The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-06-25 00:00:00

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 18S7.

The sum of £6500 has been divided among 15 local
medical charities, as the net available proceeds of the
recer.t Hospital Saturday collection in Birmingham.
The total amount collected in manufactories was
£6675 55., and by ladies in the streets £145 ls.
giving a total of £6820 6s. 6d., against £6703 9s. 31 in
1886.

The Secretary of State has approved of the appoint-
ment of Captain G. H. Dean and Captain A. O. lino
as assistant-chief constables to the Metropolitan police
force. Captain Dean will take up his duties in con—
nection with the mounted branch of the force under
the immediate superintendence of Colonel Roberts,
chief constable, and Captain Knollys will control the
preparatory section.

It is officially announced that the progress of the
German Emperor's recovery, as was to be expected
under the circumstances, is slow but noticeable. HO
Majesty has lately been able to leave his bed daily
for several hours, and has frequently received verbal
reports on State matters. Nevertheless, the Emperor
will still require great care and rest for the future.
A Cabinet Council has been held in France, at which
General Ferron submitted several military projects to
the consideration of the Ministers, one of which wall
for the creation of four cavalry regiments, and another
f,r the creation of 18 new infantry regiments and in•
creasing the effective strength of the companies.
The Servian Government has decided to appoint a
commission consisting of many members chosen from
among the leaders of the three political psrties, the
University professors, and the learned professions, who
will be entrusted with the drafting of a new constitu-
tion In consequence of the repeated raids upon
Servian territory by Arnauts the Government intend to
establish a military frontier similar to that which
existed between Austria and Turkey until 1872_
It is telegraphed from Constantinople that Russit
now suggests that the Powers shall nominate a single
Regent, not a Bulgarian or a candidate for the throne,
to superintend the elections to the Sobranye. Russia
would then ru range with the Powers for the nomination
of a candidate for the throne.

French and Russian opposition to the Egyptian Con•
vention still continues, although the Porte is said to be
more reassured on the matter in view of the fact that
the Convention will be discussed by the Powers. Accord-
ing to a telegram received in Paris from Constantinople,
the Ottoman Ambassador in this capital has been in-
structed to propose certain modifications of the Con.
vent ion.

The Royal Military Tournament at the Agricultural
Hall, Islington, was brought* to a successful termina-
tion on Saturday evening. The Princess of Wales, with
two of her daughters, Prince George of Wales, the
Kings of Denmark and Greece, and the Duke of Sparta
were amongst those present in the afternoon.
Prince Albert Victor of Wales on Saturday afternoon
formally opened the new Hammersmith-bridge, a
structure which is light and graceful, being of the sus-
pension type with a centre span of 400 feet. His
Royal Highness was accompanied by Prince George of
Greece, and Sir James M`Garel-Hogg, M.P., chairman
of the Metropolitan Board nf Works, read an address,
to which Prince Albert Victor made a suitable reply.
The Paris " Intransigeant " has announced that an
Italian Socialist named Parmeggiani has been ex-
pelled from French territory.
Dr. Stubbs, Bishop of Chester, concecrated on
Saturday the new church of St. Mary, Cheater, which,
with the exception of a few local contribntior 5, has
been built and furnished at the expense of the Duke
of Westminster.

Saturday being the anniversary of the battle of
Waterloo, which was fought on June 18, 1815, the
usual custom of decking the colours with laurel was
observed in those regiments of the British army which
took part in the memorable engagement.
The retirement has been announced, through failing
health, of Mr. T. Jeffery, who has for many years filled
the important post of Controller of the London Pot tti
Service at the General Post Office. The vacant post
has been conferred on Ur. R. 0. Tombs, the assistant
controller.

At Ennis on Saturday several prisoners were brought
before the Bench charged with assaulting the police
and bailiffs at the Body ke evictions. A young woman
named M`Namara was committed for trial for throwing
vitciol over a bailiff, and two or three other persons
wore sent to gaol for different terms of assault. On the
way to the iailway station with their prisoners the
police had a sharp encounter with a large crowd, several
of whom were batoned and one arrested.

During a glme of cards at Liverpool on Asturday
night, two brothers named John and Martin Golding
had a serious quarrel, during which the latter cried out
that he was fatally stabbed. John Golding ran away,
but was anprehended on Sunday.
A small boat, containing tnree men and five boys,
was run down by a railway boat in Holyhead harbour
on Saturday afternoon. One of the boys, named
Williams, was killed, being badly crushed; whilst
another, named James, is believed to have beet
drowned. The men and the remaining three boys
were picked up, but two of the men were more or less
injured.

A Reuter's telegram from Mery states that large
quantities of wool are arriving there by caravan from
the iaterior to be forwarded by rail. A considerable
portion of it is destined for Marseilles.
A band of 400 Arnauts, with two flags, has made a
raid into Servian territory and plundered the village of
Dabinovac. Two Servians were killed and one wounded.
The frontier gendarmes drove the Arnauts back over
the frontier, capturing one of their flags. The rseders
in retreating left behind two wounded men, but were
able to carry off their other wounded and their dead.
A statement has been issued, signed by Lord Kimber-
ley, Sir Edward Fry, Sir Julian Geldsmid, Mr. A.
Prevost, Mr. H. H. Cozens Hardy, Mr. George
Buchanan, and Mr. W. Blake Odgers, explaining the
reasons which induced them to resign their seats on
the council of University College, London. From this
it appears that they object to the resolutions of the
council in connection with the proposed teaching
university placing the examinations and conferment of
degrees in the hands of the professors end teachers.
In their judgment, the degree giving body should be
independent of, though in close relation with, the
teachers. Independently of the reasons which they
give for this judgment. they feel difficulty in taking
part in a movement for the creation of a second
university in London.
William Blaquire, calling himself the Baron Robert
de BlaquiNT, was again brought up at Marlborough.
street Police•court ;\-.1 Saturday charged with begging,
and with obtaining food and refreshment at various
West-end restaurants by false pretences. The prisoner
was remanded for a week, and the magistrate
intimated that he should then commit him for trial
Another flaring railway robbery is reported from
America. An eastsbouna.train on the Southern Pacific
Railrcad had arrived at Schulenburg when a gllng of
men 12 in number took possession of the train and began
plundering the passengers, whom they treated in the
mcst brutal manner, striking them on the heads with
their revolvers. Among those who were thus mat-
treated was a lady. The robbers afterwards proceeded
to pillage the mail and express cars, and finally de-
camped with booty to the value of about 15,0.,0 dols.,
besides a quantity of valuable jewellery.
Special services in honour of the Queen's Jubilee
were held in several of the leading churches throughout
the country on Sunday.

—On Saturday Sir H. D. Wolff again held conference
with the Otteman Commissioners respecting the
Egvptifin Cenvention.

The steamer Champlain, of the Northern Michigan
Line, has been burned off Chartervoix, Michigan. 81)9
..samed six mt.sciengers and a crew of 18 men. Eight
persons were drowned while endeavouting to swim
a•hore.

The Duke of Edinburgh paid a visit to the Ad-
miralty on Saturday, and had an interview with the
First Lord of the Admipity.
Lord Tennyson, who is accompanied by the Honour-
able Hallam Tennyson and his daughter, arrived on
Saturday at Solve, in the steam-yacht Stella. His
lordship, who has been indisposed for some time, par.
poses making a tour of the Welsh coast.
The "Standard" believes that it is the intention of
the Irish members on the report to move most of the
amendments on the Crimes Bill which were shut out
by the compulsory closing of the Committee on the
Crimes Bill.

Queen liapiohni and suite and the Thakooe of Morvi,
with Colonel Woodhouse in attendance, visited Hy de.
park Barracks on Saturday morning and witnessed a
ride" by the non-commissioned officers and troopers
of the 2nd Life Guards. The party afterwards lunched
with Colonel Curzon and the officers.
Captain .1. H. Thompson, ILA., has been appointed on
the staff of the Director of Artillery.
The Rector of Norwood Green on Saturday attended
at the Hammersmith Police-court, with a detective, the
latter making a statement to the magistrate. He said
that on the 9th inst. the rector instructed a man to sell
a cow and calf in Smithfield Market, and to return the
next morning either with the money or the animals.
He did not retu n, and the cow and calf were traced to
a butcher at Acton. The man did not go to the market
at all, but sold the animals on the road to a drover, who
sold them to a butcher. The detective applied to the
butcher for the animals, but no refused to give them up
without payment. Application was now made to the
magistrate to grant a summons against the butcher for
detaining the cow and calf, which were worth £45.
Mr. Paget inquired whether any steps were taken to
find the servant. The detective said the police had
failed to find him. They were afraid that the butcher
would kill the animals. Mr. Paget afterwards granted
a summons, with instructions that the butcher ebonlii
be cautioned not to diepose of the animals. cc ph
reference to the servant, the magistrate said he would
grant a warrant for his apprehension.
The Press Association is informed that the Rev. W.
Cogswell, Vicar of St. Oswald's, Chester, has accepted
the Bishopric of Nova Scotia, vacant by the death of
Bishop Binney, and the Synod of the Diocese will
ratify his appointment at their meeting early in July.
General Hutchinson and Colonel Rich concluded
their inspection of the Tay Bridge on Saturday after-
noon on behalf of the Board of Trade. During their
three days' inspection the bridge has been subjected to
very severe tests, which it stood so well that the
officials had no hesitation in passing it.
Notices were on Saturday morning given by the
°petal ives at the South Staffordshire and East
Worcestershire chain factories to the emploTers inti•
matiog their intention to terminate all engagements
in 14 days This action has been taken in consequence
of a number of the employers having forced a reduc-
tion in wages.
The Board of Trade have awarded a binocular glass to
Captain W. J. Thompson, of the pilot boat Mary Odell,
of Savannah, United States, in acknowledgment of his
humanity and kindness to the shipwrecked crew of the
steamship Benhope, of Liverpool, which was abandoned
at sea on April 28 last.
The Isle of man steamer Ben Mychree, which had
among her passengers the Hon. Speyeer Walpole,
lieutenant -governor of the island, met with an accident
to her machinery on Saturday, when about five miles
out from Douglass on her way to Liverpool, and came
to anchor. In answer to signals, the steamer Snaefell
took off the Ben Mychree's passengers and conveyed
them to Liverpool.
A young man named Pettit, a baker, of Huntingdon.
committed suicide on Saturday by jumping in front of
the Leeds express from the platform of the Great
Northern station at Huntingdon. His body was carried
some distance, and literally cut to pieces.
As a torpedo boat was leaving Chatham Dockyard
for Portsmouth on Saturday. she came into collision
with the Arethusa, a new ironclad cruiser now pre-
paring for commission. The bows of the torpedo boat
wiz.; coro,L:::,:asuly damaged by the oollision.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 1887.

NOBLER THAN REVENGE.

BY TSB
Author of" The Heiress of Atherstone Granger

CHAPTER VI.
THE RILL FORD.
It were all one
That I shotild love a bright particular star,

And seek to wed it.—SIYAKESPEARE.
IF pepularity with the female portion of his congre-
gatien. and sympathetic looks and words from all the
Young ladies that came to hi 3 church, together with
a fully-let pew-list, and more applications for seats
ihm the church would accommodate, make a clever
Preacher, then the Rev. Horace Gayford was one of
the cleverest of men. He was successful, and his
sermons told as much as his elegant appearance and
impressive reading.
He was dramatic in style, and would handles subject
as if it were a matter of real life, and the people he
talked about living breathinc, men and women, and
not the soulless puppets that some very, excellent
clergymen manage to make them.
Helen Ramsay had declared to herself that she would
not attend St. Barnabas Church where her lover's
couiin officiated ; but she found when she was settled
at Hidford with the Churchills that they had sittings
there, and that the three ladies were among the most
enthusiastic of the young clergyman's worshippers,
so she said nothing, but went with them to church
On the first Sunday, resolving to make a stand and
change her church if, as she expected, she did not like
Prank's cousin in the pulpit. _ _ _ _

Mr. Gayford had ca'led upon her, and had made
hinasaf agreeable, and Helen bad liked him better
than she had done on that evening at Mr. Jarvis's
house. He had talked to her in an easy natural sort
of style, and she had not felt that horrible fascination
th,it made her look at him and admire his personal
beauty against her will that had so troubled her on on
their first meeting. She was obliged to admit that he
was very fascinating—dangerously so she thought to
such girls as Nora and Madge, to whom he talked in
a familiar fashion that plainly showed how intimate
he was with the family. He had been very pleasant
to the Misses Jarvis, but in a mere society fashion ;
here he seemed to be at home, and Helen's heart sank
as he thought she might very likely see a good deal
of him.

Certainly she was a free agent, and had her room
to retire to whenever she wished to be alone. But she
was already so completely one of the family that she
felt she could not isolate herself too much without its
being noticed.
• I must learn to like him for Frank's sake,' she said
to herself during his first visit ; ' and, indeed, he
seems very nice now; he is very gentlemanly and
quiet. I am fanciful, I think. I must take Frank's
cousin to my hear, of course, if I am to be a good
obedient wife.'

And then she turned to him and joined in the
desultory conversation that was going on about boat-
ing and lawri tennis and all sorts of things, and they
formed pl ms for river parties—for Hillford was on
the river, and a great boating place; and there was
pretty scenery around about it, and a queer old ruin
of special interest about a mile from the town, at a
Voce which had once been a ford, according to
history, and from which the town took its name.
"I he Hill Ford,' so tradition rather than actual
history declared, had once been a shallow ford with a
pebbly bottom, across which at certain states of the
river it was quite possible to get on horseback; but
those things must have been very long ago indeed.
some slip of the land, or some convulsion of nature,
or ingenuity of man had converted the ford into as
deep a pool as there was in all the river for many a
mile of its course, and across which a ferry had been
established, making a short cut which joined to roads
and took a good two miles off the road to London.
The ferry was kept by a man who lived in a little hut
by himself on the bank of the river, and his means of
conveying people across were of the simplest. A
broad flat-bottomed boat, punted over with a pole,
and a light royal boat, which he used acaording to
what was wanted to be carried across, were his
conveyances.
Everybody shook their heads and prophesiel
that some time or other there would be an accident,
and that somebody would be drowned; and everybody
said also that The Hermit,' as the man had COIII9 to
be called, ought to be turned out of his hovel and the
ferry done away with. But such things are easier
said than done; and a railway bridge was going to
be built just there some day, that was always being
talked about; and there was to be a footway a^ro.ss
the river as well. And in the meantime the hermit
and the ferry went on as usual, and people weot over
the water and no one was drowned.
There was a curious place in a wood just on the
other side of the river from the hermit's hut, whether
cave or old mine or well no one seemed quite to know
—but dark and gruesome and hollow sounding enough
to scAre any timid person who looked down into its
dark depths. It was securely railed round, and from
time to time a great fuss was made about exploring it
or filling it up. Wise folks shook their heads over
the latter suggestion, and opined that there would
not be found material enough in all S urrey to fill up
Girton's Hole,' as the pit was called.

It took its name from the fact that a man named
John Girton had thrown himself into it and killed
himself, once upon a time—before the time of even
the oldest inhabitant of Hillford—and all search for
h's body had provtd unavailing, from the fact that no
one could go down because of the foul air.' At all
attempts at exploration of the shaft —for such it doubt-
less was—the men let down had had to be drawn up
half choked, and declaring that they would not attempt
such a thing again for a fortune.
So • Girton's Hole ' was let alone, and had a first-
class reputation as a haunted place; but it was in such
a lovely nook of the pretty woods that ran along the
hills on that bank of the river that it was much visited
in the day-time, and people pic-nicked and enjoyed
themselves under the very shadow of the tOut railing
that had been put up round it.
The Rev. Horace Gayford planned a-pic-nic to this
, ?ot on his first visit to Fern Bank after Helen's arrival.
They must show Miss Ramsay all that was interesting
about the place, he said, and Frank would be glad of
any excuse that would bring him down from town for
a day's outing in the country. They could have a
boat for part of the day; his own skiff would scarcely
be large enough, but he knew of one that was very
comfortable and safe. Should they say Tuesday for
the expedition—Tuesday was his most leisure day?

Tue,day was fixed, and Frank was to be apprised
of the coming festivity, and asked to join them, and
Helen went•to bed feeling half ashamed of herself for
the prejudice she had taken against Mr. Gayford, and
rather liking the idea of hearing him preach on the
morrow. She had not seen the inside of his church
yet, though Madge bad told her it was lovely,' and
the soberer Nora had endorsed the speech, and Mrs.
Churchill had added that., making all allowance for
Madge's enthusiasm, Mr. Gayford and his church were
as nearly perfect as possible.
'And he is not spoilt, as so many young c'ergymen
are, by flattery and adulation,' she said; he seems
above it, as it were. lie deserves all the praises that
are be,towed ellen him.'
A curious sensation of dread and chill came over
Helen the moment she set foot in the church of the
Bev. Horace the next morning. It was a Leautiful
church ; the girls were all right in that, it was not
gaudily adorned, nor loaded with decoration, but
everything in it appealed to the senses. The seats
were comfortable to a degree—soft cushions of sober-
coloured red velvet were in all the pews, which were
open and low-backed. The pulpit and reading desk
were draped with the same material, and placed where
a'l in the church could see and hear; and the stained
windows were all of pleasant subjects and subdued
col )urs. A few white flowers were upon the commu-
nion table, but there were no crosses, nor banners, nor
any indication of High Church tendencies on the part
of the incumbent.
A strange feeling that she should like to get Out
took possession of Helen almost before the commence-
ment of the service. She seemed to lose herself in a
dream as it were; her nerves were all astray and
teyond her control, and it was with the greatest dif-
ficulty that sip steadied herself to stand up with the
rest of the conkregation to listen to the opening words
of the service. The Fern Bank pew was just under
the rt ading desk, and the same curious feeling of re-
pulsion took possession of her as she had felt at '
Campsie Howe as the Rev. Horace Gayford came
softly to his p'ace and bent his graceful head on his
hands before standing before the people.
Rend your hearts and not your garments. The
words went echoing through the church, and Helen
rose with the rest; her eyes fixed upon the reader. She
cou'd not help it ! it was as if he drew her with his
eyes, i hough he did not seem to be looking at her, and
forced her to think of him and not of the service. All,
through it the spell was upon her. Whenever her
head was lifted she could not take her eyes from that
handsome face and the lips that read so beautifully.
but with no touch of feeling, the service of the Church
Every sentence fell crisp and clear upon the ears of
the congregation, but to Helen Ramsay there was no
heart in it.
It might be her own strange state of mind, and the
fear with which this man inspired her; she tried to
think that it was, and to recover herself while the
hymn that preceded the sermon was being song. She
partially succeeded, and had managed to stop the odd
quivering of all her limbs when the black-robed figure
appeared on the pulpit stairs and commanded her
obedience and and attention once more.
' He must think of his sermon,' she said to herself;
'he will not notice me now.'
But the same fascination was there, and she could
not keep her eyes off that remarkable face, nor halp
listening with all her might to the wonderfully
dramatic and interesting discourse that rivetted the
attention of all the crowded congregation.
Horace Gayford took the story of the
raising of- the daughter of Jairus for his
text, and in a few masterly sentences took his hearers
with him to the country of the Gadarenes,' and the
times and people of the New Testament. Helen felt
as if she could see the crowds that pressed upon the
wonderful man, whom no one understood, but who
was creating-such a sensation in the land; and the
woman who was cured by her great faith even while
the great man- of the place was imploring help for his
little daughter.
The sorrowing household of the ruler of the syna-
gogue was placed before the listeners with a vividness
that made every one of them feel the mother's grief
and the father's desnair. _ And the dumb anguish that

succeeded to hope when the messenger came with the
fatal words, 'Thy daughter is dead—why troublest
thou the master?' There were tears in Madge's gentle
eyes when this stage of the description was reached,
and Helen saw that most of the ladies in the church
within her range of vision were equally affected; as
for herself she felt choked, oppressed as she had
never felt before in listening to any sermon. And
when Horace Gayford, looking straight at her,
as it seemed to her, went on to describe the
final act in that wonderful drama, and pictured
with a vividness that could not be excelled the
return of life and vitality to the little waxen face,
and the gradual coming back of warmth and strength
to the stiffened limbs, and the mother's frantic joy,
and the father's abundant gratitude, the tears came
to lier eyes in a sudden gush that did her good, and
she bowed her head and wept as others did. It was
a picture she could carry in her mind's eye to her
dying day, and yet there was not one word of
doctrine or religion in it; Horace Gayford had not
bidden his hearers repent of their sins, or seek for
mercy at any higher power than he presented in his
own person. It seemed to Helen Ramsay that he avoided
approaching the subjects that mostly occupy the time
devoted to the service of the church, and endeavoured
only to please the ears and senses of his hearers. With
the last word of the wonderful narrative all his energy
seemed to die away, and the benediction was spoken
in a cold, careless fashion that contrasted curiously
with his earnestness of a few minutes before.
Helen rose from her seat cold and weary when at
last he had retired, and followed Mrs. Churchill and
her daughters, feeling as if she had been asleep and
were only just awakened.
Wasn't it a lovely sermon?' asked Madge, in her
usual impulsive fashion, as they were walking home.
'lsn't he a dear?' _ _ _

_ .
It was a curious sermon,' Helen said. 'Does Mr.
Gaylord always preach like that?'
'Nearly always; he makes everything so real. I
am sure I never half believed my Bible till I heard
him. I can understand now that they were real
people that all these things happened to. Ah, here is
Mr. Gayford ; how nice of him to overtake us, won't
everybody else be jealous and wish he had come up
with them?'

'My dear Madge, how you do run on.'
'Well, they will; oh, Mr. Gayford, your sermonwas
too lovely, it made us all cry.'
am glad I pleased you, Miss Madge; I tried to
make it interesting at any rate. I think I let my
subject run away with me a little; I was surprised to
see.how late it was. Will you take my arm, Miss
Ramsay? Mrs. Churchill has kindly asked me to come
in to lunch with her.'

Helen laid her land on his arm, as she would have
done almost anything he asked her in the odd ma,n
she felt in just then.
Had my sermon your approval ? he asked her in a
low tone when Madge had fallen back a little hi
obedience to a summons from her mother.

It was very interesting, Mr. Gayford,' Helen
replied. It took us all to the East at once.'
I lik,3 to carry my hearers away with me,' he slid,
looking at her with the same penetrating look that
had frightened her so before. I like to feel that
every one in the church is one with me for the time
being. En rapport, the spiritualists call it in the
jargon of their imposture. But it exactly expresses
what I mean. Do you understand what it means?'

'Yes.'
Only too well—she was under the spell now, and
she was thankful to get away to her own room and
shut the door, and think; surely she was bewitched,
and under some evil influence, for her thoughts were
of the strangest. It came into her head like a light-
ning flash that this popular preacher, this Christian
minister, had no atom of belief in the doctrine he was
supposed to teach; that Horace Gayford, priest
though he was, was an unbeliever and a sceptic; and
that the words of the solemn service in which he
was the principal performer were a mockery and a
delusion as they fell from his lips.

CHAPTER VII.
UNDER TUE GREENWOOD TREE.
Those green-robed senators of mighty woods,
Tall oaks, branch charmed by the mighty stars,
Dream, and so dream all night without a stir.
—KEATS.
THE Churchill household seemed by comman consent
to yield up Horace Gayford and his attentions to
Helen Ramsay. He was Frank's cousin, and his sub-
stitute, as it were; and so, whenever the young
clergyman presented himself as an escort to the young
ladies at Fern Bank, it was Helen who had his arm,
and to whom most of his conversation was addressed.
He did not make it appear to others that she was the
special object of his attentions, he seemed equally
careful for them all when he was arranging any
pleasure or amusement; but she felt in the same
subtle fashion that had frightened her from the first
how strangely he engrossed her, and how impotent
were all her efforts to shake off the curious spell with
which he bound her.
His talk was always of Frank. He was full of
praises of the dear boy,' as he was fond of calling
him, and never tired of picturing what a good husband
he would make, and how happy Helen's life would not
fail to be with him. Mrs. Churchill and his daughters
thought him the most disinterested and amiable of
men. But there was always a feeling in Helen's heart
after an hour with him, that to marry Frank was
more difficult than ever. His cousin praised him;
but it was praise that left an uncomfortable sensation
behind it of being half blame. Frank always seemed
more disparaged after one of his reverend cousin's
panegyrics than he would have appeared after the
sharpest -words of blame from such a man as Mr.
Jarvis.
'I wish he would not talk about him,' Helen said to
herself on the morning of the picnic to Girton's Hole.
It is always Frank, and his cousin always puts him
at a disadvantage with me whenever he talks of him.
I seem to find out faults I never dreamed of before,
and I am ready enough to find them without any
help from him. Poor Frank! does he feel as I do? I
don't wonder that the prospect isn't bright. I
wish '
What Helen wished remained unspoken, for Madge
came up to announce that Mr. Hatherleigh was come,
and the carriage that was to take them to the Hill
Ford. where they were to be put across the river by
Barney Grubb, as 'the hermit' was called. From
the other side of the ferry the walk was nothing to the
place where they were going to picnic, and a trusty
servant was to be sent forward with all that was
necessary.
Frank Hatherleigh, light-hearted and lively as ever,
was downstairs when Helen went down, making love,
he declared, to all the three ladies at once, but laden
with a bouquet and some dainty gloves for Helen, which
he prosented to her without the slightest reticence
in the prEs.nce of all the company, demanding and
taking a kiss in payment with the utmost satisfaction
to himself.
'Fairy, you look positively lovely,' he said, inspect-
ing Helen's fresh, cool costume, and pretty face.
You look like the very genius of the weather, doesn't
she, Horace
Miss Ramsay always looks perfection,' Mr. Gay.
ford said. 'But you don't want the fellows out there
to hear you say it, do you, old boy?'
' I should like the whole world to hear me say it,
the lad repUed. 'Helen wouldn't, of course; but she
doesn't mind me, do you, Fairy?'
And Helen was kissed again, somewhat to her dia.
conafiture, for Frank's public adoration and proclama-
tion of his possession of her was one of the greatest
drawbacks to their perfect understanding of each
other.'

' o,f course I don't mind,' Helen replied, with much
magnanimity. Frank should not be snubbed if she
could help it, she thought, and she could lecture him
ptesently. I dou't mind what you do, but I have a
respect for my hat, and-'
And I've put it all askew, I suppose. Here, I'll
put it right in a minute.'
No, thank you, you had better leave well alone,'
Helen said, laughing. 'No, sir, I shan't put on any
of thcrie gloves to-day; they are much too goou and
too ch-licate for a picnic, you extravagant boy. I
shall keep them for great occasions.'
Dear me, I thought they were the very thing,'
Frank said, somewhat discomfited, as Helen drew on
a par of Swede gloves, tan colour and sun resistieg
and put the pretty box away. I see now I always
do muddle things somehow. Horace here would haul'
seen what was the right thing at once, and bought it.'
' And not have given half so much pleasure with a
thing that wculd have been spoiled in a day,' Mr. Gay.
ford Errut.k in. Your gloves are just what young
ladies like, Frank! Ask Miss Churchill here if they are
not.

No one quite knew how it came about, but Helen
and Mr. Gayford came together in the arrangement of
the party. Frank was laughing with the Churchill
girls when he should have been attending to his I4dy-
love, or Mr. Gayford got into the carriage without
thinking, or something. It was an utterly accidental
arrangetw nt ; but it came to pass that Frank was on
the hex and the clergyman inside—a change of places
which neither of t'-em regretted.
I've taken your place, I think,' Mr Gayford said,
as Frank came bustling out of the house laden with a
whole collection of things belonging to the ladies that
could not possibly be done without, and brimming
over with good humour and youthful happin,SB. Oh,
never mind,' he retorted; ' Fairy won't mind. Will
you, Fairy? It isn't far.'
It wasn't far; but Helen would rather he had asserted
his right to a seat beside her, and let his cousin go in
the place assigned him on the box. The Ford was
soon reached; and Barney Grubb, apprised of the
advent of company, was ready for them with his boat,
A rough-and-ready sort of man was Barney, carelessly
dressed in a suit of velveteens much the worse for
wear, and with a red handkerchief loosely tied about
his nPck ; a fine, handsome man, with dark eyes and
hair, and a face that had a story in it—a man about
whom no one in Milford knew anything, except that
he had come there suddenly years ago and established
himself and his boat at the ferry. in the very nick of
time, for the old man who had officiated there before
had been found dead on the river bank, and there was
no one at the moment to take his place.
Barney had proved so much stronger of arm and so
much quicker in his movements than his predecessor,
that he was allowed to remain, but all the curiosity
of the neighbourhood failed to find out whence he
came, or who he belonged to. All sorts of stories
were afloat concerning him. He was said to have
been drummed out of the service, and to carry a
brand upon his shoulder; and to be a convicted thief,
and to be a gentleman in hiding for some awful offence
against the law which would come out sometime.