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TO THE BITTER END. A Tale of Two Lives. CHAPTKH XVIII. A JOf RNET. I sprang from my couch and haslened to her njtie. I iiurned ou my elothesand cried alon>i <of help. Th} farmer's wife, who wt uur temporary hostess, came clallunog retain in her huge saboU, and after her came one of ihe olher tillers. " .->l!.ter Agues h fainted, " I explained, as they opened the door. " What can w* do for her? Have you brandy ?" Tney hastened to her tide, and applied c_t c mversation He commenced talking elie. Vou reincmlier what I told you about M. d'Auhnm an<l Mr. Carlyon on the iiigiit of tneir flrtt vrait here ?" ho (aid. I noililed aaaent. Aljont M. il'Aulir'in playing card* *o much, and being a bad conipauiol fur Mr Carl \ mi ?" Yu*. \Vell, I find that I wa* nlit. Th.ug have In moil out very much a* I expected. Carlyon hai Iwen led on liy ll'Auiiron to play cards uight after night, ' many restorative*, of winch I km w uoth HI)., but for a long time without i-.le.-i. I a u*t fetch a doctor !" I cried. "Where can I find one?" Th* sisler took out her wa'i-n. " Dr. Leneuill will I* here in a few min- ute* to see you, monsieur," the remarked. " lietter wail for him. Will monsieur lift her on !o the bed?" I about hlm ^ t | lo , M1|10 rM ,i Ing rooln t hii I ,l,d so, and by and by signs of life began ; mornj and j weut to ^ C ^ you , lt low ly to reappear. The sister looked at me I ou _. .. doubltully. " Monsieur will partlon me," she ssid, " l-utj if our dear inter'* in.ldcn illne** bad anything to do with him, would it not he better for him to retire for a while, that the giving I. O. U.s always in payment for, nt i. ii. me, poor Carlyon always lost after ihe firtl night or two. Now the crisi* haa come. M. d' Aiibi on his dropped some pretty plain hints that he would like tome of the I. U. U.i taken up, andCaiivon, who has already considerably exceeded hi* al ' I lowance. is aimmt liesi<le himself. I lie ml " Win 1 ba( Mr. Brown bee:i doing? " I asked. " He it supposed lo bo looking after Mr. Carlyon, is he not ? " Thai is one of the worst feature* of the whole mailer. Mr. llrowu himself has bten led ou lo ji'ay by that arlfui acour.ilrel, *ml he himself i* deeply involved. In fact, both he and Carlyon are ruiuei uulosi something can be done. I ii'ineinii'T how pile and distrait Arthur and was asking for me. Carlyon had seemed, aud 1 felt a moment 1 * I went upstairs at once.^and wh*n Istoo 1 renioriM . for the telfithn.ss of my own g.icf. nay not nee him when (he tint open* her eyi-s? II monaiciir doe* not mind?" I turned aay KIM! left I he room. After a while mi.- hostess came down with the newt that Suter Agnes had recovered by her aide, I was shocked to see the change rhich a few hours) had made in her appear- ance. She beckoned me clu*o to her ai.le. "Ask me no questions," nhe said hoarse- ly, gia*pmg my roal-tlneve with her thin, iirrvoui tingrn, "Ask me no <|ueti:>a, but net ready In go a journey with me to- ni'-irow. You will ?" I will. Sister AHUM." I answered softly. " Wherever yon < hoot* to take me." CHAPTER XIX. M. lit n.fRiiET Hk-ll:r-i A -MIX IN-IJkW. Three days three long, dreary days and no new* of Bernard. He ha* not been to tee me, he bas not even sent a met'age. What ran il mean thu silence? Were those few m linnet on Ihe balcony only a IWL__ dream, a vision, a (leak of the imagination? . How id'e to ask it 1 Are not my lips still 1 so. refnoriM . I an nothing be done * " I a>ked. "That P'Auliron ought to I e punished." "There u just one hupr, " my father con- tinued th iDghlfully. "1 iiriiicTiil.fr many years sgoa somewhat similar case, of whi> * I was a witncet, and which has given me an idea with regard to Carlyon's tumble." "Do you think that M. d'Aubron lias played fairly ?" I askeJ. My father looked doubtful. "I cannot say; but 1 am going to try and find out." "Mow?" "They are both coming here this evening, and after I had asked D'Aubron 1 amid Ihst I fi-areil ho hail found it dull on his previous visit, and lohl him that if he cared to bring a pack of car It up with him we mighl have t { a quiel game of whist. He fell in with it at once, and I have nn doubt that he willilo I shall waii-h the game clotely, aud, of burning v.ith the fire of that long kiss, aod i courts, if I see the slightest sign of unfair are not hii paMionale word* ilill ringing in pUy I ahn.ll know how to act my ears? 1 cannot even think of him with- "l>oea Mr. Carlyon know?" out feeling sgam some faint remembrance "Yes, of course I told him. A most an- of that exquisite thrill of happiness which suipertmg boy he is! D'Aubron ha* made passed through me like lightning when I a complete fool of him. When 1 suggested knew that he loved me and 1 felt myself tin, i-laaped for one short moment in his arms. thing at first, he was unite indignant. Kven now that he has ronavnled to it, hr Something must have happened to him ! . laugh* at the idea of there being any un I know it. He woul.l never leave me like ' fairneai in D'Aul ron'a pUy. Hut w." iball thit without a word or a message after what ate." . . . has passed between ua. M. d'Aubrnn, Mr. Carlyon, and Mr. Uur little household ii quite dtmirgaiii/ed. Brown have arrived together I have plead- Not on!/ am 1 in a ttate of muni lr<leiing I ed :cdistHMitinii, and have (sen nothing of npon distraction, but there u aomelhing I them. I could not bear iU mi. re than usually strange about my father's i They have finished dinner, and I can hear ' 1 changed my mind. I did not understand M. de r'eiirgct'* agitation at seeing me or hit anxiety to see my muster. Recent events have made me suspicious. What 1 lo not understand I inspect. I decided to go wilh M. de KeuiguU Whon we arrived at M. de Fourget's villa I had a shock. 1 1 was the old home of M.d' Augervillean'l bis daughters, which, ala* ! I had know to well. There wu another tun rise for me, We met his daughter in 'In- g inlen, and when I saw her I had to stop and gup fur rcatb. She was so like Mile. t'-ccile that at hrst I t'i' ngiitthal it was all a lireum a night- mare. But it wu no dream, and when *h* I saw tl.at this young Inly wo tweeter 1' "king even than '.lie. Ccci'.e more Kuglish-like. Then it all came to me like a fludi. I reineiubbred that M. dc Keurget had been engaged to marry Mile. Cocilu's utter Marie. I atkcd r.ftcr her, and he answered me strangely, almost roughly. She was dead, he taid. 1 dan aay that u wo* not a vary happy mirria^-. Once or twice it occurred to m in those days that he seemeil to care more for my muter than for tin* nun. I'crhatu it waaio. It wat not a liappy m.triiage. Hi look* a* though he ill known nothing but trouble all hit life. Hii interest in my mailer i* strange. He asked me many questions about Inn., t uncut qtiettion*. too, and he has tried to get m* to talk about that uight ; out lean- not. M. de Feurget't Manner seemed tome to grow more anr' more mysterious. Ho was like a mm with a lecret its though he had inie nvrce trouble hanging always over him. There i* another tiling winch per plexes mo. He keep* recurring to that awful subject, although I beg him not to talk of it. It seem* to posses* a sort of morbid fascination for him. It is very strange. Toward evening tome gentlemen arrived, dit -i..il for dinner, and my host had to leave me for a time. While he was en agi-il with them 1 nil ppe.l quietly away aud Irirnril ilown tu the hotel to inquire about my matter. He had not returned, nor had anythi g lieen heard of him. I h made up my mini that as M. tie Feurget bad gue.il* I would stay at the hole! and not return to the villa that night. Hut when I tried loMttle down there I found it impossible. 1 waa resiles* and ill al ease. Some v.igue instinct a lento that something was happening there kept my thoughts fixed upou M. do Feurget and the villa upon the cliffs, Constantly I felt urged lo leturnat once, and at last I yield monsieur, 1 must still roufcmi that I fail to ii'lnrntand you," M. d'Aubron declared in a clear, unshaken tone. "I will be still more explicit, then," was the calm reply. "It is necessary ! You hold, I believe, Mr. Carlyou's I. U. LT.s for forty-eight thousand francs awl Mr. llrown's .'or nearly aix thousand." " I do not remember the amounts ; but 1 1 I d-i, what of it? How does it concern you ?" " You also claim to have won from me to- night, " M. de Feurget continued, disre- garding the interruption, "about four thou- sand francs, of which 1 have given you a memoiandum. I hnvo to request you lo tear those documents up at once." An electric start of surprise ran through the little circle. M. d'Aubrou rose from his ciia'r livid with rage. " U. de Keurget," he exclaimed in a low tone. Honking with passion, " if this is a joko on your part you are carrying it a little loo far, let me tell you. What the devil do you rrean to insinuate?" " Nothing. I mean to insinuate nothing," was the quiet reply. " I prefer a plainer inle of making myself understood both by yon and by your victims. Thee cards whn'h I holi! in my hand, brought here so kindly by you in case 1 mighl be ill-provid- ud, are marked cards, every one of them. You are a swindler, and you know it !" An awful spasm passed across M. d'Aub- ron ' face, and the coldness of demeanor which he had hitherto preserved left him suddenly. "It's a d d lie!" he cried in a low, choking tone. " Its a conspiracy between you threo lo get out of paying your debt*. Give me the cards." He stretched out his hand, but M. de Fenrget shook his head and pasted them quickly behind his hack to Mr. Brown. " Mr Krown," he said, " be so good as to examine tiie pattern on the nock of these cards on the top right-hand corner. Mr. Urown and Mr. Carlyou both bent eagerly over them. "They are most certainly marked, former declared, his voice shaking with ex- citement. " The suit and quality of the card aru produced in miuiature among the the four men stepped back again into the library. (TO BK CdXTlNUKD.) Tlie Mleurc t>f Ike Creai flalnt. We speak of darkness which can be felt. Similarly #e may speak of silence which can be Uearu, and this is another impressive ele- ment of an experience of the plains. On the sea, except in calm, and in the forest and | among theplacea of human In > .ilum, there is always sound, even at night ; but on the treeleu plains, in the midst ot cormal activ- ity, there is silence as of the grave. Kven a hurricane is comparatively inaudible, for there are no waters to dash.no foreais lo roar, no surfaces to resound, while the short gra**es give forth no perceptible rustle ; and there is something awful in the litanic rush of 'intending natural forces which you can feel, but cannot aee or hear. The wind may sweep away your breath on a current of sixty miles an hour, and the clouds may ruth through th: sky as in a torn. ulo, but no sounds confound the ear. A winter bliz- zard, which i'arri<"i on its frigid breath des- truction to life, winch blinds the ryes, aud which diivea the particles of ice and snow with cutting force, sgainst the frozen cheek and through all but the heaviest fur cloth- ing, is comparatively inaudible, and the traveler appears to himaelf to struggle vain- ly with an implacable, ghostly force which nils the whole creation. When, also, nature is undisturbed in tranquil summer mood, and the sky is blue and Decked with fleecy clouds floating far aloft, all sound* seems to hive die I out of the world, aud a mantle of silence enfolds everything, t'artaking of the predominant natural sentiment, man heroine* silent also ; be ceases to talk to his mates and become* moody and m-iturn. The merry song of ihe voyager, re-echoing lietween wooded shores, ihe shout, the joke of the cheerful traveler here are stilled stifled you might almost say by the immeasurable muni* of silence. Here are no woods to give back pattern. The idea is ingenious, bat most palpable." "Aud it they are, how dare yon suppose that I know anything about it !" M. d'Aub- ron exclaimed, making great snorts to as anme a dignified position, "The cards have l*en changed vary likely by one of the answering shout, and the crack of th* 'he rifle is insignificant. The cry of the passing wild-fowl in tho darkness, as you lie awake in your tent at midnight, come* to you with a weird, faint, far away sound as if beard in a dream, and even the rare thunder breaks impotently on the continent of silence. If a comrade is lout, and you wish to make some sign to direct him to the camp, no noise which you can make with voice or y on. he addeil insolently. M. de Fi-iirget rose from ed. I slipped quietly out of tho hotel, for calm and pointed to the door. his chair quite it was late past midnight and made my way nil the winding: path bordered with rhododendron* to the villa. CHAPTER XXI. HAI BRON AT IHV. I entered the ground* of M. i! Fenrget's "In the face of your winnings, M. d'Aub- ron, and forgive me --your past reputation, any doubt as to your guilt is quite out of the firearms will be of any avail, for such noise* will penetrat* only a few rods at farthest. By iNy the only resource is a dag on some elevation or a tmoke of burning gras> ; by night rockets mutt be sent up as at sev or, if these have not been provided, firebrands from the . imp tir may be thrown up with some hope of success. No one can know. question. You will oblige me by leaving i un til he has experience.! it. the longing IMS houte and the MefhMffcMs] at once. I which takes possession of one who has been In fact, if you rem.in in the vicinity ; for weeks praHically separated trom speik- anotlier twenty-four hours, to night's event theCatmo. (io !" impute to me alto behaviour also. Strange to nay, too, his ditqnietude seem> to proceed from the same cause as mine Lord Alceston's disappear- ance. I am mure than convinced that the secret trouble which sn-ma lo I e wealing out Ins life, and of winch I dare not s|ieak to him is in tome way connected with their voices In the library. How loudly they are all talking, even mv father, and hit voice is utually so low. Now they are quieter. I supposs that lliey have hegun to play carda. 1 am going to my room to try tvnd alsep. I am afraid that It will be no use, lor my Bernard's appearance here. I know ihal temples are burning aud my brain seem* h* haatwen going down to ihe hotel where ,, nre . Will he come tc-night, I wonder ? Bernard stayed, continually trying to find Good-night, llnrnard, my love, guod-night ! him : but, aLaa ! he has never succeeded ' |[ I may not call you l.y yi ur name I can . . . .11 1 ..", . i**. What does he want with him? He can know nothing yet . . . My father has jutl relumed from another fruitless visit to the holel, and he has brought wilh him an old man, a servant of Lorn Alceston, who ha* just me from KngUnd I., him. They went straight into the library, and were talking together for a long time Then I went down lo see if there wa* any usws, for I could bear the suapviiM no longer. H* has nn news, he can tell us nothing. It seems Bernard left the hotsl suddenly, without saying where he was going, three dsys ago. . . , Mr. Car. yn called yesterday, and a* he saw me al the window and came Hlniglit in. I was compelled tn see him, though 1 cnuld *. an*ely keep still for nervousness. He knows no more than any of us what ha* Lo- come of hit cnutm. " Bernard'* all right," he declared. " H* know* how to take care of himself; anil, beside*, he's awfully fond of the>e mysteri- ous disappearance*, (iocs in lor them reg- ularly, you know, when he's bored, and saves all ihe bother of saying good by." Was he bored here, I wonder? I think not. I hail a great mind to tell Mr. Carl ton, I. ni lie. looked so mondy and .iilTerenl from his UMial telf that I noirrely likeil to. And at least write it t i.uo.1 uight, my love! CHAPTER XX. . n i i .IN la Ht.'Hnriom. MysUry seems only to lead on to mys- tery. I am in a hopeless maze, groping about in vain for a clew. 1 have discover- ed atrange, tilings, but they are like an un- piecetl pu//le in my hand*. 1 cannot put them together. I cannot see to whst they IMS!, Whowat the woman who ordered that bracelet at M. HouMt's in Paris ? What was her object ? And how did >he know where the iormer ones hail been in.vli- ? I ran see only one step beifore me to verify thedoath certiorate of Mile. Cecile. True, tlit herself has confessed It to be forged ; (till it would bo satisfaction to discover by what meant she obtained IU, I On leaving 1'oris 1 came straight here in learch of my mauler, not doubling hut that he had with him the certificate. How changed 1 mini be ! At first lie did not know me. Can I womter al il when I look in the glaas nnd tee my wilnkled face and snow -white hair ? The Midden (hock of seeing my poor then, perhap*. Bernard would not have liked I y, m i.g matter again so much aUereil. and It. ' the disappointment of healing that th* cer- My fulher knows everylhing. I oonld not t ,ii te was irretrievably lost, made me feel help telling him He -amt, in softly when I < ,|i/./y and faint (or a while. When I ;-ame wat in tears, lam afraid ; and he atked I to myself he hail gone, and left only a ba<t me so kindly and yetso eagerly that I could j|y lv rarwled line or two for me. saying that to myself no longer. When I had told him I felt lietler. For a long lime ho maile no remark ; il seemed ftlmoit it if my itory had (alien upon deaf ems. Hul I knew that u was not no. pere, yon an not angry?" I said after a bile. " Tim ilncs not ilispleawt you t " " Angry ' " II" stopped opposiln my i hair, ajil hit vnln* was thakingwllh fever- lull emi lion. " Marie, nothing else in ll's world would lie an welcome to ins as thu. Not lung else, rniild bring me so much, peaee. i.o.| grant that it may eomn to par* I " I looked at him womleiu^ly. It wst a rare thing to see him so mm h moved. What could il mean? " Are ym so auxin-is, then, to get rid of me, mon per* ? " I asked falterlngly. " It is not that, child ! " lie, nried. with a sndilen tigoi' in Inn lone. "1 owe l.iri Aleeaton a debt which I can never pay. I have ainnod a^ainil him, and my hand ran not ninlo what it has dono. Thnm 'h yon alone >n 1 make re|Miation. Kememboi thi>, ami il h" ion.es for you, b a good wife to him all jour l''e, aud your father will bless you." I,. Ln.'W <>' n.is tleltt ?" I aaked. he would be away no longer thin three days and that I wa* to wait hare for him. A strange thing his happened. A visitor has ju>l called to see my master, and hat Mon been referred to me. I was walking up and down the room when he entered. I looked up and naw M. de Feurget I " Nnillson '." hf exclaimed in a low, dis- turbed lone. " You here, and with Lord "X it now; but h 'till kiinw. \\henl di* he will know, and that will be soon > I ...I iiwav and left me without an- ( word. . . |i> a!, 'it i>n IOMT'S time l-e fnt 'or me pgain lulu Ih.i |i',.iary. I went hurriedly, ' ' Alceston ?" " Yes, montisur," I answered limply. " 1- I thought " " Vou thought that I was In hiding," I interrupted. " Ye. Has nny one else been abused ? I uinier*liid that them was ,\ warran'.." " There wa*. There ia now, 1 tuppose. But I have convinced my mauler of my in- nocence, and I um not afraid of capture. You will not betray me ?" " Of eourie not ; of course I thtll not. It ii no l.ii nnei of mine." I gather from M. tie Ksurget'isppearanof that he has grown old befoie his time and that he ia in ill-health. Ho is evidently very nervous, for tin* mnlilen meeting with me seeini to have uptet him completely. He looks at me in a strange, darcil sort of way, as though he were afraid of me, niul I mil mo Lit limlio liaking. Why thould my |.ir'ne I nve inch an effect up m him ? He iinyed for mm i than an hour, talk- ing aimleswly and looking often town. I the . 1 r.i tii..iii'h It* hoped my matter would come. When ho roue to go ho ptnf'-x*i.|| to pity ii|ni:inv U>uel;ncis) ami ill health ..A" I'i'Y ii| sj*r*r*vitl mentioned >, take me. with him to hi i*fr la Us tiring word* Lu nir. in our ie- , 10lU ,. 1 wat on the point of refuting when la by a small private gate which bad been . n 1 ' * pu''l"l'cd in I I, by *..me chanoe. open. The greater 1 "' l"y, ""at you rloflhehouwaeemedwra r p<liudarkn**, | gth*r, and I sland upon my rights as a I the light was .tie-mini; nit from th* "ol'lemsn and a gentleman ! M. d Aub- om on the ground -floor which M. de Feur- ' ron de;lare,l in a low, passionate tone. Your aivusat ion is an intuit, and 1 demand salisfaction for it '." ing men. once more to hear th* sounds of common life, the roar ot the city street*, th* *ound of bell*, and even the crowing oi the cock in the early dawn. (Century. BrllUk I nlM,r M.r.'s. Mr. James Keir Hardie, the Labor mem- tier for South Wetiham in the new Imperial villa left, l.y part Imt i ri>oin on the grountl get had shown inn at hit library, and the French window* wer* standing half open. To ad the spy seem* a mean part, but ' " ' " u "hall have the satislactinn of being ' House of (omnium, appear* to have a con- the entl which I had in \iew was of' suf- ' kicked out of thi house by my servants if siileralile capacity for making a fool of him- obicure all such con- ' vou (1 not uk<> younelf off al one* '." wat self. H* went to the Houseonlh* opening day the quiet reply. | ina capacious wagonette tille.1 with women, (juick as lightning M. d'Aubron leaned and with a fife baud playing ihe "Maraeil- across Ihe table and struck his accuser laise." He was drestiedin a working-man's across the mouth. M. de Feurget, wholly ' clothe*, and both his cap and coat were dec- unprepared for the blow, reeled back and orated with big rosettes. Naturally the nearly fell, liut M. d'Aubron 's triumph merry-andrew show was greeted with cheers wa* a short nne. He had scarcely recover- ' and laughter by the crowd that had gather- ed his position whon Mr. Carlyon, who had ed in the palac* yard to watch tho arrival leaped up immediately h* had seen the of members. Th* House of Commons has a threatened blow, quietly knocked him down pretty effective way of dealing with cranks. ml which I ficient magnitude lo kiderations. 1 could have given no real reason why I connected M. de Keurget in my mind with that end, but somehow his mytteriou* manner and mode of queslion- ing me had filled me w-ilh vague suspicion. I crossed ihe lawn softly and took up a position behind a ahriib, from which 1 could M<e into the room. There were four men thre M. do Keurget himself, Mr. Carlyon and his tutor, Mr. Krown seated round a table ; but just as 1 arrived they all rose, leaving several packs of cards scattered careleniily about all over it. To judge from their faces something had happened. There was the young Knglnh genllcman, Mr. Carlyon, silling apart with hi( hands in his with a thorough lir-.t ish left-hander. He rote to his (set (lowly and wiped the blood f.oin hi* mouth. ' Mr. Carlyon, you at least shall answer to me for this," he said. " When you please," was the fierce reply. ',' and'aver7'iirtumedlook 'of in" j " *ou're a d-d scoundrel, D'Aubron and ilitl. rence on bis white face. There was the ' coward, too, to ^tnke a blow like that j older gentleman making no effort at all ut ' """."I >' ou - Wconceal his dismay. M.d'Aubrou leisurely dT* w i turned suddenly round, smoking a cigarette and looking quite c >ol, but a little exuluuit ; and, lastly, there was M. de Keurget sitting by himself a little apart, wi'.h a curiout look upon his far* whifh I coulil not quite unilernlAnd. He wa* the first to break s silence which seem- ed as though it had been a somewhat pro- longed one, and by his manner 1 guuaaed that something was gointf to happen. 1 saw M. de Feurget throw away a cigar- Bin' and advance to the table. Anyone interested in card tricks ?" he aike.d quietly. j provide weapons. Mr. Urown will not ob- D -n card trickd" muttered young Mr. ject to be your second, I daresay, under and Mr. Hardie will pn>lbly be a good deal less eccentric before the end of tho session. He will learn that he can serve his constit- uents better by dressing like other mem- ber* leaving the " Marseillaise" to French- men, and showing a proper respeot for the chamber to which h* has been elected. It is not at all necessary for a Labor member to mirk himself as differing from hit aaaoci- ale* ou the floor. The opposite policy I have changed my mind," h* said quick- 1 should he adopted if he really des. ly. " M. d'Aubron, I claim the prior right." "You shall have it," wa* the low stifled reply. "Th* sooner the lietter." M. il'Kenrget came slowly to the window and looked out. "I agree with you, M. d'Aubroo," h* laid. "The nooner th* better. What do you aay to now ? The light it only in- to do hi* ba*t for th* labor cause. To make his mark in legislation, ho mutt first acquire weight in the House, and the leut likely way of doing thit i* to pose as a crank. Tho true pattern for an etfrctive representative of labor interest* is fonnd in Mr. Thomas Hurt, member for Morpeth.who for tin past eighteen year* has been the mouthpiece of the Northumbrian miners in Carlyon aavagelT. " I he^ your pardon, M. the circumstances." de Keurgnt, no added, looking a little "The present tin anhamed of himaelf. " I didn't mean to l>e ruile ; but it was rather an unfortunate qr.fsiion, wasn't it No one *uie hd taken any notice of th* Xiettioii. M. tie Kearget nodded sympa- etically to Mr. Carlyon, and then drawing hit chair close to the table, he leaned over il and collected a pack of cards in his hands. M. d'Aubron looked at him curiously, aud 1 thought seemed a little disturbed. " i .riitleintn," he said suddenly, in an altered tone so altered, indeed, that every HIM liiolcfd at him immediately " will you kindly give me yiur attention for a minute or tnJ" Kvery one't nyes wer* riveted upor. him. M. d'Au'uron, who was sitting jut opp*t<>, termed to mo t<> turn asha le paler, and the long while Angers which, held his jijarelte. wsre certainly shaking. " We have all been heavy loters to-nipht, I believe, except M. d'Aiil.rnn," he continu- ed. "That it 10, it it not?" There wot a vigorous- assent tram Mr. Brown, ami a slight, weary nod from Mr Carlyon M. tl'Aulirun shrugged his shoul ilors uneasily. " l,u I'urliin- ilt In gturrt," he remarked, with an attempt at levity in his tone. "Your linn to-day -mine to-morrow." " I think not," M. de Feurget replied quiotly. M d'Auhron looked upquirkly, and turn- ed a frowning face toward hi( host, " 1 do not i|ii'.tc nn lerstaml that remark, monsieur," lio said hau^hlily M. He Keurget shriigt*t his shoulders (lightly. " No? I will '-niliTxvor to explain it, then. Ont mt;;hl play with you. M. <!' Atilirini, for a very considerable time with thenecatds and the fortune of war, ai v"i i' ill it, wuii'il nut rli.i' M. d'Aiihrini iiiiiiiitainid IIIH composure iiiliiiiralily.liut he wni very pale. Mr. Iliown ami Mr. Carlyon ha. I lii.iwn a little nearer to the) table and were listening with Lated hreaths " Attheri*kof your finding me very dull. different, it is true, but the disadvantage Parliament. Mr. Hurt won the ear of the witl be mutual. I can find a quiet spot and ' House aud made himxlfa living force there by a line of conduct widely different from that which Mr. Hardie appears to hav adopted. He diaarmed criiicism instead of time will suit me admir- | *xciirng it. Ho showed thai a man who had bly," M. d'Aubron answered eagerly, worked as a coal miner could be at heart. ;,l,lV ( "Will Mr. Krown do ms the favor?"" "J ' all the essentials, as true a gentleman Mr. P.I own rose with a dignity for which there was in the chamber. And he did tin* without At all imparing his position it a plain man of the people, who kept the rights and claims ot toe work ing classes ever in mind. Courteous, conscienuontaud pat- one could never hare given him credit. I el at him in turpnte, scarcely reoog- mring him. "I most emphatically decline to be as- 10. late. I with M. d'Auhron lu any manner whatever," he answered coldly. "Apart riotic, self-rctpecling and respe.-ted liy all, Mr. Hurl can il<> more for the advancement from that, 1 will be nn parly in any thing so of a labor bill than could be accomplished a-itagoniMic to my principles as a duel ; by a hundred charlatans of the pattern set and, further, even were I a fighting man 1 1 *>y Mr. Keir Hardio in his triumphal march rould decline having anything mng to di preposterous an affair as a duel between a lientleuian a man of honor and dler." There was a momentary silence. M. d'Aubrnn seemed for a moment to be on tho point of striking th* speaker. With a great .-(Tort, however, he restrained himaelf nn 1 turned away, shaking with passion. "It it of no consequence," he said. "I have a friend in St. Yiarieu whom a sum- mons from me would brinu here at urn-". H our of M. do Fviirget's servants could bring a not* from m* T" M. de Feurget bowed. He addressed the into, and it was de- spatched. " In the absence of A second, M. de Four get," he said, " may I waive tho ceremony .ui.l inquire from you what weapons you chooie V the House of Commons. " I am indifTvrenl, but I prt'r swords," M. de r */get declared. I saw an evil smile light up M. tie Ai:Sr ron's face as lie turned away. Thcu they all came out logether on to the lawn, close to where I stood, so that I hi M my Inrnth for fear of being discovered, though indeed my liiiiing place was teciirc enough. ' It will lie dawn in an hour,' M. de Frnigi-t remaiked, looking steadily toward th< . ,iii. " I'ei liapt it is as well tha' we have to wait. What do you say gentium i.. to so ne colTra ? and m the meantim* I will . >k yon to excuse me for a few minutes. I have, a letter to write " There wer* silent murmurs ol assent, and A I i " (>-.,.. The latest defense of Col. Streator. th e Pennsylvania colonel, charged wilh inhuman brutality in the treatment of a private in hit regiment, i* simply ridiculous. The sul wt mice of it is that the weight of the soldier's body did not rett on liis thumbs ; Liu it this i no for what purpose was he strung up? The man wa* being punished ami it wouKl have been no puui iniunt at all to aimply lie hit lhum!i.i togetber and raise hii hands tbovo his head. That would have been a degradation perlisps and an annoyanos, but it could not bo called a punishment, and it is very evident that tha . colonel intended a punishment and ,i severe /one. Th* new defense Is control ictctl, moreover, by the testimrny of those whose opport unit ie( for witnessing what took place were quite nl good M ihoa* of the captain who now comes forward to th* defeuie of th* rolouel. It i* contradicted by the action ftsWeWMMi mho ordered then MI released hcraus* of his inability to stand tho tor- ture to which he wa* subjected. Fortun- ately the ultimate decision ia the case is uot to rest on the hare statements of any. I .,U prejudiced or unprejudu-ed. Th* brutal colonel has been invited to defend )u I'l'inliii-t in the courts, nn action for damage* having been l>rouglit ngainat him liy hi" victim. Th* result of nueh a suit will tin moie tosettK- the truth of tin ni itter than rvamt nf >lcclaniatio!> froi par ou either tiJo.