But that it cannot be. Blows have their consequences, immediate and remote. You first, and then your memory, will be stained to all generations by this deed of treachery and blood. How have you excused it? "With necessity, the tyrant's plea." You had to hack your way through, you said, and it was on my people that your battle-axe fell. So when Louvain was burnt and its inhabitants were shot down you assured the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES that your heart bled for what "necessity" had forced you to do. President WILSON is a man of high principles and deep feelings. I wonder how he looked and how he felt when he read your whimpering appeal. You have destroyed Belgium, but Belgium will rise again; and, even if fate should ordain that Belgium is to be for ever wiped away, so long as one Belgian is left alive there will be a heart to execrate you and a voice to denounce your deeds. ALBERT R. * * * * * THE SURPRISE. A SEQUEL TO "THE CHOICE." Mr. Julius Bannockburn hung up his hat with a bang and stepped angrily into the drawing-room. Mrs. Bannockburn was comfortably seated in an arm-chair, with the tea-table at her side and a fire blazing. "That's right," she said placidly, ignoring her husband's very obvious mental disarray,--"just in time for a cup of tea." "No tea for me," he said darkly. "Oh, yes. It'll do you good," she replied, and poured some out. "By the way, how much do you give for this tea?" Mr. Bannockburn sharply inquired. "Two-and-eight," she replied. He grunted. "I get excellent tea in the City which retails at two shillings a pound," he said. "Better than this." "Well, dear," said Mrs. Bannockburn, "you don't often have this. This is my tea. You prefer Indian." "And why so many different kinds of cake?" Mr. Bannockburn went on. "You wouldn't grudge me those?" she answered. "Surely, even with the war, little things like that might go on?" Mr. Bannockburn sent his eyes round the room on a tour of critical exploration. "Yes," he continued, "and how can you do with a fire--at any rate such a fire--on a day like this? The room is like an oven." He scowled murderously at the innocent flames and opened the window. "I felt distinctly chilly," said Mrs. Bannockburn. "Besides, a fire is so much more cheerful." "Cheerful!" said Mr. Bannockburn with a snarl. "I'm glad something is cheerful." "My dear," said his wife soothingly, "you're over-worried. You've had a hard day at the office. But I've got something to show you that will make you happy again." She smiled gaily. "Happy!" Mr. Bannockburn echoed with abysmal bitterness. "Happy!" He groaned. "Yes, happy," said his wife. "Now drink your tea," she added, "and then light a cigar and tell me all about it." "Cigars!" said. Mr. Bannockburn; "I've done with cigars. At any rate with Havanas. We're on the brink of ruin, I tell you."