I
,,r "Publication.
.mcrsct Herald,
-vcrv We !u'f,!ay ',irn,ntf 8t "J 0 '
1 "' ,.- rtKivS i""ueri 3M
. K IT flk'f"-"
-)'
. Bl T1"'8
ill'
MM
fl'A t .'in-int'cnid until all
suiucriUcrs dj nut take out
1-eM r.JK.'llU f,T tllB n!'-
, (run Otis I.f tnfttee to an
;i nimr of the Utrmn a
rpi
1 11 (P
The fomjnostt f ?ttvx':n.
gj M f; a if Mil
The bright particular s-tars of
' journalism are nmv engaged iri d'.-r
; fining tiic nsotivf.-s of General Grar.t
1 and nthcr gentlemen who are visit-
of
in:
Mexico.
The declared o!
The
oincrsct Herald,
.!. I'a.
ESTABLISHED, 1827.
VOL. XXIX. NO. 51.
SOME11SET. PA., WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1881.
WHOLE NO. 1559.
VCYATHW,
rM'tiicnwl, rVun a.
n.i..
I LAW,
SMttaerin;!, Pa.
;-i-l.l'V.
A T i OKN EY-AT LAW,
S.nri.-t, Fa.
:;uK i:
St I I I-,
!.i;NKY-Al LAW,
JOS. HOENE & CO.,
l;,ir.;!, 01 aud 203 Penn Atmhio,
I'lTlVDURCiH, PA.
T!i:it thev have rccoive.1 the largest as
rt ;:n-iit
NEW SPRING
SUMMER GOODS
Ail
i.tV-T LAW,
S-4i!cn.'t. Pa.
PATTKRSON,
. 1. I'"
.)i:NEY-AT-l.AW,
Si-vorsot, r. ,
ratei to l.i rnrj will to at
;,.,;,.aj.. au.1 ai.:iis..
w. u. at
.T..rii .t hotel,
' -liOliNEYS.AT-HW.
;(! t.i tti'lr ra
,i'y aliunde ! t j,
1 p-'s iirv't. vt
e will l
'N'.Y
st'HELU
f.ilJ.MV-Al'LlV;,
INK II AY.
1 TOiiN EY-AT LAW
; rut i: mi i:t it
- r.n ?r?.
! to h;j
:, P
Ta.
will
wi.h
Tlit.! Ili.-y iiavo yet !iad
U rmj; t. tin- jmblic.
the jilousurc ofof-
OS1Z AXl T1IKX AXTOTIICR.
Terr E:st Va!aa,. la evory line of
l.'yuii .;) 11.1t (mif to tlicCity U il.) vour'l
flnii-i!ii jmh -aii liavo y !i- wants f.ttir-Iiio-t
-ri (y supplied l.y wikUm- us roururdi-rs by
mail. V luivc tlii hraix h of mr (xiMimvs
lii'iroulily orijaiiiirtl, iJ ull onlcrsfor
-irli"r
SA5IPLES or GOODS,
iii.l ii'iv iiif iniiiilj.in li.it may l.c il.-sired,
tli.t: it is p.issililc i'.r n-i M iiivc, will liave
..ir iii'i-w un-fui und pnniipt attention the
:.n." c'i'y they are reotivivl. In striding
y.nic urdcrs Mate a. oxplic;:iy as jmu can
li:;t y.iu watit.
f 'Po!iot f til to iv:i 1 our ro.rular iteni
!...! a.lvcrtiwnieiitsi, :is tliey apenr from
tiiiii to time in a' I of tiic I'ittslnir-ii daily
uni ri'iis:i ji wei-klv iiaiers.
kimm:l.
1Tr:'KNl--Y-AT-LAW,
R'iiiersi:t, Pa.
. i-:! 'ni-1'.!; ? r:i,f'i?t'l to bis ctre
i V'" f.iTnc p.'ur.:K with prvuijil
t. i.irlii!. un Jiaia Crut sireot.
I.. C. COl.lKMtX.
a- c(n:oriX.
ATruiiXEYSAT-LAW.
a sfEt tc.
t hi.-rii.
I'!!!..
iiil.VLY
th'";r euro
Ijisr.i'.rs.
1U 1
AT LAW,
uaivrrvt, I'..
il Hiiil.llC.
ait'i:m:y-atlav,
Soinrsei Pa.t
; j.;,.. .4 n:ri'.''-l t my car aV
U : t.iee- KU'l li.iullly.
RETAIL STORES,
97, J39, 2d and 203 Pcnn Ave.,
PITTSBURGH. PA.
One step nr.d (hen nnotlier.
And the longest wu!U is ended ;
)ne stitelftiiid then unothrr.
And the longest rent is mended ;
One trielc upon another,
And the hil:es: wall L- made ;
One GaUcupuu anotlicr,
And the difpest miow ii laid.
0 the little ehnra! worker",
l'.y their bIuw and eoti:atit motion,
Have built those pretty i!anda
In the di.-tunt dark blue ocean ;
And tlie nohlesf unilertakiiin
Man's wisdom hnth conceived
By oft-rejieated effort
Ilai been j atien'y achieved.
Then do not look disheartened
On the work you have to do,
And say that such a mighty task.
You never can j:et through ;
But just endavor, day by day.
Another point to gum,
And 30011 themount:i:u which you feared
Vi!l prove to bj a plain.
'"Koine was not built in a day,"
The ancient proverb teaches.
And nature, ly hertreex and flower",
The Mime sweet sermon preaches,
Think not of far n!T duties,
i! 1' of duties which a-e Hear,
A111 raving oiiee hcytn to work,
Km.,ir to persevere.
A Si-niXG showki:. -
for vou don't ksiow Iiow much Rood AuntSllic, in thedooorway, watch-
a gurht of vour dear f;tce will do
Yours t'ternally,
"1. S. Write at once on what
day and train to expect you, an 1 I
will send Hugh and tiic carriip! to
meet you. i
"P. S. No. 2. When I sho .ved
your likeness to Ilujrh he was capti
vated at once, and declared he had
never seen so charming a face. What
will he sav to the original?
F. T."
Mrs. Travers was correct there :
just how much go idic did not know.
lhe truth was, although nothing
could have induced him ta acknowl
edge it, Hugh had fallen half in love
with the pure, patrician face of El
nor's photograph, and in his heart
of hearts he had invested
all the attributes which
ed the retreating stem of her net
i nntil it disappeared from the view
j of her kind gray eyed.
I The errands at poslofueo and
If tore were soon completed, and
Elaor, turning homeward, noticed
over night. In the morning, as he
was taking his leave, he requested
permission to call again a permis
sion which was readily grant, and
as readily acted upon.
Nearly every day after this found
nuga at the Ware homestead, until
L"l. I a , t r
i.iJl tne sicy was rapiuiy becoming; Elnor began to watch for his com
overeat, wHjiuaia, ciouus, whicu j ing with a strange, new flutter at
mreatenea a neavy snower. : her heart. There has hee.i no
Sl,.'. l.nn.rVif ,,..t IT.. , .. ....
u.uujjiii.iiu uuiuicii.i, ; sposen exjuanauon, imt net ween
anu me icar or oeing caugut in tlie i them was a tncit nnrlprsjfon.lino. ,.f
Late for the Train.
t ho visit is r.'ihvay devcluprnciit.
To the average ohfi rv.r of passirtg
events an.! fi-ture pix-.-.iliiiitksi thii
!ich;ri'd ohjri t iij-iM-.ir.s I', i .iv r l!..'
gruii'.id. Jlo-.vevt r, tiicr"; srt puttie
fools ir tiic world, who hold t the
comfortable doctrine that the world
owes them a living. Perhaps it
does. Anyhow, it is certain that
they would not ho able to collect
their due3 ia that respect wero they
to depend ujon the exercise of thc:r
common sen'".
General f ,.aut has found it ncccs-
Thc street cab engulfed her grace- J sary to disavow any designs
rain lent speed to her steps. Nearly
half the distance Was nasaed. and
Elnor wa3 just beginning to con
gratulate herself ou being, almost
safe, when patter, patter! &he heard
the big drops falling, on the leaves
above her. -
Faster went the ilying- feet, and
fir-U-r came the falling drons. Out
her with ; uf breath, Elnor stojiped beneath a
adorned I wide-spreading oak, and trcmblimr
t
p
ATT'iH-VKY at law,
;i ;' -l.-'.'.M N"!L'tSKT to., IA
i ii T" lirf.Ii'l't'i. nr.'! ttii itttlnr lcifitl
.;;..:i :- t :-' ;;!: I'O.i.v.ny.-t KU't li.ie!My.
' k. l. r ai-.k.
ATI' HiMYS AT LAW,
S' .mitrwt, Ta.,
li.-Tr.lnir-uiilj.-.
iil lc pr.i:uiti;-
WOOLEN MILLS
ISTABI.ISHKU 1812.
Hai let fr foe past year ir two, ticen entirely
diki; ;' in Fujipiy tne inrreFii.i dmin4 firui
Esj le 1 liarc built an addltlua tu mjr uilU nj pat
iu a taru amouni cl
EEW AKB IMPROVED KACHINERT
!.! thereby a'm't duublel my capacity for niin-
u.aciurmif.
1 h .vr now on hanJ a large nook enna!Ung of
BLANliLTS.
CASSIMERES. SATINETS,
JElNS, ItEPELUA.VTS, FLANNELS,
WVF.KLETS, CARPETS,
Y ARN'S. fcC,
w!.l;h I wl.-h to
. l.S WT"A
il.I.i.AM il. KOONTZ.
A r. uiJMJY-AT-LAW,
jsVaj'-Ti-c:.
ru..
ir-f-.L-a; H -'J Hi?,
;:. '"")TT.
iTl'diXEY-AT-LA W,
Nunitreet, Pa.
i iipi' ur' K. iie. All'tiustnefH ctlrnft
rt fcC-e:?.! i. wiltt pr.nip:ne and
l ri-cii.
TI..ilIXEY-AT-LW.
bjiasrset. Ta.
Cl-vV. tip turn. Entrance.
Sir--t. I'.iliei'ii'inK ro.vl, e;nte
ii.: mi.-.in'il, an4 all 1'ir.l bn.iueM
: ' nli ir. uie'J.M! autl tidelity.
T.M. HICKS.
jrsru-E OF THE PEACE,
Somerfet, Pcnn'a.
II. i. KiSlMa.L
KIMMELL & SON
fr'l.- ir jir .tc?c1'n I serrii t the c!tl
v n ft ! virittity. Ore of tho
:.rm run nt ?l,'ti:no, unlcrir' pr"leP"Wn.
i'z:.'i l -nn1 at their ,oilicc, ca ilHin
MIl.LEll has Yurma-
!.' iii Iti-r'.in f r the pra-'tlre of
" ' iv; ; sRe CIiir;t-s Krialntr
iir. 2 ';j IC
rAlCEilt-i.diTS his
r. 'iv? ifi:n ci ixen tf S'ira
':li -c !u resiiicoce ou Mala
I o 1.
A.i.
'il T.T.Eli.
MCiAX fcS-l'KiJEOX,
S i h n.'Tj !. In-Mnrq, wherp i.P
vl'-.-ercr cihc-rxis.
UNTIST.
I'.y.w'j tre,
f'rare
--i.Tk..!. fa.
'j i.i.i am rou.ixs.
-X : 1ST, SOAl EliSET, PA.
!.v:h fVj.icic. ahm-e P.:.yl' I'rud
T ' '- :ii al ull liinn lie li-nn-l prrjiar-
i' ..1 ni.ri;. eti. -i aa i.llinr. r.u
rjp'' " Arti'.i.'i:.lte.nli.)raUkliila,
fl iM'.tnu I icene l. H:tratloii6
' ' 'X A(;:;xcy.
'jti:;,...! s.,r,t Patch. R-.tii.-rfet eomif.
! tl,. i'T.t-. Mirvcv.ir an.l cluini
i';:;.:;r(.,',,.,.t a 11 H..initTand P.-n-
n:iiu-iM t ,;!n per. .tit r.li-U:.
-ii n ,;1 .'.(;r... ,im at the tlww
!iri A .iitciiarc ami j-fitac
Farmers, I have tlie lilr.J of gooja m need. 1
vr.tiit j'.ur
WOOL !
to w.r up
miiT IX YOUR OnX COOTY,
aril in r-tfr to rraph all my eustomers In irood
ii:ii, I linve fin).! jej the cone xrntp I bad laat
year, aud tn a idi'lon Mr. J'lfcph L. IiauichertT,
wlij h:at Introduced jay gooda iato uiaay parU of
tl.fii c unty.
1 will ttrtve, na In the pant, to frjre first class
po-.i ai;. lutlvulue to all.
-Xew euKtouiera and thow we failed to find
bs: .:tr, mill please address card to
WM. S. MORGAN,
Qiiemahonins.Pa.
J.-.s. A. TiTIillax.
Jko. II. Watkks
M'LMILLAN & CO.,
rniCTicAL
PLUMBERS,
STEAM AND GAS FITTERS,
No 112 Franklin Street, Johnstown, Pa.
S:H--isl attention Riven to Hons Dralnaire tod
SvKer Vcntliali.'U.
ESTIMATES MADE AND WOSI E3SS
In the niot thorough manner and (ruaranteed.
"Hj. O. JLIrJDIS.
1I.;s cosiftaiillv on. Land at hie
distillery
PURE RYE WHISKY
F.r sale by the barrel or gallon,
suited for
MEDICAL W MECHAHICAL
PURPOSES.
Or !ers addressetl to Berlin, Fix.,
will leceive jirompt aiientin.
Martk 2,
lY BANK.
:o:-
AUCTIONEER.
Da
-if n. PTviw ,n Krai or Per
? r .i,int to le di'iiiised oi at
w..l tiis rtireatt!luctlfl.
' 1" ::; .: aiteji'icJ to.
V.. A. KOONTZ.
Cotf uenee. Pa.
BROTHERS
mi
ERS,
i:t, r
A.
3sSO (iclioas
FERMENTED
Wink.
SALE
Somerset Countv Bank,
CHARLES J. HARRISOH.
("arhicr and Manager.
MIisctloai made in all parti of the Unite. J States.
OUartrr! moderate. Batter and other cheeki col
lected erd cifhe.!. Lantern and Weternexehanie
always on haa J. Jlcsilt'tanscf made wltn prompt-
boaa. Aoottutj e..icsiea.
far.loa !e.'.rur to purrhaM V. S. 4 I'EE
CENT. FUNDED LOAN, can te aecotnmo
data.1 at tfc If Back. The eonponi are prspakl Is
daama:iiatl"C of M. 1H0, VM aod aW.
iFO. s.'cca.
i rrrrt
ta sra at. hick.
1F3
Qilll
JOHN HICKS & SON,
' ROMEltSET. PA., '
And Heal Estate Brokers.
ESTAKMSIIKD.18SO. .
per.M wtodeMre
rirniierty, or rent win
fell, toy or earfcanare
nt.A It In I'h.ir atlrantatfe
Li reKiKir the riewrlmion ihereof. as bo eharwe t
made unlcai! wild tr ronied. Keal esiaie buaineas
generally w ill lie promptly attended to.
ast is
S. T. LI1 TLE & SONS,
lOS BALTIMQKE STIIEKT.
CUMBEI1LAND, Md.
I sv
' I.
Il 4.'
1 " - U the tlida to
tKERtv LACKDERKY,
. CV' WILD-CKEHRY
- WINE
M ;,i
t:.il,7 Irehaaer.
tV !, La . and saera-
WATCHES, CHAIXS,
SOUD SILVERWARE, DUMOSbS,
AXE RICA X CLOCKS, FRKKCH VI OCSS,
SILVZR l-LATED WARE,
JEWELRY, tc.
HOLIDAY PBESE5TS!
Waiekes and Jewelry
Ecualred ht Skilled Workmen aaJ
rp-umed L Extrcss Free of Cbarce. No extra
cbarfre for EngTavtng. Ooodswar.
ranted as renresented.
oetis
.
o
Mrs. Travers' morning room was
the ideal of luxurious elegance, and
the lady herself made a charming
picture as she lay back amid the
crimson cushions of her cozy easy
chair. One da.ntily slippered foot
impatiently patted the iloor, and
an indignant Hush dved the clear
olive of her cheeks as she closely
scrutinized (he countenance of the
room's other occupant, her handsome
brother Hugh.
He was standing by the fire, one
arm resting on the low, marble man
tel, an amused smile covering his
lips as he regarded his irate sister.
Mrs. Travers in her intent search
of his face saw the smile, and then
the vials of her wrath burst on the
head of the unlucky offender.
"I declare, Hugh Cast'emoti, you
arc tbe most provoking mortal 1
ever saw !" she exclaimed, w ith a
flush of her sparkling black eyes.
"Ju.t see how you are spoiling all
mr plans by your stupid obstinacy.
1 have written and invited Elnor
Vance here, and stated particularlv
that you are staying with me and
were anxious to meet her. I sent
the letter yesterday, and now she'll
come and nnu vou pone. UI course
she'll know that vou onlv went to
avoid her, and what will she think?
Don't stand there smiling at me in
that tantalizing kind of wav, for I
have no patience with you at all !"
And, with a toss ot her lettv
braids, Mrs. Travers tightened the
rose-colored cord frirding her pale
ray rube de chambre, while Hugh
broke out into a little laugh.
Why, sister mine, vou don't
know how well your little temper
becomes you !" he said smilingdown
into the rlushedface. "Iiutserious
1 Flossie, I don't see why vou
should flv into a tantrum because I
take a jaunt into the country for
recreation from the dull care of a
lawyer's oflice."
"Eecreation, indeed !" exclaimed
the lady, with an impatient gesture.
"Don't" Hugh don't run away with
the idea that I believe anything
like that, for I am well aware that
you are only going to avoid meet
ing Elnor Vance, though why you
should do so is an impenetrable
mystery to inc."
The gentleman made an impa
tient movement.
"Well, Flossie, I acknowledge
that is my reasow for taking myself
off just about now," he rcpon led a
look of seriousness settling on his
face. "Why, sister, do you suppose
that I would stay here for a moment,
playing the devoted to M iss Vance,
simply because she is an heiress?
or that I would consent to stand j
quietly ly while she coolly meas-;
ured my physical and mental qual- j
itics with a view to matrimony? j
Heaven forbid! And, Flossie, I:
must say that in the matter cfa
wile I prefer to do m v ow n selecting,
and certaenly my choice would
never he one who could, even in the
slightest manner, appear a? a hus
band-hunter."
"llasband-hunter, indeed!" ex
claimed Mrs. Travers, now thor
oughly angrj-.. "As if Elnor ance,
the heiress, w ith the beauty and ac
complishments that she possesses,
would stoop to such a thing ! Oh !"
sarcastically, "I think it is a most
excellent idea of yours, this of going
away; for, should you stay here,
and Elnor just chance to smile on
you, your insufferable conceit would
immediately construe it into an
avowal of love. It is certainly a
blessed escape for her."
And, with this Parthian shot Mrs.
Travers and her sweeping train sail
ed majestically fiom tho apartment
Hugh gave a long, low whistle as
hi.s titter's plump form disappeared
through the doorway, and then lie
laughed softly to li'imself ; for he
knew that the'pretty matron's little
temper would soon be over, and by
dinner-time she would be her own
lively self again.
, While all this was taking place
ia the Travers mansion the subject
of the conversation was bonding her
golden head over Flossie's letter.
The pleasant chatty contents brought
a f?mile to the sweet young face; but
suddenly the smilo vanished, and,
with puckered brow and compress
ed lips, Elnor read the concluding
paragraph of the . closely-written
epistle.
: "Ma C7cnV," ran on, in Mrs. Trav
ers' gliding chirography, "you have
so often promised to pay nie a visit
that now I am going to insist on
the fulfillment of your word, espec
ially as Hugh is with us. (You re
member his likeness that I showed
vou while we were at 6chool togeth
er?) He is particularly anxious te
mo vnn " miis last clause being
the nart of tlie writer.)
"Pf. now. dear, vou must come and
stay with us until the warm weather
sets in, then go with us to Long
Branch. Hugh "will, 'f course ac
company us there, and . Well,
strange " things happen eometimcs.
BoBure to come, that's a darling,
cr3 had taken it for granted that El
nor would come, and Hugh s high
estimate of delicacy could not but
be offended at What he considered
well, to rmt it mildly a visit of
inspection ; for he really believed it
to be that, notwithstanding his sis
ter's vigorous protect to the contrary.
But in that, he acknowledged to
himself, he might be mistaken, and
if so, w hy, Miss Vance would have
every reason to oc.ncvc Jam a lor-
tune hunter, should he remain to
play tlie devoted during her stay
w ith Flossie. ?o he considered it
the wiser plan to take himself off,
which he accordingly did, telling
Mrs. Travers t." call it sudden busi
ness, or nnything else she liked.
What Elnor thought of him wo
may judge by the exclamation that
greeted the close of her friend's epis
tle. A bright, angry flush burned
on either soft, rounded check, and
the blue eves flashed with indigna
tion, as their owner sprang to her
feet, tossing the letter aside, clench
ed her dimpled hands, and, proudly
cresting her royal head, exclaimed,
passionately :
''Does Florence Travers think for
one moment that I would be guil
ty of the unwomanly conduct at
which she more than hints in this
letter? Does she suppose that I
would seek her brother w ould visit
her house w ith the avowed "inten
tion of 'making his acquaintance?
Ah, Florence, j-ou make a great
mistake if that is J'our idea of Elnor
ance, and 1 have made a greater
one in tlie estimate of your brother's
character. Judging from the pic
ture which you showed me I con
sidered him a noble, refined gentle
man, hut I see I have been mistak
en, lie is particularly anxious to
see me, is he? Well, Mr. Hugh
Castleuion, I do not think you will
have the pleasure of playing attend
ant cavalier to the heiress just vet
awhile."
And the scornful emphasis on tlie
word "heiress" will give us an idea
of her suspicions as to Mr. Castlc
m on's "anxiety" to see her.
"I had intended vifiting Flossie
this Fpring anyway," soliloquized
Elnor, seating herself and speaking
in a low tone, "but this," with a
contemptuous- glance toward the
letter, "ha3 completely altered my
purpose. I had anticipated so much
pleasure, too," in a desponding tone.
"But, oh, I know what I'll do,"
with a sudden brightening of the
sweet face. "I'll go right down to
Aunt Sallie's and stay there the
whole spring and summer. Dear
old Appleton ! I can fancy I smell
the honeysuckle that grows over the
front porch and fteeps in at the
kitchen window. And dear Uncle
John and Aunt Salhe! How clad
thev will be to see their little Nel
lie ! There I'll be safe from fortune
hunters, at anv rate, I will throw
aside the heiress and simply be
country Nell. But now I will an
swer Flossie's letter, telling her I
will be unable to accept her invita
tion thi3 time."
One week later found my heroine
a guest at her Aunt Sallie are s,
whose substantial farm was situated
about a mile from the bustling little
village ol Appleton. The soft breath
of spring had just begun to awaken
into lite the jonquils and harebells,
and the sweet blue violets, when
Elnor reached the place. Uncle
John and Aunt Saliie welcomed
their little Nellie with open arms
for they loved her for her own sweet
self alone. Aunt Sallie had nursed
her through a severe spell of sickness
in her infancy, and since then had
loved her as her own.
Elnor's visits to the farm were the
gala days in the lives of Uncle John
and Aunt Sailie, and they never tir
ed of petting "little Nellie," as they
always called tier. Elnor, too, lov
ed to be with them, and it was a
sigh of perfect content that she
breathed as she sat the first evening
of her arrival in a low rocker on
the front porch, inhaling the fra
grance of violets and honeysuckles,
and thinking exultantly how she
had outwitted the two conspiratois,
as sne mentally oesignaieu :wrs.
Travers and her brother.
The gentle afternoon breezes
were stealing through the vines
that clambered over the front porch
of the Ware homestead, every
breath drawing fresh incense from
the Eweet flowers nodding their
fragrant heads beneath the soft
blue of tho April sky. Down the
rpad, leading through the wood op
posite Aunt Sallie's, Elnor slowly
walked along, every now and then
stooping to pick a daisy or butter
cup from the myriads around her.
She was on her way to the village
post office, thence to fctop at tlie
''store" for some yarn, which Aunt
Sallie's busy fingers were to convert
into subatantial hose for Uncle
John.
On the day of which I am writing
Elnor was as pretty a specimen of
the village lassie as one could wish
to see, with her buff lawn just
short enough to reveal the first two
buttons of her dainty . boots, her lit
tle poke bonnet, with its blue rib
bons, coquettishly tied to the left
side of her dimpled chin, while all
around her lovely face, strayed the
soft rings of her golden hair.
.3 she sauntered leisurely along
his exalted ideal of feminine iierfec-: v. iui exhauslation, stood beneath
tion ; and it was w ith secret dif ap- us protecting shelter.
pointment that he had heard of her The rain was now pouring in tor-
lntention to visit his sister, alter rents, and in a lew minutes a little
what he felt f-ure Florence had hint- stream came oozing ; through the
ed at in her letter. For Mrs. Trav- leaves, splashing on her drees and
trickling down her back, sending
cold shivers all over her body.
Elnor was now thoroughly fright
ened, as well as almost saturated,
fur it was nearly sunset, and almost
dark. Suppose the rain should
continue, for an hour, cr two more?
The house couldn't be very far
no r. If only she could make " Un
cle John, or somebody at tho farm
hear ! Anyway, she would try, and
summoning all ner etrcngth, she
shouted, at the loudest her lungs
wi re capable of: ?,
"Uncle John! Uncle John! Do
somebody, come here!"
But no answer came.
'One more effort," said Elnor,
despairingly ; and then: "Oh, Un
ele John! Home body! Help!"
After a second or two there came
a response.
" U ho calls ?'' was shouted.
i-I Nellie!" exclaimed Elnor,
thinking it was Uncle John. "Over
here by the big oak. Do hurry, for
I'm nearly soaked !"
There was no answer'; but, in a
ni' nicnt or two Elnor's strained vis
ion beheld a huge umbrella looming
not far away, under which two gi
gantic legs were making strides to
ward her. The face and upper
p trt of the body wero hidden from
v ' vw by the umbrella; but, in a
moment, it flashed on Elnor that
those limLs could never be Uncle
John '8.
Meanwhile the knight of the um
brella had reached the blushing girl
and was offering his arm.
"Allow me," he said, in low, cour
teous tones, not seeming to notice
the petite figure.
Elnor placed her hand within his
arm, and, not daring to raise her
eve murmured a soft, "Thank
yon !"
un, not at an: exclaimed a
ch try voice, "Now which jvay shall
v. e go ."
"Elnor directed him, and explain
oi how it was she had been caught
in Lhe rain; then, as her wetgar
i;i; its swished around, she could
nut restrain a laugh at her comical
though decidedly uncomfortable,
situation.
Tlie rain, t-till pouring, was sat
urating the gentleman's light cloth
ing, and it was with a heartfelt
ejaculation of thankfulness that El
nor entered the little front porch of
her aunt's house.
Mrs. Ware came to the door as
she heard the little gate shut, and
her exclamations were ' many and
varied as she perceived her niece's
saturated appearance. She at onco
hurried her away to change her at
tire, leaving Uncle John to do hon
ors to the gentleman.
Elnor, as yet, did not know his
name, nor had she seen his face,
and in htr heart she wa3 anxiou3
for both aa she descended the steps
a half-hour later. Her drenched
lawn was changed for a black grena
dine ; a s weet rose was at her throat,
another nestled amid the shining
braids of her golden hair, entering
the sitting-room, she made her way
to the figure standinc by the man
tel, his back to the door which she
had entered. She knew that pepper-and-salt
coat only too .well, and she
wrsjust a trifle "disappointed that
it was her uncle, and not the strang
er whom she saw there. Anyway,
though, she would find out his name,
so, sollly plat ing her hand on one
pepper-and-salt shoulder she asked,
with a little laugh.
"Who is he, uncle?"
Uncle turned, and by the flicker
ing light of the lire, for the evening
had grown chill', Elnor's amazed
eves fell on Hugh Castiemon on
ly attired in Mr. Ware's dry gar
11!! ids.
!ic recognized him the moment
h: r eyes rested on his handsome
l . e. She saw at ence the likeness
his photograph; and he, with
noiider on his face recognized her.
"Mr. Castiemon!"-
."Miss Vance!"
Both started back. Elnor's fair
face crimsoned ; and then Hugh ex
claimed, in incredulous tones :
"Why, Mis3 Vance, I thought you
were with Flossie!"
"I though you were there !" ex
claimed Elnor, with a proud lift
ing of the gold-crowned head.
Hugh at once understood the sig
nificant gesture, and his heart beat
the quicker at the thought that she
was not what he had haif suspected
her, but .was the sweet, womanly
being that her pure, lovely counte
nance betokened.
He could have taken her in his
arms then, as she stood there, her
fair cheeks abloom, her proud head
erect ; but instead of that he only
said, with a quizzical glance into the
l .ue eyes :
"And that is why you are not
f -re?"
Eleanor gazed straight into hi3
f .;e, and while the hot blushes
(cvored her face and neck replied:
"It is."
"And I am not there because I
t' ought you were," said Hugh.
Further explanations were render
ed impossible by the" advent of Aunt
Sallie, who called both young peo
ple to supper, at which cozy meal
Hugh proved himself a most agree
able acquisition
The rain continued until a late
hour ; so Mr. Castiemon remained
the ieehngs which had prompted
eaen 10 avoid the -other.
One evening when May had deck
ed the earth is robeb of" loveliness.
uugn and- 1'anor took a walk
along the road where thev fir.it met
The calm of evening lay like a spell
over .all tho beauteous scene; the
sweet scents of wild flowers, the low
music ot birds, were all about them,
and Hugh, srazuts into the nensive
face beside him, felt how dear how
very dear it was to him, and ere
he could restrain it the story of his
love burst forth in words deep with
the passions ot his heart, and then,
loosing down into the sweet blush
ing face, he asked her to bo his wife
And Junior, veiling her starry
eyes neneath their son, white lids,
placed both fair hands in his, and,
in a voice of unutterable happiness,
answered : "I will 1"
Didn't Kiu.v Urt.vx ti Tike Xlii-m.
lie wa3 on his way home from
Lcadville. lie had on a ragged old
summer suit, a bad hat, and lie had
been taking his meals about thirty
hours apart to make his money car
ry him through.
"Yes, I like the country out that
way,1' he replied to the query. "The
climate is good, the scenery is fine,
and some of the people are as hon
est as need be. Ti.c trouble is know
ing how to take the bad ones."
"I should think that would be
easy."
"e.s, it looks that way, but I had
a little experience. I am the origi
nal discoverer of the richest mine
around Lcadville."
"Is that so?".
"Yes, sir, I'm the very man, but
you wouldn't think it to see these
old clothes.''
"Then you don't own it now ?''
"Not a bit of it. I'll explain: I
was poking around the hills and
found signs. I collected some spec
imens lor assay ; staked out a claim
anu went on to u;e r.ssaver. it was
two days before, he let me know I
had struck tlie richest ore he had
ever assayed, and then I hurried
Lack to my claim. Hang mv but
tons if I hadn't been jumped
"iiow ?"
"Why, a gang of sharpers had
found the spot end built up a polo
shanty and hung ui a sinm ol 'First
Baptist Church' over the door. Sure
as shooting they had, and the law
out there is that no miner can sink
a shaft within 00 feet of a church
building, lhey saw me comin r
and when I got there they were ac
tually holding a revival ! There
was just six of tlieni, and they got
up one after another and told how
wicked they had been and how sor
ry thev were, and. would you be
lieve it, they had the cheek to ask
me to lead oil' in singing. I went
to law but they' beat me. Three
days after the verdict the Church
burned down, and before the ashes
was cold the church was developing
a mine worth a million dollars.
You see I didn't know how to take
'cm."
way
"Was there any particular
of taking them I
"You bet there was ! I ought to
have opened on the revival with a
Winchester rillc and given the coro
ner too lor a verdict that tnev had
died of too much religion. "
T be Carried in Yonr Pocket.
Keep crood company or none.
Never be idle. If your hands can
not be usefully employed, attend to
the cultivation of your mind. Al
ways speak the truth. Make few
promise's. Live up to your engage
ments. Keep yonr own secret if you
have anv. When you speak to a
person, look him in the face, flood
company and good conversation are
the very sinews of virtue. Good
character is above all things else.
Your character cannot be essentially
injured, except by your act?. If any
one speaks evil of you, let your life
be such that no one will believe
him. Drink no intoxicating liquors.
Ever live (misfortune excepted)
within vour income.
When you retire to bed think
over what you have keen doing
during the day. Make no haste to
be rich, if you would prosper. Small
and steady gains, give competency,
with tranquility of mind. Never
play at any game of cnance. Earn
money before vou spend it. Do not
marry until you are able to support
a wife. Never speak evil of any one.
Bo just before you are generous.
Keep yourself innocent if you would
be happy. Save when you are
young, that you may spend when
you arc old. Never run into debt
unless you can see your way out.
Read over the above maxims at least
once a week.
Worth KenicmbcrLiig.
Now thct good timc3 are again
upon us, before indulging in extrav
agant show, it is worth remembering
that no one can enjoy the jileasant
est surroundings if in bad health.
There are hundreds ot miserable
peoplo going about to-day with dis
ordered stomach, liver or kidneys,
or a dry, hacking cough, and one
foot in the grave, when a 50 ct bot
tle of Parker's Ginger Tonic would
dp them more good than all the ex
pensive doctors and quack medi
cines they have ever tried. It al
ways makes the blood purs and
rich, and will build you up and give
you good health at little cost. Bead
of it in another column.
Shoots his Tenant.
It was a long drive to the station,
and the unfortunate horse had his
mouth sawed, and his flanks lather
ed with the whip ; but all in vain,
for when wo reached the station Mr.
stuue and his w ile gazed with un
speakable disappointment at the
receding train, which was just dis
appearing under tho bridge. Their
first impulse was to run after it ;
but as the train was out of eight,
and whistling for the next town be
fore they could act upon the im
pulse, they remained in the chaise,
and disconsolately turned the horse's
head homeward.
"It all comes of having to wait for
a woman to get ready," Mr. Stifile
broke in with, very grimly.
"I was ready before you were,"
replied his wife.
"Great heavens !" cried Mr. Sti file
in irrepressible impatience, jerking
his horse's jaws out of place ; "just
listen to that! And I sat out in front
ten minutes, yelling at you to come
along, until the whole neighborhood
heard me !"
"Yc3," acquiesce! Mrs.- Stiffle,
with tho provoking placidity which
no one can assume but a woman,
'and every time I started down
stairs you ssut me back for some
thing you had forgotten !"
Air. Millie groaned.
"This is too much to bear," he
said, "when everybody knows that
was going around the world, I
should just rush into the house, put
on a clean shirt, seize my knapsack
and fly ; while you would want at
east six months for preliminary
preparations, and then dwadle about
the whole day of starting until eve
ry train had left town."
ell, the upshot ot tne matter
was that tue bullies put oU their
visit until the next week, and it was
agreed that each should get him or
herself ready, and go down to the
train and go, and the one who failed
to get ready should bo left.
1 he uay ot the match came around
in due time ; the train was to go at
0, and Mr. Stifile, after attending
to his business, went home at VI: 1-5.
"Now, then, he shouted, only
three-quarters of an hour to train
time. Look sharp a fair field and
no favors, vou know."
Mr. Siifiie ran into his room and
rushed through that, and dived into
one closet after another with incon
ceivable rapidity, chuckling all the
time under his breath to think hw
cross Mrs. Stilllc would be when he
started olf alone. He stopped on
his way up staira to pull off his
heavy boot.s to save time ; for the
same reason he pulled off his coat
as he ran tlwough the dinning room,
and hung it on the corner of tlie sil
ver closet. Then he jerked off his
yest as he ran through the hall and
tossed it on a hook on the hat-rack,
and by the time he reached hi3 own
room he was read' to plunge into
his clean clothes. He pulled out a
bureau drawer, and began to rattle
things like a scotch terrier after a
rat.
"Eleanor T' he shrieked, "Where
are my clean shirts ?"
"In your drawer," calmly replied
Mrs. Stiffle, who was standing plac
idly before a glass, calmly and delib
erately coaxing a refractory crimp
into place.
Well, but they ain't," shouted
Mr. Stifile, a little annoyed. "Ive
emptied everything out of the draw
er, and there isn't a shirt to.be seen."
Mrs. Stifile stepped back a few
paces, held her head to one side, and
after satisfying herself that the
crimp w ould do, and stay where she
put it, repled :
"Those things scattered about on
the floor are all mine. Probably
you havn't been looking in 3our
own drawer."
"I don't see," testily observed Mr.
Stifile, "why you couldn't have put
my things out for mo, when you had
nothing else to do all the morning !"
"Because," said Mrs. btifile, set
tling herself into an additional arti
cle of raiment with awful delibera
tion, "nobody puts mine out forme.
A fair field and no favors, my dear."
Mr. Stifile plunged into his shirt
like a bull at a red flag.
"Where are my shirt studs ?" he
cried.
Mrs. Siifiie went out into another
room and presently came oacK with
her gloves and hat, and saw Mr.
Stifile empting all the boxes he
1 find in and about the bureau.
Then she said :
"In the shirt you took off."
Mrs. Stifile put on her gloves.
while Mr. Stifile hunted up and
down the room for his cuff-buttons'.
"Eleanor," he snarled at last, "I
believe you know where those but
tons are." i
"I haven't seen them," said the
lady, settling her hat. "Didn't you
lav them on the window sill in the
sitting room lost night ?''
Mr. Stifile remembered and he
went down stairs on a run. He
stepped on one of his boots and was
immediately landed in the hall at
the foot of the stairs with neatness
and dispatch, attended in the trans
mission with more bumps than he
could count, and landed with a bang
like an explosion.
"Arc you nearly ready, Algernon?"
asked the wife of his bosom, sweet
ly, leaning over the banisters.
1 lie unhappy man groaned,
ful figure, and she was seen no more.
And when he went forth at last, he
left the kitchen door, side door, and
front door, all down stairs windows
and the front gate, wide open. And
the loungers around the station
were somewhat amused just a J the
train was running out of eight, to
see a flushed, perspiring man, with
his hat sideways, his coat buttoned
two buttons too high, his cull's un
fastened, and necktie flying, and his
valise flapping open and shut like a
demented shutter on a March night,
and a door key in his hand, dash
wildly across the" platform and halt
in the middle of the track, glaring
in dejected, impotent, wrathful mor
tification at the departing train, and
shaking his tremendous fist at a
pretty woman who was throwing
kisses at him from a car near the
end of the train.
Mr. Stifile went home a sadder
and a wiser man. He has come to
the conclusion that women are of
some use after all, and that in fu
ture he will make no bargain ne
cessitating self help, even if connect
ed with smiles.
By the way, when Mrs. Stiffle re
turned, she bore him no malice in
fact, she calmed him down by say
ing that she had passed a miserable
evening, and wished that he had
been there.
Old Kill Gridlcj.
the autonomy of the Republic of
Mexico, and the disavowal will
probably have some effect upon the
Mexican fools fur there are fools
there as well a.s here. He is doubt
less right when he says that the
L'nittd States wouM not Cake Mexi
co as a free gift at the hands of the
Mexican people. We have, as he
declared, land enough, and trouble
enough, without borrowing of our
neighbors. The only compir-st of
Mexico that is conte"i -Id-.. by the
gentlemen who a.v now in that
country with General Grant, or who
stand beh.ii. d General Grant, is the
conquest we made of our own un
developed domain when we built
the great trans-continental railroads.
Exactly as we assailed and con
quered savage nature, and so achiev
ed a conquest of our own territory,
Mexico, assisted by capital, is to
assail and conquer nature within
her grand domain. There is not to
day living a man of common sen??
who regards the annexation of Mexi
co desirable. It certainly is not
among the probabilities. Every
person of sagacity recognized tho
necessity of a closer alliance wkh
Mexico, but only an alliance which
shall make her great and independ
ent as a nation. Soon or late it -will
be the United States and Mexico,
and probably Canada, against the
Continent of Europe. Not, perhaps,
in a clash of arms, though even that
is possible, bat as the arbiter of the
destiny of the commercial world.
Hence it is the policy of the Uni-
to develop their own
enormous resources, and in every
practical way assist Mexico to de
velop its great resources. The future
of Mexico, developed by railways and
filled with industrial establishments,
cannot be other than great. And
thus it can become a great nation
and a powerful ally in case of need.
"You may say what you please i
aooui old ljin undiev,' said a ecu- . , u, ,
:.., -i r ...k. ted Suites
Lii-iiitm jlbi. uun ii iiliiij ajuuii; i'f uiu
crowd who were spinning for hot
Scotches in Phil MeGovcrn's back
room the other night. "I know
there's lots of fellers talking against
him specially now that he's dead
but I allers speak of a man as I
find him, and old Bill was as fair
and square a one a.s I wish ter see,
spite of his crankiness."
said Phil, who was sprinkling, red ! thf L PoI
i. , . " ; this Republic during ou!
iiviipci uu iiicsiuu iictrmgio encour
age trade.
"Well, he was and he wasn't.
I've seen that man keep his grip on
i,.-m,if .i i t :
iiiLii.-i.-ii aim ii ci uiwii cuui auu ca.v -r , - , .
.-, . " " . ., - Mexico oil tne patn to great:
like when any other min in the- A i
til i i-i-i independence there must be
camp would have stood on Lw hind . i . t .
legs, and ra red. I call to minu KUn
in' that happened once away back
in the flush days that showed what
a big heart old Gndlev had ia his 1
,.t,: -c-.. . . :
71.111. L VJli net , l U C'l iX 111111- . it 1 rr. i . r
hit ;i travelled, lhe conquest ot Mexico
ing camp called Lone bk ail. v,u on i . ,i .
t c 7 i.-.j- 'i is neccessarv, bat Mexico must con-
the feather river, and l.al s hum , ' T. f ,
n .- -it rr :t ..t.i. t'J v ;.
! 11 IVi V Ui ill.. A . 1 1 C I'll. I 't I' fc t!i
It is now the one weak spot on th!3
hemisphere. It was through Mexi-
struck at
public during our civil war.
Had Mexico at that time been de
veloped as this country was develop
ed, there would have been no French
ir.vasion possible. In order to put
tness and
offered
the inducement of certain greatness
and distinct nationality. To annex
Mexico, even were Mexico desir'i'.is
of it, would be to fix it in the rut of
dependence which it has so long
He
place
.dirtiVc:(rt, (Erp)
Cincinnati, May 13. Michael
Cain became involved in a quarrel
last night with John Saurbeck, his
tenant, in the eastern part of the
city, and shot him in the face, in
flicting a wound which is regarded
as fatal. - Cain gave himself up to
tho police.
'Can t you throw mo down the
other boot ?" he asked. She pity
ingly kicked it to him. "My valise?"
he inquired, as he tugged away at
his boot
"Up in your dressing room," she
repled.
"Packed?" -
"I do not know unless you pack
ed it yourself probably not, she
replied, with her hand on the door
knob. "I had hardly time to pack
my own."
She was passing out of the gate,
when the . door opened, and he
shouted :
"Where, in the name of goodness,
did you put my vest ? It has all my
money in it ?"
"You threw it. on the hatrack,"
she called back. "Good bye, dear!"
"Eleanor ! Eleanor I Eleanor Stif
fle I Did you see anything of . my
coat?'.'
She paused and turned, after sig
naling a cab to stop, and cried :
"You threw it on tho giver closet.''
had paned out so rich that lie
to put on a good deal of ,-' vie.
had tho largest shantv in the
four rooms and what must Grid
ley do but send clear round the Horn
for a carpet for the parlor. It took
him nearly a year to get it out, and seiiibles the
then it wis the only carpet in that
part of the state. Wiiite ground,
w ith yellow and red flowers. . Folk ;
used to come for miles around to
see it.
"Is this yarn in one act ?'' growl
ed a friend of the miner, who was
wistfully watching the barkeeper
take the lid off some hot chowder
in the other room.
"It's in one scene," continued the
party from Bodie. ''Lcci me see ;
where was I ? Well, to make a long
story short, I was playing Pedro in
Bill's best room one night, with
some prospectors just up from Fris
co, and was losing considerable dust,
when I dropped on one of 'em tak
ing a jack out of his sleeve. As
luck would have it, I wasn't heeled
that night, so I just picked up a to
bacco knife that lav on the table
Mc-anncAS O'crloapinjf Itself.
and cut the fellow's throat clean
'Good scheme, too,'
' granted a fa
ro steerer in approval.
"Well, as I was saying, old Grid
Icy, who was in the next room,
heard thescufile and camein. There
was that cut chap lying on the floor,
with the blood all over the carpet
the whole thins just ruined.
body was scared to see Bill's face
he looked just awful, I expected to
get a bullet through my head quiek
er'n a w ink."
"This is pretty tough on me,"
says Gridley, looking at the new car
pet. "I know, Bill." says I, "an' I axes
ver pardimr, old man. J never onco
thought of the carpet- I
er done it if I had.
"No I don't believe you would,
Tom," says he kinderscrrowful like.
"I don't believe you would." And
he actually helped me to heave the
corpse out of the winder, and kind
er wipe up the muss a little. 1 tell
pou, gentlemen, old Bill Gridley was
a white man, he was ; and if I ever
ffi T-.nelr nn hmi nfrrr tli.nf. I'm !i erw
And they all agreed that a man
must have a pretty big heart to act
like that after ail.
A Grave Woman.
An interesting story is told of a
young wife who went West with her
husband, nnd there encountered all
sorts of "hard luck." Crops failed,
cattle died, the young farmer sicken
ed. During all this time the young
wife never grew discouraged. but did
all in her power to keep her husband
from getting "the . blues." But one
morning the boy, who did the chores,
came ia and said he could not find
old cow on the farm. So our heroine
set out with the boy in search of the
lost animal, and finally found her
where she had fallen, over between
two logs dead. The young woman
was at last discouraged, and tor a
not unfrequently re-
Vaakiog ambition which O'erleaps ite!f,
And falls on tha other side.
An excellent illustration of this
"o'erleaping" is furnished by a cer
tain transaction of John Jacob .As
tor with one cf his Captains. The
story is told by a writer in the Bos
ton Traiixript:
"The Captain had sailed six voya
ges to China without a chronometer,
depending cn 'dead reckoning' and
'lunars;' just starting out on his
seventh voyage he suggested to Mr.
Astor that it would te safer to have
a chronometer.
"Well, get one," said the mer
chant. "The Captain did so, and entered
its cost in his account - current.
When Astor 's eyes fell upon the
item, he drew his pencil through it.
The Captain expostulated. Said
Astor, 'I told you to get one ; I
didn't say I'd pay for it.' .
"The Captain severed his connec
tion with Astor then and there, and
wont into Wall street, engaged with
other owners, nnd before night was
in command of as fine a ship as ever
floated in New York's beautiful bay.
"In three davs she was ready for
Every-: sea, and set sail. At the same time
Astor a ship, under the command ot
a new Captain, set sail also. They
had a race for Hong Kong, but the
Captaia who, as he used to put it,
had discharged John Jacob Astor,
by keeping tlie men at the braces,
took advantage of every pu!F of
wind, and won by three days.
"Then there was lively work. The
wouldn't i ship was loaded in the shortest time
possible, and before Astor 3 vessel,
which had arrived meantime, was
half loaded, our Captain weighed
anchor, and, with a full cargo of tea,
set sail for Sandy Hook, arrived in
good time, got Lis ship alongside
the wharf, and began hoisting out
his cargo, which was sold by auction
on the spot.
"This,glutted the market, for the
consumption was comparatively
small in thosedays, and when As
ter's ship came in, prices had fallen.
"Two days later, as the Captain
was sauntering down Broadway, he
met his former employer.
" 'How much did da't chronometer
cost you ?" asked the latter.
'"Six hundred dollars.'
" 'Veil,' said Astor, 'dat vas cheap.
It cost mc sixty thousand dollars.'
"The mercha'nt and the Captain
have long since paid the reckoning,
but that chronometer is still a 'pood
timekeeper, an'! treasured relic as
well !"
From tboKnb.
There is perhaps no tonic offered
to the public that possesses as much
intrinsic value as the Hop Bitters.
Just at this season of the year, w hen
the stomach needs an appetizer, or
it. i..l n nods nrmfvin-r thechean-
time would not go back with the haifi cgt ar,i Uest remedy is Hop Bitters.
news to her husband, but finally
overcame her feelings, went merrily
to the house, and, upon entering,
said: "Well, Iiollin, our luck has
changed." "How is that ?" he anx
iously inquired. "Why," said 6he,
"the old cow i3 dead; you can skin
her, sell tho hide, and we will have
some money." And it proved to be
true, for their luck changed from
that day. They sold out their in
terest in the farm and bought an
other one, began over, and to-day
are well-to-do people. Does not
this teach a lesson to repining wives,
and show what power there is in a
hopeful spirit ? -
. . i
An ounce of prevention is wortn a
pound of cure, don't wait until you
are prostrated by a disease that may
take months for "you to recover in.
Boston Globe.
Sunbeam cloth is English novel
ty f..r skirts. It has a mixture cf
all colors of the rainbow in stripes.
I was miserable with Chronic Ca
tarrh. Pcruna is ray remedy and
no oilier. Wm. Boyd. Pittsburgh.
The imported English gipsy hats
have a netted cord covering toe
! front and back of the turned up
i rim.
I had Chronic Catarrh badly. I My daughter .0 vision wm
took Pcruna. I am very much bet- much improved by Ferun.i. James
ter. J. Williams, Mcdwav, Pa. t Cook. Lakerstown, 1 a.