If I Should Dlo First. If I tl© flmt, lot', 1 M thiil thittlktll IH, for hMttD ill not !• hrnv< u ~ Vatil It'* nharnl mtth the#- • • rnlil lt' shnrtd with th,lovt, I'll linger at th* gate. Or I* thy guaxlUn nn l. a T tcJi tliee how to **lt An<l when thine hour ehall ornir And thtough the yielding night I nee thy happy eplrlt I'paoring, role<I In light Mint filial I go garth to Die>t lltrv And through the eternal door i PAM In wi.h thee rejoicing, Madeoue, firv':-imiiv. Postage not Stated. 1 WHS tall, overgrown, and sixteen, with a prevailing consciousness that my hands and feet were very large, and the added mystery, in the case of the lor mer members, that they were always red, and I never knew what to do with them in company. 1 was making a visit 1 at grandmothers delightful, old-fash ioned country home, when one morning the dear old lady called me to her. "Here is something for you,.litn," she said: "an invitation to a children's party at Mrs. Edwards'.'' "Children's party!" I repeated, pro bably with a shade of scorn in ray voice ( as indicating that 1 was no longer to be placed in that juvenile category. "Not children exactly," corrected grandmother, with a smile at my mascu line dignity. "Young people. 1 should f have said. Mrs. Edwards daughter Florence i 3 fourteen, and Tom Byrne and all the boys—young men, I should say," with a twinkle of amusement, "will be there." I nad sundry misgivings that 1 should not enjoy the party at all, being as yet very much afraid of girls, though be ginning to admire them as mysterious and fascinating beings. However. Isc copied the invitation, as I found that all the boys 1 knew were going, and the party was to be quite a "swell affair for the village. When the evening came it found me with the rest, seated in a large parlor, very unhappy because of my arms and hands, which would by no means ar range themselves in any graceful or be | coming manner, and extremely basbful t but full of admiration for a lovely black _ eyed girl, about a year younger than myself, whom I knew to be Tom Byrne's sister. She sat some distance from me. but she had given me a sweet smile when I first csme in. and now from time to time cast glances at me which increased at once my bliss and my confusion. Various games were suggested and played, but they were of a quiet charac ter, such as "Twenty Questions," "Pro verbs," etc., so that I had no opportu nityof approaching any nearer to Mabel who showed herself very brilliant in he r questions and answers during the pro gress of these intellectual amusements. Then somebody suggested that we should play "post office." "Tost office! What is that? How do you play it?" 1 whispered to Tom [ Byrne, my next neighbor. "Don't you know how to play post office?" he asked, with a scorn at my ignorance. "Oh, well, 1 suppose you city fellows don't know anvthing." "1 never heard of this," I assented meekly. "Well, I'll tell you how it l: A girl asks for a letter for some boy, and then you have to ask how much postage, and if the says one cent you have to kiss , her once." "Oh r said I. "Yes," said Tom, "and you kiss her twice for two cents, and three times for three cenu. It's quite fun if il's'a pretty girl," he added judiciously. "I suppose so," I replied vaguely. "But I forgot to tell you," he added, "if she says 'postage not stated.' then you kiss her M often as you like. Husb! they are going to begin." To be sure one of the oldest boys wan • appointed postmaster, and one girl after another went out into the entry, each presently knocking at the door, asking for a lettre, whereon the boy called for sheepishly followed ber into the hall, and to judge from the sounds of scream ing and scuffling which generally fol lowed, paid his postage under consider able difficulties. I watched the game in a state of be wildered alarm. What if a girl should call for roe! But no one did,and I was half disappointed, half relieved, that I was exempt, when at last it was Mabel Byrne's turn to go out. She left the room with a lovely blush on her beautiful fao*. The door was solemnly cloaed upon her, and then, f after a brief pause, there was a faint knock. The postmaster opened the door a few inches. "What do yen want?" he asked. "There ia a letter here," she replied. "For whom?" "For Mr. James Hill." "How much to pay ?" ji "Postage not stated," was the faint reply. Th*y a'l laugh--1 loudly and locked at tae. fo; that was my name. The btrod rushed in crimson flood* to my face. I got on my feet somehow, and with my heart torn between a wild desire to go into that hull and a wish to sink utter ly away from human kind I stumbled out of the room. The door was closed behind me and I I found myself almost in darkness, as 'he hall WHS but dimly lighted. I paused a moment and then 1 heard the faint sound of quirk breathing; another heart WHS heating as violently a* my own. For once in my life 1 knew what to do with my arms. I caught hold of her, I scarcely know how. The dark ness gave mo the courage and I held her in close clasp and pressed my lips to her cheek in three or four rapid, half frightened kisses, before she could free herself from my embrace. "There, there! Mr. Hill," she said, with a faint merry laugh, "don't be so | bashful again. I'm sure you are bold ienough now !" „ "Have I piid my postage?" 1 stum I mered. "Indeed, yes; enough and to spare- Come, let us go to the parlor." She led me in a willing prisoner, and the rest of the evening I WHS her bound slave; her partner in all games, ber companion in the dance (wherein I ex celled the country boys and glorified in my accomplishment), and, at last, crowning delight of the evening, her escort home. This was all. The next day I return' ed to my home in the city, and Msble Byrne became only a memory; strong at first, fainter as the time went on, but sweet always. When 1 saw other girls 1 compared them mentally with the picture my imagination painted of Mable, and they never seeuied b*lf *o fair and sweet as she. But then 1 did not see many other girls. My bashfulness, instead of dimin. ishing, seemed rather to increase upon me as the years went by. I avoid) <1 society, and was so much of a recluse from the ladies that my mother was quite worried lest I should become a confirmed old bachelor. I'erhnps ore reason why I retained my diffidence was that my pursuits were among books, and not among people. 1 had made the science of geology my study, and at the age of twenty se?cn found myself in a comfortable position as assistant professor in one of our best colleges, the salary of which, with my own income added, making me so far at ease that 1 decided to devote my summer vacation to a tour in Europe. Equipped with bag and hamper. An gust found me making a pedestrian tour of Switzerland, with a special view to the study of it* glacial sv-tem anil lith' logy. I avoided the well trnv<-led way*, thus escaping the society of all other tourists, and I was therefore utterly | amazed when one evening, as i drew 1 near the little house which was my tem ! porarv abiding place a tall form --trode toward me out of the darkness, and a hearty voice cried out : "Jim ! Jim Hill!" "What is it?" I replied, with ha!', nervous start. "Ah ! 1 thought it was tny old friend. | Have you forgotten Tom Byrne? Of course not, for I had met him <• easionaily since we were boys, and I si heartily glad to sec my former comrade, always one of the best of companions "I saw your name on the 1-onk at the inn," he explained; "wa* sure it must be you. At any rale, 1 thought I would start out (o meet you." "But how came you here ?" 1 inquired, "in this out of the way corner of the world ?" "Because it is out of the way. Mable and I are making a trip in search of the picturesque. You know *he it quite an artist.'* So Mable wa* with bitn. My heart gave acurious thump,and for a moment ! could hardly make a sensible reply. "Yes," he went on, "she is so devoted to her art that it seems to quite absorb her life. She ha* not thought of mar riage, and does not care in the least for the ordinary run of society. She will be glad to see you, though, a* you are a man of science," he added, consul, ingly. We walked back together to the little inn, and presently I was shaking hands with a beautiful and stately woman, whose bright, dark eyes flashed with the intensity and Are that I had never I seen in any other eye* but those of i Mabel Byrne. I She greeted roe very cordially, and I after we three had taken an evening meal together, there followed a delight i ful evening in the little parlor which i Tom and his sister had secured. , For once in my life [ felt myself quite L at ease in a lady's society. In the first <i plsce there was Tom to keep me in countenance by a predominance of mg own sex in the com: my, then did not expect me to talk of airy notkt ing*, that 1 it foam of the ci*l wli r! pool which t had never yet been able to skim. She spoke first of my scientific t puisuits; she showed so much know? edge of the rubject that 1 really found i myself talking with an eajrm**tne>* and 1 entho*i*m of the formation of the country, and especially of the glacial *ysteni and the curious murk* of its action borne by the specimen* I had collected. She in turn contributed to the even ing'* interest by telling me of the work, and showing me her sketches, which were really of a very high order of arti* tic merit. There w* no school gir| weakne** in her handling of the brush, t>ut a force and poetic thought that had won her honorable recognition in the world of art. "And you hare never heard of Mabel's painting* until now?" said Torn. "So," I confessed. "You know I have been quite absorbed in my special studies." "Yes, unci you have not seen Mabel for ever so long, have you "So," 1 replied, "not since that sum mer ten years ago, hen I was at my grandmother's." ".lolly times we had. too," said Tom reflectively. "Do you remember that party at Mrs. Edward*'?" A sudden rush of blood to my face utterly confused rue. I stammered a re ply, and Tom, to my relief, went on with some rambling reminiscences. It was some second* before 1 dared to look at Muble. Surely she was blushing, too. The next morning we all went on a trip up the slope* of the mountain. Ma We was in a short gray suit, witli al pine hat, and stout boots, Tom carrying her drawing materials. Thus we made this, and many another, delightful ex pedition. I.ife took on new colors forme. There was a radiance and glory about it that 1 had never dreamed of before. Every day I found fresh reason for admiring my lieautiful companion, and our walks through the deep valley* and up the rough mountain side* were to me like enchanted journey* through a realm of fairies. In this loveliest country in the world, with this most glorious woman by my aide, I was, indeed, as one trans figured by the light of the grand pas sion tiiat took poaesion "f my soul. At first I knew not what had befallen me. I thought only that my pleasure in Mabel's society sprang from a -imil arity of taste* and pursuits, and the charm of her conversation ; but gradu. ally I woke to the overwhelming fact that 1 loved her with the one great love of my life, that seemed to me now to date from the day - of long ago, to have been alway* with me and to stretch out into the future to make it tranncen dently glorious, or a long despair. And yet as soon as i had learned my own -<•< ret. my former haehfolm -- • -.mr • l j back j>on me with tenfold intensity, ami I found myself oft- n emb rra--d in her presence, while *i the thought telling her my heart's s'ory. though m. brain wa smitten through withdmlinit debght at the dream ot tinful n ing, yet I was o overwhelmed that terance would, a* 1 w.i* * ire. I ■ • possibility. And Mabel Her eye a, kind to me. The turned to in softened lu-tre that liirilh-l n.<- hope, and vet, if I I" tempt, ! -• compliment I blu-hel. tbein-h-i- l <•> was lost. One evening we w. r- talkie • fs| manner of subject*. gr. • and •_*>. mid so strayed 'n marring - in general, .uei ; especially to the matrimonial lt ot *om of our old friend*. "You rememlier I'-oyd, don't you. Hill?" asked Tom "Tall, bashful fellow, like me?" i :added. "Yea," replied Tom. lnnghing. "He married Mi* '"tilting, our former school teacher. I alway* thought she proposed to him." "Senaible girl!" I exclaimed. "I pos itively think it a woman"* duty some tunes t help out. You remember that look of the late l>r. Horace Ilushnell, published some year* ago. called 'A Reform Against Nature?' In it he de nounced the whole woman's right* movement, hut maintained that every woman ought to have the right to pro pose marriage to the man he liked. I think he woa scientifically correct." I spoke with great eagerness, looking alway* at Tom ; but at the lost word* my glance turned to Mattel. Her eye* were fixed en mine, and the look 1 met 1 i there sent the blood to my heart with > such a swift, tumultuous rush that I 1 grsw faint with confusion, and present ly tushed out of the room ami to lied ' —though not to sleep. The next day I went out in the after. ' noon by myself for a scramble through 1 a damp and very rough gotge, where Tom and Mabel did not enre to accom. ' pany Ule. I waa half glad to he alone for I was nervoua over tny audacity of the night before ; yet at thought of Ma 1 bel'* kindly eyes, o overwhelmed with 1 blinding happiness, that I had to look r many time at a bit of rock before I could I* see the atrim tliat denoted glacial action. ' It wan late sunset when I reached the inn. The last rosy light was flushing > the distant mountain peaks with that i marvelous beauty which is one ot the wondrous charm* of Swiss scent tyu 1 I I made my way without pause lo Muif'.'s • : parlor, led thete by a force that i • to draw me bv a power beyond my (km i trol. The room was quite dusk and she was alone. As 1 entered she came to ward me with a quuntity of letters and paper* in her bunds. "These came while you were away," , she said. Mechanically I took the papers- ■ Among them there was a large package on which I dimly discerned the word "Hue," followed by an illegible stamp. I "You have paid something on this," 1 I said, "how much was it?" and looked up. "Postage not stated," replied Mabel. ! > Promptly, smilingly she uttered the word*. Then her dark eye* softened, and faltered. The paper* and letter* ! were scattered over the floor. I had caught her in my arm* with all the audacity that had been once before tnitte in boyish day*. Only now, a* I pressed passionate; kiises on her brow and lip*, I found j voice at last to utter the yearning that 1 was consuming my heart. Itoins of Interest. The little folks of Will amsport says , the Timet, by each donating a potato, ! presented to the Home for the Friend less over seventy bushel* within the past year. This is certainly an easy way to "raise jwitatoes," ami the home is willing that it should be repeated often. 1 welve million dollars worth of pro perty was burned up in the I'nited States in January. The losses by flood in February will hardly fall below this sum. If this sweeping gait of wet and dry misfortune is to he kept up for the balance of the year it will cut a big slice out of our profit*. The supreme court of lowa decides that a wife deserted by her hu*bund without her fault, and left with no mean*of providing for her young chil ' dren, has authority to sell tiie personal property of her husband to obtain 1 money.— Waihingtm Pre**. Iloston has a religjo philosophical society that believes that disease i caused by the absence of (iod from the body, and can be cured by the pa**.ige of the divine effluence from the well to the ick a* they sit with the r spinea in contact. It numbers among it* adher ents "people of influence and promin ( ence' and some whose name* are as familiar as household words." Treasurer Wvmsn of Washington, I>. <'., receive,! last week, from a bank in t'hio twoexprea* packages, each pur p ining to contain ll.tsk) in money. < m , i b--iiig opened one wa* found to contain | only $l7O and fbe other mend) i*o | •mall p.. ce* of ordinary flannel. It i *ap|*,-e i that the money was stolen either l*,fore shipment or in transport# • ie.,. liuvidson, chief clerk of the ; -ii i,ii <• department, I'nitcd States j .. •• n.otnd at 'Tin ago in l*7'.and *. *rre*ted lat week on the • ihr.'!;ng $ .i-00 during the , n clod Dsvhl* -n confessed his .It -ii t v held in 1 .ill at f-.'ssi for t id. \mong the journal* recently-tarted : in tierrnuny i* a comic paper called M lfi llet. t'oiirit Manski, who blew out his brains at M<>nio('arlo recentl), v well i known on the houlevsrds in Paris, lie ' lost a hundred thousand francs at the gaining table in one night. Die But lone Pnsl says; Two young doctors were recently comparing noire t in the office of a well-known hotel in this city, and one of them was beard to **y : "In u case of thai kind you use (a certain drugi and it will have (a cer tain effect) or ft won't, 1 am not aure which!' " The Syracuse .S lan.lurj relates that a lady now living at Sodut Village, Wayne county, at the age of GO year*, is the mother of two tons and four daughters, the grandmother of 18 children, and great grandmother of two, and has bad eight son in laws, four of whom are living. Senator Vest writer* on the question of prohibition to a friend in Clay county i Mo., thus: Where the people of any community *r overwhelmingly in i favor of no license dramshops, the law i is always a success ; but in a common ity wiiere public opinion is equally divided or agxinst the law the result is | always a disregard of the statute and a mean evasion of it* provisions." An exchange say* it i a puzzle to 1 many why on oroe piece* ofsilver money ' directly under theeagle appear* a small * , other* an o„ others c. c„ and otliet* ' without such mark. It shows nt what r mint the money was stamped, S. stand* for Ran Francisco, for New Orleans, c i c, for Carson City, and at the Philadel phia mint the money is not marked. I A medical man in California give* a curious prescription as a safeguard ' againstama l|iox when he says; "Place ! one ounce of cream of tartar in sixteen 1 ounce* of water and take a tablespoon ' full three times a day, and you may sleep with a small pox patient with per -1 (V> t impunity. If every citizen would > do this for fifat u days tb< re would lie i en e id of #>t .illpox in any city. Excelsiop. M'f'g Co. j (xi'cat Closing Out Sale OF ! uiDjannD J ■ AT AM) RFLO If COST. 77/ F ENTIRE STOCK MUST JiF SOLO lIF OA K DI. ESS OF COST TO QUIT BUSINESS. Big Bargains in Suits! | FOR MEN FROM s'!.> UPWARDS ROYS AND YOUTH'S SUITS ALMo I GIVEN A WAY. CHILDREN'S CLOTH INO WAY DOWN. OVERCOATS FROM s'l.oo UPWARDS, ALL WOOL MENS PANTS FROM $2 5" UP WARDS. THIS STOCK OF CLOTHING MUST POSITIVELY RE SOLI) REGARDLESS OF COST. TAKE NOTICE, Ky e H' tl,OO invested in purchases at our Store will be entitled to ' ANCE I ICKKT to win either of the two handoome GIFTS to drawn by the lucky numbers which ONE AND ALL have the nam chance to possess. Ist. Prize. One Handsome Bedstead, poplar wood, beautifully finished; Dou" < Enclosed Wash Bland : Teapoy Table; one beautiful French Drc-** German I 'late Gla>* 17x30; tbree Caue Seat (.'hairs: one Cane He:,; R>ckiiig Chair; one Towel Rack. (Top of Dresser, Wash Htand, Ti.i poy Htand, imitation Tennessee Marble.) 2<l Prize. One beautiful BnweU eejrercd Walnul Frame l/ounge. KEYSTONE CLOTHING- HOUSE, Sign Bed Flag. Beliefoni, J'o. HECIILER it CO., Grorrre, Ilunh Iloune Block, BeUefontc. /'<. NEW GOODS FOR TITE SPRING and SUMMER TRADE!' Wc have endeavored to get the very best of every thing in our liue. and no have some really CHOICE GOODS. FINE CREAM CHEESE, Extra Large FRENCH PKINEv SEE EC T 0 VS TERS, S WEE T PO TA TOES. LARGE RIPE CRANBERRIES, PRUNELLES, IMPERIAL EI OS. BRIGHT NEW LEMONS, FLORIDA ORANGES, Prlnwts Pupcr-Ma-ll Almonds. Evaporated BRIER PEACH EN A FULL LINE OF CHOICE CANNED FRUITS. PRESERVED PEARS, PEACHES, PLUMS and PRUNELLES. PLAIN C ANDIES, FINE CONFECTIONERY, —AND— GOODIES of all Sorts and Kinds Bar We invite the people of Centre county to call and inspect our NICK GOODS, which cannot fail to please. i-*f BECHLER & CO. Doll ,f Mingle--Boot* -f I hoe* JDS ii DDDD Boot or Shoe - TRY - FOR Style, Quality and Cheapness• ' Wc defy all competition. Wc have the largest stock—and bought for cash and sell 10 per cent, cheaper than any store in the county. *ny- 0V R SPEC IA L TIE S. "*• , j , REYNOLDS iIRO'B., Ulica and D. ARMSTRONG'S Rochester shoes for Ladies, Misses and Children. Ilat hit way Houle and Harrington Fine Shoes for Men. LIEISITIEIRI IBIOIOITIS, TUB: KING OK THE MARKET. Wo have a Shoe Polish which will not crack the Loathe as eood as the best and only 15c. DOLL A MINGLE. Belle fonto, Pa. % -A
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers