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and Miss Winter had arrived the day before; and Walter Drew had already been staying with us a fortnight. The conversation was sprightly and pleasant. I alone felt inclined to be silent, my mind being occupied with mixed reflections on all that had happened since that other morning when Colonel Stanton's letter had reached us.

My father looked ten years younger as he chatted delightedly with the colonel and Miss Stanton. It was evident-plainly evident-that | his warm heart was flushed to the full with all that his old school comrade's presence could suggest.

He accom

position of cavalier in attendance.
panied her in her walks, tended her flowers,
made spirited sketches of the dogs, came and
went at her bidding-in fact, doing all with
the unfailing good-humour, dexterous tact, and
broad geniality which characterised him so essen-
tially.

I need hardly say that the account of my London adventure in meeting young Drew and the disclosure of his relationship to Colonel Stanton were received by my father from the first in an altogether different manner from that of Aunt Marjory. He was unaffectedly delighted at the prospect of meeting the son of that old To bring my story up to the day on which friend for whose sake he had suffered so much. this chapter opens, I have to mention that I It was touching, too, to watch the fatherly welcalled at Elmdrove Manor, along with my come he gave Walter. They spent many hours father, the week after my return to Warwick- together in the little out-of-doors studio, and shire, in order to make the promised amende talked of art as only a young expert and an for my apparent neglect to wait on the colonel old enthusiast can. When one saw the two when in London. I dreaded the ordeal of meet-painters together in earnest conversation, the ing Alice Stanton, but then the task was one dissimilarity of their characters and the disof simple duty. The meeting proved to the parity of their years seemed to vanish in the full as trying as I had anticipated. Both Alice air of mutual respect and common sympathies and Miss Winter recognised me the moment of which surrounded them. My father, of course, presentation, Miss Stanton being much overcome needed no caution from me to avoid any referwith emotion. The explanation ensuing-the ence to those circumstances which attended the colonel's surprise, gratitude, and kindly interest-close of his connection with the elder Drew; his the congratulations between him and my father, own instincts sufficed. together with my own contending feelings, formed a passage in my life too painful for more minute description.

When Aunt Marjory came to learn from my father the identity of the fair unknown with Miss Stanton the heiress, her surprise knew no bounds; and the knowledge led to many hints and one-sided pleasantries far from welcome to me in the frame of mind I then was. I had, it is true, resigned myself to the idea of a union between Walter and Alice-of which my worthy aunt knew nothing; but the wound was still tender, and her well-meant badinage pained

me.

When, on my return to Brierleigh, I had told my aunt of the new friend I had made, and of the invitation I had given him to come and spend a few weeks in our quiet retreat, she shed tears of vexation, and uttered words of upbraiding of which I had never suspected her capable. But then the name-Walter Drew-had had such a lifelong penance attached to it in her little world of action and affection, that I ought not to have been surprised at its effects upon her. On her learning, however, that Walter was Colonel Stanton's nephew-the artist he had so half-hopefully referred to in that ever-memorable letter-her objections to the visit were less persistently urged, although against the visitor himself her prejudices remained as strong as ever, up to the day when he arrived in the dogcart with the cream-coloured pony, which I had myself driven over to the station to meet him.

That happy breakfast hour thus saw the reunion of many long-parted threads of social interest and affection. No wonder I was meditative and observant, rather than inclined to share very largely the conversation going on around. Nevertheless, there was still a lingering shade of melancholy in the contemplation of the happiness of that circle! I observed with a sigh that Miss Stanton talked to Drew with perfect freedom, while Miss Winter, although listening eagerly, addressed him but seldom. Had I possessed the perspicacity of a disinterested onlooker, I might have read these signs differently; but love, like jealousy, is blind. The most striking and interesting phase of the little panorama was after all, perhaps, the complete manner in which Drew's erratic, unconventional style blended fittingly and harmoniously with the chastened high-bred tone of the company. It was bizarre, and yet not bizarre; for his instincts enabled him, without effort or consciousness, to adapt himself at all turns to the prevailing feeling. I now felt sure that his lost hold of the world's ways had been regained, and that his path henceforth would be easy; and I may add that I formed this conclusion with a high sense of satisfaction. I never loved Drew better than at the moment when I anticipated he was to take from me that which was dearer to me than life.

Breakfast ended, my father asked Miss Marjory for his letters as usual. The ladies sought their rooms in order to prepare for a quiet day in and about the rectory grounds. The colonel My aunt's frigid courtesy of reception was remained with the Standard in his hands, awaitinstantly thawed into a smile and a hearty ing my father's leisure. Walter and I stepped shake of the hand, under the influence of the on to the lawn to enjoy the luxury of a cigar. fine natural sunlight of Walter's face. The The haze had now almost disappeared, and terriers Tom and Gip vied in unsolicited attentions to him-the best credentials the visitor could have presented to Marjory. Before many days, he had completely ousted me from my

the sun already gave a foretaste of its powers. Tom and Gip walked lazily along with extended tongues, as Drew and I sauntered round the shadiest side of the garden. We spoke little, 油

my mind being full of the incidents and conversation of the morning; while my companion was either similarly preoccupied or in the happy condition of having nothing to think about but his cigar. We looked over the quickset hedge at the rough hardy fellows busy in the cornfields. It is probable I thought of them and their work from my knowledge of both from childhood; it is equally probable that Walter saw only the colouring and grouping from an artistic point of view. We passed on at anyrate without exchange of confidence until we came to the entrance gate of the grounds, when a chaise drove rapidly through, its occupant being an elderly, thin-faced man clad in black, who saluted us in passing. Drew saluted the stranger in return.

'Who is he?' I asked.

'My uncle's lawyer, Mr Greig, by all that's mysterious!' he exclaimed, but with a smile that belied the mystery so far as he was concerned. 'What can have happened to bring old parchment here, above all places? There's something big on the board, that's certain.' And Drew gave a droll laugh that suggested an arrière pensée.

We continued our stroll along the southern wall till we reached my father's novel studio. I tried the door in a purposeless way. It was locked, and I knew my father always carried the key in his pocket; so we passed on, smoking indolently, till Drew suddenly stopping and facing me, said: 'Do you know, Charlton, I think it a most singular thing that your father and mine should have been such intimate friends as they appear to have been, and that the colonel should also be an old friend of your father's, whilst it was only by the chapter of accidents that you and I came together.'

'The reason seems simple enough,' I replied, smiling at his unwonted earnestness. 'My father was unaware that the colonel had married your aunt, if indeed he even knew of her existence. As for yourself, he was under the impression that you had died when a child.'

'Yes, yes; the reason is plain,' answered Walter. But don't you think, now-the whole thing is like-like a leaf out of a romance, you know; strange, queer-like-eh?' His round jocund face had the odd, half-whimsical look which was its only expression for sentiment. He knocked the ashes from the end of his cigar, then eyed me from behind this mask till I could resist no longer, and laughed outright. 'Hang it, old fellow,' he said, 'you won't let me be serious when I would; but for all your laughing, there is something uncommonly queer in it all. Perhaps you wanted to enjoy a good joke or two at my expense; still, I can't help thinking, mon ami, that it was too bad of you not to let me know from the first that your good kind soul of a father was the friend of

mine.'

What could I say? Had he learned anything of the history of that friendship? These thoughts were swiftly interrupted by Drew, who had again assumed his mask.

'Look here, John,' said he in a voice comically plaintive; 'you have not been quite frank with me on another matter. You saved my cousin's life; yet, when you came to know it

was my cousin, you were mum on the subject. Now, I call that unfair.' He paused, as though to give me time to speak; but I dared not trust myself to reply. Had he looked ten times as 'serious,' I could not even have smiled. ‘Ah, you know it is,' he continued. Well, I can forgive you for that; you were too genuine to chatter about what you had done. But while I may even admire your silence to me, I can't for the life of me see why you should be so stand-off-ish with my cousin Alice.' 'Drew!'

Nay, John, I will speak. You know how much I prize your friendship, and can a real friend be blind? I know you love my cousin, and who has a better right? Why not, then, my dear fellow, make her and yourself happy by saying so?'

As he spoke, a slight vertigo seized me; I saw the trees and Tom and Gip following one another in a circle; the ground under me reeled curiously, and the figure of my friend expanded and contracted like a reflection in a moving mirror.

'Miss Alice!' I at last contrived to say. "Why, I thought you'

"Thought I was in love with her? Thereyou drop another secret, which I was shrewd enough to guess before. You are the prince of good fellows; but, don't you know-if I did love Alice, Alice did not love me. I can't make a speech like a fellow in a play. All I want to say is this-I can't have Alice, if I would; and you may, if you but ask.' And Drew, with the wistful look in his hazel eyes which I have remarked as a peculiarity of his when seized with emotion, took my hand and pressed it warmly. Then, with that singular elasticity of temperament which no one could credit unless in contact with him for some time, he relit his cigar, passed his arm through mine with the air and carriage of a man without a care, while we resumed our walk.

We had not gone far, when the new train of thoughts induced by the above incident was interrupted by a servant approaching us saying: 'If you please, Mr Charlton wishes to speak to you both in his study.'

I marvelled somewhat at this formal summons; but Drew seemed to think it the most natural thing in the world, as I could tell by his instantly hastened stride. We reached the house together and entered the study. There, seated at the table, with a variety of documents between them, were Mr Greig the lawyer-who had arrived in the chaise-Colonel Stanton, and my father. The lawyer and the colonel appeared to have been in pleasant converse, for, as we entered, their faces were still wreathed in smiles. My father, on the other hand, looked serious, if not a little agitated. The smile disappeared from the lawyer's face as though it had been snuffed out, but that on the old warrior's lingered into a kind of pleasing twilight. The former, who was evidently president of this conclave, waved to Walter and me to be seated.

We have sent for you two young gentlemen,' he said in a professional tone, to make you jointly acquainted with matters which Colonel Stanton, my client, and Mr Charlton have already discussed. The late Mrs Stanton,

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Journal

whose agent I had the honour to be, died possessed of a considerable fortune in her own right. This she naturally left to the free disposal of her husband, and so far the matter might have rested there. But Mrs Stanton took a strong interest in the career of her brother's only child-yourself, Mr Drew-and expressed a wish that Colonel Stanton should treat you as a son, and assist you out of her estate in any way, and to such extent as circumstances might suggest and warrant. That estate has remained untouched in my hands up to this time. Now, there were circumstances in the history of the late Mr Drew, which, had Mrs Stanton been aware of, would have caused her to dispose of a large portion of her means during her lifetime, seeing that he died without having the opportunity of-of putting his affairs straight himself. Colonel Stanton is quite certain on this point; and he has desired me to arrange, out of his wife's estate, a settlement in full of certain liabilities under which he has recently learned the late Mr Drew lay with respect to his friend the Rev. Mr Charlton. We have been altogether unable to obtain Mr Charlton's consent to accept any quittance beyond the strictly clear claim which pertains to certain bills he indorsed for Mr Drew, and for which he became liable on-on his friend's death. The colonel will now explain his intentions with respect to the remainder of the property. And Mr Greig laid himself back in his chair with the air of a man who had discharged a duty to his own satisfaction.

'The fact is, young gentlemen,' said the colonel with military brevity, 'Mr Greig shall divide it equally, and place the sums to your respective credits.'

I was mute; nor can that be matter of surprise. I looked first at one, then the other, as though to read in their faces whether I had heard aright. The colonel and his lawyer conversed aside; my father sat in a kind of stupor; Drew looked happy enough for all the party put together.

hear, that when I told him, only a week ago, when he was over at the Manor, the sad circumstances of his father's connection with yours which, by the way, I only gathered by accident from an old friend of my own and of your father-he was beside himself with grief, and vowed to make over his own income for the redemption of his father's name. I then told him what I had from prudence hitherto concealed-that I considered him my wife's heir. He absolutely refused to touch a penny unless your father were first reimbursed. That was what I longed to hear, and what I am proud he was able to say.'

Thus had I two tokens given me in one day of Walter Drew's practical adoption of my father's formula of 'honour and friendship,' and thus had events happily compensated him who held it as a canon of conduct.

A laughing party stood in the porch of the rectory. The colonel gallantly offered his arm to Aunt Marjory, who, blushing and smiling, was led off down the garden path. Walter paired off with Miss Winter; my father and Mr Greig, who was to remain to dinner, trotted off in the direction of the studio; and I was left alone for the first time in my life with Miss Stanton. Her face was turned towards me, and I observed a warm blush and timid downward glance as she placed her tiny gloved hand upon my proffered arm.

Our friends were nowhere within sight. We followed the direction they had taken so far as we had been able to keep them in view, and then, purposely, I chose a path the least likely to lead us to them. The timidity of my companion's step made me conscious that she had divined my thoughts, and I hastened to converse as freely as my own agitation would allow on any subject that had the consideration to present itself. The attempt was a very unsatisfactory one, so much so, that by the time we had reached the honeysuckle arbour to which my steps had led, Alice nervously expressed a wish to turn in search of her father. It is too late, in this my last chapter, to record the details of what there and then

Alice could probably narrate what occurred better than I can; but I may here mention, that before our return, 'the last of all that band,' to dress for dinner, we did so as affianced lovers, awaiting only the parental consent and benediction.

'You will see, my dear Charlton,' at last said the colonel, taking my father's hand in his, 'that although I am bound to respect your scruples-transpired. over-refined as I consider them-neither Walter nor myself, nor, I may add, my daughter, could possibly rest under the reflection that your son had been practically disinherited by us. That hardship we are by this arrangement enabled to avoid. But what, except your own conscience, can ever repay you, my dear old friend, for the noble spirit in which you have borne this terrible burden so long!'

'God bless you, Charles!' was all my father could say, as, after wringing the colonel's hand, he rose to leave the room. Walter took his arm and led him gently out, and my heart went out towards my friend as I observed this simple action. 'I am delighted, John,' said the colonel, kindly addressing me, that you and Walter are such good friends. Your influence for good with him has already been immense. The friendship of a steady earnest character like yourself was really what he wanted to make him a little more thoughtful and amenable to ordinary social rules. I have great hopes of him yet. He is really an excellent fellow at bottom. You will be glad to

The dinner passed pleasantly. I was supremely happy, and thought every one else ridiculously dull in comparison, although for that matter their looks belied the impeachment of dullness. How it made my heart bound with gratitude to witness the smile, free from care, that sat on my father's venerable face, and to listen to his genial laugh, to the merry classical quips with which he entertained the colonel, or the graceful badinage with which he amused my aunt and her young friends. No more bitter wearing cares for him! Alice sat in silence, the silence of profound happiness. Walter's face shed a brighter lustre of smiles than ever. My good Aunt Marjory was probably the gayest of the party, and quizzed me with her brown eyes as often as she decently could; but, happily, I was now invulnerable.

That evening I sought an interview with Colonel Stanton, who gave his hearty consent to my union with his daughter. He said he could desire no better future for his child than to be the wife of one who had been an affectionate son and a magnanimous friend. He referred gratefully also to my earliest claim upon his daughter's interest. It thus came to pass that Aunt Marjory's prophecy was fulfilled, for, six months after that eventful day, Alice and I were married at Brierleigh Church. I must mention that on the same day and in the same church, Walter Drew led Miss Winter to the altar. His engagement had not been of long standing, but he insisted on the 'events' coming off together. It only remains to add that Walter and I remain fast friends, and that I am proud of his rapidly growing fame as an artist. At the colonel's express wish, my own professional career was nipped in the bud, and my ambition directed towards the field of politics.

THE MONTH:
SCIENCE AND ARTS.

In the course of Professor Milne's researches, he paid a visit to the Kurile Islands, which lie between Japan and Siberia. His object was to study the volcanoes there; but he incidentally gives us some information, which, if it came from a less authentic source, would be scouted as being incredible. It relates to the abundance of fish, principally salmon and salmon-trout, found round the coasts of these islands. They exist,' he says, 'in such numbers during the summer and autumn season, that their fins, sticking out of the water near the entrances to the rivers, look like tangled masses of kelp; while up the rivers it is but little exaggeration to say that some of the pools are mixtures of fish and water. With a rifle-bullet you may pierce four or five at a single shot. The shallows are often covered with dead fish, which in their struggle for existence have become so weak, that having once run themselves ashore, they are unable to return to deeper water. A single haul of a small seinenet upon the beach brought to land a huge heap of fish varying in weight from four to twenty pounds, the number of which we roughly estimated at five thousand.'

In the June number of the Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society there is a paper by Mr Edward Wethered which contains some new suggestions as to that much-disputed question, the origin of our coal-fields. Mr Wethered has for some time been busily engaged in making microscopical examinations of coal from Cannock Chase; and from these labours he is led to the conclusion, that coal was originally of aquatic habit, 'growing in a manner similar to modern bogs, but of much larger extent.' He believes that the fossil tree trunks found so often in collieries grew in the coal, but took no part in the formation of the coal.

THE Select Committee of the House of Commons on Irish Industries obtained some valuable information the other day from the evidence of Professor Howitz on the subject of tree-planting. This gentleman is superintendent of the Forest Conservatory in Copenhagen, and for twelve years held a somewhat similar post in Australia, so that he has had much practical experience of the subject upon which he spoke. He said that Ireland is so favourably situated that it is possible to grow there almost all necessary timbers. The remains of oak found buried in the bog-earth in such abundance show that one description at least should flourish there well. Osiers, too, will grow in Ireland; and if cul- M. Alluard has lately pointed out an instance tivated, would be ready for market in three in which the wind has helped in the local fertiliyears. Basket-making from osiers is easily sation of the soil. The valley of Limagne, in learned; and big industries, such as have sprung Auvergne, owes its marvellous fertility to the up in France, might be established by our Irish showers of volcanic ash which are carried from neighbours. In one district of the Garonne, in the Dômes during south and south-west winds. consequence of extensive tree-planting, the popu- This ash contains lime, phosphoric acid, and lation had increased by immigration in one gene-potash, and is therefore highly beneficial to the ration from twenty-five thousand to five millions. From the trees, a prosperous people were now drawing their incomes, or rather from the industries which had arisen in firewood, charcoal, resin, tar, bark, &c. The Professor recommended that five million acres of Irish land should be planted at a cost of about twenty millions sterling, and he believes that the investment would pay well.

Professor Milne of Japan has been making further and very original experiments in that country, in order to study the effects of earthquake wave-movement in different soils. As he could not command earthquakes to come at his bidding, even in that earthquake-favoured land, he endeavoured to produce them artificially. This he did by subterranean explosions of dynamite, and by causing heavy weights to fall from a great height. The results recorded are most interesting, but far too complex in their nature to be detailed here. It is illustrative of the enlightenment of the Japanese administration that such startling experiments were not only permitted but encouraged.

soil. M. Alluard, from observations on the Puyde-Dôme, estimates the annual deposit at about twelve ounces avoirdupois per square yard.

The Hydrographical bureau at Washington have published some results of a series of observations carried out by them with reference to the length, depth, and duration of ocean-waves. In the Atlantic storms, the waves extend to a length of five to six hundred feet, the largest observed being half a mile long. As to height, forty-eight feet seems to be the extreme limit; while thirty feet may be named as a fair average. These measurements refer to ocean-waves pure and simple, and do not take into consideration exceptional occurrences, such as earthquakewaves.

Lieutenant Chisholm-Battens' recent lecture before the United Service Institution on 'Electricity applied to Naval Purposes,' dealt with a subject of universal interest. However much the electric light may have proved impossible of application generally, it must be admitted that it has scored a success at sea. Many of the war-vessels, ocean-going passenger steamers, and

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merchantmen, are now well lighted by electricity, without undue heat, and without danger from fire, which is inseparable from the use of candles and lamps.' Moreover, the new light for shipboard is cheaper than the older illuminants; for the principal item of cost in electric installations-the motive-power to drive the dynamo-machines-is already established in the case of steamers for driving the ship. But beyond the mere lighting of vessels, there are many other uses for electricity on our ships of war. Among these, we may name the necessary search-light, which did such good service at Suakim; the firing of broadsides at any given moment, and even when the ship is rolling heavily; the firing of spar-torpedoes; and the steering, propelling, and firing of torpedoes of the fish-pattern. Lastly, we may name the firing of submarine mines. It will be thus seen that electricity plays an important role in modern warfare, and its introduction marks an era in naval history as important as that of armourplated ships.

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A correspondent of the Times points out very sensibly that the inclusion of the address in the sixpenny telegrams as matter that must be paid for is likely to have one salutary effect at least, in causing people to number their houses instead of giving them absurd names. The dwellers in suburban villas are the worst offenders in this respect. It may be gratifying to them to name their houses The Hollies,' The Ivies,' Torriano Villa,' &c.; but independently of the trouble caused to letter deliverers, it is a dreadful task to strangers who wish to find one of a row of houses, and who-possibly on a dark nighthave to grope their way from end to end of a long road before the particular domicile is disA tax on houses designated otherwise than by numbers would have a salutary effect.

covered.

The introduction of American fish into British waters has lately formed the subject of much correspondence in the Times, and it is curious to note the differences of opinion expressed by different writers. A, for instance, advocates the introduction of the cat-fish-first made familiar to Londoners through the medium of the Fisheries Exhibition; the next week, B protests against this forbidding, ferocious, uneatable, and all-devouring fish' being welcomed here, which, he says, as far as he knows, is eaten by no white man willingly. That the appearance of the fish is forbidding, is perfectly true, but we suspect that the rest of the strictures passed by B on the cat-fish are due to prejudice. For many months past the fish has been sold in the Farringdon fish-market, London, and we can speak from personal experience of its very acceptable flavour. We may add that it is sold headless and skinned, so as to disguise it, and that it is called 'ling,' Bell-rock salmon,' &c., according to the fancy of the vendor.

The Gas and Water Review publishes an interesting paragraph relating to the strange cause of a fire which occurred quite recently at Manchester. A girl at a restaurant going under some stairs with a lighted candle, a gas explosion took place and set fire to some woodwork. The outbreak was soon quelled with a few buckets of water, when it was found that the gas escape was caused by rats gnawing through the com

position pipe. The superintendent of the fire brigade spoke of several instances which had come under his notice where fires had been caused in this way by rats. He had noticed that the rats always selected a bend or angle of the gas-pipe for their mischievous labours, and gave it as his opinion that they did so to get at the water lodging in such situations, and which they would hear bubbling in the pipe. Twelve months ago, we gave some account of the Quicksilver Wave Amalgamator for the treatment of quartz reef and collection of its precious contents. We now learn that it has come into use in many auriferous fields, and that the saving of gold accomplished by it is astonishing. Under ordinary systems of reduction, it is calculated that for every ounce of gold won, an ounce is lost in particles too small to be retained. The new apparatus claims to save eighty-five to ninety per cent. of the gold present in the ore, and it stands to reason that if this be the case, many a mine which is struggling for bare existence would under the new conditions become a valuable property. The loss of gold for want of efficient apparatus in California alone during the past thirty-three years is stated at two hundred and fifty millions sterling.

Messrs Yarrow, the celebrated builders of boats for service on the Nile, have adopted a very curious but efficient method of sounding the treacherous waters of that river for obstructing rocks. The boat is provided with two poles, which extend for fifty feet on either side of the prow of the vessel. At the end of each pole hangs vertically an iron rod, the length of which is so calculated that the end under water lies about one foot deeper than the keel of the boat. These rods are in connection with suitable gearing, so arranged that directly a rock, sandbank, or any other subaqueous obstruction is touched by either of them, the whistle is caused to sound a warning of the danger ahead. It is at the same time possible to know on which side of the boat the danger may be looked for, and avoided.

It is to be hoped that the recent fatal leap from the New York and Brooklyn Bridge will deter others from attempting feats of this foolhardy nature. The only chance of success is that a body falling from a height into water should assume the shape of a wedge, so as to cut into the fluid like the cut-water of a boat. For this reason, the experienced diver, even if he be only a few feet above the surface of the water, will form his arms and hands into a wedge-like point above his head, before making his plunge. In the Brooklyn case, the jumper went feet foremost; but before he touched the water, his body swerved from the perpendicular, and he struck the water sideways. Examination showed that the blow on the surface of the water had fractured the victim's ribs, and ruptured the internal organs.

It has long been deplored by tourists to Niagara Falls that that grand illustration of natural energy is being gradually spoilt by its surroundings. Unsightly structures of various kinds have been allowed to spring up round about, until the natural scenery, the framework of the unique picture, has been almost destroyed. Another grievance is that a visitor to the place,

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