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i l e . 1 . y . fiéééfififié €€€§§€Q€é§€éééfiéeGééééééééfiéfiééééééfiéfifi new urn UM fififiééfiéfiéfiéé‘a’fi) v v CHAPTER XIII. With Iwhat berserk vehemence Hecâ€" tor sprang into the welter of car- nage, how he slaked his thirsty sword (now shortened, now darting like a cobra), how many went down before his onsetâ€"the setting forth here of these things would serve no essential purpose. It is enough to say that his soul was glad within him when he looked and saw the last of the Hispaniolans slink behind the city walls. leaving that on the road they cared not to think on. The forlorn hope- of Palâ€" metto had trodden the wine-press: the vintage of victory was theirs: yet, truly. a price had been paid. The prize was the heavier when Hector stumbled, an aimless bullet] kindling hell in his right shoulder. 'As he fell he laughed, half in iron- ical amusement that he was struck so late in the day, when the fight was won, half in happy wonder atl his so good fortune. Good fox tune be counted it. to shed blood for Mad- dalena’s sake, and best of all forâ€" tunes to die for her. Nay, since there could be no gleam of hope that. he might ever have the band who alfeady held the heartâ€"what fortune was there to seek but this last best of death, or if not. seek at least. take with welcome of open arms and laughter at the core? But yetâ€"the work to be done. Even as he laughed his eyes closed to the whirl about him, and when he awoke it was to feel a lean Mop-I histop‘hcles Offl surgeon stirring up the furnace in his wound with a -porcelainâ€"tipped probe. The torture of digging out the bit of lead he bore with the smile that lighted his lips When he fell, and grimly silent he took the surgeon's compliments on his fortitude. His first spoken word was Alasdair the faithful, who in obedience to the word gathered in the generals to council. They bustled to the call with el‘l'errescence of sympathy, but Hector's left hand waved thanks and a desire for peace, and they stilled to hear. “Don Miguel.” The old man came to the front. “Senor Grant I” “Shall we resume our-â€"conversa~ tion ?” “As you please, senor.” "Then we shall. This morning, the hour of battle broke in on our talk, just as I had demanded from you a retractation of certain light remarks] you had made about her Majesty Queen Maddalena. I ask you again to withdraw those remarks.” ’ Don Miguel looked stubborn. "Otherwise, as I said before, I mus give you the lie. The matter is urgent. I am, as you see, incap- acitated from. performing active duty, and according to usage I must delegate my powers to the senior general, but I cannot, I must. not. 1 shall not, hand over my command to one who lacks loyalty towards her Majesty, in outward hearing or speech, in thought or spirit.” "Surely, Don Migucl's vigor in the light of toâ€"day-â€"” began Torniclli. “ls guarantee of his loyalty ‘? It was an expression, not a guarantee. I must have a complete withdrawal of all that Don Miguel uttercd- in my hearing this morning. Come. sir, your answer. ’ ’ “I withdrawâ€"as regards yourself, Senor Grant.” “I did not ask for that: l. do not ask for it. My demand concernsrâ€"â€"â€"” “I do not withdraw. and 1 shall not withdraw one Word of what II said concerning her l‘d'ajesty. I havei the use of my eyes, sir.” - “Then, gentlemen,” said l-Tector, white to the lips, “I call you to; witness that I give Don Miguel thei lie. As soon as I am recovered from! my wound I shall place myself at his disposal. If he insists on im- mediate reparation, 1. shall strive to meet him. in the meantime I 1e~ Sign command in favor of General you. Senor llamiros, how to deal with Don Miguel. Your servant, Generalissimo,” and with his left hand Hector saluted as he lay. “I demand an audience of her Majesty," cried Don Miguel. "1 shall not submit to be superseded in this high-handed fashion. I shall--" A look from ll'eetor stiffened the! new generalissimo. .l-Tc advanced toâ€"i vards Don Miguel. "Consider yourself under artest, General. Your sword, sir. And, now be good enough to retire tol your tent, and remain there until 1 shall acquaint you with the course. of action to be pursued." , They made a lane for him. At. the tent door he faced Don Augustin entering. "Well n:e'.., lion Miguel. lleri ll'lajesty has heard of your enthusâ€"i lasm 10-day. Alas ! that it was noti more productive of success. But her:l I l l l l .ll-lajesly honols the will as much as the deed, and she bade me convey ' Ler thanks to you and press your hand for lee." . li'rom the. very summit. of his inâ€" g jured dignity Don Miguel looked- doun on the dwarfed cham-herlain. ' “Your pardon, Don Augustin. I; may not aceept her Majesty’s thanks â€"}'t‘t. When I am released froml wrest-w" i l "Amâ€"'3' :- OR, A BROTHER’S PROl‘llSE . ,Bsoosessssssassassossscassssassssssasoasssaeeares . i brain, lurked I To Bravo Ramiros. Your discretion will fill) "My 10113?” i cease? Q; Q; I eBDEBB'DBp ((2 9 N} «‘9‘» i, p "I shall be honored to receivei them. My: generaliss-imo will exâ€" plain. Adios!” The amazed Bravo wheeled on the ,genel‘als as Don Miguel swung haughâ€" tily to his quartern. "Arest !” he cried. l “Arrest,” reiterated llamiros. “Senor Grant, perhaps you will imake matters clear to Don Augusâ€" tin.” , "A word does it,” said Hector [calmly "In the hearing of these ‘gentlemen and myself, Don Miguel uttered remarks reflecting on the honor of her Majesty. ]‘ demanded a withdrawn. He refused to budge. Instead, therefore, of handing over my duties to Don Miguel, I resigned them in favor of General Ramiros. General Ramiros has placed him un- der arrest. That is all.” “That is all i” flamed Don Augusâ€" ‘tin, “that is all ! What did‘ he say? Her Majesty’s honor! What did he ,say ?” "Gentlemen," broke in Ramiros, "it is better that Don Augustin gSilOllld héar the story from Senor ‘Grant. Our presence may be a bar to freedom of speech. We will withâ€" draw, Come.” “You will stay,” shouted Bravo. I “As generalissimo,” said Ramiros quietly, “I take orders from her Majesty, and from her Majesty only. Come, gentlemen.” Hector and Bravo were alone, not unnatural tumult storming in the breast of each. To Hector had come the most dif- ‘ficult moment of his lifeâ€"far more firying than the burning second when fthe bonds of restraint fell from him illke smorddering flax, and Maddalena jwas at his heart ere he knewâ€""for he ifelt. that he must confess to this iman the full tale of the past twentyâ€" ifour hours, and in some way offer ijus-tification or palliation. Yet why {either justification or palliation ? he 'thought. Why does a man think it inezessary to seek excuses for loving 1a woman, since the facts that she is ishe and' he is he are inevitable, insurâ€" imountablc, and loving is the most I constantly natural of all phenomena? The sun may sink for ev.r, the moon pale to wan death, the stars become black pebbles, the tides dry up and the wind call no more, man and woman grow blind, deaf, dumb stumblers in the void dark, yet in the palpable night a. hand shall grope and find its mate, and Love triumph by sheer persistence of vitâ€" ality against the thousand Torque- madas of Fate. So thought Hector, and the thought braced him to look at Bravo with honest eyesâ€"the whole story of his love showing in them. Still, somewhere at the back of his the impression that Bravo might hold him culpable, as one might 'hold a thief whose Tough fingers had the intent to touch a treasure, even if they had not actualâ€" ly closed on. it. the moment was all pain. le loved Maddalena as the apple of his eye. He loved Hector just no much. The difference in afâ€" fection lay not in degree, but in kind. Maddalena was the daughter and the Queen: Hector the son. His heart spoke for them, his memory, his own empty lifeâ€" and yet, there was Palmetto and the ultimate hapâ€" piness of thousands, the stilling of rivalries and the gathezing into the broad bosom of freedom 3. whole weary people. He gazed long after the retreating generals, his thoughts busy as bees, hovm-ing desirous about the sweet bloswms of româ€" an’C-e, but ever and again returning to the white honeyless fiowerage of duty ’ and so, resolute with the tenâ€" derness of full knowledge, he came to where l-loctor lay and took him by the free hand. “Hector,” he said, uSing the name for the first time, "1 know allâ€"the. Queen has told me all.” “All ‘2” “Everything.” “Yes.” “Her love ‘2" “Yes.” « “And last night ‘2" "I said ‘everything.” “And youâ€"you-â€"â€"--" “v'ell, what of me 7'” “You condemn usâ€"you grudge us our hourâ€"knowing how impoSSible it all is ?” "Neither condemn nor grudge. Take your hour, both of you. You will find it all too short: yet in the years to come you will have something to remember, something to make the dull days easier.” "Are you not to blame me ‘?” "Why? You cannot help loving her. She is the Queen.” “Yes, yes." “She loves you. 'Again I say, she is the Queen.” There was silence for a few momâ€" cnls. "She told you ?" " ‘My leart is running over,’ said she. ‘I must. speak, I must tell my best friend the new secret of my life. Hector,’ she said, ‘Hector’â€"â€"and the next instant she vas sobbing on my old shoulder. .l. more than half fearâ€" ed this: I hoped against it, I pray- ed against it. Long ago, in Lon- donâ€"that very first night when you some, of a. gallant natureâ€"the kind of man that takes a young maiden’s heart ere it knows. She knew nothing of men: she had seen only old fellows like myself whom I had engaged to be her tutors. Yes, I made some allowance for the conâ€" ]tingency. ’When the occasion arises. said I, ‘1 shall deal with it: the man must be removed-â€"he shall be removed.’ Then you came. Early and early I thought I saw this fore- shadowed. ‘We will wail‘,’ said I, l‘he is the man for the work: when it is done he shall go.’ And I would have kept to my intent, but I have igrown to know youâ€"nay, more, my 'son, I have come to love you !” i "Don Augustin l” i “I know that you are big enough of soul to go of yourself when the work is done. You will return to your world in the whirl of London : you will not forgetâ€"110, 110 1 you are strong enough to live on the memory of your great hour, when you loved and were loved by a. queen. . From your distance you will look across to Palmetto and see. her live for her people, a finer queen because she drank the cup with you: a. liner queen, a stronger woman, because whatever she has given you you have returned threeftld. “If it were possible ! These old eyes would desire to see nothing hapâ€" pierâ€"if only it were possible; but it is not, it. is not-â€"” He took l-lector’s free hand and pressed it with a sympathy and ten- derness one did not luck for from the grizzled chamber-lain. “You wonder, perhaps, how it is lthat I am not full of blame for you, loud with up-braidings, hot with ianger. Listenâ€"in a word I tell you the secret of my life, the reason why I am lonely in my old age, wifeless and childless. world to you : her mother, a fairer Maddlena, was all the world to meâ€"i her memory keeps me living now for the daughter. How can I reproach, when I myself dared to lift my eyes so high ?” The old' man rose and paced the tent for a few moments in almost vain attempt to master the emotion aroused by the unbosoming of a secret fiveâ€"and-twenty years old. But aftera little he grew calm, helpâ€" [ed more than he knew by the silence wvhich Hector preserved as more fitt- ing than any speech. i "Now," he said, "you must. make [me a promise.” “I know what you would ask,” said Hector. “Well?” “That as soon as this affair is fin- ished, I shall depart '3" I “Is it too heavy a demand ‘3" “It is my cum proposal.” “Then it is settledi?” "011 l s-urelyâ€"sm'ely." “I expected no other answer." "There could be no other." "Ah! I-lector, my son, how my heart bleeds for herâ€"far more than for you, for you will go back to your work with a rich remembrance while she must sacrifice herself for her countryâ€"must marryâ€"â€"" “Let us not talk of the future, Don Augustin,” said I-l'ector; the vision was too painful not to be thrust aside. "Let us rather speak. of the present, where there is so much to do. 'And first,- about Don Miguel. That matter must be settled speedâ€" my.” "It must be settled this night.” “But surely we must take time to consult her Nni‘lgty-H “Her Majesty must not know of it.” “God knows I would spare her this but it concerns her so closely.” "No, no,” said Don Augustin, with some slight return of his old imperâ€" iousness. “Tell me all the circumâ€" stances, and let me judge first.” The telling did not take long. “And now,” said Bravo, “go back and let me have a full account of your sojourn at Friganeta. It may supply the spring that moves Don Miguel.” ' Hector had no great liking for the task, but he thought it best to give the whole story of Asunta’s desper- ate proffer of her love, because he felt that the usually easy-going Don Miguel was but the merest puppet in his daughter's revengeful hands. “All 1” cried Bravo, when the truth flashed on him, “she is the viper we have nursed in our bosoms. Yes, the Queen must know: we men }a:(: powerless to deal with a. woman: only a good woman can oppose and overcome this devil. I must back to Caldera at once.” 1’._ut lion Augustin was saVc‘d his journey. There was some clamor outside the tent and the voice of a woman was heard, and innnediately thereafter entered Alasdair to anâ€" nounce that Dona 'Asunta demanded audience of Hector. Hector looked to Don Augustin in some dismay, only to see deep trou- ble in the old man’s eyes. Each waited for each to speak : the silence was eloquent of perturbation. Ere they had found words, or even thoughts to express in words, Asun- ta forced her way past Alasdair, and although somewhat disconcerted at the presence of Bravo, began to pour out invectivc and wild impre- cation. “Ahi l you shall pay dearly for this, Senor Don Generalissimo Grant from Nowhere! Not content with insulting the daughter, you insult the fatherâ€"you, scum of an advenâ€" turer ! Youâ€"" “Dona Asunta l” thundered Bravo, "pray remember who you are ! Do not make me forget that you are a woman. 1);; not force me to have you removed l 130 not make me lower the ideal I have formed of Palmetto womanhood.” , "What care I for your ideals, blind came to the palace in Bloomsburyâ€" dotard ! If you cannot see the peril I feared il. Maddalena is all the: [steps to avert it, I canâ€"and I will-â€" even though I. go to prison with my father at 'the order of thisâ€"can- aille l” pointing to Hector where he lay. Even if her words did not pro- claim her access of madness, her looks left no room for doubt. l-Ier |eyes glared with fury, now flaming =into fire, and anon steeling into a cold vindictiveness that was still more appalling. Her features were distorted with bitterneSs, and the muscles of her face and neck and temples billowed with the uncurbed tides of passion. She moved within a small space, taking but a. step this way, a step that. and never re- maining still for a single second: a wild beast caged, seeking for a weak bar to be out at her deadly work. Hector and llravo,’ in spite of their natural disquiet, were more than half fascinated by her pythoness fury; but Alasdair, whom none reâ€" garded, stood alert by the door, ready to spring upon her should her madness break the last barrier of restraint. ‘ . "It is unlike a lady of Palmetto to hold such language,” said Don Auâ€" gustin, "and it ill becomes the dignity of an Ortona to speak 'thus of a “'Ounded man to his face.” "Lady l” she sneered. “I am no lady. I have shed all that tinsel. I am a. woman, and I demand justiceâ€"- but where to look for it ? To whom shall I appeal? To the Queen his mistress ‘2” "Madame !" “Sham I repeat it ‘I shall I repeat it '9” In “This is treason the cruellest . cried Bravo. "0 l I have the courage to say it again ! My father had the courage “to say it. and you send him to prison. I am ready to go there, too. Why don’t you send for your gaolâ€" “ers ‘? Have you no fetters for me “.7” Her voice rose into a scream. “Dona, 'Asunta l” pleaded Don Auâ€" gustin, taking another course, "Dona Asunta, would you have the whole camp hear you?” “And why not ? Let everybody knowâ€"let all Palmetto knowâ€"that one of Palmetto’s daughters was inâ€" sulted by this smooth villain, who casts her off when he finds higher prey willing and ready to drop into his mouth. Let all Palmetto know itâ€"thcu I may get justice.” "Justice, Dona Asunta l" At the sweet sound of that low voice a, thrill of surprised horror ran through I-Iector and Bravo, for it was the Queen who spoke; .As-unta herself was struck out of madness for a moment. Bravo turned to the voice with unutterable sorrow in his eyesâ€"how he would have. given all his remaining days to have sparâ€" ed her the scene that was now in- evitable. And Hectorâ€"torn between the healing happiness of the sight of her, of the scund of her voice, 2nd terror that she should be drawn into this sorbid brawlâ€"Hector for a moment covered his eyes with his hand. “I waited for you, Don Augustin,” said Maddalena aside in a low tone, “until I could endure it no longer. I sent you to bring me news ofâ€"of my wounded general. I regret that I troubled you with my orders: I shall not err again, sir.” “O ! madame, you are unjust !” But she had turned from him. “You spoke of justice, Dona 'Asâ€" unta. I am here.” But the flame had gone down to a sullen smolder. She held her peace. “Is it a wrong your Queen cannot set right ?" Again no answer. “Come, Dona 'Asfinta, what is the injustice? Who has wronged you?” The direct question was oil to the fire. Like a lightning flash, the anâ€" swer leaped hot with hate and the hiss of malevolence. “You.” . "I ? I, the Queen, wrong you the Queenâ€"you, his ‘9! “You, not lover l” (To be continued.) â€"Q JAPANESE COURAGE. The little men of Japan who have dared to face the Russian bear can give theworld many thrilling stories of. courage, and many of clever straâ€" tagem as well. One of the powerful nobles of the olden time was forced to flee from his enemy in haste. He hid in a barrel and was borne away by servants, who, meeting the enemy, declared that the barrel contained food. “If there is anything living in it there will be blood on my sword,” aid the nobleman’s enemy, and thrust his weapon into the barrel. It went through the hid-den man’s legs and made a terrible wound. But he, with quick thouj’lzt, wiped the blade on the hem of his garment as it was drawn out, so that it went out clean and he was not discovered. W. ,....+. w- . MIKE’S DIS COURAG ING QUEST. Mike is a married manâ€"a very much married man. He has married no fewer than four times, and all his wives are still to the fore. ' According to Michael's own account at the Dublin assizes, where he was tried for bigamy and found guilty, his experiences have not been altoâ€" gether satisfactory. The judge, in passing sentence, expressed his wonâ€" der that the prisoner could be such a hardened'villain as to delude so many women. “Yer honor,” said Mike, apologetiâ€" cally, “I was only thryin’ to get a good one, an’ it's not aisyl” ‘ --~~+ A man doesn't siug into a. phono- [graph for the purpose of trying to You were young, hand-ztbat threatens Palmetto, and take ’break the. record. .â€" UNDERGROUND LONDON. I-Iow Five Hundred Miles of Sew. ers Are llIanaged. The average LondOner is possibly unaware that nearly 500 miles of sewers are situated beneath his feet and this includes only the large sew- ers, several of them so large that a number of boats could float down them abreast, says Titâ€"Bits. And some idea of the enormous cost of 'draining London may be gathered from the fact that the drainage works and machinery alone cost $40,- 000,000 sterling. The three main sewers in the Met- ropolis run from Fleet Street to I’lainpstead, from Blackfriars to Ab‘ bey Mills, and from Harrow to Old Ford. Connected with these are a multitude of smaller sewers measur- ing about. 12 feet. in diameter, which make London one of the bestâ€"drained cities in the world. A thousand men are employed all the year round, not even excepting Sundays, in keeping London proper- ly drained, and the stupendous total of 1,000,000,000 tons of sewage is chemically treated every twelve months and taken aWay in sludge vessels to the North Sea. It might be supposed that the occupation is an unhealthy one for the men engage ed, but this is not so, as the sewage is treated with protophosphate or iron and lime water, which clarifies it as it passes to the great reservoirs ready to be taken away. Duringr a. wet summer the pumping machinery which draws away the rain water might be expected to be very heavily taxed, and the sewers also; but beside there being a number of storm channels which are only utiliz- ed When the volume of water in the main sewers is abnormal, the pump- ing machinery at Abbey Mills alone is capable of lifting 135,000,000 gal- lons of water to a height of 4.0 feet every day, which in other words, im- plies that London could never be de- lstroyed by floods. At. Barking, where the sludge is dealt with, there are fourteen sewers measuring 30 feet across; that is. to say, any one of them would be Wide enough for a small tug-boat to pass down. Here the- sludge, after being chemically treated, has to go through enormous iron cages, resembling gi- gantic colanders, which keep back so. lid objects, such as pieces of wood, old boots, and so forth, whilst not infrequently valuable articles of jew‘ ellcry are found wedged between the bars of a cage. The vessels used to convey the sludge to the North Sea are not by any means the hull-Is one might ex- pect to find engaged in the work They are luxuriously fitted with c05j apartments for the men and lightet throughout by electricity. Eacll barge carries 1,000 tons of sludge, and when fifty miles from the coast the cargo is distributed over an area of several miles. Connected with the sewer under Ludszate' Hill is the old Roman sub- terranean bath, which is the oldest structure in London, and must have been in existence long before a singhl brick of the present City was laid. At one time it was approached by a subway, but this has long ’ sine-l disappeared, though the bath. whicll measures some 14 feet to “.0 feet across still remains. -.._..._...,-...._...- THE SAME COLOR. Scene-A railway carriage. ling- lishman (addressing Yankee in op; posite corner)â€"â€"“Excnse me, this is inot a smoking carriage." No reply. Five minutes later (more brusquely} ~“I must really trouble you to p111 out that cigar.” Still no reply. , One minute later. “Ila-rig it, sir. if you don’t put that cigar out I’l': have you removed.” Still superb indifference on part of Yankee. Train stops. l-lnglishman calls guard and requests. removal ol Yankee. The latter breaks in, cooly: "Guard, examine that man’s ticka etâ€"it’s thirdâ€"class.” Guard does so, finds the statemenl correcc, and marches the Englishman out, to the great astonishment oi - the other occupan s of the ca-'ri.age.. After the train had again started another occupant. unable to restrain his curiosity, asks: “llow (lid you know what ticket he had?” Yankee '(with a yawn)-â€"â€"”Saw il sticking out of his waistcoat pocket. Same color as my own, I guessl” 9....â€" INGENIOUS SPIDERS. The Royal Society in London wn: recently entertained with an account by Mr. R. I. Pocock, of a spider o: the Desidae family, living in Austrav lia, which makes its habitation along; the seashore, in the crevices of tin rocks, between a bi gh a n d lowâ€"water marks. This location is selected, no doubt, because it abounds with the food that these spiders prefer. But when the tide is in their homes are covered with water. Instead of de‘ sorting them, however, the spiders solve the difficulty by means of close- ly woven Sheets of silk, which- they stretch over the entrances, and with- in which tbey imprison sufficient; air to keep them alive. during the time that they remain submerged. “Your worship," said a solicitor to the llench. "everybody knows that I am incapable of lending myself to a mean cause." “True, your wor~ Ship,” chimed in his legal opponent, “my learned friend never lends himm self to a mean cause; he always gctu curb down!” . ,t..,y-_,.‘~ Jain