2 THE PASSING CENTURY. Old century, tottering to thy rest. All vainly dost thou beat thy breast; i ut how go through the ordeal with k out self-betrayal? V Isbel had to strive with herself much J harder for the ordeal she had at length, with an infinite courage, resolved to face. Therefore was It she had named an hour free from all visitors, and when I her aunt, Mrs. Brandon, would still bo in her own apartment. One of the two, she saw, must cross the Rubicon and L Mjrn the boats behind If both their I lives were to be saved from wreck, and since he would not. well, she, the helr- I ess, must, whatsoever the cost. When she was told he was in the drawing-room—when almost the actual moment had arrived—'her heart sank, and at the very door she had to pause a minute to pull herself together. Then she went in. How the man's dark eyes lighted up! How unconsciously close was the clasp of his hand on hers! If she had had one fleeting doubt of his loye, that second must have dispelled It. "What a plasure to see you again. Miss Brandon!" he said. "And what an honor you do me to let me paint) your portrait!" "Is It? It is good of you to call It so," Isbel answered brightly, but In wardly every nerve was quivering and strained. "Aunt Mary began again, yesterday, about having my picture done, eo I wrote to you. My aunt will be down presently, but in the mean while we can arrange the sittings, dress and so forth." Errington passed by the "so forth," and only arranged for her dress and the sittings. "But now," she said, "that that te settled, we come to —you must b'ease name your " "Pardon me," Errlngton Interposed, with resolute quietude that in itself gave her fresh surety of her ground, "but you must do me the great favor to let that part rest until the work is hnished. You are not like a stranger "Indeed, I hope not," lebel said gent ly. "Well, be It as you please, then." "Thank you very much, Miss Bran don." He rose. She, too, stood up. The moment had come. The woman's heart stood still for a moment that was agony. Two lives' happiness or misery hung on her courage or failure. "Well, I suppose your time is valu able?" she said, turning to him, but her eyes did not fully meet his. "By the by, Mr. Errington, I believe—if I am rightly informed—that I have ti< congratulate you!" "Congratulate mo!" repeated the ar tist in genuine surprise. "For what? On what account?" His surprise and, oddly enough, the comedy of the position gave her new courage. "Why, I heard that you are engaged to an heiress," she eaid. The Rubicon was crossed. There was no going back now. Errington flushed to the brow, then paled again. "It is absolutely untrue," he eaid in a strained way, and drew back a step. "It never could be true of me!" "But why not?" persisted lebel, now standing to her colors with true femi nine stanchness, her eyes aglow, her soft tones steady. "If, as I heard, you are attached to her, why should your engagement be an impossibility, as you imply?" Had some one—Glyn, perhaps—dared to tell her this, meaning herself, but without naming her, flashed across Eric in haughty wrath and pain. "Why impossible?" he repeated, stung to a sort of desperation. "Be cause I am a poor, struggling man who holds his honor dearer even than love, if the story were true. Neither the world nor any woman born should have the right to believe me a dishon ored fortune hunter." "The world's judgment!" she said, and now her breath came quickly, her eyes flashed like diamonds. "You are not such a coward, I know, as to fear that. But is it much lees cowardly to be afraid of even the risk of the wo man's mistaking your niotive—the wo man you love, remember?" She was speaking with a strangely passionate, if suppressed, force that sent a sudden vague thrill through the man —a dim sense of something that dazzled him, of a personality beneath the overt mean ing. an assertion of his love fori the heiress as a fact, not a mere figure of argument. "The woman you love, re member, and whose happiness, per haps, your pride may wreck as well as your own, who doubtless knows your heart's secret and curses the miserable gold and cruel pride .that stands be t-ween your lives." "label!" Errington sprang to her side, caught her hands In his own. The girl burst into team as he locked her to his heart. The "nslon must needs give way at last, brave though she was. What matter if some of the world did say, when the marriage took place, that it was the bride's money the paint er had sought? He cared not, and those who knew him and his wife knew well it was a love match entirely. The picture—not a mere portrait—of beau tiful Mrs. Errington, when seen the next day at the academy, made a sen sation and sent up the rising artist's name at once. "So, after all, you see, Eric," his wife says, arch and tender in tone, "you will win the best in the end, fortune and fame." "And the priceless treasure that neither gold nor fame could buy," he answers, smiling down on the dear face, "my wife." Looking Forward, A Cleveland clergyman, who is not given to putting on a long face either in his pulpit or out of it, says that before he came here from the South he was one day asked by a young man to unite him with the woman of his choice in the holy bonds of wedlock upon the evening of a certain day. "I am very sorry," said the reverend gentleman, "but I shall be out of town upon that day." The young man was crestfallen; said that he had set his heart upon having that particular minister perform the ceremony and asked if there was no possible way. in which it could be ar ranged. "I thought the matter over." said the clergyman, in recounting the experi ence, "and finally agreed to return for the express purpose of complying with hie wishes. He was greatly pleased, assured me that It was very kind of me and hinted that I would be well repaid for my trouble and consideration. 'So, upon the day set for the cere mony I traveled nearly two hundred miles, paid out eight dollars and fifty cents for my railroad ticket and other accommodations, and gave the happy couple one of the best marriage ser v ces in my repertory. "After the ceremony the groom came to me, blushing furiously, slipped a live dollar bill into my hand, and, in all seriousness, said: " 'This is all 1 have to give you now, but I h'Jpe to do better next time.' "I was three dollars and fifty cents out of pocket on the transaction, and 1 guess I'll let him hunt up somebody else "next time.' " —Cleveland Leader. For use in cleaning windows a new ladder has steps set at an angle to the upright side pieces, with two clamps at the bottom to fit over the window sill, the top of the ladder being held in po sition outside the window by a cross bar placed inside the building and hav ing rods extending out to the top of the ladder. THR COLUMBIAN. BLOOMSBURG, PA STORIES OF THE DAY. TITO More In the Growing Series o llllly Mason Talcs. The latest story about Senator Billy ■Mason concerns the energetic Senator Chandler, of the Granite State. Gong ago the large-hearted Illinois lawmaker had a friend whom he has, In recent Tears, loet sight of. The friend lived for a time in Illinois, and later tried his fortunes farther Weßt, In the State of Colorado. There he participated In Republican politics, won the esteem of hie fellow-iworkcrs, and early In the present session of congress was named by Major McKlnley as Postmaeter of his town. He had been here more than a week before the session, attempting to secure the appointment, and, being a poor man, was running very low in purse before his name reached the Set ate. Then there was a long wait for confirmation, and he was on the verge of despair. * Thus runs the preface in the Washington Post. At last he came across the friend of his boyhood. Senator Mason, and to him he poured out the story of his trials. He had purchased a round-trip railroad ticket, the limit of which had nearly expired, and his nomination was still buried with a heap of similar other papers, and litlte chance of being reach-ed. "Just stay here for a minute," said Senator Mason, after listening patiently to his story. The meeting was in the Senate corridor, and the Senate waa about to begin an executive session. The Illinois Senator entered the cham ber and immediately called up the Col orado case, requesting confirmation at once. "I object to that unless there are some unusual circumstances," put in Senator Chandler. "Well, there ar e unusual circum stances," replied Senator Mason, and he began to talk pathetically of his friend's hardships. "Why, his wife died—" "That is enough," interrupted Sen ator Chandler, peremptorily; "I with draw my objection," and the nomina tion confirmed then and there. "I didn't intend to deceive you," said Senator Mason to Senator Chandler a few minutes later, "but you didn't al low me to finish my sentence. Tljis man's wife died two years ago." Dean Stanley'H Writing. Dean Stanley's handwriting was so bad that when he answered au invita tion for dinner, the h-stess would sometimes write back asking if it was an acceptance or a refusal. When the first proofs of his book, entitled "Sinai and Palestine," came back to him, he was surprised to read that front the lounta'n of Sinai was visible "the horn of the burning beast." He had meant to write "the horizon of the burning bush." Another astonishing statement in these same proof sheets was that on turning the shoulder of Mount Olivet in the walk from Bethany there sudden ly burst on the spectator, a magnificent view of Jones! The word the Dean had meant to write was Jerusalem. Once when the Good Dean had indited a let ter of reply to some working man who had asked him a certain question, the man wrote back that he wasn't used to the handwriting of the aristocracy, and couldn't make out the note, asking if His Honor would be so kind as to let someone else write his answer. The UntriiHtworthy Linr. Coming In on the Painesville car the other morning two real estate dealers were "talking shop." "I heard a man get off a pretty good thing about Dash and Blank the other day," said one of tliem. "What was it?" the other asked. "He said: 'l'd much rather deal with Dash than with Blank." 'Why so?' I inquired. 'You know Dash is a man whom you can't believe under any cir cumstances.' 'That's the very reason I prefer him to Blank. Dash lies all the time, so you're never fooled by him, but Blank lies only half the time, and the great trouble is that you never know when he's doing it.' " Question* Politely Answered. Boston Conductor —"Fare, please." Passenger—"what is the fare?" "It is the tariff or tax levied by the corpora tion owning and controlling the charter and franchise of this street-car line on those persons who avail themselves of the opportunity afforded them by the company to secure more rapid and agreeable transportation than pedal locomotion." "How much is the fare?" "Five cents, please."—Detroit Free Press. Properly Timed, It was at one of these restaurants where a small oschestra plays during the feeding hour. A waiter let fall a tray of dishes. They struck the floor with a loud crash and much broken queensware resulted. "You awkward lout!" roared the head waiter. Bee what you've done!" "I dropped it exactly on time, any how." sullenly responded the other, who was a musician in reduced circum stances, "and it put a little life into that staccato passage those stiffs were trying to p'ay." True Clilvnlry. A tramp accosted a McPherson wcji an who was shovelling snow off her sidewalk the other day, for something to eat. "Shovel this snow off," she said, "and I'll give you a dinner." He drew himself up to full height, and replied: "Madam, do you think for a moment that I am so dead to the in itincts of a gentleman as to enter into competition with a woman? Perish the thought!" A Grout lluftlnenM Cordial. Reuben Railfence —I see In the papet that the bank clearln's In New York went up to purty night two hundred million dollars one day in October lenry Hoecorn—Do tell! Must have been the time of our county fair. Thai made things hum, I tell ye! Was Huntluc Trouble. "I saw a big two-flsted fellow this morning who was looking for trouble.' "How was that?" "He had a girl on his arm and wai asking the way to the marriage llcensi offlce."—Cleveland Plain Dealer. A Woman's Heart. The wife of a clergyman tells the story of her suffer ing zvilh neuralgia of the heart, zvith the hope that her experience may indicate to others the way to regain health. Few bodily afflictions are more terrible than heart disease. To live in constant dread and expectation of death, sudden, instant death, with last farewells unspoken, is for most people more awful to contem plate than the most severe lingering illness. The slightest excitement brings great suffering and danger to people so afflicted. Such was the experience of the wife of a well-known clergyman. She tells her story for the sake of doing good to others. "I feel," she said, speaking carefully and weighing her words, "that Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People relieved me of a lifetime of sickness and sorrow, and I cheer fully recommend them." This grateful woman is Mrs. Wamsley, wife of the Rev. C. E. Wamsley, who live* on West Sheridan Street, Greens burg, Ind. She continuedi "My heart became affected after the birth of mv youngest child, about six years ago. " The pain was constant. Frequently it grew so severe I would be forced to cry out. " I could not endure any excitement. "It would increase the pain so I would scream and fall down in a state of collapse. In this condition I was helpless. "These spells would come on me at home, in the street, or anywhere I might be. I could not sleep at night I ate very little. " Different doctors were called in. They said I had neuralgia of the heart, resulting from nervous prostration. || /QANDY CATHARTIC Rfc COKSTI PATiOM j iso I : ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED tire, newer crip or eripe'.liut cause ensjr natural results. Snm-ft J yle and booklet free. Ad. STERLING REIiERT CO.. fhirnco. Montrenl. Con.. or Now York. 217.J "The best is, aye, the cheapest." Avoid imitations of and substi tutes for SAPOLJO STOVE NAPTHA, the Cheapest and Best Fuel on the market. With it you can run a Vapor Stove for one-hali cent per hour. Give us a call and be convinced. W. O. Holmes, Bloomsburg, Pa. Eshleman & Wolf, L. E. Wharey, W. F. Hartman, " McCLURE'S MAGAZINE FOR THE COMINC YEAR. Some Notable Features: fuse a DANA'S These reminiscences contain more unpublished war history than a- nny other book except the Government publications. Mr Dana was PFMTNTtjrFNPFC; Intimately associated with Lincoln, Stanton, Grant, Sherman, and iot-r_,iN w.o llle other great men ol the civil War. He had the contldenee of the President Rnd his great War Secretary, and he was sont on many i>rtvate missions to make Im portant Investigations In the army. Lincoln called him "The Eyes of the Government at the front." Everywhere through these memoirs are bits of Secret lltstorv and Fresh Recollections of Great Men. These Reminiscences will be Illustrated with many Rare and Unpublished. War Photographs from the Government, collection, which now contains overt),!**) negatives of almost prloeless value. The Christmas MCCLDRK'S contained a complete Short SUn-ii RUDYARD KIPLING by Kudyard Kipling entitled "Tim Touti OF HIS ANCKKTOKS," the tale ot a clouded Tiger, an officer In the Indian army, and STORIES & POEMS a rebellious tribe. We have In hand also a -\eu> Ballad. a powerful, grim, moving song of War Ships. It will be superbly Illustrated. Mr. Kipling will be a frequent contributor. ANT WON V HnPF"? "Rupert of llenUau," the sequel to "The Prisoner of ZenOa." 1 1 la splendid Invention, In characters, in dramatic situations, It NEW ZENDA NOVEL is the noblest and most stirring novel that Anthony Hope has Rudyard Kipling, Robert Parr, William Allen While, lan Ma- SHORT STORIES BY claren. Octave Thanet, Stephen Crane, and many others, the best story writers In the world, will contribute to McCLURE'S dur- GREAT AUTHORS lng the coming year. FniSAV'i; T ATFIT Edison's Wonderful Invention. The result of eight years' con ejuiokjis J nmuoi Btant labor. Mountains ground to dust and the Iron ore extracted irHIFVPMKNT by magnetism. The Fastest Ship. An article by the Inventor and v i constructor ot "Turblnla," a vessel that can make the speed ot an expreaa train. Making a Great Telescope, by the most competent authority living. Lord Kelvin, a character sketch and substance ol a conversation with this eminent scientist on uusolved prob lems ol science. Drawn from nitcen years'personal experience as a brakeman, nre- THE RAILROAD man and engineer, by Herbert 11. Hamblln. It is e narrative ot t corn, adventure, hazards, arcldents anil escapes, and Is as vivid and dra- MAN'S LIFE malic as a piece of dctlon. Ttip PTTSTFF The account of this terrible light, written down by Hamlin Garland as It came trom the lips ol Two Moons, an old Indian chlet who was a par- M ASSACRE ttclpant in It. • Its houses, streets, means of travel, water supply, safeguards of life and NEW YORK health, sports and pleasures—the conditions ot life of the perfected city of the next century, by Col. George E. Waring, Jr., commissioner ot the Btreet- Tjif 10 , 0 Cleaning Department ol New York. MARK TWAIN Mark Twain contributes an article in his old manner, describing his inrxiv voyage from India to South Africa. The Illustrations are by A. B. Frost and Peter Xewell, and are as droll and humorous as the article Itself. Andree: His Balloon and Ills Expedition, from materials furnished by ADVENTURE the brother or Mr. Strlngberg, Andree's companion. Seen Hedlnein Unex plorea Asia, a story of remarkable Adventure and endurance. Lander in Thibet, ills own story. He wss captured, tortured and finally escaped to India. Jackson in the Far Xorth. The famous explorer writes of the years he lived In regions far north of the boundaries of human habitation. N A NSF N The great Arctic explorer has written an article on the possibilities ofTeaehlng the North Pole; on the methods that the next expedition should adopt, and the Important scientific knowledge to be gained by an expedition; concerning the climate, the ocean currents, deoths and temperature of the water, etc. This knowledge will he ol the greatest value to science. The best artists and Illustrators are making pictures for Mc- TT T TTSTRATIONS Ocean's MAOAZINK. A. 11. Frost, Peter Xeieefl, C. D Gibson, Howard Pule, Kenyan Cox, C, K, Linson, H'. D. Stevens, A {/red Rrennan, and others. FREE The November numbor will be given free with new subscriptions. This number contains the opening chapters of Dana's Reminiscences. Mark Twain's Voyage From India to South Afrlcu, tho account or Edison's great invention, and a mass of interesting matter and illustrations. Be ware to ask for it In Muhacrlblng. lOcts. a Copy. tI.OO a Year. The S. S. McCLURE CO., 200 East 25th Street, New York. "The doctors treated me, but the relief they gave did not last. I was a physical wreck, when my eye fell on an item in the local paper describing how Mrs. Evans, of West End, had been cured by Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People. Her suffering was like mine. "I hope other sufferers who read this account will have the faith I had when I read of Mrs. Evans. " My husband bought me one box of the pills. The change they made in my con dition was encouraging. I took another box t then bought six more boxes. " All the time I gained in health, strength, hope, nerve force—steadily, surely 1 Before I finished the eighth box I ceased the treatment. I felt perfectly well, and the doctor said I was entirely cured." To add weight to her story Mrs. Wams ley made affidavit to Hs truth before John F.Russell,a Notary Public of Greenmurg. Neuralgia of the heart is only one of many serious evils that grow out of derange ments of the nervous system or of the blood. The remedy that expels impurities from the blood and supplies the necessary mater ials for rapidly rebuilding wasted nerve tis sues reaches the root of many serious diseases. It is these virtues that have given Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale People their wonderful curative powers in diseases that at first glance seem widely different. This famous remedy is for sale by all druggists for 50 cents a box | or six boxes for SZSO. Fine GRAPHS °3 CRAYON* 1 "! McKillip B: at l Bloomsburg. os "| The best j the cheapest. 9 J. E. KEIFER,F Successor to R A. BAWLING® DEALER IN— All Kinds of Meat. Beef, Veal, Lamb, Mutton, Pork, Hams, Bacon, Tongues, Bologna, &c. Free Delivery to all parts of the town. CENTRE STREET, BLOOM SB URC, PA. ■©"Telephone connection. THE MARKETS. BLOOMSBURG MARKETS. CORRECTED WEEKLY. RETAIL FBIOET. Butter per lb $ .20 Eggs per dozen .22 Lard per lb 07 Ham per pound .10 Pork, whole, per pound s .06 Beef, quarter, per pound.... .07 Wheat per bushel 1.00 Oats " " 30 Rye " " .50 Wheat flour per bbl 5.00 Hay per ton..: 12 to sl4 Potatoes per bushel, new,.... .80 Turnips " " .15 Onions " " 100 Sweet potatoes per peck .35 Tallow per lb .05 Shoulder " " .08 Side meat " " .08 Vinegar, perqt .05 Dried apples per lb .05 Dried cherries, pitted .12 Raspberries .12 Cow Hides per lb .3! Steer " " " .05 CalfSkin .80 Sheep pelts .75 Shelled corn per bus .50 Corn meal, cwt 1.50 Bran, " .85 Chop " .90 Middlings " .85 Chickens per lb new .08 " " "old 08 Turkeys " " 12J Geese " " .14 Ducks " " .08 COAL. No. 6, delivered .6o " 4 and s " 3 85 " 6 at yard a.35 " 4 and 5 at yard 3.60 The Leading Conserratory of America^- — CARL FABLTSN, Director. iCTOH* Founded i n 18S3 by 7 w t1)W V infonnation. W. H ALH, General Maaa(e& NEW DINING ROOHS. A LARGE and well furnished dining room has been opened bv uHDDV MIDAWn onlhe second floor of his "Anil I AUKAfIU, re s . laurant. Meals will he served at the regular dining hours for 25c. and they can also be obtained at any time. The table will be sup plied with the delicacies of the season and the service will be first-class. Entrance by deer between Restaurant and Malfaiera's £r:cery store. i; Wwitomk BcUadcrnio ; II PIoaW Lumbago \ by touching / /\v\ \ ' \ ; THE SPOT 11 PATENTS Cavoats and Trade Markß obtained, and aU Patent business conducted (or NODEUATK F OUH OFFICE IS OPPOSITE TIIK u. S. PAT. RNT OFFICE. Wo have uo sub-agenclee, al business direct, bonce can transact patent bust ness In less time and at. Less Cost than those re mote from Washington. Send model, drawing or photo, with descrlp tlon. We advise If patentable or not, free of charge. Our fee not due till patont Is secured A book, "How to obtain Patents," with refer ences to act uat client s In your Slate, County, o town sent free. Addross C. A. SNOW £ CO,, Washington, D. C. (Opposite U. 8 Patent omce.) FLOWERS! WaeE3sm pansies, NASTURTIUMS' SWEET PEAS, one Pkt. of wUV each variety for only D nf* a* iU IMmu sf Tw PHMdi Q Vl# Including DM copy of IMS Cstalofus and FWral ' >MI. >. MtWjWWT. M M WwaiSo.. IlliimjU.