Novelist. HARD TO WIN: THE STORY OF STRANGE LIVES

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2286, 5 March 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

Novelist. HARD TO WIN: THE STORY OF STRANGE LIVES

BY 'GEORGE MANVILLE FENN,

Author of " Ship Ahoy," " Dotch the Diver," " The I'oondky Belle," &c. The Story: IB6o.—Strange Lives. [All Rioiits Reserved.] CHAPTER XVIII. MIDGE'S SEARCH.

Fob days and days, which grew into weeks nud weeks the Midge was tortured by tho- desire to penetrate the mystery" of the disappearance of her father's confederate, but a strange feeling of fear kept her back. Loft alone in the great house of a night, the dread that came over her was such that she only bore her position by opening a front ■window wide, sitting 1 on the sill where ehe could see the gas lamps and occasionally hear tho footsteps of a passer-by, the dull bung of the public-house door at the corner, or the periodical measured tread of the policeman on the beat. Sometimes the latter would stop in front of the door of the house, and then ler heart beat high with hope and fear. It was a strange combination; for -while she hoped that he might come to ■search the place, and so relieve her from a horror that sat upon her like a .spell, ehe feared such a search, since it might xesult in peril to her father or the Gentleman. 'Huish,' she muttered; •Huish —he snid his name was Huish ' ; and she repeated it again and again, her .great dark eyes lighting up with a ourious expression of joy; and then she would close them, lay her head against the side of the window, arid a soft smile would play round her thin lips as she sat and indulged in waking dreams of what might some day be. She was familiar now with the scenes that took place in the room beneath lrer own, and they ceased to have any attraction for her, whether gems were being released from their settings, metal was "being melted down, or work was being •done with a strange machine; but she would lie there and watch every movement of the Gentleman, till coming footsteps warned her of clanger and the board was replaced.

She was aware that Rome more successful coup than usual had been achieved, for some' morning when her father was unusually excited and fidgety over his breakfast, the Major came hurriedly in and sat down. «Got any brandy ?' he said hurriedly, 'I'm exhausted.' Balass glared at him strangely, but he poured some brandy into a cup of tea and passed it to the new comer. ■ Curse thn tea!' ho muttered, * I wanted the brandybut he gulped it down. 'It will calm your excited nerves, dear friend,' said Balass quietly. ' Now what news ?'

'Send her away,' growled the Major. •What? Midge?' said Balass. 'No, you can say what you have to say. She can be trusted by this time. Now did you carry it all out as I planned ?' ' Yes, but she came back early. It was a dead failure,'

* What ? cried Balass, rising with bis fingers crooked. 'A dead failure.'

«You.fools! you idiots !'cried Balass, throwing himself upon the Major, and seizing him by the throat. 'My greatest idea ? After all my pains ; after planning it so that a couple of children might have carried it out. Curse you for a pair of fools. Where is that Huish—the Gentleman—the baby—the' ass—the idiot? Staying away, I suppose, because he dare not face inc.' 'Staying away, yes, cried the Major. 'He is taken.' 'Oh.' * What's that ?' cried Balass, starting, -for there was a low wail behind him, and turning sharply, he'was just in time to iSee his child sink to the floor. 'There,' prowled the Major, 'I told •you to send her away,' and he arranged "his collar and placed the table between ••them. 'I've frightened her into a fit.'

' Pali ! it was your doing,' cried Balaam roughly, lifting the tliiu light figuro into a chair and holding her as who struggled buck to consciousness, when he turned away without paying moro hood to her than to a dog. ' Now go on.' ' There's nothing move to toll,' said tho Major humbly. ' Slio oamo back while wo wera busy, and the alarm was spread. I managed to get away, but tho Gentleman was taken,' ' Just like you,' snarled Balus, his face wrinkling with rage till ho looked quite folino. 'You saved yourself, and that's all you thought of. You couldn't have followed my instructions. If the truth was known you were trying to make a paltry sovereign over cards, and he was running after some fresh woman he had seen.' Tho Major's face assumed a peculiar expression as the Midge uttered a moan, and covered her face with her hands, when her father beekoncd to his confederate to follow him, and they both left the room.

' Oh, what shall I do ? what shall I do ?' moaned the poor girl as soon as she was alone, and iu her anguish she walked up and down tho room wringing her hands, as if her pain was greater than she could bear. ' Why do I care for him ? Why do I suffer like this when lie cares more for his dog than he does for tne ?'

She stopped short, controlling her grief as test she could, for just then she heard the returning steps, and her father and the Major entered the room. ' You'll stay then !' said the Major. ' Stay ? Yes, of course. He's not like you. They might hang him and he wouldn't betray the place. But I'm going down there to make enquiries.' The Midge listened anxiously.

• Going down ? Are you mad ?' ' I should be if I sat down here and did nothing,' was the reply. 'liow do yon know that you are right. He may have got away. The fool escapes ; why shouldn't the cunning one ?' The Midge's heart gave a leap of joy, and hope began to strengthen its light in her desolate breast, as she saw her father hastily finish his interrupted breakfast, and take his hat. leaving the house, followed by the Major, like a beaten hound.

'He may be safe,' she cried, joyously, as soon as she was alone, ' and why not ? He is so clever that he would be sure to escape. He will be back soon, and then "

Her face was all a-glow, and there was something almost beautiful in its expression just then, for it was animated and bright, and her great eyes were lit up with such a look of joy that it transfigured her for the time. It was but for a short time though, for a dull cloud seemed to overspread it again, quenching the light, filling her face with the wrinkles of care and sadness ; and soon' Midge Balass had resumed her old angular aspect, sullen, thiu and dejected. After busying herself over her domestic matters for a time, she shuddered and started, for the place seemed to oppress her with her loneliness. She went to the door and listened, wondering once more whether anyone was concealed below. There was plenty of room in one of the old wine cellars, and the places so distant, that a prisoner might be there for months unheard.

She knew too that her father went clown below regularly night and morning, and a feeling for the wretch hidden there came over her so strongly that she felt ready to go and try and set him at liberty.

'But it might injure him,' she thought to herself, and shivering with a nervous fear she crept to her old seat in the window sill, where a little sunshine struggled down between the close tall warehouse and played for a time round the scarlet blossoms and richly green sootspeckled leaves of a geranium that she tended with such care, and often placed in the room when she heard hirr coming, in the faint hope that some day he might notice it and ask her for the flower for his button hole.

She sat wistfully cazitig down, with the ether-like scent of the oranges rising from the narrow lane below, and watched one corner wliere she had often seen him conic. But time wore on, the afternoon came, and there was no sign, and her heart seemed to sink with dread.

' He has been taken,' she moaned ; and then her lips parted, and she began to tremble, for below where she was watching she saw a dog trot round the corner, and her eyes dilated as she waited to see the master follow, but waited in vain.

Joby trotted up to the door, found it fast, and then crossed the road, to seat himself in the open doorway of a warehouse, stare about him and utter a low bark.

Midge left the window and crept softly downstairs, shuddering as she glanced back at the gloomy opening that led to the basement. Then opening the door, she admitted the dog, which looked up at her, whining and licking her hands, till she knelt down beside him, and the rough neck that had been encircled by Clare Denver's soft rounded arms, and the big knobbly forehead that had received her kisses, were now' caressed by the Midge's thin bony fingers and hot fevered lips. The dog seemed to like them just the same, and replied with a lick or two, before suddenly seeming to recollect something, for he threw up his head, sniffed two or three times, barked, and then, struggling to get away, he ran to the head of the basement stairs, and turned round and barked.

The Midge's heart began to beat. The dog was going to penetrate the mystery. She could go now, for she would not be alone, and running hastily up the stairs, she lit a candle and ran down to find the dog waiting. She hesitated for a moment only, for her dread was now lest her father should return ; but feeling strung up sufficiently to venture, she followed the dog down the stairs, holding the candle high above her head as she reached the black passage with its dark odour of wet earth.

The dog ran right into the front kitchen, but dashed out directly, through the back, and then on into the cellars beyond, trotting down a long tunnel-like place where rotten old wood-stands stood here and there, and mouldering brickwork that had once bore wine casks, while dreading to be left alone, the Midge followed. Joby stopped twice to look round and bark, and the second time, as the girl held up the candle, it seemed to be at the end of the tunnel-like cellar, but on getting nearer, she found that another similar cellar went off at right angles, and down here, without a moment's hesitation, the

dog ran. The Midge paused and tried to picrce the darkness, but could only see, depending from the once white-washed arched roof, festoons of black cobwebs, smoke marks on the ceiling, bright glistening patches of damp where water was oozing through, and beneath her feet, damp, rotten sawdust.

It was enough to try stronger nerves than those of a sickly girl, especially as she expected to come face to face with some massive oaken door, within which she should hear feeble appeals for mercy as soon as the prisoner saw her light.

For she argued that there would bo a 'smaller cellar somewhere, strongly fastened up, and that the prisoner would see the gleaming of her light through the cracks and key hole, as she once did when locked up by way of punishment years before,

A sharp bark and the knowledge of the dog's companionship roused her, and she went cautiously along a second tunnel similar to tho first, to find Joby again waiting ready, as soon as she readied him with the light, to plunge through a narrow opening into a fresh cellar. Here the Midgo paused, for at her feet was a. little patch of the lime she had seen in the kitchen, and now her heart bogau to beat more quickly than before.

But she had gone too far to retrace her steps without knowing more, and, holding her light before her, she peered in through tho opening, to sec what was apparently quite a small cellar, tho entry to which was narrow and jagged with brickwork, as if a way bad been broken through after the cellar had been walled up. Sho crept through with her dress brushing tho sides, and there, in the middle of the damp place whose walls were like catacombs with the bins, was .Toby whining and growling, as with all his might he was tearing up the sawdust and earth which seemed to be whitened with lime.

For a few moments the Midge stood with lips apart and throat dry watching the dog, the candle held high above her head, and her eyes dilated as she strove to grasp the whole of the interior and at the same tiriie realise what it meant.

' Oh, this is too horrible,' she moaned, and her senses began to reel. She dropped the candle, which burned for a moment on the black sawdust, aiid thou went out choked in its own grease. Then all seemed to pass away, and she fell helpless upon the floor.

CHAPTER XIX. . " WHO SAYS THAT I HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED." The waking of Mi dare' Balass from her swoon was an incident that time could never eradicate from her memory. For awhile she was only conscious of it being very dark, and that there was a strange whining, panting noise eroing on, close by where she lay on something soft. Then her hands closed upon the damp sawdust, and almost the same moment a shower of the same was scattered over her as the worker whined and snuffled and scratched away with all his might. What did it mean ? Where was she ?

They were questions she could not answer, for her brain felt numbed in the intense darkness, and she pressed her hands to her forehead, feeling that she must be in bed and that this was some terrible dream, such as she used to have when quite a child, and left alone night after night, to lie shivering in the dark, afraid to move, and cry herself to sleep, or lie awake, just as the case might be, for there was none to heed.

Just then there was a short, sharp, angry bark, and all came back with a bound. She was in the far cellar—in tho dark —sho had conic to see if there really was a prisoner—and —yes, there was, but he was dead, and the dog was scattering earth and sawdust over her as he tore away to get up the body of tho buried man.

The Midge's brain reeled again, and her senses nearly left her, but she strove to master tho deathly sick sensation, and struggled up to her knees. ' Hero—come here,'she said, hoarsely, as her hand came in contact with the candlestick, and aa a fresh horror caine upon her, slie rose to her feet and felt about for the wall.

The dog 1 ceased scratching as slie spoke, and a dead silence ensued, while the girl found the wall and felt her way along, stopping oncc, though, and uttering a loud shriek as something touched her, and once more tho candlestick fell from her trembling hands. What is it ? her distempered imagination asked. Had the dead been freed from his earthly shroud, and had he, as he lay there, made a clutch at her legs ? Yes, it must be. Horror of horrors ! What should she do ?

Sho clung to tho wall, shrieking with all her might, for in her imagination she could see close to hor feet the roughlyopened grave, the ghastly, earth-stained body of tho murdered man, and there plainly enough were his outstretched hands clutching at her to stay her as if imploring her help. She drove her nails into the soft wall nnd tore at it, for once again she was seized by her skirts, and dragged at hard.

It was more than she could bear, and, overcome by the horror of her situation, her reason was ready to rock upon its seat, when as she was dragged at again, there arose a smothered growling bark, and she knew that it was the dog who had seized her dress, and upon whom as she bent shivering down her haud nowrested.

Almost beside herself still, she dropped clown and felt for the candle, then guiding herself by touching the wall, she felt her way along, her feet sinking in the soft earth and sawdust till her hand touched the jagged edge of the opening, and she stepped out into the second long cellar. Here all was still so dark that she had to feel her way by the wall, stumbling against loose brickwork and hurting herself, till, how she never knew, she passed into the next tunnel almost ready to go down upon her knees and crawl. But now a faint reflection in the distance greeted her eyes, and she staggered towards it, getting at last into the first cellar, and then passing the kitchens, ever glancing back fearfully till she reached the stairs.

It took her last strength to struggle up here and into the room she occupied, where she sank down before the fire sobbing hysterically for the time. As the ' paroxysm passed off though, and she grew more calm, it was to find Joby sitting by her with his red tongue out, panting and apparently quite at his ease, but she shuddered as she saw that his paws were whitened, and this drew her attention to her own dress, which had stains of lime upon it here and there.

Trembling lest her father should return and be aware of the secret she had discovered, she busied herself with removing the marks from herself and the dog, ending by a great effort, as it was growing towards evening, by going down stairs and. closing the door which led to the cellars, and the unseen horrors which made her heart beat painfully even now. Her heart beat so violently, that upon reaching the sitting-room she was glad to sit down upon the floor and hold the dog closely to her for companionship, the faithful beast whining and nestling closer to her as she talked to him, her unstrung nerves making her start every moment and glance timorously towards the door, while the sounds that came through the open window were greeted eagerly as something that linked her with the outer world. It was getting dusk, and still her father did not return, and it was with a feeling of horror which she could not control that she thought of the darkness, and the long night to come.

The dog began to grow uneasy now, struggling from her detaining arms, and going to the door as if asking to be set at liberty ;'but she coaxed him back to her side with food, and then talked to and caressed him till he settled down beside her with his great head in her lap, and lay blinking up at her as she listened lor the coming step of her father, or that of him who filled so large a portion of her thoughts.

At last, just as she was giving way to the despair that filled her breast, there was a slight noise below j Joby leaped up

and uttered ii short sharp back ; there was a quick step upon the stairs, and the door opened to admit a dusty figure that she for the moment did not recognise. Her heart prompted the idea that he was the bearer of ill-news respecting bini she hoped to see ; but the uext_ moment it gave a joyous throb as, throwing down a pair of spectacles, and passing his band through his hair, the new-comer divested himself of the botanist's case he carried, and smiled as the girl ran towards him, forgetful of everything but her delight at his escape, as, flinging her arms round his neck, she nestled closely to lain, exclaiming, ' Back at last. He said you had been taken.' ' Why, Midge, little maid, you did not know me,' he said. 'There, sit down, little lass, sit down. I'm tired,out.' He spoke to her in about the. same tone that he would have used towards the dog, but she did not heed it. only drew back smiling with pleasure and watching his face. ' Shall I—shall I get you something— some tea ?' 'Tea, no,' he said sharply. 'Some brandy and water.' He threw himself into a chair, and the girl hastened to get the bottle, glass, and some water, pouring out the spirit herself, and contriving that her hand should brush his as he took the glass, when she remained by his side ready to hasten and do his next bidding. For in spite of the share he had had in the tragedy she believed to have been enacted below, his .coming .had chased away all thoughts of her late dread, and with quickened pulses she listened for his next words.

' Where is your father ?' he said, sharply. 'He has gone clown there,' she siid, quickly. • 'There? Where?' he said. The Major came in and ;told him that you were taken, and he started this morning, saying he should go down.' 'The Major is a tool, Midge,' he said, contemptuously. ' Yes,' she said, nodding her head and smiling. ' You think he is a fool, do yon ?' he cried, laughing ; and then, with a quick movement, lie threw.his arm round her her and drew her to his side. 'Yes,' she said, flushing with pleasure. 'He is not like you. I hate him.' ' Then you don't hate me, Midge?' he said, smiling as he held the slight form tightly and prisoned her hands. ' No,' she said in a low sweet voice, as with gently throbbing heart, Bbe turned her great lustrous eyes softly and timorously down towards his, and sighing with pleasure she was bending towards him in answer to his caress, when hor whole aspect changed as she read the meaning of his contemptuous smile. In a moment she had bounded from him, and was standing a couple of yards away. 'You are mocking me,' she cried, bitterly. 'I? Not I, little maid,' ho said, raising the glass again to his lips. 'Oh no, Midge, you and I are going to be married some day, ch ? What a glorious wedding it will make.' The girl writhed at his mocking laugh and turned from him, titling to the heart, but fighting hard to make her pride have the mastery over her weakness, while he coolly took out a cigar, lit it, and eat smoking without seeming to be aware oi her presence. ' When did that brute of a dog come 1' ho said, suddenly, and as he spoke J oby went up to him and laid his head upon his knee, making him shudder. 'He came this afternoon,' said the Midge hoarsely, for now flashed upon her the recollection of his acts.

' So they thought I was taken, eh ?' he said, quietly. 'No, little Midge, they did not take me, and it is just as well that they did not, for I cannot be spared.'

The Midge made no reply, whilo the vmuig man cat on smoking and apparently enjoying the rest, till the sound of a key in the door below made both the wcc.iipanhs of the room lieten attentively, and the next minute Balass and the Major, both looking tired and anxious, entered the room.

'My dear boy!' cried the former, throwing down his blue bag on the table. ' I did not expect this.'

' Why, how did you manage to get away ?' exclaimed the Major. ' Bah ! I need not take the trouble to explain,' said the Gentleman. ■ 'I am here. Is that enough r'

'Next to liavinir succeeded, yes,' said the young man, fiu.-hing. ' Why, the Major here snid" — ' Bah'l what matters what the Major said ?' exclaimed the young man, tapping his pocket. 'I found what I went down for yes, and something more,' he added to himself, and rising, Balass hastily lit another candle and the party adjourned below, the dot? being called down, and directly after Midge heard the front door closed on the patient animal. 'He hates me,' she cried to herself, passionately, 'because I am plain and deformed. He mocks at me and treats me as if I were some plaything. Oh, why am I not dead ? Why am I not dead ? I can bear this life no longer,'

She looked at herself in the glass for the thousandth time, and then struck her plain face, asking in her bitterness of heart why God had sent her on earth so imperfect and ill-formed. 'Why am I not dead?' she moaned again, as she threw herself in her seat with her face wrinkled, and the look of a woman of thirty in her troubled brow, while she writhed in her agony of spirit; and seemed ready to set her teeth fast in ' the arm she placed against her lipis. Then she started, for the door was opened, and her father came in to unlock a desk and take out a little key.

' Your bed time, Midge,' he said, harshly. 'Off at once.' The girl left the room quietly and went to her wretched chamber, pausing for a moment or two, with her hand upon the carpet, ready to remove it; but she refrained. 'No,' she said, softly. 'I know too much already. It is enough that lam not alone here to-night. I will look no more.' 9 She threw herself upon the bed, dressed as she was, and in spite of her fears of a wakeful night, she was so exhausted by the day's proceedings that she fell asleep directly, dreaming rosy dreams that, she was growing beautiful, and that the Gentleman had asked her to be his wife.

CHAPTER XX. THE CANINE RIVALS- ' How a young lady as calls herself a young lady can bcmean herself by making a pet of a low-bred ill-looking dog like that, I can't think,' said Mr Robins, laying himself out for a speech in the servant's hall. 'That's a nice enough little tarrier as Sir Grantly Wilters brought, but she won't have none of that, but leaves it to her ladyship.' 'Yes,' said a footman, 'and a nice mess is made, with sops and milk and cutlets all over the carpet.' 'Thomas,' said the butler with dignity, 'it is not the place of a young man like you in livery to find fault with the acts of your superiors. Servants as do such things never rises to be out of livery.' ' Tlianky, sir,' said Thomas, who, being a young man of a lively imagination and much whiskers, turned his head,

squinted horribly at an under housemaid, and made her giggle. ' Such a dog as that ugly brute as comes brushing into the house every time the door is opened is only fit to go with a costennonger or a butcher.' ' Well, I'm sure, Mr Kobins,' said the cook, who, for reasons of her own had a weakness for tradesmen in the latter line, 'butchers are as good as butlers any day,' ' Perhaps they are, Mrs Smith, perhaps they are not,' said the butler with dignity; 'but what I say is, Mr Huish ought to have known better than ever to have brought such a beast into a gentleman's house.' ' That for your opinion, Mr Robins,' said Mademoiselle Justine, colouring up and snapping her fingers. ' I know what you think,' she said, in a high-pitched, excited voice. ' You think that.a lady should admire scented men in fine tailor's clothes and flowers, and win zeve leetle • wretched dogs. Bali ! Tish ! A woman loves the big and ugly and ster—r—r— rong. She can be weak and beautiful herself. Is it not so, my friends? Yes.' 'Mademoiselle Justine shook her head, tightened her lips, and with sparkling eyes looked round the table, ending with heightened colour and patting her little bottine upon the floor.

' Well, that dog's ugly enough anyhow," said Mr Kobins, smiling faintly, and making a second chin above his cravat. " As for that Mr Huish"

" All, hah ! stop you there," cried Mademoiselle Justine. "I dn not say he is ugly, but he is big and strong and has broad shoulders. He is all a man—tout-a-fa.it —all a—quite a man."

There was another sharp burst of nods and jerks at this.

' You think, you, that my young lady will'marry this Sir Wilters? That for him. He is a man for the Maison Dieu or the Invalides. He marry ! Ha, ha, ha ! I could blow him out myself. Poof? He is gone."

Mademoiselle Justine blew some imaginary bit of Huff from her fingers as she spoke, apparently shook her head into a kind of notch or catch in the spine, and then sat very upright and very rigid, while the butler said grace and the party broke up.

Lunch had been over in the dining room some time, and her ladyship was going out for a drive. Clare had again declined, and her ladyship had stnilc-d, knowing that Sir Grantley Wilters would probably call. Her ladyship was wonderfully made up and looked her bust, for Monsieur Hector Lnunay, from Upper Gimp-street, had had au interview with her that morning. There had been a consultation on freckles, and a large mole which troubled her ladyship's chin had been condemned to death, executed with some Ponsion acid, and its funeral performed and mourning arranged with a piece of black court plaster, which now looked like a beauty spot upon the lady's chin. Her gloves, of the sweetest pearl grey, fitted her plump hands to perfection, and she was quite ready for the carriage. ' Where is your papa, dear Clare ?" said her ladyship, stooping to smell a bouquet. "Ah me, how sweet. How kind Sir Grantley is, and what taste he has in flowers."

' Papa is in the library/' said Clare, quietly, and she glanced nervously towards the door.

" Come then, a sweet," cried her ladyship; " and he shall go and have a nice ride in the carriage, ho shall, and look down and bark at all the dirty dogs in the road."

As she showed her second best teeth in a large smile, the little terrier took it to be a challenge of war, and displayed his own pigmy set; but after a due amount of coaxing, and the gift of a lump of sugar, he permitted himself to be caught and placed beneath her ladyship's plump arm, presenting to a spectator who had a side view a little head cocking out in front, and a little tail cocking out behind —nothing more. ' I shall bo back by five, I dare say, Clare. If Renee calls, ask her to stay. Where is that girl Tryphie ?' ' I ani here, aunt, quite ready," said a cheerful voice, and the bright little girl appeared at the door. 'You are not. quite ready: you have only one glove on. Tryphie, you might pay some respect to those who find you a home and protection,"

The girl coloured slightly but made no answer, only exchanged glances with Clare and kissed her hand to her.

' Dear nie!" exclaimed her ladyship, " where did I put my flacon ? Oh, I remember."

She marched in a stately manner with the roll of a female beadle or an alderman in his gold chain of office, to an Indian cabinet, opened a draper and inserted her hand.

" Why, what is this !" she exclaimed, drawing out something whitey brown and throwing it down with an ejaculation of annoyance. " Disgusting !" " I declare your papa grows insufferable," cried her ladyship. "His brain must be softening, I shall consult Dr. Stonor about him."

Certainly it was very annoying, for her ladyship's pearly grey Parisian glove had a broad brown smear of osmazome across it, and all due to Lord Anthony's mag-pie-like trick of hiding scraps of food away for future consumption, in Indian cabinets and china jars, and then forgetting the cache he had made. Mademoiselle Justine was summoned, a fresh pair of gloves obtained and put on with the maid's assistance, by which time the doa: had finished the bone, and probably in his own tongue, being a wellbred animal, said a grace and blessed Lord Anthony. Then he was once more taken up, and bis mouth and paws wiped by Justine on one of her ladyship's clean handkerchiefs; Tryphie nodded a good-bye to her cousin, to whom she had hardly dared to speak, and then followed her ladyship down stairs. Clare rose, trembling and in dread lest something she feared should occur, for her ladyship was later than usual in going out, and this was a Wednesday, which day was sacrcd to the canine post. In fact as Clare heard the steps of the carriage rattled down with a great deal of noise—her ladyship encouraged hor servants to bang them down well, for it lot tho neighbours know she kept a earriago and was going out—there was a pattering of feet, and as she opened the door, <) oby came trotting in, with his great eyes full of animation, and tho constant smile in which he indulged a little broader. ' Good dog, then !' whispered Glare ; and then her heart seemed to stand still, for the carriage did not drivo off, there was a rustling of silks on the stairs, and he ladyship came panting up. Clare threw herself, colouring vividly, into a bergisre chair, and Joby dived under the couch, not leaving so much as the point of his tail visible as hor ladyship sailed into the room and looked hastily round.

' Clare,' she cricd 'there is some mystery here. I insist 011 knowing what this means.'

There was no reply but Trypliio came in, and darted a. sympathetic glanco at the poor girl, mentally wishing that Tom were in.

' I —in—-sist upon knowing what this means.'

' What, mamma ?' said Clare, huskily.

' That dog ; where is he r Mr Huish's hideous wretch, llcre, 1 dog, dog, dog' " she cried.

She might have called until she was speechless, for Joby would not have moved. All tho same, though, he was to bo stirred, for hor ladyship, now in u

towering passion, get down the toy terrier upon a chair, when it immediately leaped to tho carper, barking furiously, and made a dead seat at the Rofa. > •It is there ! You have hidden the wretch there !' cried her ladyship, ' and I am certain that that dog has been made the bearer of clandestine correspondence. I have read of such things. But there's an end to it now, and it is only just and fit, false, abandoned girl ! —that it should be discovered by the faithful little dog of the gentleman who is to be your husband. Good little dog, then, to protect your master's interests. Fetch him out, then.' This was rather unwise o f her ladyship, but she was excited, and she excited the little terrier in turn, for ho had contended himself up to this time with snapping and barking furiously at the chintz curtain pendant from the sofa, and keeping about a yard distant, as he leaped up with all four feet from the carpet at once and came clown barking. Encouraged though by her ladyship he went a little closer, barking and snarling so furiously that Joby could not contain himself any longer, but softly pushed his short black nose and one eye beneath the chintz, had a look at the noisy intruder, and then withdrew once more. ' There, I knew it,' cried her ladyship, angrily. ' Oh, Clare, Clare, Clare, shame on you, shame, shame! Good little dog, then! Drive him out'!" The terrier barked again furiously, and glanced up at h<?rladyship, who again uttered words of encouragement. Sir Grnnt.ley Witters gave fifteen guineas for that dog, and another for his morocco and silver collar ! ' iJrivo him out, then, good little dosr!' cried her ladyship, and with a fierce rush, the terrier ran under tho sofa. There was a sharp bark, a bit of a scuffle, a worrying noise, a loud j'elp cut suddenly in half, and then, frowning severely, Joby crept Out from the foot of the sofa, with his neck swollen up, his eyes glowering, and the limp corpse of the wretched terrier hanging from his mouth. It was all plaiu enough—that invisible tragedy beneath the chintz. The terrier had fastened upon one of Joby's cheeks with his keen little teeth, and made it bleed, when, with a growl, the big dog had shaken his assailant off, caught him by the back, and given him a shake like a rat, and the terrier's head, four leers, and tail hung down together. Sir Grantley Wilter's fifteen guineas were represented now by some inanimate skin and bone. It was all over ! ' Oh, this is dreadful !" cried her ladyship, as with a cry of horror, Clare made for the dog. But no : Joby was amiability itself at times and well educated ; still, rouse the dog that was in him, and his obstinate breed began to show. Clare called, but ho took no notice, only walked solemnly about the room with his vanquisKed enemy in his mouth. ' He'll kill it—he'll kill it,' cried her ladyship, rising, but not daring to approach ; and just then Tom entered the room. ' Oh, Tom, Tom, quick !' cried her ladyship. ' What's the row ?' said Tom, ( eh? Oh, I say, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha ! what a jolly lark !' and he slapped his leg and roared with laughter. 'Tom !' shrieked her ladyship. 'That's just about how Jack Huish could serve Witters,' cried Tom, wiping his eyes. ' For shame, Tom !' cried her ladyship. 'Pray, pray save the poor dog.' ' What for ?' said Tom, grinning, 'to be stuffed ?' ' Oh, don't say it's dead,' said her ladyship. ' I won't, if you don't wish me to say so,' said Tom, ' but it is as dead as a door nail. Here, Joby, Joby,' he cried, walking up to tho dog. But there was a low growl and Joby hung his head, glowered, and walked to ihe far end of the drawing room, seeming to take pleasure in making his journey as long as he could in and out amongst chairs and tables, giving Tom, who followed him significant hints that it would not be safe to interfere with him at .such a time.

' There, let's open the door, and he'll go,' said Tom. ' Oh, 110 no, Tom,' cried her ladyship. Sir Grantley's present.' Just then the dog seemed to have satisfied his anger upon his rival, and crossing the room to where Clare sat trembling in her chair, he dropped the defunct terrier at her feet, and stood solemnly wagging his tail as if asking for praise. ' Ring the boll, Tryphie,' said hc;r ladyship. • All right,' said Tom, forestalling her, and Robins came up with stately stride. ' Take this down, Robins,' said lier ladyship, with a shudder. The butler looked ineffably disgusted, but he merely turned upon his heel, strode out of the room, and returned at the end of a minute or two with a silver salver and a napkin, picked up the sixteen guineas with the latter, placed it upon tho former, covered it with the damask, and bore the dead dog solemnly out, Joby following him closely, as if turning himself into chief mourner, and then seeing tho hall door open trotting slowly out. ' That I should have lived to be the mother of such—'

Her ladyship did not finifh her sentence but rose with dilating eyes, made a sort of heavy rush and bound across the room, pounced upon something and began eagerly to inspect it, tearing open a little narrow packet and extracting a note.

Poor Joby! lie did not mean to be so faithless to his trust, but his excitement consequent upon the attack had made the muscles of his throat swell to such a degree that his collar fastening had snapped, and the collar witli its valuable missive had fallen upon the carpet, while poor Clare had sat wondering where it had frolic. ' Yes, of course,' said her ladyship, sarcastically. ' Well, that trick is detected,' she cried, viciously tearing up the note. ' Letters sent by a dog, by one of the vilest of the vile ; and this, Tom, is the man you called your friend.' ' Oh, Aunt, pray bo silent,' cried Tryphie, running to her cousin's side. ' Clare has fainted.'

(To be continued.)

I'ovkkty is in want of much, but avarice of everything.—PuDlius Syrus. l.'ASSiiNGiia (in second-class): 'I've got into the wrong carriage.'—Ticket Inspector (sternly) : ' The difference must be paid!'—•Passenger (triumphant): 'Oli, just so ! Then I'll trouble you for three shillings—l've a first-class ticket !' Gkorgk Dawson told a story of a Gloucestershire peasant's heroic curse. He had wrestled for along time with a very tough piece of oak, on which he had been unable to make an impression, and at last burst out with the imprecation, ' Cuss the pigs that didu!t eatj-hee when thou was a acorn '!' The conjuror, was getting 1 along famously, until he came to his great trick of all. He made a marked half-crown disappear from a lady's handkerchief, and three minutes later on, pointed to a man at the back of the hall, and exclaimed :— ' The 'arf crown, ladies and gents, will bo found in the right 'and trouser pocket of that gentleman.' All eyes were turned towards the man, who rose and extended his hand, in which were several copper coins. When the magician approached, the man observed : 'Here, sir, is your change. I've had two bitters and a cigar out of that half-crown you so kindly entrusted to my charge a bit ago.'