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CRUEL 1 THEjivE; ? n l .? Tk liie secret 01 uunraveii Castle. BY ANNIE ASHMORE, Author of "Faithful Margaret," Eto., Eto CHAPTER XVII-f Continued.) The secretary, leaning heavily on the back of a chair, heard this dismissal with eyes lowered, and hands clenched by his sides. For a long minute after Lord Inchcape had finished there was a silence, while Sircombe struggled for strength to utter | one wild protest. He might have injured La'Jy Inch* cape, who had never liked nor trusted him; but ohl he had been loyal to Lady Ulva? How gladly ho had .consecrated his cholarship to her use; how patiently he had guided her girlish steps through the acred labyrinths of knowledge. Had she not been given to him by her proud father to be his pupil in lonely Sleat-naVrecken? and If she grew from girlhood gently Into womanhood, and drew her tutor's unwittincr heart after her, until It had no palse that did not beat lor her, ah! who was to blame? And now?who loved her a9 he loved her; poor, shamed, rained, old John Slrcombe? For ho loved without ever having presumed to hope for possession ?loved for the simple rapture of loving her! And now they spoke of sending him away?of barring him from the presence that made life endurable! "I deserve death, perhaps," ho cried, wildly, "but I have got my death-blow; I shall not live long to bear my shame; let me live out my poor days near you, , then, my lord; do not?do not banish me altogether!" He fell at Lord Inchcape's feet In an agony of supplication; for a moment his haggard face looked up tabards my lord's with straining eye, then he sank lower yet?he lay prone upon the carpet ?he was senseless, and the red blood oozed from his Hps. Poor, worn, midnight student! The sweet passion which is due at twenty-one, iiau cuihb upuu mm ut aj*iy ?too latel too late! i chapter XVIII. ?I SHALL NOT FAIL TOU." That very afternoon, in spite of Mrs. Dellamere's moat anxious precautions, Col. Accrington succeedcd in obtaining , , an interview with Lovcday. and one without witnesses. So determined had he been to catch the young lady alone that there is little doubt that he had availed himself of the i Bervic-es of spies, else how could he have guessed that she was sauntering by her- 1 self in a part of her mother's grounds far enough from the house to suit bis , purpose perfectly? Loveday had just parted from Auberon at the Pavilion gate, and, too happy to , go lb at once, she had extended her stroll until she found herself at the back wall,' where the sun shone warmly, and the . lime trees shut out the chili autumn wind. Here she paced to and fro for a half- , hour or se, enjoying the warmth, the solitude, and her radiant thoughts; and 1 little dreaming of the dark, iuscrutable ' far.ft which soon annroached amonar the I trees, and watched her covetously. She held a toy pet-dog in her muff, Its ! pretty little snow-white head peering j out all ready to respond to its mistress* , whispered confidences; her first suspicion ! , of an intruder was caused by the tiny | creature's suddenly quivering-eared i alertness and eager excitement She j looked round to see Colonel Accrington ! approaching her, hat in hand, an ex- I , pression of iron resolution on his unwel- | come face. j Now Loveday had learned enough j , about this fierce lover of hers since that ; day of adventure, to turn all her gentle heart to stone as far as he was concerned; the day of his magnetic power over her was gone. Edgar Arden, dreading the machlna- , tions of such an unscrupulous man, had at length decided to arm the innocent girl against his insidious influence, with a knowledge of his true character; he had therefore written a simple statement that Colcnel Accrington deserved no regard from her or any honorable person, as he was even at his present time guilty of a wrong toward Lord lncncape wnicn ne couia repair, yet would not. Edgar forwarded this brief note to Mrs. Dellamere, inviting her to make use of It on her daughter's behalf as she saw fit, but requesting the ladles to confine the knowledge he had given them to themselves. Mrs. Dellamere had handed the note to Loveday that very morning, for the first time uttering ail her own distrust and indignation against the too diplomatic attache. ^Imagine then the emotions of timid, jgirTfsh Loveday, when all at once her terrible lover faced her in that lonely place! , He was silent, brooding bitterly over the dismay and displeasure he read in her eyes, and waitiag for her first words to show him how to manage the conference. She soon collected herself, indignation giving her courage, and said, coldly, "I must bid you good-morning, sir: I axu on my way home," and would have left him with a formal bow, but ho placed himself at her side, saying, firmly: "Miss Dellamere, I am forced to Intrude upon you thus or never see you | alone; forgive me, then; my despairing i love is stronger than I " I She stopped at tbat, crimsoning, in- j dlgnant, and shocked at his audacity. < "How dare you persist in speaking to me upon that subject?" cricd she; "you ] know well that I?that Mr. Creey " , "Have been tied to each other by your xespective parents?yes,Miss Dellamere, < 1 know that," retorted Accrington, t;is- j dainfully. "But have your own hearts eealed the compact? How long if, it ?ince Auberon Cre; y's affection for bis i life-long playmate was that of a brother? A week ago he saw oniy Lady Merrion Kae through love's polden tr.amour; atid you?what need have you of half a heart, while mine?a man's heart?is bound to you by an eternal love?" "I am satisfied with Auberon's, and bave no desire to exchange it for yours," said the young girl, proudly. "Ah, no, sweet sou'; you little know your own needs!" exclaimed the Colonel tn the low fervent tones he had so often subjugated proud spirits with before. It.is no crude, bojyish liking wjiich will i satisfy a nature like yours; no dreaming juystie can long retain your warm young living love! "Give yourse'f to me; I am strong and 1 patient, and to win is life?to lose, death 1 ?o?l I can teach jou how to love mej and I know how to make my tender I darling happy as an angel In heaven " * She checked his impassioned speech by a gesture of hot repulsion. b "You sneer at Auberon Crecy's youth * and genius," said she, Impetuously, t while her eyes flashed wrath and scorn upon the offender; "but how will your 1} past life compare with his? Is it aa crysiai pure? nave you as nttle need" of n concealments? Thanks, no, I prefer to g marry a man whose life has been as open n and honorable as my own to marrying Richard Accrington with his memories." 1< Accrington was ghastly; the stroke had gone home to the one vulnerable ' spot in his indurated heart. The woman t; he madly loved, knew all?knew and deepised bim! but what could she know? ti perhaps nothing but vague report. a "Who has dared to sully your innocent n mind with slanders of my past?" demanded he with a show of righteous if wrath. "Who could have had the bad heart to do it?" .... 1] "Can you disprove these slanders?" n Baid Loveday scornfully. He believed that she had learned noth- d ing definite, and said mournfully: v "Alas! Miss Dellamere, what man's c: past life is fit for a maiden's scanning? t< We look to womanhood to redeem us from our errors, and true love gives us q the future in which to make due repara- si tion?" "I will have no lover whose record is ]j too shameful for me to read!" cried t< Loveday fierily; then she fastened hei p indignant gaze upon him and added- ^ "Why do you speak of reparation? have j you ever repaired the wrong you did e. Lord Inchcape? and you ask me to lov? t] a man like that!" Accrington started back with a mutr _ tered curse, utterly overwhelmed. She did know all?she had learned hli C] most shameful secret. ^ He was a liar in her sight, basest crimt n In the calendar; he had lied away a man's honor, and then built his prosperity upoc his victim's downfall. 0 Oh, if Loveday knew the blackest of aj all his secrets he might well despair oJ ri winning her, even by force?she would ? die before she would marry a liar. w And so he has lost her, this fairest, dearest love of his life, the one thing or the earth he coveted most. And the boy will marry her, they will adore each other. Are they not welJ matched in purity? 6j 2so! death, destruction rather! 0 What! is he to see her wrested from d( his strong hands, in spite of all the fierce n passion which is urging him up U o tn Ua V?a rnViKo/1 r\ f KV? a ? utrspci U/IIULI l 10 uu VU uo iuuuvu vi vuv |? being who is more precious to him thai 9J the political prize he was straining for? e, more precious even than revenge or ?( Lord Inchcape? Ij Ah, if she were his they would fly faj a] froift scorning England to lovelier lands, gl where he would drink sweeter happiness than he had yet tasted. w Ifl maddening word! what will indue* It her [{ At this point In his half delirlou! thoughts, Accrington started from his w rigid attitude .with new hope in his eyesthere was one chance for him yet. jn She had taken the opportunity of hii Btnpefaction to hurry away, only toe ^ happy to escape him before worse befell; B but thouehts glance swift as light ga through the brain, and Accrington's reverie had not been long enough to y( cover a retreat of more than a score oJ yj steps. He caught her and barred the 4 way before she was out of the sheltered 0I walk; she saw a wonderful change on ^ bis face; such grief and humility arrest jr ed her in spite of herself. Dl "If I should repair this wrong you reproach me with, what then?" hf j, fcsked. Loveday felt her heart stand still. Oh, if he only would do that! The gi pision of Lord Inchcape, worn with a it mysterious grief, desolate in his grand- gi sur and solitary in his prime, passed be- m fore her. Did this man hold the key ol that locked life? And was it possible oi that he might be induced to restore the Sf happiness which had been lost so long' b< "Oh, Colonel Accrington, if you will I* Jo that, how I shall thank and honoi hi you!" she said, with deep emotion. 6f "But what if it cost me name and fame Q' and drove me forever from my native land?" of "The greater the sacrifice, the more w worthy the reparation. Gh, sir! can yoi hesitate one moment?" P "Miss Dellamere, you can win thi si sacrifice from me. ana you alone." P< She recoiled in wild dismay. " "No?oh, in pity, no!" she moaned. 'Do not thrust the responsibility upon c< me. What have I to do with it?" V1 "Sweetest love, you already have mj ft heart; take my life, too, and mold it at you will. Is it home and honor or exiU cs ind the world's reprobation?" "Do right, Colonel Accrington, though hi the heavens should fall." "And you will award me this littU hand which strips me of the best prizei tc af a busy life?" st "Ah. cruel! Xou surely could nevei P . f V exact the sacrifice. Shame!" she sud _ denly cried in her anguish. "Can youj reparation only be bougnt? Oh, shame, that a soldier should stoop to such s craven thought!" And she moved away. m weeping bitterly, her hopes completelj rr crushed. Accrington could only gnaw his lip in sickening abasement. How could he have hoped that he could build a clain; ^ on that act of common honesty? She ? only despised him the more for the odious suggestion. He thought the end had come, but no To his surprise, she came to him presently, and began to plead with her whole soul for Lord In:hcape. Would not ^ Colonel Accrington perform this Just act, t and be worthy of her lifelong gratitude y and prayers? He stood mute and frowning, and lei w her pour forth her sweet beseeching: he A) was weaving his web of thought busily. When ho had formed his purpose, a peculiar flash lit his gloomy eye?a faint smile played about his mouth for a moment; but he subdued all such signs of self-gratulation before the simple girl could catch their evil significance, and with well-feigned agitation said: MYou have conquered. How can I t( resist you .' i love you: you diu me ae- ^, Ptroy myself?for cold duty's sake alone. w Well, I obey you. Ha! ha! will Crecy ^ love you like tbat? but let that pass; Bluce I make reoaration to mv ancient foe at your command, will you be my ol icent? ah, you shrink from the burros- w Lion: forgive me! what right have I to f< Bxpect any sympathy or support from Fou?" a "You wrong me, Colonel Accrington, tl Indeed you do!" faltered Loveday, who could scarce believe him for joy. "I owe a fou all the aid I can give you, besides w my heartfelt gratitude. Yet I cannot see how I dare intermeddle in Lord n Inchcapo's private affairs." it "I exact no such imprudence; I simply h ask you to be the bearer of a do uinent d which Lord Inchcape would give his life r< to obtain?for it will establish " "I will carry it to him," Loveday in terrupted hastily, shrinking from learn- g Ing any more of the Earl's secret from k his enemy. "It is a sma'J return to make for all that you are willing to suf- ^ fer in the cause of right." , Accrington could not quite repress a ^ Ditting sneer, but hastened towards his . purpose. "J thank you, Miss Dellamere; with your co-operation I feel strong enough ^ to complete the sacrifice without flinch- 0 ing. "Without it. I confess I dread tha whiSDerings cf my stubDorn pride, for a you must not forget how much I am t( ibont to lose if 1 do this thing?the best . 3f my existence." j " ."J shall take the dosumegtto Lord n . v y. c- ? ', nchcape," murmured Loveday agai When shall you send it me?" "I shall not send it; l shall trust i uman being save you with the weap< rhich is to destroy me. I shall bring d you?to-night " He paused; she looked np wonderln j at his pale face and glittering eyes. "Tonight," he continued; "and y< 111st come to me; I shall be at yond ate in the wall waiting you. And y< lust come alone." Loveday started, flashing a suspicio )ok at him. "That Is too much to expect," sa he haughtily; "there can be no necess y for such a thing; and I have n jund you so trustworthy that 1 shou mat you again. I decline to come he lone to meet Colonel Accrington t ight." He flung ot heel with a sho lugh. "That ends ths matter," said he harsl r; "I, too, decline to grant Miss Dell lere's prayer. Farewell!" lJr* mnn o n m o 11 rr rrt\\ n fT t.hnilfrht. T,n\) AiC rr as iuwu; ay, and once more all her hope9 we anishing away; she could not but r all the wily schemer, just as he had i jnded. "You may have reasons for such a r uest; at least let me hear them," sa tie anxiously. "I have, but I fear that they will ha1 ttle weight with Miss Dellamere," r jrted ho bitterly. "My own safety d ends upon the fidelity of my messnge ah! why humiliate myself needlessly will plead no more. You were not irnest, neither was L Let us considi ie whole matter a jest" "I cannot?I dare not!" cried she raat distress. "I should be wretch* )rever if I were to abandon Lord Inci ipe, now that you make it depend < ie whether you will do him justice < ot. Is there no other wav?" "That way or none!" said Accringto: iernly. "Am 1 a dog to be treated wil pen distrust at tho same time that yc re ready to accept such a terrible sa fice from me? Enough; my safety r aires some precaution, and In the who orld you are the only being to whom ;el inclined to trust it." "I will come," faltered Loveda; enabling. He drew a long breath of intense relle "Thank you!" said he, earnestly. ' lall be at the gate by nine o'clock t ight with the paper, which you will n< sliver until to morrow morning, lust be far away ere then. * He gazed sadly in the sweet, trouble tee before him; his voice softened at ink. "I shall not fail you, Loveda: /en though I am destroying my life i aur bid. I could not fail you, knowic lat you were waiting for me yondi lone, and that for the last time we tu lared a secret between us!" He left her at last: left her ove rhelmed with apprehension and doub ; was so very hard to believe in him a sr the day at Sllverstream! And now came the full realization < hat she had promised to do. In the hurry and bewilderment of tt terview, urged en by Accrlngton, sb id been too intent on fighting Loi lchcap^'s battle to perceive all the coi iqucnces involved in her promise; si lw them too clearly now. She must keep Accrington's confidenc 3S, even from Auberon and her mothe atil to-morrow morning; she must ris meeting with him unknown to evei le; and, finally, she must herself be* le fateful document to the haughl ichcape, who would, no doubt, t unged in amazement at the extent < 3r audacity and knowledge of his moi jlicate affairs. And then, would her mamma ever fo ve her imprudence when sheconfesse ? what would Auberon thinfc of h< anting a private interview to tl an he had rescued her from? Girlish little Loveciay burst into tea: ' sheer friffht, and heartily wished he . If out of the worst scrape she had y< ;en in; but suddenly a thought of Loi ichcape's restored happiness shone ill ight sunshine upon her drooplr )irits, and she fiung off her fears indij antly. "Oh fie! to be such a poltroon, instea dancing with joy at getting a blac rong righted at last!" she e.ciaimei ishing away her tears. "Am I no ii/.b- vmi nnnr nnfrlAfttari mortal?" Hfil le picked up her forROtten and whir 5rine dog, and wiped her eyes on i lowy curia "Come, you love; we'll keep our ow tunsel and go through our adventui iliantly; see if we can't play mou< r once, Fuck, and gnaw through tl ;t which has imprisoned Lord Incl ipe so long, and set him free." She set her pretty teeth hard ar eathed quickly, while her color ro! id her eyes flashed. "I'm going to get that paper if I ba> i cry for it!" muttered she; and c le skimmed home with the infinitesim uck scampering after: and neither < lem confessed a word to Mrs. Dell; ere. The few hours which intervened b ire nine, were very restlessly spent t iss Loveday: but she clung about h< other, and would not review her te irs again. Auberon chanced to be engaged th: ening to dine with a neighboring fan y\ and had paid his daily visit to h dy-love earlier; so that the girl wj treed to commit the promised indiscn on without the comfort of a last iute ow with Auberon, and without havin ;en tempted to divulge the secret. Eight o'clock came: she rose from h< amma's footstool to hide her agitate ice at the piano; half-past, and sbe ws .ill playing: ten minutes to ninf an le skimmed out of the drawing-roo: lthout the sljgh^est attempt at excus id stayed out. r<TT A DTT-P VTY ""** rr DOWN TO HIS DEATH. ? Trembling with excitement, yet nerve > the courage of desperation, Lov ly approached the lonely gate je wall, and stood listening intense >r any Found to warn her of Accrin, )n's proximity. There was nothing e heard but the sough of the winti ind through the dry leaves, and tl aying of the far-away hound. But the lane on the other side of tl all was thickly carpeted with the gra f disuse, and he might easily be thei ith a dozen ruffians behind him, and i jotfall be heard. Then the stable clock struck nine, ar n imperative hand knocked upon tl jick open door. One last convulsive bound of the hear nd Loveday found herself fa'e to fai rith him she expected. Her innocent eyes scanned his fac ever before had she c aucht that look lfernal triumph. She shrank back, ar is iron (lasit closed about her wrist: 1 rew her towards him with a burst i 2ck!e?s passion. "Is it not for the last time, my ow jve'.'" he whispered, beseechingly; "wl rudge me one little kindness? Yc now how desperat- I am to-nh.'ht." She let her hand lie in his, she let h riii steal round her waist; she no long* ceded what he did: she felt his har 3uch hers no more than if she he urned to stone; for Av.beron Crecy wi eside them, Razing in speechless agit ion, and at the fame instant two stra: ers sprang from the shelter of the wa utside, and advanced on Accringtun. Accrington surveyed the intruder nd uttered a fierce exclamation of a jnishment. "What! you treacherous? You ha> etrayed me, Loveday!" he cried. "Cli lonstrous! I could have staked my li # n. upon your loyalty. Ab, we;l, I am no* longer bound to give you this prize?yon no have forfeited it!" He snatched out an ?n envelope, and showed it, tauntingly, it then crumpled it up in his hand. "No, no, give it me; 1 have done nothg* ing to forfeit it!" she stammered. "I i have kept your secret." She could say 1 >u no more, for swift as a magical trans- { er formation, she and Accrlngton were out- ? 3u side the gate, and the latter was turning ( the key on Auberon and the two stran- T us gers, who remained inside. ] A closed carriage, drawn by two mag- x id nificent horses, which she recognized as ?i- Accrington's, dashed forward from a i ot short distance, where they-had evidently i Id awaited their owner's pleasure; and 1 re without stopping to check Loveday's * o- terrified screams, he tore open the coach ( door, and proceeded to spring Inside. , rt He was flying, and he was taking the ; precious confession with him! ' l h? That maddening thought drove away a- every selfish fear; the heroism in gay t little Loveday's blood fired up; she re- j e- membered only that Lord Inchcape's ] re honor was at stake, and that she must [ e* not fail him, now that she was all he ] n. had to depend upon. "You shal! not break your promise!" < e- cried she, swooping upon him, and wind- i id Ing her soft arms around his, so that he ] could not enter the carriage door with- J ?e out thrusting her away by force, an * e- alternative which he did not seem lne clined to take. I r "And why not, Loveday?" asked h?t i ,f looking down In her lovely little face, j in with its new expression of resolve, and i 0r suppressing a smile. "Why not, my t girl? You have deceived me, you see." 2 "I solemnly declare I have not!" she ? )(j answered, and by this time she had J h. seized his clenched hand, and was try j m ing with all her dainty might to open the Iron fingers. He dallied one or two moments longer with her, so unspeakQ) able sweet was her close contact to his jJ hungering love; but Auberon's voice )P broke the spell, and urged him forward. c. Engrossed as Loveday had been, she e. had been quite aware that some sort of la struggle was taking place inside the wall, j though nothing reached her but an occasional pantfng exclamation of one of tne y, rough men she had seen in the lane; but now Auberon called out loud and clear: f. "Here we are, Edgar, mostjpleasantly "I engaged/ Come on, old iefiow; we'll o- catch him yet!" Accrington's demon look came back. J "Ha, Arden, too!" muttered he, between his teeth. He suddenly passed his arm around Loveday's waist, and swung her into the carriage, speaking a 7. word or two to his coachman as he did so; next moment the carriage was >g dashing down the lane like a whirlwind, and Loveday was uttering shriek after ro shriek, without being heard by a soul Bave Accrington, wno ciaspea ner in nis r* arms with giant strength, and let her t- scream as she would, with her face f* crushed against his breast. Even then, while using his superior strength, like a dastard, against a woman, his yearning love rose uppermost, ie and he pressed his pallid face upon > her silken head, pleading with her in "(? heartrending tones, to forgive him. a* "Hush, hush! my darling, do not struggle so! Who will ever love you as I love you? No, no. sweet, I cannot let e< you leave me; I have destroyed my life r? to win you. Loveday, you cannot fear me k so very much, dear? how is It that she will ^ not love me when I?oh, God, she is my y 11 all! Tears, my girl; let me catch them t 1 on my heart! for each one you shall 11 have a life's, devotion. Oh, Loveday, ^ Loveday." He wept; scalding drops fell upon her v brow; they were wrung from the one t; r. pure spot in that guilty heart. b !(j She lay still at last; she was exhausted nrltK ct**nrrrrl inr? cVlfl low nn hifl hrflaQt 1 2( half swooning. Her hat had long ago V fallen to the floor of the carriage; her v r, yellow hair flowed wildly about her b r. waist, bathing his arms and hands, fill- ? a! ing him with rapture. , J] (1 She had run out to keep her tryst In- t nocently, all unprepared for a journey: a i lg graceful trifle of white chenille swathed v j. the bare shoulders of her dinner cos- I tume, and her feet were shod with ,d nothing more than black velvet brode- 0 .b quins. But Accrinjfton was prepared for all ^ this; when the desperate struggle was over, and her weakness succumbed to a. bis strength, then she should see how ti idolatrously he could love and provide t for her. a [to be continued.] re = ie ? FREAKS OF FASHION. How They Manifested Themselves In ? the Olden Times of Henry III. r' At Christmas, 1464, Bernard of Rohr- ii ,'e back, at Frankfort-on-tbe-Main, donned '9 a brown tunic that was so richly em- ?( k' broidered with silver that one sleeve ij alone weighed eleven and a half b pounds. The wedding dress of Maria E B. de Medici had a train five ells in length, t )j and trimmed with lilies of pure gold, in f which Maria shone like the sun break- ? r- ing through the clouds. At the chris- v tening of her son, afterward Louis f * XIII. of France, this queen wore a * jg dress trimmed with 32,000 pearls and tv is H 000 diamonds. On the same occasion, c b* Marshal Bassompierre bought half a J -.c f I jiUDureu-wt'JKJ-ii ui peuna u> UIUJ uu ^ l8 coat with. When Queen Elizabeth of t t England granted an audience to Mar- r ,'(j shal Biron, the French embassador, she * II wore a dress on which 100 persons ? id had been at work for three weeks. A y m very curious custom prevailed among n #|' the young gallants of the period of ? . Henry III. After making their pur- c fhas^s pf sjjk stockings, they woi^ld ask their belles to inaugurate them by . ' wearing these integuments themselves -d for a few days. Henry IV. bought ?" masks into vogue, which were worn " ? in traveling, walking, or visiting, in j, order to protect the skin from the effects c to of the air, the rain and the sunshine. ? ry In the seventeenth century?before the E ie existence of fashion journals?German t ladies used to have large dolls sent tc J them from Paris, .dressed up in tlie full ^ costume of the day, and they also sent ? 10 their tailorti 1o the French capital tc it study the latest fashions. ^ id During the reign of Louis XIV. lacc ? 10 prffa worn wnm which vvw'p almost an o I " V* V .. v... . (-11 in length. We nil remember to have " heard of the giant pyramids of hair, * ribbons, and flowers which last cen- Si e: tury dames balanced on their heads, ti of That inflated protuberance, yclept tour- ? 'd nure, or dress-improver, which has now happily disappeared, was all the go under Francis II., at which time the .n gentlemen sought to give themselves ? iy an air of dignity and respectability by >u tho adoption of large false stomachs. is er 1(j Mineral Resource* of tho South. J< t(j Dr. David Day, of tho United States goo- a logical survey, who will have charge of the w mineral exhibit to bo made at tho Atlanta E Exposition, expects to get up a larger anil n n* more interesting collection illustrating the ti mineral resources, expccially of tho South, & than was presented at the Chicago Fair. He j( 3, desires to make an extensive showing of ei 9. what Louisiana can do in thatlino, and will U exhibit specimens of salt, lignite, building n; ,e stone, various clays, sulphur and minerals. J ! The process of extracting sulphur from tho a.1 mine in West Louisiana will be illustrated in ! a Mi. detail. J RELIGIOUS READING. the open doob. The daughter of n poor widow had left her nother's cottage; led astray by others, she rnd forsaken the guide of her youth, and forgotten the covenant of her God. She had :ntered upon that path of sin which leads lown so quickly to the chambers of death. Fervent, believing prayer, was now the mother's only resource, nor was it in vain, fie who heareth the cry of the afflicted heard ne cry of that poor widow. Touched by the sense of her sin, and anxous to regain that peace to which she was iow a stranger, late one night the daughter eturned home. It was near midnight, and ihe was surprised to find the door unlatched. 'Never, my child," said the mother, "by night )r by d&y, has the door been fastened since fou left. I knew you would come back some lay, and I was unwilling to keep you waiting or a single moment." How does this simple story set before us ;he tender compassion and love of our Father n heaven, and His readiness to receive back Sis wandering ones. "Thou, Lord, art jood, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in nercy unto all them that call upon Thee.'' Ps. 86: 5. Reader, are you far from God? Does your )wn heart tell you that you have sinned igainst him? Are you afraid to think of his Dresence/ Do you fear to meet Him as your udge? Do you fear that your iniquities will shut you up under everlasting condemnaion? liemember now, at this moment, God sets jef^re you an open door. It is wide open joth by night and by day. He will not keep rou waiting a single moment, and His voice s heard caJling to you, "Come, now and let as reason together, eaith the Lord; though four sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson they ball be us wool." Is. i: 18. 0! despise not he goodness and forbearance and long-eufering of God. FAITH. Glorious things are spoken of thee, 0 faith I Who can recount the mighty acts of those loly souls, who have strongly confided in the gracious power of God and Christ Jesus for he subduing of sin, as well as in God's nercy and Christ's merits for the pardon of t? These 'through faith,' that I may borrow hose expressions of St Paul, 'have subdued kingdoms,' even the kingdoms of the prince )f this world, to which they were once subect Now there are many great and perilous promises scattered through the Scriptires, which are of sovereign force and virtue or the encouagement of our faith and lope in God, for the strengthening of us igainst His and our enemies; but there is ibundantly enough in that one passage; 'If re then, being evil, know how to give good rifts unto your children, how much more hall your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? What could >ur Saviour have spoken more for our enlouragement in a dependence on God for jraco and spiritual strength, and to a quiet, insolicitious expectation of assistance from limy For tni6 promised concerned not onJy hose disciples that heard Christ preach from he mount; but all his disciples and followtrs, and all that believe on him to the end of he world. For it is said, "to them that ask lim," without limitation to a certain age oj >eople, language or nation. " Accomplish,Lord.tby sovereign will; Thy wiser purposes fulfil; Mine only I resign. / Into thy hands my soul commend, On thee for life or death depend; Thy will be done, not mine." HOW TO BE HAPPY. I will give you two or three good rules phich may help you to become happier than ou would be without knowing them: but as o being completely happy, that you can lever be till you get to heaven. The first if*, "try your best to make others lappy." "I never was happy," said a certain :ing, "till I began to take pleasure in the welfare of my people: but ever since then, in be darkest day, 1 havo had sunshine in my fart." My second rule is. "Be content with little," 'here are many good reasons for this rule. V9 deserve but little, and "better is little rith the fear of God, than great treasures and rouble therewith." Two men were determined to be rich, but they set about it in diferent waysfor the one strove to raise his aeans to his desires, while the other did hie est to bring down bis desires to his means, 'be result was, the one who coveted much ras always repining, while he who desir?d ui iniiu wnjj unvuya uvuicuicu, My third rule is, "Look on the sunny side 1 thing?." ' Look up with hopeful eyes, Though all things seem forlorn; The sun that sets to-night will be Again to-morrow morn." The skipping lamb, the singing lark and be leaping fish tell us that happiness is not onfined to one place : God in his goodness as spread it abroad on the earth, in the air nd in the waters. CAUTION IX JUDGING. While Hannah, the mother of Samuel, was ffering up a silent prayer to heaven, at ShiDh, she became an object of rash and undue eprehension. Eli. the hijjh priest, supposing her to be intoxicuted, hastily said to her. 'How long wilt thou be drunken?" To this evere censuie Hannah replied, "No, my wd. lama woman of sorrowful spirit; I iave drank neither wine nor strong drink, ut have poured out my soul before the jord." This rash and unwarrantable judgnent of Eli is left on record in order to each us to be cautious in forming and ex ressing our opinions respecting the charters and states of others. The ground in which we build our judgments should al* pays be such intimate knowledge and careul observation pronounce to be solid, or, like 21i of old, we may precipitately condemn yhat Jehovah approves, and offend against be generation of the righteous. Certain it is mr knowledge of the exercises and feelings if others is atbest very circumscribed. The leart lies concealed"from our view; it is mown to God only. Hence, we shall always ie exposed to error unless we conform to the ule of judgment prescribed in the Divine Vord. Hypocrites* will deceive us, and we hall be deceived in God's children. Take leed, then, how ye judge; for with judgment e judge ye shall be judged, and with what aeasure ye mete it shall he measured to you gain. Deliberately weigh actions and cirnmstances and judge righteous judgment? !bristian Intelligencer. OCR OAF.MENTS. The words "garment." "robe"' and "railent," are used in the Scriptures to typify haracter. When a man repents of sin and oini himself by faith to Jesus Christ, he is lothed with a new nature. Old things pass way; the illthy rags are thrown aside, and onversion by the Holy Spirit is a pledge of ew tastes, new principles and new habits, le "puts on Christ." so thero is not only an award faith in Christ, but some Rood degree f outward resemblance in daily conduct, "his may be called the garment of grace. It jeans unnstiar. cnaraeter. .Now cnaraeter i not determined by a single act. but by haitualconduct It isa fabric made up by thouunds of threads and put together by uneountilstitehes. Someehara<itersare stoutly sewed : titers are only basted. A Christian ought ot ouly to have his hpiritual garments well awed, but kept clean : in fact. a9 a represent tive ol jesus rise ne uuj;iu iu (jrwui iich an attractive apparel before the world Hit others should say to him : "Where did on get this? 1 waut one just like it."?Dr. sijler, in the Independent. Get salvation before you wear out your rains in trying to understand it.?Ham's [orn. Kusli for Pas?port?. If the anxiety of Americans to go abroad 5 any indication the country is not in such state of pitiable financial depression a.s it rould appear. The application to the Stnto (epartment, Washington, for passports are as umerous as ever, and there has been a noiceable increase in the last few weeks. Exepting New York and Philadelphia, themairity of applications are coming from Westrn States and a remarkable number are from jachersaml students. From present indiitions the demand for passports in May and une, the two popular months for journeys broad, will bo larger than it has been for lany years, SABBATH SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR MAY 12. loi CO Lesson Text: "Jesns Before the Higli an Priest," Mark xlv., 53-64? Golden Text: Isaiah liil., 3 ^ ?Commentary. hi) he inj 53. -'Ami they le-1 Jesus away to the hit;!: sti priest, ana witn nun were iissemojeu .111 rn< w) chief priests, and the elder?, and tho scribes." After the darkness and agony of tho pr garden, being strengthened by an angel, He ne went forth to lay dowu His life of His own lis accord (John x? 18). The boastful discides be all forsook Him and fled (verses 31, 50). Tho fo young man of verses 51, 52 tfas probably ea Mark himself, as in other cases the unnamed es one was doubtless the writer of the gospel hi (Luke xxiv., 18; John i\'. 40). Jesus being bound (John xviii.. 12), is led as a lamb to wi the slaughter (I all liii.. 7), for those be- he fore whom He was brought had long before bj determined to kill Him (Math. xii.. 24; John ex xi., 53). su 54. "And Peter followed Him afar off, even ar into the palace of the high priest, and lie snt iss with the servants and warmed himself at the vi fire," The result of Peter's following afar th off and being iu bad company is seen in wl verses 66 to 72 following the lesson. fSelf th confident boasting is very apt to lead to rash ye conduct, bad company and many wcrse ye things, as in the case of Peter, We mur. sa have no confidence in ourselves, but be strong is in the Lord and let Him perfect His strength wl in our weakness (Phil. ill.. 3; Eph. vi.. 10 II fo Cor. xii.. 9). 55. "And the chief priests and all the ooun- in cii sought for witness against Jesus to put a i Him to death, and found none." Their us minds were fully made up, and God was go- ge ing to let them have their way and accom- mi plish what He foresaw would surely come to itf pass (Acts iv., 27. 28). They were now seek- tn ing some reason for their conduct, but could th find none except in the wickedness of their Fi own hearts. Testimony in His favor they th could have readily obtained in abundance, but an against Him, none. See John xviii.. 29: Pc Heb. vii., 26; Matt, iii., 17: xvii., 5. av 56. "For many bare false witness against Yc Him, but their witness agreed not together." It had been written that it should be so. "False witnesses are risen up against Me, and such as breathe out cruelty." "False witnesses did rise up. They laid t3 i My charge things that I knew not'' (Ps. tjj xxvii., 12: xxxv.. 11). So every true follower jn of Jesus may expect to suffer wrongfully for conscience toward God. may expect to suffer for well doing, and if under such clrcum stances we can taice it patiently uoa is wen _ pleased (I Pet. ii.. 19. 20). As His follow ers we must walk as He walked (I John 6). g 57, 58. -'Andthere arose certain and bare _ false witness against Him. saying, We heard Him say. I will destroy this temple that is m, made with hands, and within three days I or will build another made without hands.'* re Just what He did say. out of which they made this accusation, is found in John ii., ^ 19, and if you compare His words with what they made Him say you may not feel so bad ne about some sayings of yours which have wj come back to you somewhat perverted. The px fact is that we have no time to waste on feeling bad about slanders and false accusa- nc tions. Such things will continue till the m( Lord comes, and when He permits them to jn come our way we must at once thank Him ^ for the privilege of such fellowship (I These. jt v. 18; Pnil. i., 29). and referring the whole yo' matter to Him just leave it with Him to be I . adjusted (Isa. liv.. 17). ?< 59. "But neither so did their witness agree together." Consequently there was no case against Him, and He should have been set free, for their laws said plainly that one wit- (i. ness could not condemn; there must be two J or three (Deut. xvii., 6; xix.. 15). How can Ho we expect righteousness in a world which through its most religious leaders thus treat- J'8 ed the Lord Himself? His meek submission Is our example and makes us think of the admonition. '"Take wrong, be defrauded" a! (I Cor. vi.,7). alj 60. "And the high priest stood up in the an midit and asked Jesus, saying: Answerest ^ Thou nothing? What is it which these wit- J ness against Thee?" He knew there was no "a case against the prisoner, perhaps felt the wl ridiculous position in which they were an Slaced, and allowed his feelings to overcome y? im. According to the law. the witnesses otl bad testified nothing against Him, for no P.? two agreed. 61. "But He held His peace and answered 411 nothing. Again the high priest asked Him and said unto Him, Art Thou the Christ, the P1' Son of the Blessed?" There was nothing to f16 answer, and in the calmness of conscious }? innocence He was quiet. When people seek W( our hurt, speaking mischievous things and an imagining aeceits all the day long, let us have grace to be as the deaf who hear not m and as the dumb who open not the mouth, but just hope in the Lord (Ps. xxxviii., 12-15.) " ] 62. "And Jesus said. I AM. and yo shall Li see the Ron of Man sit on the rignt hand of isj I ? ' in tli? Alnuriu nf hfinvpn " frc Kyyui auu uvxuiu^ iu v .w ?^ v. ? Is reply tak6? us back to the name He ral used when He sent Moses to deliver Israel foi (Ex. iii., 14). He often used it in the days of pri His humiliation, for in many cases where we en read, "I am He." the He"' is in italics, so thi that He really said "Ium," as in John iv., no 26; viii., 24. 28; zriii.. 19; xviii., 5, 6. 8, etc. vo When He shall come in power and glory, as sel He said, It will be bringing His saints with tic Him according to Zech. xiv , 5; Judg. xiv.; cai I Thess. iii., 13, and it will be for the re- If demption of Israel and for vengeance upon alt her enemies (Deut. xxxii., 43; Isa. xxxiv.. 8; fltf xxxv., 4; Ixiii., 4). do 63. "Then the high priest rent his clothes th< and saith. What need we any further wit- ale ness?" This apparently holy wrath was all th? of the devil in the name.of religion. To this jui day it may be seen. We should not be moved by it. It is often seen, even in religious people, in connection with this very triith of j the second coming of Christ in power and ni? glory. Let one insist that Jesus is coming his with all His saints (Col. iii.. 4) for the con- sir version of the Nation of Israel, and to set up we the kingdom promised to David with a My throne at Jerusalem, according to Jer. iii.. bel 17; Luke i., 32. 33. etc.. and he will probably "K be accused of perverting the truth to the de- sta struction of his sou). wh 64. "Ye have heard the blasphemy. What am think ye? And they all condemned Him to an< be guilty of death." And began at once, to like so many barbarians, to illtreat their oui prisoner. They spit on Him. and mocked Cei Him, and struck Him. and He meekly bore it all. 0 Jesus, Saviour! what have we ever borne for Thee? May we deeply ponder it j and have grace to bear for His sake with gej meekness wnatever He may let us endure for Him. Because we are here in His stead re'v wo should :ilwavs act as He would (II Cor. < _? V., 20).-Lesson Helper. am ? 12 or ere RETURNINC PROSPERITY. we 80 j Laree Increase In Postal Receipts Dur ing the Last Quarter. j The Auditor's divisipn of the postoflflce Department has just completed the settle- 9i?, inent of accounts of postofflces for the last 'Wft! quarter of the calendar year. 1394. and the ,.on figures, as com pared with those of the same wa, quarter of 1893, are viewed with much satis- san faction by the officials. The volume of busi- *uge ness transacted by the postal service has long been considered a reliable index of the condition of trade and commerce of the country. When the recent panic began to affect p * the business interests of the country that fad * . was at once shown in reduced receipts at the I'1' postofflce. J Now that the figures show an in"rease, the sak officials feel justified in arguing that the bot- mu torn has been touched ami that the country hos is on the upward grade. The sale of stamps 23 for the quarter was yl9.405.571. This is said La^ to be the largest sum received from that (en source within the same period in the history i>ha of the postal service. The receipts for the T last quarter of 1893 were $18,199.729. The following table shows the total receipts at thirteen of the principiil postofflces in the country for the last quarters of 1891 and 1893 respectively: rn, 1894. 1893. p'i Baltimore $222,081 S204.4T-J (nt<. Boston 706,254 678.50c *>'1 Buffalo 177.118 158.67i *or Chicago 1.225,895 1,200.79' M Cincinnati 266,420 251.355 Sun Milwaukee 125.775 115.431 the New Orleans.. 108,292 102.147 Pov New York 1,996,759 1,854.912 in 1] Philadelphia 734,652 711,575 j Pittsburgh 175,096 156,941- thej San Francisco 208.447 204.880 ioo( St. Louis . 402.212 357,995 mai Washington 134,331 127.824 0f D 3 | TEMPERANCE. v /> ONE "WAT TO LIVE LONG. A paper whose purpose it is to investigate agevity in the interest of the insuranoe mpanies, has taken up the subject of drink d its effect on life. Life may be aquas- ; g >nable boon to many; but it it a desirable ingtoall. If a mnn can be convinced that a result of habitual excess the tenure of ^ 3 life is rendered uncertain or shortened. If has any reasoning power and will remaing, he will be apt to call a halt and to rict or stop the habit which, if persisted In, qj 111 lead to premature death. " The doctor may warn and point to the >3 obable effect of intemperance upon the kldiys, liver or heart, and the patient may iten to his words and think the doctor may right; yet he will keep on with his cupe, ; fj. r in his case the habit has ripened into dis^ v. se, and the use of alcohol becomes actually, sential to his comfort and a necessity to s tortured nerves. , Where a man is not too far gone?that ie, here the habit has not become a disease? i is apt to be more affected by figures than 7, r all the arguments of the doctors. The :perience of those who have studied the bject with unbiased: inds lsthatintemperice is a slow mode of suicide, varying in its ?ue according to the constitution of the ctim. The most careful statisticians of . e United Kingdom have demonstrated that here the alcohol habit is contracted before < e twenty-fifth year, tho period of life is ten iare; where contracted after forty, eight are; the intermediate years having the v ' . me proportion. Strangely enough, -there <: not one case of inebriety in a thousand! ; ' here the habit was contracted after the rty-fifth year. The theory that inebriety is largely due to ; ' <* heritance has long since been exploded. As J matter of fact, the Nations addicted to the ''/ ie of intoxicating liquors through continued Js inerations have reached a conditioif of im- \ unity that practically protects them against i ravages, while people of races not so . lined are destroyed by an amount of liquor . ? at would have no effect upon the English, : / ench or German. This is illustrated by e destruction of our own Indian tiihes. id by the like fate of tho native races ot : :s >lynesia. who are being virtually swept j Sj8 ray by the introduction of alcohoL?New ' j >rk Advertiser. THE WOES or WINE. V , All inhabitants of light wine countries are larrelsome. ?Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton. . .;!< The sluices of the grog-shop are fed frost e wine glasses in the parlor.?E. H. Chap- < a Wine takes away reason, engenders insanK leads to thousands of crimes, and imises such an enormous expense on Nations, :: Pliny. Cheap wine is not the cure for intemner- ' ice. The people here (Switzerland) are et as intemperate as they are in America. ^ J. G. Holland. The wine shops breed, in a physical at- ' ' osphere of malaria and a moral pestilence envy and vengeance, tho men of crime and . , volution.?Charles Dickens. Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who ,:ki .th contentions? who hath babbling? who r:Vri\ .th wounds without cause/ who hath redes of eyes? they that tarry long at the ine; they that go to seek mixed wine.?- . overbs. You often hear the remark that "there-to f , i harm in a glass of wine per se." Perse sans by itself. Certainly, there is no harm a glass of wine by itself. Plaoe a glass-of ne on a shelf and let it remain there, and' ' tfj Is perse, and will harm no one. But If u take it from the shelf and turn it inside - fjj man, then it is no longer per se.?Geo. W., tin. . A PICTURE BV LADY SOMERSET. In her farewell address in New York oa ' ? ?hc New English Woman," Lady Henry ; <? merset drew a striking picture of the deg- ' ^ dation caused among the women in Engh cities by the habit of strong drink. It ia jL e practice of women to freauent the drink ' ^ ops is England, as they do not in America, . V aractice which add.- greatly to the demor- 1 zing results of the driuk traffic. It is not * uncommon sight, .said Lady Somerset, to . i a public bar room in London half filled th women of tho poorer class, some with ? bies in their arm.-, whose cries are hushed " , th the stupefying dregs of the beer mugs .. ; d tumblers of gin. The employment ol ung girls as barmaids was spoken of as anler agency of corruption and ruin in conction with the liquor business in England, was her personal observation ofsuch scenes d practices as these, said Lady Henry Somjet, that had made her what some wer? ;ased to call a temperance "fanatic." If a termination to do what laid in her power overcome these agencies of evil which sre bringing such a fearful burden of woe d misery upon the homes of England,, ide her a "fanatic," she glories in th? leTHE EVIL JS IX THE ALCOHOL. [n a recent address on ' Adulterations in. quors." before the Society of Medical Jar- ' irudence, Albert II. L<idoox said, speaking >m the standpoint of an analytical chemist, :her than that of either a temperance r& mer or advocate of license: "Themedioal ofession, as well as all temperance reform- v' ' s, should never cease to make it plain that i evil lies in the alcohol in the liquors, and t in the adulterations; thatthe unfortunate tary should not be allowed to deceive hlmf with the idea that if ho drinks some parular brand, or abstains from another, he i ? a derive benefit, or at least escape injury. i he is injured at all. he is injured by tho J. :ohol; if he is benefited at all, he is bene- . j- " ?d by the alcohol. I trust that the society 1 es not conclude that I am assorting that ire are never harmful substances in our :oholic liquors. I simply take the ground it as compared with tho alcohol their in- . ^ ious effect is absolutely insignificant." . ' > i THINK OF THIS. ^VjS { minister onco asked a saloon keeper if , .7 i conscience never troubled him respecting business. The man said: "Come inside, v It was the middle of the day. Thero re none of the usual customers about. friend walked in. The'grog-seller went >i. lind his owq,bar, and leaning on it said: everend Sir: There are times when I nd behind this bar and look at the men 0 fill this room; I hear their blasphemy 1 their lewd sougs: I see their fighting 3 their awful misconduct, and I often say myself, 'if there is a picture of Iiell on. r earth, it is in plaws like this.' "?Golden aser. Lim DEUNKENNLK-) DELOIU*. )runkenness has increased alarmingly in Igium iu the last forty years, according to Lejeune. lately Minister of Justice. The enue from the excise in 1851 was 4.000.000 nep, now it is 33.000,000: the number of oons has increased from 53,000 to 175,000, i the annual consumption of spirits is Liters per head of the entire population, 48 liters for each adult. Crime has inasod 200 per cent, and insanity 138 per it., and of every 10u deaths among males an; traceable to alcohol. ? */. DKIXK AND CRIME. . iady who was present at a meeting of State Board of Pardons of Colon; says was i-'pressed with tho fact that drink J the primary cau.?<: of nearly every crime imitted by those seeking pardon, and it ; universally a 1 mitt 1 that temporary inity will most surely follow the excessive ' of intoxicants. TEMPERANCE SEWS AND NOTES. t is said that tho eider-drinking citics of nee are also the largest consumer* of "115. he drink bill in most London hospitals is i to be much l?r?s than it used to be. So^ i?b for the influence of the temperance pital. y ihe repeal of t!ic Delaware ''Bottle v" the children are prohibited from enng the saloons cf that State for the purse of intoxicating li<pior. he bill before the Legislature of Wisjonprohjbitiug saloon.- within half a mile oE Milwaukee Soldiers' Home has received endorsement of the Loyal Legion. he foreman of the work on a tunnel near jlisb. Indiana, has forbidden the use of 'Xii aiits or the telling of scurrilous stories lis men while engaged iu their dangerous m .ore damage is being done by the open. day saloons than an be repaired by all ^ churches iind schools during the week. erty. debauchery, and misery walk hainl land.?Rev. John Henry Barrows. he Lancet says: "In 1000 grains of beef iv lire ?nuu> ?n i^iiui'juu ai* ) grains of wiuo only Invalids ce a great mistake in takiiiK wine ins ten A lourwhing foods to regain strenirtb.