... THE LAST STRAW: IP A BY M. LING 4 m nr HE 15th of December, 1899. That is a date to which some of us who are now again face to face with the horrible realities of war, look back with a dull pain in our hearts, at the recollection of old chums and good comrades lost-- a day on which homes were broken up, and women's lives were spoilt. Ah! yes-- you remember now-- the first battle of Colenso. ...

... No. XII. (d)-- SETTLING DAY j By RICHARD PINK A GUNROOM argument, as everyone knows, consists of flat assertion, flat contradiction, and, finally, personal abuse. This is, of course, generally followed by a bet on the subject, and, in nine cases out of ten, both parties eventually find themselves wrong. In this contingency, the matter is usually settled by an amiable dinner at Tott's, and a ...

... THE CHARM OF RED ROSES i t i FACT is beating fiction just now, and for many a long day Romance will un with her tail down to some hiding-place where Reality cannot shame her. Our novels of adventure were, for the most part, written by nervous old gentlemen who thought of a good plot after a bad dinner, and had never been nearer to the South Seas than Margate Pier. That part of the nation that ...

... THE SECRET OF THE GARDEN BY MARY FRASER A TRAGEDY OF LOVE AND f BOTANY I _r HE had greatly desired her. He had been stupid to consent to her betrothal to his nephew. Guiliano was a pleasure-seeking youth, one without taste and discernment; any woman was good enough for him. Fiametta was one of God's own creatures, daintily minded, daintily fashioned, a prize for a connoisseur. Guido, Marquis ...

... THE 71 EH SON STA IT was dark, very dark that morning, as though the day had overslept itself, and dawn, when it did come, brought with it a raw drizzle; up till then the night had been dry, although cold. No change in the weather, I however, had any effect upon a man who walked quickly, yet furtively, towards a village some three miles away, which was, so to speak, the trailing skirt of a ...

... f I j By MAUD ARNOLL SO many scandals group themselves round the name of a great singer, and in the case of Ancona the evil that men said of him was so nearly true that it is pleasant to be able to record an instance where the world thought worse of him than he deserved. As a matter of fact, the world knew nothing about it until some years later, when Roumsguérin proved his gratitude by ...

... Sex the Short Story: Further Opinions of Readers OUT OF THE ORDINARY I was very much surprised to read Saunterer's views. Personally, I have always looked forward to The Bystander's short story as something quite out of the ordinary. Whether dealing with legitimate love affairs or illicit ones, they always seem to give a most delicate handling, which is decidedly creditable to the different ...

... f Frederick II i 1 L Fenn jjj it FJ THE man who said marriage was a habit was probably right, and herein lies the reason why the percentage of marriages among widows is so high. Once you have been accustomed to the companionship of the opposite sex it is difficult to do without it. Here is no case of once bitten twice shy. The position is more analogous to that of the man who has been bitten ...

... pr icissitudes of \Corporal Dubois BY JACK JOHNSON (The Bystander in Flanders' IT is always a pleasure and an honour to make the acquaint ance of men who have done stirring deeds and have seen strange sights, and when chance, one day, threw me in the path of Corporal Dubois, recently of the-- ième régiment d'infanterie, and now in a Staff Office at the Base, I gladly offered him a 5 centime ...

... f How Muriel A \Carried On J THE STORY OF A ROAD ENGINE BY H. MAXWELL PERSONALLY I have always felt that Archibald was lucky when he married Muriel, though the general opinion was the luck was the other way about, and that Muriel was the lucky one when she captured Archibald. But Archibald himself had no doubt about it at all he knew he was the lucky one. Now I don't want you to make any ...

... aud Pats 3\1 V °n the Pack a BY H. MAXWELL^ THE STORY OF A PERFECT WIFE MAUD was flaw less, except for one flaw. At least, that was Monty's opinion, and Monty being Maud's husband, Monty's opinion is entitled to respect. Monty regarded Maud as perfectly wonderful. She was charming, affectionate, and clever. Maud managed Monty's house with such complete efficiency that there was never a creak ...

... h' A Housing Problem i j u j I jrfp] V VHm %UjT/ THE SOLUTION OF AN INSOLUBLE DILEMMA \^j|W I'M in a frightful position, exclaimed Mrs. Duff-Chubleigh, sinking into an armchair and closing her eyes as though to shut out some distressing vision. Really What has happened said Mrs. Pallitson, preparing herself to hear some kitchen tragedy. c The more one tries to make one's house-parties t a ...