The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-07-16 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVEIL

She bowed her head on her hands and wept again,
and then calling herself an idiot and stamping her
little foot impatiently, as if she were chiding someone
else, and bathed her hot face in cold water, and sat
down by the window again, Helen Ramsay once more,
calm and composed, and with no trace of her emotion
left, save a little pallor and a slight quiver of her red
lips. No one can quite control the mouth. Emotion
may be hidden in the eyes, and no muscle of the face
may stir, but let a man who wants to hide all his feel-
ings hide his mouth or he will betray himself. Helen's
mouth was singularly expressive, and therewas sorrow
and regret in the full red lips still.
I shall have to go away from here,' she said, after
a pause. Of course we cannot keep the thing a
secret, Frank and I. And then, there will be no one
to stand between me and that hateful man. I
wonder what it is in him that I dread so? No gentle-
man on earth could have treated me with more re-
spectful courtesy. Yet, I would rather have rudeness,
and even insult, from another man than the most
delicate attention from him. Perhaps when I am
nothing to his cousin he will not think me worth his
royal attention. I wish he was a hundred miles away
from here, or anywhere else where I am likely to be,
that's all.'

Helen's regard for the Rev. Horace Gayford had
not increased during her stay at Hillford, that was
very certain, and there was a curious dread that he
would take advantage of her altered position with
regard to her cousin to persecute her with his atten-
tions; that she could not put out of her mind when
she thought of him. And then she smiled at herself
for conjuring up all the troubles that were likely to
come of it at once, and called out to someone who was
passing her door, Is that you, Madge, dear; come in
here, will you?'
It was Madge's light footstep that was going by,
slower and with less of buoyancy than had belonged to
it three months ago. It stopped as Helen opened the
door, and beckoned her in. She was very pale, and
there were red circles round her eyes that told of
recent tears; in fact, after her parting from Frank,
Madge had gone to her own room and cried as if her
little heart would break.

- -
Do you want me?' she asked.
Yes, dear. Don't shrink from me, Madge,' and
Helen drew her close to her side, and shut the door.
'I want to cure you, Madge,' she said, and smiled
down upon the piteous face uplifted to hers.
I don't think anyone can cure me.' Madge replied.
am not ill only, but always tired and stupid.
And unhappy, dear?'
No ; why should I be unhappy?'
You know best, Madge. Suppose I know the
trouble, dear?'
Oh, no, no l' Madge said, a scared look coming
into her eyes. 'No one can know; there is no trouble;
why should there be?'
6 t think there is. Rest your head here, Madge,
while I talk to you, on my shoulder, dear, and let me
guess at it. Suppose I know all about it, little
woman? Suppose I heard something that was saidto
you in the garden this afternoon, aud—'
Oh, Helen! let me go. lam too wicked to come
near you, and I could not help it. I '
No, of course you could not help it; that's just
what Frank said. He couldn't help it; nobody can, I
suppose. Madge dear, would it break your heart to
know that Frank and I have made up our minds that
nothing on earth should ever induce us to marry each
other; and that we are going to be brother and
sister from this day? Don't stare at me like that
child; it is true.'
11,- len had hardly calculated the weak state that '
poor Madge had fallen into. No one really suspected
how far the mischief had gone, and she was alarmed
and astonished to see her draw her breath in a sort of
gasp and then go off into a fit of fierce hysterics; the
revulsion of feeling had been too much, coming, as it
did, on something very like despair.
'Thank goodness, everybody is out,' Helen thought
to herself as she laid Madge down on her couch and
attended to her. It won't kill her, and they will find
a wonderful cure effected by the time they come back,
expect.'
Poor Madge wore her heart upon her sleeve, and
Helen felt just a little bit of contempt for her in con-
sequence. She would have died before she would
have betrayed to her dearest friend what Madge had
let her see. She tended the soft-hearted little thing,
and waited for her agitation to spend itself before she
spoke to her again.
Now then,' she said with a pleasant smile, it is
all over.
I don't understand,' Madge said, sitting up, and
looking at her with a puzzled face. Did you
gay-
'l said that Frank was free, dear, as far as I am
concerned,' she said very quietly. We know we are
not suited to each other, and we have spoken out at
last. If we had done it sooner perhaps, we might
have saved you some suffering.'
I have been very weak, very wicked, I think,'
Madge said sorrowfully. Frank tried to do his duty,
and he never said a word to me till to-day, and we
were in the garden, and—'
'And it had to be spoken, eh ?' Helen said. It is
best that it is out, dear ; but we are not going to
speak of it just yet, Frank and I. We do not want to
set all Hillford talking about our affairs; but you
will be happy now Madge, and I shall be your sister
and Frank's if you will let me, and we will all forget
that there was ever anything else thought of.'
She took Madge in her arms and kissed her with a
tenderness that left no doubt of her sincerity, and the
smiles that had been so rare of late came back to the
pale face and Madge looked as if a great weight of
sorrow had been lifted from her heart, and left her
her own bright self once more.
I—l thought you were bound in some way,' she
said, and that there was a will or something to make
_
you keep your word to Frank.'
No, dear—nothing—cnly the wishes of our pa-rents
who loved each other dearly. I made sure of that
before I allowed myself to think that the tie between
us had better be broken: Frank loses nothing,
neither do I, by what we have done. It is better for
us to understand each other now than when it is too
late.'

Madge kissed Helen, and wondered in her hearthow
any one having power to marry Frank Hatherleigh
could be so blind and neglectful of her own
advantage as to give him up. To her he was the em-
bodiment of all that was noble and gracious, and she
could conceive no lot so happy as the blissful one of
being his wife. Helen was an enigma she could not
understand, if she could voluntarily resign such a
paradise as life with him would be, and be content to
go her way alone.
She hugged Helen with something of her old nerve
when she left her, and her voice went echoing through
the house presently in a line of song, to the amaze-
ment of her mother and sister who came in and heard
her.

'ls that Madge?' Mrs. Churchill asked; and Helen,
who had had come down to the hall at the sound of
their footsteps, answered that it was.
She is better, I am sure he is,' the mother said;
and Helen replied demurely that she believed Madge
was feeling better; indeed, she had said as much
when she spoke to her just now.'
'lt is the beautiful weather,' Norah said, 'the even-
ing is enough to exhilarate any one. Won't you come
in, Mr. Gaylord?' she asked of the clergyman, who
was with them.
Just for a moment,' was the answer from Horace
Gayford, and Helen shivered as he entered the Ir_use.
She wanted to run away and shut herself up in her
own room, and somehow it was as if he had bidden
her stay and she was obliged to do so. She went
si ently into the drawing-room with them and sat
down, making Mrs. Churchill exclaim at her sudden
paleness.
' My dear, are you ill?' she asked.
'No, I don't think I am,' Helen answered, 'I felt a
shiver, that was all.'
All—you looked for a moment as if you had seen
a ghost. Did she not, Mr. Gayford
• I was not noticing Miss Ramsay,' he said in his low
telling voice. I hope you are mistaken; we cannot
afford to have her ill.' . .

He did not go near her, nor seem to notice her in
any way, and her colour came back, and she was able
to talk about Madge, who had revived in a,most won-
derful fashion, and she was more like herself than
they had seen her for a longtime.
What have you done to her?' asked Mrs. Churchill,
to whom the manner of the cure was a mystery as
yet; she has changed since we went out.'
I have not done anything,' Helen replied, only
striven to cheer her up a little; she had got too down-
cast.'
You have given her your own spirits, my dear,'
Madge's mother said, looking at Helen with some
concern. he little thought of the secret between the
two, n, r how heavy Helen's heart was, though she
knew she had done what would be for the happiness
of all three of them in the long run.
Madge's appetite had come back with her new hap.
piness, and she ate some supper with the rest with quite
a zest, and made them all regard her with a curiosity
they could not repress.
What has happened to her and to Helen?' Mrs.
Churchill said to herself. And Mr. Gayford was
equally puzzled.
' What is it?' he said to himself. As far as that
child is concerned it is a resurrection; she was going
into her grave by inches, and I think I know what
about. I must watch. There is something going on
that I do not comprehend, and it won't do for me not
to know.'
Astute as he was, he was completely baffled this
time, and had no more idea of what had passed than
an utter stranger. He tried to question Madge; but
that usually communicative young lady was as dumb
as the proverbial oyster about anything he wanted to
know.
I came in for five minutes Miss Madge, and I
think seeing you so much like your old self
has made me forget the time and stay,' he said, as
be sat by her side at supper—a meal that was
aalnwdaywic
s which and sociable in Mrs. Churchill's house,
the young clergyman often shared.
What magic has been wrought since I saw you this
morning ?'
None that I know of. I feel better, that is all.'

he Good
_ _ _
'I thought Miss Ramsey had been playing t
Fairy and giving you a fillip, perhaps.'
Yes, that's just it,' Madge replied, looking hhu
full in the face and meeting his gaze undauntedly,
Helen did give me a "fillip," as you call it. she
told me I ought to rouse myself, and rhave.'
Not to be got at that way,' the clergyman thought
to himself. 'I must try Helen.'
He did not speak to her till they were parting,
and then he said, suddenly 'One moment, Alio
Ramsay.'

Don't•spetia-th mita- ben'teome near me r Helen
said, excitedly. 'You frighten me.'
lam very sorry to hear that. I only wanted to
ask you when you will see Frank again. I missed
him to day somehow; and I want to say a word tiq
him:
'To-morrow. He has some business here.'
Thank you. Good night.'
Good-night.'
She went in somewhat hurriedly and shut the door,
and the Rev. Horace Gayford walked away with an
ugly smile on his lips.
I have learned nothing from her either,' as far alit
that goes,' he said to himself, But I know this muc,N
I can make Miss Helen Ramsay my willing slave. ShA
is afraid of me, and when they fear—ah, well! It IA
an odd world, and the working of a woman's min_d_l
about the oddest thing in it.
(To be continued.)

ROYAL REVIEW AT ALDERSHOTi

60,000 TROOPS MARCH PAST THE QUEEN.
Perhaps with the exception of the time when the
late Czar of Russia inspected-the troops stationed at
Aldershot, that town has never been so full of visitors
as it was on Saturday. People flocked into it from
all quarters for the purpose of witnessing the Jubilee
review. The spectacle of Saturday is in strange con-
trast with the first camp wbich was held in the neigh-
bourhood, when a few thousand men pitched their
tents on Chobham Common, and her Majesty and
the Prince Cx,nsort were pleased to congratulate Lord
Hardinge en the admirable appearance and discipline
of the men, who were armed with the good old "Brown
Bess," and whose flanks were protected by smooth-
bore guns, which had an effective fire at 800 yards.
Yet the days of 1853 were regarded by military men
with delight, although there was then, as there is
now, a section of the force who shook their heads and
wondered what the army was coming to. Since then
there has been a continuous improvement. Guns
which cannot kill at 2000 yards are condemned, and
riflemen who cannot draw a bead line at 800 are re-
garded as almost unfit for service. From the time
the camp was first formed there her Majesty has
from time to time made it a point of reviewing her
troops at this great centre of military instruction. It
has also been the favourite resort of the great soldiers
of Europe, and whenever some war-scarred hero of
fame has visited our shores, there has been put before
his eyes in the dismal Long Valley a force representative
of the backbone of the British army. It was Scarlett's
wont to boast that if foreigners wished to see the
stuff Englishmen were made of they should witness a
field-day on that stretch of country running from
Hungry-hill to the Basingstoke Canal. Sir Hope
Grant, not by any means an inexperienced soldier,
held that the country around Aldershot was the best
training-ground in the world; and Lysons, who once
rushed into it with a hostile force without firing a
shot, declared that it was the most defensible position
in all England. Although there have been many
great rev ews held there, yet perhaps the most im-
portant of all is that which took place on Satur-
day. The force engaged was a thoroughly repre-
sentative one, for among those on the ground
were 30,000 volunteers— a body which was not
in existence at the time the camp was formed, but
which year after year since hag grown in strength
and importance, until at last it is regarded
as the most unique body the world has known.
It was with no little difficulty that they were
brought to the spot. The energies of the South-
Western Railway Company were taxed to their
utmost to get them on the ground in time for the
march past. Not so, however, with regard to the
Regulars, who came in, battalion after battalion, day
after day during the week, and who went into the
camps which had been laid out for them under the
experienced hand of Colonel Crealock. Day after
day those camps have grown in size, until the whole
country around. Aldershot on Saturday resembled a
sanvas city, which stretched away from the base of
Hartford-bridge flats to Hungry-hill. The total
force on the ground was supposed to number 58,000
men, and included 21,201 Regulars, 4568 Militia,
274 Yeomanry, and 33,000 Volunteers. It was
set in motion at an early hour, all troops being in
position at ten o'clock. They were drawn up as
follows :--
IST LINE.-IST ARMY Cortes (Regulars, Militia, and
Yeomanry), under the command of General Sir
Archibald Alison.—R.H.A. : let Division, in quarter
columns of batteries at full intervals; 2nd Division
behind it in Same formation. Cavalry in mass of half-
brigades. The sth Lancers were attached to the
Light Brigade. The Yeomanry were attached to the
Cavalry Division, and drawn up (in mass of regiments
in column of squadrons) under instructions from the
general officer commanding Cavalry Division. In-
fantry: Cadets formed as a brigade in mass of
quarter-columns; let, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Divisions in
line of brigade masses, each brigade beibg in mass of
quarter-columns.
2ND ARMY CORPS, Lieutenant-general Sir Evelyn
Wood (Volunteers).—On the left of the Ist Army
Corps, and on the same alignment, 60 paces between
army corps—Mounted Infantry, Artillery, Engineers,
Cadets, and infantry divisions in line of brigade
masses, each brigade being in mass of quarter.
columns, with 12 paces distance between battalions in
each mass; Medical Staff Corps.
2ND LlNE.—Field Artillery on the ridge east of the
Long Valley, under instructions given to the general
officer commanding Royal Artillery; Royal Engineer
troops and companies at half interval; Commissariat
and Transport Corps at half interval; Medical Staff
Corps (as a bearer column).
The ground occupied was that stretching from
Miles Hill to within half a mile of Cesar's Camp, and
the saluting point was a little to the south of Cocked
Hat Wood, both flanks of which were crowded with
spectators. Trains heavily laden with Volunteers
commenced arriving at Farnborough and at the North
Camp Station of the South-Railway soon after four
o'clock, and continued until about half-past six, when
almost all the men taking part in the review had
arrived on the ground, and partook of refreshments
prior to entering on the work of the day. After the
arrival of the "V oltinteers, passenger trains commenced
running into Aldershot Town Station, and up till
eleven a constant stream of persons poured through
the town on their way to tho Long Valley.
Among the early arrivals were the Prince and
Princess of Wales, with their three daughters, and
the Kings of Saxony and Greece, who reached Farn-
borough Station shortly after ten o'clock. Members
of both Houses of Parliament also arrived in con-
siderable number, and occupied seats in the grand
stand, which had been erected to the left of the
enclosure. _

Her Majeety arrived in the Long Talley a; ten
minutes past eleven, and was received with the
customary Royal salute. Her escort was composed
of a troop of the 18th Hussars and an escort of
officers, among whom was Prince Albert Victor, and
before them rode several members of the staff and the
officers of the Indian contingent who are at present
on leave of absence in this country. Prince Henry
of Battenberg, the Duke of Teck, and a host
of other notables also rode with the escort.
Opposite the saluting point were stationed the
Duke of Cambridge and the headquarter staff,
with whom also were the Prince of Wales, the
Duke of Connaught, and other members of the
Royal family. In the Royal carriage, in addition to
her Majesty, were Princess Christian and Princess
Beatrice. No sooner had the strains of the National
Anthem died away than the Commander-in-Chief
presented the address from the army to her Majesty,
and called for three cheers for the Queen, which were
given with that precision and hearty goodwill which
distinguishes British soldiers. The following is the
address:

"Your Majesty's army, including the reserve
forces, humbly approaches the throne, and 6ffers its
respectful homage and congratulations upon the com-
pletion of the 50th year of your Majesty's reign, and
begs your Majesty's gracious acceptance of an offering
to commemorate the happy event, and as a tribute of
its love and devotion. Daring these 50 years the
army has been called upon to maintain the interests
of the British Empire in every quarter of the globe,
and is deeply grateful for the concern your Majesty
has ever shown for the widows and orphans of those
who had fallen in defence of the British flag. In
common with the rest of your Majesty's subjects, your
army desires to express its gratitude to Almighty God
for such a glorious reign, and prays your Majesty may
long be spared to reign over a loyal and contented
people."
Contrary to general expectation, the usual inspec-
tion of the line was dispensed with and the column
was at once set in motion. - Among the first troops to
pass were the students of Sandhurst, and then fol-
lowed the brigade of Guards in column of double
companies, their splendid dressing and well-kept
lines evoking unbounded applause from the thousands
of spectators on the grand stand and the heights in
the rear. But perhaps the enthusiasm reached its
climax when the Marines, under Colonel Tuson,
swept by in that grandly solid formation for
which they are so distinguished. Their tattered
colours bore evidence of the good service they had
rendered to their Queen and country in every part
of the world. Colonel Fitzroy had also reason
to be proud of the Fusilier Brigade, and the men
of the Norfolk, Yorkshire, Northampton, and
Manchester Regiments had no less reason to
take credit for their excellent formation, for
they kept together shoulder to shoulder
and ,with that touch which is so singularly
characteristic of the line. The skid of the bagpipes
next announced that the Scottish Borderers and the
Cameron Highlanders were at hand, and they were
followed by the Ist Middlesex and Royal Sussex.
The kilted corps appeared to be the special favourites
of the public, and following them came Slade's
Brigade of Rifles, of which it is needless to say any-
thing, as their fame is of world-wide renown. Col.
Degacher, with the West Surrey, the 3rd Fusiliers,
the 3rd Bedford, and the 3rd East Surrey Rogiments,
with their massed bands at their bead, with the 7th
Brigade, were the next to pass their Sovereign, and,
judging from the applause which greeted them, the
Surrey men appeared to be as . popular in the Long
Valley as the representatives of that historic county
in the cricket field. Following this brigade came Col.
C. Tucker, with the Oxford Light Infantry, the 3rd
Royal Berke, and the 7th King's Rifles, whose march
past was somewhat marred by the breaking up of the
leading company. At this time the dust was
blowing across the valley and rendering it exceed-
ingly unpleasant to the spectators. It was
therefore deemed advisable to somewhat alter the
programme, and to allow of the infantry passing
before the mounted troops. The infantry of the line
having passed, all eyes were directed towards the
colnmn which was the next to approach her Majesty.
It consisted of Lieutenant-General Sir Evelyn Wood's
army corps, and was composed exclusively of some
30,000 British Volunteers. Following the highly-
trained regiments which had preceded them it was
hardly to be expected that the same perfect forma-
tion should be maintained. Yet as brigade after brigade
of volunteers swept by, the same shoulder to shoulder
feeling seemed to prevail, and with admirable disci-
pline they all passed the Queen. They came in for
no mean measure of applause, and soldiers who years
ago regarded this force with eyes not altogether
favourable seemed to think that at last it was entitled
to be ranked as one of the great defensive lines of
the country. Perhaps no soldier of this century has
ever had the honour of leading such a magnificent
body of men as those which Lieutenant-General Sir
Evelyn Wood commanded on Saturday. The first

contingent was the Volunteer Artillery, who were-
under the charge of Colonel Hozier. Conspicuous
among all as the Cinque Ports Division. The
Engineers followed, under the guidance of Colonel
Plant, of Briltol, who is so well known as the
originator of the camp of instruction at Chathara.
The Cadet Corps, under the command of Coloriel
Luce, composed of students at Marlborough, Charter-
house, Cheltenham, Winchester, and Clifton, was
also very cordially received. But perhaps the greatest
measure of public approbation was bestowed on
Colonel Lumsden's brigade, in which were the London
Scottish and the Artists', the ringing cheers which ,
came from the stand giving ample evidence of the
high appreciation in which our citizen soldiers are
regarded by men who have led the troops on to
victory in every part of the world. The echoes of
applause Lad hardly died away before cheer after
cheer rent the air for the London Irish, the Rangers,
and the Ist London, whose style of going was simply
superb. If Colonel Ward ever has occasion to go
into action he would wish for no better body of men
to command. Colonel Ingram followed next with a
workable brigade, comprised of Middlesex men, who
appeared fit for anything. The 4th Brigade was
under the command of Colonel Wethered, who had
the 2nd Oxfordshire, the Ist Wilts, and the Ist Bucks.
The fifth was assigned to Colonel A. C. Gough, who
had the 3rd Volunteer Battalion South Staffordshire
and the Ist and 2nd Gloucester Regiments. He was
followed by Lieutenant-colonel Bridgford, with the
sth and 6th Lancashire, the Ist Leicester, and the
lst. Lincolnshire, and the 7th Lieutenant-colonel
Mosse-Robinson with the let and 2nd Surrey. To
Colonel Farrell was allotted the honour of leading the
Bth Brigade, which consisted of the 2nd and 3rd Bat-
talions of the Royal West Kent and the 2nd Battalion
of the East Kent Regiment. The 9th Brigade was
headed by Colonel Sir H. Fletcher, and was com-
posed of the Ist and 2nd Volunteer Battalions of the
Royal Sussex and the let Cinque Ports. At the
head of the 10th rode Sir W. Humphery,
_