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we... “A... “exam-syncs...» ~ w. I i .w - z: i .n t; u, "j. UNDER CLOUD. A THRILLING TALE OF HUMAN LIFE. CHAPTER VI. cuss-r ruixxs rm: WOILST. " Myra ! My own darling l" sobbed Edie. “Hush! No, I must talk. If I think in silence I shall go mad.” “0 Myra, Myra, are you never to be really married after all 2” The bride made a hurried motion with her hands, then pressed them to her temples and thrust back her hair. “It makes me think of two years ago, dear," whispered ladle, “and all the horrors of that day.” “Yes; is it fate?" said Myra hoarsely, as she sat gazing at vacancy. “But I'll never believe that Malcolm Stratton could do wrong,” whispered Edie, caressing and trying to soothe the sufi'erer as she clung to her side. “It couldn’t have been that this time, or else Percy would not be such friends." Myra bent forward with her eyes dilated as if she were gazing at something across the room. “Your poor hands are so cold and damp, and your forehead burning hot. 0 Myra, Myra! I did not think that two such terrible days could come in one poor girl’s life.” “Edie,” said Myra, in a husky whisper, “ you saw Malcolm last night?” “Yes, dear, of course." “You did not see anything strange in his manner?” “No; only that he was half mad with joy, and when he kissed me and said good-night â€"you remember?” “Yes, yes.” “He said he was the happiest man alive.” “Yes : I remember the exact words.” "And he hoped that soon ” Edie stepped with a faint flush in her cheeks. Myra nodded quickly, but ,without . ceasing to gaze straight away into vacancy. “But there was nothing strangeâ€"he was quite wellâ€"he said nothing else to you ‘2” “Ne, dear ; nothing that I can recall.” “Are you sure he dropped no hint? Nothing that could make you think he did not wish to marry me?” "No, no, no, dear. He was longing to callyou his very own. He said soâ€"to me. But don’t look like that, darling; you frighten me. What are you thinking?" Myra was silent, and her aspect was so strange that Edie shook her excitedly. “Myra darlingâ€"don’t l”she cried. “I was thinking was it possible that, after all, he could repent,” said Myra in low, measured tones. “\Vhether, knowing all, he shrank from me at the moment when a few words would have made it irrevocable.” I _ ' “But whyâ€"why, darling?” cried Edie in alarm. “You cannot grasp it as he would. Iâ€" married, and under such circumstances. Love is blind, Edie, and he, poor fellow, may have been blinded in his loveâ€"his old love for me. But what if the veil dropped away from his eyes at last, and he could not, he dare not face itâ€"the sacrifice for him! Edie. it was that, and I forgive him, for I loved him with all my heart " Startled by her cousin’s looks and words, Edie new caught her hands and stood over her, speaking impetnously, almost angrily. “For shame!” she cried. “Malcolm Strattou would never have acted like that. OMyra; how could you think it of him? So manly and open and frank in everything. Oh, no, no, no, ; it could not be that.” _ Myra turned to her quickly and clung to the hands which grasped hers, usif sinking in her despair, and clutching at one more chance for life. _ "Sayâ€"say that again," she whisper'cd ' huskily. “I’ll say it a' hundred times, but there is no need. Malcolm could not treat you like this of his own free will. He must be â€"he is ill, and that is all.” “If I could only think so," said Myra as if to herself. “If I could only believe it was that ; but no, no,” she walled now, breaking down utiei‘ly,and snatching away her hands to cover her convulsed face; “the truth has been too strong at last, and he has gone." _ “Myra !" cried Edie. “Hush ! I on shall not give way like this. How can you be so weak 2 It is madness. If he had treated you so shamefully, and turned away, you could notâ€"you should nct, take it to heart. \Vhere is your woman's pride? To give way, believin such an infamy, is dreadful. But I tel you it isn’tâ€"it can't be true. Thore,there, be calm, my darling. Be patient till they come back. He has studied ‘00 hard lately â€"â€"that’s it. I've noticed how pale and worried he looked at times, and with this excitementâ€"you heard What Percy saidâ€"â€" he has broken down. There, that's the truth. He's ill,and will soon be bet:er,and all will come right, Myra! my darling cw. Don’t turn like that. Ohâ€"help! help!" She thrust her cousin back so that her head rested on the lounge, fora deathly look had come over the beautiful face, the ovcswsre half clesod,sendiuga'chill of horror through the startled girl, who now tors frantically at the bell. “A doctorâ€"they must fetch a doctor. No: Percy must come back to tell her the simple truth, for I am right: Malcolm Stralton could not treat her as she thinks." And Percy Guest was on the way to put it to the test. For some little distance not a word was spoken in the csrr:sge,each of its occupants being full of his or her own thoughts. Miss Jerrold was the first to break the silence. For, as she sat there stern and uncompromising, thinking of the duty she had voluntarily undertaken in answer to the appeal in her niece’s eyes, which plain- ly asked that she would stand between father and lover in any encounter which might take place, she neted that she was still holding the bouquet of exotics she had borne to the church. A look of annoyance and disgust crossed her face. “ Here, Mr. Guest," she said sharply: “ let down the window and throw these stupid flowers away." Guest started,and hesitated about taking the bouquet, but it was pressed into his hand, and he was about to lower the win- dow when the lady interposed. “ No; it would be waste,” she cried. “Wait till we see some poor flower girl,and give it to her.” The window on her right was let down sharply ; then the flowers were snatch- ed from her hand and thrown out into the road by Sir Mark, who dragged the window up again with an angry frown. “As you please, Mark,” said the lady quietly ; “but the flowers might have been worth shillings to some poor soul.” Silence reigned once more as the wheels spun round. Oxford Street was reached and crossed, the coachman turning down into and across Gresvenor Square, and then in and out,avoiding the main streets,till the last, when the then busy thoroughfare was reached near its eastern end, and the car~ riage Was drawn up at the narrow, court- like entrance to the quiet, secluded inn. Heads were turned directly, among those whose attention was taken being a barrister in wig and gown, just on his way to the court, where Mr. Justice Blank was giving his attention to a divorce case. Miss Jerrold saw the legal gentleman’s smile, and guessed its meaning. “How stupid!” she muttered. Then, as the footman came to the door: “Ed- ward,” she whispered hurriedly, “ take that stupid satin bow from your breast. Tell Johnson, .too.” The favor disappeared as the door was thrown open, and Sir Mark sprang out to go straight on toward the inn; then, recol- lecting himself, he turned to help his sister alight. But he was too late. Percy Guest had performed that duty, and the lady took his arm and followed the admiral on into the calm silence of the old inn, past the porter’s lodge, unnoticed by its occupant; than on across the square, under its shady plane trees, toward the fine old red brick mansion in the corner, with its iron lamp support and curious old link extinguishers on either side. The place was utterly deserted, and so still that the creaking of the admiral’s new boots sounded loud and strange, while as they mounted the worn steps and entered the gloomy hall of the old place it struck chilly and damp, while the great stone staircase had a look that seemed forbidding and strange. “You have brought us here,” said Sir Mark, stopping short at the foot of the stairs. “Go first.” He gave place to Guest, who led Miss Jerrold on and up the two flights to the broad landing, upon which the doors of Brettison’s and Stratton’s chambers open- ed. “One moment while I get my breath,” panted Miss Jerrold ; “I’m not so young as I used to be, Mr. Guest.” The admiral frowned, and stood scowl- ing at the legend on the door, but it seem- .ed cold and blank now, for there was no ray of sunshine to make the letters stand out clear. Allvlooked murky and grim, and the utter silence of the place was impressive as that of a tomb. As they stood there on the landing Guest hesitated for a moment or two, an undefin- able feeling of dread having attacked him ; there was a curious‘ringing in the ears, and his heart beat with a heavy throb. He Was brought back to his duty by the cold, ster’n voice of the admiral. “Well, Mr. Guest,” he said again with a cold formality of tone, “you have brought us here"â€"and he waved his band toward the door. , Guest sprang forward, knocked sharply, and stood back to wait, while Miss Jerrold drew a long, hissing breath, perfectly audible in the silence. There was no response, and the chirping As he spoke he once more seized the knocksr and beat out a heavy raulade. But still there we no reply, and, taking his sister's hand, the admiral drew it through his arm. ' “Illness?” he said in a low growl. “I es, the shivering fit of a coward or cur." “It is not true!" cried Guest excitedly gas a thought flashed across his brain. “I iremember now, he had a heavy sum of money on the table when I was here, andâ€"~ Great Heavens! is it that?” His manner was contagious, and his face conveyed his terrible thoughts to his com. panions. Miss Jerrold clung to her brother, and turned ghastly pale, while a look of horror contracted the old man’s face. "Youâ€"you don’t thinkâ€"â€"” he stammered. “I think the worst, or my poor friend would have been With us.” “ M anâ€"for God’s sake don’t say that.” gasped the admiral, as Guest stepped back to the full extent of the landing. “ There is some mystery here.” “ Stop ! What are you going to do?” cried Sir Mark, catching at his arm. " Stand aside. sir; I am going to burst open that door." â€".â€". CHAPTER VII. TWO YEARS BEFORE. Blue sky, the bluest‘ of blue water, margined with green and gold; gloriously rugged, steeply sloping pasture alps, dotted with picturesquely carved chalets,weather- worn by sun and rain to a rich, warm brown: higher up, the sehn hutteâ€"the summer farmsteads of the peasants, round and about which graze gentle, soft-faced cows, each bearing its sweet-toned, musical ' bell. Again, higher still, gray crag and lightning-blasted granite, bare, repellant, and strange; upward still, and in nook and cranny patches of a dingy white, like the sweepings up of a great hailstorm; another thousand feet up, and the aching eyes dazzled by peak, fold, cushion, and plain of whiteâ€"the eternal ice;and, above all, the glorious sun beaming down, melting from the snows a million tiny rivers, which whisper and sing as they carve channels for their courses and meet and coalesce to flow amicably down, or quarrel and rage and rush together, till, with a mighty, echoing roar, they plunge headlong down the rift in some mighty glacier, flow on for miles, and reappear at the foot turbid, milky, and laden with stone, to hurry headlong to their purification in the lovely lake below. Two hundred feet above that lake, on a broad shelf, stood the Hotel des Cerfs, a magnified chalet, and in the wooden balâ€" cony, leaning upon the carved rail, and gaz3 ing at the wondrous view across lake and meadow, up and away to the snow-covered mountains till they blended with the fleecy clouds, stood Myra Jerrold and Edie Perrin â€"-cousins by birth, sisters by habitâ€"revel- ing in their first visit to the land of ice peak, valley, and lake. “I could stand here, I think,forever,and never tire of drinking in the beauties of such a scene, Edie. It makes me so happy ; and yet there are moments when the tears come into my eyes, and I feel sad.” “Yes, I know, dear,” replied Edie. “That’s when you want your lunch or din- ner. One feels faint.” “How can you be so absurd '2” cried Myra half reproachfullv. "Then it’s indigestion, from eating old goat.” “Edie 1” “It is, dear,” said the merry, fair-haired girl, swinging her straw hat by one string over the balcony. “I’m sure they save up the goats when they’re too old to give milk, to cook up for the visitors, and then they call it chamois. I wish Aunt Jerrold had been here to have some of that dish last night. I say, she wants to know when we are coming back to Bourne Square.” “ I don’t know,” said Myra thoughtfully. “I am in no hurry. It is very beautiful here.” “Hum, yes. You like itâ€"as well as St. Male, the boating, and that quaint Breton woman where we lodged?” “Of course. The flowers and the pine woodsâ€"it is one glorious garden. Papa liked the yatching, though.” “Yes; but‘after three months out here I shall be glad to see smoky old London again.” ‘;,Yes," said Myra meaningly, “I suppose Edie glanced at her sidewise in a quick, sharp way,but was silent for a few minutes. When her cousin spoke. “Let’s go and coax pops out fora good 80 of the inn sparrOWs Came painfully loud'rainble till dinnerâ€"J mean till supper through an open window somewhere above. “What a dismal place for a man to time.” “No good; he would not come. Piquet, choose,” muttered Miss Jerrold. “Had you coffee, and cigars. Do you like this Mr. not better knock again?" Guest repeated the summons, and the ad- g miral leaned forward,1istening attentively. i Still there was no reply; and, growing; Barron, Myra?" “Oh, yes, well enough. He is very clever and well informed. He can talk pleasantly about anything,especiaily about agitated now, Guest once more knocked I yachting and the sea, and, of course, papa loudly, thh the repetition of the knocker, 5 likes that.” ‘ telling plainly of the trembling him who raised it and let it fall. hand of ' “Talks too much, I think. I’d rather sit and listen to quiet, thoughful Mr. Strat- He drew back,to stand listening intently i ton.” till Miss Jerrold spoke. “He must be out,"said the lady quietly. Knock again Mr Guest.” of the then died out above with a peculiar whis- per, while Guest’s heart sank within his breast as a dozen fancies now took pee. session of him, and horror prevailed. “\Ve cannot stay here,” sai-l Miss Jerrold. “Mr. Guest, will you see me to my carriage again? Mr.‘ Stratton must be out. Gone to llou ne way " “No !"thundered the admiral: “he is and afraid to face me i" Guest turned upon him angrily. "Come away, sister," growled the old man : “I am right." Guest. "What? Why, I saw the change in vour face, man, when I heard a rustling noise in there. You heard it too. Deny it if you can " Guest was silent for a moment, and he‘ stood with his eyes fixed upon the letterfhandsome, box, as if expecting to see the cover of the g . :to all kinds of society, “I am not going to deny it, sit ; I did , “If he is here he i shall come out and face you, and tell the i It is 5 icigar, streaks of gray showed in his health. slit move. hear a sound," he said. truth and reason of his absence. illness, I am sure.” “ dear,” she said. “I suppose so,” said Myra rather dryly ; and then hastened to add,“and Mr. . 5 Guest.” The knocker once more raised the echoes ' weird-looking old staircase, and 9 “Yes, and to Mr. Guest,” said her cone in, again looking at her sharply, and as if I the words had stung. Myra met her glance, and hurriedly ; changed the conversation. “Look what a change there is on the lake, “How glowing the water is.” “Yes, and vet some people prefer playing ‘ ‘ , - cards to studyingnature.” Square, and we have passed him on thcé “Papa is no longer young. He has en- joyed scenery all over the world and likes . . . _ A ‘ _ ‘ rest now, and a game of cards.” within there, hiding, like the cur he is, ; “I was not talking about uncle, dear.” “About Mr. Barron, then? Dear me, ’ what a sagacious nod. Edie dear, don't , think 7 h ’ matter of fact and real. Ready for a walk?" “No, sir; I swear you are wrong," cried ‘. out romances. Let’s enjoy the Edie held up her hat by one string, and “ put it on ready to descend with her cousin ; to a lower balcony, on another frontage of f the house, where, seated ata table, with ‘ coffee, cigars and a pack of cards, was the admiral, and, facing him, a rather heavily built man, with some pretensions to being He was plainly and well-dress- ed, of the easy manners of one accustomed and apparently rather prOud of his white, carefully tended E31333. As he turned a little more to the light in bending to remove the ash from his clossl cut beard and crisp, dark hair. In dition there was a suggestion of wrinkling about the corners and be- beneath his eyes, the work more of an ard- uous life than age. ' As he rose to replace the cigar between his lips he smiled carelessly. "Luck’s with you today, admiral,” he said : and he was in the act of shuffling his cards when he caught sight of his compan. ion’s daughter and niece. In an instant the cards were thrown gown, and the cigar jerked out'of the win ow. "What’s the matter 2" said the admiral. “Ah, girls l” “We’ve come to ask you to go for a walk with us. papa, but ifâ€"” Myra’s eyes rested for a mouent on the admiral's companion, and then dropped to the cards. ‘ “Our game ‘3" said the younger man quickly. “Oh that’s nothing ; we can play any time, Miss Jerrold, and the weather is lovely now. Why not accompany the ladies, sir ‘3” “No, thanks ; I get more walking than I care for. Don’t go far, girls; the moun- tains are full of goblins and dragons. which devour pretty maidens. Be back soon, and I’ll go and sit down with you by the lake. Now, Barron, your deal." The gentleman addressed looked at the ladies, and shrugged his. shoulders slightly as much as to say, “You see I have no alternative." “Then you will not come, papa '2" said Myra as she rested her hands on his shoulders, ‘ “No, my dear; too tired. Don’t spoil my luck by stopping; run along.” “Uncle talks to us as if we Were two little tots of things, Myry, “said Edie as they crossed the hotel garden. “Well, why should we not always be to him like the girls he loves and pets?” James Barron thought the same as Edie as be dealt the cards, and he added to him- self; “She resents it ;I could see her brow wrinkle. That settles it ; I’ll chance the throw." ' “Ha ! Now we can be at peace again,” cried the admiral as he settled himself to his hand, which he played out, and ended by winning the game. James Barron took up the pack again nervously, threw it down, thrust his hand into his pocket, and then passed a couple of louis across the table. “Cut,” said the admiral. His vis-a vis shook his head, took out a case, and carefully selected a cigar, which he proceeded to cut and light. “Oh, nonsense, man ! The luck will change ;my turn to-day, your’s to-morrow." “Pooh ! It isn’t that, Sir Mark,” said Barron, throwmg himself back in his chair. “I can afford to lose a few louis. I’m a bit hippedâ€"out of sorts.” “Hotel living.” “No, sir ; brain. There, I’ll speak plain- ly, even at the risk of your laughing at me for we have been friends now at several places during the last three monthsâ€"since I met you at St. Male.” “Pleasant acquaintances, sir,” said the admiral, metaphorically drawxng himself beneath the shell of his English reserve. “Mptual tastesâ€"yatching. Acquaintances 511'. "I be our then.” g y There was a pause, during which the admiral also lit a fresh cigar, and his brows pardon; acquaintances, I twitched a little. [To BE CONTINUED] He Didn’t Wait. Dude Sportsmanâ€"“Anything to shoot here ‘3” Countrymanâ€"“Hain’t hen nuthin’ till you arrived. Ill git me gun.” It Was the Pie. The landlady of the boarding-house was out in the backyard when the tramp en- tered and it disturbed him so that he came near losing his usual aplomb. “Beg parding,ma’am,” he began,“l came to see if you didn’t lose a pie you left out here yesterday to git cool.” “Yes, I did, and l’m looking for the per- son hho took it. . Was it you ?" and she came at him threateniugly. He dodged and got over to the other side. “No’m it wasn’t," he replied,“but I know who it was." ' “Well, you tell me and I’ll have him arc rested and punished.” “ You don’t have to, ma’am,” he sighed, “he’s dead,” and he got out the best way he could. __-____.__.~__ The Secret of It. Little Boyâ€"“I wonder what’s the reason landlords won’t rent a house for less than a whole year.” Little Girlâ€""l guess there isn’t manyl houses that talks would stay in that long if the law didn’t make ’em." A Wise Little Head. Little Girlâ€"“\Von’t you please have an ambulance sent to that empty barn?" Policeman-“ Certainly, miss, hurt?" Little Girlâ€"“Nobody yet. is going to play circus.‘ Pretty Good Evidence. But the boys Lawyer (sngrily)-â€"-“ Are you sure you '50" i! 3 are telling the truth 1'" Witnessâ€"“ Ba jaberr. you wudn’t be so hot about it if 0i wasn’t.” A despatch from Engineer Pyne, in 3 report. ROUND THE EHULE WORLD WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE GLOBE. Old and New “lot-Id Events 0' Interest (‘hronlcled Brieflyâ€"Interesting nap penlugs of Recent Date. The Isle of Guernsey exactsa tax from aliens. Tea is cut every 40 days the year round in Japan. Europeans per annum. The salary of the infant king of Spain is- $750,000. _ St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, is insured iorS-175,00U. St. Helena, it is announced, is to become a health resort. _The Khedive of Egypt has~ a gorgeous bicycle almOst entirely plated with silver. The‘ rate of growth of the Christians in India is more than double that of the population. Theconsumption of wine in Nimes, France, averages a bottles day for every man, woman and child in the city. Princess Alix of Hesse, the fiance of the Czarowiiz, has completed her course of tuition in the doctrines of the Greek church A walking stick, formerly the property of Pontius Pilate, is advertised for sale in a hairdresser’s window in La Borboute, Paris,for 6,000 francs. ' An iron box containinga metal plate has been unearthed among the ruined pay $320,000,000 taxes temples of upper Egypt which scientists declare was acumera and lens. Sir Frederick Leighton is a linguist, reading and speaking French. German, Italian.Spanish and Russian,while he had some considerable knowledge of Turkish. A committee of French women has been formed for the purpose of founding a home for widows of werkingmen, which is to be established in memory of M.Carnot. Sir \‘Vm. Arrol recently laid the memo- rial stone of the first consumptive hospital for Scotland, which is being erected on the new farm of Carsemeadow, at Bridge 0; Weir. The estate of Thomas Coats, the thread manufacturer, has built in Paisley, Scot- land, an edifice which is described as “the most magnificent non-conformist church in Europe.” The smallest republic in the world is Francisville, one of the Islands in the New Hebrides. The inhabitants consist of 40 Europeans and 50 black workmen employed by a French company. The longest ocean cable is the one be- tween France and the coast of Massachu- setts. The largest cable ever made is now on the steamer Faraday, anl will be laid between Ireland and N ova Scotia. Metal furniture is coming much into vogue in many parts of Australia, as it proves an effectual foil to the laborious efforts of that insidious and persistent destroyer of furniture woodâ€"the white out. The Countess Alesio, of Turin, Italy, who celebrated her one hundredth birth- day recently, accompanied her husband through all the hardships of the Moscow campaign, while she was a bride of eight- een. The mofher-in-lawof the Mikado of Japan was recently ill, and though having 423 physicians in attendance, yet she recovered. A Buddhist priest said that the cause of her illness was the introduction of railways. Rear Admiral Tchaikowski, commander of the Russian ironclad Simpoe. who was recently appointed chief of staff of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea. is one of the most esteemed officers in the Russian navy. John Seely, a hero of the Crimean war, and who had the Crimean and Turkish medals,died lately at Birmingham,England. He and his wife, who is over 70, 'had been living for years on his pension of eight pence a day. It is announced from Panama that a new steamship line, the vessels to be built in England and to sail under the Mexican flag, is to be established between Panama and San Francisco to connect with the Tehuau- tepec Railway. The Duchess d’Uzes, the great grand dang ter of Mme. Clicquot of‘champagne fame, has between 12,000,000 and H.000,- 000 bottles of champagne in her Paris cel- lars in Rue du Temple and as much more in her vaults at Reims. At Schillgallen, in Germany,lately,an old gentleman of 73 named Jurklies, who had already buried three wives, proposed to a fourth. She told him he was too old, whereupon he went into the neighboring forest and hanged himself. “ \Vood’s Hotel,” one of the few remain- ing buildings in London that are rsiociated closely with Charles Dickens, is about to be demolished. In one suite of rooms in the building Dickens passed through some of the many vicissitudes of his life. The grave of Eve is visited by 400,000 pilgrims each year. It is to be seen at Jeddah, in a cemeter outside the city walls. The tomb is fty cubits long and. twelve wide. The Arabs entertain a be- lief ihat Eve was the tallest woman who ever lived. The house in which Martin Luther died ! at Eisleben, Germany, bore no mark to in- dicate this fact until a few weeks ago. The famous house, however, has been repaired and restored in a worthy fashion. It con- tains many relics of the great reformer, Abergeldie Castle is the seat of Mr. H. M. Gordon, and the place. with its home farm, moors, woods, deer forest, and salmon fishings, has been leased by the Queen for more than 40 years, her Majâ€" who’s esfy's offers for the purchase of the estate having always been declined. Russia proposes to connect the Baltic with the Black Sea, according to recent The rivers Dnslper and Dwina are to be joined by a canal :surveying has been begun at both ends of the route, and Cher~ ken of as the harbor for the canal on the lack Sea. Heat holidays have now been established by law in the uhlic schools of Switzerland. Recognizing t e well known fact that the brain cannot work properly when the boat charge of the 'gun' factory at Cabal, says is-excessive, the childrenaredismissed from that the Ameer of Afghanistan is in letter their tasks whenever the thermometer noes above a certain point. ‘ I .s~.<...,..mm~ mmgm-nmwa-Amnm < am u‘msvuwml'