CHAPTER IV.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 163, 31 July 1886, Page 12

CHAPTER IV.

-SOME NOVEL' EXPE&IENOES. ' -' The new-comer looked him straight in the-* eyes as he spoke. Oscar met thet searching look without flinching ; his eyes were sad t and proud, but not defiant. " Excuse the question : but it is so strangethat you should be , sailing under falsa colours, as the sailors say. One thing I am, sure of — if yeu have committed a crime, ifc has b%en doDe in the heat of passion ; you. have not deliberately dishonoured yourself. I know you too well, Oscar," heartily. " Better than my uncle, my aunt, and' my cousins, my sisters, my ' — here h© checked himself, concluding, " than thepolice and newspapers ?" The other ,was shocked into monentary silence. ■ "If some had asked me to guess who, of all my acquaintances, had had such a mis fortune befall him, I would have named every other man before I mentioned you* Oscar," he said, at length. "Then you already take it for granted that I have done something hideoua ? All the world declares that I have." " Oscar, you shall tell me about it yourself. You are the soul of truth. What you toll me I will know is so." " And you will believe my simple state- - ment against an array of facts which others have pronounced damning ?" "I will believe what you assert, my friend. A leopard may change its spots, but a man of your high and senßible notions cannot all of a sudden become a liar." " Thank you, John. You are the firsfi man who has said so much to me. One woman said the same ; all the others turned their gentle facas from me." " And that one was your befrothed ?" "No. She was the first to condenm me." " My poor friend, will you tell me all V* " Not here. Not now. Where can I see you again ?" " Can you come to my room at the Cosmopolitan? It is but a step from here." " Not now. I have this young gentleman in charge." "At eight thia evening, then. I -will stay in after tea, and we will have a nice - long, quiet talk. I have not been in Hew York now for three years ; and I shall have many questions to ask on my own account, besides the impatient interest I feel to learn what has di'iven you out here in disguiae. What did you say I was to call you ?" in a lowered tone. "Romeyn. Do not forget. I am afraid now that my little friend here overheard you. ' But the little friend was busy with his letter. He did not appear to have seen that his tutor was talking with another person, so engrossed was he with the long: and loving epistle. At that moment a strange sound smote on the ears of the persons lingering in and around the post-office. It was a curious sound which made people start and look about them — a low, rumbling noise as of distant thunder. But this did not come from the sky— it came from under the very feet of the surprised listeners. Almost at the first note of alarm Anatole sprang toward his tutor, clutching his hand, and looking up at him. , with a blanched face. " It is an earthquake '*' he cried. Simultaneously the crowd rushed toward . the centre of the street, they felt the pavement rocking under their feet. It was a novel sensation, and an awful one, to feel the firm earth heaving beneath them. They looked toward the post-office ; It was a solidly constructed building of atone, but it, with others around ifc, rose and fell quite perceptibly. The terror was intense, but it was soon over— at least for the present. In half a minute all was quiet, and men were wiping the sweat from their pale ace 3 and turningto eacli other, some laughing nnervouslyy v others unable to speak so soon. No harm had been done beyond the fright. Anatole was trembling, but quite self' possessed. " How did you know it was an earthquakeso quickly?" asked Romeyn, who had; dragged the child into the street, with the - others, tobefree.frombuiidinga should they give way. . " We have them in Mexico, you know. Once the wall about our place tumbled down I've been through a dozen, sir." " Really ! quite hardened, I should say. Grown rather intimate with earthquakes?" ' spoke Romeyn's friend, in his pleasant manner. Anatole answered his smile with onfrequally friendly. " I can't say I fancy them, sir." "We must return home, Anatole. If the shock was felt in that part of the city your aunt will be uneasy about you.' " Well, good bye, then, Oscar, until eight this evening." "I will keep my appointment, if old* mother earth allows, John. She may break our arrangement wibh one of her freaks before night." "Just so. In which case 111 excuseThey parted, Romeyn walking back with Anatole as rapidly a3 his- companion's smaller steps would allow. " Is your father well ?" he asked, as they passed along. • ' Thanks : yes, he is well. But he missea , his little boy." "Does he feel troubled at the state of your health ?" "Not particularly. Ido not tell him how ill I am. Aunt Julietta advised me , not to. She says it will keep him so un, happy. She knows that I will be better. - in the summer, so what's the use of troubling poor papa ?"' " A miserable policy," thought Romeyn. "Concealment, in such cases, is cruel kindness." On reaching home they learned that th&» shock had not been perceptible at the northend of Powell street ; but they had been in the -, house but a few minutes when they felt a peculiar thrill in the air — scarcely as> mnch as a tremble, and some of the china itt. the breakfast room tumbled down with a , crash. Elee, and even Chinchoo, ruBb.9d into the presence of the ladies, and cast themselves down on the carpet, their yellowfaces a sickly white, praying with all their might. Mrs Jardine and Mr Romeyn aroused them , and advised teem to go into the street. The> whole family hurried out of doors. Mrs Jardine, as she ran, caught a long black veil from the hat-rack and wrapped it, Spanish Sashion, about her head and face. ' The street was full of the inmates of the house. In about five minutes there was another - shock, more severe. Anatole 1 ; and aom» others were thrown to the ground. Mr. Romeyn picked up the poor, tombed child, kissed him, and held him tight to.. him with one arm.

(To be Continued.)

Abbe Liszt, heretofore reported aa dyxng c at Weimar, has recovered his health.