w - tfm mgm gg-&mfa Paris may be the recognized center of the worId of fashion, but it is no longer neces sary to go there to see the perfectly dressed woman, as Mrs. Trollope once declared. There is quite as much wealth and luxury, quite as much refinement of manners and physical grace in the New 'World as in that gay and frivolous city. The fashionable American woman Is rarely Trilling to accept the French styles without considerable change and modification. I note that ball, dinner and reception dresses hare steadily maintained their sim plicity of makeup, relying unon the ele gance of material to attain effects. I was DaU Dress for a Debutante. struck by the simple style in which one gown was garnitured, and vet the effect was altogether charming. Indeed, it would be difficult to find a more lovely gown than this very one, a pale blue satin, with a col lar of pleated cream silk gauze, and ruches of the same on the bottom of the sleeves and skirt, the ceniture being of cream satin. The picture shows a simple but pretty ball gown for a debutante. It may be made up in tulle, gauze or thin silk, set off with a lace corselet. Besides satins, Louis XV. brocades and the heavv Louis XVI. failles are extremely modish for evening wear. These elegant fabrics are frequently set off with silk, or with multi-colored pearls in byzantine stvle. The overskirts worn with evening costumes are either of silk muslin in two colors, black or white tulle sparkling with spangles or stars, or of gauze dotted with jnetal butterflies. Flokette. Fads In French. Felt A curious materia, that can be described best as felt straw, is seen in imported hats. It is made of quarter-inch wisps braided. Circular pieces of felt are pinned into any bat or bonnet shape desired. These come in plain and in chine felt. A tobacco brown is pinned into an old-time poke, and HIS FIRST WIFE CHAPTER J. A FATAL JOUIHTEr. "If I were to die, Edred, would you marry again?" Captain Blount looked up from the paper, surprised at such an unusual ques tion. '"Well, no, my dear; though second mat rimony is the best compliment one can pay the first partner of one's joys." "Nonsense. Second marriages are hor rible," she said, with more vigor than the occaiion demanded. "It, when I die, you have another wife, I'll come and haunt you both." "There is not much prospect of your playing ghost," he laughed, with a glance at the lady's florid, healthy face; "so it's not worth while to discuss the subject. I am deep in a splendid article on military tactics." After this there was silence in tbe sunny breakfast room. The Captain was engrossed with the newspaper, and his wife sat thoughtfully stirring her coffee. A cloud was on her brow; ever and anon she shot an angry look at her husband. At last she burst out "For goodness sake leave oS reading and say something." "What is there to say?" he asked reason ably enough. Ton found plenty," shs retorted bit terly, "when we were first married. Ton found my conversation more interesting than stupid politics or tactics then." "My dear Lavinia, how absurd you are. We are past the stage of sickly sentiment. We have been married ten yean; I am nearly 40, and you, forgive the frankness of a husband, are no chicken." "You are very rude," she said, with a hot, angry tear rising to her eye. "And you evidently require a change of air. Your nerves are out of order. Whv not go North on a visit to vour Aunt Claire?" "I think I will," she said, seizing with her usual impulsiveness on the new idea. "I'll go this very day and take Annt Claire by surprise. To tell the truth, I am rather sick of our jog-trot existence. You are always at the club, and the only friends we have are chess playing, whist playing fogies et yours. The women well, I neer got on with women, nor they with me." Tbe Captain sighed. It had always been a sore point with him this feminine ostra cism to which his wife had been treated. It reminded him more than ever of the ill breeding and bad temper pf the woman be had chosen. .It was, he argued, a bad sign when her own sex cave her a wide berth. However, he talked easily enough about tbe proposed journey, looked up tbe trains, and gave Lavinia full directions as to travel ing, etc. Then he bid her good-by and went off to the city, where he had some business to ,1ansaxU. Mrs. Blount made immediate prepara tions for leaving home. There was much to be done domestic matters to arrange, bag gage, and so forth. But long betore noon she was ready to go. "No chicken, indeed," she muttered angrily, as she surveyed herself in the swing glass. It reflected the tall buxom figure of a woman on the shady side of 30. Her face was florid, her eyrs were blue, her hair was of that nondescript dusty brown known as mouse color, but it was fine and thick. Ten j ears before she must have been a pretty, insipid blonde, but now she was coarsening in the way plump blondes will. She was richly but rather loudly dressed trimmed with a big gold buckle and black quills. Felt raveling, in the mixture of colors seen in the bourette tweeds, makes some odd, furry looking turbans. White felt crocheted with a white silk cord makes a bat that is trimmed in hunters' green velvet, white plumes and rhinestone buckles. Perforated felt is used for little bonnets, cut in queer shapes, and inter laced with self-colored chenille. Tucked felt, exactly copying the tucked wools, is fashioned 'into bonnets, tbe trimming matching the tucks, which are lighter in shade than the ground, as a brown felt with light tan tucks and tan trimmings. Bright colored felt bonnets are braided in contrast ing soutache, as scarlet with black, green with tan. Xeedlework on AVhlto Linen. Thistles, clovers, buttercups, sweet-peas, orchids and narcissus are flowers most seen injneedlc work done upon white linen. When the thistles are worked in their natural color:, with the foliage of the plants in soft grayish green, even those who see no beauty in live thistles are charmed. A set of doy lies worked with a continuous border of small morning glories, with their vines and tendrils and the flowers all in their natural color.--, has the flowers wrought in a net woik of htitches that make them resemble skeleton flowers. Many of the new doylies are without decoration in the center, and have a border of embroidery as near as pos sible to the fringed edges. "One very pretty set has the fringe cut away in each corner, and in the center of each side, where there is a cluster of flowers done in solid em broidery. Fashion Flutterlngs. Graceful unncesse coats of ribbed velvet aro worn witli skirts of cloth or silk. Some of tho new French diess skirts show a row or tiny frills alternating with very narrow Lands of velvet or saloon. Fichus are much worn, being made of almost nnv material one may have on hand, or may feel inclined to purchase Lace and rose-buds, plain cliiHon. embroidered chiffon anything and everything go to make up these ornaments. BEUEr-Esoix or butternut-brown of a Oe cidedly reddish shade, appears among some of the ricli fabrics of tbe season. It is often used by ladies' tailors lor elegant visiting dinner dresses of coided silk and plain vel vet, camel's hair, velouis, bengaline and ladies' cloth. Moke elaborate than over before are the silk petticoats designed for evening wear. One model that is of green and crimson shot sillr has tho lower edge alternately filled with red and green silk., Matron luifles of black lace with the upper edges threaded In and out with bebe ribbon tali ovor those of tne silk. There is such a variety of mode from which to choose this season that all figures can select the style ot dressing which best accords with their requirements. There are the Eir.piie and Directoiro waists for slim figures; trim, tailor-made coats, in English lastilon, for stouter forms; princesse models, which greatly aid in imparting a slender effect, besides the comet skirt and long waisted French bodice, wbich impart an attractive symmetry to the generality of figures. A FAIR COMMITTEE STRIKES. They Quit In a Body Because Their tabor Congress Programme Is Spoiled. Chicago. Dec 29 The ladies on the Labor Congress Committee of the World's Congress Auxiliary to-aay resigned in a body. The reason given by them is that the programme for the labor congress, over which they and committees of laboring men bad worked for the best part of a year, was practically ignored by C C Bonney, Presi dent ot the Auxiliary. Mr. Stevens, who is connected with the Knights of Labor, said Mr. Bonney'sldea to.confine the Labor Congress to five days is preposterous. The religious congress is Given a month, while important economic subjects are crowded into the fraction of a week. To this the women wonld not con sent. Ton need not despair! Salvation Oil will heal your burnt arm without a scar. 25 cts. De 'WnT's Little Early Risers. Best pill for biliousness, tick headache, malaria. in a satin gown, a much be-jetted mantle, and a bonnet which, to the casual observe consisted of a crimson bow and a couple of tinsel butterflies. "Terrible accident on the Midland Rail way; SO people killed; collision with a goods train; extra special; lull particu lars." So chanted the newsboy. Captain Blount was hurrying along Cheapside. He had promised to dine and go to the play with an old comrade, and was looking forward like a schoolboy to the mild diversion, for Lavinia when at ho.se ncidly exacted his attendance at dinner. He mitrht lunch out, he might be out all day if he chose, but the evening must be spent in the bosom of his family at Saracsn Crescent. The discordant veil of the news boy put an end to all such thoughts. It was with a horrible qualm that be danced at the black lettered placard and thee paid his penny lor the evening paper. He tore it open and greedily drank in the details of the accident. Good Heavens! it was the 11:20, the train by which Lavinia must have traveled. He jumped into a hansom and drove home. His wife had left in time to catch the 11:20, the housemaid told him. She bad heard her mistress tell the cabman so. A reference to Bradshaw showed him that the fatal train wasthe only one which stopped at the little station near which Lavinia's annt lived. Another reference to Bradshaw showed him that there was a train leaving for the scene of the accident at 5:10 a. m. He took out his watch 9:10. Then for the first time be remembered his appointment and sent off a message to his lriend, ex plaining his absence. He wired also La vinia's aunt and received an answer saying that his wife had not arrived. On receipt of this he felt that there was no doubt ot her death or injury ordinarily the would have reached her journey's end long be fore. Then he went upstairs and made a pretense of resting till it was time to start for the station. He returned from his bed room with a shudder. It was littered with traces of Lavinia's toilette; he had not loved her dearly, still she had been his wife for ten long year?, and be could not now look on those dainty feminine trifles without a pang. Hewas off at last, whirling through a sleeping country on a chilly autumn morn ing. To his dying day Captain Blount le membered that journey. The pale dawn creeping over the horizon, the first faint sounds of awakening life, the smoke rising from early cottage fires; the glimpses ot laborers trudging along the road to their day's toil. And through all the horrible suspense he thought of Lavinia, of the days when her plump, fair prettiness had uewucucu uiw, oi mose later aays when her scolding, peevish temper hid estranged him. Then he took from his pocket the newspaper and read again the ghastly de tails ot tne accident The collision, the fearful smash, the flames in which the wreckage was wrapped, the disfigured dead and wounded. It came to an end at last, that horrible journey, and be stepped out on the platform of the little country station. The birds were singing, the dew was glittering, the air was fragrant it seemed hardly possible that in the midst of such fresh beauty a tragedy lay hidden. In a little while he had stepped from the sunshine across the threshold of a room in which the blinds were drawn; round which lay the bodies of the dead. One by one his condnctor turned down the covering from a rigid form, and each time the husband's heart gave a bound of relief the dead face was not Lavinia's. At last he had teen all all but one I II r.J 'aiitSSW - . . . . .' 1 ... r, .. , -.J. :. kJiKj i .LiA. iii -.&& LATE NEWS IN BRIEF. Yellow fever Is spreading In Venezuela. Mrs. Langtry Is worse and may not re cover, after all. The Mississippi is about frozen over op posite bt. Louis. The New Alliance Governor of Kansas will enforce the prohibitory law. Smuggled opium valued at $12,009 was solzod in San Finncisco yesterday. The private banking firm of W. W. Trull & Co., Toronto, has suspended, owing $20,000. One man has been killed and five seri ously Injured in the Calumet Iron mine In Colorado. Bofoie the end of tho nresent week a new tin-plate plant will be put la operation in Baltimore. An apparently Inspired article In he 8t I'eteisburgA'oore Vremya disparages a French alliance. Irish Homo Rulers nre excited over a re pot t that Le Caron, the spy, is Investigating the Dublin explosion. Diaz's friends at the City of Mexico are loth to believe that his troops have been whipped by tbe rebels. Dr. Butterfiold, ot Kansas City, who be queathed $185,000 to Dartmouth College, was a miser duilnghis life. Navigation on tbe Rhine, Moelle, Neckar and Main rivers. In Germany, has been stopped by floating ice. A complete opera entitled "King Lear" lias been found among the manuscripts of the deceased composer, Lltolfl. The result of the Brunson divorce trial in San Francisco Is a vindication of Mrs. Stoneraau, wife of the ex-Governor of Cali lomla. If negotiations now under way are can led out, a consolidation of tho elevated railways of Chicago will soon bo accom plished. Female convicts in Siberia are to be ex empt from flogging and wearing manacles. Punishment by restricted diet and by isola tion will bo substituted. The Universal Radial Drill Company, B. W. Flack, President; 1G. Marsh, Treasnrer. hai asilzned. Assets nre estimated at $30,000 to $10,000; liabilities the same. For courageous services in lepelllne train robbers near Huntington, W. Va., $100 was given Conductor Zingerlee by the Chesapeake ana Ohio Company. State Labor Commissioner Peck, of New Toilr, denies the leport that ho Is going to bring suits (or libel against certain newspa pers for what he terms their persecution of mm auring tne last campaign. While Cincinnati morgue doctors were dissecting tbe supposed corpse ot n man who had apparently fallen dead in a saloon, blood burst fiom the wound. It Is believed the surgeon's knife killed the man. The differences Detwcen tho Baltimore and Ohio officials and the Gilevnnce Com mittee of the Brotnerhood of Trainmen has been settled by the signing of a wage scale which makes an averago lucrease ot from 8 to 18 cents por.aay. Amos II. Hosmer and Edward W. Rouse, grand officers ot the Iron Hall organization, recently indicted by the ciand Jury of In dianapolis, were placed under arrest at Baltimore yesterday, In obcriieuco to a re quest -of the Justice or Police of Indian apolis. John L. Conovor, counsel for tho Central Railroad Company, lias filed his answer to Attorney General Stockton's supplemental information against tho Reading Coal Com bination. The. answer denies that the Chancelloi's orders weie disobeyed in any respect. Wednesday at Indianapolis Cora Griffith spent her last dollar for a dancing losson. At supper time she went to a restaurant and oeggeu something to eat, then went to her boarding bouse, swallowed an ounce of car- uotio acia ana died m an hour, bhe had beon disappointed in Iotb. Charles Maechling, a skilled iron worker of Pittsburg, is in Cincinnati trying to find his father. He was separated from his parents in Philadelphia when he was3yeais old. He has spent several years in the seal ch, and lias at last located "his mother in Ger many and will bring her here. James Dunlap, the Northampton bank burglar, whose pardon was signed by Gov ernor Russell, was roleated from State prison at 9 5 o'clock yesterday morninir. and left on the Boston and Albany express iui .w i urj. iiibv, uccompamou. uy nis Ilie long fiiend, Mrs. Mary Scott Rowland. An unknown American at Monte Corlo lost 3,500 belonging to his mother at tho gaming tables. When the last coin was gone he walked quickly out, and 18 miles from Nice throw himself In front of an ap proaching train and was killed. Another nnknown gambler lost all he had and blew out his brains soon, after. There Is trouble ahead for prominent men connected with tho Slnaloa colony of shrouded heap which was drawn a little aside from the rest. He was told that it consisted of mutilated remains, charred be yond recognition. He looked. But the flames had left no sign of humanity in those twisted, blackened features. He would never know whether Lavinia had met her death, but he told himself it was almost a certainty. And when the day3 lengthened into weeks, the weeks to months, he felt absolutely sure that he was widowed. Now she was dead, he forgot her later faults and thought of her only with tenderness. Poor Lavinia. CHAPTER IL A SECOND MAREIAGE AND AFTER. It was late in the afternoon afternoon at Palermo and an Englishman was strolling along the Corso. With his fair sunburnt face, blonde mustache and loose-fitting tweed suit, he formed a striking contrast to the pedestrians who thronged the tootpath. They were principally men, and wore long, loose cloaks, which they drew in muffled folds around them. The women were driv ingit was the hour for fashionable out door exercise, and everybody with any pre tensions to gentility had a carriage. Ctptain Blount walked moodily along the narrow street. The tall houses, with their heavy overhanging balconies, threw dark shadows across the road and made even a brilliant June day appear dreary. Now and then, as the Englishman glanced up at the windows, he would catch glimses of women seated watching the throng. They glowed like jewels in a gloomy setting those dark-eyed Southern beauties with their bright-hned bodices and elaborate ornaments. Suddenly there was a block in the long line of vehicles, and Blount heard his name called out by a hearty English voice. He turned in surprise to the carriage from which the voice came, and confronted his old lriend. Colonel Seton. The two men shook hands cordially and through the minds of each there flashed the memory of other days davs spent under a'hot Indian sun. They had not met since Blount was sent invalided home. "Delighted to see you," cried the genial Colonel. "But, mv dear chap, how ill you are looking. Surely that old wound " "Never gives me a twinge," returned the other. "The fact is, I've had a trouble. I'd rather not talk about it " "Ot course not, of course not," assented the veteran. "Pussy and I must try to cheeer you up. Yoti remember Pussy my daughter Kathleen." "I should think so; the prettiest little fairy in the world and the pet ot the sta tion. Why. Colonel, she must be grown np now. How old it mases one feel." "Grown up. Of conrse she is. She's quite an elegant young lady. isPussv. Come, jumpiin, Blount, and lei me drive you to the Villa Macqueda. We are stay ing there, and you and Kathleen can renew your old acquaintance." Kathleen Seton was, indeed, an elegant young lady. Captain Blount could hardly believe his eyes. Was this Pnssy roguish Pussy with white frocks, a wide blue sash, and the funniest little prattling tongue pos sible? Had she really turned out such a beauty? For Kathleen's wondrous hazel eyes, exquisitely pure complexion, and clear cut features certainly entitled her to the distinction of such a term. She and the Captain were' soon capital friends. "I always liked you. better than the others when I was a wee thing in India," she said one day. And tho soldier's heart beat with a strange new pleasure as he looked down at the iresh girlish face. "Was it possible," he asked himself im patiently, ''that he bad been fool enough to lall in love with the child?" Pool or no foal, he soon knew that he had in very trtfh fallen captive to fair Kathleen. He, mi Idle-aged and matter of fact, ai he had K. l ' S: etJ&ZjH&aaSB&BfB - W&ri'Mii Lev - it ' ' s ' f .fjj1! J yv-5- - r TV T" i i HiTi lifci irriiiiTTrirtflnmTfT" T i iilfTgrtn MiiTfiiiii TTwTBrTfli Americans 1n Mexico. The projector and head of the Topolobampo scheme is a New Yorker, and he has been notified to apnear belore tho Board of Directors at Enterprise, Kan., Januarys, and make arrangements to protect the COO colonists now there. Attorney General Rosendale, of New York, has submitted an opinion to the Secre tary of State In tho application of tho Wells Fargo Express Company to transact an express business only in that State, the com pany now being incorporated under the laws or Colorado to do several branches or business, in which beholds that a certificate should be issued. Tuesday Jacob Collins tried to force his way over tne Newportand Cincinnati bridge without paying toll. Joshua B. Harrison, the tollkeeper, tried to prevent his passing. A struggle ensued, and Harrison struok. Col lins with his fist. Collins died a few hours later. Harrison was tried for murder Wednesday, and the Jury acquitted him without leaving their seats. 4. Child Enjoys Tbe pleasant flavor, gentle action and sooth ing effect or Syrup or Figs, when in need of a laxative, and if the father or mother be coativo or bilious, tho most gratifying re sults follow Its use; so that it is the best family lemedy known and every lamlly should have a bottle. "Thanks evermore.' Shakespeare. OUR THANKS ! Our sincerest thanks to our many patrons for far and away the biggest holiday trade in our business history. The holidays are over, but we have not fallen asleep. We are as wideawake as ever awake to your wants and your interests. FOR NEW YEAR GIFTS We have hundreds of novelties just opened. Came in too late for the Christmas trade are ready for New Year. Some thing that the Christmas shop pers have not seen. If you have to get a New Year's gift, get it here. THE COMING YEAR Will find us just as attentive, our goods just as reliable, our assortment even larger, our prices even more reasonable than last year. What more can we say? Wishing you and yours A H VPPY NEW YEAR, JEWELERS, 529 Smithfield Street de2S-27 STOP THAT SMOKE. Parties really wishing to see the city free trom smoke go and see what is being done In the boiler room of the Fidqlity Title & Trust Co.'s building, Fourth Ave. Take no man's word for it, but see It yourselves. Or you can get all the information neces sary of WALKEK SMOKELESS FUBXACE CO., Boom 317, Lewis Block, Pittsburg. de!5 106-mwt often dubbed himself to Lavinia, Poor Lavinia! Dead and nearly forgotten. He decided to leave Palermo, and forget his folly. But one June day the three Kathleen, her father and Blount went for an excursion to a tiny fishing village some distance round the coast. It was a holi day, and all the village i"61ks were holding festival. All wore gala dress, and the young men were dancing a tarantella, while the women, according to custom, sat at the doors looking on. "How light-hearted they seem," said Blount, as the three of them turned away and went down to the seashore. "Gad," cried the Colonel irritably, "those young blades would not foot it so merrily had they tne gout in their toes as I have. Look here, Blount, you and Kath leen can go on if you choose, but I'il rest here awhile." So the two strayed together along the yellow sands. Kathleen stooped now and thenyto pickup some exquisitely tinted shell "What a lovely place this is," she said with a sigh, "and how happy we have been. I shall never have such a delightful time again. r -.nonsense, i ou nave lite betore you. You will marry, and your honeymoon will be more interesting than this time has been, spent with a couple of old fogies." "Imaynot marry. Everyone does not. You, for instance." A cloud darkened his good-looking face, and a sudden impulse made him take the girl's pink palm in his. "You are mistaken. I have been married. Shall I tell you abont it?" "If you please," she said, with grave sur prise and a shy upward glance from her hazel eyes. So they sat down on the sands in the hot sunshine, and Blount bared his heart. "When they sent me home invalided," he began abruptly, "I went to live at a boarding bouse in Kensington. It was kept by a pleasant middle-aged woman, whose name was vMrs. Minor. She had a niece who was supposed to assist In domes tic affairs, but who Mas more of an orna ment than anything else. Lavinia Minor was a pretty girl of two or three and twenty." "Was she like me?" "Oh, no. She was a blonde; pink cheeked, blue-eyed and fluffy haired. Well, to make a long story short, I married her, and the marriage was rather a failure. We 'did not quarrel exactly, but we tiffed, and lavinia, poor soul, was fond of nagging. She wasn't quite quite a lady, you know, and did not seem to make friends with other women. She lost her good looks, too, and soured in consequence. One day, when we had one of the usual little sparring matcher, it was arranged that she should go on a visit to Mrs. Minor, who had sold the boarding house, and was living at a north-country village. She went, and the train by which she traveled came into collision and caught nre. The result was fearful. Iwentdown and saw the dead. Lavinia was not among them. But some were burned and muti lated beyond recognition. That was two years ago, and I have not a doubt that I am widowed." "How horrible," saidthe girl with a shudder. There were tears in her lovely eyes, and she put out one ot her little hands sympa thetically. Captain Blount took it and held it last The. summer sky, the blue waves which rippled at his feet, above all the girl's beauty, intoxicated him. He forgot his 40 years, bis 'prudent re solve. "Pussy," he whispered, unconsciously using her pet childish name. "I love you, I love you, my darling. , Say, will you be my wile?" It was Christmas Eve in London. Out side the snow fell thick; the roads were like iron, tbe very puddles had turned to greasy black Ice. Insid, at an old-fashi6ned & . HARDY 4 K NEW AJUVJEBTISEMENTS. KAUFMANN'S DRESS... ...GOODS R E M N A N T S y MUST GO AND GO AT ONCE. PRICE NO OBJECT. Listen; ye careful, shrewd and economical shoppers: We have on our counters several thousand yards Remnants of fine All-Wool Dress Goods. They're left over from the late holiday boom, and must be sold before the expiration of the old year. Now, bear in mind, ladies, these goods are We emphasize this fact, since the usual run of remnant sales held by Pittsburg and Allegheny drygoods houses are no more than a mere of fering of a lot of old, shopworn, un salable goods made attractive by applying the word "Remnants" to them, but which in reality are ante diluvian relics, too dear at any price. You see, our entire stock is brand new, and our Remnants are likewise, of course. KAUFMAM'S New and Popular DRYGOODS DEPARTMENT, de30-17 Bloomsbury house, at all events, all was warmth and comfort. "Now, dear," said Kathleen, "you must start to meet papa." She had developed into a charming yonng matron, and the look she cast on her hus band was full of lore. "Plenty of time, Puss," he said content edly, yet rising from his chair and submit ting himself to be helped on with bis over coat "The Colonel's train is not due till 9:30." "But you had better go, you might miss him." So he turned out of the warm dining room into the clear, cold night Kathleen came to the hall door and drew back with a pretty shiver as a rude blast swept round the corner. Captain Blount went down the steps into the street. As be turned a woman advanced from the railings, where she had been crouching. He gazed at her with idle curiosity. She did not look the kind of a woman to be out unprotected on such a night. She wore a long loose cloak which com pletely covered her, and the hood ot which served as a bonnet She raised her head and looked him full in the face, then touched his arm and said in a voice which made him shudder, "Edred." He recoiled and stared blankly in those faded blue eyes. For a moment, though he was not super stitious, he wondered it she had not come back from the grave. She who for three years bad been to all seeming dead. He looked again. The florid face, the masses of loose brown hair, which the rude wind was tossing wildly, he knew well enough. This was no spirit "Don't be afraid," she said with a mock ing laugh. I'm no ghost Do you not wish I was? "My God!" he cried. "Lavinia. Where have you been all these years?" Then he glanced at the lighted dining room where .Kathleen sat waiting. "Come away," be said, taking her by the arm. "For pity's sake come away." . CHAPTER IIL CATTAIir BLOUNT'S DILEMMA. "It happened in this way," she said as they paced the frozen pavements of the quiet Bloomsbury squares. "I meant to go to Aunt Claire, but missed the train. I started to return hqme and postpone my journey till next day; but in tire booking office I met Madame Lacroix. Do you remember her? No, of course I forgot that you are far above remembering people who were mv friends. She boarded a long time 'with aunt, and finally started a pension of her oun at Boulogne. At the time we met she was on the look out lor a suitable partner. We did some shopping and had tea talking of her afiairs all the time. She did not know ot my mar riage, and I had not found of an opportun ity to tell her. It was getting dark when we lelt tbe confectioner's, and the newsboys were shouting particulars of the horrible railway accident on the Midland Railway. Then ail iu a flash the idea occured to me of hiding for a time; you would believe me dead; it would give you a horrible fright and bring back that love for your wile which she knew she was losing; and I was so sick of our humdrum existence." At the very moment this scene occurred Pate, in the shape of Madame Lacroix, aided it "Why should not you come, Lavinia?" she said abruptly-her mind still running on the wants of herpensiou. "Why, Indeed," I returned. "It is the very thing to suit me." "So for three years I have been at Bou logne; at the very time you were viewing. ,no doubt with satisfaction, my charred re mains, I was enjoying myself immensely across the channel, in tact, the J tie was so pleasant that I might have stopped there THE PARTING SHOT THE OLD YEAR. As a fitting climax to our previous efforts "' 3 we now offer you the choice of any 822, $20 i or $18 suit or overcoat in our stock for f $14.50- i OUR PARTING SHOT. Look to your interests and take advantage of our $14.50 sale of Suits or Overcoats. Every purchase made in our ESTABLISHMENT if not perfectly satisfactory can be returned and the money will be cheerfully refunded. 4-PLY LINEN, 2100 FINE, COLLARS 7 CENTS. CUFFS II CENTS. Smithfield, Corner Diamond Street BEASS FEONT. MAIL ORDERS RECEIVE PROMPT ATTENTION. de26-l-Tuy for good had not a copy of the Times given me intelligence of your marriage to a Miss Seton. Who is she? What is she like? I suppose it was that chit of a girl who came with you to the door. She will have to go." "Not so fast, Lavinia," he said quietly, though his blood was boiling at the insult to Kathleen. I must be sure ot your iden tity first" She gave a scornful laugh. "That is good. You wish to prove the identity of your own wife. A capital joke, Edred, but it won't get you out of your difficulty." He sighed heavily. Too well he knew that not a doubt lingered in his mind. She was his wife, and Kathleen, sweet, inno cent Pnssy he shuddered when he thought of the curse he had brought on her. He thought, too, of the happiness which he had tasted for the last 12 months of the misery of reunion with the woman at his side, and, as he thought, he grew to hate her. "Curse you," he said, forgetting her sex and the relation he held to her, "for a vile trickster. I wish to heaven that you could feel one-half the pain you have brought on me. Let me get out of your sight. Let me forget you ever crossed my path. "Not till you have said iwheu you will meet me again. It must be soon. I am in no mood for trifling. This is Christmas Eve. Shall we say the day after to-morrow?" "Give me longer," he pleaded. "Till the new vear. I must have time to think on my course of action." "You are not overwarm in your welcome," she said scornfully, "but I will b'e gener ous." Meet me at three o'clock on New Year's Day in the British Museum. And mind," she concluded threateningly, "if you break the appointment I shall go straight to the woman who thinks herself vour wife." "I will come," he said briefly and with no other word hurried away. He wandered blindly; along the lonely streets in the teeth of driving wind and snow. He could only think of Kathleen. Would that the golden summer days in Sicily had never been; would that he had never seen that lovely girlish beauty. CHAPTER IV. FOUND OUT. How the idea took root in bis mind he never knew; but there it was, and it grew and grew till a faint hope came with it What if this woman was an impostor? It was a wild hope, considaring that Lavinia's voice still rang in his ears. Lavinia's face was ever before him. Still there was the hope, and vague though it was, would not be driven out Mrs. Minor was dead, but there was still one person living who had known his first wile as a child. So he traveled down to Pyedale and in terviewed this person, who years ago had been Lavinia's nurse. The short winter afternoon was closing in as he walked up the straggling village street At the door of the wheelwright's cottage stood the wheelwright's wife Han nah Stone, the woman Captain Blount had come in search ofT She knew him at once, and begged him to step into a stuffy little parlor, whose win dow was crowded with flowers lhat still bloomed, despite the season. For more than an hour he tat talking with Mrs. Stone, and when he arose to go. the cloud from his face had nearly lifted. What if bis wild hops had some founda tion after all? On New Year's Day he met Lavinia. "What have you decided to do?" she asked. "Though indeed but one course is open to vou " "And'that" "Is to reinstate mo in my proper position as your wife." "1 will when I am certain that we stand in that relation to each other," he said sternly. TO "I do not understand." "You will presently. Be good enough to take off your gloves." Her face paled, and her mouth twitched convulsively. But she looked up defiantly. "Don't be a fool," she said evasively. "Tell me what you are driving at" By a sudden movement he tore down he loose gloves. On the left wrist was a large mole, "As I thought," he said, coolly pointing to it; "you are Louise, my late wife's sister and a miserable liar and impostor. I "You are mad," she cried. "IamLa Tlna. I always had this mole." "Lavinia, as I perfectly well remember, bad an ugly scar across the back of her right band, caused by the bite of a dog. You have no sueh scar. Believe me, the game is up. You had better not drive me to the extremity of having yon arrested. Mrs. Stone could give damning evidence." He saw her tremble; he saw the color die completely from her florid face, leaving her whiteto the lips. "She told me all," he continued, driving the nail home, "the story of your misera ble marriage, of the burden of disgrace you and your low-born husband have borne. Lavinia, poor soul, never let her name past your lips. How you learnt of her death, how this diabolical scheme developed it itself is best known to you. But you are Lavinia's sister. I learnt that a few days ago from your old nurse. If I do anything for you " She burst into tears. "Poverty tempted me; my husband is dead," she said penitently. "We were twin sisters, and strikingly alike. I thought it would be easy to hoodwink you, and make you buy my silence. Thank yon for your ofler of help. A little money will spare me much misery." "Then you may draw quarterly on my bankers. Here is their address and partic ulars of the amount they will hold tor you. But never let me see your face again." So they parted, in the darkening street, where the lamps were being lighted. They went their different wavs. She turned into the glare and turmoil of a busy thoroughfare; he walked toward an old house the home where Kathleen, innocent of evil, was awaiting him. Mrs. Henry & Dudeney, in Manchester Times. FOR ABUSE OF ALCOHOL Use Hors ford's Acid Phosphate. Dr. W. E. Crane, Mitchell, Dak., says: "It has proven almost a specific for this dis order; it ohecks tho vomiting, restores the appetite, and, at the same time, allays the fear or impending dissolution, that Is so common to heavy drinkers." 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