing well the answer to nil i|iiestion. "Archibald," removing her hand quietly, but with determination. A dead silence follows. Then, speaking calmly by a sunreme ( 5sTt, (iuy says, "I suppoae SB Are you going to marry ymir onus'.., Lilian?" "! n in the capacity of guardian you ask ii i|iieiitiiin?' deHantly. "You should ->ui. ml., r 1 don't acknowledge one. " " Must 1 understand by that yo'i will accept him, or have accepted him ?" " Certainly not. Yon told me yesterday yosi found it impossible to understand me rC&Sytime : why seek to do what is beyond ys*r power T However, I don't mind tolling you that as yet Archibald ha* not made me a formal offer of his heart and hand. N > doubt" mockingly " when he doss me the honor to propose to me, h will speak to you OB the subject." Then she laughs a liitle. " Don't you think it is rather alisiir.l .1 :u.f jog matters for poor Aivlue without ttt enrmmil ? I assure you, he has as snueh **Va of proposing to ins as the man in the moon." "II you are not engaged to him you should not wear his ling," severely. " 1 am not engaged to you, and I wear ) .iir ring. If it is long to accept a ring from a man to whom onu is not engaged, I think it was very reprehensible of you to give this," point ing to it. " With me It is different," fiiiy n begin ning, raider lan.ely, not being sure of Ins argument ; but Miss Chcsney. disdaining sumeifuge, interrupts lain "A thing is either light or wrong," she says, superbly. " I may surely wear uit'ier none, or both." n remove l>olh," says (iuy, feeling he would rather see her without his. if it mutt only bewnrn in conjunction with t'hes ney's. "I shan't," returns, Lilian, deliberately. " I slmll wear both as long as it suits nir, became I adore rings.' "Then you are acting very wrongly. I knw there is little use in my speaking to ,i,n. once you ,re l>ent upon having your own way. V on are soself willed, and so tie lei mined-" Wiihmil a frieinl. wli:>l were hum .inltj . |'n linoi mil' .'i mi - up with agrmit K' .|ui>tes Lilian, lightly. ' There is no usv in your l< during me, Sii tiny: it doi little good. You wanl your way, mid ! H ml mint; I am not ' elf- willed,' bill I don l like tyranny, and 1 always said y..i were tyrannical." 1 \ mi re of com ir privileged to My wha i him. Sii.-h a fuss about s simple emerald ring indeed I Could any thing he more absurd ? Nevertheless she feels a keen desire for other in .uifiii has her in his arms, and has kissed her once, twice, passionately. Then recillruiion, all too late, returns, and, shoe- !<ed, horrified at his own con he realeases her, and, leaning against the wall with folded arms and lowered ryes, awaits his doom. Standing where he hut left her, pale as a little olortees gliosi, with her lips as white as death, and her great ryes grown black through mingled terror and ama/tinent, Lilian regards him silently. She does not move, she scarcely seems to brant 'ie ; uo faintest sound of anger escapes her. Then slowly slowly raising her handkerchief she draw it lightly acrots her lips, ami with a gesture full of contempt and loathing (lings it far from her. After which she draws her self up to her extremes! height, and, with her head erect and her whole figure sugges- tive of in lulled pride and dignity, she sweeps past bun into the Uiirary , closing the door quietly behind her. YVIien the las! sound of her footsteps has disappeared, (iuy rouses himself as if from a baleful drettu, and presses bis hand lohis forehead. Stooping, he picks u, the dis darned bsndkercheil, that liei mournfully in the corner, thrusts it into his Ixnom, and turning away towards hi-< own quarters is seen no more that night. ('HAPI'HIl. XVIII. " The bet laid -wheimM o' mire ami III.-M <.an< .ifta Ki<->. AmlleaV <. noui;lil '"it urief and pain. For promised loj ." (Hum*. All next day Lilian treats him as though to her eyes he is invisible. She bestows upon him none of the usual courteries of life ; she take* no " food morrow," nor give* one. She is singularly deaf when he speaks : except, when common etiquette compels her to return an answer 'to one or other of hi) speeches, she is dumb lo him or, when thus compelled, makes an ans wer in he. iciest tones. At live o'clock they all start for the Grange, Mrs. lioileau being one of these un- pleasant people who think they can never sre enough of their guests, or that their guests can never see enough of them, -1 am ' " When you tell a lie. tell a food one. When 7011 tell a KOO-I one, -tick lo it. and sticks to his accordingly. " I am so pleased !" says Lilian, after a tlignt pause, daring which h* tells herself young men are not so wretchedly thought- leu after all, snd that Archibald isquite an example to his sex in the matter of good na'uie. "One of my chiefest regrets on leaving horns wan thinking how my birds would miss " I am o.ry you ever left it." So am I. of course. I was very near declining to do so at the last moment. It look Aunt I'riscilU a full week to convince ft IK!* 01 ll Ml. ( iossipping and lying go hand in hand. Hearts may agree though headi differ. < easier to TiUms than to do better. Haste makes waste, and waste make* want. (lood wives are made by good husbands. There is a mighty difference betwees) bring just a little behind and a little be- fore. Hard work pays better than looking for legacies or dreaming of fortunes. Great**- pectations are a breakfast for fools. To be untruthful is one of the surest LOOK /1UUI 1 (l.lll n iMll wvw ** VM ,, I r I L me of the oirer of my ways, and prove to me , proofs of a fallen state, and since fal*eh*l that I could not live alone with a gay and (as she hinted) wicked ba-'helor.'' " I have never been so unfortunate as to meet her," says Archibald, mildly, " > would bet any money your aunt Prucili* i a highly objectionable and interfeung o reconciliation ; so much to that, later on, ; not >llrt w |,j cn , and who consequrnlly ha* just before dinner, seeing Sir<iiiy "> tn * ; asked them to come earlv, to inspec* her shrubberies, ws'iking up and down in deep- 1 ,, ar ,| fln , an ,l est moditation, evidently of the depressing ^fore ,ij n ,, er . order, she make* up her mind to go and' peak to him. Ye* she ha* been in the _ r - through her grounds A* the grounds are well worth seeing, and the evening is charming for strolling, this is ld maid." " No, she isuot : she is a very good worn au, and quite an old dear in some nays. - : ie is sn old maid r" raising himself on his elbow with some show of interest. ' Well, yes, she is; but I like old maids," says Lilian, stoutly. " Ob, she likes old maids," says M r. Chesney , sotto voce, sinking back once more into his lounging position. He evidently considers there is nothing more to be said And so she wouldn't let ! UMversal, so alsu is human depravity. Some men are liko pickles, a little of them at a time is quite enough ; others an like saccharine, a diul of them sweeten* the cup of life. The first test of a truly great man is his humility. All great men not only know their business, but usually know that they know it. [Rusk in. U ork is only deue well when it is done with a will ; and no man has a thoroughly sound will unless he knows he is doing what he should, and is in his place. The first, and last, and closest trial ques- tion to any living creature* is '' What do you like?" Tail me what yon like, and I'll tell you what you are. [ Rusk IB. Ob. what a little thing can turn A heavy heart from sighs to song ' A smile ran make the world lea* stern : A word can cause the soul to burn With glow of Heaven all night long ' on that bead. you stay?" "No. You should have seen her f ao* | when I suggested writing to you to ask if I j might hav* a suite of rooms for my own use, promising faithfully never to interfere with von in any way. It was a picture '" "It pained you very much to leave the , "* / -. | ..-.. I* k out ' ttDor none can obtain rest and without " It wa. deal I, to me. Remember, it bad j OOB . U _ n< .! ln * ^_ *> conque.1. - been my home all my life ; every stick and stone about the place wa* dear to me.'' "It was downright brutal my turning j 1 you out," says Archibald, warmly : " 1 1 ' could hale myself when I think of it. But I I knew nothing of it, and -I had not seen . you '.hen." " If you had woulJ you hate let me stay | on?" I think so," returns he. softly gazing a Htmpis. "- F* ' >- > deairjU.. Begtn '"P* lo ? D . d muij . Yon d . with dangerous tenderness at the delicate lose Muted i.-e above him. Then, " Kven so, I wish you had ask<l me ; I so seldu> go near the plaoe, you would have been short tune, and then there stop. | Spurgeon. To exercise sell restraint amid provoca- tions, and this acquire the habit of keeping the door of our lip*, should not be '-minted a hardship. The rich fruit resulting frosm khn is an abundant re'varJ. a Ike >. wrong ; she will go to him, therefore, and j aoout tne pleasantest part of the entertain- I thoroughly ^elcoine to stay on In it, had make theamende honorable; and he (he is not | IIleut At least so thinks Lilian, who (see- I you been the uglsset person brstaOiing altogether bad '. will doubU friend* with her again. rejoice tob* ing Guy's evident depression) is in radiant spirits. So does Archibald, who follows hei It was IO o'clock in the uierniag when w got down to tflc plain. Six inches of snow ! Lad fallen since midnight. The plain was So I said at the time, but Aunt Pns I fourteen miles wide at the point, while Its cilia would not hear of it. I am sure I jisUno* east and west as one hundred. It beard enough about the proprietie* at tnat | WM a i mo . t M i eve i M , toot, and th* lint So thinking, she move* slowly though M her ihlMlow Th . y are a oth .lelij-htedal . ... -- . . , w _ ...., ..... . .^,. _ _ _ deliberately up lo him regarding the wlnl* I everyl (,j n( / about the Grange, aud wauder time to last m* all my lif*. When all argu ; i ,_ nt of u e ij ji,.) exclamations of astonish with absolute fervor the exquisite though | lllth g frail geranium bloeiom he carries in her j lhty hand. It is only partly opined, and is delicately tinted as her own *kia. When she is quit* close to her guardian .lie raises her head, and instantly affects a with absolute fervor the exquisite though ' hlt j, er tm j ihither, looking and admiring as ' menu failed," says Miss Cheeney. breaking ' , nt . \ inow , vtr | into a gay Isugh, as recollection crowd* tree or Bllihi ,( ! upon her, " I proposed one last expedient ^ w ,i,j b, ti mot tne | lliat nearly drove aunty wild with I. What do you think it was ?'' Tell rue " )MII like," hnnglililv " Very well ; then I ery well ; then i shall say it. On ..,,!, I llnnk 1 was a hah), the ..y\n rnld and torment me," hem the tears o win nnd.htldisliiathri*einher eyes hut t-dii not a.-km.wledjie your antlu illy I have tidd you so * hundred lime*, and never shall, never, never, never " Lilian, listen to n,. . 1 will not I wonder why you i-oin in ir in* at ail. tin hark to I lorence ; she i soeahn, so sw.'et, KO --somnolenl," with that shi> will not i mill- your temper As for inr, 1 lutteilisa^reeable people ' \vh; d>' you speak to MM- it dors neither of n any gwl. I' only makes yrm ill mnnere i U.L iii i.. IK'I.J deliriously surprised little manner at the fact of his unexpected (?i nearness. "Ah, Sir (iuy, you here *"*h says, airily, with an apparent consummate forgetfulness of all patt broils. " You are just in time ; see wnat a lovely flower I have for you. Is not the color perfect? Is it not swee>t ?" proffering to him the pale geranium. " It 1*," replies he, taking the flower mechanically, because it is held out to him, but hardly looking at it. His fac* is pale with suppressed anger, his lips are closet) se b*n*ath hi* fair moustache : she i* -vi- denlly not forgiven. "And yet 1 thi' i," he says, slowly, " if you knew my opinion of you, you would I* the last to offer me a flower.' 'And what then is your opinion?" ds- mands Lillian, growing whiter and whiter ntil all her pretty face has faded to th* ' paleness n' the pearl." Instinctively she ecoils * little, as though tome t'ighl blow as touched aud shaken her. " I think you a nearness coquette," re- urns lie, distinctly, iualow tone that liter lly rings with paKiiiin. "Take hack your ift. Why should you wiste it on one who IOM oot care to have it." And flinging he flower contemptuously at her feel, he urns and departs. For a full minute Miss Cheai.ey neither tin nor speaks. When h is quit* gone, h* straightens herself, and draws her iharply. Well, I never '." she say*, bei w.ien her ittl* white tseth. which is a homely pliras* torrowed from nurse, but very expressive, and with that she plants a small foot vicious- y upon the unoffending (lower and crushes t ont of all shape and recognition. I tinner is over, and almost forgotten: conversation flag*. Kven to the most wakeful t occurs thai i'. must he bordering upon bed- hour. Lilian, whose nightly hbit is to read for an hour or two in her bed before going to sleep, rememberi. g she ha* left her nook where she took olf her hat on coming into the bouse some hours ago, leaves the draw- j ing room, and, having crusted the Isrge hall, urns into the smaller one that letds to ths ' ibrary. Midway in this paaaap one lamp is burn- ns : the three othorsibectuseofsoineinst rut able reason known only to the. under fool have not been lit : consequent l\ to light this hall is in semi darkness. Almost at the very end of it Miss Chesney finds herself face to 'face with her guar lian, ml, impelled by mischief and coquetry, stops shod to confront him. " Well, Sir (iuy, have you got the better of your naughty temper?" she asks, aaucilt. Fie. to keep a little wicked black dog upon your shoulder for so long ' I hope by this tune you are properly ashamed of your- self, and that you are ready {o promise m* never to do it again." ( luy is silent. He is thinking how lovely she is, how indifferent to him, hnw un.it taumble. "Mill unrepentant," goes on Lilian, u ah a mocking smile : " )ou ale. .1 n.ure louden- ed tinner than I evergave yon credit for. And ] And indeed it is a charming old place. older perhaps than t'hetwoode. though smaller and less imposing. The ivy ha* clambered up over all its ancient walls and towers and battlements, until it presents t* so white. trick of a deer or trace that lif* existed between us and th* faraway fort. 'I he dead w bite of that plain made one think \ *f the face of a oorpe*. aud so pot an end to all slanderous tangues: iup rintend*d our work of bridging a ohasm that is. if you consented to have me. See ,i ul ^ mountain pass, looked up at to* what a narrow escape you bad. say* Lilian. Uy .^ ^. rott u , tht (oati.ilU and aeemed her merriment increaaing : "it would nave jm j ouou I said I would ask your hand in marriage fl.* wrinkle-laced old wrgtaiit, who th* eye a sheet of darkest, richest green, ' through which the old-fashioned casements peep iu pictureque disorder, hardly two windows being in a line. Intide, step* are lo b* met with every- ' been so awkward to refuse !" | Let's chance it :' callstd three or four where in the most unexpected place*, Archibald ga/e at her earnestly. O f th* men in chorus, snd this decided to* cur inns door* lead ing one never know* whre has been through the hand* of a good many mmlter | p tingle file, th* sergeant ghostly corridors along which at dead of women in his lime, b*t now confesses him- ' night armed knights of bygone days might self fairly put/led. Is h*r laughter genu tramp, their armor clinking, winding ----' ' -- J- ' stairs, and tapestries that tsli of warriors brave and maidens fair, loin; -nice buried and forgotten. Outside, the gaidens are lovely aud rich in blossom. Her* too th* old world seems to have lingered, the very flowers them- selves, though born yesterday, having all ing. the fourteen of us struck out ihe plain. As soon as elear of ths trees and brush e\ery man felt a -ort of giddmees. W* had not gone two mile* when the man in front of me aeemed to have suddenly in the grace and modesty of an age gone by. Heie " Ths oxllp and the nodding vlolel grow: Unltu over-canopied with lush woodbine, With -wen mini. roc aud with eglamiue.- Here too the " nunlike lily ' hang* it* head, Ihe sweet "neglected wall-flower" blows, the gaudy sunflower glitters, snd the 11 pale jessamine, the white pink, and the i l freaked with jet," display their ' ?' pansy charms : while among to.venng all through the might of its majest v, shines the | lni rose.-" Joy '.own flower," as Felicia ; is.wn . ...- ilPll.it >- lll 11 Heinans sweetly calls it. is it coquetry? or simple amusement * " Had you ever a proposal, Lilian ?" asks lie, quietly, his eyes still riveted upon her ; fsu*. created his height by a foot I waa pur- "No,"iurpri*el : " what an odd q- u Dg ow it when h* just a* suddenly b* lion : I suppose it is hun-iliatmg to think cmme , d ww .f. f heard the men laughing that up to this no man has thought me : 4- j kB<w tn ., it wo . oplio .| .lelnaxes*. worth loving. 1 often imagine it all, say* m u it fnghteued me Tb* seregan t had Lilian, confidentially, takis* her knee* into mounUin ^ , view and seemed to her mbrace, and luting her eye* wander itt j,, % straight course, but when I looked dreamily over to the hill* far away behind bl ;. k j MW tnkt onr tr4 ,j ,ig,.igj , t th* twaying tr**. " And I dare say _some e,,,^,,. way . We had mad* live mile* of the journey when there wa* a sudden halt, and a groan of despair ran down the line. Th* cloud* were driving away and the sun threatening to come ou' Kven as we turned and look- ed, back and wondered if there was time t* retrace our step*) the gray film drove off to the south, and tlie sun burst forth like aa , explosion. Kvery man cried out in alarm. gra'itied. But I should like to says Miss _ for a man ouldn'i go down on bis knees to his day my curiosity do hope h* won't write see linn do ,, This last remark under the circumstances unwise, mads aware of moment later by the fact .of Now -being late in the season -the bios- i ArchiUId s rising aud going down d.liber- j whll , ^ {( the ,,- , wayed --'" <.n his kuecs Ufore ler. : lf woun dd by bullet*. What wa* the !* Mr ^ twt ' >' >' ' lov*you. says he. eagerly. . . -' peril' Wh.t had veteran soldi.r. to fear son- is mere aoarce. though .till the air i* h.avy with delicate perfume, and -he eye. | growdrunk with ga/.ng on the beauty of >' ' lov*you. says he. eagerly. ilian , Something morr dialed than a band of the autumn HI.- wars. Through them got* i Wlll y, u '""> " ir ,., ., Indians m warpaint : wii-thmg Irv merci Lilian, will, Archibald gla.llyfollow.ng " \ N " * |2"fi5i J"M*!! i" ful tbau ' ^ of ...arvi M wolves-snow ' fr.ht*n*d. hajf amuse.1 blindness ! In one hnef miuut* ev.ry man's "S*' I)o f* 1 , U P- ! eyes ae*in*d stain*. To open them wa* towe think how ridiculous 4 ollrpl . flame Ait ,^, nt 5^ iD . f Bl , llo you look. ' ' WK y . t he giddiness m -i.-ased all of a sud "TeJI m* you will ma. ry me," entreat* den and we ^ nk .(own in our tra^-ks for that young man umnovsd even by the faci fg^r o f falling. of his appearing grotesque in the eyes of his All dsy long he has (Tad her to himself. and.h.Lb:en M goo,I.ohim..o.Mde.t-"'r<! -it I- K'.ng ly pl.. M d and content d with his society. Archie : you cannot thi pleased and a'lone, that within his breast an earnest hope hai risen, so strongly, that he only wait* a j fitting opportunity to lay his heart mid for- ' luue at hei feet. "I can walk no more, "says Lilian, at last. [ linking upon the grass bens.th the shade of ' n huge beech that spreads its kindly arms 1 above her. " l-et us sit here and talk." Ar, -Inhald throw* himself licsule her, and for a few minutes si'enoe reigns supreme. " Well '" says Lilian, at length, turning, la/y though in.|iiisitive eyes upon her com- panion. Well?" says Archibald in return. "I said you wsre lo talk." remarks Lilian in an aggrieved tone. " And yon have not nai.l one word ye; \ on ought lo know by this time how I dislike silen.e. " " Illanie yourself: 1 l.a\ cbeen ia> kin.; nix ' brains without success for the las: two min- utes to try to fiud something suitable to say ' Dul you never n >ti. how, when one person says to another, ' I ome, let us talk,' that ! other is suddenly stricken with hopeless st-i _ pulitx ' Soil is now wilh me: I c.umot ' talk, I am greatly afraid " Well, lean, *y* Lilian, "and as I in sist on your doing so also, I shall ask you questions thai lequire an answer, lu-i. beloved "No: I will not," shakiag her head. " Archio. do move there lat be most d read- fill spulei creeping up your leg." "I dou'tcare ; let him creep," says Arch ili*ld, valiaiuly : "I sbau t stir until you give me a kind answer." ' 1 don't know what to say ; and besides 1 can d<> nothing but laugh while you main- tain your present position. (>et up instant- ly, you foolnb boy you pre ruining the knees of your best trousers WlietlitTihis thought carries right with Mr t hesney I know not, bat certainly he to his feet without further demur. (Ttv K COVTIM M>. ' mar la tfee w.. r ..i The silver mine at r'r.'iKrani, in l> ih it said to be the deepest mine in th* world. It is more than ,'UiK) feet deep that is, tcrably more than half a mile in depth. The teniperatiire nt that great depth was found to be alwut Tti degrees Fahrenheit : , did you evri receive a note timn me the temperature at the surface wa* a little on my leaving the Park, asking you to take , higher. A driven well in this country was care ol iy birds?" And V"i I'd tli-m Ui'Kidaily," says Archibald, telling a what in n all itliout, pray ? \Vhat has vex- ' fearful lie deliberately, as from the day he eil v< u Wat it my ouiuu's rm^ 01 m\ iead ilia' note to this ho has uever once lefiimng to itcivjinpany you to-morrow sunk to about -.'Tim feet, we think, aud the ' temperature was found to increase about -' degree* for every 100 feet of depth : but, of con I'M, no man went down the small shaft made by the tools. Mr., lloileau's? ' lloth, ' replies he, feeling compelled In answer. " I still think you ihoiild not \\esi 4 your cousin's ring unless engaged lo " Nor yours either, of course," with a frown " How you do lovn going over the same ground again and again ! Well," de (enniiialely, " as I told you before, I shall wear lioth do you hem just as long M I please. So now, my puissant guaitlian,' with a gesturethat is almost a challenge, "I defy you, and dare you In do your worst." Her tone, as is intended, imtte Inn. her Ixauty, her open though childish defi- ance, maddens him. i.i'ing at her in ths uncertain light through which htr golden hair aud gleaming sapphire eyes shine be looses all sell control and iu an- lemembered the fealhered friends she men- tn.iiH. am! even now as he speaks hat only v ha/.ieat idea of what she means. 44 1 am glatl ofthat,' regarding lumsearoli inglv. " It would make me unhappy to thlBI they bad leen negleded." l>on t be unhappy, then," returning her ga-e calmly mid uiitlin. Inugly : " they are all right : I took care of that." His manner is truthful ir. the extreme, his eye* meet hers reassuringly. It is many years since Mr t'hesney first learned th* advantage to bode: i, <'d n. MI an impauive C'uintennnco. And now w ith Lilian's keen blue eyes look ing him through and through, he feel* il.mUy thankful that practice lias made him ..i. peifo, t in the art of suppressing bi real ihi.u^iiis He liad also learned the wi-doni of the old inaxiui, i.luttiuiy kill* more than th* sword. A man should have before him either great men or great objects ; otherwise h ' The rope ! The rope '" was wailed along the line, but the sergeant had already taken it from his knapsack. It was a light rop* , fifty feet long, and h* ina.l* on* end fast to his own body. Kat h man il.cn pawed the free end buck to bis comrade till the end of the line was reached. \\ e *ere to turn . back and attempt to teach the spot front which w* started. There was no such thing | as eemg. If yon opened your eyes after a I long interval, the snow wa* blood red. The sergeant fell for the trail with his feet, and 1 w* proceeded at a snail'* pace. We had ' no*, made half a mile on the return jnrney when every man in the column wa* weopirg or cursing. It was a spevies of drunken- ness. Later on some shouted a', tl t .p .<t their voices. In th* swaying about the sergeant was pulled away frum the trail ii; I . .mid not rind it again, aid one of the men would have killed him with a kinte if he could have lai t hold of him by giopmg. Muring a moment of silence the othVer said : " Koy*. 1 am s<.rry for this, hut I am not to blame, 1 1 you will lie down and cover your heads with yonr blankets, you will u* all right when tlu- sun goes down." Of the fourteen only four of u did as ad- vised. Th* othr'.s seemxd to have loji ill reason. They sobbed l.'b.e children : they cuned iu a way to make you chill ; they sang hymns and ribald song* : they groped about to find each other and fought like furies. It was mid-afternoon before I lost the sound of their \ oi^ea. At ."> o'clock th* sun wa* out of light, ami a bitter, biting wind blew down from the mountains. Our loses hi* power*, like the magnet when it eyes still ached, but us could see our way has not been turned for a long period to- m l we t'>ok the snowy trail back to the ward the right point ot the compass. [J, I'. Uicliter. The secret of being pur* in heart is to choose and retain pine thoughts. Ah, if bewildeii'd humanity only new tint' If it only knew that the way out of its tangle l t ice and error was jost to get hold of one I.IIM-, good thought, and , ling to it i-nlil another cam* lo it by Ihe law of attraction, and then cling to that, and so on until wil thoughts were displaced and temptations lisappear, because aUive them the soul has climbed hill*. The night came down with a bli . I and even in the shelter of a thick"! . with a great fire bla/iug, ran and toe* war* frozen. Next morning, with a cold, gray sky and the air full of snowtlakrs. which seemed to burn aa they touched the rtttsh, ws went dowu on the plain to look for our lost comrades. Tney were lying here and there, to the right and left of the trail. No two were together. Some had walked about MS**'iicle, aud some ha,', crept lor a mile on bands and kne**. livery one wa* dead and lio/eu (till -tea out of .'o r ',-cu I

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