Evening Star Newspaper, November 6, 1897, Page 18

18 Continued From Last Saturday. The king’s immediate party was no soon- er gone than Darrell ran up to me eagerly and before my lord could rejoin me, crying: “What did he say to you?" “The king? Why, he said——" “No, no. What did my lord say?” He pointed to Arlington, who was walking off with the king. “He asked me whether I were a good churchman, and told me that'I should hear | from him. But if he is so solicitous about the church, how does he endure your re- ligion?”" Darrell had no time to answer, for Lord Quinton’s greve voice struck in: “He is a wise man who can answer a question touching my Lord Arlington's opinion of the church,” said ke. Darrell flushed red and turned angrily on the interrupter. You have no cause, my lord,” he cri “to attack the secretary's churchmanship.” “Then you have no cause, sir,” retorted Quinton, “to defend it with so much tem- per. Come, let me be. I have said as much to the secretary's face, and he bore it with more patience than you can muster on his behalf.” By this time I was in some distress to see my old friend and my new at such va- riance, and the more as I could not under- stand the ground of their difference: the Secretary’s suspected leaning toward the Popish religion had not reached cur ears in the country. But Darrell, as though he did not wish to dispute further with a man his superior in rank and age, drew off with a bow to my lord and a kindly nod to me, and rejoined the other gentlemen in a’ dance on the king and his pariy. ou came off well with the king, Simon,” said my lord, taking my arm again. “You made him laugh, and he counts no man his enemy who will do him that service. But what did Arlizgton say to you?" When I repeated the secretary’s words he grew grave, but he patted my arm '!n a friendly fashion, saying: “You've shown wisdom and honor in this first matter, led. I must trust you in oth- Yet there are many who have no faith Lord i on, as Englishman or ers. “But,” eried I, “does not Lord Arlington do as the kirg bids him?” My lord looked full in my face and an- swered steadily. “I think he does, Simon.” though he had said enough, much, he went on: “Come, you needn't ‘ow too old or too prudent all at once. S you have seen the king, your business at Whitehall wiil wait. Let us turn back : an to my house, jes my lady, Barbara is there to- from her attendance, and she But then, as or even too will be glad with you.” It was my ex i, perchance, other young men may h: und the like, that whatsoever appre ents mig comely da: 1, and however ispleasure and scorn were to the meeting was not fore- being taken rather than n Therefore handsome and found my “fore I was resolv- ed on how I should treat Mistress Barba- ra, or on the more weighty question of how I might look to be treated by her. I had not to wait long for the first test. After a few moments of my lady's amiable and kindly conversation, Barbara entered from the room behind, and with her Lord Carford. He wore a disturbed air that his affected composure could not wholly con- ceal. Her cheek was flushed and she seem- ed vexed, but I did not notice these things so much as the cha which had been wrought in her by the last four years. She had become a very beautiful woman, er- namented with a high-bred grace and ex- i tall and slim, carry- ing herself with a delicate dignity. She gave me her hand to kiss, carelessly enough, and rather as though she acknowledged an old acquaintance than found any pleasure in its renewal. But she was gentle to me, and I detected in her manner a subtle in- dicaticn that, although she knew all, yet she pitied rather than blamed. Was not Simon very young and ignorant, and did not all the world know how easily even honest young men might be beguiled by cunning women? An old friend must not turn her back on account of a folly, dis- u to renew her acquaintance ag hard f£ such matters. fy lord, I think, read his daughter very well, and being determined to afford me an opportunity to make my peace, engaged Lord Carford in conversation and bade her lead me into the room behind to see the pic- ture that Lely had lately painted of her. She obeyet, and having brought me to where it hung, listened patiently to my re- marks on it, which I tried to shape into compliments that should be pleasing and yet not gross. Then, taking courage, I ven- tured to assure her that I fell out with Lord Carford in sheer igncrance that he was a friend of her family, and would have Lorne anything at his hands had I known She smiled. answering: you did him no harm,” and she ed at my arm in its sling. She had not troubled herself to ask how it did, and J, a little nettled at her neglect, said: . nded well. I alone was hurt, great lord came off saf. the great lord was in the right,” . “we should all rejoice at that. ‘ou satisfied with your examination of Mr. Dale?’ not to be turned aside so easily. you hoid me to have been wrong, then I have done what I could to put myself in “But You Did Him No Harm.” the right since,” said I, not doubting that she knew of my surrender of the commis- sion. I don’t understand,” she said, with a acick glance. “What have you done?” In wonder that she should not have been irformed, I cried “I have obtained the king’s leave to de- cline his favor. ‘The color which had been on her cheeks when she first entered had gone before teful as it might be to her to be remind-4 rerder mine. At the end he looked up at ire, asking; “What are these liberties that‘are 20 dear to air?” tongue got me: into for Day: I Gamemese enough fot one day, so I set a softer tane. by your majesty,’ bowing. ‘Monmouth laughed and clapped me on the WAS LIKE OTHER MEN of Rania Heda Fondnen for Mint Julepa, HE WAS THE CZAR Interview With a Former Member of the Secret Police. § ugh a 4s my friend Phineas himself, and held the court and all in it to be utterly given over to Satan, an opinion not without some warrant, had he observed any moderation in advancing it. Not wishing to harm him, fut i EVER THO £ i} & I do not know what came over me. I said it in all honest simplicity, meaning only to excuse myself for the t I had shown to the duke, but I phrased the sen- tence most vilely, for I said: “When his royal highness questioned me, sir, I had to speak the truth.” Monmouth burst into a roar, and a mo- ment later the king followed with a more subdued but not less thorough merriment. When his mirth subsided he sai . “True, Dele, I.am a king, and no man is bound to speak truth to me. Nor, by heaven—and there’s a compensation—I to any man “Nor woman,” said Monmouth, looking at the ceiling in apparent absence of mind. “Nor even boy,” added the king, with an amused glance at his son. ‘Well, Mr. Dale, can you serve mv and this conscience of yours also?” inded, I cannot doubt it, sir,” said I. “A man’s king should be his conscience,” said the king. “And what should be conscience to the king, sir?” asked Monmouth, “Why, James, a recognition of what evil iy 3 i BEL » not mine—which he abhorred, but which Mr. Simon Dale’s new born desire for fashion made imperative, however lit- tle Mr. Simon Dale’s purse could properly afford the expense of them. The truth is that Mistress Barbara's be- havior spurred me on. I had no mind to be set down a rustic. I could stomach disap- Pproval and endure severity. Pitied for a misguided, befooled clod, I would not be, and the best way to avoid such a fate Seemed to lie in showing myself as reckless @ gallant and as fine a soldier as any at ‘Whitehall. So I dipped freely and deep into T™my purse till Jonah groaned as woefully for my extravagance as for my frivolity. All day he was in great fear lest I shou!d take him with me to court to the extreme peril of his soul, but prudence at last stepped in and bade me spare myself the cost of a rich livery by leaving him behind. Now, heaven forbid that I should imitate my servant's sour folly, for if a man must be a fool I would have him a merry fool or were, of the family fold. When he aoes noi bess his examinations his parents are 5 Om a courses and are launched 7 taarsed hanging on, drinking issipating his opportunities and the libera! allowance his father makes him. At last the father loses patience, ami ‘ing him a round sum of money, bids him meric anywhere out isgraced a prow! made friends at tT do weels. Per- Assuredly be is in the tractoirs o glanced aside, and said in visible embar- Tassment: “Shall we return?” “You haven't spoken on the matter with }my Lord Carford, then?” I asked. She hesitated a moment, then answered, as though she did not love to tell the truth, but must tell it: “Yes, but he said nothing of this. me of it.” So I toid her in simple and few words what I had done. “Lord Carford said nothing of it,” she said when I ended. Then sne added: “But although you will not accept the favor, you heve rendered thanks for it?” “I couldn't find my tengue when I was with the king,” I answered, with a shame- faced laugh. “I didn’t mean to the king,” said Bar- bara. their university into life, D. ts WAYS OF THE NIHILISTS : and dancing, ing: —_.—__. “Well done, well done. I'd have gt thousand crowns to see their faces.’ I sprang to my feet in amazement and confusion, bowing low, for the young in ie was the Duke of Monmouth. said he, pulling me down - “I was behind the curtain and heard all. Thank God, I held my laughter in till they were gone. The liberties of the kingdom andthe safety of the re- formed religion! Here's a story for the king.” He lay back, seeming to enjoy the jest_ most hugely. - “For the love of heaven, sir,” I cried “don't tell the king. I’m already ruined. “Why, so you are, with my good uncl said he. “You're new to court, Mr. Dale?” “Most sadly new,” I answered in a rue- Written for The Evening Star, “The assassination of Canovas by an anarchist,” said Col. W. F. M. McCarthy, “may presage a general revival of rev- olutionary activity. I once spent a morn- ing with the Emperor of Russia—to em- phusize the real danger he was at that time laboring from nihilists. An anti- nibilist device which had been highly com- mended to him was proven then and there, under his own eyes, in his own palace grounds, to be worse than useless.” Colonel McCarthy, now a resident of New Teil the university of other ne’e: haps he has a iistress, aiready a familiar figure i tea cafes. They meet to bemoan his mis. fortune. and presto, they form themsclves into a nihilist circle. Forming a N. t Circle, “The circle thus formed, a regular meet- ing place, a private room, will say, in thelr favorite tractoir, is selected as th: rendezvous for conspiracy, as well as { ful tone, which set him laughing again. things he may bring into the world, if he | York, is in the prime of life. It is only It was my turn to color now. I had not | find anything to blame in the pomp and | ‘Ul ‘one whic haan the acandaleue otetion ania 4 5 ¥ | social enjoyment. There they sup a j been long enough at court to lose the | scemly splendor of a royal court. Yet the | rat scdmr ine duke of loving the reform. | “Meneame tls ways. pile tig ea ta rer eer Casati profusion that met my eyes amazed me. It was the king's whim that on this night himeclf, his friends, and principal gentle- men should, for no reason whatsoever, ex- cept the quicker disbursing of their money, assume Persian attire, and they were one and all decked out in richest oriental gar- ments, in many cases lavishly embroidered with precious stones. The Duke of Buck- ingham seemed all ablaze, and the other courtiers and wits were little less magnifi- vent, foremost among them being the yeung Duke of Monmouth, whom I now saw for the first time, and thought as handsome a youth as I had set eyes on. Monmouth saw the hit, and took it with preity grace, bend!ng and kissing the king’s band. “It is difficult, Mr. Dale, to serve two masters,” said the king, turning again to me. “Your majesty is my only master,” I be- gan, but the king interrupted me, going on, ‘some amusement: ‘Yet I should like to have seen my broth- er.” “Let him serve me, sir,” cried Monmouth. “For I am figm in my love of these liber- ties, aye, of the reformed religion.” “I know, James, I know,” nodded the king. “It is grievous and strange, how- ever, that you should speak as though my brother were not.” He smiled very malic- iously at the young duke, who flushed red. Then the king suddenly laughed and fell to fondling the little dog again. “Then, sir,” said Monmouth, “Mr. Dale shall come with me to Dover.” My heart leaped, for all the talk now was of Dover, of the gayety that would be there, and ‘the corresponding dullness in London when the king and duke were gone to meet Mme. D’Orleans. I longed to go, and the little hope that I had cherished that Darrell’s good offices with the secre- tary of state would serve me to that end had vanished. Now I was full of joy, al- though I watched the king’s face anxiously. For some reason the suggestion seemed to occasion him amusement, yet, although for the most part he laughed openly with- out respect of matter or person, he now bent over his little dog, as though he sought to hide the smile, and when he looked up it hung about his lips like the gh of mirt. “Why not?" said he. “To Dover by all means. Mr. Dale can serve you and me and his principles as well at Dover as in London.” I bent or one knee and kissed his hand for the favor. When I sought to do the like to Monmouth, he was very ready, and received my homege most regally. As I rose the king was smiling at the pair of us in a whimsical, melancholy wa; “Be off with you, boy: si he, as though we were a pair of lads from the grammar school. “Ye are both fools, and James there is but indifferent honest. But every hour's a chance and every wench an angel to you. Do what you will, and God forgive your sins.” And he lay back in his great chair with a good-humored, lazy, drink and plot and dance. The very w ers who serve them are in the secret ser vice of the czar; a Russian officer is the czar’s wholly. He may not refuse the hum- blest mission. Any enterprise which tens to confirm the safety or ple of his imperial master it is the offic privilege and pleasure, as well as his swo to undertake. ‘Form more circles,” comes*the worl from the chief, the arch conspirator of al! say Troubetskoy, in Geneva, ‘and then form: a plot.’ So they help on the formation other circles, and at last the plans for the actual demonstration, the blow at the life of majesty itself, or some prominent gen- eral or faithful officer in the czar's service, are ready for final arrangement. “New, the secret police ha been aware of what is going on, and ar- rang:ag in their turn for their grand coup. There are many ways by which the form: tion of the new ci may have tb brought to the knowledge of the police. The waiters in the tractoir, as mentioned, may be spies, who report regularly to the authorities. Or one of the invited may have lost his nerve, in spite of the fearfu cath he tcok on entrance, an oath requiring nim to die rather than to betray his com- rades, binding him to inflict the most frightful mutilations on any other traitor, obliging him to commit suicide rather than submit to arrest, and so endanger the safety of his brother conspirato: Hie may have told all to his mistress, d inv her into the circle. She, being devout, most Russian women, goes to confess and confides to the priest that she has joined the circle, or that she loves a man who is a member of it. Capturing the Circte. ‘Never mind, my Gaughter,’ says the priest, ‘don’t let that trouble you. I'll ab- solve you; and if you will send your friend to me I will absolve him also.” Where- upon the priest straightway tells all to the government, for he is himself a part of the governmental system, and when the lover comes to confession—if he is foolish enough—he is not seen again at the circle. tie disappears mysterious mysterious Cisappe: ceed in getting him to talk about his mar- velcus experiences on the czar’s personal staff at the court of Russia. “It was in Paris,” said Colonel McCarthy, “that I became acquainted with an aid of the Czar Alexander. The Russians are greatly interested in applied chemistry and novel mechanical devices for warfare. I had some ideas on these subjects which this aid asked me to put before his su- periors. The Grand Duke Constantine was there and I was presented to him. Our in- terviews finally led to my going to St. Petersburg, where I was presented to the czar himself. “I first met the empcror in the winter palace one morning at 9 o'clock. He was an early riser, and the machinery of the court was all in operation by that hour. His majesty received me kindly, and et once put me at my ease. ‘I love Ameri- cans,’ he said, with a smile, and I soon learned that this was true.” Andrew G. Curtin of Pennsylvania was then minister from the United States at the impcrial ecurt, and there was nobody in whose so- clety the czar took more satisfaction. “I'll never forget the mysterious errand upon which I was dispatched one cold and stormy night by, and I may say, with Gen. Curtin, as he was universally called in St. Petersburg. My entry into the emperor's secret service had by that time become an accomplished fact. I had become a Rus- sian, had sworn allegiance to the czar, spiritual and temporal, and had been en- tered on the official list of the chancellerie as Vasili Makroff. William F. Mason Mc-. Carthy ceased to exist from that hour—at least in Russia. A messenger had come asking me to the American legation at 8 o'clock that evening, ‘without uniform.’ These words naturally excited my cu osity. I wore the imperial crown on the collar of my uniform coat, and in that dress passed at will through the streets of St. Petersburg, by day or by night, for I Was supposed to be all the while on my imperial master’s business. Making Mint Juleps. “When I got to the embassy I learned to my intense surprise that the minister and I were to visit the czar incognito. “Gen. Curtin had a parcel under his arm when we reached ghe palace and to my }ed religion no better than the liberties of the kingdom?” “Indeed, no, sir.” “And my Lord Arlington? I know him He held your arm to the last, and he smil- ed to the last! “Indeed, sir, my lord was most gentle to me.’ “Aye, I know his way. Mr. Dale, for this entertainment let me call you friend. Come, then, well go to the king with it.” And, rising, he seized me by the arm and began to drag me off. “Indeed, your grace must pardon me,” I began. “But, indeed, I will not he persisted. Then he suddenly grew grave as he said: “I am for the liberties of the kingdom and the safety of the reformed religion. Aren't we friends, then?” | “Your grace does me infinite honor.” “And am I no good friend? Is there no value in the friendship of the king's son— the king’s eldest son?’ He drew himself up with a grace and dignity which became q him wonderfully. Often in these later days I see him as he was then, and think of him with tenderness. Say what you will, he made many love him even to death, who would not have lifted a finger for his fath- er or the Duke of York. Yet in an instant—such slaves are we of our moods—I was more than half in a rage With him. For as we went we encountered Mistress Barbara on Lord Carford’s arm. The quarrel between them seemed past, and they were talking merrily together. On the sight of her the duke left me ana ran forward. By an adroit movement he thrust Carford aside and began to ply the lady with most extravagant and high- flown compliments, displaying an excess of devotion which witnessed more admiration than respect. She had treated me as a boy, but she did not tell him that he was a boy, although he was younger than I; she listened with heightened coior and spark- ling eyes. I glanced at Carford and found, to my surprise, no ‘signs of annoyance at his unceremonious deposition. He was watching the pair with a shrewd smile and eemed to mark with pleasure the girl's pride and the young duke’s evident passion. Yet I, who heard sometning of what pass- ed, had much ado not to step in and bid her pay no heed. to homage that was empty if not dishonoring. Suddenly the duke turned round and call- ed to me: “I nave seen her,” I murmured. Then Barbara suddenly made a curtsey, saying, bitterly: “I wish you joy, sir, of your acquaint- ance.” When a man fs alone with a beautiful kk . he is apt not to love an intruder, yet on my soul I was glad to see Carford in the doorway. He came toward us, but b fore he could speak Barbara cried to hii “My lerd, Mr. Dale tells me news that will interest you. “Indeed, madami, and what?” “Why, that he has begged the king’s se the humor rs " long since “WELL DONE, WELL DON IVE: AVE N A THOUSAND CROWNS TO HAVE SEEN THEIR FA CES.” The ladies did not enjoy the license offered by this new fashion, but they contrived to hold their own in the French mode, and I, who had heard much of the poverty of the nation, the necessities of the fleet, and the leave to resign his commission. Doesn't it surprise you?” He leoked at her, at me, and again at her. He was caught, for I knew that he had been fully acquainted with my pur- he fair penitent her heart light from 5 absolution, goes gayly again to the trac- pose. He gathered himself together to an- | siraits in which the king found himself for | ““«Mr Dale,” he eried, “there needed but | Weary smile, as he idly patted the little vane eo on was promptly adnatted, |toic where the circle meets. ‘The police er her. Benes, Was left gaping in sheer wonder | one thing to bind us closer, and here it is! | 40g. In spite of all that all men knew of | Without question, to the czar’s private ‘Nay, I knew,” he said, “and had ven- tured to applaud Mr. Dale’s resolution. But it. did not come into my mind to speak of it.” spies have followed her, and if her lover has not taken her advice and gone to con- fession the circle is gayer that evenir than ever. They drink tea and vodka an: sing nihilist songs. They are all arres together in their chosen meeting place and taken swiftly and silently away to prison, each wondering if any of the others isa traitor.” whence came all the wealth that was dis- Played before my eyes. My own poor prep- arations lost ail their charm, and I had not been above half an hour in the place be- fore I was seeking a quict corner in which to hide the poverty of my coat and the Piainness of my cloak. But the desire for privacy thus bred in me was not to find ful- fillmert. Darrell, whom I had not met all him, I felt my heart warm to him, and I knelt on my knee again, saying: “God save your majesty.” “God is omnipotent,” said the king, gravely. “I thank you, Mr. Dale.” Thus dismissed, we walked off together, and I was waiting the duke’s pleasure to relieve him also of my company, when he turned to me with a smile, his white teeth For you are, I Jearn, the friend of Mistress Quinton, and I am. the humblest of her slaves, who serve all her friends for her sake. “Wh apartments. I followed after him. The emperor at once dismissed his attendants, gave us hearty hand shakes and bade us be seated in front of a cheery coal fire in a large, comfortable looking sitting room. Gen. Curtin was evidently very much at home there, and from the packet under his arm he now produced a large black bottle. i “Strange,” caid she, “when we were de- ploring that Mr. Dale should obtain his commission by such means.” She r. sted her eyes on him steadily, while her lips were set in a scornful smile. A y, What would your grace do for my Barb a. 2” ‘asked “What wouldn't 12" he cried, as if trans- ported, Then, he added, rather, iow, ‘“Though 1 fear you're too eruel to do anything. for A servant brought lemons, cracked ice, a —> Fause fcllowed her words. F gay, now pounced on me and carried me | min SAG gleaming: silver bowl containing a magnificent bunch NOT A-NEW SCHEME. “I daresiy I should have mentioned It. | off, declaring that he was charged to pre- ‘I am listening to the most ridiculous| “The queen sends a maid of honor to | of mint, loaf sugar, vermouth and brandy. aca kad we not passed to another topic,” said | sent me to the Duke of York. ‘Trembling | speeches in the world. tor your grace’s} Wait on madame,” eaid he. And thereupon in my presence the Ameri- Andree Not First to Take Pigec he, at last, end sullenly enough. Then, at-| between fear and exultation, I walked with sake,” said Barbara, with a pretty curtsey| “Indeed, sir, it is very fitting. can minister gave the czar lessons in the sonata tempting @ change in tone, ne added, | him acrosi the floor, threading my way 7 “And the duchess sends one also. If you could choose from among the duchess'—for I swear no man in his sense$ would choose any of her majesty’s—whom would you choose, Mr. Dale?’ “It is not for me to say, your grace,” I answered. “Well,” said he, regarding me droliy. “T would choose Mistress Barbara Quinton.” the Pole. From the Boston Herald. Writers for the contemporary press who have recently treated of Andree’s essay to reach the north pole in a balloon appear to have forgotten—if, indeed, they knew—that carrier pigeons have pre and a coquettish emile. is love ridiculous?” he asked. “Is pas- ma thing to smile at? Cruel Mistress bara!’ “Won't your grace set it in verse?” said she. “Your grace writes it in verse on my beart,”” said he. Then Barbara looked across at me, it may “Won't you rejoin us?” “I am very weil here,” she said. He waited a moment, then bowed and left us. He was frowning heavily and, as I judged, would have greeted another quar- rel with me very gladly, had I been minded to give him an oj-portunity; but, thinking it fair that I should be cured from the first encounter before I faced a second, I held art of making mint juleps and whisky cocktails. “The whisky was old rye, sent to Gen. Curtin from the state of Pennsylvania, of which he had been governor. His majesty said he had never tasted anything as good in his life as the juleps and he forthwith commissioned Gen. Curtin to order for the imperial cellars a large quantity of the through the dazzling throng that covered the Space in front of his majesty’s dais. But before we came to the duke a gentle- tan caught my companion by the arm and asked him how he did in a hearty, cheerful and rather loud voice. Darrell’s answer was to pull me forward and present me, scying that Sir Thomas Clifford desired my siot Bi her been taken to the arctic regions by ot 7 : eeeeey regand aiding much that erred | ye accidentally, yet it did not appear so, | And with a last laugh he ran off in hot | rye whisky, which he had’ane heed te ; : Bites ais eace) tts Si we st woe ete TSE through kindness of my parts and disposl- | ana she laughed merrily. “It necden ae ani | Pursuit of a lady who passed at that mo: | ceidt nine te arrival of Curtin in st, | C%Plorers, and that in one instance it is “I wonder he didn’t tell you.” 5 Alas for my presumption. The anger that had een diverted on to Carford’s head swept back to mine. “Indeed, why thould he?” she cried. “AN the world can’t be always thinking of you and your affairs, Mr. Dale.” “Yet yon were vexed because he hadn “I vexed! Not I!" said Barbara, haugh- tly. “You bade me dezeribe ber.” sald 1, lamely. “I do not know whether others see as I do, but such is she to my eyes.” ‘A silence’ followed. Barbara's face was not flushed now, but rather seemed paler ment and cast a very kindly glance at him. Left alone, but in a good humor that the duke’s last jest could not embitter, I stood watching the scene. The play had begun now on a stage at the end of the hall, but ‘obody seemed to heed it. They walked to and fro, talking always, ogling, quarreling, lovemaking and intriguing. I caught sight kere of great ladies, there of beauties whose faces were their fortune—or their ruin, which you will. Buckingham went by fine as a galley in full sail. The Duke of York passed with Mr. Huddleston,my salute went unacknowledged. Clifford came soon after; he bowed slightly when I bowed to to measure the meaning of her laugh, and I did not blame her for it. She had waited for years to avenge the kiss that I gave Cydaria in the manor park at Hatchstea but was It not well avenged when I stood, humbly, in deferential silence, at the back, while his grace the duke sued for her fa- vor, and half the court looked on? I will not set myself down a churl, where nature has not made me one; I said in my heart, and I tried to say to her with my eyes, ‘Laugh, sweet mistress, laugh!’ For I love a girl who will laugh at you when the game runs in her favor. The duke fell to his protestations again, believed a bird made its way south to its old home in Scotland. When Sir John Ross set out in the Felix in search of Sir John Franklin's & tion, in 1850, he took with him four ho: ng Pigeons belonging to a lady in Ayrshire, intending to liberate two of them when the state of the ice rendered it necessary to lay up his vessel for the winter, and the other two when he discovered the missing ex- Plorer, if he should be so fortunate. A pigeon made its appearance at the dove Petersburg. Ten barrels of rye were ac- tually shipped from Pennsylvania not long afterward to the czar. My part in the festivities was nothing more nor less than telling stories. Folk lore tales, and the quaint conversation between ‘Brer’ Rabbit and ‘Brer.’ Bar delighted him. Afterward at the czar’s request 1 sent to New York for all the books of this description I could get hold of. “Gen. Curtin won the affection of his majesty by his genial personality, his fund of ancedote and his unaffected sincerit; He would tell story after story of Ameri- can life and incident, at many of which ‘ay, if he’s your friend, it's enough for re, Darrell,” answered Ciifford, and put- ting his mouth to Darrell’s ear, he whis- pered. Darrell shook his head and 1 thought that the treasurer seemed disappointed. However, he bade me farewell with cor- diality. Suddenly turning a corner, we came on a group in a recess hung on three sides with curtains and furnished with low couches in the manner of an oriental divan, The Duke of York, who seemed to me a handsome, courtly ‘prince, was sitting, and by him stood Lord Arlington. Opposite to them : in Ayrshire on October 13, which the wi , 2 5 - his heartiness was gone. A mo*| Alexander laughed as merrily as a school- | Cte 9 . han it was wont to be. I could not tell | stood a gentleman to whom the duke, when | and Carford still listened with an acqui.| him, but 2 . u e ‘ ° ober i ‘ tow it was, but I knew that I had wound-|T made my bow, presented me, bidding me | escence that seemed strange in a suitor for | ment later Darrell was by my side, his ill- | boy. ‘I love to be with men,’ he would say. | !ady recognized by marks and circum led her. Is’ not beauty jealous, and who humor was over, but he lifted his hands in whimsical despair. “Simon, Simon, you're hard to help,” said he. “‘Alas, I must go to Dover without you, my frierd! Couldn’t you restrain your tongue?” “My tongue has done me no great harm,” know Mr. Huddleston, the queen’s chap- lain. I was familiar with his name, having heard often of the Romish priest who be- friended the king in his flight from Wor- cester. I was examining his features with the interest that an unknown face belong- ing to a well-known name has for us, when the lady’s hand. But now Barbarn’s mod- esty took alarm; the signal of confusion flew to her cheeks, and she looked around, Gistressed, to see how wnany watched them. Mormouth cared not a jot. I made bold to slip across to Carford, and said to him in a low tone: ‘I love Americans as I hate sycophants.’ He was heard to say more than once that the happiest hours of his life were those passed in this informal way with Gen. Curtin. “The melancholy that possessed Alex- ender in the closing years of his life was stances thet left no doubt in her mind of it being one of the younger pair presented by her to Sir John. It carried no billet, but there were indications, in the loss of feath- ers on the breast, of one having been torn from under the wing. Though it is known but a cled will lavish praise on one fair face while another is before him? I should have done better to play the hypocrite and swear that my folly, not Nell’s features, was tc blame. But now I was stubborn and would re i not a word of all my rap- si w id a ‘dn’t acon th life was | that the speed of pigeons is equal to 100 Paes GLE ee DU duke addressed me with a suave and ‘My lord his grace makes Mistress Bar-| Said I, “and you needn't go fer | due to several distinct causes. He had | miles an hour, the distance from Melvitle Lye i ee Totty "graciousness, his manner being in a | bara too much marked. Can't you contrive | #loni married a German princess considerably | Isian@ to Ayrshire, being in a direct line | ‘The silence was short. In an instant Bar- 'What?” he cried, amazed. ‘Uniess the Duke of Monmouth and my marked degree more ceremonious than the | to interrupt him older than himself, for whom he cherished about 2,400 miles, is so great that evidence a gave 2 little iaugh, saying: king's. He stared at me with a smile of wonde! eS uke of oni but Uttle personal ‘affection. The Princess | of the bird having been sent off as early Geeta peed be haetorn, tatoo | hte & he, “ - | But something in my look banished his rlington travel apart. igorouki, of that ancient Russian stock | October 10 was required before it could be EO mended yeu far as a youn ‘gentleman of smile and set a frown in its Place. “The Duke of Monmouth? What have | which Peter the Great had driven from the | pelieved that no mistalee Was made in the seme enouzh.~ Shall” we return to\/ my | ost loyal sentiments, ‘My brother and:we | “Must I haye more lessons tn manners you to do with him?" throne, was loved devotedly by Alexander; | jgentitication of the individual witch sac hat day sie spoke ne more w! _ | wh LV re asked. 0 n thea = op eee vit. Sry atatnacen cateaseamaeanes ot tayo: | punews TS = bim to Dover to meet Mme. d'Orleans.” being used against him by Invisible ene- CHAPTER VII. stamm« = John Ross dispatched the youngest pair October 6 and 7, 1850, in a basket su: pended from a balloon, during a west-nort west gale. By a contrivance of a slow match the birds were to be liberated at the end of twenty-four hours. The reader can form his own opinion as to the identity of the pigeon in question, but at the time it was fully believed that the bird was one of the two sent off from the expedition in Melville bay. The expedition fitted out by Lady Frank- lin in 1851, which sailed in the Prince Al- bert, under command of William Kennedy, teok a number of homing pigeons. It reac’ ed Upernavik on June 10, and, after taking on board some Eskimo dogs, set out to explore the shores of Prince Regent's in- let. The much-~dreaded “middle ice” was reached soon after leaving, and four day were spent in passing through it to the western side of the bay, during which tim the men were constantly employed in sail- ing, boring, pushing, warping, not infre- quently exposed to the perilous “nips, which are sometimes productive of dire consequences. At this point in the voy- exe it was deemed adyisable to test the powers of the pigeons, but the poor binds refused to take the long flight to England, and resolutely persisted in returning to the ship again and again after a short survey of the icy region in which they were lect loose. ‘Why, why? How came this? How were you brought to his notice?” I looked at him, wondering at his eager- ness. Then I took him by the arm and I said laughingly: “Come, I am teachable, and I have learn- ed my lesson.” “What lesson do you mean?” “To restrain my tongue,” said I. “Let those who are curious as to the Duke of Monmouth’s reasons for his favor to me ask the duke.” He laughed, but I caught vexation in his laugh. “True, you're teach: (To be “Princes?” said I. “The Duke of Monmouth is—” “The king’s or, lol e 1 ee and, carryirg my in my han wi up to Barbara and the duke. She looked at me as I came, but not now mockingly; there was rather an appeal in her eyes. ‘Your grace will not let me lose my audi- ence with the king?” said I. He started, looked at me, frowned, looked at Barbara, frowned deeper still { re- mained quiet in an attitude of great defer- ence. Puzzled to know whether I had spoken in sheer simplicity and ignorance, or with a meaning which seemed too bold to belleve in, he broke into a doubtful laugh. In an instant Barbara drew away with a curtsey. He did not pursue her, but caught my arm and looked hard and straight in my face. I am happily some- what wooden of feature, and a man could not make me color-now, although a woman could. He took nothing by his examina- tion. 8 “You interru) me,’’ he said. ‘Alas! your ;grace knows how courtier I am, gnd how ignoran: “Ignorant!” he cried; ‘yes, you’re mighty ignorant, no doubt; byt I begin to think you know a pretty fgce. when you see it, Master Simon Dale. Well, Ell not quarrel. Isn’t she the most admirable creature alive? “I bad supposed Lord Carford thought so, str.” het “Oh! And yet Lord Carford did not hur- ry me off to find the king! But you? What juestion ?”” » sir, by all the beautiful mies. Sleeping and waking he was the prey to nervous apprehensions. Yet was he a man of iron nerve, of great personal dig- nity and of charming, unaffected manners, A Dangerous Ride. “I was instructed one night to jump on the box of a droshky in the palace yard, where many vehicles were constantly kept for the use of the court, and drive whoever should call that particular Vehicle to what- ever address he or she should designate. I pulled a big bearskin cap down over my face, threw on a fur coat and mounted the seat. Presently a noble lady of the court, muffled in furs, beckoned to me, and gave me the address of a rich money lender in a remote suburb. I finally found the place, and after my fare had gone inside, to pawn ‘| her diamonds or compromise her husband, I could only surmise which, I sat on the box in the icy wind until I was almost frozen. A came limping by, in rags, and asked alms. I did not want to take my hands out of my pockets, but finally, to get rid of his importunity, I threw him of money. He looked hard raised up my face, in the lamplight, and hobbled away, more swiftly I thought than he had approached. “My fare came out, I drove her home, none the wiser, and I went to bed. The next morning by 8 o'clock I received a curt to report to the chief of po- lice. I felt vaguely that I was in trouble. rhs ord into the carriage I called out to the driver to go to the chief of police. But on the way I directed him to stop the palace, an in a few minutes I was in )the ezar’s presence, and had told tion. Arlington rose and took me* by the arm, whispering that I had no need to be embarrassed. But Mr. Huddleston turned a keen and searching glance on me, as though he would read my thoughts. “I'm sure,” said Arlington, “that Mr. jolicitous to serve his majesty I bowed, saying to the duke: “Indeed, I am, sir; I ask nothing but an opportunity.” “In all things?” asked Huddleston, ab- ruptly. “In all things, sir?” He fixed his keen eyes on my face. = Arlington pressed my arm and smiled picasantly; he knew that kindness pinds more sheaves than severity, “Come, Mr. Dale says in all things,” he observed. “Do we need more, sir?” But the duke was rather of the priest's temper than of the minister's. “Why, my lord,” he answered, “I have never known Mr. Huddleston to ask a ques- tion without a reason for it.” “By serving the king in all things some mean in all things in which they may be pleased to serve the king,” said Huddle- ston, gravely. “Is Mr. Dale one of these? Is it the king’s pleasure or his own that sets the limit to his duty and hi services?” They were all looking at me now, and it seemed as though we had Passed from courlly phrases, such as fal readily but with little inport from a man’s lips, and had come to a graver matter. They were asking some pledge of me or their looks belied them. Why or to what end they Gestred it 1 could not tell, but Darrell, who stood behind the priest, nodded his head to me with an anx‘ous frown. “I would obey the king in all things,” I ae “Well said, well 43 os ky said,” murmured Arling. What Came of Honesty. I could net make that out; she had seemed angry with him. But because I spoke of her anger she was angry now with me. Indeed, I began to think that little Charles, the king, and I had been jright in that opinion in which the king fcund us so much of a mind. Suddenly Barbara spoke. “Tell me what she is lke, this friend of yours,” she said. “I have never seen her.” “What did he ask you?” said I, when we | started on our way again. “Only whether you shared my supersti- tion,” answered Darreli with a laugh. “They're all mighty anxious ubout my re- ligion,” thought I. “It would be no harm if they bestowed more attention on their own.” It leaped to my lips to cry, “Aye, you have seen her!” but I did not give utter- ance to the words. Barbara had seen her in her park at Hatchstead, seen her more than once, and more than once found sore cffense in what she saw. There is wisdom in silence; I was learning that safety might iio in deceit. The anger under which I had ffered would be doubled if she knew that Cydaria was Nell and Nell Cydaria. Why hould she know? Why should my own mouth betray me and add my bygone sins to the offenses of today? My lord had not told her that Nell was Cydaria. Should I speak where my lord was silent? Neither | woutd I t able, contin ———-—_ Notes of Travel. mon,” said he. ued.) poor a NO MERCURY ‘No potash—no mineral—no danger—in &. 8. 8. ‘This means a great dex! to all who know the disustrous cffects of these drags. It is the only blood remedy guaranteed. Irely Vegetable ae s a strange thing to command me, yet Barbara’s desire joined with my own thoughts te urge me to it. I began wildly enough, with a stiff list of features and catalogue of colors. Yet as I talked recol- jection wermed my voice, and when Barba- ra’s Nps curled scornfully, as though she “What fs there in this to make ‘There is nothing in all this,” I grew more vehement and painted the pic- ture with all my sxill. What malice began my ardor perfected. until, engrossed in my fancy, I came near to forgetting that I had a Hstener, and ended with a start as IT found Barbara’s eye fixed on mine, while rt whatéwe have not. 4m Jove with truth, th ‘kingham with mod. religion.’ I felt Arlington's hand drawn half away, but in an instant it was back, and he smiled no less pleasantly than before. But the duke, less able or less careful to con- frowned heavily, eden os ily, while Hud- ently: