Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-02
TREASURE ISLAND.

or DaTUl0Ht elIHeT WOuiu nttNo SOdAC0 OAioU7 ence on the others truth.
 For three years Edgar's letters came, bearing messages of love which seemed So real that Irene could almost fancy them uttered at her side instead of coming from the other side of tho world.
 At last one camo that set her heart in a futter and caused brighter light to sparkle in her eyes. It spoke of her lovers speedy return. Success had crowned his efforts, and at last he might stand with out blushing in tho presence of proud old Walter Hayne and speak his mind freely.
 Then there was an interval in which no letters came.
 Months passed and still no tidings. Irene's letters remained unanswered. At last she could not even hope, Her lover must be dead. She could never believe him faithless. Her check grew paler and her stop less elastic, and anxious friends began to shake their heads and hint of failing health
 Her fathers fears became alarmed. Physicians counseled travel and change of air The experiment. was tried, but with out perceptible benefit.
 During the absence of Mr.S Hayne and his daughter a stranger had taken up his abode in the place of their residence. a
 Who or what MT. Newcome was, or whence he came, nobody pretended to know, yet every man, woman and child was ready to vouch for his responsibility. He was a bachelor and lived alone, rarely appearing in society, yet often enough to avoid the appearance of stunning it.
 His habits of seclusion were soon meas urably abandoned. He was constantly meeting Irene, first by seeming accident at the houses of such friends as she was accustomed to visit, then by direct calls upon herself.
 Atone of these interviews the conversa- tion turned upon Australia, where MT. Newcome had spent some years. In the course of it he mentioned name which caused Irene to start.
 "Edgar-Edgar Carroll You knew him, then?" she managed to say, with ef- fort.
 .'He was my most intimate friend, !" re- piled MT. Newcome, with seeming care lessness, at the same time scanning keenly her agiteted faco-'that is, until he mar ried."
 ''Marriedl''
 Ut was considered a good match, be- lieve," MT. Newcome added, pretending not to notice the effect of his words. "The lady was wealthy colonist's daughter an only child, and all that"
 The blow fell with cruel force. For a moment Irene's faculties were stunned.
 Some months later, when Irene's father hinted that MT. Newcome had asked per. mission to become her suitor, and that his own sanction had been already given, he was agreeably surprised at the manner in which the announcement was received.
 D,,e bnr oh fonld hor fathers fortune and, for herself, what did it matter nowP
 It was the evening before the wedding his last visit as a wooer.
 Irene's face was paler than usual, and her manner was more disturbed, but her father was in too high spirits and MT. Newcome too polite to notice the change. They were in tho midst of an agreeable chat when visitor was announced, who insisted on seeing MT. Hayne alone.
 In no gracious mood Mir. Hayne passed into an adjacent apartment, whence ex- cited voices were soon heard. .---
 At the sound of one of them both Irene and MT. Newcome started to their feet.
 ,''So the villain is herel" exclaimed Ed gar Carroll, thrusting open the door. But Irene's white face met his angry gaze, and he stood motionless.
 Newcome for the moment had believed himself in personal peril and had shrunk back coweringly, but a moments reflec. tion assured him that, in the presence of MT Hayne and his daughter, he had no cause for fear.
 "In the distant land to which we had both gone in quest of gold this man and myself became friends. We shared the same tent and had no secrets from each other. In treasure seeking I proved the more fortunate of the two, and my gains had already reached the point had pro posed they should attain when my friend suggested a visit to some unexplored is- lands of which he pretended to have heard rumors, and of whose wealth we might become the sole possessors.
 We fitted out small vessel, and after voyage of several days anchored off a thickly wooded island. Leaving the crew on board, my friend and myself went ashore and began our search. In seclud- ed spot was felled to the earth by blow from behind and left for dead.
 ''On regaining consciousness I found myself alone. I ran to the shore, but the vessel was no longer in sight
 sOne day deserted sail in the dis tdDCS. IuG SiSub lllduo Ile Wliu Wlbu JOy. I shouted and signaled, and by every means in my power sought to make my presence known.
 But still the ship held her course Frantic with despair, rushed into the waves, determined to swim toward hel while strength held out, when at length she shortened sail, and saw boat low cred from her side.
 II conducted my deliverers to the treas ure I had found. There was enough fol us all: I returned to find myself robbed ol my precious gains, whose place of conceal ment was known only to myself and hin who had sought my life to get possession of them. But the loss I regarded as ( trifle. I was now the possessor of treble the amount.''
 Irene Carroll is happy wife now, ant never happier than when listening to ( chapter from the adventures of her owr Robinson Crusoe.-New York News.
 Excess of Zeal.
 "Wagstaff out of a job again? You toll