Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, February 23, 1873, Page 8

i i ] { i i i | i i i 1 THE CHICAGO DALILY TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1873. —_— e LONDON. ‘The Transactions of the International Prison Congress, ‘Treatment of Convicts in Vari- ous European Countries, She Latest Scandal-..Lord Byron’s " Grandson Seeking a Divorce from His Wife, From Otr Oun Correspoudent. ZLoxpox, Feb. 1, 1873 In the warm July days, last year, thero might bave beenscen in o fine old ok hall, in the «quiet precincta of the Temple,—a structure sur- yonnded by sucient buildings, tenanted only in the daytime, by barristers aad their clerks,—s Epot which, thongh but & bundred yords Te- tmoved from the great roaring thoroaghfare of Fleet sireet, is 28 undisturbed, and in one sense secluded, e8 if it was in the middle of a forest— in this hsll might have been seon & gather- Ing of men from every European country, and from the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Chili. These personages communicated with each other by interpreters, and the lsn- guage, of gesture =and the festures did therest. Ilookedinone hot day esIwas passing by. I had forgotten they wore there, and wondered at the sight, ai that hour, of the open doors of the Honorable Society of the Mid~ dle Temple. On entering, I saw long rows of men and women, of various races, aad of oddly- differing facial peculiarities, listoning, all of them, to somebody on s platform who waa read- ing a paper in French. Ithen remembered the circumstances, tho proposal of an INTERNATIONAL PENITENTIARY CONGRESS by the United States Government ; the invita- tion to exports of every civilized country, and 1he arrangements of the English Committee. They constituted s curious gathering,—those prison-officials from every country whero erimo is an art. What an esperience they posscssed! What s terribly dark &ide of humanity they hed studied! The only assemblaga to mach i in exceptional in- terest would be an International Criminal Con- gress,—s -colléction of the tkioves and the scoundrels of the world. Hovorer, the English letropoliswonld not, perhiaps, so readily wel- come a body of that description, and “ ffect " must sometimes bo sacrificed to considerations of civic convenience. * T muet tell you that it was thought well by the International Committee not to oceupy tho time of the Congresa by the reading of papers, but to teavo such acconnts a8 each country had pre- ‘pared, togethor with the papers which had boon contributed, and a fall report of the discussions, for publicatiox in the . ‘VOLULZ OF TRANSACTIONS. Now, this volumo was issued for the firat time sesterday; end it is the fact, es the Secretary of the Congress claims, that thero bas nover been brought togethersuch & mass of perfectly unique matter in ell questions relating to pricon disci- pline and freatment. It may fairly be described €5 the most important communication to this department of compurative criminal jurispradence that has yet been mede. A large ~olume, of 796 pages, cannot be deacribed with 2y clodeness hore, but I bope to say omough respecting it to induce many of your readers T Take thie firat opportunity in their way of looking :at the work itself; for I imagine that it will be reproduced in the Statcs. The order of the sTangement, of the countries being alphabetical, the rst of the reports on the nctuel condition of the prisona of various coun- tries is by the Austrian representative. IN AUSTRIA, there are prisons for persons sentenced to mors then one year's imprisonment ; prisons for per- £ons sentenced to less than oneyear, and prisons of the District Courts for minor offences. Since L1867, all new Luildings have been arranged in el s manner that every prisoner shall, asa rule, spond the first part of Lis imprisonment—sa period of at lesst eight montha—in acell; the £est of s term being carried out on the collec- tive systom, regerd being had tos strict classi- .fication, and to_gradually bettering Lis tre ‘tnent and proparing him for Liberty.. The pris- ‘oners recoivo a shao of what is earned by their work. The punishments include chains, stop- ping food, o hiard bod, and s dark cell. All Aus- rian prisoners are provided with echools, and, up to their 35tk yeer, prisoners must sttend. Every prisoner ignorant of a trads learns one in Prison, if the leugth of his term makos this pos- sible. : Of the twenty-six prisons IN BELGITN, } shteen ao conducted on the cellular system. B #Prizoners receivo part of their ezrmings. The i | i i i i Administration in Belgium has declared, in fhe regalalions_relating to_penitentiaries, that it s+ould encourago and facilitate tho formation of essociations of persons of both sezes with & view 10 offer counsel and consolation to the \prisoners, and wateh over their intercsts and "tliose of their families, and to facilitato their ro- { eatrauc into society. But “no such association “1es ot boon erganized. nor s so private por. ‘=01 ovor offered bimsolf for the porformance of such | services. Thete i3 bo pemal la- Vor in Belginn prisone. “Tho °liberated prisoner ought mot to carry with him, on £is discharge from prison, (he dea that work is 2 punishment in thi world, end that he hes Eullered iz Jonyg enough during his imprison meut to biasten, at the hour of his deliverance, 10 free himsalf from itz claims.” Part of the industrial labor of the prisoners is awarded to *“epecial contractors,” who offer remuacrative ‘prices “3nd sdoquste guarantees of sobricty ind morality, I DINNARK, 1l cellalar system iz applied in thocase of short sentences, ad tke asgocisted or aggregate sys- tem in the case of long sentences. About 80 per cent of the prisoners are_employed by contrac- io7s in different wayz, For each prison a socie- irhas been formed, with the view of being of assistance to the relessed convicts. 1N FRANCE the punishment of the gelleys has given way to estsbliskments in coloniea devcted to trans- “portation. The trensportation of women is au- thorized by law, in view of marriagos to ntracted with the conviets after their pro- . vielonal or defiritivo liberation. The cellular ter is not applied to any central prison. The ipline of these prisons ia that of dotention, I2 common with the ubligation of silonce; butit is sclmowledged that this promiscuoua e3socia- ‘tion will heve to bo given up. In one of the fe- czale central prizons it has beon possible toentire- 1y withdraw the subeidy grantod to the contract- or, the earnings of tho prisoners being suflicient for the support of theestablishment. 1o another rison, the contractor, instead of receiving any- hing from the State, paya to it o contime per dey for each convict, * Books specially written far prisozers ere not those which they prefer. “They read with greater pleasuro hooks of bis- fory., vorages, novels, and narratives which have totches of tho marvellous, of elevated senti- snents, sod of renownod actions.” Ths profit of the industrial labor of the pricons is awarded 1o contractors. I5co fhat oue of the punishments in , THE BADEN PRISONS I3 the “coercive chsir ;" the prisoner “isboand 10 a solid chair.” = IN BAVARIA, ‘one of tha causes of crimo is the custom of the casants in some parta to carry long, stiletto- ika Lnives when visiting public houses and dancing places; * and thus, on Sundays aid hol- idsye, the emallest cause often leads them to Luflict on each other severe injurics.” IN PRUSSIA, thers is only one prison which is exclusively re- €erved for the complete cerrying out of the by dem of isolation; in the other forty-six prisons, the cellular aud aaociated systems both exist. Among tho punishmentsis that of the lagh,—the 1acximum being thirty lsshes. Another is_im- Prizonment in w +clathed cell,"—a céll withs =zhed floor ! Prussian prisoners have one ex- t;lmdmur Ppeculiantty; they show a marked pieference for © works cinatursl ecience.” Ouly ibink of an American burglar. caring for ©nat. erel science!” Laberis contracted for. i ¢ ectra TN, ¢ The use of estraordinary moral agencies is sdmissible they bave been foung impractieal, Boners place no confidence in strangars, Casual visitors, whose purpozo is the moral im- provement of the prisoners, sre thereforo not wdmitied.” IV ALY, s we might expect, there is & wido diversity,— the various provinces bringing to the common Bingdom each its own laws znd institutions, In tho long report from Ttaly, Tlook invain for any | comments upon the fnghtfnl practics, 50 com- mon there, of long terms ‘of imprisonment be- fore trial. " By ong of the_articles in tho Italian Code, & failier has tho power of placing his "gon in tho 1Iouse of Correc: tion, and of lLeecping him thero until he reach his majority! Tor this purposo he need only present himself before the Presi- dent of the Civil Tribunal, whoee duty it is to provide him with the order requested, and, by virtne of this order, the minor can be conducted {0 thio institation to which his father czn, with- ont any formalities, withdraw him whenever ha B0 pleases. . THE NETHERLANDS administration nofes as a cause of crime the influence, often pernicious, of & geco. d mar- riege of thair paronts, which not unfrequently, by embittering tho position of the children of the first marriage, deprives thom of the ealutary inflaence of family life.” NORWAY. Corporal punishment is ** applied ” in Narway. . RUSSIA is betwecn two systems, radical reforms having begun, Not loug g0, each laded proprietor Lad the right of punishing lis serps_as ho pleased. Tho cellular system is not used in Rus- sia. Charity towszda prisoners is exercized on an immonse_ecale. Tho pillory has nover called forth an insult : * but the eéaffold which covers the pillory is-often covered with corn.” Instruc- tion in prisons is ouly just commenciug in Rus- ein. The cauee of crimes in Russis (sccordiug to the President of the Committes for Poniten- tiary Reform in that country) arises from a cerfain Oriontel fatalism, which is the founda- tion of the cbaracter of the peoplo. This fatal- ium rosults in a kind of slothfuluess, which is frequontly overcome by the temptationa to @runkennoss 2nd its consequences. SWITZERLAND. Tho doath-penalty is sbolished in the Swise Cantons of Neufchatel, Zurich, and Thurgovis, Geneva, snd Tossin, and, in the' majority of the other Cantons, this punishment is ebolished de facto, if it is not by law. * Corporal punish- ménts aro pessing away, and in their placo (') aro substituted the streit-jacket and the cold douche-bath.” I mayremark here, that Switzer- 1and expends each year, as well for its primary a3 for itesecondary and higher schools, tl:e sura of 12,500,000 francs. Tho expenditures for edu: cation form one-eleventh of the total budget of the Confederation end Cantons. THE LATEST SCANDAL. In the shop-windows, this week, are photo- graphic ‘portraits of s young, pensive-looking girl, folr in complexion and thoughtful in exprassion,—3_quiot, modest face. ‘Lhis, you are told, is Lady Wentworth, wifc of the oldess surviving son of **Ads,” Lord Byron's only child. There is generally a potent reaton for tho snd- don appearance in the shops of the portrait of & particular Iady. She has become, or is presently 2o become, famous on some scconnt or other. Not long ago, Lord Wentworth advertised that ho would mot be responsible for her Lady- ship's debts, and the advertisement gave great pain to ell who hated o see the inheritora of great mame the subjects of public scandal. “here is something odd in Lord Bsrow’s grand- children. You kuow how curiously the eldest son, Lord Ockham, bohaved ; his departure from home, Lis strange marriage, his Lifs s3a work- ingman. To this duy, I believe, his widow has not assumed the title of Lady Ocklsm, although there is 10 reason whatever to doubt her mar- riage. Lord Wentworth, now 33 vears old, is 62id to be nnder a delusion with regard to'the virtue of his wife, who was & gentlo, pleasant- dispositicned girl, the daughter of o clergyman a¢ Newcastle-upon-Tyne. IBut {his, it is caid, o trial for divorce i to decide. In the meantinic, the following strenge communication kas been eent by Lord Wentworth's solicitors to the news- papers: * As the accouchement of Lady Went- worth is expectad vory shortly, wo are fustructed by Lord Wentworth to request thst vou will ot | insert any announcement of the birth of a child in any way implying thathe i it3 fathar, a3 Lady | Wentwortn has for somo tims lived apart from Dis Lordship.” What 2 pity it all is ! e St SELECTIONS. BY DUFF PORTER. He who permits oppresaion shares tho evil. —Rightnees expresses of action what straight- ‘ness docs of lines. —Oncs leave the current of right, once dashed against the sharp rocks of temptation, you may whirl in the eddios of romorse forever. —Drip was the pervading eound, as if the rain- drops were counting aloud the leaves of tho forest. —Sunitary reform is o sacred crusade against dirt, degradation, diseese, and death. —Let our repentanco be a living will, & firm resolution ; mourning over past errors avails nothing. —Sufliciently revenged is o who can pardon his enemy. —YWoo to the brain-worker who allowa himselt to fall entirely from thought into reveria. —Nearlyall the lusting impressions made upon tho human mind sro totalities of repetitions. —It is useless to try to reason & man out of what lto was never reasoned into, —A man thatis endowed with seatiments of rectitude becomes regal, not alone in moral re- spects, but in phyeical 3 wall. —The grandest paople are built on the grand- est foundation, and that foundotion is self-reli- ance, mot self-indulgenco,~— sokriety, not lux- ury. “~Pezce is not the spark which_ springa from tho shock of arms ; it Is the torch which lights itself at the hearth of civilization. E —I will ot sigh after tho impossiblo, bat will anlt what God's Bpirit requires from me in this placo and at tho present time. —There is power superior to that of beauty, —that which aepends upon the enlightored ful- filment of duty. —1t is because men cannob learn simple things, caunot believe in brotherhood, thut they neod a prioathood. —Though ye Lave lain among the pots, yet yo ehall o 2 {he wings of n dove covered with eilver, and her foatliers with yellow gold. —Prayers can obiain everything; can open the windows of llezven and shut the gates of Hell; can put a restzaint upon God, and detein &n angel until ho leavos a biessing. —Prayer is the rops in tixe belfry; we pull the rope, and it rings tho bell up in Heaven. —1I cannot give my love. It must be faken by a mandato of God, issued in tho life of him who aske it; and, when ibat comcs, I shall not ro- sist it. —Theroare Lidden but marvellous inspira- tions, through which the tempted but pnro spirit receives strength to triumph over even that which is desrest to it. —Theso great inveutiond will in the end bo advantogeous to the humau race, but their effects are crucl in the periad of trausition. —So fire watchod while we slopt, aud when light safely camo, with tho_earliost gray of moming, if, t0, covered tsclf with ashes and elept. —Jesus fled into desorts end mountai casses, and into solitudes of lekie and river: srd still the people pursued Him, hurried afiet Him, impelled by the everlasting hunger of the ha- man heart for reality. 0 ONE IN PARADISE. Cold and pale, they Iald thee Lere at rest, Stiil and pulseless, 10at to pains and cure, Above thy damp and lowly bed we bent, Yet thou wer't durb to ev'rs heart’s despair, They lald thes here, a lifeless form of clay, Pure in gis 's calm and sunuy bicom, "Twas then the light of Life and Hope went oat, ‘When o’er thee closed the porzals of the tomb, 1 stand to-day beslde thy flowerless grave, ‘Wrapt in mem'ries of tho past and thee, ‘And on the marble thy dear name I trace,- Aname that once was all the world to me, 1 knecl above thy ever-hallow'd tomb, Whils o’ar my epirit madly now doth wall, E'en 28 it did when kind Liands Iald thee here, The muffied moaning of Fon death-toned hil, 3fute and still, ther placed thes 'neath the sod, Cold and pulscces, loet to paina and care, Tho' grief-wrnng hearts bend weepicg o'er thee, still ‘Thow'r: dumb and deaf to all their wild despatr, OWEX 3L WiLsos, JB, | | | RosemILL, Feb. 17, 1873, The Sunday Experiment at the Roston Public Library. From the Boston Herald, Feb. 11, At 2 o'clock yesterdey afterndon, the hour for opening the roading-room of the Pablic Library on Bunday, for ths second time, there were ¢wonty-one persons waiting for admittance. At 8 o'clock this number had increased to 111 per- Bons, who were quictly seated in the room intent upon their resding. During the remaining howrs of the afternoon tho main hall and the smzller room adjoining it were both completely filled. Tho number in sttondance at4 o'clock was 123, larger than ever bofore at any one time. Everything moved on in a quiet znd ordorly manner a8 on week days, the class of patrona being the same. In the evening the aitendanco was slightly diminished on account of the storm. At 6 o'clock there wore ffty-throe persons in #ho room, aad this number was kept abont the £3me up to the hour of closing. As far ns the ROME. Pope, People, and King. . Seguestration of the Property of the lionastic Orders. Il-Advised Papal Alocutions---Judith aud Holofernes---Italian Irreverence. Special Correspondence of The Chicago Tribune. Ror, Jan, 20, 1673, Sopt. 20, 1870, Victor Emmanuel capiured Rome, Since then holas been steadily trying to ! CAPTURE BOME'S CONVENTS. To-day Lo is substantially tho victor iu this sacrod contest. Thelaw for the suppression of tho monastic ordors, submiticd to the Chamber of Doputics some weck sincs, has beon carefully revised by 3 committeo appointed for that pur- pose, and is morally sure to pass early in Lent. That senson of sackeloth and ashes will there- {oro bo an unusaally sorrowful one to the 12,600 monks and nuns who at this moment are living inside the walls of Romo. Tho victims must, hLowover, havo - foreseen their fate. From the boginning, “United Italy” has mesat dis- sented brotherhoods andsisterhoods. As province aftor province has been placed under the flag that now waves from the Alps to tho Sicilies, their religious corporations have been ruthlessly broken up. Oceasionally, a few old monls have Leon left in a monastery to tako care of a neigh- boring church, but tho remainder have beon forced to return to secnlar life, while the Gov- ernment has seized, or, a5 its partisans prefor to £ay, “sequestrated,” all tho revenues of all the’ orgauizations. For the dispersion of theso Luman drones, there is littlo need to offer ex- cuso. No nation nowadays can afford to sup- port tens of thousands of able-bodied men aud “women in elmost complete idloness ; least of ell can Italy do this, burdened zs sho is with o debt that increased, in the decsdo ending in 1570, at an average of over §110,000,000 & year. The Tight of the Govornment to seize tho monkish proporty, it is dificalt to see. Tho common argument is, that the property was obtained in the firat place by the foreo of frand and fear, cnd that its seizare is & bit of poetic justica. Woare apt, hovever, to diatrust au act of justice that fills tho Judgo's pocket ot the expente of the judged. Tho trath of the matter is, that necessity, in this case, knowa no law except THAT OF SELF-PRESERVATION. The money must be got, or Italy will bo bank- rupt. Sbe, a3 a whole, has been obliged to as- sume all tho debts of all her parts. When slie took Rome away from Pius IX., sho took away from him also tho resporsibility for a debt of £10,020,000. For many yests tho revenues of the Papal Seo bevo not ogualled its expenses. Tho 8,000,000 inhabitants of tho Pontifical States wera called upon to support 39,000 soldiers, and myriads of monks, nuns, and priests, besides paying liberally for the maiutenaace of the Vatican Court. The heavy taxation was ome great csuseof the growth of the Liberal—i. e., Anti-Papal—party. This wes espocially strong among tho lower classoa, who were fool- ish enough to beliese the widely-cireulated story that thers would be no taxes whatever when Rome had become tho Capital of Ttaly. Long before the eniry of the King, thoy began to scrawl his preises on the high blank walls that line tems of miles of Roman satreets. When these praises were quickly erassd by Papallini,—i. e., adhorents of the Pope,—some Yaukee-like Liberals had a stencil-plato made, and with it marked ahnost every prominent building in the city with the in- delible ingeription, * We wish eouoxation to tho Coustitutional Kicgdom of Victor Immanuel.” When thoy got their wish, they found, to their cisappoiniment nnd dismay, that s King was nearly os expensivea luxuryas a Pope. Tho re- sult of Royal tazation wns tho alienation of o number of peraons who had styled themselves Liborals only because they bated to be liberal wih their money. For this rocson, this party is smaller to-day than it was whou Rome fell,— or, ragher, rose., ‘This fact hag doubtless INTENSIFIED THE EING'S BESOLVE to tako posseesion of the monastic property, and 60 got rid of the necessity of heavy taxation. The Government pledges itsclf to uso ita rove- nue from this source a3 it _has all similar sums Lerefoforo, first in pensioning the expelled monks and nups, 22d then in public bnildings, charities, etc. The committeo in charge of the ill for confiseation has agreed upon all the clauses &7 o one, which proposes to except fro seizure tie houses of the Gencrals of the dil- ferent orders,—Dominican, Franciscan, cte. The XKing and the Mivistry wish to do this in order to concilinto tho Popo; but the Chsmbor of Doputies is, ou tis question, in tho hands of advenced Liberals, It i3, thereforo, probable that this excoption, cven if recommended by the cowmitice, will bo 'voted dowu. If so, by mid- suzmer there will no: be one monastery in all TRE 20! bas not been idle during this troublous ti On ti:c contrary, b0 Las been aiding Victor manucl by couatantiy promulgating very ill-a viced “ aflocutions " azainst him and big. O & fow days ago, Rome Vs stertled by the pabli- cation of & Papal brief, which bitterly teunted the King with Lis well-known Iaxity of morals, and quoted in close councetion with this the story of Judith and Holoferios, in such_a way that o feminine fanatic conid bavo casily im- agined that tho Head of the Chureh was urging Ler to play the part of Judith. The Liberal press recaived this with a howl of indignetion, aud fortinwith invented o thrilling story young devotee who wa impelied by it to try to gzcrifice her honor nad her King together. The story misy have had a grain of truth in it. Only ore journel thought it worth while 1o try to defend the King's morals. Its defenco was, that Lo was no worse than David or Solo- mou! In tho height of tais sgitation, one of the small English papers hero nnnounced that it was about to republish. in weekly parts, & novel written toatiack the Jesuits, whichhad been ed under the Pupal ban, and the aatior of witich Lad been poisoned, immedintely after ublishing it, by tho disciples of Izuetius Loyola. n due tizc ths first chapier appeared. It was a feeblo thing, which citacked grammar mach ‘more successfully than it did Jesuits, Tho Pope siantly excommunicated the editor of tho obuozious periodical. The intended victim advertised his consignment to heilfire as widely 23 possible, aud 0 greatly increased the circu- Iztion of his paer. These and siwilar mstakes by the successcr of St. Peter havo | MATERIALLT AFFECTED TUIS STANDING with tho people. Their loss of respect shows iteolf in many wars. In tho theaire, the hits ut the Popo aud priesta avs rapiurously applauded ; and, in print-shop wizdows, the caricaturcs of the clergy draw laughihg erowds. Oao of theso earicatures represents the court of a convent, in which a lot of rubicund monks, with rare red noses, are smoking, drinking, and playing cards. Underneath is the legend: * This is what the law against convents proposes to stop.” An- otherirreverent sletcli shows & prize-ring, in vhich tle King and Pope, both stripped to the waist, are having a bout st fisti cufls, much' to the lstter's_ discomfit- wre. Thers i3, too, =n evideot decay in piety and its result,—charity. Nearly all the contribution-boxes tlat ouce dotted the principal places in both old and new Rome have ecn taken aiway,—presumably becauss they no longer atiract the pence of tho faithfal. At the szme time, the rehigions festivals are losing their interest. A few years ago, it was difficult tohiro a horso in all Romo on the 17thof Jauuary, because on that day the domestic ani- mals of tho city were solemnly blessed and sprinkied with holy water before the Charch of £an Antonio Abbate, in order to insare them in hezven against accidents on earth. Onthe 17th inst,, I spont a couplo of hours in scd by this ' church. During that timo, not a singlo gnimal was brought @ to blessed. Things etill nominally ~believed _ ADE BECELESSLY BIDICULED, not only in couversation, but more openly, and Eot only in Rome, but throughont Italy. - ‘Chua Biilan is now being delightsd with & comedy called “Jesus Christ,” in which ons of tho ectors personstes tho Savior, and represents, among other things, His miracle of healing the Dblind. After this, it is not strange ~ that éChrist’s Vicar” should suffer some irrevercace, Ths Catholic Liberel shrugs his shoulders and dance is concerned, this Sundsy ?ening of tho library is a complote_success, and tny bad results from it aro yot to be seen. gays: “Ah, well, the ‘Papa’ means well ; but he is an 0ld man. and the Jesuiis rule him.” Some Protéstznt Liberals will not allow him oven the credit of good intentions. Father Gavezzi, who 18 & much smaller man in Romo than in America, takes delight in repeating his crnviction that the Popo s a_‘*babaon.” Henr- rility such as this, re may bo imagined, does nog Lelp tho Protestant canee. Bat Lriests, as weil a3 ex-pricats, are DREAKING AWAY FROX THE TRACES, and beginning to think for themsclvos. In front of o littlo round chmrch on tho road by whicl the army of Italy ‘advanced on Rome, is e monument to thirteen - soldiers, who_ fell, as tho inseription reads, “in the battle for the liberation of Rome.” A pricst standing by me rcad- this line alond with & chuckle thet made me ask him.: * The Pope does not think that that battls was the *libora- tion’ of Nome, does he?" *No, no,” said ke, 1“the Popo does not, but some of us —" and then he winked in & most unclerical and signi- ficant way, that, taken with his half-spoken sen- tenco, showed ‘that the Pops and some of Lis priests havo very different views on very im- portent matters, Intelligent Italisos profess to see only one ger in the near future. IT 18 FROX FRANCE, by turns their friond and enomy sinco 1494, whon Charles of Anjou conquered the Kingdom of Naples. It restsonly on tho hypotheaia of tho clevation to the Throno of the &mm do Chom- bord, who, with his usual fecalty for_indiscreet spoeches, has loudly declared that he has & ““nisgion” to restore tho temporal power of the Holy Seo. Itisa very different thing, howerer, to be Count of Chambord aad King of Fracce. Tho chungo of tifle, should it occur, wonld ba Voryapt to canseschenge of ‘mission.” At any rate, the enmity of a French- King will protably not bo a very awe~inspiring thing for Some years to como. The death of tho last French monarch, 'by tho way, was tho sig- nal hero, aa in England, for tho most sickoning Taudation of his cavcer. ' Hero, there was somd excuse for it, however. The maintenance of tho Pope in tho South by Fronch troops bas never effaced Itulian gratitude for the defeat of the Austrions in the North by the sama troops. Mzgenta and Solferino more than counter~ Lulance Mentana,—the battle of 1867, in which the French garrison of Rome defeated Gari- baldi. The Milan subscription for 2 monument to Napoleon I, amounts to more then §20,000, while an opposition appeal for a monument to the ‘martyrs of Mentana’” has produced barely £500. The state of affairs io Romo MAY BE SUIMMNED UP By saying thet the rule of Victor Emmanuel has brought sbout_religious equality in o city the rulera of which lind steadily refused to pormit tho oponing_within the walis of s singlo Prot- estant chapel; has established strict justice in o city the Courts of which had mocked at justico when Church aud State wero one; and is en- forcing universal edncation in o city in which, st presont, far moro than balf the men, und rinety- nine out of & hundred of married women, cau neither write nor read. 4 SPRINGING A MINE. It was curions and pleasant, 8o certain of Mr. Aerdock’s clienis held, to discern throagh his oflico windows—heavily barred to defeat the de- signs of tho burglarions—a small patch of en- closed land, nichin rank grass, and eizaded— little 3 it nooded shede, for the meighboring houses hemmied itin on zll sides—by an o'd; stuntod, mnrky clm-trce. The land bad origi- nally pertained to a chwich that hed long since vanished. Sometimes, after a ghostly-looking, solitary sheep, coming none knaiv from whence, or by whoeo authority, had been turned into tho enclosure, &nd had cropped and munched avay the long grass, fzint ontlines of recumbeut tombstones could bo traced whit- ening bore and there the vegotation. Within living memory no interment hed taken plazo there; 2nd tho inhabitonts of the adjoining buildings took little hioed of it now, exce and thon to turn it to account 23 a dust-bin, o Teceptaclo for broken glaes and croc 4 dors, littcr, rofnse, and rubbish of 2l kinds. Mr. Merdock’s ofiices wera on the ground- floor of a rambling old houso in one of tho tor- tuoos, contined thoroughfares of Walbrook, Mis private room was at tha back of tho build: ing, and thus obtained its feeblo sort of rural ountlook. He was a solicitor of sound repute, enjoying an oxcellent practico; s tall, lean, elderly man, with good features, wora very sharp by time and haxd work ef his caliing. Mis tall, hald forehead had the look of old parcii- ment, or of discolorod ivory ; his sallow face wes aueéfl y lined and very gatmt. Yot his aspct betrayed no trace of ill health or of prematuro decsy. Ho wag nlert of movement; the fringe of Lair at the back of his bald head was still a deaea black ; thero werono threads of silver in tho aharply-trimmsd, crescent-shapod whiskers 1o woro on bis high chcek-boues; although hia lifis were colorless, his teeth were sound and white, 2nd his gray cyes twinkled piercingly be- mesth hia heavy pont-house brows. He was, plainly, a wiry, spero man, who could still ens duro muck wear and tear, and mako a good fight with time, Mr. Merdock sat at his desk—idly for tha mo- ment—glancitiy now ot the green enclosure to be seen from hus window, now at s tin box, one ofa large pile of similar tin boxes, ranged against tue wall opposits to Lim, now at tho Zimes nowspaper, sproad out beforo him. With 2 meditative air ho was rubbing the palm of kis large, ellow, bony hand sgainst his very blus chin, for his atrong blacl beard opposed s stout restatance to the razor, lat bim ply it as porsi euly os be might. e paused to tako noisily huge pinch of snuff, and then passed s larzo scarlet and puco silk pocket-handlcerchief across Lis faco. “Poor Delpratt I” hie said, with & glance at tho tin box, The legend “ The Delpratt Fruss " was inscribed wpon # in dim gold letiors. “‘Dead!” He gazed from the window 2t tho waving grass and tho murky elm of tho aveyard without, “Four duys_ago!" He 50 Bt hnad upon tho newspaper. It contained eaths the follow- among its adyoriisoments of ing brief notification : %On the 20th of Novembor, at the Manor Housc, Lupton, Hants, Eustace Vero Delptatt, nged 57." ; Mr. Merdock shook his head mournfully, sighed, and then shrugged kis shoulders, making an effort, as it_ecemad, to dismisa a distressing subject from his mind. ~ Just then one of his clerks entered and handed Lim 3 card. He start- ed ag bo rcad tho name it bore. After amonent's. Lesitazion ho said; “You mey show him in, Booth.” 5 A young man catered, dressed in deep moura- ing. “3r. Ernoet Delpratt?” Mr. Merdock was reading aloud the name on tho card. “You bavo forgotten me, I see, Mr. Merdeck, But it is not swrvrising. o have not mot for somo years. I kbow taat I am much changed in appearance. I was a mere boy then.” 4 « Pray bo seatod.” Y Ho ‘was now perbzps abont 30; wearing = thick, red-brown beard, and rather long bar, fulling nogligontly across bis forchead, Tiis’ natural padiof mas no_doubt increased Tect by the black clothes he wore. But bie coplexion was of that dsadly whitoness which knows llitlo varistion, aad resista all influonce of 1emperature, refusing to be bronzed by the sun, or reddencd by exposure to the wind. 1t was Iate in tho yeor, but the weather was un- paturally sultry. Still it had not bronght any increaso of color to his face; only the glisten of clamminess on the surface of his skin. Yon are awaro, of course, of tho sad oconr- ronce toat has brought mo here :” 71 bave only justrezdin tho Times of Mr. Delpratt's desth.” Mr. Merdock’s manner was reseryed, even distan *You linew him intimately 7" I can scarcely 8oy §0 much as that. I saw him frequontly =t one time. But of late years we soldom met. I rarely quit Loadon; he rarely visited it. Still I regarded him as a fnond. I hesrd from lum occasionslly. Ho was kind_enough alwars to address me in the most cordinl terms. Iheve learnt of hia death with extremo regret.” : *Bus you were hia professional adviser; yon' know more of his private £fairs than any one:” “ That may bo #0,” said Mr. Merdock, coldly. “Ho execated o Will in your presonce, sowme ten years ago?” Mr. Metdock mado no reply. % § ghopld explain,” the Toung m=n went on, “that as his solo surviving relative "— ““Pardon me," Merdeck interrupted, *logally epeaking, the Iste Mr. Delpratt bad no rels- tivos.” ““Porhaps so,—but he always regarded and spoke of me as his cousin, or rather us his firat cousin once removed. I therefore deemcd itmy duty to edarch for his will to nscertain if he had expressed in it any instractions in relation tohis fuzieral. | I hopo that you see nothing objection- sble in that 7 3Mr, Mdrdock merely bowed. He avoided any ent of opinion on the subject. The Yiill I found contained no instructions of the kilnd referred to. Further of its terms I need [not speak just now; especially 03, the dpcument having been drawn by you, you are sfiroady acquainted with its contents.” “ Tho pniy will of which I kuow anything,” said Mr. Nerdock, ofter o minute's deliberation, 4 wag expeuted by the testrtor in my presencs gome ter years ago. _Tho will wes_engrossed in duplizate—a conrse I am ia the habit of recom- ‘mending in such cases—as a matter of prudenco and prechution. Oceconyis now in my iron gafe. The other, tho testator took into his own Lesping. That is, I prosume, the documont to which you havo been referring.” No doubt.” “Let us ko quite sure,” said Mr. Merdock, still with hisair of deliberation. He loft the “ Tho will vore “That is the willin question. It was found in 3Mr. Dolpratt’s desk."” n found nove of later date? No will ox 0, though I mada careful search. -Some Toagh memorands as to flie dizposal of his prop- czty I did find, but theso were unsigned—mers notes of gn informal character. Nothiog in the nature of a will. You know of none " “T know of none.” There wa. & paugo. Mr. Merdock took a pinch of suuff, “3Ir. Delpratt died rather suddenly—that is to eay, he had been suffering. as all his homschold well know, from discaee of the heart of long standing. Still none looked for his illness terminting fatelly 860 early o date. His medical attongant vis. ited him froquently of late. Ho was not present, howaver, when tho sad event occurred. He is {ully satisfied, however, as tothe causo of death, Ho sttributcs it to anearismal hypertrophy of the heart, I am mot doctor enough to under- stand precisely his meaning.” ‘The young man dabbed his whito face with his handkerchiof. Ho was much moved, and his voico trembled as Lie contirued : “I need bardly sy my consin'sdenth has been a heavy blow to me.” As you know, Mr. Merdock, in timds past there wero.many dilferences bew tweon us—due to my folly, to my misconduct, I am now prepared o fully sdmit. Bat wo had been reconciled, We wero on intimate and aficc- tionato terms. I regarded him as my benefactor, aud was deeply gretoful for all he bad dono for me. Most unfortunately I ivas cbeent from tho house ut the time of his deatk:.” Mr. ilerdock was silont, but he now scemed from under his beetling brows to eye s visitor with & new curioeity. His attention was attracted porhapa by tho restlessness that marked the Young man's manner. He moved uneasily in his ehuir, lifting Lis position conatantly, and twist- iug bis handkerchiof into a string by the un- congcious contortions of his hands. _**T had left the houso early in the morning to attend the meet at some few miles distance from Lupton. It was latc whon I returned. My cousin hiad then been dead some hours. Coming up to London, to transact some business that could not be postpored, I resolved to call upon you, Mr. Merdack. *In the first place, I have to Tequest thnt you will attend the funeral, which is fixed for the 27b, a5 noon, and in-the next placo to beg that you will act on_my behalf, 23 my logal adviser, in the new position that de- volves upou mo under the terms of Alr, Del- pratt's will." “I ehell attend the faneral, of course,” eaid the lawyer. *I have sincers respect for tho memory of my late friend. I shall ettend, if you pléase, in my character us professional ad- viser, during many Feas, of the deceased.” A carriago shell moot the early train from town at Andover—the ncarest station to Lupton uor,” ** Any business arrangoments in regard to your own futare position it m=y be well, perhaps, to defer until after the funeral.” “4As you think best. Good morning, Mr. Merdock. I will only add a hope that you will dismiss any prejudice you may haye “formed against me in relation to my life in the past, I"doassure yon that Iama different men. I Am not now a3 you once knew mo, Good morn- fng” 3 ‘They shook hands and parted. 3r. Merdock resamed bis desk, after carefully rubbing his fingers with his silic handkerchief. Thoy had been loft 50 cold snd clammy by his visitor's grasp. . Apparently Mr. Merdock was not industrionsly inclined that day, or ho was preoccupied ; his attention was abgorbed by the news of the desth of Lis friend and client, Eustaco Vere Delpratt. Ho found a difficulty in dovoting himsel? to other matters. Ho sat idly in his ehair, glancing now at the tin box, now at the firstcolumn of the Zimes newspaper, now et the grasoyard outside Lis windos. And at intervala he studied the card of Mr. Eruest Dolpratt. Later in the day the lawyer's room was abrupt- Iy entered by Mr: Pixloy, the Secretry of the Albatross Insuranco Compnny, of whichi institn- tion Mr. Nerdock had been for many years tho solicitor. T was passing, Merdock, eo I_thought I'd look in,” s2id Jir. Pixjey, an active, bustling gentloman, who always’ declined a chair, finding that he could talk yith greater ease if permitted an erest posture, with apace for free movoment and gesticulaiion. ** We'rs in for a heavy claim. The malter’s not ripe for discussion, butit's worth mentioning. Idon't say that it's suspi- cions os yet: but it's odd, and eooner or Iater, I tako it, you'll have to look into it for us. Yet the parties are of great respectability; they al- ways are, 1 notice, in cases of an unpleasant complexion. And it's odd, ns I said. Tho lifo only dropped four dava ago. Yot already it's becn thought advieable to notify the fact to us, and the party most interested bas called in per- son at tho ofiice. Now I copsider that rather sharp work. \vhat can be the season of it? 1u's a policy of long standing—a hesvy risk—we divided it of course with other offices, but still we stand to loso o large amount. ' Tho sum in- sured, with scenmalzted bonuses, makesa Leavy total.’ It cll fair? That's tho question.” “That's the name of the gentloman who called upon you,” said Mr. Bierdock, sad he honded the ecrotary Ar. Ernes: Dolpratt’s card., “Tho very man! You'so scon him also? Tpon my word, ho docsn't let the gress grow under hip feet.” ** He didu't coma here about tho insurancs; Dut T happon to know & good deal about the ease. Ths Iato Mr. Delpratt was a client of mine. It was throngh mo the insuranco was effected. Ho was tho natural son of old Josbus Delpratt, wEo begueathed to him absolutely the Lupton Msnor guiste—a property of considerablo valus in Hampehiro. Joshua Delpratt was nover mar- ried.” Hin prosumptive Ler was his mepher, Delamete Delpratt, tho father of Ernest. You Tolloy: me “You're getting complicated. But at present 1 understand.” “ Delamers Delpratt was o sconndrel, and Joshua proclaimed bis intention to leave all ke poseessod to Eustace, ratker thaa to bis nepliow, Dolamere, who Lad_brought_disgrace upon thio family. To assist Delomere Eustaco borrowed a Iarge sum of monoy. This was in Joghua's life- timo, mind. Eustace could not, of conrse, charga tho estates, which ho was only to acquirg under tho will of & man who was atill living, and who might at any time ckange his mind as to tho disposal of his properts. Tho only security Enstace conld offer wes his roversionary inter- est fa & sum in tho fans iovested for tie ben- efit of his mother, and the subject indeed of the Delpratt Trast, tho deeds end papers of which are in that tin box beeido yom. Faur- ther, Le could, as ho did, his life beavily, lodge the policies, and bind himself to poy the premiums regularly. Of the monay advanced, Eustace never toucled & Balf-penny. All was absorbed by Delamere. On coming into possession of tho estates, Eustaco aid oif the loan, but thought it wortl while to Emp up tho policies. He bad especially in view thobenedit of tha legitimato members of the fam- ily. _Of these, the man you saw to-day"'— T did not seo Lim,” interrunted 3fr. Pixloy. +T was ongaged when ho called. But I beard of Dia visit from tho Assistant Sceretary, who bad some converration with him.” “Well, of theso Lrnest Delpratt is now the sole reprevontative; for Deiamere, his father, died of drink, many years 250, leaving no other issue. Fustace, my old friend and client, left no children. Heto you have, briefly told, tho story of tho Delprate.” “Then this Ernest s the last of the race " “Tic last of the race.” * His futher, you #23, was & scoundrel; snd ho? “Well, I'd rather defer my opinion. e musn't be ina hurry. Ll s, clearly—and there be's wrong. Hurry, neediess hurry—and hurry ia ggn_-ufiy ncedless—provokes distrust. The case must be looked into, but very quietly.” “TIn suspicious cases "— “Mind, [ don't Fay that this is euspicious as nterrapted Mr. Merdock. et me continue. In suspicious cases what we beve to inquiro i3, who is the person who benefiis by the death of the insured 2" If wrong's been done, there mast bo an inducement, 3 mo- tive forit. Find cat that, and"— * 3y dear Pixley, badx't you better leave it all itomo? Don't keep a dog snd bark yourself. l'l{hl. end to it. I'mfgoing to the funeral on the P7th “Yoaare? Then I'vonothing more to say; only kesp e informed of e‘vzrything » +70f evorything. And mindyou towards me.” ‘That night r. Merdock teft London. On the worniag of the 2ita of Novembera carriage from Lupton . Manor wag waiting at the Andover station to meet the early tran from Tondon. ALz Merdock, however, stocd on the platform of tho station some tima before tho ar- xival of the train. Hewas dressed in deep black, and looked worn and ansions. Among the passengers- brought down from iown yas Mr. Pixley. Mr Merdock hastered towards ‘him, and drew Lim aside. “~¥on got my letter, of conrze? Now be very carefal, Pixlcy. Don't eay s h,word "more tham = Sou can heln. o the samo, There's a carriage waiting to take us to Lupton, a plessant -drive over the Hampehire downs. The driver's been resting at the Andover Arms; . he only drew up to the station when the train _was in sight, He supposes thai wo both camo down by the train, * Yon'ro understood to be my clerk. You would come, and you must accept that position. But bo very careful what you s2y. No: o word moromow. You're from Liup- ion, coachman? To meeia gentloman from London? Quito right.” They entered tho carriage, and wore driven from the station, “ Pull up that window, Pixley. That fellow mustn't hear us. This is a delicate matter, azd we must proceed vory cautionsiy.” “Well 7 And what's been dono ?" “I'vo not been idle, but, I'll own, I've buta poor caso 8s yet. Icant gotmuch beyoud sus- picion. I cannot arrive at proof. Still, Pve set two or threeat work, and something may come out at any-moment.’ I couldn’t appear ac- tively in the matter myself, for many reasons. ‘We must lull suspicion as much 23 possible. The criminal, if there is one—and mind, I won't yet say there is onc~—will then grow boider, im- Pprudent, perhaps, and then we have a chance.” “ The ‘funeral will proceed ?" “Notgolond. Yes. You know, or, perhaps, vou don’t know, what country Coroners are. And wo've scarcely a pretoxt for demanding an e D Tee inquest. Tho doctor, & local practitioner, sticks to his anenrismal Lypertrophy. What can we do in the face of Lis certificate? The servants have been got at, not by me—I did not dare to go near the:house—snd questioned skillfully enongh, without awakening their sus) Somathing has boen gathered that may be of importance. A hirt of physic bottles destroyed immediately after tho death of Mr. Delpratt. But it's nothing Like clear enough at prosent, and thers moy be nothing in i “But if the funer; “ The funeral docsn't matter. I ovidence to go upon, we can obtain from the Home Oftice an order for disinterment. Never mind abont the funcral. Get that over quietly ; 1t may be all tho better for us.” ¥ “But the other doctor, who gave & hint to the office "— “I've seen him, and it only comes to this—he suspects. He was dismissed from attendance upon the decensed threo weeks ago; 80, you Lknow, ho couldn't havo sean poor Delpratt dur- ing his last fortnight of life, Still, he men- tioned some facts that were worth] noting. At the same time, you know, he may be charged with being actuated by professional jealousy—a doctor dismissed for incompetence; ~ that's 40w, it woutd bo put to a jury.” “ But what does ho suspect " ‘ “Buspicions, mind, amount to nothing, un- less you can support them with evidence of facts, and that we can’t do at present. But he wuspécts--bend your hesd;” Mr. Merdock clutched his companion by the fore-arm, and whishered into his ear—‘he suspects tiat the medicines were tamperod with, and that death resulted from tho edministration of—poison— probably arsenic, in small but frequent doses. 'Phat could only havo been done by some ona in | & constant attendance upon the decensed.” “ And wo know that Ernest Delpratt had op- portunities of that kind.” 3 “Yos ; that we know. He 6t up some nights with the decensed, was with him, indeed, con- tinaally, oxcept on the day of hia death ; then he was absent, out all dsy—bunting, he told me. Ho lied. I've ascertained that. He did go to | I tho meat. But there was but a poor day's sport, a short run with a young fox, and s Lill in Dar- rington Plantations, only o few miles from Lup- ton. Ho might have boen home by 2 o'clock. But bo stayed drinking in s little public-house on tho Purbam road. So,yougee, holied. That Joesn't surprise me ; ho was alwaya & liar, as bia father was befare him. It looks liko sdministor- ing the lagt fatal dose, and then keeping out of tho closing scone, to svoid suspicion. On tho other hand, an innocent man might havo ut up at the public, and sfterwords, eing ashamed of himself, hive given a false ac- | count of his conduct for the sake of decency.” “ Ho was on good terms with the doceased 2" “You, Not £0good as he'd male cut, but till on good terms. He'd been forgiven, and ‘made welcome to the manor-house. Poor Del- pratt, I take it, was trying to like him, and, on the whole, the 'yonug mau hed behaved pretty wellof late. Ithad becn different formerly. In truth, Ernestweses badas Delamere had Dy Ie; well awaro that they wero likely to bonefit in na oy by the docesseds s seemed ye! 8pito of themselves, curiously in= Terestod in the o7 it pressed, porhape, by tho gruvity aad deihera- d's disposition of his estate, roceedings. They were im- on of Merdock’s manner, I have now to state,” he continued, raising his voico somewhat, * that, practicaily, this documont motwithstarding, the late Eastuca Vere Delpratt died intestate.” There was & murmur of.surprise. Ernest elpratt roso from his seat, and raised fi raised hig hond. He tried to speak, but his voics appeared to feil bim. “Three years after its execution, this will was revoked.” * By deed 2" somo one asked. #YNo._ By the adoption of another course, not ss decisive. In fact, by marriage.” “Itanlio!” Emest Delpratt scresmed, huirsee Iy. “Tho late Mr. Delpratt.” the lswyer pros ceeded, calmly ary, sy, in Paris, French actross. _Legal proof of that marriage T have with me. necd bardly enter. v in early lifa Alr. Delpratt hed mot with severe disappointment. Ho had contemplated an allis anco with & young lady, & member of one of tha most distinguished families of this county. To that union the stain upon_his birth was deemed by the lady's fricnds an insuperable objoction, The engagement. if such it may be called, was therefore abruptiy terminated. Mir. Delpratt was deeply afilicted. He determined nover to marry. Some time_afterwards Lo msde queathing his entiro property to the unlysaiviv- ing legitimate membor of his family—Jr. Ernest “was married in" Jaoue at the Chapel of the Em- 1863, to Hortense Leroux, @ Into tho details of the matter 1 I msy atate, however, thas this will, b~ elpratt. But he had reason at 2 later dateto ‘be much offended st the conduct of the msn his enerosity would have enriched. To ths pecu- If we've any Eu circumstances of tho case I will not further sllude. Mr. Ernest Delpratt left England, end was for nearly ten years absent in Australia, In the iuterval my late friend aud_client again turned his thoughts towards marriage. aolyed to find & wifo among a class little likely to bo affected by the circumstances of his origin. Chance threw him in the way of this Hortense Lerour. She is now dead; I will bring na chargo against her, therefore. Iwill only eay that 8he was in every way unworthy of her hus~ ‘band, and that the marrisge was most unhappy one. The newly-wedded &“’ separated forever within a few weeks of amply provided for, but survived onlya few years, meeting her death under very painfal eir- cumstances. Her dress accidentally canght fire, and sho was burnt to death npon the stage of tho Lyons Theatre. was kept a strict secret. Ithad rivately, Hudea & his life, which he desired to forget. He placed the proofs of the marriage in my k=nds' soma yeers since. Of its validity there can be no ques« tion_whatever.” He re« eir union. She was Br. Del%nu’a marriage cen solemnized and was known to very few. He never 0it. It was s distressing incident in “It's n trumped-up story,” cried Ernest, with Livid feco. ““Ill go tolsw. Tl establish the will. It's monatrous to suppose that it conld be royoked by such & marriage.” I will aimply refer you to the act of tho first Victoria, Chaptar 26, Section 18,” said the law- yer. are advised,” Ouly you will stend that I decline to st on your behalf; that “But you will, of course, procesd.as you istinctly under- am not, and thet I never will, accept the posi- tion of your legal ndviser. 1 attended hero, s3I bofore atated, sololy in my character of solicitor ! tomy lato friend, 3Ir. Delpratt. Gontlemen, I do not think I need trouble You with any farther . obsarvetions, revoked by Mr. Delpratt's merriage. Hs was well aware of ita revocation. Ho intended o rovokeit. He had grave fzult to find with Mr. Erneat Dolpratt’s conduct, and did not design to bequeath him Lapton Manor and his other pos- seasions. Subsequently ho was disposed, howe ever, to make ome provision fortho young man, But his intentions iu thst respect were pravented by his death.” This will is waste-paper. It wag A servant entered and handed anote to Mr. Merdock. The company roso, and prepared to quita scene that had becomo Atrangely paintal “And the property 7 one ssled. «Mr. Delpratt dying intestate, and without 2l heirs, his property goes to the Crown.” **It can't bo—it shan’t be,” Ernest cris been. Dismisaed from the army before ho was | Wildly. # Ilinot be swindled in this shamel i ting at way. Tllenforce my rights. T'll cstablish the 20 for disgraceful conduct—cheating at c: T Abines oo Smaent ot the s e then guilty of what's called, in plain_terms, at the 0Id Bailey, forgery. But tko thing was husked up, and the young man was packed off ia. tt, al feeli: it. to Austzalia. Poor Delpratt, always feeling | it. 1 £ A8 xiness aan ande ecutely his own position, and doing his best to serve the legitimato members of the family, gave him up then 28 o bad job. Bat he probably softenod to hir of lato years, believed in his re- form, and viewed him oven affectionataly.” “Who was with him at tho time of his shall bo mine. The policies aze in my posseasica. The wero legally assignod to me. 1 can prove 1thas always been understood that they “ In ragard to one of those insurances I am st liberty to atate that, ecting on my edvice, the Directors of the Albatross office will refuse pag- ment of the claim.” The Iawyer looked the young man very steads ily in the faco. death 2 ) p “Noono. There we're weak. Ho had cer- | Whatnext? Thatare you going to charge tainly heert disease of considerablo standing— | T with next? Kefuse paymont? Hov daig sufiicient, perhaps, to account for his death, | Y0u2 Whr—do you think I poisoned the man There's only this to add. Heis known to have complained of the etrange tasto of his medicines, and of the great internal pain and burning thirst they provoked.” A « After all, a5 yon said yonrself, Merdock, just no, it's but s poor case.” T repent it—n poor case.” T don't soe that,we've any grounds for resist- ing peymoat of the' policy.” & I’Arhflgs not, as yet. ~But never rush at con- clusions, Pixley. We'vo timo beforo us, and many things may happen. And mind, in my case, 1 mean to spring s mine upon that young man such a8 ho little dreams of. Eustace Delpratt wasmy friend. I don't forget that, Hush! We'vo arrived. Remember, you're my cler The funersl was of o simplo kind. It waschiefly remarkable, perbaps, for its paucity of mourners. But, a3 Mr. glerdoc had ezplained, the late Mr. Dolprett bad, legally spesking, no relatives, [ - No ‘“inheritable blood,” to uge the convey- ancers’ term, had flowed in his veins, and he had died childlesa. Ernest Delyratt wan the chief mourner. Ho was_accompanied by certain members jof his mother’s family, thus indirectly connected with the deceased. A clergsman or two from neigh- ‘boring parishies, who had been on friendly terms with Mr. Dcl%mtl, and whoso flocks had received 2id from his benovolence; the doctor, and, of conrse, r. Mordock, wore in attendance. The gentry of the district font their carringes, and Tound the grave wero grouped numercua todants, farm-laborers, and poor folk rosident upon Lupton Manor, who wore moved to pay a last tribute of respect to ite dafm.rted propristor. Ho Lad beon to them invariably kind and generous ~had never been known to act harshly, or to sposk ungently. They regrotted his loas deeply acd sincercly, the more especially that they scemed to view with some distrost the gentle- iny ter boen helping me to investigate this % about him. - You're fond of dwelling uj motives that lead to crime, Pizley. At time T may tell you that you omit from your cal- culations the fact tkat much wickedne i “Wo Luow you did!” said Afr. Mord quickly, in 2 low tone, 88 he struck his ] hand sharply upon tho table, and handed thexote ho kad just roceived to Ernost Delpratt. Ho clutched it tremblingly: resd it with rag- g oyes. Then it fell from his shaking finges and flutterod on to the floor. * He gave a strat piteons monn ; raised his hands, and _pres: them agninat his hoad, as though to still soms terribly scute pain. *“I'mill,” he murmaured, faintly. “Let me get some frosh air. I aballba botter prosently ~I ehall”—and he staggered from the room. MMr. l‘\xl;ardock found himself left slone with r. Pixley. "1 told you X should spring a mine upon that young man, eaid the lawyer, quietly. 1 think {L'vo becn 38 good as my’ wofl?" + hat was that note you handed him 2" “Road it.” - . Pixley took tho paper from the floor snd “E, D. bought arsenic of Gibbons, Chem= Tea ist, Catherine streot, Salisbury, on_the 17tk and 25¢h Octaber, and the 20th November.” “Itg from a vey cueful follow vhos ter. I was in hopes I should hesrd from (him lsst night. However the noto came in time. other 1 did right to show it him I'm not sure. Perhaps Dot. But I felt » longing quito uncontrollable to crush tho villain. It's wrong to bo revengefal; it in- rferes with business arrangements. ButTowed somothing to the memory of my poor friend. That villain folt theblow. i 1 ow. How ho winced " “Te's cortainly a_villain, if there aever Wag one,” remarked 3r. Pixley. ‘“And now I can tell you you something mg- m_the 0 sama in this men who was recognized on all sides as tho futuro Squire of Lupton Manor. Of Ernest | ¥Orld fa sccomplished at a very chesp Dalpraty’s position nono ontartsined any doubt. | Friee 80,0 ssy—for very insdeqn 5 i It was thnronghly understood that to bim tho | gttt CHOTD WES T O i b enoug! gD, late Enstace Delpratt had bequeathed his ontire " 0 Lamn (EROBERS ‘possessions absolutely. “Keep close to ms, Pixley,” Mr Bor dock whispered to his friend, after tho funeral ceremony was concluded, and the mourners bad returned to_tho manor-lionse. Then he added eloud, *Iwish it to bo fully Imown that I have attended hero to-dsy as the friend for many years, and the professional ad- viser, of the lato Eustaco Vere Dolpratt.” “That i3 quito understood,” said Ernest Del- pratt, rather impatiently. *Tt is now proposed that in that character youshould read the will of the deceased.” Ho placed upon the table a small packet, the seals of which had boen broken. ““You wish me to do §0?” “ Cortainly. I wish all the usual forms to be observed on this melancholy occasion.” “Ro it o, then. And you produce this docu- ment us the'last will of the late Mr. Eustace Vere Delpratt ?" Only & emall party was sssombled in tho spa- cious library of Lupton ‘Manor., Ernest Del- ratt moved anxiously from one to ths other. 0 wos very pale, he spoke in low, agitated tones, sud hia hands trombled exceedingly, Ar. Merdock took his seat at tho head of the table. " Ho placed beside him = small black leather bag. * The will yon produce,” he said, it & grave, bnsiness-like air, turning to Ernést Defi?.n,’ 2 “ bears dato the 18th of March, 1850, It was drevn by me, and my name appears 3. that of ono of tho witnesses, attesting the dua execution of tho document by the testator. By this will tho whole of Mr. Eustace Delpratt's estte, both real and personal, is bequeathed to_yon, sud you are n.piqu:zed the golo executor. You produca this 88 hia last will and testament? You know of no oiber wili or codicil executed by tho deccased " “ Ho ozecuted no other will or codicil,” said Ernest, in a low, faint voico, *The deceased, bad, however, it_seems, some Little time sinco, contemplated making a néw dis- ‘position of his property. He had dranm up & few notes and memorande. Ho desigued to make » handsomo provision to Mr. Ernest Del- pratt, but tho rosiduo- of hia estato ha pro- posed to apply in a cifferent way. But I need zot go into that. 3r. Eustace Vers Dolpratt did not survive to make a_new will, and these brief Titings of his are without legal value.” Afr. Merdock paused, and took » pinch of snoff.. An_ intense quist prevailed in the room. The quick breathing of Emest was_plainly au ble. “He brushed his hair trom hia glistening, deadly-whito face, Then, us thongh porceiving Eow much his baod trembled, ho mithdrew it Earriedly, and thrast it ont of ‘sight under tho teble, ‘Tho other persona preseat, thonch yet in covored Iving on the floor of one of the uppe. rooms of Lupton Manor Honse. His one band clutched a razor, with which he bad inflicted Ernest Delpratt bad of course discovered the wiil his favor, never dreamng that it bad been re- voked, or of the manner of its revocation. Bat moro than that. The man is a gambler, and deeply invalved. oun as forged accoptances in_tho decessed’s name. 1 have ancertained that. Bills are falling due at tho Branch Bank of -Andover, which he must “meet, or preparo for exposure, if ot arrest. ho determined upon tor. Once tho proprietor of Lupton Manor, all will go well with him, he too great a hurry. 1f hohad enly waited s little, a new will, undér which ho was largely to bene- £t, would have been exccuted. Somathing his crime would then bave brought him. Asitis, Be gets nothing; he simply beggars himself. Murdering Mr. Delpratt, 88 ho did, in fact, the ‘murderer, to spesk plainly, cuts his own throst{” He owes at least tive thousand . Ho ia s defaulter upon tho turf, and he So the murder of his benefac~ thinks. But he was in A strange noise was heard in the hall ontside the library door. ‘The servants, greatly excited, entored tho room. It was some momonts foro they could relste intelligibly the tidings they had brought, The body of Lrnost Delprstt had been dis- He was quite dead. ounds upon himéelf. % n Eustace Vera Dk It was the room in whi pratt tud me! his death by poison.—All the ¥ea? Round. HEAVEN, Light atter darknoss, in after oss, Strength after suffeing, Crows after cross. Swzet after bitter, Song after sigh, ‘Homoafter wandering, Pralseatter ary. Nearafter distant, ‘ Gleam after gloon, Love after lonelizsas, Alw.l after tomb, ter long agony Rapturs of biles * Right wes the pathwsy ing to thiy 1 ~Frances Ridiey Havergal, f