BnsrmBii Y"f& it'- r"W' mw 18 THE PITTSBURG- DISPATCH, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1890. deification in her ridiculous little body. a. Come here, and by this divine small lamp T vou shall read and understand -whatever has been great and noble and pure and f beantitul in all the song and story of the J" vorldl And yet perhaps it is not altogether absurd," the pretty Mrs. Ellison continued, with a bitter sigh." "It is pathetic, rather. I wish there were a few more such men as that; the world could pet on very well with a few more of them. Bat they don't seem to c exist nowadays." L "Ah, if yon only knew! Perhaps vour J, experience has been unfortunate," her com- )' panion said, wistfully; wherenpon the - young widow, without turning her head toward bim, perceptibly sniggered. : "Oh. you!" she exclaimed, in derision. fc "You! You needn't pretend to come into -, that exalted category no, indeed" "I suppose people'have been saying things it,. about me to you," said he, with a certain f sffectation of being hurt. "Butyou needn't have believed them all the same." ; " "People?" he said. "People! Why, everybody knows what you are! A pro fessional breaker of poor young innocent r? Mrts' hearts. Haven't we all heard of you? There were no such stories came home about ! Yin, I can assnre you. Oh, we all know J- nhat yon are!" ; "Yon have heard one story," said he, somewhat stiffly; "but if you know what it really was, you would see that it was noth ing to joke about. Some time I will tell you. Some other time when you are in a , more friendly, a more believing and sym pathetic, niooa." "Oh, yes," she said, laughing. "A very heartrending story, no doubt! And you were deeply injured, of course, being so ex tremely innocent! Yon forget that I have seen vou in a good many houses; you forget that I have been watching your goings on with Louie Drexel, in this very place. Do you think I can't recognize the old hand the expert the artist? Lord Musselburgh, you can't deceive me." "Probably not," said he sharply. "If all tales be true you have acquired some ex perience yourself." "Oh, -vho said that' about me!" she de manded, witb indignation (but her eyes were not indignant, they were rather darkly amused, if only he bad made bold to look at them). "Who dared to say such a thing? And oi course you listened without a word of protest; probably you sssented! "What it is to have friends! But perhaps some day I, also, may have a little story to tell you; and then vou may understand me a little better." Here there was another farm gate for him to open, so that their talk was again inter rupted. Then they passed Tinder a series of loity gray crags hung with birch, and hazel, and rowan, all in their gorgeous autumnal tints, uutil they came in sight of another secluded little bay, with silver ripples breaking along the sand, and with small outlying islands covered with orance sea weed where they were not white with gulls. And here was a further stretch of that windswept, dark blue, striated sea, with the lonely hills of Morven and Kingairloch, sun-dappled and cloud-dappled, raising into the fair tur quoise sky. There was a scent of dew-wet grass mingling with the stronger odor of the seaweed; the breeze was blowing freshly in. And always there came to them the long, unceasing, multitudinous murmur of those moving waters, that must have sounded to them so great and vast a thing beside the small trivialities of their human speech. "Have you read Yin's article in the Im perial Jtcvieic?" said Mrs. Ellison, flicking at a thistle with her sun-shade. ".Not jet. But 1 saw it announced. About American State Legislatures, isn't it, or bomething of that kind?" "It seemed to me very ably and clearlv written," she said, "and with an abundance of information. But that is not the point. I gather that Vin has been contemplating all kinds ot contingencies; and that he is now trying to qualify for the post of leader writer on one of the daily newspapers, v , "What does that mean? it means that he is determined to marry this girl, and that he thinks it probable there may be a break be tween himself and his father in conse quence. There may be? there will be. I give you my word! My amiable brother-in-law's theories of socialism and fraternity and universal equality are very pretty toys to play with and they have even gained liim a sort 01 reputation through his letters to the Times; but he doesn't bring them into the sphere of actual life. Of course, Ariu has his own little money; and t, for one, why, I shouldn't see him starve in any case; but I take it that he is already mak ing provision for the future and its respon sibilities. Now isn't that dreadful? I de clare to you, Lord Musselburgh, that when I come down iu the morning and find a let ter lrom him lying on tne hall table, my heart sinks just as if I heard the men on the stair bringing down a coffin. Because 1 know if be is captured by those penniless adventurers, it will be all over with my poor lad; he will be bound to them; he will hape to support them; he will have to sacri fice friends and fortune, and a future surely such as never yet lay belore any young man. Just think ot it! "Well," she resumed, as they strolled along under the beetled crags that were all aflame with golden-yellow birch and blood red rowan, "I am not going to stand aside and see all that lair promise lost. I own I am a selfish woman; and hitherto I have kept aloof, as I did not want to get myself into trouble. I am going to hold aloof no longer. The more I hear the more I am convinced that Yin has fallen into the bands of an unscrupulous sharper perhaps a pair of them and I mean to have his eves opened. Here is this new revelation about that American book, which simply means that you were swindled out oi M " "One moment," her companion said, hastily, and there was a curious look of roortilication ou his face. "I had no right to tell you that story. I broke confidence; I am ashamed ol myself. And I assure you I was not swindled out of any 50. "When the old man came to me with his Scotch accent, and his Scotch patriot ism, and his Scotch plaid thrown over his shoulder well, 'my heart warmed to the tartan;' and I was glad of the excuse for helping him. I did not want any book; and I certainly did not want the money back. But when Vin came to me and made explanations, and finally handed me a cheek for 50, there was some thing in his manner that told me I dared not refuse. It was something lite 'Eefuse this money, and vou doubt the honor of the woman I am going to marry.' Butseeing that I did take it, I have now notning to say. My mouth is shut ought to have been Bhut. rather, only vou and I have had come very confidential chats since we came up here.' "All the same, it was a downright swindle," said she doggedly; "and the tact that Vin paid you back the money makes it none the less a swindle. Now I will tell you what I am about to do. I must be cruel to be kind. I am going to enlist the services of Geoige Morris " "Sir George?" he asked. "No. no; George Morris, the solicitor his wife and I arc very great triends and I . -''know he would do a great deal for me. Very Avell; he must get to know simply every 'thing about this old man his whole history and if it turns out to be what I imagine, then some oi us will have to go to Vin and tell him the trnth. It won't be a pleasant duty; but duty never is pleasant. I know I shall be called a traitor for my share in it. Hereis Vin appealing to me to'be his friend as il I were not his triend! begging me to come and take this solitary and friendless girl by the hand, and all the rest of it; and instead of that I go behind his back and try to find out what will destroy his youthful romance lor ever. But it's got to be done," said the young widow, with a sigh. "It will be a wrench at first; then six months' despair; and a life-time of thankfulness thereafter. And of course I mnst give George Morris all the help I can. He must make inquiries, for one thing, at the office of the Edinburgh Chronicle: I remember at Henley the old gentleman spoke of the pro prietor as a friend of his. Then the man you know in New York, who gave Mr. Bethune a letter of introduction to you: what is his name and address?" Oh, no," said Lord-Musselburgh, shrink ing back, as it were. "No; I don't want to Jtu nart ia it. Of coarse, you may be act ing quite richtly; no doubt yon are acting entirely in Vin's interests; but-butlwould rather have nothing to do with it." "And vet you call yourself Viu's friend! Come, tell me!" she said, coaxingly. Again he refused. "Mind you, I believe I could find out for myself," she went on. "I know that he ii the editor of a newspaper in New York a Scotch newspaper; come, Lord Musselburgh, give me his name, or the name ot the news paper!" "No not fair," he said. Then she stopped and faced him, and re garded him with arch eyes. "And yet it was on this very path, only yesterday morning, that yon swore that there was nothing in the world that yon wonldn't do for me!" "That was different," said he, with some hesitation. "I meant as regards myself. This concerns some one else." "Oh, very well, V said she, and she walked on proudly. "I dare say I can find out" He touched her arm to detain her. "Have you a note book?" he asked. She took from her pocket a combined purse and note book; and without a word or a smile she pulled out the pencil. "'Hugh Anstruther, Western Scotsman office. New York,' " said he rather shame facedly. "There, that is all right!" she said blithely, and she put the note book in her pocket again. "That is as far as we can go in that mat ter at present; and now we can talk of some thing else. What is tne name of this little bay?" "Little Ganovan, I believe. "And the other one we passed?" "Port Ban." "What Is the legend attached to the rob ber's cave up there in the rocks?" "What legend? Oh, some one told me the gardener keeps his tools in that cave." "What kind of a legend is that!" she said, impatiently; and then she went on with her questions. "Why doesn't any body ever come round this way?" "I suppose because they know we want the place to ourselves." "And why should wa want the place to ourselves?" This was unexpected. He pansed. "Ah," said he, "what is the use of my telling you? All your interest is centered on Vin. I suppose a woman can only be interested in one man at any one time." "Well, I should hope sol" the young widow said, cheerfully. "Shall we go round by the rocks or through the trees?" For they were now come to a little" wood of birch and larch and pine; and without more ado he led the way, pushing through the outlying tall bracken and getting in un derneath the branches. "I suppose," said he, in a rather rueful tone, "that you don't know the greatest proot of affection that a man can show to a woman? No, of course you don't!" "What is it, tnen?" sue demanded, as she followed him, stooping. "Why, it's going first through a wood, and getting all the spider's webs on his nose." Bat presently they had come to a clearer space, where they conld walk together, their lootfalls hnshed by the carpet of withered fir needles; while here and there a rabbit would scurry off, or per chance they cautrht a glimpse of a hen pheasant sedately walk ing down a glade between the trees. And now their talk had become much more inti mate and confidential; it had even assumed a touch of more or less affected sadness. "It's very hard," he was saying, "thatyou should understand me so little. You think I am cold, and cynical, and callous. 'Well, perhaps I have reason to be. I have had my little experience of womankinn of one woman, rather. I sometimes wonder whether the rest are anything like her, or are capable of acting as she did." "Who was she?" his companion asked, timidly. And therewith, as they idly and slowly strolled through this little thicket, he told his tragic tale, which needs not to be set down here; it was all about the James river, Virginia, and a pair of Southern eyes, and betraysl, and farewell, and black night His companion listened in the deep silence of sympathy, and when he had finished she said, in a low yoice, and with downcast eyes "I am sorry very sorry. But at least there was one thing spared you; you did not marry ont of spite." He glanced at her quickly. "Oh, yes," she said, and she raised her head and spoke with a prond and bitter air. "I have my story, too! I do not tell it to every one. Perhaps I have not told it to any one. But the man I loved was separated from me by lies by lies; and X was lool and idiot enough to beiieve them! And the one I told you about the one with the beauti ful, clear brown eyes so good and noble he was as everybody declared! it was he who came to me with those falsehoods; and I believed them I believed them like the lool I was! Oh, yes," she said, and she held her head high, for her breast was heaving with real emotion this time, "it is easy to say that every mistake meets with its own punishment; but I was punished too much too much; a life-long punishment for be lieving what lying friends had said to me!" She furtively put the tips of her fingers to her eyes, to wipe away the tears that lay along her lashes. "And then I was mad; I was out of my senses; I wonld have married anybody to show that that I cared nothing ior for the other one; and and I suppose he was angry, too he would not speak he stood aside, and knew that I was twiner to kill my lie, and never a sinele word! That was his revenge to say nothing when he saw me about to kill my life! Cruel, do you call it? Oh, no! what does it matter? A woman's heart broken what is that? But now yon know why I think so of men and and why I langh at them " Well, her laughing was stranse; she sud denly burst into a violent fit of crying and sobbing, and turned away from 'him, and hid her face in her handkerchief. What could he do? This was all nnlike the gay young widow who seemed so proud of her solitary estate and so well content Feeble words of comfort were of small avail. And then, again, it hardly seemed the proper oc casion for offering her more substantial sym pathy though that was in his mind all the while, and very nearly on the tip of his tongue. So perforce he had to wait until ber weeping was over; and indeed it was she herself who ended the scene by exclaiming impatiently: "There-enoughoftbat! I did not in tend to bother you with my small troubles when I stayed behind for you this morning. Come, shall we go out on to the rocks and round by the little bay? What do you call it Ganovan?" "Yes; I think they call it Little Gano van," he said, absently, as he and she to gether emerged (rom the twilight of larch and pine, and proceeded, leisurely and in silence, to cross the semicircular sweep of yellow sand. When they got to the edge of the rocks, they sat down there; apparently they had nothing to do on this idle morning but to contemplate that vast, far-murmuring, dark blue plain touched here and there with a sharp glimmer of white and the range upon range of the Kingairloch hills, deepening in purple gloom, or shining rose-gray and yellow-gray in the sun. In this solitude they were quite alone save for the sea-birds that had wheeled into the air, screaming ami calling at their approach; but the terns and curlews were soon at peace again; a cloud of gulls returned to one ot the little islands jnst in front of them; while a slow flapping heron winged its heavy flight away to the north. All once more was silence; ana tne world was to tnemselves. And yet what was he to say to this poor suffering soul whose tragic sorrows and ex periences had been thns unexpectedly dis closed? He really wished to be svmpa- inetic; ana, 11 ne aarea, ne wouia nave re minded her that Whispering tongues can poison truth; And constancy lives In realms above; And life Is thorny; and youth is vain; And to be wroth with one we love Doth work like madness iu the brain, only he knew how difficult it is to quote poetry without making one's self ridiculous; and also he knew that the pretty yonng widow's eyes had a dangerous trick of sud den laughter. However, it was she who first spoke. "I wonder what those who have gone to church will say when they discover that we have spent allthe morning here?" "They may say what they like" he made answer promptly. "There are things one cannot speak about1 in drawingrooms, among a crowd. And how conld I ever have imagined that yon, with' yonr high spirits and merry temperament, and perpet ual good-humour, had come through such trials? I wonder that people never think of the mischief that is done by intermea dlinj! " "Intermeddling?" said she proudly. "It wasn't of intermeddliug I had to complain; it was a downright conspirasy it was false stories I was deceived by those who profess to be my best friends. There is intermed dling and intermeddling. Yon might say I was intermeddling in the case of my nephew. But what harm can come or that? It is not lies, it is the trnth, I want to have told him. And even if it canses him some pain, it will be for his good. , Ob, yes, I dare say it will canse him pain: one's ill nsions are not parted with withont a pang. As I told yon, I-was at first inclined to stand aloof. When he came to me, I said: 'No, thank you, Vin; I would rather not know your new iriends; I'm a selfish woman, and like comfort and peace, and I wonld rather be out of it all.' Then when I did go to see them, I was more puzzled than ever; and I resolved to have no responsibility in the matter; .'or I thought the infatuation if there was any infatuation would wear away. But now when I find it is berious and very serious, as I take it now I must abandon my selfish isolation and interfere. Don't you think I am right?" He hesitated. "1 hope so," he said. "But you know things wear such a different complexion ac cording to the way you look at them " "Bat facts, Lord Musselbnrgh, facts," she persisted. "Do you think a man like George Morris would be affected by any sentimental considerations one way or the other? Won't he find out just the truth? And that is all I honestly want Vin to know the actual truth; then let him go on with his eyes open it he chooses. Fact, Lord Musselburgh; who can object to facts?" Then she said as she gave him her hand that he might assist her to rise: "We must be thinking of getting back home now, for if we are latejfor lunch, those Drexel girls will be grinning at each other like a couple of fiends." Bather reluctantly he rose also, and ac companied her. They made their way across a series of rough, bracken-covered knolls projecting into the sea until they reached the little bay that is known as Port Ban; and here, either the beauty and soli tude of the place tempted them, or they were determined to defy sarcasm, for instead of hastening home they quietly strolled up and down the smooth, cream-wnite beach, now and again picking up a piece of rose red seaweed, or turning over a limpet-shell, or watching a sandpiper making his quick little runs alongside the clear, crisp-curling ripples. They did not speak; they were as silent as the transparent blue shadows that their figures cast on the sott-yieldine surtace on which they walked. And sometimes Lord Musselburgh seemed inclined to write something, with the point of his stick, on that flawless sand; and then again he de sisted; and still they continued silent She took up a piece of pink seaweed, and began pulling it to shreds. He was stand ing by, looking on. "Don't vou think," said he, at last, "that there should be a good deal ot sympathy a very unusual sympathy between two people who have come through the same snflering?" "OH, I suppose so," she said, with af fected carelessness her eyes still beut on the seaweed. "Do you know." said he again, "that I haven't the least idea what yonr name is!" I "My name? Oh, my name is Madge, she answered. "Madge?" said he. "I wonder if you make the capital M this way?" and there with he traced on the sand an ornamental M in the manner of the last century. "No, I don't," she said, "but it is very pretty. How do you write the rest?" Thus encouraged, he made bold to add the remaining letters, and seemed rather to ad mire his handiwork when it was done. " "By the way," she said, "I don't know your Christian name either!" "Hubert" "Can you wtite that in the same fashion?" she suggested, with a simple ingenuousness. So, grown still bolder, lie laboriously in scribed his name immediately underneath her own. But that was not all. When he had ended he drew a circle right around both names. "That is a ring to enclose them," said he; and he turned from the scored names to re gard her downcast face. "But but I know a much smaller ring that could bring them still closer together. Will you let me try Madge?" He took her hand. "Yes," she said in a lot yoice. And then Oh, very well, then; then but after a reasonable delay then they left those cream-white sands, and went up to the edge of the blue-green turnip field to the path way, and so to the iron gate; and as he opened the gate for her, she said "Oh. 1 don't know what happened down there, and what I've pledged myself to; but at all events there will now be one more on my side, to help me about Vin, and get him out of all this sad trouble. You will help me, won't you Hubert?" Oi coarse he was eager to promise any thing. "And you say he is sure to get in for Meudover. Why, just think of him now, with everything beiore him; and how nice it would be lor all of us if he bad a smart and clever wife, who would hold her own in society, and do him justice, and make us all as proud of ber as we are ot him. And just faney the four of us setting out on a winter trip to Cairo or Jerusalem; wouldn't It be simply too delicious? The tour of us only the lour of us all by ourselves. Louie Drexel is rather young, to be sure; yet she knows her way about; she's sharp; she's clever; she will have some money; and she has cheek enough for anything. And by the way Hubert " said she (and always with a pretty little hesitation when she came to his Christian name), "I must really ask you with regard to Louie Drexel well you know you have been jnst a little-" He murmured something about the devo tion of a lifetime the devotion which he had just promised to ber being a very dif ferent thing from trivial drawing room dallyings; whereupon she observed "Oh, yes, men say so by way of excuse " "How many men have said so to you?" lie demanded, flaring up. "I did not say they had saTd solo me," she answered sweetly. "Don't go and be so absurdly jealous without any cause what ever. If any one has a right to be jealous, it is I, considering the way you have been going on with Louie Drexel. But of course it there's nothing in it, that's all well and done witb, and I am of a Forgiving disposi tion when I'm taken in the right way. Now about Vin: can yon see anybody who would do'better for him than Louie Drexel?" Be sure it was not of Vin Harris, much as he was interested in him, that Lord Mus selburgh wished to talk at this moment; but, on the other hand, in the first flush of his pride and gratitude, any whim of hers was law to him; and perhaps it was a sufficient and novel gratification to be able to call her Madge. "I'm afraid," said he, "that Vin is not the kind of person to-have his life arranged for him by other people. And besides you must remember, Madge, dear, that vou are assuming a great deal. You are assuming that you can show Via that this old man is an im poster " "Oh, can there be any doubt of ill" she exclaimed. "Isn't the story you have told me yourself enough? He pretends he is going 'to write a book; he gets 50 from you; it appears that the book is already being written by some one else; and then, when it comes ont, the ancient Druid doesn't return you the money, bnt coolly allows my nephew to do it for him. He steals the idea ot a book over there in America; he comes to England and sells it under false pre tenses; he has no thought of refunding the money when he is found ont What more?" Lord Musselburgh looked rather uncom fortable; he was a good-natured kind of per son, and liked to think the best of every body. "1 had no right to tell yon that story," said he. ;But now. J,hayetbe risk to inaw.about that and everything else, haven't I Hu bert?" said she, with a pretty coyness. "And besides," he continued, "Vin has a perfect explanation of the whole affair. There is no doubt the old man was just full of this subject, and believed he conld write about it better than anyone else, even sup posing the idea had occurred to some other person; he was anxions above all things that his poetical countrymen oyer there in the States and Canada' should be done, justice to; and when he heard that the volume was actually published he immediately declared that he wonld do everything in his power to help it " 'But what about the 50 Hubert?" "Oh, well." her companion said, rather uneasily, "I have told you that that was a gift from me to him. I did not stipulate for the publication of any book. And another thing: he is in absolute ignorance of Vin haying repaid me the 50. She considered for a moment: then sb.6 said, witb some emphasis "And you think it no shame you think it no monstrous thing that Vin Harris should marry a girl who has been in the habit of going about with her grandfather while he begged money, ana accepted money, from strangers? Is that the fate you wish for your friend?" "No, I don't wish anything of the kind," said he, "it if matters were so. Bnt Vin and you look at these things in a very dif ferent light; and I can hardly believe that he has been so completely imposed on. I confess I liked the old man; I liked his splendid enthusiasm, his magnificent sell reliance, yes, and his Scotch plaid; and I thought the girl was remarkably beauti ul and more than that refined and distinguished-looking something unusnal about her somehow " "Oh, yes, you are far too generous, Hubert," his companion said. "You ac cept Vin's representations withont a word. Bnt I see more clearly. And that little transaction about the book and the 50 gives me a key to the whole situation. You may depend on it, George Morris will find out what kind of person your grandiloquent old Scotchman is like. And then, when Vin's eyes are opened " "Yes, when Vin's eyes are opened?" her companion repeated. "Then he will see into what a terrible pit he was nearly ialling." "Are you so sure of that?" Musselburgh said. "I know Vin a little. It isn't merely a pretty face that has taken his fancy, as you yourself admit If be has faith in that girl, it may not be easy to shake it." "I should not attempt to shake it," she made answer at once, "if the girl was every thing she ought to be, and of proper up bringing and surroundings. Hut even if it turned out that she was everything she should be, wouldn't it be too awful to have Vin dragged down into an alliance "with that old that old oh, I don't know what to call him " "Madge, dear," said he, "don't call him anything, until you learn more about him. And in the meantime," he continued, rather plaintively, "don't you think we might talk a little about ourselves, considering what has just happened?" "There is such a long time before us to talk about ourselves," said she. "And you know Hubert you've come into our fam ily, as it were; and you mnst take a share in our troubles." They were nearing the house; five minutes more would bring them in sight of the open lawn. "Wait a minute, Madge, dear," said he, and he halted by the side of a little bit ot plantation. "Don't be in such a hurry. I wish to speak to you about " "About what?" she asked, with a smile. "Oh, a whole heap of things! For exam ple, do you want the Somervilles to know?" "Idon'tparticularly want them to know," Bhe answered him, "but I fear they will soon find out." "I shonld like you to tell Mrs. Somer yille, anyway." "Very well." "Indeed, I don't care if all the people in the house knew!" said he, boldly. ''Hubert, what are you saying!" she ex claimed, with a fine simulation of horror. "My life would be made be a burden to met Fancy those Drexel girls; they would shriek with joy at the chance of torturing me! I should take the first train for the South to morrow morning!" "Beally!" said he, with considerable cool ness. "For I have been thinking that those names we printed on the sands " "That you printed, you mean!" " w'ere above high-water mark. Conse quently they will remain there tor some lit tle time. Now it is highly probable that some of oar friends may be walking along to Port Ban this afternoon; and if they were to catch sight of those hieroglyphics " "Hubert," said she, with decision. "You must go along immediately after luncheon and score them out. I would not for the world have those Drexel girls suspect what has happened!" "Won't you come with me, Madge, after luncheon?" "Oh, we can't be hauntine those sands all day like a couple of sea gulls!" "But I think you might come!" he pleaded. "Very well," said she, "I suppose I must begin with obedience." And yet they seemed to be in no hurry to get on to the house. A robin perched him self on the wire fence not four yards away, and jerked his head and watched them with his small, black, lustrous eye. A weasel came trotting down the road, stopped, looked and glided noiselessly into the plan tation. Two wood pigeons went quickly across an opening in the trees; a large hawk soared far overhead. On this still Sunday morning there seemed to be no one abroad; and then these two had much to say about a ring, and a locket, and similar weighty matters. Moreover, there was the assigna tion about the afternoon to be arranged. But at length they managed to tear them selves away lrom this secluded place; they went round by the front of the big gray building; and in so doing had to pass the dining room window. "Oh, my gracious goodness!" Mrs. Ellison exclaimed and in no simulated horror this time. "They're all in at lunch, every one of them, and I don't know how lone thev mayn't have been in! What shall I do?" And then a sudden thought seemed to strike her. "Hubert, my headache has come back! I'm going up to my room. Will vou give ray excuses to Mrs. Somerville? I'd a hun dred times rather starve than than be lound out" "Oh, that's all nonsense!" said he but in an undertone, (or they were now in the spacious stone-paved hall. "Go to your room, if you like; and I'll tell Mrs. Somer ville, and she'll send yon up something. You musn't starve, lor you're going round witb me to Port Ban in the afternoon." And, of course, the gentle hostess was grieved to hear that her friend had not yet got rid of her headache; and she herselt went forthwith to Mrs. Ellison's room, to see what would most readily tempt the appetite of the poor invalid. The poor invalid was at ber dressing table, taking off her bonnet She wheeled round. "I am so sorry, dear, abont yonr head ache " her hostess was beginning, when the young widow went instantly to the door and shut it Then she came back; and there was a most enrious look of laughter, per haps in her extremely pretty eyes. "Never mind about the headache!" she said tD her astonished Irieud, who saw no cause for this amused embarrassment, nor yet for the exceedingly affectionate way in which both her hands had been seized. "The headache is gone. I've I've some thing else to tell you oh, you'd never guess it in the world! My dear, my dear," she cried in a whisper, and her tell-tale eyes were fnll of confusion as well as laughter. "You'd never guess but but I've gone and made a fool of myself for the second time!" To be continued next week. Sho Was on tbe Market, Mew Tork World, He '(on the shore with a camera, meeting a girl) Ah, I beg your pardon; may I take you? She (with eagerness, but blushing) Yes, I'm perfectly willing; bat you'll have to aak papa first. Aix lovers of delicacies use Angostura Bitters to, secure, a good digestion, ixssa TYING A LIVE KNOT. Champion Smith Explains the Mys teries of Contortionism. WHAT PEACTICE ACCOMPLISHES. Hints for Youngsters Who Delight in Twist ing and Writhing. EBROBS BEGARD1KG CRACK TRICKS rWBlTTIH TOR TIES DtSFATCB.1 Some people imagine erroneously that to be a contortionist one has to be "to the manner born," and I have been" asked ques tions that prove that the outsider looks up on the contortionist as a regular wonder. Here are some of the questions that are pat to me every timo I perform: "Have you any bones?" "Do you ever eat?" "Where do your meals go if you eat?" These questions only show how little the general public know about contortionism. Nature need not give you any particular qualities to become a contortionist If you are an ordinary sized man not weighing if7-":i nttntft A Lea Exercise. over 140 pounds you have the qnalities ab solutely necessary. The rest will depend upon yourself, your patience and persever ance. Some will acquire proficiency in five or six months, while it will take others two years and more to master everything. Some will master it easily, some with diffi culty. PEACTICE THE REQUISITE. As in every other branch of gymnastics, constant and persistent practice is absolutely necessary. If you are out of practice, bend ing tires vou and leaves a soreoess and stiff ness in all yonr limbs, but the gymnast who practices well and constantly need never know what these things mean. Some persons think the contortionist is compelled to sleep in oiled blankets, so that The Body Twist. his joiuts may be well greased, and there are others who actually believe him entirely boneless. Both opinions, of course, are wrong. Everybody is aware that the spine is not a stiff bone, but composed of pieces which are movable and can easily be placed and replaced in almost any position. How little it is necessary to be an out-of-the-way person to become a contortionist is proved by the fact that there are very clever female artists in the profession. But as woman be longs to the weaker sex, she is not able to bear the strain as well and as long as man, and, therefore, she has been obliged to re main in the backgronnd. SOME ADVICE. I should like to give one piece of advice to the beginner. Do not eat before the per formance, in order to keep yourself lithe 'nttttfl MK5n..wMtU-" r- , g The Backward BaUnce. and alert I shonld not advise anyone to begin bending after he is 20 years of age, as after that time your bines naturally be come stiff and settled. Tl e I est lime to begin practicing contortion is at the age of 15. If one begins belore that time there is some dancer of injuring the back. It may not be strong enough to stand the strain, although anyone of that age should be able to bend backward half way to the floor. In all the German turn yereins and schools you will find bending one of the most important parts of the exercises. In both the French and German armies back bending is a daily exercise. We are far behind in that respect, the only bending that is practiced in our schools and gymna siums being forward bending, touching the toes with the hands. If you have, an ambition to become what I am often called, "an anatomical wonder," I can give you a lew suggestions. But I tell youin advance that there is nothing wonder ful in what I do and anyone who begins at the right age and under the right training can do as well as I have done, provided he has the natural qualifications that I have spoken of. AN EXPERT'S CAREER. My althletic career began in 1882, when I joined the New YorK Young Men's Chris tian Association. Two years later I joined the Pastime Athletic Club and made my debut as, a runner, winning my first half ..v S$SSSWg The around Balance. mile in 2:16. I took several times a second and third prize. In 1886 I won my first con tortionism championship in Tammany Hall. During the last eight years I have appeared at all the prominent clubs of New York in exhibitions, and have won several champion ships in and out of town, defeating some of the best known amateur athletes, especially iu the line ot club swinging. In tricks in contortionism there are three distinct ways of bending first, forward bending, called posturing; second, side bending or twisting; third, back bending. My experience has been limited to two kinds of bending, forward and back. But I soon discovered that In order to become a finished performer I would have to confine myself to one kind only. I chose, there fore, the back bending, as it is tbe prettibst, hardest and most effective form of contor tionism. AN EASY TRICK. , The leg exercise'is about the Easiest trick acquired, and can be learned in (a very few 4 VYMffi. SF mm (. T ,T ----vvv,.-.- "vi "" .AttlWSBSM!StS "srfSS-" weeks. The easiest way to learn It is by lyine on your stomach, take Jyour right foot in yonr right hand and draw it up to touch your head. With a little practice you will find that in a short time you can do this with both feet Then do the same thing standing up, as is shown in the figure. The next trick. consists of bending down, touching the-floor with the hand and then twisting the body around sideways. The trick is usualy very effective and well re ceived by the andience. One of the illustrations shows tbe per former balancing a lighted lamp npon his wmSM Q Hlv" w The Lette. forehead and then bending down slowly un til he touches the floor. This trick requires a great amount of practice in order to get so steady that you can balance the lamp safely without risking an explosion. In practicing this trick it is best to use at first some article that rests securely on the forehead and does not break if it should fall. Begin by spread ing your legs two feet apart; then fold your arms and bend down slowly until you reach the floor. You will find, in rising again, that yon need all your strength in order to come up slowly and keep your lamp well balanced. This is one of my best and most effective tricks. A FAVORITE PERFORMANCE. The ground balance is the grand bend, and consists of bending down and resting the chest upon the gronnd while your feet are on the ground, right in front of you. This can only be done after months ot prac tice, and is a favorite trick with the'audi- ence. Making the letter "O" is simply tying one's self in a knot, and is about the most dificult position in contortion. To do it well a great deal of practice is necessary. It is accomplished by placing tbe chest on the ground, while taking hold of the eet with the hands. The trick can be donedifferently and with a separate effect, as is shown in Body Twist With Partner. another illustration, when 1 am tied around the body ot an assistant as I was around the body of Champion William Haas when The Dispatch artist photographed me. To at tempt either of these positions the performtr mnst be very lithe and in good practice. Another illustration shows Mr. Haas doing a hand stand npon my body while I am standing upon my bands and feet bend ing backward. It is commonly called "bend ing the crab." HOW- TO LEARN. An easy way to learn back bending is to get down upon yonr knees, fold your arms and bend slowly until you touch the floor. After that has been mastered you must try and draw vour head under you until you reach your feet This will serve to limber your back so as to enable you to accom plish the most important positions which require closer bending. There are a good many pretty tricks that can be done with chairs. A simple one, only requiring a little confidence and strength, is to stand upon a chair and rest your calves against the back of it. Have some strong man sit upon your feet, so as to keep from overbalancing yourself, then fold your arms and bend slowly until you reach the floor. You can add to the finish of the trick by picking up a handkerchief with your teeth. It will take all your strength to raise yourself from the floor. some chaie tricks. Another pretty bend is to take two chairs and place them about two feet apart. Put one toot in the center of each one, then bend down backward very steadily until you reach the floor without using your hands in any way. Raise yourself again slowly until you stand erect npon tbe chairs in yonr first position. It requires steady nerves or else you lose your balance and possibly alight on yonr head. Bising up always requires your entire strength in all these tricks. I have done this trick possibly 600 times Bead Stand With a Partner. with all my clothes ou, including collar, and have never missed it once, nor have I ever had an accident. It requires nothing but confidence in yonrsel'. To accomplish this trick you will have to begin by practicing on the floor without the use of your hands. When you have mastered that part of it you can try two low chairs, and so on until you can use a regulation size chair. You will find it a very easy performance when once thoroughly studied, just the 3ame as all branches of contortion ism. You have to know bow to do them, and practice steadily and patiently. Charles E. Smith. Elrcirlc Course Indicator. The purpose of the electric holophote course indicator, recently invented by Lord Justice Clerk, is to provide means by which ships may be able to indicate their coures to one another, so as more effectually to avoid risk of collision. It consists of a powerful electric light, under the controfof the ship's officer. When a vessel is on a port helm the reflector behind the light is moved round by a handle so as to cause the pencil of light to pass over the water lrom amidships to the starboard side. This sweep ot light will necessarily move over that part of the water over which the ship on its port helm will pass, and will thus give to any vessel com ing in an opposite direction distinct warn ing of the helm the vessel is on and the part of the water it will pass over. The converse action, of course, takes place when the vessel is on n starboard helm. This is the most effective preventative of collisions that has yet been devised. ym&MJir& r O. 2gFA J u W 1 s.l a BRAMBLE'S RAMBLES Thronjjh Fields of Political Economy, Philosophy, Religion, SCIEHCE, LITERATURE AND ART. The Pessimism of Henry George and Bis Care-All Theory. ET1LS OP EDUCATIONAL METHODS fWBITTEX FOB THK DISPATCH. J It may be I was wrong as a correspond ent asserts when I credit Henry George with pessimistic views, that is with holding the idea that the tendency of the world was to evil rather tlran to good. Bnt certainly no one has portrayed a sadder picture of the present or a more gloomy outlook for the future of the United States, and the world at large, that is if his views of political economy and his plan of taxation are not accepted and adopted, than he has. In every civilized country, he affirms, pauper ism, crime, insanity and suicides are in increasing. In every civilized country the diseases are increasing which come from overstrained nerves, from insufficient nour ishment, from squalid homes, from un wholesome and monotonous occupations, from premature labor of children, from tbe tasks and crimes which poverty im poses upon women. "In every civilized country," he says, "the expectation of life which gradually rose for several centuries, and which seemed to have culminated about the first quarter of this century, appears to be now diminish ing. It is not an advancing civilization that such figures show. So sure as tbe declining sun brings darkness, so sure it is that though knowledge yet in creases, and invention marches on, and new States are being settled and cities still ex pand, yet civilization has begun to wane, when in proportion to population we mnst build more and more prisons, more and more almshouses, more and more insane asylums. It is not lrom top to bottom that societies die; it is from bottom to top." SIGNS OP EEVOLUTIOir. Bnt what Mr. George considers even more momentous than statistics to prove his point as to the tendency of an ebb in civilization, is that "there is a vague but general feeling of disappointment; an increased bitterness among the working classes; a widespread feeling of unrest and brooding revolution." Or, as Schopenhauer would put it, they have discovered that the pursuit of happiness proves it to be an illusion, since, like the pot of gold at -the end of . a rainbow, it is never found. Mr. George goes on to say further that although the schoolmaster has been abroad for some time the general power to trace effect does not seem to be a whit improved. Of this he cites as proof the return to the exploded fallacy of protection. He main tains that even the philosophic free thinker cannot see the decay in religion that is go ing on without feeling that the negation and destruction ol religious ideas will produce some most momentous result "Christianity, also," naysMr. George, "is not simply clearing itself of superstitious,but in the popular mirM it is dying at the root, as did the old pagan religion that preceded Christianity. And nothing arises to take its place. This wreck of religious ideas finds its closest parallel in that period ot history which led from splendor to decline in ancient civilization." CIVILIZATION OK BARBARISM. The gloomy picture he paints of what we are coming to unless his theory as to the taxation of land is adopted is something ter rible to contemplate. The civilized world, he announces, is trembling on tbe verge of a great movement. If his views are put in force there will be a leap upward to open the way to advances yet undreamed of, or if not, there must be a plunge downward which will carry ns back to barbarism. Moreover, Mr. George affirms there is noth ing whatever to show any essential race im provement hnman progress is not the im provement of human natuie. "Nature," says Bacon, "is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished. Force maketbnatnre more violent in the ret am: doctrine and disconrse maketh nature less importune, but custom only doth alter and subdue nature." If, then, there is no improvement in hnman nature it will be, as of old, selfish, grasping and savage. The rich will still roll in wealth by virtue of selfishness and strength, while the poor will go to the will and suffer and starve. The golden rule has been preached for thousands of years as a doctrine essential to happiness here and hereafter, but it has availed little to subdue nature. It is held in theory, but is left ont in practice. THE GOLDEN RULE. Business, if the truth were told, is too commonly condncted after the same fashion, selfishness being the ruling principle, and the desire to take advantage of others the prevailing practice. In the battle between capital and labor is there found any more trace of the golden rule than there is in politics, and Senator Ingalls was told all about political morals? Capital naturally wants all the profits it can get, and labor wants all the wages it can get Force is the weapon on both sides. The law of love as laid down is not regarded in such war. Employers are looked upon as tyrants and oppressors by their men, and capitalists in sist that workers who butt up against the law of supply and demand are fools. Strikes are a very expensive style of test ing the question for both parties, but they seem to be considered by most workers with more favor than more peaceable means, not withstanding the fact that while they de plete capital they also prove a tax upon and a hardship for labor. The science of political economy as pro mulgated by the most subtle and powerfnl intellects fails, as Mr. George affirms, to ex plain tbe persistence of poerty and ad vancing wealth. The conclusions reached by these great thinkers and the laws they lay down are, he says, "spurned by states men, scouted by tbe masses and thought by some modern thinkers to include some mis take or false step in their premises that pre vents tbe best irnits ot civilization lrom be ing reached, or the highest ideal of the brotherhood of man being realized." It is too long a story to tell, but Mr. G;orge has by study of tbe subject made clear to him self, and others, tlut this ideal is only to be reached by bis theory of the abolition of all taxes save one on land, and that all land shall be held as public property. TESTING THE CURE. Bnt would this ideal state of things follow the adoption ot his single tax idea if there is no improvement in the race and human nature remains tbe same? Would his rem edy suffice to cure the dire distresses of pov ertv, the grinding oppressions of power, the miseries of mankind, born to trouble as the sparks fly "upward ? What I meant in speaking of his pessi mistic views was founded npon his own words. How doctors and philosophers dif fer as to remedies! Mr. George advo cates the land tax. Other econ omists hold to the Malthusian doc trine and urge a limit to population. Schopenhauer gives asceticism as the only deliverance of tbe world from pain and ills and sorrows. St. Paul and other holy fa thers advised celibacy from a religious staudpoint, as does also Tolstoi, who bases bis religious views ou the Sermon on the Mount, and on the teachings of Christ. Tslstoi is a faiiatic and a fool, say some who advertise his latest works from the pulpit, but that he is at least earnest and devout who can donbt who has read his "Peace and War," and "My Eeligion?" I have not read tbe book to which good Mr. Wana mnker has refused his mail facilities, but Tolstoi's explanation of it shows that he is at least sincere and has the courage of his opinions. He bstx he was terrified nt Tit i. own conclusions upon a stndy of the sub- ject, bat it was impossible not to hearken to the voice of his reason and conscience, which the good Quakers call "the inner light" THE WAT UPWARD. With all these differing opinions how shall we make the "new start" that Henry George says is essential for peace, prosperity fi? l0T tbe abolition of poverty. With all the knowledge that exists upon the subject, how shall we prevent anarchy and the de cline of our civilization into barbarism? Some say by education, by teaching people to think. The children must be taught; but teachers even if they think themselves do not teach or lead children to think. They 8re-?n.der a ,TS'eni that compels them to stuff them with facts for examinations. Ths mass ot mothers who have charge of chil dren in their most impressionable years not knowing any better themselves train their children to the old superstitions, to the old views of ignorance, and so it goes on from one generation to another. Women who simply, as Shakespeare puts it. "Sucklo tools and chronicle small beer," have the matter of education larsely in their hands, and what they make oi it is very well known. "Passion and prejudice govern the world," says John Wesley. "For one wise man you will find ten fools," says Addison. Withthese facts in view it will be seen how hard it would be to convert into practice the theory of Mr. George, however righteous and advantageous it may seem to be. OTHER PROPOSED REMEDIES. 'Happy is he who knows the causes of things" is an old saying but a tree one. Much has been done to abate tbe miseries of life, and increase its com torts by science, and the stndy of political science with a de sire for truth will be of vast benefit It is difficult to see how the cause assigned by Mr. George unless recognized and the remedy applied makes vain our free institu tions, our schools of no avail, our discov eries and inventions only added forces to crush the masses into greater poverty and degradation. Such matters require the deepest consideration. In the meantime, it would not be a waste of brain power to investigate the other remedies. It would certainly be beneficial to discourage improvident marriages. It does seem as if people without a dollar were the most prone to disregard the teachings of scripture and science upon this point They and their children Oftentimes become a most grievous tax upon their relations, or have to be supported by the community. Bessie Bramble. PEESDJEHT OF ABGENTHTE. The Man Into Whom Hand the Relm Cel mnn Dropped Hare Fallen. Illustrated News or the World. The insurrection that broke out on July 26 at Buenos Ayres, on the Bio de la Plata, tbe capital of the Argentine Bepublic, has end ed, after a sanguinary conflict, in the over throw of the President, Dr. Juarez Celman, who had abused his almost dictatorial powers by attempting measures ruinous to the finances and commerce of the Bepublic Ha was compelled to resign, under a threat of impeachment by the opposi tion of his own colleagues in the Council of State G"ner:il Rori. his Dr. PelHgrinl. brotber-in-law, a former President, and Dr. Pellegrini, the Vice President, who has suc ceeded to the Presidency, and has formed a Ministry, with General Boca, Messrs. Edn ardo Costa, Vicente Lopez, Jose Gutierrez, and General Levalle holding the chief de partments. .Dr. Carlos Pellegrini is forty-three years of age, son oi an Italian or Savoyard archi tect who emigrated to Bnenos Ayres in 1825 and who married an Englishwoman. He was educated at tbe University, bat joined the army of Buengs Ayres, allied with Bra zil and Montevideo, in Jhe war against Paraguay; after this military service he adopted tbe profession of an advocate, and practiced at the bar with much success. Having been elected Deputy for the Province of Buenos Ayres, he made a figure in the Assembly, as a lead ing politician, and became Minister of the Interior shortly after the crisis in 1880, when Carlos Tejedor, Governor of the Province of Buenos Ayres, headed a revo lution against the National Government under President Nicholas Avelleneda, and was defeated in the battles of Coralles and Puente Alsina. As the result of that revo lution Buenos Ayres became definitely the capital of the Argentine Bepublic. and Gen eral Boca was president from 1880 to 1886, in succession to Avelleneda. He was greatly assisted by Dr. Pellegrini in the needful measures of administrative reform, which, were accompanied by large enterprises, the making ot roads, railways, and canals, har bor and city improvements, commercial tariffs, and the negotiating of a foreign loan, managed by Dr. Pellegrini with remarkable success. He also established two political journals the Opinions and the Sud Amtr tea of which he was the editor. A MOONSHHIEE'S THICK, He Plnvsrd Bis Watermelon mad Fat Good Drink Id Each One. LETTIE TO TSX DISPJLTCH.l A deputy marshal who was hunting some witnesses in Winston county, Ala., once happened to be present at a country voting place on election day. When country peo-' pie go to an election they stay all day and enjoy themselves. Refreshments of variou kinds were for sale on the grounds, and sev eral wagons were loaded with watermelons. One old farmer with a big two-horse wagon filled with melons seemed to be getting the bnlk of the trade. His melons were small, and he charged 25 cents each for them, but he was selling more than other dealers, who were ottering much larger melons for 10 and 15 cents. The officer thought there was some mystery about this and decided to investigate. He bought one of the 25 cent melons and when he cut it open found a small vial inside containing enongh corn whisky for ona drink. A little observation convinced tba officer that the innocent looking old farmer had plugged every melon and placed small vial of liquor inside. It was evidently an old trick with him as his cus tomers seemed to understand it. The" old man was arrested for selling liqnor without license and when the case was tried one of the plugged melons wos offered in evidence. Tbe old man was convicted and had to pay a fine of ?100. New mechanical Alarm. A simple attachment is now used in con nection with an ordinary alarm clock which will light a cooking stove or boil a kettle at any time it is set to. A kettle of water can thus be placed on the stove before going to bed, and made to boil just before the sleep is awakened by the ringing of the alarm. J if fJZj W, jjjyyyi
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