Bellefonte, Pa., March 5, 1915.
The Lost Friend.
[By H. M. Egbert.]
(Copyright, 1914, by W. G. Chapman.)
Col. Jim Slee sat in his swivel chair
and looked at Miss Elizabeth Ray and
pulled his drooping mustache.
Colonel Slee was the last man in the
world whom one wquld have associated
with a large city store. A little over
fifty, perhaps, with a splendid figure
and military bearing, there was some-
thing chivalrous about the man in
spite of his reputation. If there can be
grades of fast livers, the colonel un-
doubtedly belonged to the highest
grade. In 50 homes he was regardsd
as a man of unblemished reputation;
and those who knew what his life was
' somehow exonerated him.
The colonel had fallen heir to the
store on his ‘brother's death, and he
had not known what to do with it.
His first act was to call all the em-
ployees together and raise their sala-
ries. Then he promoted all the pretty
girl clerks. The colonel’s old-fashioned
idea was that the prettier a girl was—
and every girl was pretty if she had
health and a sweet temper—the less
right she had to labor for a pittance.
Miss Ray, being the prettiest and most
innocent of the lot, was appointed the
rolonel’s private secretary.
That was as far as the colonel got,
before the departmental managers in-
terfered and told him, with firm polite-
aess, that he would have to leave the
charge of affairs to them unless he
wished to drive the store into bank-
ruptey.
The colonel made them agree that
the revised salary schedule should
stand, and after that he came down to
the store for about two hours a day
and pretended to answer letters.
1t is doubtful whether he would have
come more than twice a week but for
Miss Ray. She was about twenty,
and she came from a little town in
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Looked at Miss Ray and Pulled His
Drooping Mustache.
Connecticut. She was one of the pret-
tiest ;girls: the colonel had ever seen,
with her fluffy brown hair, gray eyes,
red lips and unsophisticated ways.
The colonel was a little afraid of her
at first but after a while he won her
confidence. He knew how to do that;
he was always gentle and always a
gentleman.
He had employed her as his secre-
tary, at twenty dollars, for about a
month when he learned about Tom.
Tom was a young farmer in her home
town, and they were engaged to be
wmarried—perhaps in a year’s time,
wher she had saved her trousseau
money and he had begun to make
things go better. He had only lately
taken over the land, and it was heavily
mortgaged
“Miss Elizabeth,” said the colonel,
and, though it was the first time he
had ever called her by her Christian
name, his tone was so respectful that
it was impossible to take exception to
his words—“Miss Elizabeth, you are
much too charming a girl to take up
country life. Why, here you could
have your pick of a dozen million-
aires.”
Miss Elizabeth laughed softly and
looked at the colonel with that inno-
cent expression that always puzzled
him.
“I'll prove it,” said the colonel. “I'm
going to take you out to lunch with
me, and just you watch the men stare
at you.”
Miss Elizabeth put on her hat and
accompanied him. She had never been
into a big restaurant before, had never
eaten cold jellied consomme or tasted
champagne. She sipped about two tea:
spoonfuls of the ice cold wine out of
courtesy, although her parents had
been prohibitionists. Still, she’did not
want to hurt the colonel.
“I have had a most delightful time;
you are very good to me,” she said,
when they returned to the office.
“Feel like repeating the experi
ment?” inquired the colonel, and Miss
Elizabeth nodded gayly.
That was the beginning of many
luncheons. At times the girl’s heart
misgave her; she felt that she ought
not to accept so much kindness from
this friend. But he was always so
gentle, so entirely respectful to her
Then one day the colonel invited her
‘to dine with him and go to the theater
For the first time that night, after
she had left him at her door, Miss Eli
zabeth began to dread that his interest
in her was not wholly platonic. There
had been an undertone of something
" deceive you.
that she did not understand in his de-
meanor that evening. And, what
troubled her most, she had somehow
felt that it was not advisable to make
any reference to him in her letters to
Tom. :
Tom was looking forward anxiously
to seeing her when her vacation came,
the following month. Perhaps then
she would tell Tom. Perhaps . . .
She went to bed with a conscience
not wholly free from problems.
It was a day or two later that Miss
Elizabeth spoke of her vacation to the
colonel.
“Why, I have been thinking of that,”
he said. “I shall want you—at least, I
should like to have you help me, if you
can. You see, Miss Elizabeth, I am
taking a little yachting party to Key
West, and I ought to keep in touch
with business affairs. If you could ac-
company us, you can have another
holiday when we get back.”
The yachting trip was to take about
six weeks. Miss Elizabeth had never
“been at sea; much as she wanted to
see Tom again the invitation was ir-
resistible. The colonel told her that
there were to be three or four other
ladies. They were to go aboard the
vessel at the little private dock at
seven in the evening, a week thence.
Miss Elizabeth wrote a letter to
Tom, explaining the situation and
promising to come home as soon as
sie returned. Then, at the appointed
hour, she accompanied the colonel.
who called at her boarding house in a
taxicab, to the pier.
The yacht lay alongside the wharf.
A watchman paced her decks, but,
though they inspected her from stem
to stern, there was no sign of the oth-
ers. They had sat down for a mo-
ment in the dining saloon. The girl
was becoming a little nervous.
“We will have dinner now,” said the
colonel.
“Wait a minute,” said the girl hur-
rizdly. “When will the others be
here? Your sister—is she not expect-
ed before we dine?” .
The colonel pulled his mustache and
looked hard at her. Then he stretched
out one hand and patted hers gently.
“My dear,” he said, “we are going to
be the only two passengers aboard this
trip.”
The girl looked at him with terrified
eyes and rose from her chair with a |
little gasp. To the last day of her life
she always pictured the colonel thus,
seated before her, pulling his drooping
mustache, and smiling at her with
such a kind expression on his face.
“lI thought you understood, Eliza-
beth,” said the colonel in tones of
grave politeness. There was reproach
in his voice, but Colonel Slee could
never be anything but a gentleman.
“But—you said—you said—" the girl
exclaimed; and even then she could
not quite believe it. But presently she
understood. She was not at all angry.
She felt the tears of humiliation rush
to her eyes, that he should have mis-
understood her so. And there was
more than humiliation—there was real
sorrow for the loss of a friend, the
only friend she had had, except Tom,
since her parents died.
“Are you going Elizabeth?” asked
the colonel, watching her.
She began buttoning her coat. “You
ought not to ask me that—O, what
have I done to make you think other-
wise?” she pleaded.
“My dear,” said the colonel, “I
thought you understood the situation.
Perhaps I was wrong; I had no wish to
That is not my way.
There are certain conventions \
why did you think I was taking you
out to luncheons and dinners?”
“As a friend,” she cried hotly, feel-
ing her cheeks burning.
He shook his head. “Men of fifty do
not make friends of their lady em-
ployees in that way, my dear,” he an-
swered. “I am sorry. Let me help
you with your coat.”
They went up the stairs to the deck
and stood side by side there for a mo-
ment. Everything in Elizabeth’s life
seemed to have crumbled into ashes.
She turned.
“T am sorry,” she said.
had understood. Good-by.”
For the life of her she could not
summon any indignation against him.
She did not feel the insult then, only
the unbearable loss.
. Colonel Slee took her hand in his
and bent over it. They strolled up the
dock; he called a taxicab and escorted
her to her door. Then he raised his
hat and left her,
On the following morning a special
delivery message arrived for the girl,
asking her to hold her position at the
store till the colonel’s return. They
need not meet, he said, but he trusted
she would take charge of his interests
till he could make arrangements.
Elizabeth went back to business.
She did not see him again. The
yacht was wrecked in the great storm
that ravaged the Florida coast that
summer. Colonel Slee never appeared
again. He doubtless died, with all the
crew. But be had had time to make
certain arrangements. The giri found
herself the possessor of a substantial
legacy. But she never told Tom all the
circumstances. That was a page of
her life that she tore out of the book.
“I wish 1
Keeping Wine Properly.
To keep wine properly, the liquid
must actually touch the cork, for any
air that is compressed here by cork
ing the bottle is very injurious. Air
can be removed by taking a small cop
per tube about the size of a quill and
filling it so as to make a semi-tube,
then fixing a thumb ring at the top and
sharpening the bottom end. Place the
tube in the neck with the flat side
against the glass, and the cork ig
driven in so that the air comes oft
through the tube. When corked, the
tube is withdrawn and no air is left in
. the bottle.
Life’s Antumn.
Path to Complete Success.
Man is the most successful creature
so far, because he has kept his bal
ance, but the worst thing about him
is the size of his brain, for it indi-
cates that he has let himself grow
too much in one direction. Biology
teaches us that success is attained
by keeping the power to improve;
by going out and struggling; by not
looking around for a snap, but princi-
pally by not permitting oneself to
grow into a rut.
In Autumn there is a gradual with-
drawing of the vital forces of nature.
The sap ceases to flow, the leaves wither
and fall, the grass dies. In man’s phys-
ical nature there is a corresponding loss
of vitality in the Autumn of life. At
about fifty years, man’s vitality is low
and there is need to re-inforce Nature if
health and strength are to be retained.
Dr. Pierce’s Golden medical Discovery is
to the body what sap is to the tree; it
contains and combines the vital elements
| out of which Nature builds her fabric of
| beauty. Strengthened by this great med-
| icine, their blood increased in quantity
and in richness, men will pass across
life’s autumn landscape with healthy
step and keen enjoyment of a season
which is in itself beautiful to the healthy
man or woman.
Whenever a laxative is needed, use Dr.
Pierce’s Pleasant Pellets. They are sure
and safe.
Domesgtic Economist.
The man who growls the most about
household economy is usually one who
aon’'t smoke anything cheaper than a
, 10-cent cigar.
p—————
Hood’s Sarsapariila.
Rooting Slips in Water.
The amateur flower grower will find
that the quickest and best method of
rooting slips of geraniums, nastur-
tiums, etc. is by placing them ia a
glass of water in a sunny window. In
a few days the roots start, and they
can then be planted in soil. From a
single plant one may have a collec-
tion of plants for bedding, such as
would cost a dollar br two at the
greenhouse.
Banish Scrofula
BLOOD, SKIN-TROUBLES VANISH,
Scrofula eruptions op the face. andh body
are both annoying and disfiguring. Many
a complexion would be perfect if they
were not present! | .
This disease shows itself in other ways,
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_ Ask your druggist for Hood's Sarsapa-
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satisfaction it has given. 3
la is either inherited or acquired.
Better be sure you are quite free from it.
i Get Hood's Sarsaparilla and begin taking
! it today. 60-8
More Than a Cackle.
It was the first time that Johnny
had ever heard a guinea hen. “Oh,
ma,” he shouted, “come and hear this !
chicken a-windin’ itself up!”
CASTORIA.
CASTORIA.
The Kind You Have Always Bought, and which has been
in use for over 30 years, has borne the signature of
and has been made under his per=
TAY sonal supervision since its infancy.
75 , Allow no one to deceive you in this.
All Counterfeits, Imitations and ¢¢ Just-as-good *’ are but
Experiments that trifle with and endanger the health of
Infants and Children—Experience against Experiment.
What is CASTORIA
Castoria is a harmless substitute for Castor Oil, Pare-
goric, Drops and Soothing Syrups. It is pleas-at. It
contains neither Opium, Morphine nor other Narcotic
substance. Its age is its guarantee. It destroys Worms
and allays Feverishness. For more than thirty years it
as been in constant use for the relief of Constipation
latulency, Wind Colic, "all Teething Troubles an
Diarrheea. It regulates the Stomach and Bowels,
assimilates the Food, giving healthy and natural sleep.
The Children’s Panacea—The Mother’s Friend.
GENUINE CASTORIA ALwAYs
Bears the Signature of
®
In Use For Over 30 Years
The Kind You Have Always Bought
THE CENTAUR COMPANY, NEW YORK CITY,
The Horse That Drew the Load
‘By HERBERT KAUFMAN
Author of “Do Something! Be Somethirg!”
MOVING van came rolling down the street the other day with
a big-spirited Percheren in the center and two wretched nags
on either side. The Percheron was doing all the work, and it
seemed that he would have got along far better in single harness,
than he managed with his inferior mates retarding his speed.
The advertiser who selects a group of newspapers usually har-
nesses two lame propositions to every pulling newspaper on his list,
and just as the van driver probably dealt out an equal portion of
feed to each of his animals, just so many a merchant is paying prac-
tically the same rate to a weak paper that he is allowing the sturdy
profitable sheet. i :
Unfortunately the accepted custom of inserting the same adver-
tisement in every paper acts to the distinct disadvantage of the
meritorious medium. The advertiser charges the sum total of his
expense against the sum total of his returns, and thereby does himself
and the best puller an injustice, by crediting the less productive
sheets with results that they have not earned. ret
‘There are newspapers in many a town that are, single handed,
able to build up businesses. Their circulation is solid muscle and
sinew—all pull. It isn’t the number of copies printed but the number
of copies that reach the hands of buyers—it isn’t the number of
readers but the number of readers with money to spend—it isn’t the
bulk of a circulation but the amount of the circulation which is
available to the advertiser—it isn’t fat but brawn—that tell in the
long run. : :
There are certain earmarks ‘that indicate these strengths and
weaknesses. They are as plain to the observing eye as the signs
of the woods are significunt to the trapper. The news columns tell
you what you can expect out of the advertising columns. A news-
paper always finds the class of readers to which it is edited. When
its mental tone is low and its moral tone is careless depend upon it—
the readers match the medium.
No gun can hit a target outside of its range. No newspaper can’
aim its policy in one direction and score in another. No advertiser
can find a different class of men and women than the publi: her has
found for himself. He is judged by the company he keeps. If he
lies down with dogs he will arise with fleas.
(Copyright.)
HOOD’S SARSAPARILLA CLEANSES THE
Shoes. Shoes.
Yeager’ Shoe Store
“FITZEZY”
The
Ladies’ Shoe
that
Cures Corns
Sold only at
Yeager’s Shoe Store,
Bush Arcade Building, BELLEFONTE, PA
58-27
Dry Goods, Etc.
LYON & COMPANY.
Spring Coats and Suits
We extend a cordial invitation to the women
of this community to inspect the new spring
styles of the La Vogue Coats and suits.
Shirt Waists
The new styles in Shirt Waists are here. Silk,
Crepe de Chine, Silk Messaline, Embroidered
Voiles, Swiss and Crepes, in white and all the
new shades.
Spring Dress Goods
All the new fabrics in Silk, Wool and Cotton.
The Beach Cloths in the sand shades are the
very latest in Woolen. Taffetas, Crepe de
Chines, Satin Dutchess, and Chiffon cloth are
some of the popular weaves. The largest
lines of washable stuffs.
Clearance Sale
‘All Winter Coats, Suits and Furs must be
sold. The low price will do it.
Lyon & Co. ... Bellefonte