UNCLE DAN'S PRESENT.
t From tho very bpfjinninff ot our no
quaintiince Uncle Pun deemed to dinliko
oo. You know he wait Jack's own
traclo, ami when I was introduced 9
Lis nephew's wife he took my hand
gtfnporly, muttered something about a
butterfly and refused to congratulate
toy proud husband. That was directly
after our marriage. I was dressed thea
M prettily as my meaus would allow,
for having used my own hard-enrnod
money for my trouscnu I thought I had
rinht to wear tbo gay thiugs that
Uncle Dan appeared to scorn.
But tho strongest material will wear
out, and mino was no exception to tho
rule. Jack was unfortunate in business
and I was compelled to be so economi
cal that I could purchase only tho plain
est of drcssej. As time went on things
were worse ; tho family grew larger and
nr income smaller J we were forced
Bomet lines to deny ourselves r.ub?ta:jtiiil
food. I'uclo Pan must have known
how reduced we were, and, although ho
was a wealthy man, ho never rendered
Us the slightest assistance. On the con
trary, he often helped us to eat our last
loaf of bread. But we did not expect
anything from Undo Dan while ha
lived. Wo knew that ho loved to hoard
Lift gold. Yet the fact that we wero hia
Purest kin, coupled with the one that
lie spent considerable time at our hum
blo home, led us to believe that wo
ironld bo the heirs to his vast wealth.
One day Uncle Dan surprised me by
asking if I would take a walk with him.
I consented. Then he took me to a
dressmaker's, who, without any orders
from him at the time, cut to my meas
ure a beautiful black silk dress. I sub
mitted, carefully hiding the astonish
ment that I felt, but when we left tho
bonse I questioned Undo Dan as to his
reason for presenting me with so suit
able a gift. " I want you to have ono
decent dress," he said, testily, "and I
expect you always to keep it. Do not
part with it under any consideration or
I shall never again make you a present.
Now get through with thetrying on, and
when the thing is done bring it homo
and talk no more about it."
In a few days the dress was finished
and was really very handsome. Had it
come in happier times I should have re
joiced in its possession. As it was Jack
and I felt that it was incompatible with
our surroundings. Uncle Dan always
insisted on my wearing it on Sunday
afternoons when he was around, and
thus I grew to hate the pretty thing
with its abundance of frills and floun
ces. To our intense relief the old man one
day decided to take a trip to Europe for
bis health. No sooner had he made this
startling announcement than I resolved
to tell that dress tho moment he had
teally gone. And I did dispose of it,
realizing more for it than I had ex
pected. In six months Uncle Dan returned
more miserable than before, and shortly
afterwards died suddenly at our house.
Among his effects was found a will, and
we learned from this that he had be
queathed all he possessed to a distant
cousin, a person without a family and
who already owned considerable prop
erty. My husband and I were sadly
disappointed. Jack was worn out from
anxiety and overwork, and we counted
oa something that would at least pay
for the board and lodging that Uncle
Dan had taken at our expense. Tho
latter declared that he had drawn up a
later will in our favor, but as no other
will could be found, even though a
thorough search was instituted, the
property was turned over to a distant
cousin.
A few weeks later a lady called on
me. At first I did not recognize her,
bat she proved to be the seamstress who
s bad made that black dress.
"Don't you remember the dress I
made for you ?" ehu asked excitedly.
"Well, that later will is sewn up in tho
drapery. He got mi to do it for him
and made mo promise not to toll you
while he lived. He said if you cared
anything about him you would never
part with the only thing he ever gave
yon. If you did you would be the loser
thereby.
Imagine'my feelirs I The dress had
beon sold to a dealer in second-hand
clothing and was now probably beyond
my reach. I took the lady into my
confidence, bound her to secrecy and
hastened to the shop in which I had left
the silk dress. It had been sold and to
whom tho dealer could not remember.
I had nothing to do but to hope that
the purchaser was an honest person who
would find the will and restore it to me.
How distinctly I now remembered that
Undo Dan had charged me not to part
with the dress and how bitterly I re
pented my disobedience.
Months passed on, and though I eag
erly txurained every black silk presented
to my guzo, I failed to come into con
tact with the one for which I longed.
In the mean time Jack's health had
grown so poor that ho was unable to do
a stroke of work, and I was taking in
plain sowing for our support. His eyes
would fill with tears when he saw ma
thus engaged, and my cheery: "Never
mind, we'll find that dress yet, dear,"
only half comforted him.
After awhile I was employed to sow
for a very wt-althy lady, and great w as
my astonishment on entering her room
one day to find her wearing that identi
oil bluck silk dress. I could not be
mistaken ; the trimming was unlike any
other I had ever seen. I almost gave
way to au exclamation of delight, but a
udden suspicion that perhaps the dress
maker had not spoken the truth chocked
me in time, and I deciden that I would
not be hasty. Why will we long for
things, and when they are just within
our grasp let them slip away before our
wry eyes ?
The next day I spoke to her about
the dress and asked her if she would
give it to me to make over for her.
"I should be glad to do so, but I gave
it to a friend who went awsy last even
c to stay , several months. It's
pretty, but it got too tight for mo. Did
you like it ?"
" Yes do do you know whore sho
lias gouo ?" I asked, my heart beating
faster every minute.
"Oh, no, she's always travelling
around from one place to another.
She's a newspaper correspondent."
When I saw her the next day she
asked, with a slight hesitation: "IIoW
did the silk dross lit ?"
"The silk dress!" I repeated, in sur
prise. " Yes, did you not open tho bag of
rags that I scut you last night ? You
see I found that my friend had forgot
ten, after all, to take tho dress, and
when I saw it still hanging in tho closet
I thought I would usk you to accept it.
It would bo so becoming and just about
fit you."
I heartily thanked Mrs. Earr, men
tioned that I had not yet examined the
contents of the bag, and when evening
came hastened home to at last lay my
hands on that valuable dress. But
stern, unrelenting fate was still against
me. Jack had innocently sold the bag
of rags, silk dress in tho bargain, to a
pausing ragman. He bittely reproacbod
himself for not having looked into tho
baj before selling tho contents, but re
proaches wero of no avail now, and all
I could do was to look out for that rag
man and identify him according to
Jack's description: "Large, stout man,
red beard aud sunburnt face." The ma
jority of junkmen seemed to be built on
that plan, and I wa3 several times greeted
with such remarks as these: "What yer
starin at ?" " Think ye'll know me
agin ?" " Say, what do yer take me for,
missus ?"
Finally, I was positive that I had the
right man. I grew desperate and called
him to the house. Jack was now fail
in so rapidly that the doctor had said
that only a change of air would save
him and I determined to make a great
effort. I did not ask tho man if ho had
the dress ; I inquired what had become
of it. He pretended to bo ignorant of
my meaning, but 1 frightened him into
confessing that he hr.d given it to his
wife. Then I demanded his address
and immediately went there. A woman
with u dirty fuce, aud still dirtier hands,
appeared in the doorway. I made
known my errand. "Lor," she said,
" it won't do much good now, even if I
can fiud it. It was worn out long ago."
" Xo matter how much worn out it is,
I must see it," I cried.
Startled by my vehemence, she hur
ried away and soon returned with the
tattered remains of what was once my
beautiful silk dress. I seized the thing
and felt among tho drapery for tho
missing will. Yes, there was certainly
something hard there, and I astonished
the woman by paying her Si for the
ragged dress.
It did not take me long to go home
and open my bundle by Jack's bedside.
" My poor dear," I said as I hurredly 1
ripped the drapery, " I have now some
thing that will bring you health and
happiness."
But Jack could not rejoice with me
until tho will was actually in our hands.
Then he closed his eyes and I knew he j
was thanking Qod for his goodness. '
The distant relative quickly relin
quished everything when he saw this
later will. Noble Jack offered him a
generous share, but the man politely re
fused it and went on his way.
In sunny Florida Jack corroborated
his physician's statement by regaining
health and strength. To-day there ex
ists no happier, stronger man than my
husband. By the way, he wanted to
keep the black silk dress a reminder of
old times, but I insisted that it should
be buried with all our past cares and
worries.
HOUSEHOLD HINTS.
Two thicknesses of newspaper makes
a good lining for apple barrels.
Lemon juice helps a cake to rise aud
does not interfere with the other fla
voring. A tiny scrap of cucumber rind left in
the salad adds a peculiar pungency to
its flavor.
To purify the air of a newly painted
room put several tubs of water in it and
it will absorb much of the odor.
For insomnia, pillows are filled with
hop flowers and bulbs, or a matress of
pine needles will bo found efficacious.
If feather pillows have an unpleasant
smell place them before a good lire and
let them have a good, thorough drying.
Finger marks may be removed from
Varnished furniture by rubbing well
with a very little sweet oil upon a soft
rag.
If a dish gets burned in using do not
scrape it; put a little water and ashes
in it and let it get warm. It will come
off nicely.
An ounce of clovo pink petals infused
in three-quarters of a pint of pure al
cohol, with a few verbena leaves, is a
refreshing odor for the bath.
Paper quilts are becoming popular
in Europe. They are cheap and warm.
They are composed of sheets of per
forated white paper sewn together.
The best way when hot greaso has
been spilled on a floor is to dash cold
water over it, so an to harden it quickly
aud prevent it striking into the boards.
It is said that if the woodwork in the
kitchen is kept constantly scrubbed
with water in which potash has been
dissolved roaches aud ants will speedily
disappear.
To avoid becoming a regular Niobo
every tiino you have onions to slice, cut
them holding the huuds under water.
They will bo much tenderer if soaked
an hour or two before cooking in warm
salt water and sliced in rings instead of
being split.
Corn starch is not used with yolk of
egg mid lemon juice for the skin.
Laundry starch is always meant in toi
let recipes, made with boiling water
quite thick and the yolk and lemon
stirred in when cool. It should be
used at night, and a few drops of gly
cerine will keep it from drying too
quickly and add to its effect.
Married His Own Daughter,
DISTRESSING DISCOVERY MADE DY A
CHICAGO MAN,
Chicago, November 6. Counsel
was retained yesterday in one uf the
strangest cases ever brought to the no
tice of the public. Tho facts outdo
those of any of Rider Haggard's novels
and verify the old adage that truth is
stranger than fiction. The lawyer in
the case is James W, DrouiIIard, and
the client is Samuel . Clifton Willctts,
who asks the lawyer to decide for him
whether a woman whom lie married
about two years ago is his daughter.
About forty-five years ago, accord
ing to the story told the lawyer, Mr
Willets was married to Miss Mamie
Evans at Erie, Pa. He was only 17
years old, while she was just turning
16. They went to live with Mr. Wil
lets' parents, and for a year they were
happy. At the end of that time a
baby girl was born, and the joy of the
young couple knew no bounds. As
time passed dissensions arose and
quarrels were fiequent. A crisis was
at last reached. One ni-ht when
young Mr. Willets returned from his
work, his wife and little child were
gone. Shortly afterward he heard that
his wife had died.
Six years after his wife had deserted
him Mr. Willets married Caroline Ste
vens, a young girl, whose parents re
side in a small town adjoining Erie.
In less than two years a son was eiven
to him, but his wife was taken awav.
He named the child George. It grew
and prospered in health, and when 17
years old George entered the employ
of Harding. Davis & Co, wholesale
hardware dealers in Pittsburg. In a
few years he was sent on the road by
the tirm. In the meantime the father
moved to Pitnburg and took up his
residence with his son.
On Christmas night, i860, Mr Wil
lets sat waiting in his apartments for
the return of his son, who had been
on the road for three months. Finally
the door opened and the welcome vis
itor came in. He was not alone. With
him he brought a young and beautiful
wife. She was a Miss Helen Wright,
and young Willits had met and won
her in Cleveland, while traveling for
the firm. Roth her parents had re
cently died.
Mr. Willits took a strange fancy to
his son's bride and as time flew on it
was difficult to say. which loved her
the most, father or son. For twenty
eight years the couple lived happily to
gether and old Mr. Willits seemed
contented. On December 18, 188S,
George Willits died, after a painful
illness of six months.
A few months after his son's death
Mr. Willets and his daughter-in-law
went abroad. Singular attachment
had sprung up between them and on
January 18, 1890, they were married
in West Kennington, London, Eng
land, by Wayne McLeonard, an
Episcopal minister. Shortly after
wards they returned to America and
devoted considerable time to travel.
Much of their time they spent in
Chicago, as they intended to event
ually make this city their home.
A few months ago the possibility
that he had married his own daughter
began to dawn upon the mind of Mr.
Willets and he was forced to believe
that his wife was the little girl who had
been born to him many years before
in Erie, Pa.
Since then he has learned that his
first wife, after deserting him, went to
Cleveland, Ohio, where in less than
seven years she marriedja man named
John Wright. She brought her little
girl up under the name of Wright.
Shortly after her marriage her new
found husband deserted her, She
was left with her daughter and in a
short time died. Miss Wright, left
alone, sought employment and earned
her living until she met George
Willets in a house in which she was
boarding, and fell in love with him.
Mr. Willets and his wife, or his
daughter, as he now calls her, are
living on the North Side. Mr.
Willets said to-day that he had sent a
private detective to Cleveland, Ohio,
to trace the career of his first wife,
and that he daily expected news from
him.
"Who Pays tlo Wccldir g fxponrcs ?
Etiquette regarding wedding ex
panses is simple, but very strict.
The groom dots not furnish anything
for the wedding excepting' the wed
ding ring, a bouquet, and a gift for the
bride ; bouquets and simple tokens
for the brides maids ; biitoiii, -.i
collar-, neckties, and gloves for the
ushers and best man, and a souvenir
of the event in the shape of a scarf
pin or some other trifle ; a carriage to
convey himself and the lest man to
the church s the carriage in which he
and his bride leave the church and
hour.e ; and the clergyman's fee. All
other expenses, of every kind, pertain
ing to the wedding, are borne by the
bride's family. This is as it should
be. If an elaborate wedding cannot
be afforded, it is nuich 'bctter to have
11 simple one than to incur any
obligation to the groom for a display.
From- The MihUm Wfddhuj
J'rstiottl," in Deinore.U' $ family
Magazine for Jfbvttnber.
James McCormick, of Seymour, Ind.,
will be 100 years old during the coin
in" weel:, and his proudest boast is
that he once had a conversation with
George Washington.
The difference in women. t
Some women are tireless in
their home work. Some arc
tireless in their work for the
church. They laugh, they sing,
and arc happy.
You remain at home broken
hearted, for you are utterly un
able to make any effort what
ever. The horror of " Female Com
plaints" rs upon you ; you have
that distressing " bearing-down "
feeling, your back aches, you
arc nervous and despondent,
don't care to move, want to be
left alone, your digestion is bad,
and you are wholly prostrated.
Ah ! dear sister, don't you
know that Lydia E. I'inkham's
Vegetable Compound will reach
the cause of all this trouble,
and you will "N
surrlv ho well. .R
Don't hesitate.
Get the remedy
at once. It will
cure you sure,
!! i
All rfrufrfftRtt Mil It, nr tent
bt mill, in form
Lotvi'set, on rwtr
wrrtd. Artrirfii in confl- It'i.
dnw, I.rniA E. Pink- X ' n
HAM AlllHCAl. Co., I.fUM
Liver full, W
Winter comes; You must have COAL
Mare you seesfi laow we usa!aI it for you?
into idtjst,
JTeist as Cood (Coal aual juf
as cheap as any in the market.
Try our aM jqm will me m other.
Rooms No. 2 and 3, LOCKARDS' BUILDING.
BLOOMSBURG, PA.
..OF THE.-.
PB'See; sand to prove &;itisfac32oBi is
mn -13 bs destroy
The best value for Money is to buy your
Clothing, Hats, Shirts, Neckwear, Trunks and
Valises of
Corner otj Mainland Centre Streets, BLOOMSBURG, PA.
t?ltEX6BLLB& OmmiMQ MADE
Largest Clothing and Hat House in Columbia and Montour Counties
J. R.Smith &Co.
LIMITED.
MILTON, Pa.,
UEAf.EilS IN
Br the following well-known irinkcrn :
Checkering:,
Wcbcr,
Mallei & XSnvls.
Can also furnish any of the
cheaper makes at nutmfact
urciV price.. Do not buy a
piano before gelling our prices.
.v. .
Catalogue and Price Lists
On application.
K MB
Comes to the front with the
T A!
PIANOS.
r i I B ,,IY1 WLIMI
AND
AKING AND FITTING
mm id mm
Plans and Estimates on all
kinds of buildings. Repairing
and carpenter work promptly
attended to. J
Sealer in Builder's Supplies.
Inside Hardwood finishoc A
specialty.
Persons of limited means w!i
desire to build tan pay part and
secure balance by mortgage
PATENTS.
Cnvi'itls nnil Trndo Marks ntitnlnmt, nn,l i
nti'ia bUHinciui coniliu'U'tl for .Viiuku.vi I
I'Mti'ia bUHinciui coniliu'U'tl for .Vuuku vi 1
KKKM. 1 b
H IIOKricKISolTOSITKTIII' V. u ,MT
ENT Ol-'HIK. Imvo mi KulHiKi tii i,.,
iMIslni-sS lltli-rl, hl'lirc rilll tr;l!IH;i't . i'
ni'HM 111 IrsH tlini- mill nl. I.cms Cost than , ' ' vr
iiioti' ficim Wiislihitfliiii. "
town, sent fin'. AiMri'na
C. A. KNOW k () Washington. 1)
(Opposite L'. S. Talent OMcu.)
L
SEE!
M
in
1
s. nil miKli'l, ilruwliiif or plinln, with iWnn
tlnn. Wp advise Ir ialeiitnhlp or ,i ,rl ,
cluitv. our tiT not iiur till imirnt n k,.,.,.,, ,
A link. "Mowtool.taln l-ati-nts," win
Plii'i'H to ik'I mil clli'iitit lii your Ntm...
I " '.til. 1. 11T
III