Amountin' To Sunthin'.

AMOUNTIN' TO SUNTHIN ' .

A QUEER MASONIC STOUT . —HY CHARLOTTE W IUTCOMB . ( Continued from page 251 . ) ARRIVED at the house , he was shown to the library , where lie found pretty Mrs . GoHl-n-v nrrrxvpil in the most charming of neglige costumes , her fa' -.- * ' n I -. 1 " <•• - <• mvl holding in her arms the ugliest of ill-favoured png dogs . ' 0 d « .-ar , Doctor ! " aha exclaimed ,

" Ira so relieved that you have come . It has seemed ages since sent for you ! Poor Coralina ' s foot was shut in tho duor by thnt stnpid footman and I'm afraid it is broken . She cried and cried until I qniete-l her with bromide '' Aa irreverent exclamation almost escaped the Doctor ' s lips and a frown darkened hia brow . " Now don ' t bo cross , Doctor , dear ! Jnst think what Coralina is to me !

She is nil I have left in the world to love , and the ready handkerchief dabbed tho pretty eyes . " Of coarse , " continued the widow , " I shall find no fault with any oharge yon may make , but como every day and onre my darling pet . " Mentally resolving to make a charge the fair widow would not

Boon forget , he examined the cur ' s paw when she began , to yelp vigorously . " 0 nay poor Coralina ! My nerves are so unstrung I cannot bear to see her suffer . Here , Janet , you hold her . Now'do be gentle , Doctor ! " and the widow resigned the scented and beribboned png to the hands of a yonng lady and hastened from the

room . The doctor looked carelessly at his new assistant and then took a second longer look . He found her a decidedly interesting study . Abundant auburn hair waived back from a broad low forehead , large hazel eyee , shaded by long dark lashes , met his gaze frankly and innocently , and he noticed the exquisite tint and texture of the

complexion , unaided by cosmetics , as the few pretty freckles on the white nose and fresh cheeks attested . The injured paw was soon dressed , Dr . Strong wondering meanwhile if his fair companion ' s ready helpfulness was entirely natural , and he thought , with a sigh , of the mauy times during the past week when her tender and skilfnl manipulation would have boen of infinite value

to suffering humanity . He presently said : ' I must congratulate Mrs . Goldbury that her pug will have so capable a nurse . Will it be your first patient ?" " Yes , the first of this kind . I have , however , a certificate from a Boston Hospital Training School for nurses , " answered the girl . " Indeed , and you propose to devote yourself to Coralina ? " asked

the Doctor . " Only until I find a position as Hospital nnrse . I engaged myself only temporarily as Mrs . Goldbnry's companion . " "I wish we had had you at the Hospital to-day . There wore fourteen oases of a serious nature brought in at once . I came directly here from there and I am quite convinced that it is only ' a

step from the sublime to the ridiculous . ' If you want hard work there is a chance for you . If you decide to go , this may be of use to you , " and having written a few words on his professional card he presented it to her . Then Mrs . Goldbnry entered the room , saying . "Yon will come to-morrow early , Doctor ?" " That will be unnecessary . The injury is so slight it will heal

directly . " " But I insist upon your coming every day , Doctor . I shall feel so much safer . about my darling Coralina !" " I regret that it will be impossible , as I leave town to-morrow for an indefinite time , " he answered , curtly , aud making his adieus as quickly as possible , he was speedily driven home .

Dr . Strong had told Mrs . Goldbury he was to leave town , bufc at the moment he could think of no other excuse for refusing to visit her . He was not a conceited man , bnt the fact was becoming plain to him , as it had long been to others , that the rich aud prttcy widow had " serious intentions" toward himself . There was absolutely no end to the paltry excuses she made for sending for him . She would have

made him her lawyer and father confessor , as well as doctor , if he would have allowed it , and he often thought with 13 am Weller , " Wat a thing it is to be so sought arter ! " At home that evening , as he thought the matter over , he decided to take a trip to his boyhood's home . Aunt Rhoda had died three years before , attended during her long illness by her faithful little hand-maiden , Janet

McKay , bnfc in return for her dsiughter-like devotion , had givon her only the paltry sum of money tho law demanded , leaving the farm and personal property all to Philip . Tbe latter had not * een Janet for ten years , as during his infrequent visits homo she had always been absent , and directly after his aunt's funeral , to which Philip had failed to arrive in time , she had left town , leaving no address . He

had made constant inquiries for her since , intending to do what his aunt should have done—provide for her—but could get no news of her , until a recent letter from his lawyer told him Janet was in Boston , and with a tender and chivalrous feeling toward the little playmate of his boyhood , he decided to go East and turn over to her the deed of his Annt Rhoda ' s farm as her rightful due . " What a

homely , honest little piece she was ! Thorough-going , sincere and devoted , but prond and independent as the race from which she sprang ! I believe she has been avoiding me all these years , but she shall let me give her what is rightfnlly here . " He smiled as he recalled the old days in the garret when the little boand-girl used to read alond to him , and in memory the calico-clad figure and freckled face , and even the red hair seemed beautiful to

him in contrast with "long shining curls and smooth pink cheeks , " perhaps because the latter so truly described Mrs . Goldbnry ' s charms . Going to a book-case his eyes fell on an alcove marked " Curiosities of anti-Masonic Literature , " and selecting an odd , coarsely-bonnd volume called , "The True Secrets of Freemasonry , " he turned to a fly-leaf and read his promise " to keer for Scotohie , otherwise Janet McKay , in my fam'bly . " " What a young Turk I must have been , but I can think of no greater

Amountin' To Sunthin'.

piece of good fortnne than to see tho homely little genius contented by my fireside . " " The next afternoon Dr . Strong went to the Hospital to make his farewell round of calls before leaving for the East , when the Superintendent said : " That new nurse you sent us is a treasure , Doctor . She came this morning , early . I refer to Miss Janet MoKay . "

" Miss Janet MoKay ! " repeated the Doctor , astonished . Recover , ing himself , he said : " Ab , yes , I understand ! " and going straight to her he said : " And so this is how I find my Aunt Rhoda's little Scotchie ! Why did'nt you make yourself known to me yesterday ? I sent you hero , not then recognizing yon , thongh I don't see how I failed to know yon . Yon shonld remember yonr prior engagement .

I believe yon promised to do all you could for me when I should be made a Mason P Now did ' nt you ? " " Yes , I did , but I learn you were initiated long ago , " said Janet . " So I was , bnfc I am abonfc fco take higher and untried degrees , and shall need you more than ever . You promised , and I shall hold you fco the agreement !" Dr . Strong's visit East was deferred until he made it during his

bridal trip with Janet McKay as his bride . She asked him , when ha proposed , if he could forgive her red hair and freckles , and he answered that her beautiful auburn hair was more precions than gold and that her freckles were divine . " You know , " he often says , " I predicted thafc some fellow might come along that would like freckles . Well , the moment I saw you at Mrs . Goldbnry ' s I knew I was tho fellow . "—Voice of Masonry .

The Board of Benevolence met on Wednesday evening-, at Freemasons' Hall ; the meeting was largely attended , aud a long sitting resulted . Robert Grey P . G . D ., President of the Board , presided , and Bros . James Brett and 0 . A . Cottebrune occupied their respective chairs . Thero

were also present Broa . Col . Shadwell H . Gierke Secretary , A . A . Pendlebury Assistant Grand Secretary , W . Dodd , W . H . Lee , W . P . Brown , Henry Garrod , G . B . Chapman , S . Vallentine , J . H . Mathews , George B . Langley , Charles Dairy , Geo . Read , T . W . Whitmarsh , J . B . Grieve , S . C .

Haslip , C . F . Hogard , R . J . Taylor , J . Bunker , E . Shedd , Walter Hopekirk , A . Peterken , C . J . Axford , C . T . Fleck , Robert Marke , C . S . Birch , William Marchant , George W . G . Barnard , Henry Nuding , Edwin J . Davey , 0 . N . Mclntyre North , Richard A . Bush , L . W . Harvey ,

Albert Escott , J . J . Dibley , G . W . P . Loftus , W . Oldham Chambers , H . Massey , J . M . Scarlett , George Brown , H . T . Gurner , Sidney Napper , Joseph D . Wilkinson , John Petch , Rawson Kelly , T . Weeks , M . A . Mclmray , S . H . Goldschmidt , M . I . Emanuel , W . R . Parker , Henry

Oattermole , Abel Lawrence , Edward J . Dodd , G . H . L . Stephenson , T ., B . Dodson , G . W . Allen , E . J . Gittins , C . H . Webb , J . H . Price , H . Dehane , E . Squirrel ] , II . H . Wells , and H . Sadler G . Tyler . The brethren first confirmed recommendations to the Grand Master at the

September meeting , amounting to £ 200 . The new list contained 43 cases . Five of these were dismissed , and one was deferred . The remainder were relieved , with a total

of £ 872 . There were three recommendations to Graud Lodge of £ 50 , four to the Grand Master of £ 40 , five of £ 30 , and one of £ 25 ; besides 15 grants of £ 20 , five of £ 10 , and two of £ 5 each , with one grant of £ 2

We are asked to state that the installation of Brother Beddoes as W . M . of Burgoyne Lodge , No . 902 , will take place on Monday next , the 27 th instaut , at Anderton ' s Hotel , Fleet Street , E . C . Lodge will be opened at 4 p . m . prompt . Bro . S . J . Byng 425 S . C . and P . M . 902 will act as installing Master .

Crorespondence.

CRORESPONDENCE .

— : 0 : — R . M . I . FOR BOYS . —NOTICES OF MOTION .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR ANB BROTHER , —In the advertisement in " The Times , " announcing the Qnarterly Court , tho notices of motion whioh I gave are omitted , although they appeared in due form in your account last

week of the adjonrned General Committee . Owing to the alteration in the edncational arrangements in this country dnring the past twenty years , I consider fche questions are of vital importance , not only to tho Institution , but to all who have the interest of " Onr Boys " afc heart .

Yours faithfully and fraternally , WM . HARRIS SAUNDERS P . M . P . Z . P . P . G . S . D . Middlesex , and Past Steward of all the Charities .