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W><|| . » BPMBHS! ID^A.'V^N^. CHAPTRR Vrri ,-Oointiavu»d. "I'Cx>k Hit bin fa'Te," wbiBiwured Mrs. Bellamy to her beibj^bor, (turlns the murmur at iipplause that followed this aonoumcMiwtit. "Jxwk quuik." i'hilip h»d; put hiR hntidfi down upon hi* chair ns though to raiae himself \iy and an expr«iJHii>n «>f mii-.li iii.ing-lied rugi •Dd terror swept across hug features, us once seen., rould nO't eoaily be forgot tea. iiwt so quickly di«l it pass th.'tt p^riiaps Mrs. BoUamy who was watch- ioK wati tlis oaly one in all the com- pany to ot/serve it. Ill another mom- rnl he ^^JUl smiling and bowing hiai ack- ni.wledgineints to whlsfjorcd and leli'- erraikhied coQgralulatLoCia. "You all know STL-s Ijoe," wont on tiw old squij-e, "aa you knew Iter fathpr awl mother liefore her; she la a soun<l Bhout from an honest stock, a girl aft?r Diy own heart, a girl that I love,, and tJiat all who come under hor influence will love, and this engagement is to me thei niotU jojifal news that I have heard tor m.iny'a year. May God, ay, anri man t<X), so diea.! f.vith uiy boh as h" deals with Maria Tvee 1 "And now I have done; I have al- ready kept you too long. With, your con&ent we will have no mure speeches, no retxirning of thanks; we wiiU spare Phillip his blushes. |}ut bafore 1 sit down r will bid you. all farewrell, for I am iin my eighty third year, and I fear tiuxt U aball njever see very many of your faces again. I winh that I had be«in a better neighbor to you all, as there are many other things I wish, now that it is too late to fulfill them; but I still hope that some of you wiill now amd bgain find a kind thought for the old mam whom among yoorselvea jwi taiUo of as Oen^ii Caresfoot. ille- lieve me, my friends, there is truth in the old proverb: the devil is not al- ways as black as he is paiinted; J give jnou may totusit my son Phdiifp and) his aXfiiL'nced wife, ftlaria Lee." The whole company rose, actuated by a cotumon impulae« and drank the beaitb standing; and suich was the pa' thos of the old squire's speech. that there v^'ere eyes amoing those present th-it wero not free from tears. Then the Iftdies retired, amongst them iK>or Maria, who was Daturally upset at the uinex|>ected, and, in some ways, unwel- come notoriety thus given to herself. In Lhu drawing room she was so ov- erwhelmed with cxjmgratulatuon», that at last feeliui/ that she could nut face a fresh addiliun from the male por- tion oC the gather idig, she ordered her carriage and quietly slipped away home txj tbiink over iiuitters at her leiHure. Philip, too, came in for hi» shire of honors down Ijclow, and ucknowlRdged theui. a«<. IksI he mi^ht, for he had not the morui courage to repudiate thepoiti- tloa. He felt lluit his father uad forc- ed hi-i hand comiiletely, and that there was nothing tu lie done, and aunk into the outwarii culnincss of desiiair. 'But , if hi^ coiiipaniixns could have seen the wbirii>ool of hatred, terror :Lad f i ry thit raged within his brea.st. as hel sal atid chatted, and sipped his igreiil- crrcndfathcr's port, tliey would have been justifuitilv astonlslLedi. At length the lianquet, for it was flolliing leHS cams to an end, and, hav- ng bowed their farewell to the last drparting guest, tibc old man and his Bun were left alone together in the des- erted d raw iingKroom. Phillipi was seal- ed' by u table, his faro buried in his iiand, whllxt his father was standing by th« dyiin« fire, tipping his eyegl.iss nervously on the mxintel piece> It was h» who broke the somewhat ontiinous uleoce. "Well, Philip, how did you like my V)ee(^ f" . Thus addressed tlie son lifted his face from his ha'Od, it was white as a sheet. ".By wliiit authority," he asked in a harsh whisper. "di<I yoi\i anuoiinre me as ongagwl to Miss I.«et" "By my own. I'ihii,!ip, I had it from both y</ur lij)* that you were enKage<l:. I did not ehixise tbnt it should remain a sexjret any longer." "You lind OD ridht to make that q)eech. I will not marry Miss Lee; un- derstand once for all, 1 will not marry her." In Kpraking thmSk Philip had nerved him^eir to U'ar <xn»» of those drei<lfiil oiutlnii.sts of fury tluit had canned h's father his title; Init to his a«t(iini»li- me'nt. none siuoh oarae. The steely eyes glimtcd a little as he answered in his moBt' polite mabiiier, and that was all: "Your |)0!)itiiiJi, PliiJip, then is that TOU are einvtage<l* very puWirly en^rnged xo a girl wli/nii you hhvp no ointention of marrviliiifâ€" a very diw4traoe.rul jxisi- tirtni, nxiinm is that 1 have, with every T nnpeAkijig IIhih. Philip had nerved hLmsp-lf to iH'nr <m»< of tiuwe drendful outlnir«ls (i ffury that had enrn«'d his father his. title; Init to his .a.stcinish- meint. nrmc .such caine. 'Hie istoely eyes gli,ntedi a liittle as lie answered in hi smoB tpnlilie manner, and that was ' Your iKwltiohi I"^hiUp. then is that ftm ar eoingaged, very imbllnly engngi^d, lo a girit wliom you have rm intention of murryiin;fâ€" a every disgrnciefiil jkhI- tl«n mim^i is thit ( hrwe. wit hevery praslhle soleinin.irty, annmmced a mar- riage thiit will noit r-ome off â€" a very rld.inuloii.'* jKisilinn. Very good my dear PMlip. please yr*ir.self. I rannol force you iotn a distasteful marriage, nut yoni must flf't .suppns,>. thlit you' can thus thwn'rt me with iininrnily. Al- liilw mip bo hIiow vou th"> alterniitlvc I sp«K yrta are lircl. luil I alnll n^.t de- tain you long. Tiike tl^nt easy-c.hn.vr ThJN house, hml Ihe Innd armind it a'- cn the, phite which is very valuabl" hut cti.nin<iil lie s(»l«l â€" liv the way. see thit it in safely locked iiji liefore ynii go t(» l«"dâ€" are litriofly entailed, and must, of r<mrge pass to vou. 'Phi' viilii. nf thPi Pintallerl land irt ali^nit £1,000 n ?'e.%T C't n llttie less in t)ad times; n' h" innentailed, n clear iltflfl (*f mv per â- wmat property, about £000. SiJiould y«u persist iin yoiir refusall to marry Mi.'-a T/<H', r i /-ihnuld the mnrriiage im iiiny way fall thrrtugh ex<-ept from cir- ciumstatnce-s entirely beyond yonir con- trol, T niu^'t to iis^. your o%vin ad.miratv 'v emphitid language, ask ynni to 'un- ierstaind nuioe and for all,' that where â- m\T inriTMie appcar-s in my will with â- eferencfl ti tb" ujientnlled and per- (a\nX pr^yp'rty, it will l>p erisftd. and 'h•^t of your cous-.n Gporire sulistitnt- d. P.\h:i<.-o yriurH?tf. Plii'lih. plcuse Vrturs-lf; it is a rnnttfr of entJr- in- 'iffenince to me. 1 am very ff ! of Oeorge,. lund f-imll lie glad- bo do him 1 g<Y)r:l tJrn if you force me to it. ttils>ugh it !b a pity to sjilit uiir the pro- •>prt,y. HJit proJuMy y<«i will like to tik» n week to c<MUii«ier whether you prefer to stick to the girl ynai have •.r(»t hold, of ujt> im town thereâ€" oh. yeas 1 r lcn»Kw there is some oneâ€" and atmndnn hb» proprrty. or marry Miss T.*« and r>»tn.'in th)» â- iroperlv â€" ft very pretty nroblem for am amnroo.s young man to 'rusiilr.-r, Tlipre, I won't keep you up 'tny loinger. Goo<l>-nirbt. Philip, good- n;n1ht. .Tir-t s-e fo the p^lt«^. will youf Riememtier. you, hnve a oersrjnBl iiiter- 01* iirv tJhrit :: f cm't leeive it away." Phi!in rose without a word amd left tih« rrmn. liut when he was gone it wals his father's turn to hide his face im hbi ha^nKls. "Oh, Gcd 1" he groaned aloud, "to t:h''nk that all my plans should come to Miclil an end as this; to think that 1 a«n as powerles.s to prevent their col- lapse as a child is to support a falling tr:'e; thit the omly power left me is th-> power of vengeance â€" vengeance on iPV nwn Ron., T hn've lived too long. .Tnd thiei dregs of life are bitter." OHAPTKR IX. Poor Hilda fouml life in her London bxlgimg anyt.hing but cheerful, and fre- quently lirgged I'fhilip to allow her to settle somewiiere in the country. This hijiwiivor. he refuf^e/i t»> do on two grounds, in.tlu' first place, Iwcause few couintry villages would lie so conven- ient for. him to get at as rx)ndon; and iin the siconiL because he declared that bli(0 greiit city was tlie safest hiiling- piiice in the, worhl. And so Hilda continued perforce to live hi-r lonesome existence, that was omly chieered by her li,Uf;liand's short a.nd anoiTt.iin visits. J<'riendB she had rviUiH nor did she dare to make any. Tlv-. omly pcr.N(«n whose (^nveraation she «iuld roly on to relieve the ledinim of th" Innjf weeks w.is her landlady. Mrs. Jaoolia. t.ho widow of a cheesemtinger, wlif) hvd ruined a fine business Ijy his drinkling and other vicious propensi- ties, and out of a good property had only left his wife the leasehold of .1 houAe i,n I>i,n<t>ln's Inn Kielda, which, fortuiaitcly for her. had lieen aetllcd U|xai har at her innrrUure. Like most i>eofile who b;irve seen bet- ter driyK â€" ni>t Imt whit she was now very coinforliildy offâ€" .slie delighted i.n t-tlkinn of ihcr miMfortunea, and of the jwrfidooujtness of man; and in Hildai who haid, poor girl, nothing else to lis- ten to, who found a most attentive aud- i;'.nce. As was only natural where such a ohi rui img person and such a good li.stcner wure coneernedl. honest Mrs. Jacobs arxmi grew fond of hier interest- iin,g lodger aUvut whi>se husband's c.ir- oumistanicea and history she soon wove many ao ijimgitiary tale; for needless bo .say, her must iinperti»wnt inquiries fail<«l to extract mui-h iinforination from HiKda. One. of hpr favorite fic- ttonis wan tluit her lodgvr was the vic- tim of hier htimlsome liAisband, who had' iiil Komie way lieguiiled her from her lu>intt Ivpyowl Ihe se/is, in order tti kce;) her in Roliitary confinement an! (Hut of tih" rrtn^h of a hated rival. Another. tJhat hei kept her thus that he might hlive gr«'oter lilierty f<»r lid's <xwn ao- t i.onis. I I'n coursei of time bhe.se i<le.is took .^uch pfjssi'Bsii «n of her mind that she greiw t*i U'lieve in thenu amd when Niw-ikinig oP HiMa to any of tier other lodgers, would stiake her liCkad ajid talk of htr mysteriously as a lamb aad a virtim. As for l.luit lady lu>r.s»'lf, whilst far from Mispccling hpr good landlady's glr*>my Mirmimns, slip rerfaSmly fell more and mere a prey to depression and anxiefih-H, and orcasionally even to :-)iis:>iicion.. to all ot wiuch evils slie grew incrvasijigly liable as she drew nearer l<i an event that was no long- er vn-ry distant. She could not but iwitioe a. change in Philip's manner <vn t.hn rape croasuiinB when he Wius able to vi.-iit iher, of which the most ^l.^rked| deveilopinenits \vere fits of silence and irritability. A certain reticence also. tihit liecame more, anil more noticeable a« timci wenit. on,, led h«r to feel that Uiepe w.is ,in invisible 8<Hiiething grow- ling up between themâ€" a si>inel.hing that the pri(lie she possessed iin such a strik- ing dii'greiH forluule her to attempt to piierne,. I)iit which wnh none the Icjcs gaillinff t.n limr on that account. Very ."hiortly liefffre the evcmt.s narrated in th:s last chapter she had taken the oe- ci-sjon of n. visit from Philip to com- !()li\i'io s(iime.whnt liitlej-lv of her posi- tion Knegging him to "tell her when there wa« nn.y prospect of her tieing allowed to take her rightful placeâ€" a qiii\stinn) her huntwniil was quite un- aJile t/» answer snti«fa(tx>rily. Seeing llh.it Iherel was nrwthing to lie got out of him with womanly tact alw changed' Ihe subject and asked after Maria f.ee (for wht>m she entertained a genni.inc ri'ffeoti^in,)â€" when he Injit saw her. how !Jlm was( lor>kin« if there w,^s any nro- .sf»ect o Hier getting married, and other (lue«lioins ofl thp same sort- the result of whirh was lo ejvoke a mo.st violent â- md tw hifT inexplirnWft. fit of irritati- â- lity on Ihie. part of her hlUNlMindj Some- hinn of a sepne ensued, which wa.s fi.nnlly terminated about five o'clock in (.hi aftern«w*i by Philip's abrupt de- nurture t<i| catch bin train. MliOrtly aft 'rward. Mrs. Jacola. com- ing upi to bring some fepni. found Hilda â- ini'!iiil«ilng in tenrs tlint slve had tx-.en t<K> proud to slhed liefore lier husband: â- mt,, hivlnij had an extended pernm' "jciwiriewe of such nailers, rii^htly L'uesasd tl-it there hnd lieen a non- .juga,l ti.'f tb<» blame of which, meedlcKs to viav. ship fi'xed upon the dpp»irted Philfl!>. "T.or', Mrs. llfdierts'', hr Hllida was Pilled. Rhe said, "don't lake on like I hit; they're all trruites., (hat's whiil I hey are; if only ymi could have seen my >?;inTui''iU who's dead and gonelhe.s*' lein years and buried in a privat • i-ravie ot Kensal reni^tcryâ€" tihmuirli bf lidn't leave anythf'nsr tra pai,v for it ex (•?pt three dozen and five of l»randy- hn wah a heanity, pnor dear, he was; your hiui!han<l ain't nothing to him." "My Jilustmnd, let me tell yau, Mrs. •Taltv>l»8 is nUi't a Iiruite. ajt all," sobbedi Hilda with dignity. | "Ah Mrs. Holierts, that is iusti what I Ufi&dl bo say of .Samuel* but Ih© was t.lic lii/rgest brute iti the three king- doms for oil btuit; but if yoiii ask me, meaning no offense. I call a man s brute n.H only comes to s*^ hlis lawful wife .ilxHit twico a month), let alone making an ange'i cry." "Mr. Robert.<ii has his rea.sons. Mrs. Jicoll»^; you, must not t«,lk of him like tlhrt." "Ah BO (my Samuel used to s.iy whern hp. «,t.n(pi>edl away from home for thre.e tii'Thts at a time till T followied him nnd frm.nd out hi.i Tleason,' and a mighty pretty 'Reapom.' she was too. all paiint and feathera the hu-ssy, and eyes nis bi,g as a teacup.. Tlii^y all have th'-ir re;i.«iinina. Init they never tell 'em. But oonaci a.al put oM your things nnd go out a I'M thiere's a dear; it is a l»p.aut.i'"u! warm evening. You feel tir- edâ€" ofti. never mind that; it is necessary for iveoi|)liB as is in an intere.sted way to tikei pxeroise. T wnell remem tiersâ€" " 'Here Hilda, however, out the subject sihort, aiU'l deprived fierself of Mrs. Jacotw' reminj.scemres by going to put on her things. It w^ar-, a hr'vxht warm even- ing, n^id she found the air so pleasant, (hat. after strolling 'round Lincoln's I'nn Fields, she thought she would extend her walk a little, and struck past J/incoln's Tnn Hall Square, a'nd thiert made her way to the arch- way opposite to where the New ,T,aw Courts now 8ta,nd. T'ndcr this arch- way a legal txiokseller had t)uilt his nest, a.nd behind windows of broad plat,\ glass were ranged specimens of his seductive wares, Ixiits on which t.o catch students avaricious of legal knowle<lgo .as they pass on theiir way to chaniibers or hall. Now, at this Kvindow a young man was standing at the moment that Hilda entered the archway, his eyes were fixed on a (KLinphlet on the laws of succession. Tlie young mam wiis George Caresfoot. who was considering whether it would be worth his whil* to l>uy the phair b- let in order to see If he would he . n- titJed to anvthionr if hU unole should happeu to die intestate, as he some- times feared might be the case. He ha'd comn up to town on dusiness connect- ed with his firm, and w.os now waiting tiill It w.'is tiimn to begin t\a evening of what he understood as pleasure; for (George was a very gay young ra,an. He was, however, a."so a very sharp oii«, so sharp th.a.t lie even noticed sba- dowB. especiaMy wheo, as in this case, the sbiido-.v was clearly defined and hung life-sized nn the dark Icu'kground of the boo!<a lieforo him. He watched it for a moment, and as its owner, with an Oilvsemt air. slowly |>nssed from the bright sunlight into the shade of the arcih, it struck ttie astute George th.il there was sometlilng familiar iilout this particulaj- and by no means unpleasing sluuloav. AVuiting till it had varnished and the footsteps gone pist him, he turned round and at a glince recognized Uildx von Holfzhau- sen, Mi.ss T,ee's lieiutiful companion, who was supiiosivl to have departed in- to the more distant parts of Germany. George's eyes twinJcIetC &Dfl a whole host of ideas rushed into his really able mind. "Caught at last, for a sovereign," he niiuttered. MeTinwhlle Hilda walked slowly on into Cliiincery .[,ane, then turned lo tho left till she c^une into Holborn, an^l thenoB made her â- way round by unit her nnite baok to .Lincoln's Inn fields Needless to say, George fol- lowed at a respectful dislam-o. His first imim'se had l)e«n to go uii and spe.ik to her, but, he resisted the inclin- ation On the doorstep of the house where Hilda lodg,>d. stood her lanHady giv- ing a. piecoi of her mind to a hutcher iKiy lifit li as regarded bis master's meat and his [lersonal ovalities .'^he piii.se<l for lirpiitb a.s Hilda passed up the sleiis, and, turning, said something t.hit innde the latter laugh. The liut- cher-biiy took the opportunity of lieat- ing a rnjiid retriwit, leaving Mrs. .lac- olis crowing after him from her own doorstep. As wkui a.s Hilda had gone into the hous<>, tie'irge saw his oji- ixirtunity. Advancing politely to- ward Mrs. .TacolH, bo asked her if she was the lanlladv of the house, and. when she had answTprwd in the affirma- tive, lie uutde inquiries alKiut apart- Mle.ii(.s. â- "I'hank j-ou, sir," sjild Mrs .Tacolia. "but I do not let rooms to single gen- tleimcn." 1 "You take too much for granted, ma'am. X am msrrie<l." She lt>oke<l at biin doubtfully. "T suppose, sir, you would have no ob.i€«v tion to giving a reference." "A dozen, if you like, ran'am, but shall we look at the rooms?" Mrs Jac<di8 a«sente<l, and they Tiijwie their way U[>stair.s, (Jnorge keep- ing in front. On the first floor he siw a pair of lady's shoe.s on a mat outside the door, .and guessed to whom they Iwilonged. I ".\re these (he rooms?" he said, lay- ini( his haml u|)on the door-handle. "No, sir, no, they are Mrs. Rolierts"; next floor, pleise, sir." "Mrs Roberts!â€" I suppose the very handsome young liuiy I saw come into (lie house No offense, ma'am, but a man's bound to be careful where he brings his wife. 1 suppose she's aill right?" "Lor<l, VPS iioor deiar," answered .Mrs, .lanihs in indignation; "why, they aime here straight from .St, Jude's, llatteraca. the day they were mar- ried; a run.aWa.\'' match, I fancy." "That's all right; she looked charm- ing. I ht>\Hs her hualvind's worthy of her," remarked George, as he gazed round Mrs. Jacobs' rooms." "Well, ns to that, he's handsome enough, for them as likes those lilack men; but I don't like jieople as tmly Cannes to visit their lawful wives iiJiout (wioe, a month. Hut," "suddenJy checkina herself, "it isn't any affair of mine," i "No, innleed, very reprehensible; 1 1 im, a.s a married man, entireily of, your mind These are cha.rmiug rooms, ' MKi'ain, charmiii'?. 1 shall certainly ' tike tbe.iu If my wife approves; 'I will let you know by (o-morrow's post â€" ,Tao- ohs, yea, I have it do\vn. Good even- â-  ing. ma'am," and he was gone. | Instead of golnfj out that evening as lie had intended, George sat in the ' ni k'n'f-rii im of his hot d nnd thought, lie also wrota a leltpr which he sd- 'resspd to Mrs llnllamy. Next. norn'ng. takina a call, he drove to .St. .Tude's, Batteraea, and inspected the register; iPresently he asked for a. certified copy of the followini<T entry, "AJUguat i, Wnt), Philip Caresfoot, bachelor, genr tiemi-in, t,o Hilda von Holtzhausen, .spin»l»r, by license Sizned, J. Feiw, curate; as witness, Fred Natt, Eliza Chambers." That evening Hilda received an an- onymous teller, written in a round clerk's b<ind, that had l)een posted Ln the city. It was a,<ldrefised to Mrs. Rot>- erts. and its oontents ran thus: "A sincere friend warns Mrs. Philip Caresfuol that her Imsbanid is deceiv- in'i h"r, and has ticcoone entangled with a yfiunT lady of he,r acquaintance. Bum this; w.'iit an/fl watih." The letter fell from her hands, as thou'.^h it h:ul stung her. "Mrs .hioola was right," she said aloud, with a bitter laugh, "men al- ways have a 'reason' Oh, let hi:m he- warel" And she threw back her lieau- tiful he«d and the great bine eyes sparkled like those of a snake alxiut to strike. The sword of jealousy, that she hid hitherto repelled with the shleJd of a wom-an's trust in the man she loves, had entered into her soul, iitt'l, could Philip have seen her under thes" n'^w circumstances, he would have realized thi^t he had indeed, good rea- son to "beware!" "No wonder," she went on, "no wonder that he finds her name irritating upon my lii*; no doubt to him it is a desecration. Oh, oh!" An*! she flung herself on her tac^ ani.1 wept te<irs of jealous rage. "Well," sjiid Ge-irge to Mrs. Rell.imy, as they drove home logether after the great dinner-partyâ€" do not Iw shocked, my reader. Bellamy, was on the boxâ€" '"well, how shall we strike* Sliall I go to (he old m.an to-morrow, and show him my certified copy. 'PheTe is no time to lose. He might die any day." "No; wo must act through Mrs. Philip" "Whyf" I ; "It is more sciemtific, a<nd it will be more omiisimg." "Poor thingl it will ho a blow to her. Don't you like her?" "No." "Why not?" "Because she did not trust me, and because she eclipses me. Therefore I aim gUul of an opijortuniity of destroy- in? her." "Tou are a very ruthless woman." "When 1 have an end in vietw I nuirch st night tn it; li do not vacil- lateâ€"that is all. But never mind me; here we .iro nettr liume. Go to town liy the first tr.iin to-morrow morning and post another letter announcing what has happened here. Then come txick .-ind wait." "Ay," refle<-ted George, "that is a woiKlerful womanâ€" a woman it is good to have some hold over." We left Hilda stretched on herface sobViing. But the fit did not last long. She rose, :iiiil flung open the window: she seeiuf,! stifled for want of air. Tlun she sat down to think what she should do Vanish and leave no trace? No, not yet. Appear aiKl olaini her pl.ioot No, not yet. The time was not riiie for choice iK^we-n these two extremes. Vpbraid Philip with his faithlessness? No; not 'without proofs, Whrit dill that hatsfal letter say? "Wait aw\ watch," yes, that was what aha would do. But she could not wait here; she felb as though she must go somewhere, get some change of scene, or sh« woujtd breik down She had hear<l Mrs. Jaoolts S|>eak of a village not more than two hours from .London that a oiinvaleacent lodger ot hervhad vbiite.d ami found charming. She would go tlu»re for a week and watch the spriair oa.st her UKint.le over theeartb; ain/l listen to the Laughter of the brooks nit\A try to forpet ber biirning love and je.iloiLsy, and ju.st for that one week Im happy as, she was when, as a Utile girl, she roamed all day through Ihe â- woods of her native Germany. Alas! stve forgot that it is the heart and not the 9.-ene lhi.t makes happi- nes-s. That evening she wrote a note to lier hu.sband, saying' that she felt that change of air was necessary for her, an«l that she was going out of .Tyondon for a fe.w days, to .some quiet place, froan whence she would write to him. He must not, however, expect many letters, .as she wanted complete rest. On the following morning she went, amd, if thn sweet spring air did not bring peace tn her mind, at any rate, it to a vnry grea-t extent set her up in strength (siv«i wrote but one letter during her absenoe, and that was to say that she .sliould be baok in London by midday on the first of May. This letter roiichod Philip on the morning of the great dinner-party, and was either ac<i, lent ally or on puri>oae sent witlwiut the writer's iwldresa. On the morning of the first of Mayâ€" that is, two days afte(r the dinner iwrty, whioh wa« ^iven on the twenty-ninth of Apri'lâ€" Hilda ros\ early, and com^ men -el to iKick lier things with the HSsiata,n:v of a stout servant girl, who did all tti« odd jol» and a great deal of the work i.n the old fashioned farm- house in which she was staying. Pre- tUng with sently the cowlxiy came whistii up tlie little garden, bright crocuses and tu.lps, that lay in front "f t be house, and knocked at the front door. ",Lawksl" said the stout girl, in ac- cents of deep surprise, as she drew her hesid in froui thn open lattice, "Jim's got a letter." "Perhaps it is for me," suggested Hilda, a. littUv nervou-sly; she had gronvn nervous about thie iKust of late. "Will yo'U go ami see?" 'rhe letler wai* for her, in the hand- writing of Mrs Jacobs. .She opened it; it contained anotlier addressed in a c.haract"r the sight of which miade her feol siok and faint. She could not trust herself ti road it In the presence of tliii girl. "Sally," she said, "t feel rather faint; I shall I'lei dowa a little. I will ring for you presently." Sally retired, and she opened her letter. .Fifteen minutes after the girl re- ceivotl lier suiinmons. She found lli'da very pale, and wltti u curious look upon hen face. "1 hope you're better, mum," she Slid," for she was a kind-hearted girl. '"fletterâ€" ah yc«, Sally, thanik you; I am rure-d; quite cured; but please bo quick with the things, fur 1 shall leave by the. nine o'clock train." (To Be CoAitinued.) TRAINS TO THE KLOBDIKB. AN INVENTOR SAYS HIS LOCOHO* TIVE CAN HAUL THEM. Is the Frsbleia ef Winter Transp«rtatl«B To Be 8*lvr4 at Last-Deacrlpllon of t(ka MttChlne-lt I* Maid ta Have VTarkad Well In tbe Pine Bectsni. Winter difficulties in getting t« th© Klondike region can be overMime and the starving thousands in that section can ba relieved. A snow loco- motive drawing eight or ton oars filled with provLsiona and other freight Is their solution of the problem. This locomotive, Geo. F. Glover, the invent- or, uiaims, oa.n go throuigh the Imoun- tairt passes, traverse gorges and can- yo*i3 and work its way up tbe frozen river to Dawaoa City. It goe« on run- ners, steami is applied to tbe traction wheal, tbe ice and snow are melted and beoonue an aid to trsv«l, and a speed of twelve to fifteen miles an hour U attained where heretofore all pragrefl» has been arrested for seven months (d. the ye^ir. From Uyea to Dawwm Oity, TOO to 800 miles, less than eight days will be required; or the route from Fori Wranged to Doiwaoa City may tie tr*- versed in leea time. THE CONSTRUCTION OF IT. The Glover locomotive is very sim- ple in construction and principle, con- sisting of a boiler, twin engines, driv- ing wheel and other neceaaary appur- tenances, supported in a steel framt. The frame rests upon runners, for* and aft, and the iocomotlve proper is hinged to the fraime by steel beams. The great feature of the machine, how- ever, is a huge traction wheeJ. which is between tbe runners. There is a drum in the whertl. The latter is ro- tated by au engiua with a horse pow- er ranging from twenty to sixty, gear- ed from five to nine to one. ABl th« heat from the lioiiler furnace and from the exhaust steoiml is utilized in the drum, into which it is conveyed through the trunnions. By thia meaqs the wheal is kept hot ail tbt time. Aliout the wheel, V shaped teeth, three by twelve inches, are set "dodg- ing," The action of the heat from the toothed cylinder prevents the snow f ri>m ologging it, and at the same tint* compresses, with the aid of its weight, the snow underneath into .asolid mass, of snow ice, thereby giving suffi- cient resistance to enable the teeth to a pull a train burdened with »'20ft- ton weight. The oi.st of each locomotivo is about J4,0tX); the necessary cars attached would cost iitxiut $3,000; and tb» freight till for tlie engine and i-ar* from Seattle, where they would b« built, to Fort Wringel, would b« about 81.000. or $8,000 in all. It will take pc>!wil>ly two months to tiuild or put together a train, so that at th* earliest it would lie the first of De> ceml>er liefore this relief train could get to Dawson According to Mr. Glover's figures It will exist aliout ^230,000 to form aeon- pjmy to equip iunl put tralus in operv tiim, this Inoluding the Iniilding of ft (lerinanent nmd in the rough viartsbe- tween Fort Wr.inigol and Telegraph <'reek. or on the other route between Oyea and Fort Selkirk. The shorter route is hy wav of Dyea, through th« Chilk'it or Whitai passs which Is flvt miles north and east of Chilkoot pass. The highest gr Mie, for about two mile% through the White piss is fifteen pef cent ami this road is now 'being cut down and corduroyed. With such ft road the snow triin oould ascend with- out ditfioutty, no matter how deepth* snow. TO HAVE A TBATN A DAY. "I calculate," said Mr. Glover, "that with two locomotivesâ€" double enders, to climb grades â€" we can make the first trip from Fort Wraagel to Dawson City in from 8 to 12 days, car- rying eight cars with 50 to 100 tons (rf freight, and if we use (xne doze<n tr.iins, we oan run double trains daily â€" that is, have a train to arrive at and an- other to desi>atch from the termini every day after the first four or five trii>s, wlien the roa<l has been cut out. The time wild be gradually re- duced until the trip froim Fort 'Wran- gel to Oawson (^ity, will lie matle In four days It is very likely that trains will als) tiei run over the Ualton trail route later. The opening of these lines will of coursa develop the interior country and Increase traffic. For in- staiu-e, tliere will be a hundre<l or more prospectors who want to locate claims uiion rivers further north in the Klondike. Che snow train will take them and their equipments and aupi>Uf.s to their destinations at reas'nable rates, and run trains durin,? the winter for their conveni- ence. The rivers can be used as roads." The locomotives to lie built for thn KlK-U'tike service will be of eiirht t<vns' weight, with a hauling capacity of from 75 to 100 tons, or frona eight to ten cars. 'Phe engines will tie hous- ed, and two will lie em.ployed for the first train because of anticipated dif- ficulties. WOMAN'S CHARACTER. Be careful how you speak dt a wo- man's character. Think how many years she has lieen building it, of the toil and privationB endured, of thft wounds re«'eivB<l, and let no suspicion follow her actions. Her purity is the sahation of the race and hoiies of fu- ture great neisS and the redemption of man. Wipe oujt her purity, and man sinks beneath tie. wave of despair with not a star to gruiidie his life into the c'liamielfc of safety. Think, tlien, lie- foro you speak, a'nd reoueiulier that it is not diffi'.-uilt to root up the fairest f;ower that ever grew. t â- a- 4 4 t i t