Why do you not confide to me your secret sorrow," I said to Arthur; "it would at least ease your mind, and be assured I ask it from no idle curiosity." "I am uncertain how far you can sympathise with me," said he, "and my sorrow is not of a nature to be told, unless I could gain, in return for my confidence, counsel and suggestions for the future." tom from some faint memories of the past. "Yes, I is indeed a wondrous enchantment - the same yes," I muttered to myself, "it could only have melody lighting up the soul of one with joy and been my fancy." Supposing it to have been a gladness, while to another it brings only the most woman, what motive, what object, could she have melancholy reflections. in standing motionless at a window, gazing at two travellers? But again, I fancied it might be some gipsy or vagrant, who had been watching our motions, and who had only left us to give warning to her companions, who would probably rob us on our way home. Thus, giving way to a host of conjectures, it only now occurred to me to go round to the back of the house, and see if any one was concealed there. With this view, and without awaking my companion, I sought the waiter of the inn, and told him my suspicions. But he did not at all enter into my view of the case, assuring me that he had not seen a gipsy in the neighbourhood for years, and was unwilling to assist me in the search I had suggested; but as I was positive, he accompanied me to the rear of the premises, and we searched carefully in every direction-stables, outhouses, in fact no spot that could have afforded a hiding place for a human being was left. neither gipsy-woman, nor any other, could we dis cover. But Coming back to the room I had left, I found my friend had just awoke. "I have had a very strange dream," said he, in a sad tone of voice; "I have dreamt of a face that I shall probably never see again, for the owner of it is many hundred miles from England at this moment. And yet," continued he, in an altered voice from what I had ever heard him speak before, "I could almost wish to see it again, if only for a moment." As he uttered these words, I almost started from my chair. "It is a female face you refer to," said I." "How did you know that?" he asked. I thought I should now draw from him the secret that weighed upon his mind, and therefore told him, as briefly as possible, the strange apparition (if such it was) I had seen at the window. This narration seemed greatly to affect him, but, contrary to my expectations, instead of unburdening himself to me, he was evidently not sufficiently acquainted with my character to give me his entire confidence. So, contenting himself with making a few hasty remarks as to the extraordinary fact that we should both have the same fancies, he dismissed the subject, and proposed that we should walk on home. Day after day passed away, and my companion was still dull and cheerless. We wandered daily amongst the most beautiful scenery, but how coldly the beauties of nature meet the eye, if the heart is ill at ease! Once, as we loitered through a delicious valley at the close of the day, the sound of a horn came softly to us from a distance. "Ah," said my companion, stopping and listening intently, "I have heard that melody a hundred times before, but never has it possessed such a magic influence as now." Tears rolled down his cheeks. Music I could not promise him counsel, not knowing how far his trouble might be within my experience; but I pressed him earnestly for his confidence, as I could plainly see how wretched he had lately become. "This evening, then, you shall know my history," said he; and for a short time we parted. When the evening came, we seated ourselves by the fireside. Arthur began his story with an air of constraint and diffidence. "In the first place," said he, "I fear you will blame me greatly-for while I have continually reproached myself with past folly, I have wanted the moral courage and resolution to own myself in the wrong, and, as it were, humiliate myself in the eyes of my former associates-though, in all truth, I might have done so long ago, seeing that the depression of my mind has alone been sufficient to drive me from all who have ever known me. However," he continued, you shall hear the main features of my sorrow, and do not fail to say openly your opinions of my conduct." I promised to do so, and he proceeded with his story. a "A few years ago, I was living with my uncle, clergyman, in the West of England. I had been brought up at his expense, and well educated. He had destined me for the Church; but the restricted life of a country minister being not much to my taste at that period, I had contented myself with rambling about in the open country, reading, fishing, dancing occasionally at the county balls, and, as I had some facility in scribbling, writing a magazine article from time to time. The success of one or two of my little pieces had almost turned my head, and I began to indulge in fantastic visions of fame and fortune, to be won only with the pen. I wrote incessantly, and went backwards and forwards to a little town, about three miles distant from the village in which we lived, to see the periodicals as they were published, and to glance eagerly over their pages for my own lucubrations. One evening, however, as I was returning from one of these expeditions, an incident occurred which, from that time to this, changed the whole current of my existence. "My nearest way home from the town led in one place almost directly under the windows of an antique mansion, that had for many years been ruinous and uninhabited; but it had lately been THE FACE AT THE WINDOW. taken by a French family, and repaired and beautified. I had always taken a fancy to this old place, it was so very quaint and picturesque, and commanded one of the loveliest landscapes that could be found in that part of England. Often, as I passed by the old house, I had speculated on the character and tastes of its inmates. The particular night I speak of the moon shone brightly as I was just emerging from a little wood near the house, when I was startled by an unexpected vision. From beneath the drawing-room windows a balcony projected; standing on this balcony I now observed a beautiful female figure. Had the form been the glowing creation of a Greek sculptor it could not have been more perfect, or have stood in a more exquisite attitude. I approached a little nearer to the spot so as to obtain a view of her features, yet so softly as not to disturb her meditations. I was indeed surprised at the marvellous beauty of her countenance. A fine oval face with deep lustrous eyes, a commanding yet perfectly womanly brow was shaded by a profusion of dark hair, forming a strong contrast to her brilliant complexion, which told as plainly as verbal description of the sunny south of France. The dreamy gaze of those large liquid eyes, and the ideal expression of her countenance, told how forcibly she was struck with the beauty of the moonlight view. What wonder was it that I worshipped the unknown divinity from that momentcould I help it, when upon the dimness of a country life a face and form now rose before me such as we rarely see save in dreams! Thinking only of her transcendant beauty I was utterly lost to everything else, and gradually wandered nearer and nearer to the balcony, until at length I became aware that I was distinctly seen, and the young beauty, suddenly aroused from her reverie, retired into the house. What could her dreams have been? I asked myself a thousand times. Had she been thinking of some absent lover, far away amongst the vineyards and hills of her native France? Or had his spirit taken flight, and was her gaze directed towards the illimitable expanse, as though to pierce the starlit canopy, and descry him among the white robed worshippers? Or was it only the glad communion of youth and beauty with the spells of nature? These and many other theories occupied and banished sleep from my eyes that night. For several successive days I passed and repassed the old mansion, but without seeing my inamorata. But I did not give up though. Love is fertile in expedients. Amongst my other accomplishments, was a great love for, and skill in, drawing. This faculty I now determined to bring into full play. I knew how com mon it was among the cultivated French people to find a taste for sketching and drawing, and I little doubted but that the beauty of the balcony had also sufficient love of art to appreciate my efforts. So I procured materials in abundance, and in spite of my uncle's misgivings, who began to fear in the variety of my tastes and pursuits that I should never do much credit to his teaching or example, I frequently paid a visit to any spot commanding a view of the old mansion, and sketched, as well as my impatience would allow me, some of the prominent features of the beautiful scenery around. I had tried this ruse for several days without effect, when one day a handsome man, a little past the prime of life, but still light and active in his manner, came down to the spot where I was sitting, and after looking attentively at my sketches for some moments, and throwing me into an agony of wonder as to the possibility of his being the father of my unknown divinity, accosted me in broken English : "You will sell de picture, Sare?' French words I knew, and inwardly lamenting my "'Non, Monsieur,' said I, conjuring up the few ignorance of the language, I am only an amateur.' "He bowed low, and began, half in French and half in English, to utter a thousand apologies. But I soon made him once more at ease by begging him to accept the drawing. "He did so at once with many thanks, adding, to my great delight, 'You shall come dis evening, and ma fille-my child Agläe will ver moch tank you also.' "I promised to do so, and you may be sure did not fail to keep it. I went home overjoyed. "But what have you done with your drawing,' said my uncle. "I had not thought of this, and blushed deeply. After a few wise remarks upon the danger of young men falling into strange company, my uncle quietly allowed the matter to drop, and in the evening I went, full of joy and expectation, to the French family. I was received by the gentleman I had seen in the morning and his wife, in whose features I found little difficulty in tracing those of the fair Agläe, making due allowance for the ravages of time. apartment shortly afterwards, if possible_more The lovely girl herself entered the beautiful than ever. Hardly knowing what I said, I advanced to meet her. Her father introduced me with some compliments to my artistic already hanging on the wall amongst a number of taste, pointing to my little sketch, which was graceful drawings by Agläe herself. Agläe possessed, in common with the majority of her country women, the faculty of making a stranger feel perfectly at ease in her company, and after a few hours had flown like minutes in her society, I left the house, with surprise that I could possibly have grown so intimate in so short a time. "From that day forth my visits became frequent. Agläe and I understood each other so well, and our intimacy advanced so rapidly, that in a short time we were recognised lovers. My uncle made no objection, aud became very tolerant of my French friend's Catholic principles. He saw that I was not destined to make a figure in the pulpit, and was only too glad to see me with some tangible object in view. So, contrary to the usual expe rience of such matters, the course of true love ran as smoothly as could be desired; and, in a few months from our first meeting, the captivating Agläe was my wife. Agreeably to the wishes of her parents, we took up our abode with them, in the old house, and for some time were as happy as two frail mortals could possibly be on earth. When I remember that happy time-the glowing looks that spoke volumes in answer to my endearments-the sweet silvery prattle, in delightful broken English, about her native vineyards and mountains-the pretty French legends which she told me, by the dusky twilight of the winter's fireside-or the plaintive romance, accompanied by her father's guitar-I wonder more and more at the dark fatality which destroyed such an earthly paradise. But, alas! it was destroyed, and regret is unavailing. "Amongst the visitors to the house was a young Count Chandier, who, for some political offence, had been banished his country. He was a young man of most captivating manners and address, and was evidently very much taken with my young wifc. After our marriage, encouraged by the praise of my wife and her friends, I had again taken up the pen and pencil, and frequently spent some hours in the pursuit of these studies. On these occasions, Count Chandier and my wife would ramble out in the grounds surrounding the house. Knowing the gaiety and freedom of French manners, I felt no uneasiness on that score, till, one day, au old friend calling upon me took occasion to remark in a playful manner that I had better not leave Agläe too much alone with the young Frenchman. I have long since known that this was said out of pure generosity to my charming wife, because he feared she might feel neglected if I gave myself up too much to books and pictures. However, the effect on my mind at that time was sudden, and fatal to my happiness. When Agläe returned, I upbraided her with all the bitterness of an injured husband for what was in reality my own fault. Her tears- her assurances were alike in vain; from day to day, I brooded like a mad man over this one thought, till her parents, disgusted with my conduct, proposed a separation. The Count himself, who had innocently been the cause, or rather I should say the object, of my hatred, reasoned with me to the utmost; but the demon Jealousy had entirely taken possession of me. Agläe's parents, indignant at my suspicions, withdrew to their native country, and, by reasoning and entreaties, induced her to accompany them. "I can easily account to you for the agitation I felt when you told me of the apparition at the window of the little inn at Llanbamlach. You will laugh at me, I dare say, but ever since I was a boy, I have been inclined to be superstitious; and I cannot get rid of the idea that the face you saw staring at me so intently was not human, but a supernatural warning of some danger about to happen to my long lost Agläe. Whatever it may be, my mind is now made up. I shall leave here to-morrow, and set out for France. I will throw myself at her feet-I will save her from the peril that hangs over her-she must forgive me. Heaven has taught me a bitter lesson, and is now inviting me to profit by past experience. Yes, my friend, I leave here to-morrow, never to return till I have wiped out this foul stain by giving back, in a thousand times greater degree, the adoration I owe to Agläe's innocence and beauty!” "God grant it!" said I, fervently, much moved by Arthur's earnestness. I was about to make startled by the some further remark, when I was extreme agitation of his manner. With his face pale as death, and his eyes glaring wildly, he pointed towards the window. "See!" he cried, almost gasping for breath, "she comes-Agläe, my wife-but she comes from another world to reproach me for my perfidy." Very much alarmed by his incoherent manner, I had instantaneously cast a glance in the direction of the window, and there, sure enough, although for less than a second, I discerned the same features that I saw at Llanhamlach. Forgetful of everything at the moment except a desire to penetrate into this mystery, I rushed out of the door, and round to the back of the house. At first I could discover nothing whatever, and was about to return to the house, when I fancied I saw some object lying on the ground. It was no phantom, but the lovely form and features of Agläe herself, who had fallen fainting on the ground. To carry her into the house was only the work of a moment, but it was some time before she quite recovered. No words can describe the joy of Arthur, after his first outburst of superstitious fear. He danced round her with frantic delight, wept and laughed like a maniac. Then, bitterly reproaching himself for the sorrow he had caused her, he would hardly be consoled. After this excitement had in some degree subsided, Agläe told us all that had happened since they parted. How she had secretly left her parents, and had written to them after her departure, as to the object of her journey-how she had followed Arthur from place to place without having courage to make herself known, for fear of a second repulse. All this, and much more, the happy wife recounted to our delighted ears, and, if ever true happiness existed on earth, it certainly was not absent from our circle that evening. Agläe's parents again reside in England in the same old mansion where Arthur had first seen them. I visit them frequently, not without hope that a certain lovely cousin of Agläe's will shortly make me as happy as my friend Arthur. THE CIVIL SERVICE SUPERANNUATION FUND. "WHAT!" we think we hear our readers exclaim, "the Civil Service Robbery again? shall we never have done with that piece of ministerial injustice? Can no remedy be found in England for a barefaced abuse which has been denounced over and over again by every honest legislator, ever since it was first perpetrated? Has not committee after committee been appointed by Parliament, to 'investigate and report,' and all the iniquitous details exposed by the most irrefragable evidence? Surely it requires only a clear head and an honest heart, to render the remedy easy and expeditious." | Worthy reader, we pity and marvel at thy blessed simplicity! Dost thou not know that in cases in which only the "canaille" are interested, the removal of an injustice presents insuperable difficulties? How much more when the aristocracy derive a positive advantage from it? And such is the case with the superannuation tax, which does not touch the higher class of officials of the Civil Service, whilst their maximum retiring pensions are certain after one year's service. Therefore, the aristocracy are as blind as bats, and deaf as posts, to the cries of injustice ringing in their ears, from the civil servants of the Crown subject to the infliction. Eight years ago, when Lord John Russell was prime minister, a petition was drawn up and presented to him and his colleagues, by the "Civil Service," setting forth the grievance in clear and forcible terms. The benevolent premier was represented in the newspapers of the day, as "deeply sympathising" with the sufferers; and the deputation left his "presence" under a grateful sense of the courtesy of the noble minister, and a cheering hope of speedy and effectual relief. Bah! as a Frenchman would say. I think I see the noble lord after the deputation were departed, with his tongue in his cheek, chuckling to himself, and saying, "don't you wish you may get it?" Lord John was at that time receiving his untaxed salary, and is now, after a few years' service, receiving his retiring pension; and when he dies, in all probability his widow and family will be pensioned upon the country, "in consideration of the important services he has rendered to it" (Vienna to wit). What cares he, then, about the poor "canaille," who, since the period of his barren sympathy, have been further mulcted to the tune of half a million sterling, to satisfy the cravings of the aristocracy? We are justified in this denunciation, for Lord John Russell, of all other men, ought to have left no stone unturned to remedy this glaring injustice. He has been raised to power by the people, and has professed to be the "true old Whig," the reformer of abuses, the friend of the people. At the period of the presentation of the petition he was at the acme of his political influence, and, a with his acute mind, commanding eloquence, and all-powerful position could, by merely holding up his finger, have carried a measure of relief through both Houses, compelling them by sheer shame to give redress. Instead of which, he has quietly acquiesced in the continuance of the plunder for eight more years, and seventy thousand year is now wrested from the already inadequate salaries of the civil servants of the Crown, with but small hope of relief in future, after what has been seen of the disposition of Parliament, and the hostility of the ministry of the day. It is now a matter of history that last year two bills were introduced into Parliament to alter the law respecting the superannuation tax, and that a "select committee" was appointed by Parliament to investigate and "report" upon the case. It is in order to expose the conduct of this committee, and their novel way of affording redress, that we now reopen the question of this infamous tax. We shall, therefore, without further circumlocution, proceed to lay before our readers the facts of the case, as they appear in the blue book containing the proceedings, from day to day, of the committee, which was composed of the following gentlemenThe Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr. Gladstone, Ex-Chancellor of ditto. Sir F. Baring, do. Lord Stanley. Sir Harry Willoughby. Mr. Roebuck. Mr. Hurley. Sir S. Northcote. do. We shall extract only a few passages from the evidence of some of the principal witnesses who appeared before the committee, the first of whom was Sir Charles Trevelyan. By the act of 1822, a payment of 2 per cent. was ordered to be deducted from all salaries of from £100 to £200, and of 5 per cent. on all above £200 per annum; and if a clerk died in the service, his entire contributions were returned to his family. In 1824 this deduction was considered by Parliament to be a breach of faith, and the act of 1822 was repealed. The moneys, also, which had been paid were returned to the contributors, and the superannuations were directed to be paid out of the Consolidated Fund. This regulation continued in force until 1828, when a Treasury minute was drawn up enforcing a deduction from salaries at the rate of 24 per cent, under, and 5 per cent. above, £100 per annum. The next session of Parliament a bill was introduced, founded upon this minute of council; but it was withdrawn on account of its retro-active operation. The minute, however, appears to have been acted upon for five years, in anticipation of the introduction of another bill, which in 1834 was drawn up by Sir James Graham, then a member of the Government. This bill inflicted the partial and oppressive tax which now originates the just and indignant complaints of that part of the civil servants of the Crown who are subjected to it. It amounts to 2 per cent. on all incomes under, and 5 per cent. on all above, £100 per annum. But those clerks who entered the service previous to 1829, when the minute of council was drawn up, as well as officers of the army and navy, the judicial functionaries, and many others, are wholly exempt from the operation of the act, whilst the scale of pension in their case is considerably higher than that of those clerks who are subject to the deduction. We shall next show, from the evidence, that the Government at the time of introducing the bill either practised a wilful deception on the House, or they and their successors have ever since contravened the Act of Parliament in the spirit, if not in the letter-that, in fact, the bill was obtained under false pretences, and that by it the civil service clerks subject to it have been robbed to the extent of £800,000, without reckoning the interest, which would raise it to above a million sterling. was It appears by a report of the debate on the bill, that Sir James Graham, in his introductory speech (being then a member of the administration) made use of the following memorable words, "It recommended by the finance committee of 1828, and this clause (the 10th) follows out the recommendation, that a deduction should be made in the salaries of all men in public offices, in order to provide a fund on the principle of insurance. They will pay the premiums themselves, and will receive the whole amount of the benefit." Lord Grey, also, in the House of Lords, says, In August, 1829, a minute was made by the Lords of the Treasury of that day by which it was provided, that in order to avoid the heavy charge which had been produced by this practice of superannuation, there should be in future, a superannuation fund estab. lished, arising out of a deduction of a certain per centage from the salaries of all civil officers who received their appointments subsequently to that time." The words of the Treasury minute of the 4th August, 1829, are to the same effect, &c. No words can be plainer or more expressive than those of Sir James Graham, and Lord Grey; and yet the former gentleman has the boldness to deny that he made use of the word fund, and insinuates that his speech was incorrectly reported in the Mirror of Parliament, from whence Sir C. Trevelyan has taken it. The Cumberland baronet's replies to the questions put to him are so characteristic of the man that we cannot refrain from giving a few of them: Sir S. Northcote:-An expression which may have been brought to your notice is reported to have been used by you at the time of introducing the bill, in which you said that these deductions would be made for the benefit of those who paid them, and would be on the principle of insurance : "They will pay the premiums themselves, and receive the whole amount of the benefits." Without asking you about the particular words, do you remember whether that was the view that you took in introducing the bill? Sir James Graham: I have no recollection of the precise words used by me, and I cannot pretend at any time to great accuracy of expression. But to the best of my recollection I have now told you what was my impression at the time, and what is my impression still. I see that I am reported to have used the word "fund." I have no recollection of having done so, but if I did, I should say that the expression was inaccurate. Sir S. Northcote: This was the expression that was said to have been made use of "They will pay the premiums themselves, and will receive the whole amount of the benefits," but, as I understand, you are not of opinion that that was your intention in introducing the bill P Sir James Graham: I do not know what the words are that are at variance with what I have just now stated. Sir S. Northcote: The expression that is reported in the Mirror of Parliament, is, that when in committee a question arose as to one of the clauses of the bill, a question was put to you as to what was the principle of this clause, and your answer was to the effect that the principle was to carry out the minute of 1829, and some expressions were used which are reported to have been, that the reductions would be dealt with upon the principle of insurance, or formed into a fund on the principle of insurance, and the concluding words given are, "they will pay the premiums themselves, and will receive the whole amount of the benefit ?" Sir James Graham: I conceive that the first part is an accurate description. It is a payment in the nature of an insurance, not subject to the strict rules of an insurance, but in the nature of an insurance; and as to the quantum of the benefit to be received, that upon the face of it was ap parent. Upon dismissal, for instance, they have no claim whatever for the quantum contributed; and therefore it was in the very essence different from an insurance, as strictly understood in its equitable and legal force. Chairman You do not know whether you saw the report of those expressions of yours in the Mirror of Parliament before it was published P Sir James Graham: No. Sir 3. Northcote: Then was it to be an insurance for the benefit of those who paid the deductions, or was it to be an insurance for the benefit of those who did not pay them; were persons who did not pay the deductions to have the benefit of them in any way? Sir James Graham: I will endeavour to state to the com. mittee what I remember as the principle of the deductions ; that in lieu of making a large reduction of salary, there was a deduction made in the nature of a contribution for superannuation, which was so large as not only to cover the individual claims of all those who contributed, but which would operate in dimiuntion of the charge for superannuations generally. Whether that was strictly equitable or not I will not presume to say; but that was the intention of those who introduced it. It was not concealed from Parliament, and it was adopted by Parliament, and all those who con |