fc I: 10 cone over me with addc d force, and I sprang forward and grasped his hand. "Welcome," welcome, old man! I am de lighted to have you aaicng us." He smiled rather coldly and seated him self. I touched a butio n. lighted a cigar and drew a chair to the opposite side of the fireplace. "Permit me," I began rather nervously, "to congratulate you upo n yonr success. I knew it must come to yon in time." "Excuse me," he retu rned, "you knew nothing of the kind. In fact, you had be gun to look upon me as a permanent failure. Stat I told you one night .last summer that wealth was within my grasp. Tou doubted xne then. Tou did not fullv realize that four parts of Ampere to one of "Hamerton is the iormula for the Philosopher's Stone." "Great Heaven, Jtodney, you don't mean to tell me that you have carried into practice your strange theory regarding electric currents? I can't believe it." He stood up and leaned against a table, his hands behind him. "This is my first visit to the club," he aid. "You just rang for a boy did you not?" "Yes." "He has never seen mc, of course. "Watch him when he comes in. "We were alone in the smoking room, and for a few moments there was silence, except for the jolly jarkling of the fire. A bov in unilorm entered the apartment. "Two ponies of curacoa," I said to him. He did not hear me. "With a strange smile on his face, he was looking at ltod ney. "Two ponies or curacoa," I repeated. The boy paid no attention to me, but slowly approached Eodney, like a rabbit fascinated by an anaconda. I now believe that Rodney reduced the forceof the current at that instant, lor Buttons came to his senses with a start. "Yes, sir vou want? You want?" He was still lookms at liodney, who re peated my order, and again were we left alone. I was more amused than astonished at the time, though since then I have pondered day and night over the details of Rodney's magnetic tievice. The only thing that I ever learned regarding his methods was that in attracting a person he always held at least one hand behind him, while in re pelling anyone he kept both hands before .him. Perhaps scientists can make a better use of these bare facts than I can. Jtodney resumed his seat and looked into the fire, as he calmly puffed a perfecto. He did not seem to care whether or not X was impressed by his power, and actually paid so attention to my comments on his recent performance. I watched him closely. There was a shadow on his face, and a strained look about his eyes, as though his effort to attract the waiter bad been made at the expense of a a certain amount of nervous force. "Well. Kodney," I said, after a time. "I snp pose that now that you have achieved wealth and fame vou are perfectly happy." He looked at me and smiled rather sadly. No, my boy. I'm not happy. I once thought that money and glory were all that are needed to make a man contentud. Bat, it seems, there is always one thing required to complete our existence. 'Alan never is, but always to be blest.' The one thing necessary we neverget-" He sipped his liquor musingly. "And in your case.that one thing is,-at pres ent T" "A certain woman." I was astonished. "You mean you mean that you're in love," I faltered. Yes, that's it. I'm in love. God help mel" "Well, if your recent manifestation of mag. tietie power finds co obstacle in sex, 1 am suro I would back your chances of winning any woman in the world." "That's the very point." be exclaimed. "Sex makes no difference to my device, and so I find tnyself undergoing the most terrible tempta tion a man ever endured." "What do you meant-' "Just this. When I found last summer that 1 conld make men or women love me or bate me as I chose. 1 had no scruples about taking advantage of my power. It made no impres sion tiDon mv conscience that I could so im press a capitalist that he would Invest money in behalt of my sight for rifles. Was he not to be a gainer in the end? 'What did I care that by the use of my electro-magnetic apparatus I could fascinate a man and make him engage me to run his business? He obtained more benefit from the arrangement than I did. "Why, in short, should I lose my self-respect if I obtained from the world that which was my due? I was simply repairing the defects with which nature had Handicapped me. And so I went on from triumph to triumph, making money, fascinating men, manipulating my electric current so that it would fill my pocket. Behold the result! From poverty I am raised to affluence, from an insignificant individnal I have become a famous man; I have my luxuri ous apartments, my horses, my clubs, and I dress and lire as well as though I bad never known the narrow affairs of the Kast Side. All this is the result of a simple invention which enables me to make any man my friend." "And yet you are not content," I suggested as he paused. "No, Unfortunately my scientific experi ment has shown roe that I bave a conscience. l)o you Margaret Durand?" "Yes. I am going to her reception to-night." "So am I. Well, my dear boy, I love her. I lore ber with a purity and intensity that no man ever yet showed for a woman. Why? Because I have it in my power to fascinate her, to win ber, and I will not give way to the temptation. Do you follow me? I could in an instant place myself above all men In her re gard, but I scorn to take advantage of my power. She must love me naturally, not scien tifically. I could make ber as docile to my will as the waiter who came to us awhile ago, but would that be lair to ber? Would Htich a course result in happiness to either of us?" I puffed on in silence for a time. Never be fore had I had such a subtle problem in ethics presented to me. Had the temptation been mine, I know right well that I should have em ployed every influence in my power to win the woman of my love, but I could not undertake to solve snch a question for a friend. Ashe seemed to expect me to speak, however, I said: "You have never used the means at your dis posal, then, to win her?" "As 1 told you, no." "Do you think that, laying aside the manipu lation of currents, you could attract her?" "No." What makes you think sof '.'Look at me. Am I a man that would be likely to please such a woman?" "Yon might affect some women." I answered honestly, "but not Margaret Durand. As they say in society, you are "not ber style.' " "You are right, my boy. Thank you for re plying to me with so much frankness. But J lace yourself for a moment in my position, can win ber consent to our marriage by the slightest effort. You have no conception of The power 1 now wield. If I was a bold, bad man no family in the city would be safe for an Instant if 1 chose to destroy its peace. Am X, then, to deny myself the only thing I crave be cause of a sentimental regard for that thread bare m ord 'honor?1 " He arose from his chair and walked up and down the room in a manner which recalled to me our last meeting. "But," I said, "you know as well as I do that a union under such circumstances would not be ultimately happy. Suppose, for instance, that some day you forgot to keep with vou your de vice, design, invention, contrivance, or what ever you call it. Where would you be then?" He stopped in his walk and looked at me earnestly. "Thank you for those words. They bave made a man of me. I lore ber too well to take advantage of ber. She shall love me for my self alone, or not at all. I am willing to tap men with my electro-magnetic apparatus, but! shall not trust to it for a life companion. O Margaret, I worship you. If I win you not, death shall be my portion. Bat I shall play a square game. Rest content. Nature shall al ways direct your current. I shall not tamper with it." I sprang up and grasped bis hand. "There is something in you," I exclaimed, "more than pertains to the average electrical expert. In fact. I believe you are a man. You are worthy a thousand Margaret Durands." "Bather an Oriental idea, isn't it?" be re turned, smiling. "But we must be off, if we are going to the reception." I shook hands with him at the corner of the street, and went home to dress for the evening. I felt as though I bad a cllmpso of something unnatural. There was no doubt that Marcus liodney had suddenly wen wealth and no toriety. Furthermore. I had seen him dazzle a menial and I could not deny that he possessed the power he claimed. And Margaret Durand. Alas, a beautiful girl ! I myself bad been fas cinated by ber and had even gone so far as to offer her my hand, which she bad gently and firmly rejected. Would she fall a prey to this terrible man. who had analyzed the world into currents, and had profited by the analysis? I hoped not Much as I liked Marcas Rodney I could not honestly wish him success in his affaire du cceur. Hurriedly completing my toilet, I lighted a cigarette, rushed down stairs, called a cab, and a few momenta later drew up in front of a brilliantly lighted house in Madison avenue, in front of which a hundred vehicles-were stand ing. I joined the stream of guests entering the mansion, and finally managed to pay my re spects to the daughter of the host, Margaret Durand. She looked unusually beautiful that eight. Her red lips, her clean-cut features and her raven black hair formed a picture which almost awakened in me the old affection. "May I bave a moment with you later?" I asked as I passed along with the throng. "If you won't talk nonsense, you may," she answered, showing a set of exquisite white teeth. An hour later I was seated in frost of her In x reared corner. "Has Mr. Rodney comer I asked. "I really don't know." she answered indiffer ently and looking me full in the face. "He'll have to turn on the current to its high est limit to win this girl," I said to myself, as I gazed into her honest eyes. "Good evening. Miss Durand" said a deep voico behind me; and turning, I saw Marcus Rodnoy. He looked remarkably well in a dress suit. His figure seemed to have lost its un gainliness, and his strong face looked almost ornamental in a drawing room. Miss Darand arose and held out her hand. He took it crJmly, and I gave him my seat and moved awar. For the first time in such a gathering, I found m.self ill at ease. Old friends spoke to me. and t answered as though I had never known tuem. Mv thoughts were with Marga ret Durand and Rodney. Had he brought his apparatus with him? Would he use it? Would she succumb before the power of his unfair device? Such questions as these worried me for a long time. Finally 1 returned to the little room in which I had left my friend and his beloved. Margaret had disappeared, but Rod ney was still there. Never have 1 seen such a look on a man's face as his countenance at that moment held. His cheeks were pale, and beneath his staring eyes were deep tints of black. His white lips looked dry and feverish, and he stared into vacancy like a man bereft of reason, I managed to get him out of the bouse with out attracting attention, and we walked many blocks in silence. He leaned upon my arm as though he bad wholly lost his strength, and I in pity supported him. At length he whis pered: "Thank Heaven, I didn't turn on the current! I'm a man yet." "You proposed to her, then?" "Yes. 1 asked her to be my wife. She re fused. She said she did not care lor me. What could I do? I had it in my power to make her worship me. and I restrained myself. O, my friend, never was a man so tempted. Her lips, are so red! Her eyes are so bright! Her hair is so black! Her current must be one of tre mendous force. And, look you, 1 have never even discovered which way it flows. All I know is that she does not like me by nature. I can not, no. I cannot take a mean a scientific advantage of her. Good God, I wish I were dead!" With these rather trite words he seemed to recover his energy, for he broke from my grasp and rushed away in the darkness. CHAPTER HI. Two nights later I was sitting in a box at the theater with Margaret Darand. The house was crowded, and the play, a famous American comedy, kept the audience in a tumult of, laughter and applause. But my vis-a-vis seemed out of spirits. She watched the play listlessly and seemed more inclined to carry on a whispered conversation with me than to follow the intricacies of a most amusing piece. Toward the end of the third act I saw her start and turn red, as she caught sight of a tall, imposing figure standing near the main en-, trance. I followed her gaze and recognized Rodney, "grand, gloomy and peculiar" as usual. "A great man, Rodney," X whispered. She looked at me coldly and said: "Yes?" "Yes. A man of wonderful force. Every bodv admires him." "Not everybody," she returned quickly. "Your statement is too sweeping." "But is be not extremely popular? He is called 'the success of the season" "I grant you that." Then in a lower tone "Everybody seems to like him. 1 wonder why I don't." "A case of currents." I had it on my lips to say. but suppressed the words in time. "Perhaps," I suggested, "you And him too earnest." "Much so. I wish he would not stand there. He has seen us, and I can't bear his gaze." She drew her chair back out of range of Rodney's view. Here was a mystery. Evidently the man had a peculiar effect upon ber. She felt so strong a repugnance for him that she bad given ex pression to it with more frankness than good taste. As we left the theater our little party passed Rodney, who was standing in the lobby. Miss Darand bowed coldly to him. and he returned her salutation in almost an ominous way. I did not like the expression on his face. He had glanced at me with an angry gleam in bis haggard eyes, and I knew be oovled me my present position. We returned to the Durands to sapper, and Margaret gradually grew more cheerful. Once in awhile, however, a cloud would pass over her beautiful face, and I felt intuitively that she was thinking of Rodney. As the party broke up, she took me aside and Earn: "Will you do me a great favor?" "Willingly. There is nothing I would not do for you." "You once asked me to marry you. I want you to renew that offer." I was astonished, and for a moment lost con trol of my nerves. My body trembled, and 1 was obliged to seat myself on a sofa. The proposition was so unexpected, so unusual, that 1 felt a surprise which made me speech es. Margaret seated herself beside me, and pale and motionless, awaited my answer. We were alone for the moment, and turning I clasped her in my arms. "My darling, you have made me the happiest man in the world. Kiss me. Tell me you love me. You love me?" "I don't know," she answered, disengaging herself from my embrace. "I like you better than other men, and I want to be engaged to you, I am tired of having men I detest pro pose to me." I was not thoroughly pleased with this inter pretation of ber feelincs, but there was no time to say more, as the guests bad gathered in the hall and were making their adieux. "Come to ma in the morning," whispered Margaret, and I promised her that I would. "Good-night, my fiance."were her last words, and I stepped forth into the darkness a be wildered but happy man. I wandered about the streets for two houis in a curious state of mind. When Margaret Durand had refused me I had been desperate for a time, but per haps because my current is so "adaptable," I bad fully recovered, and had allowed onr in tercourse to rest on the basis of friendship. Now I was obliged to fall in love with her again. It was not a very difficult task, but I regretted that I did not 'have that control of my own electric flow that Marcus Rodney pos sessed. The light of approaching day had begun to glimmer in the East when I threw myself upon my bed, worn oat with the struggle of conflict ing emotions. I was up again at 11 and hur ried to a jeweler's. The handsomest engage ment ring the store held was soon mine, and I drove at once to Madison avenue. Margaret received me with a silent pressure of the hand. She looked pale and her eyes were heavy for lack of sleep. She smiled sadly, almost list lessly, as I placed the ring upon her linger and kissed her lips, less red than usual, to seal our betrothal. "I am afraid." she faltered, "that you will think I have been unwomanly." "Don't say that, Margaret. You do yourself a wrong. A slave who has received his free dom would be ungenerous to harbor unkind thoughts of his benefactor. I love you, and you have promised to be mj wife. That one reflection is all that my mind has room for now." She smiled compassionately. 'I want you to do something for me to-day," she said. .. "Willingly later on." I placed my arm around her, waist and felt no inclination to move. I was delighted to observe that the re adjustment of the currents was going forward in a most satisfactory manner. "Yes later on," she murmured. "I want you to see Marcus Rodney and tell him that j ou and I are engaged, will you?" I was surprised at tho request and rather dreaded the task she had set me.l "Must I tell him to-day?" I asked feebly. "Please do. I want him to know at once. For for 1 am afraid of him. I hate bun. But be is a peculiar man. He is one of those ob stinate creatures who never know when they are beaten. He would not permit the woman he loved to become a sister to him." I started as though my current, which was flowing in the right direction, had snddenly been reversed. "What do you mean to imply?" I asked, rising and looking at ber with offended pride in my eyes. "Sit down, dear." she exclaimed, springing up and throwing ber arms around my neck. "I bave never been anything to you but the girl you love, have 1? And I am going to be your wife." Her arguments were irresistible. 1 resumed my seat and had the eminent pleasnre of knowing that the currents had not been per manently disarranged by my ebulition of temper. How the next few hours were passed it is needless to recount. This is not a tale of pas sion but of science. Suffice it to say that when I left Margaret late in the afternoon I was willing to beard a thousand Rodneys in their dens. There is nothing like lovo for a woman to make a man brave. As I was sworn to inform Rodney of our be trothal at once I hastened to the club. He was always tbero for afew moments before his din ner hour. As I went up tbe steps, I saw him standing alone at one of the windows. His face had a gloomy, almost despairing, ex pression, and he paid no attention to my nod. "How are you, old man?" I asked as I joined him. "Not very well," he returned gruffly. "But you look chipper enough. I suppose the market turned yous way to-day." not exacuy. xnavent oeen to tne street. but a little flyer I took yesterday panned out exceedingly well to-day." There was something in my tone which aroused bis suspicions. He looked at me sharply, and the peculiar power of his queer eyes almost made me abandon my design. "I willprocrastinate," I said to myself. "Have yon made any engagement for dinner, Rodneyf "No.'' "Well, dine here with me. Excuse me a moment. I will go and give the order." He bowed silently and I left him. We had very handsome dinner. I wanted to beret In him a condition of rood numor be. J fore I broke to him a piece of news which I re THE alized would place me In an unpleasant posi tion. By tbe time we had reached the salad his face had begun to brighten a Wit. If a man in lore, I reflected, can manage to preserve his appetite he is not likely to break bis heart. A well-filled stomxeh seems to keep tho organ of the affections intact. "Everything is going well with you in a busi ness way?" I asked toward the end of tbe dinner. "Yes. I will be a millionaire in three months." "You look tired, old man. why don't you run over to Europe for the winter?" "You know right well wby I don't. It is un kind of you to ask such a question." "But," I returned, "your affaire is at an end." There was a lump in my throat, but I Marrarct Durand." He burled his glass to tbe floor in a rage. His face wasgnastly, and his eyes met mine with a look which made me also turn pale. "Traitor' he exclaimed, "you shall pay for this. Am I a man to be trifled with? Do you think I shall permit you to marry the woman I love? Hereafter, sir, we are strangers." He rose, drew himself up to bis full height and stalked out of the room. I sat for a time at the table, wondering what would be the outcome of all this. I was afiald of the man, not for myself, but because I dreaded the effect of bis confounded electric device upon Margaret, I knew that my words had destroyed his scruples regaring the appli cation of his scientific fascinations to the ob ject of our mutual affection. It was evident that Margaret harbored a vague suspicion that Rodney could overcome her will if be tried.and it was this fear which bad led her to take the pecnliar step she had in my case. He must not see her again, I argued. My only safety lies in preventing a meeting between them. I must go to her at once. "Mr. Rodnpy paid for the dinner, sir, as ho went out," I was informed when I stopped to settle my score. With his words "you shall pay for this." ringing in my ears I had to laugh at tbe incon sistency of my rival's speech and deeds. I was annoyed, too. To have a guest pay for a meal to which I bad invited him proved that his hostility would stop at nothing in its search for revenge. I walked hastily up toward Margaret's home. It was a cool, clear night and the bracing air somewhat restored my equilibrium. "Is Miss Durand in?" I asked nervously at the door. i "No; she has gone to agerman at the Olney's, sir." This was strange. She had said nothing to me regarding such a purpose. I had pictured her to myselt talking bver her engagement to her mother and, perhaps, taking ber father into the secret. Once in a while in these days parents are informed of a girl's betrothal al most as soon as her intimate friends. How ever, as I had been invited to the Olney's, I decided to seek her there and ask for an ex planation. I stopped a passing hansom and rolled up town. My mind was oppressed with vague misgivings. I held Margaret by such a slight bond for I knew that she did not love me as 1 wished to be loved that I was not pleased at tho outlook. Now that Rodney had taken the warpath with bis current-controllingapparatus I felt almost helpless. All is fair in love, they say, but this rather unprincipled dictum was laid down before electricity was known toman. My fevered brain employed itself in drafting a measure to be introduced at the next session of tbe Legislature making it a misdemeanor for anyone to win the affections of a woman by any machine, device or contrivance not readily obtainable by tbe public at large. "We'll have a nickel-in-tbe-Blot courting machine yet," I muttered bitterly as the cab drew up in front of the Olney's. Tbe great bouse was crowded and the cotillion bad not yet begun. I said a few words to the hostess, and then began my search for Margaret. A few moments later I caught sight of .her leaning against a door and talking to a barmless youth of 20 who had al ready become blase. At the same instant I saw Marcus Rodney enter the front drawing room and greet tne nostess. By some strange impnlse, 1 decided to defer my talk with Margaret, keep myself ins the background and watch Marcus Rodney's maneuvers. CHAPTER IV. Unless a man is a boor it is impossible for him to do just as he pleases. at a social gather ing. While I stood watching -Margaret and Rodney, who had not yet seen each other, I felt a light touch on my arm. Turning I met tho smiling glance of my hostess. "Let us find you a partner for the cotillion," she said. "As one of tbe best dancers in the city, we cannot spare yon-" I was far from 'being pleased with ber sug gestion, but saw at once that there was no es cape. A few meinents later, therefore, I was seated beside a vapid young woman who seemed to feel that she had snared a prize. She smiled arid chattered in a way wnich chilled me and convinced me that her current and mine would never flow in the same direction. Margaret, with the blase youth by her side, was seated near tbe bead of the line. Rodney, who did not dance, stood in the shadow of the portiere at tbe end of tbe room. There is going to be a delightful german," simpered my partner. "I fear so if I can't prevent," I answered, absently, looking towards Rodney. "Wby, what do you mean?" she asked. "0, excuse me! I didn't quite catch your remark. Yes, yes. you are right." I felt that tho girl was wondering at my strange demeanor; and so drfwmyself together and paia stricter attention to ner ceaseless talk. But I could not get my mind off tbe drama which was passing before my eyes. I knew that Rodney was watching Margaret and myself, and I could not discover whether my fiancee had seen cither me or my rival. She had not looked toward me. and she seemed to be unconscious of Rodney's presence. "What a beautiful girl is Margaret Durand," remarked my vis-a-vis. rather enviously. "Yes. and he knows it!" "He? Who?" "He. They. Anybody. Everybody. Seer' Again my partner gazed at me in surprise. She had began to think that I had been taking too much wine, I suspect, for her high spirits suddenly deserted her. The orchestra at that moment struck up a waltz and the cotillion bad begun. Margaret and ber partner sat next to the leaders, and soon afterward I was dancing with my fiancee, who had loyally given me ber first favor. "Why haven't you spoken to me?'' she whis pered. . "Why are you-here?" I returned. "Because I wanted just one last dance before I was laid on the shelf." she answered rebelli ouslv. VWon'tyou forgive me?" "Of course I will," and I drewher a bit closer to me than the etiquette of the waltz strictly warrants. At that instant we passed the portiere at the end of the room. "Good heaven! There's Mr. Rodney' ek claimed Margaret in an agitated tone. "Didn't you tell him what you promised tor "Yes. And it wasn't an easy bit of work, either." As I left her at her seat I saw that she was quite pale, and I returned to my place fore bodingly. "Why is it that some men dance so much .better than others?" asked my partner, who had just been waltzing with a clumsy youth. "Jjurrents, I suppose," was my reckless reply. Fortunately it was our turn to dance at that moment, and I managed to escape the worst effects my random answer might havo pro duced. "O, there's Mr. Rodnov at the end of the room," exclaimed Miss Loquacious when we were again seated. "He's snch a striking look ing man! I bave only met him once.'' but I was fascinated with him. It is too bad be doesn't dance." "He does," 1 said. "He dances on men and women." "What a queer man you are!" exclaimed my puzzled partner. As the german went on. I began to hope that my vague rears regardingRodney's course were groundless. I danced with Margaret several times and found that she bad regained a thor ough command of her nerves. Nevertheless, Rodney did not stir from his .place near the portiere, and tbe attention be had began to at tract seemed to make no lmoressiou on him. The hostess stood at his side for a few mo ments, and several men went over and shook bands with him. Still ho stood there, like an avenging spirit, cold, motionless, inflexible. At one time I caught bis eje, and in bis gaze was no anger but contempt. This circumstance' gave mo food for thought. Wby had his feel ings toward me so suddenly changed? "What did the leader say to you about the next figure?" asked my partner. "He thought I was lying." I remarked quick ly, as the explanation of Rodney's change of mood came into my mind on tbe instant "Dance please," said the leader to us at that, moment, and again I was able to escape the consequences of my lapsus linguae. The strain I was under had begun to wear upon me. I had not bad my usualamount of sleep tbe previous night, and I realized by tbe ragged manner of my dancing that I was "played out." as the saying goes. Under Such circumstances, tbe position I was in be came torture. I watched Margaret closely. How beautifnl she was! I loved her more passionately every moment. I longed to stand up and cry out: "Move on, gentlemen. Miss Durand belongs to me." To sit there in such a state of mind, and see that electro-magnetic hawk poised to swoop down on his prey was agony. I alternated between hope and fear. Perhaps he would not get a chance to speak to her; perhaps be did not bave bis device with blm; perhaps, if he thought that I had lied to him, he would defer his experiment until a more convenient time. On the other hand,' why did he come to a dancing party? And having come, why did he not "more onr' What did he mean by standing in the shadow of a curtain, like' a stage assassin, making himself conspicuous, and worrying Margaret and me. It was not until the first intermission that I obtained any surcease from these tantalizing questions. As I passed through the ball with my partner on my arm, I saw Rodney going upstairs, "Ah." thought I, "he has given up the contest for to-nnrht. He is roinir wit." . xeifc lute a new man. .jay spirits returned, ana he nonsensical little creature at ay side ?s PJTTSBUKG- DISPATCH, seemed to feel my change of mood, for ber voice no longer trembled when she asked me a question. "Rodney has taken his leave," I whispered to Margaret, and she smiled cheerfully in return. The joyous notes of a waltz resounded through the house, and in my delight I grasped my partner about the waist and whirled her to her' seat. I enjoyed myself Immensely for a time. I was fond of dancing, and, being popular, re ceived many favors. With a fickleness which has always pertained tomydlsposition. I forgot all about Rodney, all about fatigue and lack of sleep, and remembered only that Margaret was mine, that music and beauty and sweet odors affected my senses, and, like a lotos eater. I abandoned myself to the moment's pleasure with an enthusiasm that threw my foolish little partner into ecstacies. "Stop flirting," said Margaret to me during a figure, and I frowned playfully, as though she bad wronged me. O, Youth and Health and Pleasure, what gods ye are"; my mind cried out. Whatcare I for men with electro-magnets concealed up their sleeves, as though they wonld cheat the world if they could. Such men cannot dance. Such men must skulk away as the fun grows apace and eat out their wicked hearts in solitude. Currents, did you say? What cur rents do we need that tbe hot blood, the gleam ing eyes, tbe full, flushed cheeks do not beget? Currents! Reserve them for the telegraph, the telephone, tbe cable, kill men with them if you like, but come not to us and measure love by volts and carry barred in dynamos. Such triumphant thoughts filled my brain as tbe mnsic ceased, and I motioned a waiter to bring us some lemonade. The german was well led, the favors were handsome, and I could see by the expression on Margaret's face that she was enjoying to the uttermost ber last ap- Jearance in the world as a girl heart-free. As sat sipping tbe cool drink and listening to the gossip of tbe girl at my side, suddenly Marcus Rodney appeared at the opposite doorway. "Good God!" I exclaimed, and my partner jumped as though I had struck her. Straight across-the room strode my rival, and I observed with dismay that he held both bands behind him. I could not stir. To have made a scene would have been absurd. "Per haps be has no evil intentions," I thought. "Perhaps bis bands are at his back from force of habit. Perhaps but no. He makes straight for Margaret Heavens, what shall I do? What can I do?" Was ever a man placed in such a position as I held at that moment? I knew that my fiancee was passing from me. that a power greater than any I could bring to bear bad ber in its grasp, and there I sat compelled to sip lemon ade and talk nonsense to a light-headed gtrL Rodney stopped in front of Margaret and smiling said a few words to her. I endured the tortures of the damned. Fori could see that she was strangely affected, though the expres sion on her face was one of repugnance. His will was stronger than hers, however, for she arose and took his arm. Then boldly down the center of the room they walked together. What conld I do? The apartment seemed to be going around in a circle, and the men and women before me seemed to dance about as though they mocked me. I seized my partner's lemonade and swallowed it at a gulp. Perhaps she would have had me arrested had not a cry of dismay at that instant rung through the house, I recognized tho voice. It was Mar garet's. I rushed down the room and tore back the Eortiere behind which Rodney and Margaret ad disappeared. As I did so my fiancee fell' fainting into my arms. Uaid.ber upon a sofa, ran for water, and upon my return found that she had regained her senses. "Mr. Rodney?" she said to me convulsively as I came up. "He is dead," remarked someone in the crowd, and Margaret again fainted. It was true. Marcus Rodney was dead, and no one, not even Margaret Durand, ever knew, what killed him. Do I? you ask. Perhaps, thongh I am not a scientist Is it not well nigh certain that by adding to his natural affection for Margaret a scientific one produced by his device be overtaxed tbe powers of his heart? I leave the answer to older heads than mine. On his monument I have bad the sculptor carve an electro-magnet a broken heart and tne letters "li. .E. u." , The End. Copyrighted, 1889. HOW A BEAE CAUGHT IE0DT. Two Catsklll Hunters Failed to Capture the Fisherman As the Ulster and Delaware Railroad loco motive goes puffing and snorting in its stiff climb over the horseshoe curve just above the village of Pine Hill. N. Y one of tbe last cot tages seen by the .handkerchief-waving city folks is Bonnie View. A famous Utile trout stream gurgles along within a tew feet of the house and nnmerous speckled beauties disport within its limpid depths. " Just back of Bonnie House a sort of a dam has been'erected. in which were placed a week or ten days ago over r. hundred good-sized trout In visiting the dam the following morn ing it was discovered that a raid had been made on the fish, and that the despoller had not only made way with over a score of the largest trout, but that -he had discarded a dozen or more smaller ones and left them high and dry in the bushes near by. Further search develcped tbe fact that the trespasser was a four-footed rather than a two-footed desperado, as the tracks of a large species of animal were discovered in the soft ground near the edge of tbe dam. Two hunters secreted themselves behind a pile of wood the next evening to watch for the thief or thieves, but they waited in vain. The next night they watched again, and this time their perseverance was rewarded. At ahnnt in o'clock a good-sized bear came shuffling out of tbe woods and without a break made direct for tbe dam. It pnt in its big paw and scooped up a truutwbich it ate with an apparent relish, but it did not wait for more. They became so excited at the sight of a Catsklll Mountain bear that both fired prematurely at the brute. It immediately turned tail and ran for the dense '.underbrush on the side of the mountain near by. EOPES FOE HANGING MEN. The Making of Hempen Nooses nn Industry of St. Lonls. Et Louis Republic. I dropped into an uptown stationery store the other day. It was one of those stores that outfit banks and county offices throughout tbe coun try, a store where everything from a steel pen up to a 40-quire blank book is kept for sale. Tbe house has a dozen traveling salesmen on tbe road. A clerk in the store was filling an order just received from one of the salesmen. Going to the elevator chute in the rear of the store he yelled to a clerk or porter on one of the upper floors: "Jimmy, send me down two hangman's ropes." Jimmy responded and in a few minutes down he came with the ropes. "Now. those are daisies." he said, turning to Tbe Man About Town. "Yon wouldn't have thought that wo sold ropes to hang men, would you ? See here," and he took ono-of the ropes from the neat little paper box in which it was coiled, "it has tbe regulation knot already tied in it so that all the Sheriff has to do is to ad just the noose to fit the neck of his victim. These ropes are made in this city out of a superior quality of hemp, and they are sold for S9 each, which is a very low price for them, considering tbe fact that they are absolutely safe. Every one we sell has the guarantee df tbe manufacturer on the box that it has been tested by dropping an iron weight If the Christian County Sheriff, who made such a dis graceful scene at the hanging of the Bald Knobbers, had hanged his men with ropes like these he would have saved the State from dis grace." THE INNOCENT LAMB. One Who Has Stndled Him Describes His Peculiar Ways. Montana Wool Grower.j About the first error the lamb makes in life is to mistake the shepherd or his dog far its mother, and many are the maneuvers that must be gone through with to make the new arrival follow the right party. His next error is likely to be an attempt to walk on air when he comes to a place where be should go down hllL His ten minutes' experience in life has made him believe that all tbe earth is a level plain, and in broad daylight he steps off the top of a hill just as serenely as a man steps off the top lauding of the stairs in total darkness when be 'is certain that the stairs are yet 20 feet away. The result is a great surprise to man and lamb in each In stance. The lamp picks himself up, and continues down the bill; he soon comes to the conclusion that everything is down bill in this life, and not on a dead level. Upon getting to tbe foot of tbe hill, he still tries to continue downward, and as a result runs his nose Into the ground and looks surprised again. He now comes to a place to get Up bill, and goes up just as our man starts to go upstairs in total darkness when thinks the stairs are still 20 feet away. 'there Is only one thing that is 500 times as funny and provoking by turns as a lamb, and that Is GOO lambs together when they are about a month old. The shepherd sits down and watches the 600 lambs all in a bnach by them selves, playing, running and frolicking, and he laughs. When he has tried, and tried in vain, to get the same 600 across a bridge or Into a corral he sits down again, bat be does not laugh this time. He Won't Do it Again. Akron Telegram.2 At Mansfield Mary Bitterly saw 'a man fool ing around her chicken coop and asked him what be was doing. He replied that be was looking for his wife. Mary told him to move. He didn't but he Bitterly regretted it the next minute. Mary went into battery action and shot him full of boles. He will live, but will never look for bis wife again la a nilgnbor's chicken coop, - , . " ,, , -v . ;-.- . ; SUNDAY, ATJGUST 4, THE GRAND OLD MAN. Blakoly Hall Draws -Pen Pictures of the Everyday Life of WILLIAM EWAET GLADSTONE. His Days Occupied With Partj Politics From Morn to Eve. THE ROUTINE OP HIS DA1LT LIFE IcomxSFOsnxxcx or -mx pisrjLTCH.i LouDOir, July 29. Tbe friends of a big nosed man should never despair. 'If it is above the average of other neses there is always hope. I em a convert to the belief that men with big noses have come to town to stay. The very largest npse I ever saw belongs to the otherwise insignificant coun tenance of Mr. Gladstone. It is not a drooping, sagacious nose like Evarts', nor a heavy, majestic organ like Blaine's. Bou langer's nose is thin all the way down the bridge until it expands into a white and solid looking bnlb at the end, while Gould's begins bulkily at the eyebrows but tapers off into a long sharp point Gould gets money; Bonlsnger spends it It would be interesting to know whether the noses of financiers ran to points and spendthrifts to knobs. Gladstone's nose is like none of these. It is big all over. Its bigness is its salient point and it is of thickness, breadth and solidity, throughout. Half way in its length it has a wide and prominent bridge, and when Mr. Gladstone blows- it, as he frequentlydoes in the course of his long speeches, it gives forth a resonant and mighty snort. msrntED IDIOCY. The close and critical observation of hoses is a habit that grows on a man with incred itable swiftness. Some inspiredidiot once started ont to find cab No. 1 among the 20, 000 cabs of Paris, and wrote to tbe papeis about it as he pursued bis frantic search. Half the people in the French capital did nothing for weeks afterward butiook for low numbers on cabs. I arrived in Paris when the fever was at its height and watched every cab that passed me, but the first day I found none that bad a number of less than fourteen or fifteen thousand. After six days I saw a cab numbered as low as 80. "With the sensation of a man who had discovered the Northwest passage, I engaged the hack for the day and took it around to show all my friends, none of whom had fonnd any thing under 100. From the universal inter est taken in this particular form of hot weather idiocy I am led to believe that all mankind loves a bit of nonsense now and then. Let me suggest a comparison of noses to observers of human nature who are anx ious for a mid-summer diversion. The first time I ever thought of noses par ticularly was at a dinner at the now defunct but erstwhile hilarious Mohican Club. A comedian I have iorgotton now whether it was Nat Godwin or Francis 'Wilson made some sort of a happy, but nevertheless slighting remark about the large bulbous and bluish nose, which appertained to the person of a fiery Virginia Colonel, who sat near me. The Colonel blushed with embar rassment for a moment, as all eyes were turned on him, bnt before anything else was said tbe voice of Dr. Bichmond was heard at the other end of the table holding forth to tbe mau at his side on the subject of noses. THE DOCTOB'S STATEMENT. "No other feature of the face indicates greatness, except tbe nose," said the Doc tor, emphatically, "and I defy you to show me a really great man anywhere in the world whose nose is not above the average in size." I thought at the moment that the doctor said this tr smooth down the Southern Colonel, and it is quite likely that such was the case, for an expression of conscious rectitude and suavity passed over the Vet eran's vari-coiored features. But the snbject ot big noses was on top for several hours, and when I, went down town the following morning I found myself looking critically at- every nose I met. When I encountered a great man in Europe after that I looked eagerly at his nose. J excluded royalty, for that has greatness thrust upon it, but I was pleased to observe that tbe pink face of Bismark was embel lished by a big and beefy nose and that Pasteur's proboscis was far removed from in significance and conventionality. But I never saw a really great nose until I met Mi. Gladstone. I was traveling from Dublin to London one day innidwinter, when I was laid up at Chester. It is not far from Gladstone's country seat, Hawarden, and I learned that the great Liberal leader was to take the London mail. I was sitting in the chilly coffee room of tbe hotel, waiting for the train to come in, when Mr. Gladstone walked in and stretched out a pair of wrinkled hands to the fire. Almost nothing could be seen of his face, except a mighty nose. His tall and weather-beaten hat rested on his ears, and a huge worsted scarf concealed his neck and the lower part of his face. The nose projected, and hung majestically over this scarf, like the beak of an eagle, except that it was more massive than any eagle's beak I have ever seen. Away back from the bridge of his nose twinkled a pair of eyes as bright and sharp as those of a larky 10-year-old boy. He nodded and blinked his eyes and wagged his nose at everyone who came into the room, and when he stepped aboard the train he was cheered to the echo. ONE SAT IN GLADSTONE'S LITE. I chanced to meet Herbert Gladstone, the eldest son of the ex-Premier, at a luncheon one day later on, and he talked for a time about his father. "The history of a day in his life would not make very exciting reading," he said, "for in his mode of life he is the simplest man in the world." , This proved to be the case, after a num ber of inquiries. The Liberal leader a politician first of all and forever, but he is a politician in the higher sense of the word. His entire time is given up to bis party. One morning, just after tbe Kensington victory, I called at his house as early as 7 o'clock, nnder the stress of a particular bit of news. I found Mr. Gladstone already fi-p, holding forth vigorously to a delegation of British tradesmen who had waited upon i him, for some absurd reason or other. The BO-year-oia nost was narauguing bis visitors withlextraordinary vigor. Nothing damps his enthnsiasm. The last speech tbat I heard him deliver in tbe House was simply terrific in its force and noise. He had loos ened His coUar.turned "up his wristbandsr Son. William Euiart Gladstone. '"WiPWfl 1889. r unbuttoned all but the lower button of his waistcoat, and he was thumping the table in front of him like a pile-driver gone mad. His voice was like the roar of a lusty-lunged young backweods stnmp speaker, and he drove his points home with a force that was tremendous. . . The life of the ex-Premier is very simple, as his son said. He rises at 6:30, or perhaps a little later in the winter, and at once puts on the clothes he is to wear dupng the day. Unlike most Englishmen, he will have nothing to do with dressing gowns, morning robes, breakfast jackets and the like, but puts on his heavy frock snit at once. He is exceedingly shy of new clothes, like many other great men, and Mrs. Gladstone uses an amazing amount of diplomacy in getting new garments on the spare frame of her liege lord. FOND OP OLD CLOTHES. He has a fondness for a rusty coat, A moraine is usually selected, when the ex Premier has a very busy day Wore him, he is called late, his 'new clothes are laid out, and if he discovers that there is the gloss of freshness on them he is told that the old suit has been seat to the cleaner's. But from the cleaner's it never comes home. The care that is exercised in this minor de tail of Mr. Gladstone's life, is indicative of the continual and watchful service which his wife alwavs renders. She lives for him entirely, accompanies him on all his jour- ueys, sits on tne piatiorm wnen ne speaxs and stands by his side when he undergoes the periods of fatigue known as "recep tions," and shakes hands with thousands of actual or possible Liberal voters after a speech. Mr. Gladstone's breakfast is simple, nsuallv consisting of bacon and eggs or a bit offish and a cup of tea. Immediately after breakfast he goes to his library, whether in town or country, and reads the dailypapers for the greater part of an hour. This is a matter of importance to him and he will stand no interruption. He said, in talking of newspapers, that it did not take him long to run through a lot of them as he knew exactly, where to look for the informa tion he wanted. The foreign news was usually nueuy set iortn ana ne was tnorougn conver sant With what went on In Parliament. The things that interest tbe Liberal leader most are the ideas set forth in editorials. He does not read criminal or social news but skims the paper for political suggestions and views. Then comes a correspondence that is of extra ordinary magnitude. Mr. Gladstone sees only a few of the letters addressed to blm. A fair proportion of them are abusive epistles from indignant Torlsts, blackguarding the Liberal chieftain with every epithet known to the dictionary of abuse. If a letter is par ticularly amusing in its violence Her bert Gladstone shows it to his father, and it never fails to bring a smile. " A GEEAT STAN'S SOK. Nearly all of the correspondence Is managed by the son. He is a quiet, almost plaintive man of about 33, with a small mustache and bushy hair brushed back from his hleh fore head. He affects extreme simplicity in dress; turn-over collar, cheap 6 cent black cravat, loose-fitting and low-priced clothes and an un obtrusive manner. He is exceedingly amiable and is guyed a good deal by his political oppo nents for his tendency to preside at women's suffrage conventions and tea parties of the weaker sex. but tbe opinion prevails among politicians that he is a man of real and solid ability, though be chooses to disguise it by his affectation of extreme modesty. 1 heard Mr. Parnell refer to young Gladstone once in very complimentary terms, and Mr. Parnell Is not given to the bestowal of compliments with any pronounced degree of recklessness. About 9 o'clock in themorningMr. Gladstone begins to receive his callers, and from that time on there is not a minute left to himself till 1. This ordeal of receiving visitors and delecatlons has arrived at an awful pitch of Eerlection in England. The British statesmen ave a horror to face that our politicians know nothing of. On any and every conceivable occasion the British voters will form a commit tee or a delegation and send it to call on the most notea man witnin reaco. To receive such a band of visitors by making a little speech and shaking all their hands Is tbe accepted idea of the duty of a public man. Not to do it fills the voter with amazed and startled incredulity. The delecatlons call for no particular reason and usually leave no better than they arrived, but they keep on calling on eminent men, with the persistence of lightning rod agents. Mr. Gladstone is particularly amenable to thu form of political persecution on account of the ( vanea interests ne represents. He takes a light luncheon with bis family at 1 o'clock, and drives at once to the House. With bis doines in Parliament the world is familiar enough.. As a rule tbe ex-Premier dines quietly at home at 730. His diet is care fully considered. He chews every bit of meat 25 times, and drinks only light red wines. After dinner he is hack in the House again, and unless an important division Is expected he is home and in bed at 11 o'clock. His day is simply a routine of bard and persistent work. Blakelt Hall ALL TBE CLOCKS ALIKE. A Strange Fact About the Jewelers Signs In tbe Cltr of St. Loals. St. Lonls Republic: The Man About Town was walking down Broadway the other day in company with a young lady and when opposite a leading jewelry establishment, she said, "Did you ever notice any striking similarity between jewelers' signs like that large clock over there?" The Man About Town acknowledged that he hadn't "Well," she said, "notice now when we pass and you will see that the hands indicate that it's 18 minutes after 8 o'clock." He noticed and saw that such was a fact. The young lady informed him that all the clocks used as signs indicated tbe same time of day and that the reason of it was that some 20 odd years ago these signs were all made by one manufacturer in New York. He desired to bave the faces of them all alike and decided to chronicle in this manner the time of some im portant occurrence. About thlstime President Lincoln was shot and he died tbe following morning at 8:18. The manufacturer adopted this time and afterward stencilled his clock signs in that manner. It seems that this custom has been followed, for everyone we noticed, on the remainder of our stroll down town, was the same as the first one noticed. This seemed so striking that we dropped In at a jewelry store and asked the gentleman in charge, who con firmed tbe young lady's explanation. We doubt If one person in 5,000 has ever noticed this peculiarity. A SEEPEiNTLNE C1KCLE. The Wonderful Problem Propounded by a Harvard Scientist. "We ought to be perfectly happy that we live in this glorious age of scientific thought. We believe there never was another age in which the astronomer of Harvard Observatory could propound the following problem and receive so many perfectly reasonable answers to it: "Sup pose," said he, "that three snakes, each 2 feet in ieneth, should catch each other by the tip of tbe tall, thus making a circle 6 feet In, circum ference. Suppose that each snake should be gin to swallow the snake in front of him. In wbat way would the resultant figure, after each snake had swallowed the one in front of him, differ from the original circleT" Tbe answers have been many and various, some of them, we are Informed, "entering the consideration ot the fourth dimension of space," because anyone of the snakes would haVe swallowed the two In front of him ana yet have been swallowed by the two in back of him. and, therefore, would be both in side and outside of -his two fellows. The man who lives in an age when men can tackle and grasp and make so clear to others an Idea of this sort bas no business to go about talking of the good old times or looking hopefully forward to anything more mllleniumlsh. THE CANADIANS SURPRISED. A Lumberman Svrlma From the Dominion With 28 Horses. Detroit News. 1 Charles Marthtnson, tho big Soo lnberman. swam the St. Mary's river with a drove of 28 horses the other day. He did it because he couldn't get possession of the horses any other way, and they were his by chattel mortgage. Tbey were stationed at Thessalon, on the Canadian side. Half a dozen trusty men were engaged and tbe procession started. All day and all night they traveled until the river was reached. Into the raoidly flowing water tbey plunged with their horses. They stemmed the current boldly, and In a f ow minutes were safe on Yankee ground. Such Napoleonic tactics staggered the Cana dian authorities, ana they haven't vet secured their breath. Canada may have the sawmill all right,- but Michigan Bas the horses. V , Especially If It Was a Good Apple Detroit Jrre Frets. I A little boy of this city, after heari.g the story of Adam and Ere, pondered a few moments and then said: "I don't think it would have been polite" for Adam not to take tbe apple when a lady offered it to him." fWw?VUUF A CHRISTIAN'S DUTY. He Must Extend to Others the Help Be Has Himself Received. DESEET ISLAND CHRISTIANITY Is Not Good Enough for the Man Who Lives in the Midst of Men. THE MORAL OP THE LEGEND BEAUTIFUL JWEITTES TOIL THS DISrATCH. J It is recorded that upon one occasion Christ, having healed a man, refused the man's'fequest that he might be one of His followers, and sent him home. The inci dent, rthich is a singular and notable one, is set down in the following words: ''Now the man out of whom the devils were de parted, besonght Him that he might be with Him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, re turn to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee." This man had been helped, and" theLor4 wanted him to go and help somebody else. The man had not thought of that. He had imagined .that he could be a Christian all alone. For him there were hut two persons in the world one was Christ and the other was himself. Hisheaiiwas full of a great longing to be with .Christ. He wanted to see His face and hear His voice just to see and to hear every day. It had not oc curred to this man that there was anything for him to do to be with Christ that was his idea of Christian discipleship. But Jesus sent him away. He told him to go home- He reminded him that there was work waiting for him. He taught him that the essential duty of a Christian is to help his brother. This man was a mistaken Christian. He was a good man a devout, earnest, loyal and loving man. But this one thing he lacked. He had forgotten that he had any brother. He had forgotten thattbe blessing of help brings with it THE DUTf OP HELPING. If he had lived in the Middle Ages he would have been a monk. He would bave spent bis whole life thinking holy and lov ing thoughts about Christ, kneeling at the foot of the cross. His knees would have grown as hard as a camel's, and his heart as tender as a little child's. But his hands would have been as tender as bis heart. And the Lord doesn't want us to be .soft handed. He wants hands made bard and firm by work. XI this man were living now and here, we would see him constantly at service; he would be marked among communicants for his regularity and his reverence; he would say his prayers and read his Bible; he would be attentive to sermons; he would keep his heart full of good thoughts; his life wonld be pure and true. Men would say, "Thereis a good Christian." But men would be mistaken. It takes more than that to make a good Christian. That may be good enough Christianity for a desert island, but it is not good enough for a man who lives in the midst of men. This man would be content,, as I said, to be a Christian all alone. He would worship, but he would not work. He would not lend a helping hand. There is no place for selfishness in the Christian religion. If any kind of selfish ness conld be commended it would he such as this man showed. ButCbristwouldallow no place even to that. There is no recogni tion in the Christian religion of any division ot devont people into two classes one medi tating religion, and tbe other practically religious. There is no privilege without an accompanyingTcsponsibility.no getting with out a consequent giving. GJhe Lord is not pleased with any man who simply stays with Him; He sends us all away with His words in our ears, and His love in 'our hearts in His nam; He sends us home that'ns we have been taught, so we mav teach; that as we have been helped, so we may HELP OTJR BEOTHEB. The Christian religion is tbe religion of helpfulness. Christ came, bringing into the worM this idea of a duty of helpfulness as almost a new revelation. He surprised men by going about doing good, and by teaching tbe highest truth to the simplest people. That is, He helped the bodies, and the souls of men, and of all men. That was a new thing. Take, tor example, the truth which Christ cama to teaqh. It differs from tbe doctrine of all other religions, not only in its pulpit variety, but in its helpfulness. Christian doctrine is helpful trntb. That vision which St. Peter saw on the house-top at Jappa is a fitting symbol of it There above, on the house-top was the vision, and then below at the door were three men knocking. And the vision was for the sake of the men, the visitation was a visitation of duty. It was truth which was immediately to be translated into love. There is much theology in the epistles ot St. Paul. All the first chapters of nearly all the epistles are theological. But all the last chapters are concerned with the appli cation ot this theology to daily life. The doctrine is laid as a loundation, that upon it may be builded the superstructure of a good life. Tbe theology is tor the sake of better living, as the loundation is for the sake of the house, God has made certain blessed visitations of His truth in the Chris tian religion, but we find lhat without ex ception these visitations are not to satisfy curiosity or to answer our wondering ques tions, but to guide us toward better loving and living. There is a good book called "Applied Christianity." It is all meant to be applied, everv article of it. Christian doctrine is HELFFITL TBUTH. The Christian religion grew in the world through the attractive power of helpfulness. This helpful truth not only helped men, but it made them helpful. Before Christ, men had been for the most part like the man of the text. They wanted truth and holiness for themselves. It had not occurred to them to be missionaries of holiness and truth. "When the Lord assembled His disci ples, the men who were learning, and out of the heart of them chose His apostles, tbe men who were to teach and to help, a new impulse began. These apostles and those who worked with them went out among men preaching the gospel of help. They carried this helpful doctrine which the Lord had taught them; tbey gave men a new law in ethics, the law of help, the moral law, the golden rule. Above all they told men the story of the helpful Christ. If held upbefore the world as an example Him who had lived and died to help. By-and-by it was remarked In days of pestilence when men fled out of their houses, leaving their own kin to die unattended it was re marked that these strange religionists called Christians did not run away. They stayed to help. And when men saw that, they began to think that there might be some thing in this new religion after all. There came days afterward, itis true, when the temptations of prosperity became strong and the church grew unhelpml. The tables of the money changers were moved, as one saysS into the Holy of Holies. And the word "help" meant help yourself. Then the church was weak. Helpfulness and strength go together. Tbe church did not wholly cease to be helpful. That would be death. When the helpfulness of tbe church shall stop then will the church stop. To help is the very reason for the church's being. The church is a great help association. There are some people, lice this men of the text, who miss that truth. They think that the church is a great spiritual life insurance company a plan for saving tbe souls of all who join it. They join it just to get their souls saved. There are a good many who measure'' the whole value or the church as this man did, by the rule of ' THEIB ClWjr PERSONAL 7BOJTX. They say, "I can be with Christ without attending church; ' I can stay at home and He will speak to me oat of His he ly book; 1 f IJcan go ont Into the fields, and the sky and' the winds will be His ministers. lean, worship in that temple whose' roof is blue and gold, and whose floor is green and brown. I can get closer to Christ there than I can at church." Tbey say, "Why need I join the church? Whv can't I keep my religion to myself? Whose business is it? I can be with Christ as truly without any connection with tbehnrch. These people are like this mistaken man. Thev have a vague idea about religion. They think as be did. that to be with Christ is the whole of 'Christian discipleship. I am afraid that we are in a wav'responsible for these men. We have more than half thought that same thing ourselves. We bare by our example permitted people to think that prayer and preaching and propriety are the three parte of religion, and that to be helpful is not an essential Christian duty. You remember the legend beautiful in the calm of a wayside inn. You remember how there came one day into the cell, where a monk knelt praying, a glorious vision of the Lord Christ, the Helper. And as he bowed in lovo and awe before the Master, suddenly cams sounding tbe voice mf tbe convent bell. And that bell meant that now was the hour when beside the convent gate gathered the daily throng of the lame, and tbe blind and the poor, waiting for their dish of bread. And that day it was bis place to feed them. And the ques tion came to him, as it came to this man in the text, which shall I choose the Presence or the task: Deep distress and hesitation Strnglcd with his adoration. 1 Should he go, or should be stayT Should he leave tbe poor to wait Hungry at tbe convent gate Till tbe vision passed awayf Should he slight his radiant guest. Slight this visitant Celestial For a crowd of ragged bestial Beggars at the convent gater That was a hard question. You remember how he stood irresolute between the vision and the duty on the one side the Helper, on the other side the needy to be helped r to bs himself the helper which? You remember how he left the Presence for the last, and when the act of help was done and the Master went back, then waited sttll the vision of the Master, blessing bim and saying, "Hadst thou stayed I must have fled." That is a picture to set be side this text. That is a parable of Christian belplulness. George Hodges. A STRANGE METAMORPHOSIS. A Tonus Girl Who Has Fits DnrlnffWblek She Becomes a Cat London Globe.I Students of Ovid bave of ten perplexed them selves in an endeavor to find out what conld possibly be the origin of the stories he bas told', so well. What could possibly bave suggested I to him or to those who furnished material for bis tales the miraculous change'' of Io or of DaphneT The case which is exciting so much attention at the Salpetriere jnst now may per haps suggest a solution. A pretty girl of 15V fair-haired, blue-eyed and pleasant-featured, is at Intervals transformed into a cat; that is to say, she has a periodic fit of insanity which takes that form. One .who has seen ber sayst "Suddenly, as you look at ber, her whole phys iognomy changes. She becomes hard, ber eyes are convulsed In their sockets, a grimace de forms her features, and ber mouth is drawn up, and she drops to the earth as If on four paws. She tries every opening to escape, and with incredible agility sbe darts under chairs and tables; It one tries to stop her she repro duces exactly the pffft, pffft of tbe cat in ancer." At other times, in a less Irritated mood, she will play like a kitten with a ball of paper, or come to the onlooker to be caressed and spoken to. It alarmed, she arches her back exactly as a cat does. This lasts about 20 min utes, after which she recovers her senses. No recollection remains of her metamorphosis, and she is commonly distressed to find her hands all scratched and her dress soiled. Prof. Charcot, who considers the case unique, is nevertheless sanguine of being able to effect a cure, and it will be most interesting to watch the result of bis treatment. TAKING" MEDICINE IN WATER, Tbe Literal Manner In Which a Prescrip tion Wa Followed Ont. The Crookston, Minn., Times weaves a read able little romance about Uncle Tim Sullivan, ex-Chairman of the County Board, who runs a farm in the western part of the county. Uncle Tim is one of tbe most robust of Western farmers, and although well advanced in years bas never known a sick day up to a few days ago, when feeling a little nnder the weather, he concluded to no to Grand Forks and consult a doctor. A prescription was com pounded at, .a drugstore, and Uncle Tun was. given asmall vial with instruction, to take a. teaspoonful of the medicine in water, every three hours. He took tbe medicine home, but his wife had gone out to visit a neighbor, so ha concluded to take tbe first dose daring her ab sence. A rain barrel filled wltlJ water stood at the comer or the house, and stripping off his clothes. Uncle Tim got into the water up to his chin, and was about to pour out a teaspoonful of the medicine when his wife returned. "For goodness sake, father, what are you do lne there?" sbe excliamed, as she saw his head at the top of tbe barrel. "Snre. I'm following tho doctor's orders," said Tim. "He told me to take a teaspoonful of this medicince In water, every three hours, and I'm just going to take my first dose." Mrs. S. saw tbe joke, and it was too good to fcrpn. She told the boys when they cume to snpper, and Uncle Tim will never hear tDe last of It. A 1,000.000 DNDER HIS ARM. A Chlcng-o Blan Cnrriea That SnmThron, ngW tbe Streets In a Facknce. Chicago Inter Ocean. It was about 2 o'clock la3t Tuesday afternoon! oonV when a stolid lnokingbasincssman,amuscular,'m bearded party, about 5 feet 10 inches in height, I strode from LaSalle to Madison, to Adams and I thence up into the Owings building. Under 1 his left arm, wrapped in a newspaper, were gold I certificates and greenbacks amounting to JLOOO.000. x Going up Clark street he brushed through the crowd of gamblers, loafers and cut-throats as though unconscious of the sum be had with him and tbe risk be was running. He actually was unconscious of any risk; a sturdy, straight forward business man himself, he recked nothing of evil in others. Tbe citizen who took these chances, this Crmsns in broadcloth, was Gilbert B. Shaw, President of tbe American Trust and Savings Bank, and in parading tbe wealth he was on bis way to comply with the very letter or the law of Illinois concerning banks and banking. The Batcher's Blander. Detroit Journal. "Yes, ma'am," said the butcher, "there's as nice and tender a roast of lamb as you'll find in the market. I wouldn't sell it to anybody but an old customer like you. It was my eldest daughter's little pet lamb. It broke ber heart to let it go. You see, she had played with it ever since she was a little clrl. I I mean to say ob. you prefer some veal cutlets. Shall I send 'em up, ma'am r" Rheumatism, BEING due to the presence of urio acid in the blood, is most effectually cured by the use of Ayer's Sarsapa rilla. Be sure you get Ayer's and no other, and take it till the) poisonous acid i3 thoroughly expelled from tho -system. We challenge attention to this testimony: "About two years ago, after suffering for nearly two years from rheumatics cout, being able to walk only with great discomfort, and having tried various remedies, including mineral waters, without relief, I saw by an advertise ment in a Chicago paper that a man had been relieved of this distressing com plaint, after long suffering, by taking Ayer's Sarsaparilla. I then decided to mako a trial of this medicine, and took; it regularly for eight months, and am pleased to state that it has effected a complete enre. I have since had no re turn of the disease." Mrs. K. Irng Dodge, 110 West 125th st., New York. " One year ago J was taken ill with inflammatory rheumatism, being con fined to my honse sir months. I cama out of tho sickness very much debili tated, with no appetite, and my system disordered in, every vuy. I commenced using Ayer's Sarsaparilla and began to improve at once, gaining In strength and soon recovering my usual health. I cannot say too much in praise of this well-known medicine." Mrs. L. A. Stark, Nashua, N.H. Ayer's Sarsaparilla, TBXTl&TDXT , Dr. J. C Ayer & Co., Lowen," Mas. .. Price l; six bottles, &. Worth 6 bottliM y- 4 .,,. n r . ,.- . .r,;,,, . .-.ajr-fiMWK&Att, . ''IBffiffiB ., , , i . .i -JJ .!.. j I Uj..i.. .,,; -4faV . k"u3j9iffii illWMBBBMHttMffiMBBBWBBsssB3w?j JBBKIIEtsjB
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers