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Major then calmly walked into the dining-room antl proceeded to examine the letters at his leisure . No wonder that one of them so quickly caught his eye . It was fastened with a regimental device of crossed implements of warfare , surmounted with a monogram peculiar to the corps of the writer .

" Some old spoon of hers , I suppose , ' he thought , as he looked at it . But on reflection , he considered that if she had played thc spy ou him . in his chambers , why should ho nqfc do so ou her ? He broke the seal , and looking first at thc end of the letter , found ifc was signed by Jack Dash . This made him curious , and he turned to the beginning , whore he found the fatal

words , " my dearest . " Full of fury , the Major read the letter through from end to end . It contained a full description of tho delights of thoir last meeting . Ifc was couched in terms of thc utmost affection . Ifc finally suggested that they should meet again at

tho same time and place , ou that very evening , tho placo being a well-known fashionable hotel . Another cab speedily convoyed Sabretache to the hotel mentioned . There he at onco saw the landlord , the waiters , tho chambermaids , the boots . From what thoy all said there was no doubt left in his mind that tho unfortunate Dash had personated himself , and that

all tho inhabitants of the hotel had looked upon Dash as tho happy bridegroom who was passing through town in possession of the beauteous Mrs . Sabretache . The possibility of future legal proceedings flashed upon his mind . But it was nofc thc uppermost thought . He too , like most of us , had built his castles in the air . He had always intended to marry into a solvent family ,

where he could rely upon a safe " draw " now and then to pay off his debts . Littlo did he think that good or bad fortune would giro him a Venus into tho bargain . Iu fact , whet : he lind become engaged to Elaine he could scarcely believe in his success . For , liko most mon and women , he had failed again and again . Now , tho castlo of his hopes , which ho had built , as bo

believed , upon a rock , was proved to be founded upon sand , and great indeed was its fall . But his first thought was revenge upon that villain , who , for ono or two short evenings of amusement , had , as he 'said , sapped the honour of his ancient family . Ho soon discovered Dash . He publicly insulted him , und , although knowing it was a thing almost unknown

in the nineteenth century , challenged him to mortal combat . Now a duel is a very nice thing to read of in a novel , or to seo played on the stage . But it is a very nasty thing in real life , as anyone will say who has had anything to do with one . Consequently there was much difficulty iu finding seconds , and when thoy wero found

no ono could think of a placo to light in . At last it was decided thafc the duel should come off in Jack Dash ' s room . He had large chambers iu Pall Mall , and iu them was a spacious unfurnished room at the top of the house , whicli ho himself used as a gymnasium . Many a spar with the gloves had ho had there with Ned Donolly . Many a bout bad ho had with tho foils or

tho sticks with Corporal-Major Waite . Having fixed npon tho place , tho weapons had next to ho obtained . Dash would not hear of pistols , and a duolling-sivord is not un easy thing to get hold of in London . At last a great professor , who must bo nameless ( as remember wo aro tolling a true story ) , lent them a pair of French duelling swords , oddly enough brought from Paris by

Sullivan , who had presented them to tho great gymnasiarch aa a token of his esteem and affection . Thoso swords wore historical , as with them had boon fought a duel , whioh was described iu all the daily papers , between two French journalists . lt was agreed that tho whole affair was to bo conducted in a manner least calculated to oxcito the

suspicions of tho landlady and other lodgers in the house . Both combatants arrayed themselves iu white flannels and fencing shoes . Rosin was spread freely on tho floor . A loop of whipcord was attached to each sword to avoid tho inconvenience of a " disarm , " and , with tho exceptions thafc no masks , gloves , or jackets wero

worn , tho contest assumed much tho appearance of an ordinary fencing bout . Dash was truly sorry about the whole thing , and had vowed that nothing should induce him to touch tho Major . Sahrotacho was in a state of horrible irritation , and had vowed ho would do for the Captain if he could only

got nt bins . As soon as tho word was given the major made a series of desperate lunges , which Dash parried very easily . But at last knowing , as an old fencer , that ono must be hit sooner or later if one remained liko a " plastron" to bo prodded at , Dash , iu self-defence , parried simple tierce , and riposted low under tho

major ' s right arm . To hia horror , tho blade entered tho major ' s body , and a stream of blood spouted forth in rapid jots . By mutual consent , tho affair was immediately stopped , and thc major , after staggering about for a short time , fainted into tho arms of his second . Jack , who had been trained in un ambulance class , stripped off the major ' s shirt , tore it into ribbons ,

plugged tho tiro wounds which thoy found , gave hasty instructions to thc seconds to make compression , and ran off , as ho was , like mad , to tho nearest doctor . Ho found that disciple of / Esculupins about to enter his brougham to proceed on his rounds . Telling him as quickly as ho could what had happened , ho followed tho doctor into his consulting room , whore he leisurely packed up some apparatus in au instrument-ease ,

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which ho thought might bc needed on such an occasion . Dash was furious at what appeared an endless delay , when perhaps a life was afc stake . Bufc fche doctor had been accustomed fco worse catastrophes as a student , and looked upon fche event as one for which one bell would have rung at his hospital for au " accident , " and nofc two

or three as m urgent or very urgent cases . When they arrived , and fche doctor had examined the major , he found thafc thb sword had entered the front of what he called the quadrat us liunborv . ni muscle , and had passed out behind ; in other words , that it had only passed through the fleshy part of the patient ' s waist ,

this being , in the major , somewhat developed from the numerous dinner parties in which ho had indulged for many years past . Speaking in fencing-room language , tho hit had almost been only " a pass , " and had the major only been thinner , ho would not have been touched at all . But

then he might havo been pierced somewhere else , or he might have wounded Dash . So that altogether fcho very disgusting and painful tragedy could scarcely have ended better . Dash was much relieved to find that uo vital part was injured , and all four swearing eternal secrecy , parted

more amicably than they had met . Before leaving the room they had endeavoured to persuade the doctor that they had been ouly in fun , and that tho affair was au accident . But tbe physician , being himself a great fencer , although they did nofc know it , shook his head

and told them plainly he did not believe it . They were then obliged to take him into their confidence , and were rejoiced to find in him au old friend , who had been at school many many years ago with Jack Dash .

So ended the Pall Mall duel . But tho major ' s other troubles were uot so quickly settled . He had yet to face red tape and parchment , which , as wc all know , arc more to be feared than French duelling swords . "Tr 3 v ^ K" - % ? ^ K Of course the object of Sabretache anil his wife was now to get u divorce . Solicitors wero consulted on

both sides , and counsel was called to their aid . All the lawyers agreed that neither the husband or wife had a legal leg to stand upon , that their cases would not bold water , and that any appeal to tho Court of Probate aud Divorce wonld bo useless . Supposing even tho judge ' s heart was touched , ( hero was yet that terrible Queeu ' s

Proctor in perspective , with his unrelenting nisi to bo got over , aud that all agreed was perfectly hopeless . There were proofs and letters ou both sides , and the whole thing so savoured of collusion , that common sense as well as legal acumen revolted at tho thought of tho expense which would be incurred if an attempt wore

mado to sever that Gordiau knot which tho bishop had tied at St . George's , Hanover-square . Here was a nice muddle ! Sahrotacho could not got rid of his wife , nor could ho marry again . Elaino refused to live with her husband , and she could nofc marry again .

All this trouble might havo beon avoided if they had only parted when thoy found out at first how much thoy haled ono another . MORAL . —Marry in haste , and repent at leisure . Tho rost of this sad story can bp told iu a few words , but as it relates to a number of years , it must bo told in a separate chapter .

CHAPTER IV

WINTER . The Winter of our discontent . IT has always seemed to us unfair to a reader who has taken tho pains to wado through tho mazes of a noveloven if " a concentrated" one—not to tell him what became of tho principal personages of it in after life .

Wo will begin with thoso most lately mentioned , and work backwards . Jack Dash became a club captain . Tho Major is to bo found at Boulogne , at Monaco , or at any place where there is gambling going on . Ho lives in the greatest luxury , plays freely , and always

loses . Where the money comes from no ono knows . His father has refused to pay his debts again , and old Scowley has cast him off . Men aro beginning to cut him , as well as ladies , as there aro certain not very creditable stories connected with him . und his doings at card tables .

Old Scowley and his wife live now at Brighton , and Elaino is with them . Her brothers have all cither married or emigrated , as they could no longer endure tho temper of tho father . Elaine ' s sister mado what tho old boy called a "bad marriage . " Sho lives with her husband in a " bijou "

residence , or more properly speaking , a poky littlo house in South Konsington . Thoir establishment consists of a maid-of-all-work , a baby , and a nurse , aud , ifc is said , thoy aro very happy . And Sullivan ?

Ho goes on much in tho same groove as before . Mammas with largo families of grown-up daughters still think he is rather aparti , although tho young ladies themselves begin to look somewhat unkindly on the silver streaks whioh are to be seen shining through his woll-kempt locks .

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He still goes on circuit , and is constant to his old artistic aud athletic "tastes . " Perhaps the patient reader will ask , '* Did not old Scowley and the Major dio , and did not Harold and Elaine marry aud remain happy ever afterwards ? "

No , kind reader . Objectionable people never do die in real life ; it is only in novels that they aro so conveniently disposed of . " " And is not this a novel ? " " No , kind reader , it is a story of real life , and every incident in it is perfectly true . " H . S .

Good Bye.*

Good Bye . *

fCTSftHE last rich glow of the dying day y |« ffl } j Covers the greeu hills far away ; s ^ fea Tho sun looketh down from au angry sky , , }¦ , { ., (• Vougcfully . JIT

A strange flush couicth up o or tho land , And ruddy gleams on the . yellow strand ; A dread hush seoine . th on earth to fall , Anil appal .

A stately vessel , with flapping sails , Leave th the port for favouring gales ; A child , as it passeth ghost-like by , Saith "Good-bye !"

We watch it idl y into the bay , With its white sails dyed with colours gay From tho sun ' s last rays , crimson and gold ; Ah I doom foretold .

Tho night-rake cometh up fierce aud wild , Hushed to sleep is the little child ; Passing to slumber-laud , knowing uot why , Saith "Good-bye !"

Listing not to the warning word , Or tho presaged storm , while no wind stirred , They went to thoir doom in tho treacherous sea , Fearlessly .

" God be with theo 1 " said the child , As it lay in its mother ' s arms and smiled ; The skipper for thirst of gold had gone , And not alone .

No warning light from tho lonely tower t On the darksome hill shines : dun clouds lower ; 'Midst the surging seas como fitful gleams , Liko awful dreams .

Iu tho dead of night tho timbers croak , And tho vessel is dashed on thc shore so bleak ; And evory soul goes down iu tho deep , Some in thoir sleep .

Tho mighty elements rage and roar , And the skipper welters in crimson goro , 'Midst cruel rocks , where ho leapt in tho strife For dour life .

Neath the beetling cliffs on oru Cornish land , Tho good ship lay a wreck on tho strand j But Ono who knows that whore sho dravo ls the sailors' grave .

Thoy havo nil gone to tho deathless shore Whero savage tempests shall boat no more , And thcro shall only tho crystal sea Ever bo .

No tidings come from tho briny deep , Mothers and wives can only weep ; They may but echo the baby's cry , — " Good-bye ' . " E . H