The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1885-03-13
CHAPTER NXYII.
CURTAIN.

Striking incidents will draw tie
writer: but we know that our readers
would rather hear about the characters
they can respect. Ii seems. however,
to be rule in life, and III fiction, that
interest flags when trouble ceases. Now
the troubles of our good people were
pretty well over, and we viii put il TO
the readerWhCther they had not enough.
Grace Clifford made an earnest re-
quest to Colonel Clifford and her father
never to tell Walter he had been sus-
pected Of bigamy. "Let others say that
circumstances are always to be believed
and character not to be trusted; but |,
at least, had no right to believe certifl-
Gates and things against my Walters
honor and his love. Hide my fault from
him, not for my sake but for his; per-
haps when we are both old people may
tell him."
This was Grace Clifford's petition,
and need we say she prevailed?
Walter Clifford recovered under his
wife's care, and the house was SO large
that Colonel Clifford easily persuaded
his son and daughter-in-law to make it
their home. Hope had also two rooms
in IL, and came there when he chose; lie
was always welcome; but he was alone
again, SO to speak, and not quite forty
years of age, and he was ambitious. lie
began to rise in the world, whilst our
younger characters, contented with
their happiness and position, remained
stationary. Master of q great mine,
able now to carry out his inventions,
member of several scientific associa-
tions, q writer for the scientific press,
ETC., he soon became public and emil
nent mamie was consulted on greatpub-
lie works, and if he lives will be one of
the great lights of science in this island.
He is great on electricity, especially on
the application Of natural forces to the
lighting of towns. He denOunces all
the cities that allow powerful streams
to run past them and not work a single
electric light But he goes further than
that. He ridicules the idea that it is
beyond the resources of science to util..
ize thousands of millions of tons OF
water that are raised twenty-one feet
twice in every twenty-four hours by the
tides. 1t is the. skill to apply the force
that is needed; not the force itself,
which exceeds that Of all the steam-en-
gines in the nation. And he says that
the great scientific foible Of the day is
the neglect of natural forces, which are
cheap and inexhaustible. and the mania
| for Steam-engineS and gas, which are
expensive, and for coal, which is not to
| last forever. He implores capital and
science to work in this question. His
various schemes for using the tides in
the creation of motive power will doubt
less come before the world in q more
appropriate channel than work Of fic-
| ton. If he succeeds it will be glori-
Gus, as it must be difficult, achieve
ment.
His society is valued on social
grounds; his well stored mind, his pow
ers of conversation, and his fine appear
ance, make him extremely welcome at
all the tables in the country; he also ac-
| companies his daughter with the violin,
and, as they play beauties together, not
difficulties, they ravish the soul and in.
terrupt the torture whose instrument
the pianoforte generally is.
BARLEY is man with beautiful silv-
cry hair and beard; he cultivates nurses
and tends fruit-trees and flowers with q
love little short of paternal. This senti-
ment, and the contemplation of nature
have changed the whole. expression OF
and sweet, but with touch of weak
ness about the lips. Some of the rough
fellows about the place call him 9
"softy," but that is much too strong 8
word; no doubt he is confused in his
ideas, but he reads all the great Ameri.
can publications about fruit and flow
ers, and executes their instructions
with tact and skill. Where he break:
down-and who would believe this?-i'
in the trade department. Let him sue
coed in growing apple-trees, and pear
trees weighed down to the ground witt
choice fruit; let him produce enormous
cherries by grating, and gigantic necta
rines upon his sunny wall, and acres o.
Strawberries too large for the mouth
After that they may all rot where they
grow; he troubles his head no more
This is more than his old friend Hope
can stand; he interferes, and sends thu
fruit to market, and fills great cask!
with superlative cider and perry, ant
keeps the account square, with q LITTLE
help from Mrs. Easton, who has return
ad tn her old maeter and ia n firm bu