Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

THE 0[ MIR CUFFS. An Autobiography. By’RhettBTVlimood, Author of ‘Nobody's Wife,' Mar - - ■ 'The mute Spec The riage Bond,' 'Ethel lire erne," 'The White Spectre 'Sweetheart and Wife,’ ‘The Chilton Estate, Wronged lleiresst’ etc., etc. CHAPTER XXI. TJE DARK mUR. Nobo'lv came nigb me nDtil the next day. H >w I rasRed the Iodb hours of silence and dirtiness, it wonld he vain for me to attempt to tell Worts are too weak to depic' the tortnres I endured before the gloomy, never-ending night wore away. , , It was Rose who brought up my breakfast She pusned thetrsy inside the doer, paused an ids'ant to thrust in her head with a grin, and a fi -rce gleam of triumph in her eyes as she stare f fix-dlv at me fora moment—then closed and locked the door again. I could see that the girl hated me. I know now she was jealous because R'cbard V nn had paid me some attentions: and I think no other mortal can be half so malignant, so utterly cru el and merciless as a jealous woman who has no firmly rooted principles to restrain her passion. Clearly, there was nothing to be gained by an appeal to Rose. Susan kept away from my room—whether from choice cr io obedience to the commands of her superiors. I had no means of judging. The hardest part of my burden at this period, was the uncertainty that enveloped the futes of of Lottie and Tressy. That they had been removed from Cedarcliffs was certain. But whether Mrs. Vann had told the truth or a falsehood when she declared they bal been ta ken to a hoarding-school, was still a question in my mind. If ihey had been harmed, I felt T should never know another peaceful moment. They had been consigned to my care, as a second charge, by one I now mourned as dead. I had promised to shield them, to guard them from all ill. And how had T kept that sacred vow? You will say I was uo* to blame for what had happened. Possibly! But might I not have w itched more faithfully, more diligently? I had seen we were in a den of wolves. Surely I ought to have protected the two wee lambs of the fl ick, with my eyes so opened to the dan gers that surrounded us! 1 felt as if I had broken my word with the dead. Over and over 8gain I recalled that in the library when Col. Eanshawe had spoken of the children with such deep agitation. They say that some men, when near to death, have a her. But I do not fancy having • her blood on my own bands.’ ‘Let her alone,' said Mrs Vann. ‘The danger is over. Dr. Stanley will not come again.’ She drew a deep breath of relief. ‘Come, Louise; come Louise,’ she added, and walked out of the room without looking at me again. Making a tremendous efi >rt to conquer that momentary faintness, I sprang up and rushed to the door, only to have it closed and locked in my face. I beat upon it like a madwoman. I prayed. I implored them to comeback, to let me out, to give me my fr.-edom. I ravid, ex postulated, and poured out a torrent of protes tations and promises. And at last when all these failed, I began to threaten. Threats, prayers, -entreaties, promises, were alike in vein; nobody ever took the trouble to reply to them. The door remained obstinately closed. D sisting at last from mere exhaustion, I tot tered to the window. It commanded only a small portion of the grounds— my loom was at t le rear of the house. I could see no living be ing—nought but the waving gress, the amphi theatre of trees, the skimming sheet of light that was the sea. I had often admired this very view; but now, how lonely all things were, how desolate and Ged-forsaken it appeared to my aching eyes! — Nr hope, no comtor: could be drawn from such a prospect. Pushing up the sash, I thrust my head over the sill. As I did so, there came a low ominous growl from below. Looking down, I saw a fe rocious bloodhound chained directly beneath the windov. He lifted his head, growled a sec ond tin e, and fixed upon me his bloodshotten eyes that had a wolfish glare in them, and snarled viciously. No need to ask why he was there! My sink ing heart told me at once the purpose he was to serve. With such a sentine' on guard, escape from the window, had I been foolhardy enough to attempt anything of the sort, was entirely out of the ques'ion. I closed the window and sat down. A great wave of despair seemed to surge up from some hidden gulf of woe, and overwhelm my very soul. There is little need to describe the nays that immediately followed. They were all alike, wretched beyond the power of words to express I saw nobody save Rosa. She brought my meals to me regu.arly, but never under any pre text whatever, addressed a word to me. What was going on in the house, right about me, I could only guees. Sometimes the mur mur of voices rtaohed my ears, but for the most part it seemed a silent as the tomb. And yeti knew that nobody had gone away For what were they waiting?-for of course they could not intend to live that way very long. Did they expect me to droop and die in the dreary room of which I was an enforced in mate? or had their calculations failed in some degree, and thus compelled them to linger till things were made right again?. For succor I had ceased io hope. Susan had deserted me—at least I thought so -and Dr Stanley had been put upon the wrong s lent 1 Who else in the wide world would have a clearer vis : on than their fellow-mortals Per haps even then, he had seen the shadow of this great trouble, and worked to secure, in me, a nrotecv.r for the dear innocents at this V6ry time of need. GoodgGod, how woefully I bad failed them! And here I was, imprisoned and helpless, un- ■ certain what had become of them, unable to move a step in their behalf! Such impotence was agony unendurable! This enervating train of thought was broken up in a manner wholly unexpected. Soon after midday, I was seated in an easy-chair by the pine woods.arjc^fiuat dreamily down thaj^hal ^t'an's'Kawe and Louis’ Remington. All three weTe pale and looked starngely ex cited. I arose in some perturbation. ‘What means this intrusion? I demanded.— ‘Though a pri°oner here, my private apartment should besac ed fr in unw-lcome visitors.’ Nobody answered me. I saw Mrs. Fanshawe glance once in my direc.ioa, as if afraid or ashamed to meet my eye fully, and then she bent her head to list n. Her face was quite pale, except for two scarlet spots on her cheeks. A moment of deep silence followed, which was broken by a sharp peal at the door bell, that seemed to echo like thunder through the honse. Significant glances were exchanged by the three intruders, and they all turned and looked at me, though still keeping near the door. Ter ror and perplexity had written lines upon all their faces. The next moment Mrs. Hulks glide* past the open dro - , and descended the stairs. The bolts were shot sharply back, and we heard her ask in a cold, collected voice: ‘Wbat’s wanted? Why do you come here, if I mav be so bold as to ask?' ‘Where is your master? I wish to see Colonel Fanshawe.’ It was D.\ Stanley’s voice! I knew it instant ly He had bipjsuspicions that all was not as it should be, perhaps, and he had come to prove or disprove them. I started impulsively forward, a lo» eager cry upon my lips. As I did so, Louis Remington and Mrs. Yann caught hold ot me, one on either side and the former held his hand firmly over my m >uth. •Silence! he hissed. ‘Be quiet, little fool, cr I swear I'll strangle you! I had to be quiet. I could not move or speak. I was almost s iffocated. A‘the same lime, Mrs. Hulks’ reply came to Dr. Stanley’s imperious question. ‘My master isn’t here. You can’t see him.’ ‘Where is he?’ ‘In New York. I thought he sent you word he was going.’ ‘He did.’ •Then why come troubling a poor old woman like me? You can see tor yourself that the house is closed, and nobody here to receive thought to spare for an insignificant mortal as mys -lf, even though she disappeared utterly as a brownie in some fairy-story? To be sure there was the dear little mother, who loved me as her own life, But she was watching and waiting and dreaming of mein the cunning ‘wren’s house’ so far away, utterly unsuspicious of danger. Weeks would elapse before sue would feel the need cf looking me up. By that time I might bo beyond the reach of helper — The thought was too terrible to follow out. I put it from me. •nus, i ar , j 't».e girl, 8 face gave me new life. I spra, r j,o the doorthe instant sheopened it and lifted my hands in wild appeal. •Sasan,’ I cried, ‘I thought you were my friend? Have you, too, goneover io the enemy? If not, pity me and save me from this living death?' She Icoked at me an instant, trembling all over; then quickly averted her face. ‘Don’t begin to palaver with me miss,’she said, in a cold hard voic c . ‘I know when I am well off and I ain’t going to get into trouble again for sympathizing with you. So you might as well be cool, miss, and take this as quietly as you can.’ She slammed the door in my face and retired Several hours later, the key turned in the lock, and Mrs. Yann entered. She came slowly up to me, her rich robes trailing along the floor with a noise like the hiss of a serpent. ‘Well. Marian,’ she said, with a sneer, ,how do you like solitary confinement by this time?' Her presence there, more still, her cool, exas perating tones, goaded me into a sort of f ury. I rose up and confronted her darkly, with a hot, angry longing to meet ana measure my strength with hers. ‘Yhu wicked old wretch,' I exolaimed, ‘why do you keep me here? Speak, for I will know.’ ‘I thought we had already discussed that sub ject until it was clear to you.’ ‘It is not clear to me. You are hiding some reason behind these you have admitted. You are afraid of me, madam! I saw it the first night I spent at Cedarclifih. Io what way have I or mine ever crossed your path? I had expected to see her moved by my words; but the extreme pallor that swept over her face filled me with amazement. ‘What do you mean? she hissed, with fl imein her fierce eyes. CHAPTER XXII. “COME, HASTE TO THE WEDDING. you. After a minute’s silence, Dr. Stanley said: ‘Waere are the other members of Col. Fan- shawa's family?' ‘They left, yesterday, to join my master in the city.’ ,And Miss Palgrave?’ 'She accompanied them.’ Oh, wi’h what spontaneous readiness lies seemed to spring to the wicked woman's lips. ‘I believe her friends live in New York.’ ’Who is in the house? 'Only one of the men servants, aid myself. Is that all you wish to,know, sir?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘I’m glad to hear it. G rod-day, sir.’ The door closed sharply. The bolts were slipped into their sockets and Mrs. Hulks came gliding up stairs again. A portion of this time I had been struggling to free mvself. In vain. I was powerless as a child in Louis Remington's grasp. I f.aght mvself weak and breathless, and the sense of suflfocition increased until all things swam con fusedly before my eyes. ‘Take care!' I heard Mrs. Fanshawe say, like one speaking in a dream, ‘You are strangling her.’ Mr. Remington released his grasp, pushed me violently toward the oouoh, crying with a deri sive laugh: ‘What do you mean?’ she repeated, seeing I did not reply at once. ‘P.ecisely what I say, Mrs. Yann. It has oc curred to me more than once, that you must have done me or mine s >me bitter wrong, long ago. I don’t know how, when, or why. But the feeling is there all the same. Perhaps you can account for it —I cannot.’ ‘It comes of your stupid folly,’ she answered, with a snee;r ‘and has no foundation save in your diseased mind.’ ‘You need not tell me that.’ ‘Well, if you will not believe me. you must fillow out your own bent,’ she said, angrily. ‘Much good it is likely to do you.’ •Yon will not tell me what I wish to know ?’ There was a moment’s hesitation, and then she replied: •No ! If any such thing as you imagine exist ed at all, I should not be so silly as to tell you of it. But you can think whatever you please. Let it pass. I eame to talk of something else. This is your wedding-day. Did you know it?’ ‘I looked at her io pale surprise. ‘My wedding day ?' Tes. You are to be married to-night. We have made all the arrangements, even to send ing away my maid. R >se Y-r’o me, who, for cer tain reasons of her owa, might have given us trouble.’ I stil stood staring at her b’ankly. For the moment her words had no meaning for my ears. ‘Little fool,’ she said, giving me a poke, ‘why are you so silent ? Are you not glad to be mar- riel?’ ‘I am not going to be married. I don’t know what you mean.’ ‘Ba‘ I say you are. Have ready your wed- i’hat would be the easiest way to get rid of din 8 finery. There must be no delay when the proper moment comes.’ ‘Perhaps,’ said I ‘since this matter is of so muoh moment to myself, you will kin-'ly tell me who is the expec‘»nt bridegroom ? ‘A* if you didn’c know! Who should it be but Dick ? I drew back a little, but, by a brave effort, re tained my self-possession. ‘I shall never marry Richard Yann, I would rather die!’ ‘Humph !" She glared at me quite wolfiihly. and hissed her own words between close-shut teeth. ‘Don’t think this marriage is my doings; I would rather see you a corpse at my feet than my son’s wife. But Richard is a fool—he will not listen to reasen—he thinks he loves yon. B ,h ! ‘I must yield to his f dly, no matter how bitter a pill he forces me to swallow.’ ‘I do not see the necessity of yielding. I dis like your son, and the thought of this marriage is odious to me.’ ‘You had better not oppose it,’she said, fierce ly. ‘It is your only chance for freedom Be sides. Dick is h indsome, and not a bal fell >w. Y >u ( u ;ht to be pleased with yoargoo 1 fortune,’ •But I am not D!e»8>d.’ ‘No matter. Tae marriage must take place, a’l the sam\ Y ju have beoom- 1 a dangerous pets mage, Marian Palgrave. You know too much! Yon can leave this house alive onlv as my son’s wife. We have too much at stak6. Y >u would ruin us.' 5 ' ‘Can I not take a solemn oath never to reveal anything I have discovered here?' She pause 1 to wipe the cold drops of mois‘- nre from her forehead. •Even then it wou d not bo safe to let you go Perhaps I had bet er be frank with you, after all. There is a secret in which your family aDd mine are mixed up. The secret, did you know it would put a fearful amount of power in your hands; and. lest you should discover it by acci dent, it is best you should marry Dick. Once his wife. I should not fear subsequent discov eries. You would scaroely betray your own hnF- band.’ •You little know me, if you think that,’ I said, with compressed lips. ‘Force this uncongenial marriage upon me, and I swear I will hang him, if I can possibly compass such an end !' ‘What a devj} you are! But I’m willing to risk the hangar jj S the least of two evils. Means can be foupd io restrain you if you are trouble some. I wish you were in a straight jacket, at tbii moment. Bnt then, I never was particu larly fond of you. You have meddled in my af fairs too ofte i for that ’ ‘So,’ said I, looking her straight in the eye, ‘you bear malfSbbeeanse I baulked your attempt to poison your daughter’s husband—do you?’ A livid pallor swept over her face, giving place instantly to a look of fury that altered it almost beyond recognition. •Curse you ! she shrieked, quite beside her self. ‘Your tongue is too free ! This brazen audacity shall bA taken out of you, miss ! Mark that!’ So saying, she moved slowly towards the door, with an expression of sullen defiance in her eyes, and left me. Slowly the Hours of that awful day wore on Night fell, atSlast, and more tortnresome hours went by, and at length there was a sudden bus tle in the house, and Mrs. Vann made her ap pearance, a second time, at my door. Now she was suave, smooth, smiling. Nit a trace of the agitation in which she bad left me, could be found in her placid features. What!’ she exolaimed, glancing at my dress, which was the same I had wora through the day, have you not begun your toilet?' ‘I have no toilet to make,’ I answered. •Bat the pries^ is here, and Dick waits impa tiently fq* hjf f Le‘Je.’ ‘He m'kts^jrlro* 9 as I am,-if he takes me at a ^' * r ^ed upf\mp, T , n t drop the mask of cheer- i’icSa ri'n rf'oc tgte ii-.d assumed. ' v •As you please, of o inrse. It will save a world of trouble not to dre-s for the ocoasion, onlv most women are not willing to forego that priv- j ilege. Come- take my arm, if you are ready.’ I'm not ready-I never shall be. Let the farce end here, Mrs. Yana. No priest living would marry me to your sin, a ainst my will.' At the words, a cruel sneer showed itself through the surfaoe polish. 'My priest will,’ she sail. ‘Come—they are waiting for us. Something in her face toll me it would be fol ly to resist. With, I scarcely know what des perate purpose forming itself in my mind, I suf fered her to lead me from the apartment, down the gloomy corridor, to Mrs. Hulk's room, which was brilliant with light. . Within, alreaiy a little group had a sembled. Mrs. Fanshawe, looking quite pale and fi lr- ried, stood near the door, leaning udou Louis Remington’s arm. Beyond the pai s ood Rich ard Vann; and beyond Richard, on a silken couch brought in fort ieoccas on, sat Mrs. Hulks while a stranger, robed as a priest, reclined among the cushions at her side. A'l eyes were turned expectantly npon me as I entered. There was a brief silence. Theo Richard, his face all aglow with triumph and rapture, advauoed and attempted to soizt my hand. ‘Welcome, sweet bride,’ he whispered. I recoiled from him, battling bravely with the fierce terror that throbbed at mv heart. ‘Wait! I cried, in a loud voice ‘Waitun’ill learn if there is nor some one here who can feel pity for a helpless girl, and help to save her from a fate worse than death,’ I looked sieadf. s ly at ihe priest. He cowered and changed color under my g.ize, but male oe movement to interfere. He had a coarse, sen sual-looking countenance which betrayed little of that true manliness, so noble and so God-like that it seems to possess a saving grace of its own A second dead silenoe followed the utterance of those bold words. Richard glanced at his sister appealingly, and as if in response to that glanoe, Mrs. Fanshawe approached, reluctantly, as it seemed to me and touched my arm. ‘Marian, b6 quiet,’ she whispered. ‘I beg of you not to make a scene. It will do you no good and you are certain to regret it if you do.' •ThiDk you I will tamely submit to have a husband forced upon me? I answered back in low, fierce ton- s. ‘Hush ! Dick loveB yon, and affection begets a return in kind. You will outlive your pres ent repugnance. To be his wife is not so bad r fate as you seem to imagine. I fully believe you can make anything of him you choose, such is his infatuation for you—even a respectable member of society.’ The sarcasm ot her last words was quite lost upon me. I turned away, blind, bewildered, heart-sick. At this moment Richard again approaohed. ‘We have no time to waste,' he said, frown ing. ‘The ceremony must proceed.' Seizing my ice-cold hand in his, he led me forward. For the moment I felt so stunned, so benumbed I could offer no resistance. I re member nothing tha‘ followed very distinctly. I only know that a sudden commotion ensued, that I woke up as if ont or a lethargy and found myself standing at Richard’s side, before the priest, who had risen to meet us. Deliberately clearing his throat, the priest be gan the marriage ceremony. Scarcely a dozen words had been uttered, however, when the room door, which Mrs. Yann had closed care fully when we entered, was pushed open, aBd Rose Yerlorme dashed into the apartment. She was pale as death, her bonnet half off, her hair dishevelled and hanging down her back, the flimsy muslin dress she had on all wet and bedraggled with dew, as if she had walked a long distance, through the solemn, si lent night. , ‘I have come just i- time have I ?' said sbe, sending a quick, fierce glance all round the room tha* s emed to take in and comprehend -vnrrthinu instantly. ‘That is well - for me, and for others.’ H-r last words w ^re meant to be menacing. Richard ehrnnk from my side in slow recoil. The angry crimson of shame and mortification surged hotly over bis face as he turned to con front the intruder. If a glance could kill, she would have been stricken dead at his feet. Profound silence fell. It lasted only an in stant, however. Richard again possessed him self of my hand which he bad suffered to slip from bis grasp in the firs* moment of consterna tion. and sa : d to the i r est, who stood mute and motio ih s: as a statue : ■Wbv are you waiting? Let the oeremony proceed ’ R >se, still pale as death, with her eyes burn ing like two balls of fire, and a scarlet spot on either cheek, came resolutely up to ns. ‘The ceremony shall not proceed,’ she said. ‘Who will prevent it?' ‘I will!’ Richard turned his flushed face toward the spot where Mrs. Y inn stood, and their glances met.. B ’th mother and son betrayed considera ble uneasiness. ‘How unfortunate !' muttered the former. Rise enu ;ht the words and repeated them with a fierce intonation. •What is unfortunate?' she demanded. ‘That I arrived in time to prevent this marriage? Humph ! I suppose you thought you were well rid of me when you sent mo to E'siDO e to spend the day and night. Yon meant to have the pretty affair all over before I could get back again. Bat I suspected your motives, thank heaven, and back I came to-night.’ Mrs Yann here approached a step or two nearer, with an uglv look upon her face. ‘You're a fool, Rose,’ she hissed. 'Stand aside. This marriage in no wise concerns yon.’ ‘It does concern me, malam! Did you, or did Richard think I was a wax»n image, a senseless doll, to be deceived and cheatel and wheedled to the top of your bent ? No. I have a mind of my own and a will of my own. R ch ard made love to me long before ho ever knew that pale mouse of a thing yonder and has promised over and over again to make me his wife. Ne other woman shall ever nsnrp my place. I claim tbe fulfillment of his word.’ It woul 1 be imposs'ble to describe the horri ble vebemeoce of the tone in whioh these words were uttered. R >se looked like some dreadful M -S’aliua as she stood there confronting us all, with her white face, quivering lips. aEd a sul- lsn glare of defiance in her eyes. I think even Mrs. Yann trembled a little, for she began, faintly: ‘Surely you must know a man in his position wonld never stoop to wed a girl in yours —’ •Not a word, if you please,’ interrupted Rose. ‘Argument would be useless in this ease. No earthly power could induce me to give him up. Besides, if I W9re w iling to do so, it is now too late beoanse—because—’ She stopped, caught her breath sharply and a vivid blush swept over her face. I saw Mrs. Vmn’s countenance ohange. But there was no pity, no relenting in it. There was only rage and surprise at thn girls extraor dinary bol Iness Indeed I was at a loss to com prebend it myself. ■Shameless creature,’ she began, in a shrill raised voice. ‘Hash ! inte-rupted Rose again. ‘Take oare what terms you apply to me. for you may compelled to retract them. I knew the ground I stand on. If this marriage is allowed to pro seed, I swear that 1 11 Kiava my reveDge npon i, i V.” u x ~ * -ead far and t.hp) story who. has been going in ibis housel an( j tb is hot all. T6 the rest.'xwfl add a^lt of prs. cions soandal I found out while looking over Mrs Fanshawe's desk, one day. Ha, ha! 7 don t think any one of you would be in an en viable position then ! The malice and exultation that rang in the woman’s voice were indescribable. Mrs. Fan shawe staggered a step fjrward, she had grown deaily pale. ‘My G >d !' she gasped. ‘Tais must not be. Silenoe her at whatever cost!' Mrs. Yann glanced at her, quiokly and search ingiy. ‘What does she mean, Lonise?’ ‘I can’t tell you now, mother. I won’t tell you ! Bat R >«e can ruin me, and she knows i ‘Yes,’ said Rose, ‘I can ruin you.’ ‘Wait!’ exclaimed Louis Remington, who had been silent till that moment. ‘The case is no so bad as it looks. We’ve got the girl here, in our power. It wil be strange if we can’t fiad moans effectually to curb her cursed tongue. His deadly meaniug was palpable enough. With a quick movement he gained the door a'nd placed himself with his buck aga : nst it. R >sesmiled and scornfully tossed her heal. ‘Fool!’ she muttered. ‘Did you think would trust myself in this den of wolves with out taking proper precautions ? N > Harm m —deprive me of liberty, 6ven, and you bring exposure aDd ruin upon your own heads. Be fore leaving Elsinore, to-night, I wrote out a complete confession. It is in trusty hands aed will be opened and read if I am not heard from within the next forty-eight hours,’ Tao eff-ict of this announcement was all Rose could have desired. The baffl id conspirators dropped their heads and Louis shrank away from the door with a crestfallen air. ‘Enough,’said Mrs. Vann, after a short pause, and a silent struggle. ‘Rose, you have con quered I wish you joy of your victory.’ Then she turned, took my hand, drawing it forcibly away from Richard's clasp, and led me back to my own chamber, where she left me in silence aDd darkness, to thank God for the de liverance that had c me to me so s’rangely. (TO BE CONTINUED ) Romance in the Treasury. A former United States Minister to China, dying, lef: a widow and two or three children with a very small income for their support. She was advised by friends to apply for a clerk ship in the Treasury, at Washington, which she obtained and retained two or three years, fiith- fully discharging her duties She was a lady of superior education and intelligence ana more thaD ordinary beauty. While a clerk she met here a gentleman who thought her fitted for a more agreeable life than earning a meagre support for herself tnd children in the confined air of the treasury. He wrote to a friend in Connecticut, a millionaire, described tbe lady and invited him to this city to meet her. He came and was very grateful for the invitation, for he loved, if not at firs’ at second sight, and proposed marriage as soen as he oonld. The wedding came off in due time in Brooklyn, and my record aids that it was affirmed at the time that the husband settled two hundred thousand dollars on his wife. They have lived since very happily and in great style. She has recently been Lere on a visit. The Zulu War. Africans Slaughtering Englishmen. When the trained troops of Eng'aud bade fare well to the white cliffs of Albion, singing, as the sheets were handled in the hoisting of the sails, *G>od by, gveetheart, Good bye, they didn t thiuk that that farewell was the last forever to their native land, bnt regarded the contest with the naked savages as a pastime somewhat S1CQ1 " 1 .r to shooting blackcock on the heath, and rnnch less dangerous than tiger slaughtering in the Indian j angles. But a sad ..nd tragic disappointment was in store for them, and when the tidings of their firot def a‘ and slaughter war sent over the wires it sTuck a chord of horror and dismay straight to the English heart. Taen rose the cry of ‘revenge,’ and then after the first lesson it was deemed still mor • certain that the con quest of Cetewayo aDd his swarthy hordes wonld tollow fast. » But again and'again the E lgiiffi are defeated a-d destroyed. Night af er night the stars of Africa look down coldly upon the dead faces of mangled Englishmen, and the naked warriors Jane- the wahz of victory nbovithem Cete wayo is now the great universal round dancer. The home government is appalled; Lord Ch ilmsf ird. co aim n e or the E ig is i ia Afr - ci. is dismayed, ashamed and despondent. While displaying the most deperate courage, f ie Bri'ish officers have evidenced the most ab surd incapacity. As the A'kaus.is farmer said when he counted the fragments of his favorite bull after its attempt tet butt down a lightning express train: ‘I admire your pluck, but your discretion ain’t worth a daml.’ It is interesting a* this point to meet w th some of the inner history of this war, as com ing diiect from the scene ot battle, and narrated by th" parti -ip inis. Coming from the rank and tile ad is to the interest of the loliowing letter from S rgeant P leber of t ie army service C ‘rp \ writio i subsequent to tie third and just previ ous to the slaughter of last we k. ‘I am sure before yon get this you will have seen in tbe E ighs'i papers what heavy loss our army here has suff red. I will, howivir, give you e <me idea of how it has been with us du ring the last few weeks The general went with the column to mike an a Ivantage on the Z ilu king, who, plaiuly speaking, watched him and advanc d on the headqaarte camp of the_l 2I h regiment—strength of company about 560 all told (Eirnpeans.) The nigg-TS came on with close on 20 000 men. As soon as hey were s,e i our troops opened fire. Tue wina-up was we were out of ammunition, and they then came hand to hand with ns, and it ended in tha whole camp being slaughtered. Up to date onr loss is about 1 200, and that of the enemy 1,500. Yoi mas' exmee thD hurried scrawl, for yon cannot know whit feeliugs a man has placed in such a position as we are. Fancy a regiment — the 1 24 h—that was the first in the Kaffir war, went through t tat without a casualty, an i now, on the eve of coming to E igland to be left with about five offi jers and 60 rank and file. I served with them myself, poor fellows, in the late war, and I feel their loss very much. I believe two of our corporals must have fallen. N > fault can be laid on any offi ser, as every one fougot and died like a faithful English soldier. We are now in a sm ill fort not la- from where the sad battle was fought. We can only muster about 86 rifles, and we have at the least 15 000 nig gers round us. We are up, as yon may siy, day and night, in case of an attack. The troops in the fort a e the rem uants of the 24 b. Tne cry is ‘R iveege !' Yju mast not deem me faint hearted, nut every one fally expects that if we do not get help s >on we shall suff ir the same fate as oar comrades. I have two close friends, sergeants in the 24 b, and we have made up our -uioO j to fi -jHt t» ttiq last, and if it shoul^pleiis ' G >d tLat we at#* to die here we will do so in honor of our country and queen. ‘Tdegram just in ‘N ggers rising all ov»r the cdoay. Every white man to hava arms. O i! ho w I wish they would come on us, so as to bavi the sa’isfactio'n of avenging our departed comrades. Even if I should fall it will not be without a struggle. If anything should happen to me give my poor wife and children a kind word. Every night I think of them. If we can bnt hold out for a few weeks more we shall be all right. A-s's- tance will, I think, be at hand.’ This poor fellow's worst fears were realiz id, as the surrounding enemy crushed in upon them and annihilated them. Marie Roze and her Rich Dresses. The pastos’s wife testifies as to her husband's lia bility to be gulled, while others confine themselves to his ability to gull others. One fact brought to the notice of the court was the inscription on the back of one of the pews, in big letters, proclaiming the tact that “Dr. Van Dyke is a liar !” “Smile when you can," is the latest thing we are asked to do by those gratuitously admonitory beings, the poets. No one can smile when he can’t B it few persons, as they hurry along Four teenth street are awari in what clcs i proximi y they are to the famous prima donna,Marie R >ze. She sojourns near the residence of Mrs. Hicki Lord. Lot me describe her reception room, as I looked around while awaiting her entrance : An apartment of limited dimension, yet taste fully fu-nished in crimson and blue, and fra grant with the perfume of fl iwers received as t-ophies of her success the previous night. Yet there were evidences of that work whioh the life of antist demands, for scattered here* and there, and lying on her favorite Steinway up right piano were scores of operas and loose sheets of music Bat soon the lovely lady her self came in, and I must tell you something of the dress she wore. It was a splendid Princess costume of navy blue velvet,* made entirely plain, with the exception of a plaiting about eight inches around the lower edge. H it collar aad cuffs were of point lace and a heavy chate- liene of gold with vinaigrette, etc., was sus pended at her side. Very obligingly she es corted me up a fl'ght of stairs, and there lay the long velvet sacque and bonnet of navy bine velvet which she adds when she is driving. A rich dress was of cardinal and black silk trimmed with medallions of broozo j it made with sweeping train, oblique drapery across the front, plain basque with heart-shaped neck and elbow sleeves. B side it was a snowy satin, glis'ening in front with crystal lace ; tha back a train o f polka do‘ted satin. The corsage w is ‘ >w, but her maid coma in with a high-necked and long-sieev ;d basque which might be substi tuted. Besides these were other toilets, repos ing in trunks, where, as this Prima Dinua said wi'h a gentle sigb of regret and in broken Eng lish, whioh becomes her, they ‘get much spoiled.’ What will ha do with it?’’ is the painfu'ly inter esting question asked in regard to a M chimin clergyman and a donation recentiv received bv him. This brother had called on a wealthy brewer fora gift for his church. The brewer did not at once respond, hut no - astonishes the Michigander by sending him a dozen barrels of beer “Silver and gold have I none but such as I have give I thee,’ said Peter to the poor fellow who asked alms And so the brewer bestows his charity in what he happened to have on hand. The Michigan man is embarrassed. He does not ;iike to sell the beer, or to give it to the brethren and sisters to drink. Neithe- does he think it would be courteous to re turn it to the donor. It is su.-gessed that some of the physicians in the congregation prescribe it to the invalids thereof, to be taken medicinally but this suggestion does not find general favor. (Some of the temperance men threaten to knock the heads eut of the barrels, and thus let the beverage be wasted, but this has not ye' been agreed to The case gives rise to certain interesting questions in easui-tic divinity. If the brewer had‘given a cash donation, would it not have been a part of the pro ceeds of the sale of beer? Could it be less sinful to ^ receive his money than to receive the beer, which 9 he might have turned into money? Would it be right or wrong, uuder the circumstances, to sell the beer and put its cash equivalent into the church treasury? Would it be right or wrong to send the beer back to the brewer? These and other kindred conundrums perpieot the Michigan pastor by day aDd by night, and he wishes he had never seen that miserable brewer. INSTINCT PRINT