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LOVE REASONS NOT. CHAPTER XXXI. A MAN Of WAX. It ii not pieaaent to tell how tha founda- tions of k noble building ara sa|>pe<i ; to 11 how the grind, itroag trunk of a uoliU ree i* hacked and hewn until it falls ; how the oonsttnt rippling of water weari aw*y a (tone ; how the automation with baser raiadi lake* away the bloom from the pure onei ; how the constant friction with the world takes the dainty innocence of youth away. It i> never pleaitut to tell of untruth, or infidelity, or >in. It n not pleasant to write here, little by little, inch by inch, how Lord Chando wan persuaded, influenced, and overcome. The itory of inan'i perflily i> alwayi hateful the itory of man'k weskness it alwayi contemptible. Yet the strongest of men, Samton, fell through the blandish- menu of a woman. Lord ChandDS w&> neither ai strong aa Sainion nor as wiie as Solomon ; and that a clever woman should get the upper hand of him was not to be wondered at. Ha wai a brave, gallant, generous gentle- man, gay and genial ; he could not endure feeling unhappy, nor could he bear the thought of any other person'* unhappineai ; he had no tragedy about him ; he was kind of heart and simple of mind ; be was clever and gifted, but he u like wax io the bands of a clever woman like Lady Lans- well. He wai singularly unsuspicious, believed n most things and most persons; he never misjudged or ge"e anyone credit for bad qualities. He had no more intention of deeeiting Leone when he left England than be bad of seizing the crown of Turkey. Hi* hcnent, honorable intention was to return to her and marry her on the first hour that such a marriage could be legal. He would have laughed to scorn any one who would have hinted a*, such a thing. Hii love then was his life, and he had noth- ing beside it. Gradually, slowly but surely, other in- terests occupied him. A great writer says: "Love is the life of a woman, but only an episode in the life of a man.' That WAS the difference it waa Leone's life: to him it had been an episode and now that the epia<>de was somewhat paased, other interests open- ed to him. He meant to be faithful to her and to marry her; nothing should ever shake that determination; but he had ceas- ed to think it need be so hurriedly done; he need not certainly forego the pleasure of tour and hurry home for his birthday; that wasquiiotio nonsense; anytime that year would do. After his marriage he should loee his mother and Lady Marion; he would enjoy their company as long as all he could; Leone was all right, she had a luxurious home, the assurance of his love and fidelity, the certainty of being his wife a few weeks or months would mtksbut little t'ifference to her. He did not think he bad done any great harm in going to Spain. He tried to convince himself that it was right; and he ended by believing it. He felt rather anxious as to what Leone would say and the tons of her letter rather surprised him. She made no complaint, no reproaches; she never mentioned her pain or her sorrow ; be said nothing of her long watch or its unhappy snding; she did not even tell him of the delayed letter and he wondered. He was more uncomfortable than if her letter had been one slinging reproach from beginning to end. He answered it be wrote to hr often, but there was a change in the tone of her letters, and he was half conscious of it. He meant to be true to her that was his inly comfort in (he after years ; he run Id not tell nor did he know how it first entered his mind to be anything else. Perhaps my lai'y knew for she had com- pletely changed her tactics instead of ignoring Leone she talked of her continually never unkindly, but with a pitying contempt that insensibly influenced Lord Chandos. He was like wax in her hands ; despite his warm and true love for his wife that idea became (irmly engraved on his mind he was a victim. When once she had carefully impressed that upon him my !ady went further ; she began to question whether really, after all, bis promise bound him or not. In her eyes it did not certainly not. The whole thing was a most unfortunate mistake; but that he should consider himself bound by such a piece of boyish folly was madness. My lady had certainly other influences to bring to bear. The uncle of Lady Krskine, the Duke of Lester was one of the most powerful nobles in Kngland the head of the Cabinet, the mod influential peer in the House of Lords, the grandest orator and the most respected of men. My lady enjoyed talking about him she brought forward his name continually, and was often heard to say that whoever had the fioodfortune to marry Lady Krikine was almost sore to succeed the duke in his num- erous honors. Lord Ckandos, hearing her one day, said: "I will win honors, mother win them for myself and that will be better than succeeding another man." Nhe looked at him with a half-sad, half- mocking smile. I have no ambition, no hope for yon, Lenoe. You have taken your wife from a dairy- -the most I can hope is that you may leern to be a good judge of milk " He turned from hsr with a bot flush of anger on his faoe. Yet the sharp, satirical shaft found Its way to his heart. He thought of the words and brooded over them they made more impression on him than any others had done. In his mother's mind he had evidently lost his place in the world's race, never to regain it. The duke who knew not hit. K of the eon- acy, and knew nothing of the young lord's ftory, except that he had involved himself in some tiresome dilemma from which his parents had rescued him the Duks of Lester, who heard Lord Chandoe spoken of as one likely to marry his niece, took a great fancy to him ; he had no child- ren of his own; he was warmly attached to his beautiful niece ; and it, seemed very probable that if Lord Chandos married Lady Krskine, he would have before him one of the roost brilliant features that could fall to any man's lot. Many people hinle<i at it, and constant dropping wears away a stone. The last and perhaps the greateit hold that the countess hail over her son was the evident liking of Lady Marion for him. In this, as in everything else, she was most diplomatic ; she never expressed any wish, that he should marry tier ; but she had a most sympathetic manner of speakiiig about her. 41 I doubt, Lanoe," she said one day " whether we have ilom wisely at least whether I have done wisely - m allowing Lady Marion to see so much of you ; she is so sweet and so gentle I am quite distressed about it." 44 Why, mother ? I aee no cause for dis- tress," he said, abruptly. 14 No, my dear; men all possess the happy faculty of never seeing that which lies straight before tleir eyes. It is one of their special gifts you have it to perfec- tion." " Do speak out what you mean, mother; that satire of yours puzzles me. What do 1 not see that I ought to see ? " 14 Nothing very particular. What I mean is Ibis, Lanoe, that I am almost afraid Lady Marion has been too much with us for hsr peact of mind. I think when you go back to England on this wild-goose chase of yours, that she will feel it deeply." He looked anxiously at her. "Do you mother, really think that?" he asked. "I do, indeed. Of course I know, Lanoe no words of mine will ever avail; but it seems to me you are in this position if you leave Lady Marion and return to youi pretty dairy-maid that Lady Marion will never be happy again. If you marry Lady Marion aud dower that young ( >ron with a good fortune she will marry some one in her own rank of lite and be much happier than she could bs with yon." "Ah, mother," he said sadly," you do not know Leone." "No, ami never shall; bnt I know one thing if I stood in your place and was compelled to make one or the other un- happy, I know which it would be. In marrying Lady Marion you make yourself at once and you delight me; you gratify one who knows and loves you. In marry- ing that tempestous young person you cut yourself adrift from fame, friends, and parents." "Hut honor, mother, what about my honor?" "You lose it in marrying a dairy-maid. You preserve it in marrying Lady Marion. And with this Parthian shot my lady left him. CHAPTER XXXII. AX ACT OK I'KKKlllT. So- inoh by inch, little by little, step by step Lord Chandos was influenced to give up nit faith, his promise, his loyalty. Lord Chandos could not quite trample his conscience under foot ; under the in- fluence of his mother he began to see that his lore for Loons had been very unfortun- ate and very fatal ; he had begun to think that if one of two women must be miserable it had belter be Leone. That which was present influenced him most. He loved his mother, he was flattered by Lady Msrion's love for him. So many in- fluences were brought to bear upon hun,th earl and countess were so devoted to him Lady Marion charmed him so much with her grace and kindness of manner, her sweetness of disposition her wonderful itpose, that his faith grew weak and his loyalty failed. There came an evening when they two- Lord Chandos 'and Lady Marion stood alone in one of the most beautiful courts of the Alhambra. The whole party bad been visiting that marvelous palace, and, more i>y accident than design, they found themselves alone. The sun was set- tinga hundred colors flamed in the west- ern sky; the sun seemed loath to leave the lovely, laughing earth; all the flowers were sending her a farewell message; the air was laden with richest odors; ths ripple of green leaves made music and they stood in the midst of the glories of the past and the smile of the present. "I can people tbe place,' said Lady Mar- ion, in her quiet way. "1 can see the oava- lien in their gay dresses and plumes, the dark-eyed senoras with veil and fan. How many hearts have loved and broken within these walls, Lord Chandos!" ''Hearts love and break everywhere," he said, gloomily. She went on: 1 wonder if many dreams of this grand Alhambra oame to Queen Catharine of Arragon, when she lay down to rest that is, if much rest oame to her ?" "Why should not rest come to her?" asked Lord Chandos, and the fair faoe, raised to answer him, grew pale. "Why ? What a question to ask me. Was she not jealous and with good cause ? How can a jealous woman know rest ? I am quite surs tlut she mnst have thought often with longing and regret, of her home in sunny Granada." "I have never been jealous in my life." said Lord Chandos. "Then you have never loved," said Lady Marion. "I do not believe that love ever exists without some tinge of jealousy. 1 must say that if I loved any one very much, I should be jealous if I saw that person pay much attention to any one else." He looked at her carelessly, he spoke carelessly ; if hs had known what was to follow, he would not have spoken so. 41 But do you love any one very much ?" he said. The next moment he deeply repented the thoughtless words. Her whole face seemed on fire with a burning blush. She turned pi o ud I y away from him. 44 Yon have no right to ask me such a question," she said. " Yon are cruel to me, Lord Chandos." The red blush died at iy, --<d the sweet eyes filled with Wars. That was ths coup dr. grttrt ; perhaps if that little incident had never happened. this story had never been written ; bnt the tears in hose tweet eye*., snd tbe quiver of pain in that beautiful faoe, was more than he could bear. The next moment he was by her side, and bad taken her white hand in his. ' Crutl ! how could I bs cruel to yon. Lady Marion? Nothing could be further from my thoughts. How am I cruel !" " Never mind," she said, gently. " But I do mind very much indeed. What did I jay that could make you tnink me cruel ? Will you not tell me?" " No," she replied, with drooping eyes, "I will not tell you." 14 But I mnst know. Was it because I asked you, if you ever loved any one very much ?' Was that cruel ?" " I cannot deny,bnt I will not affirm it." she said. " We are very foolish to talk about such things as love and jealousy ; they are much belter left alone." There was the witchery of the hour and the scene to excuse him ; there was the fair loveliness of her faoe. the love in her eyes that lured him, the trembling lips that seemed made to be kissed ; there was the glamour that a younrf and beautiful woman always throws over a man ; there was the music that came from the throats of a thou- sand birds, the fragrance that came from a thousand flowers to excuse him. He lost his head, as many a wiser man has done ; his brain reeled, his heart beat ; the warm white hand lay so trustingly in his own, and he read on her fair, pure face the story other lore. Hs never knew what madness possessed him ; he who had called h.mself the husband of another ; but he drew her face to his and kissed her lips, while he whispered to her how fair and how sweet she was. The next moment he remembered himself, aud wished the deed undone. It was too lavs to one like Lady Marion a kiss meant a betrothal, and he knew it. Hfe saw tears fall from her eyes ; he kissed them away, and then she whispered to him in a low, sweet voice . "How did you guess my secret ?" 44 Your secret," he repeated, and kissed hsr again, because be did not know what to say. 44 Yes ; how did you find out that I loved you?" she asked, simply. "1 am sure I nave always tried to hide it. " 44 Your beautiful eyes told it," he said ; and then a sudden shock of horror oame to him Great Heaven ! what was he doing? where was Leone? She did not perceive it, but raised her blushing face* to his. 44 Ah, well," shs said, sweetly, ' it U no secret since you have found it out. It is true, I do Icve you, and my eyes have not told you falsely." Perhaps shs wandered that he listened so calmly, that he did not draw her with passionate words anil caresses to his heart, that be did not speak with the raptures lovers used, tie looked pale and troubled, yet he clasped her hand more closely. 44 You are very good to me," be amid. " I do not deanrve it. I do not merit it. Yon you -shame me, Marion." .'she looked at him with a warm glow of happiness on her faoe. 41 It would not be possible to be too good tn you ; but I mnst not tell you of all I think of you, or you will grow vain. I think," she continued, with a smile that made her look like an angel, " I think now that I know how much you love me 1 shall be the happiest woman on the face of the earth. He did not remember to have said how much he loved her, or to have spoken of his love at all, but evidently she thought he had, and it came to tbe same thing. 44 How pleased Lady Lanswell will be !" said the young heiress, after a time. "You will think me very vain to say so, but 1 believe she loves me." 44 1 am sure of it, who could help it ?" he said, absently. He knew that he had done wrong, he re- pented it, and made one desperate effort to save himself. 44 Lady Msrion," he said, hurriedly, "let me ask you oneo,ueatu>n. You have heard, of course, the story of my early lovs ?" He felt the trembling of her whole figure as she answered, in a low voioe : 44 Yes ; I know it, and that makes me unde -stand jealousy. I am very weak, 1 know, bat il you bad gone to England I should have died of pain." He kissed her again, wondering whether for his perfidy a bolt from Heaven would strike him dead. 44 You know it," he said ; "then tell me I leave it with you. Do you consider that a barrier between us, between you and me? You shall deoids ?" She knew so little about it that she hastily answered : "No ; how can it be ? That was folly. Lady Lanswell says you have forgotten it. Shalt a mere folly be a barrier between us? No, ; lovs levels all barriers, you know," He kissed her hands, saying to himself that he was the greatest coward and the greatest villain that ever stood on earth. Words he had none. Then they heard Lady Cambrey calling for her niece. "Let me tell her," whispered the beauti fnl girl ; "she will be so pleased, she likes you so much." Then, at they passed out of the court, she looked at the grand old walls. "I shall always love this place." she said, "because it is here that you have first said that you loved me." An<l the pity is that every girl and every woman disposed to give her whole chance of happiness in a man's hod was not there to see now women believe men, and how men keep the promises they make. He toKl his mother that same night. "I have done it," he said : "circum- stances have forced me into it, but I have foresworn myself. I have lost my self- respect, and I shall never be happy again while I live." Rut she embraced him with eager de- light., "You have done well," she said ; "you have risen above the shackles of a miserable promise, snd you have proved yourself a noble man by daring to undo the mad act of folly which might have blighted your life. I approve of what you have done, and so will any other sensible person." And that was bis consolation, his reward for tha greatest act of perfidy that man ever committed, or a woman sanctioned. CHAPTKR XXXIII. '1 IIAVK ItlllfKtD MYSII.r." So the Dnke of Lester, all amiability and interest, gave .the finishing touch to Lord Chandoe' fata. When he had once spoken of tbe matter, there was no reced- ing from it without a scandal that would have horrified all Kngland. The duke's first words settled the whole matter; he held out his hand in frankest, kindliest greeting to Lord Chandos. 44 I hear very pleasant intelligence," he said; and while I congratulate you, I con gratulate myself that I am to have the good fortune of an alliance with yon." Lady Ltnuwell stood by, and there was a moment's panes; perhaps she never suffered such intensity of suspense as she did during that moment for her son's face grew colorless, and be looked as if be were going to draw back. Tbe next minute he haci recovered himself, and returned the duke's greeting, then, and only then, did the countess give a great sigh of relief; there could he no mistake, no drawing back from anything which the duke sanc- tioned. That day there was a family meeting; tbe earl and countess, L >rd Chandos. the Duke of Lester, Lady Marion Ers<ine, and Laxly Cambrey: they all dined together, and the dnke discussed with the countess the ti ne of the marriage. There was little said, bnt that little was binding : there could be no retreat. In the autumn, about September, the, countess thought ; and she suggested that they should not return to England for tbe marriage ; it could take place at the Em- bassy at Paris. There would be plenty of time for discussing these details; the thing now was to settle ihe engagement. It gave great delight; the earl, it is true, had some little scruple, which he ventured to press to his wife. "I ought to add my congratulation," he said : " but I am in doubt over it. This seems a very suitable marriage, and Lady Marion ir a most charming girl. But what about that other girl, my lady ?" 41 That has notniog to do with us," she replied, haughtily. " I am prepared to be very liberal ; I shall not mind a thousand a year ; she shall have nothing to com- plain of." Lord Lanswell did not feel quite so sure but as he never had any management of his own affairs, it was too late to begin now. My lady would probably bring a hornet's nest about her ears that was her own business ; if he were any judge, either of looks or character, that young girl, Leone, would not be so lightly set asid*. However, he said nothing. Lord Lans- well had learned one leeson in his life ; he bad learned thst " Silence was golden." Tbe matter was settled now; the dnke had given his sanction, expressed his delight; several of the highly connected and important families belonging to the Lanswells and the Lesters had sent in their congratulations; everything was in trim. There was no need for the dnke to remain; he would join them in Paris for the wedding. No word was spoksn on the subject between Lsjdy Lanswell and himself, bnt there was a certain tacit understanding that the wedding mnst not take place in hrgland, lest it should be disturbed. The duke returned to EngUnd, taking back with him a sincere liking and a warm admiration for Lord Chandos; he was impatient for the time to come when he should be able to claim him as a relation of his own. The remainder of tbe party stayed at Granada; there was plenty to interest them about that charming city. Home few days after his departure. Lord Chandos sought his mother. She had felt anxious over him of late. He looked like anything but a happy lover; he was thin, worn, and the face that had been so bright had grown shadowed and careworn. My lady did not like it. Any man who had won such a prize as Lady Krtkme ought to feel delighted and show his pleasure. So argu ed my lady, but hr son did not seem to shaie her -entimenU, She sat on this morning, looking very stately and beautiful in a dress of moire antique, with a morning-cap of point lace a woman to whom every one involuntarily did homage. Lord Chandos looked at her with wonder and admiration ; then he sighed deeply when he rememtered why he had sought her. He sat do* n near her, tbe very pic- ture of dejection i nd misery. 11 Mother," he said, abruptly. " 1 have b-hav*! likea villiau and a coward. In what words am I to excuse mys-lf f My lady's faoe darkened 44 I have not the (1 -asure of understand- ing you," she said. " Will yon explain yourself?" 44 I have perjured myself. I have brok sn the most solemn vows I hat a man could snake. 1 have foreewoio myself. Tell me in what words am I to toll my guilt, or excuse it ?" A contemptuous smile stole over the faoe of mv lady. 14 Are you troubling yourself about that tempestuous young person, Leone? Shame on you, when you have won the sweetest woman snd the wealthiest heiress in England for your wife!" His voice was broken wi.h e notion as he answeied her: "I cannot forget tint I believed her to be my wife once, aud I loved her." My lady interrupt*! him. "My dear Lanoe, we ail know what a boy's first love is. Ah, do believe me, it is not worth thinking of; every one laughs at a boy's love. They take it just as they tike to whooping-cough or fever; it does uot last much longer either. In an< ther ye ir's time you will laugh at the very mention of what you have called love. Believe m ," continued hr ladyship, proudly, "thit Lady Marion is the wife Heaven ordained for you, and no other. " The handsome young head was bent low, ami it seemed to my lady as though a great tearless sob oame from his lips. She laid her hand on his dark, crisp waves of hair. "1 do sympathize with you Lance," she said, in a kind voice; and when Lady Laos- well chose to be kind no one could rival her. 44 You have, perhaps, made some little sacri- fice of inclination, but, believe me, you, have done right, and I am proud of jou. " He raised his haggardyoung faoe to hers. "I feel myself a coward and a villain, mother," he said, in a broken voice. "I ought to have gone back to that poor girl; 1 ought not to have dallied with te.iiptation. I love Leone with one love of my heart and mind, and I am a weak, miserable coward that I have not been true to her. I have lost my own self respect, and 1 shall never regain it." My lady was patient; she had always expected a climax, and.now it had arrived, she was ready for it. The scorn and satire gave place to tenderness: she who was the most undemonstrativs of women, oareesed him as though he had been a child again on her knots. She praised him, she spoke of his perfidy as though it wers heroism) she pointed out to him that he had ms.de a noble sacrifice el an ignoble love. "But, mother," he said, "I have broken my faith, my honor, my plighted word," and her answer was: "That for a great folly there could only be a great reparation: that if he had broken his faith with this unfortunate girl he had kept it, and hi* loyalty also, to the dame and race of which he was so proud, to her sslf and to Lady Marion." Like all other clever women, she could argue a question until she convinced the listener, even tgainst his own will, and she could argue so preciously that she made wrong seem right. He listened until he was nnable to rrske any reply. In his heart he hated and loath- ed himself; be called himself a coward and a traitor; but in his mother's eyee he was a great hero. "There is one thing I cannot do," he said; "I cannot write and tell her; it seems to me more cruel than if I plunged a dag- ger in her heart." Lady Lsuiswell laughed. "That is all morbid sentiment, my dear Lanoe. Leave the matter with me, I will be very kind and very generous; I will arrange everything with her in such a manner that yon will be pleased. Now promise me to try and forget her, and be happy with the sweet girl who lovee yon so dearly." "I will try," he said, but his young face was so haggard and worn that my lady's heart misgavs her as aae looked at him. "1 have done all for the best," she nvir- mured to herself. "He may suffer now, bnt he will thank me for it in the yean to come." (TO BK COXTINPKD.) Rations for an Imperial Journey. Emperors on their travels take no pleas are, apparently, in that form of "roughing it" which involves dining without fish one night and without a choice of two liqueurs, or which implies a fast from strawberries in October. The table is perpetually and monotonously kept up to the high point o capital, and what this involves in the ser- vice of the imperial train ma) be gathered from the re'nimsoenoee, published in Russia, of the Czar's journey across his continent in 1S88. It was this journey which was in- terrupted, it will be remembered, by the attempt to wreck the train. It is true that the way was through a country un- meet for the supply of Parisian confection- ery, for instance, and that materials for this necessary were therefore inevitably in- cluded in the baggage. Even for fish the Caspian could not be trusted. For the fish of the Caspian is nUvored with petroleum, which flows into it from the Baku wells. Nor was any confidence felt in the beef of the steppes. No one would answer for catching a filet in time to meet tbe food trains; for two special trains for this single purpose were not too much, some of the compartments being converted in :o freezing chamber*. And to these were intrusted the oysters from Ostend, not without mis- giving. The trains went careering on to prepare '.be dinner, the menu flying back by telegraph. Not on wheels, ho we /er, was the delicate buianess of the cookery accom- plished. Kitchens, a day's journey asunder, made a chain across Northern Europe and part of Asia. Kach kitchen was manned by 300 persons, whose duties began and ended with the solitary effort of a single dinner. Then there was what may be called the rolling stock of servants, who travelled with the Cxar and the Czar ins, and minister- ed to the lesser solemnities of luncheon. It was during luncheon that the crash occur- red, and it was owing to the extremity sub- stantial building of that important com- partment that the imperial livee were not lost. What It Costs to Govern Quebec. According to the public accounts of y-iebec the provincial income of tbe year amounted tofl.XMM'.iT and ths expenditure to $5,S26,036,showin a deficiency of 91,206 601), by which sum the public debt was augmented. About one-half of the ex- penditure of the year was uncontrollable. In this class are interest on the debt railway subsides, repayment of railway guarantee deposits, and the completion of the Montreal Court-houie extension. To- gether these servioes involved an outlay of $_>, I S,5o4. leaving a balance of Sl'.flOH.OW to represent the expenditure with respect of which it was possible to practise econ- omy and introduce retrenchments. To ascertain therxtent, therefore, to which the present Government has employed the pruning knife, it is necessary to deduct the expenditure in IH'.h! upon interest, railway subsidies, repayment of guarantee deposits, and the Montreal Court-house from the total outlay of that year. The services euumsrated cost $-', j-4,so<> and the aggregate expenditure was $5,987,737 in 189*2, so that the controllable expend- iture amounted to {3,393,000 in '.hat year, as compared with fti.007,900 in 1 S'M, show- ing a saving of $7H,~>,500, or more than 25 ptr cent., to have been effected by the pie- sent Government in the controllable ex- penditure of the province in the space of two years. In the shop window of a (Birmingham) barber recently was tbe following notice to customers: "Municipal election All unionists shaved free, (.ladstoneians 3d each, owing to the length of their faces." What mechanical power makes a oat fal on its feet has been puzzling the French Academy of Sciences. A ssries of sixty instantaneous photographs exhibited before itahowedtheoomplete process in every stage, aud demonstrated scientifically that the oat does turn in the air and does land on its feet, but did not betray the motive power. The general impression was that it was due to the leverage obtained by contact with the surface from which the oat dropped, so to decide this point a new set of photo- graphs will bs taken of a i-*t dropped from a string suspended in the sir. ^The transsibsrian railway, which is to he the longest in the world, has nosv been opened as far as Omsk, and one may go there from St. Petersburg, 2,aoO miles, in less than five days. The difficulties en- oountered have oeen prodigious ; and in draining a bog sixty miles wide engineers and men had to live in huts built on piles and accessible only in boats. Four thousand mask s were bought to keep off the venomous mosquito*.