The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-08-06 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

In the Court of Appeal on Monday the Lords Justices
dismissed an appeal by the General Council of Medical
Education against a decision of Jußtices Matthew and
Smith requiring the council to restore the nAme of
Mr. F. H. Partridge to the register of dentists.
The Italian Ministry left for Stradella on Tuesday
evening to attend the obsequies of Signor Depretis,
which were conducted oz an imposing scale. The
Municipal Council of Rome attended the funeral, and
will commemorate the memory of the deceased states-
man by erecting a monument and in other ways.
A large number of medical men from all parts of the
United Kingdom some from the Continent of Europe
and some from America, arrived in Dublin on Monday
for the annual Congress of the British Medical Asso-
ciation, which opened on Tuesday. Dr. Banks, the
President elect, entertained the leading members at
dinner, Lord Londonderry being also a guest. A recep-
tion was afterwards held for all the members of tho
Asociation. The sectional addresses were delivered
by Mr. Gairdner in medicine, Mr. Edward Hamilton,
of Dublin, in surgery, and Rev. Dr. Haughton in public
medicine.
The Earls of Wharncliffe and Londesborough are
taking an active interest in the movement for Putney..
lug the dairy farming in Yoe:shire. and especially in
the manufacture of butter, the quality of which i is not,
it is said, at all worthy of the county. Lord Wharn-
cliffe is arranging for a series of practical lectures, to
be given to his tenants, on dairy farming. A large
quantity of Danish and other foreign butter is now
sold in the agrioultuial districts of Yorkshire, in con-
sequence of the inferiority of the home-made article.
At the monthly meeting of the Oswaldtwistle Local
Board on Monday the members expressed great con-
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supply
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aLd Liverpool Canal is so low that the larger boats
The country reservoirs
h otur
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iaaltor
along
are devoid of water. Two large'
cannotth r throughout travel
lodges which supply some print works are also empty
du
rs adl ,
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and
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re
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eurgeu shta
vheo itdoa y
es
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and the works are stopped, for a longer period than
Many, wf
oerl st
haerier
rt
cattle.

At the Wesleyan Conference at Manchester, on
Monday, a number of memorials and suggestions were
received from district meetings and circuits Special
attention has been given to the auxiliary fund, which is
heavily in debt and the income decreasing. Several
districts urged that the mode of raising the fund should
be modified. So far the district temperance sub•
committee is not represented in the district meetings,
and is deprived of a privilege enjoyed by other sub-
committees. A large number of districts asked that
this might be rectified.
one of the ornamental plantations
e itliabigihisqbteodnebyWd.
tohooEarl of Strafford on the Wentworth
Castle estate, a favourite pleasure resort, situated near
Worsbro' Common was to a great eaten'', so far as the
underwood iS concernel, destroyed on Monday evening
by fire, caused by children playing. Every effort was
to check the flames by cutting a ditch and madethrow-
jug water, but a strong breeze was blowing, and owing
to the elevated position of the plantation, the flames
did much damage.
About 3000 Bolton ratepayers assembled on Monday
evening to protest against the action of the authorities
in introducing County Constabulary and Hussars into
the town in connection with the strike of the engineers.
Several speakers demanded that the Home Secretary
should intervene, and the conduct of the Mayor and
magistrates 'was denounced, it being urged that the
county Police and military were introduced only in tho
interests of the employers.
Early on Monday morning a tire broke out on the
ferm of Westmains Castle, Huntley, near Dundee.
The flames first appeared in the straw-barn, and spread
to the byres, stables, granaries, and threshing•mill.
The cattle were all saved, but 13 horses were burned to
death, and large quantities of straw, grain, and farm
implements were destroyed. The damage, which is
estimated at from £lOOO to £5OOO, is insured. The
origin of tbs.? fire is unknown.
•
• ~..

Mr. Chamberlain, writing to a Welsh correspondent
on the question of the anti.tithe agitation in Wales,
says he gave his vote the other night against the ad—
journment of the House on the tithe riots question,
and the delay which such adjournment would have
caused. The Welsh people, he says, are being deceived
by their advisers; but he has no doubt tha', in the
long run, they will do him justice. He disapproves of
the resort to violence as, with the extension of the
franchise, the fullest opportunity is now given to all to
secure redress by Constitutional means
The Summer Graduation Ceremonial of Eainburgh
University took place on Wednesday. The following
three gentlemen received the Honorary Degree of
Doctor of Laws Dr. R. H. Dunning, Rio Janeiro, a
distinguished physician and a liberal benefactor of
Edinburgh University; Mr. H. J. Roby, BLA , Fellow
of St John's College, Cambridge, a distinguished
classical scholar; and Professor Asa Gray, M.D.,
Professor of Botany, Harvard University, United States.
Lord Chancellor Inglis conferred the degrees.

Mr. Gladstone will place the first cylinder in position
for the new railway bridge ecross the Dee, near
Connah's Quay, on the 16th inst. This bridge will be
constructed by the Manchester, Sheffield, and
Lincolnshire Railway Company, and will give the
whole of the coalfields and mineral district of North
Wales, which is capable of producing four million tons
per annum, direct access with the Mersey and the
manufacturing districts of the North of England.
Colonel T Graham, R.A.. has been appointed
to the command of the Royal Artillery at Neemuch,
Bernal.

MM. Bonvalot and Cantle, of the French Geo-
graphical Society, and M. Pepin, an artist, who recently
arrived at Chitral overland from RUM& and were taken
for Ru6sian explorers, are now at Gilgit. They are in
good health, and express themselves as very grateful
for the assistance afforded them by the Indian Govern-
ment.

A statistical return of the extent of land in Poland
owned by foreigners was published on Tuesday. The
total area of land so held is 1,900,000 acres, and of the
owners 29,370 are Prussians (of whom upwards cf 900
Dome under the category of large landed proprietors,
while about 550 are described as manufacturers), 3040
are Austrians, and 77 belong to other nationalities.
Two fatal cases of cholera are officially reported as
having occurrei at Malta. The officials are doing their
utmost to prevent the spread of the disease by re-
moving suspicious cases to the Lazzaretto, and by
thoroughly cleansing out the houses. Foul bills of
health have been issued.

The number and tonnage of British visesels respecting
whose loss reports were received at the Board of Trade
daring the month of July, 1887, and the number of
lives lost are as follows: Sailing vessels, 46; tonnage,
10,161; lives lost. 60. Steam vessels, 7; tonnage, 2837;
lives lost, 4. Total, vessels. 53; tonnage, 12,998 : lives
lost. 64. The above is a record of "reports received"
in the month, and not of wrecks which occurred during
the month. Many of the reports received in July
relate to casualties which occurred in previous months.
Casualties not resulting in total loss of vessels, and the
lives lost by such casualties are not included.
The Exchange Telegraph Company has excellent
authority for stating that Sir Charles Warren, in his
report on the Case inquiry, expresses his belief that
Police-constable Eadacott did not commit wilful
perjury. He condemns the constable for lack of
discretion and other failings but is of opinion that
when he arrested Miss Cass he was honestly mistaken
as to her identity.
A magistrate attended the public hospital at Shef-
field on Tuesday afternoon, to take the depositions of
Annie Townsend, the wife of Walter Townsend, who
is in custody charged with shooting, with intent to
murder, her on Sunday night. The woman stated that
she met her husband while going home. He pressed
her to continue living with him but she declined, and
asked him to return two wedding rings. He refused,
and then drawing a revolver shot her down the throat.
The injured woman continues in a critical state, the
bullet being still in her throat. Her relatives were not
permitted to see her on Tuesday.
At a special meeting of the Dublin Corporation on
Tuesday afternoon, the freedom of the City was con-
ferred on Mr. Collins, of Boston (U.S.A.), and Mr.
William O'Brien, M.P The former, in acknowledging
the honour, said the Irish people at borne were in the
gap. end wherever they would lead. the Irish race in
America would follow. Mr. O'Brien stated that
Mr. Parnell. who was a keen observer of the times, had
recently told him that Mr. Gladstone was bound to win
England if the Irish people gave him fair play. Fair
play he would have, and in addition to that he would
have the aid of the Irish race.
At a meeting of the National League in Dublin on
Tuesday, the first since the passing of the Crimes Act,
receipts were announced from America of £5200 for
evicted tenants. Mr. Dawson said if the National
League was suppressed the municipal bodies, led by
the Dublin Oornoration, would carry on the fight.
Congressman Collins said the people might be assured
of American sympathy and support. The Lord Mayor,
M.P., said, proclamation or no proclamation, the fight
would go on. the League would continue its glorious
pork, defending oppressed tenantry, and fighting for
the people's rights.
The body of Mrs. Hurst, who, with her husband and
five others, was drowned by the upsetting of the
pleasure-boat Dawn of Day at Yarmouth. was picked
up on Tuesday by some visitors near St. Nicholas
Lightship, and conveyed to the mortuary- The
bodies of the four persons lost by the unsettles', of a,
boat on the Brevrlon water have now all been re-
covered. Mrs. Hurst resi2ed at St. Thomas-road,
Finsbury Park.
At the Leeds Assizss on Tuesday, Joseph Perry.
aged 20 years, a composit-r. was sentenced to 12
years' penal servitude for attempting to murder Emily
Jowitt, a young ssoman to whom be had paid his
addresses, by shooting her with a revolver. The occur-
rence took place in Mass after the young woman told
him she wanted to have nothing more to do with him.
Six bullets lodged in her head, and for some time her
life was despaired of.
About 2000 liberals from Leeds and York held a
demonstration in Hawarden Clastle Park on Tuesday
afternoon. Mr. W. H. Gladstone, acknowledging a
vote of thanks to Mr. Gladstone, said there was no
greater proof of the devotion of the people of this
country to his father than the fact that notwith-
standing the unfortunate schism in the Liberal party,
the core of that party remained true to him, through
thick and thin, in his policy of conciliation towards
Ireland—a policy which, he firmly believed, would
bring contentment to that country, and domestic
peace to the United Kingdom.
At Ballvgibbin, near Mitobelatown. on Monday
night, a young farmer, named Casey, and an emergency
man on the estate of Mr. Nathaniel Buckley, named
James Tobin. got into an altercation over a trivial
matter, when Tobiu, who was the worse for liquor, drew
a revolver and fired several shots at his companion.
Casey fell wounded by the roadaide, a bullet having
lsdged in his back. He lies in a precarious condition.
Tobin is in custody.
At a meeting of the Cutlers Company of Sheffield on
Tuesday Mr. James Dixon was nominated as Master
Cutler elect. Mr. Dixon, who is a member of the firm
of James Dixon and Sons, merchants, and manu-
facturers of silver and plated goods, Sheffield and
London. will be formally elected on the first Thursday
in September. and the Cutlers' Feast will take place on
the evening of that day.
The ranger to the Board of Conservators of Clent-
bill near Stourbridge, has reported a serions
destruction of soling nr trees at that place, some 15,000
healthy trees of about four yea-s' growth having been
burnt, or so much injured by fire as to require their
being replaced. It is not known whether the con-
flagration was the result of intentional mischief.
Early on Tuesday morning the sheriff's deputy and a
large number of emergency men, escorted by a force of
police, seized nearly 300 sheep and 30 head of cattle
belonging to Messrs. Ryan, Cosgrove, and Porde, three
of the tenants decreed for rents on the Loughrea
Estate at the suit of Lord CJlanriearcle. The stock
seized was driven to the yard of the rent office.
The sub-sheriff of the county Limerick. Mr. Frederick
Hobson, with a party of bailiffs and a protective force
of constabulary, proceeded to Abbeyfeale on Tuesday,
and evicted five families for non-nayment of rent. The
evictions were carried out peacefully, and the tenants
were -subsequently readmitted as caretakers of the
holdings.

Before the Norwich magistrates. on Tuesday, Joseph
Stanley, solicitor, and coroner for Norfolk, was sum-
moned by Donald Edwards, engineer, a former client,
for assault; and Ed wards was summoned by Mr. Stanley
for alleged threatening language. The parties met in
London-street, and Edwards, it was stated, addressed
Stanley as a "polluted, perjured scoundrel," a remark
which had reference to evidence given by Stanley at
the Norwich Assize Court in a case in which Edwards
was plaintiff. Edwards stated that upon making the
remark, Stanley struck him a violent blow across the
face with an umbrella, causing him to fall. Upon re-
pt:fling his feet, Edwards, as alleged, was pinioned by
Stanley's clerk. whilst a further blow was given. Mr.
Stanley was fined n and costs for the assault. The
case against Edwards was dismissed, on the ground that
the language used by him, though improper, was not
threatoning.
A shocking hoist accident occurred on Tuesday
evening at the factory of Messrs. Taylor and Sons, lace
manfacturers and engineers, Queen's-road, Nottingham.
Work being over for the day, seven of the girls, who
had been ongaced in the fourth storey, got into the
hoist for the purpose of descending to
the ground floor..
When half way down the chain broke, and the occu-
pants of the hoist ware dashed to the bottom. Four of
the girs escaped with comparatively slight hurts, but
the other three were seriously Injured. Lizzie Deavill
l
sustained a compound fracture of the leg, Rose Poyser
had her jaw fractured and was otherwise injured, and
Annie Lawson had her leg broken. They were at 00C3
conveyed to the General Hospital. The hoist was
employed for carrying lace goods from one storey to
th, other, and, it is said, was not intended for the use
of workpeople. _ _

There is every probability that the projected duel
between M. Ferry and General Boulanger will not tako
place, owing to the conditions insisted on by tha
latter.

The Financial Secretary to the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners was examined before the Commission
on the Tithe Riots, at Rhyl, on Tuesday. Ile said, as
trustees haring enormous charges upon them, the
Commissioners felt that they could not reduce the
tithed, although as landowners they had largely reduced
rents in consequence of the agricultural depression.
They received 2000) a year from tithes in Wales, and
spent 165,000 in the Principality.
Sir Algernon Borthwick unveiled on Tuesday, in the
crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, a bust of the
late Charles Reade.
The annual meeting of the British Medical Associa.
'ion was opened in Dublin on Tuesday. In his Presi-
dential address delivered the other evening, Dr. J T.
Banks stated that the association now numbered 12,000
members. Whilst abstaining from discussing the
expediency of women entering the medical vrofe sion,
he mentioned that the Colleges of Physicians and
Surgeons had thrown open their doors to them, and he
pointed out that there was a great field open fcr
medical women in India.
The receipts on account of revenue from the let cf
April,lBB7. when there was a balance of £5, 950,1u7, ta
July 39, 1887, were £26,586,466, against £26,555,762 in
the corresponding period of the preceding financial
year, which began with a balance of £5,625,944. The
net expenditure was £30,919,978, against £31,489,436 ta
Ito same date in the previous year. The Treasury
balances on July 30, 1887, amounted to £1,516,455, an
at the same date in 1886 to £1,882,323. : .) , • 2

..A

‘.l (ik•

1

,
BY THE
Author of" The Heiress of Atherstone Graisijo."

CHAPTER XV.
GONE.

lie is gone on the mountain,
He is lost in the forest,
Like a summer-dried fountain,
When otr need is the sorest.—Scorr.

NOBLER THAN REVENGE.

I.IIAvE you come to scold me P' asked Helen Ramsay
of her guardian as she met him in the hall. The rest
of the family had considered the lawyer's visit as hers,
and were conspicuous by their absence. Mr. Jarvis
hid dotibtless some business to talk to his ward about.
They could welcome him later.
'I have come to see you, my dear,' he said rather
gravely, she thought. 'Not to scold you; you and
Frank were right, I have no doubt.'
Is anything the matter?' she asked, startled at tha
serious expression on his face. She drew him into
the pretty morning room they usually occupied, and
made him sit down while she stood before him won-
derirg.
I hope not,' he answered. Frank did not seena
to be so much affected when he came to me with his
news as to make me fear he was going to do anything
rash.
• What do you mean?' she asked. 'Why should he
do anything rash? We parted the best of friends,
guardy, dear; and I am going to he his wife's sister
bye-and-bye.'
'His wife's sister! Is there anything of that sort,
then?'

Of course there is; on his side, not on mine.
Believe that, Mr. Jarvis, I had no motive.'
lam sure of it, my dear. But who is the other
lady?'
'Madge.'
What, little Madge Churchill r
• Why, she is only a child.'
'She is eighteen.'
Is she? How time flies, to be sure. What a pair
of babies they will be, if it ever comes to pass. Your
news has relieved me somewhat, my dear.
'How—what is wrong ?,
Nothing, I hope. I suppose Frank is here, billing
and cooing, and so forth. It is a case of "off with the
old love and on with the new," with a vengeance.'

'There never was any old love, guardy dear. We
tried to think there was, and to be dutiful children;
but it wouldn't do. What makes you think Frank is
here? He went away yesterday afternoon; the affa'r
is strictly private as yet. No one knows anything
about it but me. Please don't say anything till after
we have been away to the sea-side. I don't want to
be a mark for all the scandal-mongers in Hillfora.'
'I won't say anything, my dear. What time did
Frank go away from here? He has not been back in
town since yesterday, that I can bear; they called on
me from his office this morning to ask about him, and
directly fterwards his landlady came. She was very
much concerned, poor soul; he has been a model
lodger, I should say, if his staying away for one night
makes her so uneasy.'
You are quite as uneasy,' Helen said, her face paling
as she spoke. I can hear it in your voice and see it
in your face; something must have happened to him.
What do you think it is?'
My dear, to speak honestly, I don't know what to
think,' the lawyer said gravely. 'Frank is careless
enough in most things, but I don't think he would
leaven matter of business unattended to, as he evidently
has done and he is not in the habit of making people
uncomfortable if he can help it; I am fearful that
something has happened to him.'
Helen felt as if the room was turning round with
her. A horrible dread of she scarce knew what
seemed to take hold of her; but she controlled herself
with an effort, and waited to hear more.

I want you to tell me exactly where Frank went
when he was here the day before yesterday,' Mr.
Jarvis said. There may be some clue to tho mystery
in Flt Ilford. I have sent wherever I can imagine him
to have been in London, but no one seems to have
seen him since he came here.'
He didn't go anywhere, I fancy. He must have
left Rillford directly he went from here,' Helen said,
trying to recall everything Frank had said or done that
afternoon that had become so eventful by reason of his
disappearance. 'He and I and Madge talked
together, and he made it all right with her.'
And was happy and cheerful?'
Yes,' Helen said, with a half sigh to think how
happy Frank had seemed in his freedom, or rather in
his now bondage. Quite happy and very cheerful.
Be left us because he had two or three places to go to
in Hillford. But he didn't go to eitlaer of them.
You are sure of that?'

• Yes, the people came to enquire after him. Mr.
Simpson was very angry at his not keeping his ap-
pointment with him; and then another man came. I
didn't see him. but I heard him—a rude man, who
said Frank had lost him the sale of a valuable dog, by
promising to go and look at it, and never keeping his
word.'

It is very odd,' Mr. Jarvis said. The most care-
less of mankind would surely keep an appointment
when it was to receive money. I am sorely afraid
something has happened to the lad; I fancied that
what had passed between you two might have driven
him to some mad scheme. Men go and enlist, and
vanish, and do all sorts of crazy things under the in-
fluence of bitterness and disappointment; but there
was none in his case, you say.'
Not a bit—relief and thanksgiving, I should say.
What can be done?'
'I don't know. Don't say anything about it till I
have made enquiries. All our fears may turn out to
be nothing, after all. Don't frighten that poor child;
It will all come right, I daresay.'
There was a terrible misgiving in his heart, though
lie spoke cheerfully, and he saw that Helen shared it.
But they both of them contrived that the rest of the
family should not see it, and Helen contrived to answer
Madge's frightened questions as calmly as if Frank
were before her in the flesh while she was speaking of
him.
You didn't tell him, did you, dear?' Madge asked
in dismay. Him,' meaning Mr. Jarvis,.
Yes, you little goose, I did,' she said with a smile.
Do you think I have any secrets from my dear
guardy ? Don't look so frightened, child; he isn't
going to publish the matter; it was right for him to
know, my dear, he is Frank's guardian as well as
mine.'
Then Frank should have told him,' Madge said,
with ever so little a pout.
'Suppose he didn't like to, and left it in charge with
me to do,' Helen said with a little shiver and a strange
inclination to burst into tears. Don't look so
terrified, dear. Mr. Jarvis is the kindest and most
fatherly of men, though he did want to brin., two
people together who were not suited to each other.'
I can't imagine Frank not being suited to anyone,'
said Madge naively, at which Helen laughed and
escaped to her own room to sit down and cry as if
her heart were breaking.
Where could Frank be? What could have happened
to him? She pictured to herself all manner of
disastrous things, and she saw him in her mind's eye
drowned, murdered, hidden away somewhere and cry-
ing vainly to his friends to help him. She could not
believe that he was safe at home in London, though
she tried with all her might to think that he was, and
to tell herself that she was foolish and fanciful for
having any dread at all about him. Frank was old
enough to take care of himself, and had gone away
somewhere for a day or two. True, he never had
done such a thing before; but that was no reason
that he should not do it now. They were all very
foolish, and he would laugh at them when he came
ick again.
Mr. Jarvis hardly knew where to begin his enquiries,
till he all of a sudden remembered Horace Gayford.

The very man,' he said to himself; he will know,
most likely.'
He bent Isis steps to Mr. Gayford's house, and found
that gentleman at home, who received him with some
surprise, but welcomed him warmly.
'Come in,' he said. am very glad to see you. 'I
believe I was getting tired of my own company and
longing for someone to drop in.'
'I should think you were not often in that case,' the
lawyer said, following the clergyman into a snug room
furnished with all the taste for wh)ch the Rev. Horace
was noted. It was somewhat luxurious; but Mr.
Gaylord liked handsome furniture, and his congrega-
tion, the ladies especially, took care that he should
lack nothing ornamental. There were the softest of
couchrs and the cosiest of easy chairs, and they were
covered with feminine handy-work of themostdelicate
description. The slippers that the young c'ergyman
wore (for Mr. Jarvis caught him in his after-dinner
ease) were fit for a prince, and certainly no prince
dyer had a pair presented to him with such loving
homage as had attended the presentation of those
flowery foot coverings.
Make yourself at home,' Mr. Gaylord said, pushing
the easy chair towards his visitor, and filling a wine
&ass that stood on the table, and have a glass of
WiTIO. 1 can vtuch for its goodness—it is a present,
from the wealthiest of my parishioners—n man who
prides himself on his wine.'
Mr. Jarvis sat down looking round the pretify mons
and at Mr. Gayford himself with a troubled. air.
Frank was certainly not there, though it was possible
his cousin might have news of him.

'I am net always as lazy as this,' the clergyman
said. It is rather a rare thing for me to indulge in
such absolute idleness; but 1 was feeling overdone
to-night and resolved that I would do nothing more
this evening. I was just beginning to repent of my
resolution when you knocked.'
'1 came in hopes of finding Frank here,' the lawyer
said.
Frank?'
Yes.'

' What made you think he was here?'
Mr. Gayfcril stooped and picked up his pocket
handkerchief ashe asked the question. It had dropped
from his hand to the floor as Mr. Jarvis spoke.
Ih we not seen my cousin to-day,' he said. He
did not mention that he should be in Hillford.'
He did not leave it the day before yesterday, as he
intendel—at least, we have every reason to think that
he did not.'
'He certainly did; or at least be told me he intended
to do so by the eight o'clock train, from the otherside
of the river. He had one or two appointments here,
and when he had attended to them he was going tO
return.

'He never kept either of them.'
I know he kept one—at least, I left him on his

way to it, and he distinctly told me he was going to
keep the other and the more important one also.'
Will you tell me exactly where and when you saw
him last, Mr. Gayford ?' the lawyer said, feeling puzzled
beyond expression, 'lt may help to throw some light
on his disappearance.'
'You don't mean to say you are alarmed about
him ? Hotace Gayford said in a surprised tone. 'Are
you apprehensive that anything has happened to him?'
I am; and I can't get rid of the fear. He has not
been heard of in London, and does not seem to have
returned there after being here.'
'Twas about half-past six o'clock that I saw him,'
the clergyman said. 'He was walking towards the
bridge, and he stopped to speak to me for a minute.
He said he was going across the water to see a dog
that was being kept for him, and he remarked that he
had knocked two or three times at Mr. Simpson's door
without being able to make anyone hear. He should
return there, he said, after he, had been across the
river.'
And that was all?'

Every word, as far as I can recollect. I was going
about some business that made me in a hurry, and I
had no time to talk to him further than that. He
named the eight o'clock train as the one he should
return to town by, and I bade him good-bye and left
him.'

The thing must be looked into. Had he any
enemies here, do you know?'
Who? Frank? I should say he had not an
enemy in the world, poor fellow. Everybody here
liked him. He was as inoffensive and kindhearted a
lad as ever lived. For heaven's sake, sir, don't look
at it in that lugubrious fashion. Frank is safe enough
somewhere. He may have got into a scrape of which
he is ashamed. You will find it is nothing worse than
that.'

hope I may,' Mr. Jarvis said. 'No, thank you,
no more wine. I must carry my enquiries elsewhere.'
Let me come with you,' the clergyman said, throw-
ing off the apathy that had seemed to oppress him
before, and bustling about for his coat and boots, for
he was taking his ease in a wonderful house garment
of velvet in which he looked supremely handsome.
I have caught the infection of your fear, I do believe.
Anyway, I could not rest quiet at home after what
you have told me. Does anyone know this beside
yourself ??
'Miss Ramsay. I went first to enquire of her if she
knew anything of Frank.'
'And she—how does she take it?'

,She hopes, of course, that there is no reason for
fear,' Mr. Jarvis replied. • But she is frightened,
naturally.'
'Frightened, she must be—sick to death almost
with anxiety. Is there anything that I can do—any-
where that I can go—it is horrible to think that any-
thing can have happened to Frank. He was quite
well yesterday, and now not to be found. What can
be done?'

He had risen as he spoke, and Mr. Jarvis looked at
him with a little wonder. It was strange to him that
a clergyman—a man accustomed to deal with the
sufferings and agitation of others, should be so out-
wardly moved. There was nothing definite discovered
as yet, only the uncomfortable fact of Frank's absence;
but he could se 3 tha in spite of his outward, and as
it seemed, affected carelessness, Mr. Gayford was
terribly frightened and unnerved.
'I am afraid you are ill, Mr. Gayford,' he said, as
the young clergyman paced the room aimlessly, and
seemed hardly able to hold himself upright. 'I should
not have come upon you so suddenly with the news,
and indeed I have not given up hope as yet that it
may turn out nothing.'
'No, I don't think I am ill,' Horace Gayford said,
coming to the table and pouring out a glass of wine
and drinking it at a gulp. I have been thinking out
two or three problems latelyand trying to make things
go as I want them, and it isn't easy always, and I
have had some difficult sermons to put together with
an attack of neuralgia through it all, soI am not quite
the thing, I daresay.'
No, I should think not,' Mr. Jarvis said, smiling.
'That is enough to prostrate-you without anything else.
You should get away from your work for awhile;
there is nothing else when the brain begins to give
way.'
No, I suppose not. lam going—that is, I was
yesterday—if anything has happened to my cousin,
we shall alter our plans, I suppose. I should like to
be of use to Miss Ramsay, if I could.'
Thank you. I don't know that there is anything
that you can do for her beyond going to see her.
She will feel glad of your sympathy, I am sure.'
Sympithy—yes—there is nothing else,' Horace
Gayford said, in an absent sort of fashion, putting
away the decanter and glasses as he spoke, with a
hand that trembled terribly, and set Mr. Jarvis think-
ing. Could it be possible, he asked himself, that this
gifted young preacher had recourse to stimulants to
brace him up for his work? Such things were.
ClPrgymen did indulge sometimes, and no one was the
wiser. There was certainly no other way to account
for the strange agitation that seemed to be passing
over Horace Gayford. It was not like a man's
anxiety and fear. It seemed more like the nervous
tremour of a woman, and appeared to be as much
physical as mental in its effects.

CHAPTER XVI.
LITTLE CLUE.
There is a sorrowing sound
In music since ye went,
And the early flower-scents wander by,
With mournful memories- blent..---11Emors.
THERE was nothing for it but for Mr. Jarvis to go
home again, after makinc, every possible enquiry in
Hillford about Frank datherleigh and his doings on
that particular afternoon. One or two persons had
seen him talking to his cousin, and one woman, who
knew him by sight, had seen him on the other side of
the river. She did not speak to him, and from that hour
he seemed to have vanished. He had not kept his ap-
pointment with the man from whom he had promised
to buy the dog, but the strangest part of it was his fail-
ing to keep his appointment with the person from
whom he was going to receive the money.
The lawyer went to the lodging the young man
had occupied, but no news had been received of him
there, and incurred the severe displeasure of his wife
by being late for an appointment with her in conse-
quence of his anxiety on Frank's behalf.
I should think Mr. Hatherleigh quite able to take
care of himself,' she said spitefully, when she was
told of the mystery. He is a young man very un-
likely to tell you all his doings, I should think. Will
you please dress, Mr. Jarvis. We shall keep the
Curtises waiting, as it is, without wasting any more
time on your protege's buiness.'
You will have to make my excuses to Mr. and
Mrs. Curtis,' the lawyer said, quietly. 'I could not
go to a ditnwr party, however serious, in my present
state of perplexity. Everything points to something
having happened to that poor lad, and I shall not rest
till 'his curious absence is cleared up.'

I will send an excuse for both of us, if you please,'
the lady said, in great offence. I should net like to
walk into Mrs. Curtis's drawing-room and tell her
you had declined coming because your ward has
elected to absent himself from his lodgings for an
eveniug. I am afraid you would be set down as
slightly mad.
She rang the bell and despatched a servant wait a
message of apolegy, and then betook herself to the
family sitting-room, with her temper on edge, to make
everybody uncomfortable, as was her wont. Poor
Phyllis was rebuked for worldliness, because she was
reading an account of some dresses at a royal garden
party, and made to take up a serious book instead of
the society paper she had secured, in the hope that
their mother was going to leave them to themselves
for the evening. And Mr. Jarvis was talked at till he
very nearly put on his hat and walked out ! the
house again; only he was physically tired, as well as
mentally worried, and he lounged in his easy chaie and
let Mrs. Jarvis talk, as he very often did.
At least you might condescend to tell us what
it is all about,' she said presently; and why there is
all this fuss about a young man staying cut for a
night.'
Her husband roused himself and explained why
they were anxious about his ward, and she calmed
down and grew a little interested in the matter, and
allowed that there might he cause for apprehension,
though she was inclined to believe that Frank had
done something wrong, and was staying away on ac-
count of it. She asked after Helen, and how she
was bearing it, and opined that she would be very
much overcome.

Helen is a sensible girl,' her husband replied, ' and
of course nothing certain is known at present. Even
if the very worst that we fear were to come to pass
she would bear her sorrow quietly; the world would
be none the wiser if her heart were breaking.'
Here's a telegraph boy, papa.'

Phyllis had cringlit sight: Of One coming up to the
house. It was after hours, so she argued it must be
/pr.:cage of importance. It was brief, and confirmed
11:s w ,rst fears.
Helen Ramsay, Hillford, to Mr. Jarvis, Campsie
House, Norwood: Come to us as early as possible to-
morrow. A duo has been found. We fear the
worst.'
'Tomorrow! I will go to-night,' he said, starting
up. I will make a bed at the hotel there. I will
wire you if there is anything to be told; I am afraid
to guess what it is,' and before they could exclain
at his sudden departure he was out of the
house, and
on his way to the nearest livery stables for a con-
veyance. It was too late for a train that would take
him through, and he did not choose to* set his own
servants talking by taking the carriage. *
It was some little time after he left Helen that the
news came to Fern Bank. It had come to be bruited
' about in the town that Mr. Hatherleigla was missing
—that he had unaccountably vanished since the day
before. Who told it first it would be a puzzle to find
out; but it was whispered, and the tiny atom of dis•
trust and speculation grew into a mighty mass, that
was presently flung into Mrs. Churchill's pretty morn-
ing room by her neat-handed parlourmaid.
What has happened, Mary?' her mist7ess asked,
as the girl enterea the room on some pretext. evidently
brimming over with something or other. Madge and
Norah werJ with their mother, Helen was still up-
stairs trying to reason herself out of the misgiving
that there was more in the mystery than a freak of
Frank's.

Oh, pTease 'm, they are saying in town that Mr.
Hat herleigl2,4 murdered.'

4 Murdered !
Yes 'm, that's what they say, and-'
Rfisliy, Mary, you shouldn't blurt out such things