-so signally failed, is Parnell likely to succeed? To-day
his party is united, enthusiastic and strong, but when the hour for
compromise and concession arrives, will the unanimity be maintained?
Does Mr. Parnell himself know how much to ask, how little he ought to
take, and where to draw the limit of compromise? Repeatedly Mr.
Gladstone has invited Irish leaders to bring forward some definite
scheme, and let the country know what they meant by "Home Rule." The
cry, as a party watchword, has served admirably--seldom has a couple of
words served so well--because, as expressing Irish National aspirations,
it meant everything in general and nothing in particular; but the moment
is at hand when it will be necessary to reduce it to a definite and
feasible scheme of domestic government and policy. When that moment
comes, will the prince of obstructionists in St. Stephen's prove himself
equally capable as a constructive statesman on College Green? Should Mr.
Gladstone find himself in a position soon after the opening of
Parliament (he is not in a position now) to enter into practical
negotiation with Mr. Parnell, may not the latter discover, as many an
able and successful leader of men has done before him, that the next sad
thing to a great defeat is a great victory? It is no secret that the
demand Mr. Parnell, as the head of the Irish Nationalist party, is
commissioned to make on behalf of Ireland, is a demand for national
self-government almost, if not quite, amounting to national
independence: it is equally well known that no British statesman would
ever think, in the present state of public sentiment, of countenancing
such a claim. For ourselves we do not venture to forecast the issue of
the conflict; for "prophecy is the most gratuitous style of error." We
content ourselves with hoping that the settlement may be speedy,
pacific, satisfactory, and lasting.

ELIZABETH.[E]

A ROMANCE OF COLONIAL DAYS.

BY FRANCES C. SPARHAWK, Author of "A Lazy Man's Work."

CHAPTER XXX.

AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.

While Archdale, full of emotions that he did not try to analyze, went on
toward Grand Battery, a figure, eluding him, crept softly to one of the
hospital tents, lifted the curtain a little way without being observed
at first, and stood looking in, an interested spectator, not because
human suffering, patience, and courage were upon exhibition here, but
because here he would find some one who could give him information that