jz
5.V SCHWEIER.
the ooisnnrnoi the xnnoi aid the etfosoekext op the laws.
Editor and Proprietor.
MIFFLINTOWN, JUNIATA COUNTY. PENNA.. "WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 13. 1SSG.
NO. 3.
VOL. XL.
vs. its shininc. dear,
W ? Vr ,,. clouds
I A"i . ir,ds and rain may Uing;
TZ .t.. sTonn is over, dear,
birds come.agam, .
iSTdarkt uigbt has been.
, --it, sweetest ros-5, dear,
JVvm to tun. to thorns
te.U,on.sthal are the sharpest, dear.
e bidden sweetness hold
ere KS they'll blo-mwu.
vrt n av -row a-weary, dear,
&s cares ami fear..
Hat cue to meant much
boldl.utiriefoan.lteaw;
'-ve.y won,
. ' v, i ,s ;. ,-u well douo.
A LAKV OL'AKDIAX.
India has not taken all traces of
filiation nut of oh. Dick.
-WbT should it? Anglo-Indian socie
i5wll, if '1 c.:n:iol boast of so
LraiiliW, ui.nq'-iises. and earls as
Jjji-rlk-'graviaii circles, it is at least as
ac'.us-.ye."
"And as anaioai, i n.o uu uuuui,
mWdIv. Where- will you find na-
.t nowadav.-? Robinson Crusoe's
"d d riot exist. Nothing can
jjrailruadcoutiaetor or an adver
Wtnt," "Or the uDiquuou iouiii.. uuvuu
f I....... - ...tf ijit that. liafnra
llii -
inn and undefiled is to be occasionally
Covered Uere it might be least ex-
"AW ueic "" 1
"In human nature."
"Parade iral as of old. Jack." laugb-
1 Captain Kehard Trevor.
"Practical, H wouiu oo nearer me
jsUitosay. -My pu.io-sopay is Daseaon
jbservatiou."
irj fashioi.eu f- v.ur own kukiiv
ieBt, which I am afraid often invests
ianan nature w:th coed qualities which
j dues not possess."
ftwectiv the latter rose, ana, stretcn-
zz himseii lazily, inquired what Tre-
to intended to do with biuiseit that
"0, I ?i a!i so to my rooms and
Von know I start for Cleve
aws to-morrow. I shall probably stay
itortnilit or so with my mother."
kWci!, but p.u kiiij up won't take
jm more th.i;i half au hour. Come
rot me to Mrs. LausJowne's."
"Awl who Mrs. Lansdowne?"
To know Mrs. Lansdowne is to
bow every body that is to say, every
body worth knowing. It is her 'at
boart' to-night, and she will be deligh
td to catch a newly-imported lion. I
rZ introduce you as a most redoubt
abk warrior, who with his own right
kid has cut off the beads ol at least
ireuty Afghans."
"lien 1 don't go," returned Trevor
lecdedly. "I hale being made a show
A"
"Then," laughed Walsbam, "you
H appear simply in the capacity of
Bf friend."
TsatisbetbT."
Ma Lansdowae, Trevor discovered,
wsUdy who-e whole aim in life ap
jortdtolie the making of fresh ac
qiiiiiauees. She was a little dark-hair-i
woman, with bright eyes and mobile
features, auu, though not handsome,
ws decidedly 'repossessing.
"You have just come from India, Mr.
Trevor? I am so glad, because l'rofes
w Mopus Is h-re this evening."
Trevor bowed, but did not look par
Mirty exhilarated by the intelligence.
"Of course you have heard of l'r jfes
n Mopus, the great Indian explorer?
Hj bonk oa the Himalaya Mountains
stLebook of the season most inter
esiicj. YuU w ii it on together fam
csjly." "1 have never 1 vt-n to the Himalayas,"
Bf!ied Dick, rather tartly.
"Well, but you've both been in In
tl." went oa the undaunted Mrs.
LmsJowue. "You'll Und the profes
lorcharmiiig. Ah. there he is!"
And Mrs. Luusdowne darted towards
i&orl fat ruau with a bald bead and a
hack beard, who was talking with
Rat vigor to an admiring knot of
iSeoers.
"for Heaven's sake, Jack, get me
ay from here! The woman's a per
fect igress!"
Wnlsruiji laughed, and, slipping bis
.m A his friend's ningled with the
trowijanit, some fren arrivals coming
itat the moment, Mrs. I.ansdowue's
ttentiou was fully occupied, and she
Sicught uo more "of Trevor and the
Professor.
"1 breathe more freely," ejaculated
Trevor when a compact mass of at least
iczfn person's separated him from the
siefatigable lad v. "What an infliction
mu,t be t her husband if she has
Eel"
"lie takes it very easily draws
jiues and says nothing. You"ll find
Una somewhere about, looking
miserahie. He's an inoffensive
mature who does as he is told; and
Wjemore cau a wife want?"
Titvor w.is weiiritd by the incessant
-fur,asit seemed to him, every
'J is trying to talk down every
I tiae-and gladly hailed the haven
recess wlierein was a seat from
Jch he could see the greater tart of
"Iyounot want to be introduced
some of the celebrities?" inquired
airily, as he seated himself by
"s:deofhis friend.
1 e celebrities," rejoined Trevor.
mv know whether to be awestruck
"Urriijar when I'm with them."
W,,."1 tuen, what do you say to
""5-' There are ves, I should say
JJtwo beautiful women in the
1 detest beautiful women. They
tils'
am gave a low whistle.
fc., ' "' -e, -vou were conna
jlrf'1 to me this afternoon, but I
Too you eo:'fessed everything.
J"Ve n hard hit in India some
flamsel eh?"
w-nonsense!" returned Trevor,
teiorn cleek assuming a warmth of
JVW& betrayed him. "You're
tar as dusky damsels are con
wbti , fact w-weil, I don't know
tav. vToulJ not own at ence that I
made a fool of."
txrZSp mai is once in his life, and
ry? tener," remarked Walham.
tj! 13 Quite enough for me. Here's
PitvioniL81'- ur raiment was
HmwL T. " ordered tb India
KidM for about three months at
U '.ft " o..: 1 1 . r. m
belief that there is truth and constancy
in woman, and -
"You find her Mrs. Smith or Bobln
son fat, and interested in nothing but
Tommy's whooping-cough and Polly's
measles."
"Well, it was something like iL I
must confess I was thoroughly freed
from my illusion."
"Of course you were nor will it be
the last t;me, old maiu"
"Indeed it will that way. I've
made up my mind not to marry."
Walsham did not reply, but elevated
his eyebrows in a quizzical fashion, and
then said, apparently a projw of noth
ing "Yes, she is an extremely handsome
girl."
Dick started. While he had been
narrating his disappointment, his eyes
had wandered to a group of half a dozen
men surrounding a young lady who was
talking with great animation!
"You ought to know Miss Merivaile.
She is a neighbor of yours at Cleve
lands," went on Walsham.
"1 don't remember the name."
"Ah, very likely 1 They came to live
there since you w:ent away. She Is an
awfully clever girl, is a believer in Dar
win and Herbert Spencer, and has writ
ten a pamphlet on the electoral disabil
ities of women."
"Good Heaven, Walsham, what a
pity I I think strong-minded women in
tolerable," ''Well, some are, I admit; but there
are exceptions. Come let me intro
duce you to Miss Merivaile, and you
shall judge for yourself,"
Trevor hesitated. He had a horror
of "blue-stock in ?s." At the same time
he could not but own that there was
nothing of the "blue-stocking" in the
appearance of the young lady in ques
tion. Walsham however disregarded his
feeble protests, and the next moment
he was plunged into a conversation with
Miss Merivaile, for Walsham had luck
ily selected a moment when the group
hitherto surrounding the lady hid
broken np.
"We are discussing the question of
the relief of the poor. Captain Trevor,"
said Miss Merivaile. "What are your
views on the subject?"
"Ton my word," rejoined Dick,
somewhat aghast, "I er really know
nothing about it. The beggars in the
street are an awful nuisance; but I find
it saves trouble to give them a few
pence at once, rather than to have them
cackliiig after you for half a mile or
more."
"Ah, that is the way thoughtless per
sons pauperise the country I Nothing is
more pernicious than indiscriminate
almsgiving."
Captain Trevor drew himself up a
little stiffly. He rather objected to be
classed as a "thoughtless person," es
pecially by a young lady at least five
years his junior. But, though ha was
nettled, he could not help thinking how
well that earnest expression became
Miss Merivaile's eyes.
"Do you intend to stay long 1 n Eng
land?" asked Miss Merivaile "r.t!y.
'Probably two or three years."
"Then I should advise you to put up
for guardian on the Clevelands Board.
I was elected last sear and intend to
come forward again."
Trevor stared. .Did he actually hear
Miss Merivaile say she was a guardian
of the poor? Surely there must be some
mistake!
"I I beg your pardon; but I don't
qnite understand."
"Oh, there's no difficulty in under
standing the duties! Unfortunately we
guardians are allowed so little latitude
by the lyjcal Government Board that
everything is simply a matter of rou
tine,"
Dick gasped lor breath. His ears had
not deceived h:m.
'But do you mean to say that you
a lady" he very nearly said a "female"
"are a guardian of the poor?"
"Certainly," returned Khoda Meri
vaile serenely, "I am also a member of
the Clevesdon School-Board."
Worse and worse! Trevor was dumb
found, his confusion being increased by
the amused smile which was dancing in
Miss Merivaile's eyes.
"I I am afraid that my notions are
rather old-fashioned, Miss Merivaile,"
be stammered.
"You mean that you do not approve
of women taking an active interest in
the social and moral progress of the
poor?"
"Well er I am notsure thatl have
thought very much about the matter.
1 confess that years ago it seemed to me
the chief object in life which young
ladies bad was to get married: but I
suppose all that's changed now."
Dick Trevor looked up suddenly, and
their eyes met. Was it his imagination
or did he see a faint blush on the fair
cheek of Riioda Merivaile's?
"Not quite, I think," she answered
calmly. "There is still much to labor
and hope for In the improvement of
woman's ideas."
"Well," said he, "I dare say you are
right; but I hope you will not find fault
with me if I prefer the woman of the
old school, whose ambition it was to be
the best cook, the best needlewoman
in short, the best wife in the world."
"In other words, that she may be a
useful slave to her husbtnd," Miss
Merivaile remarked quietly.
"Substitute 'companion for 'slave,'
and I agree with you. I can scarcely
imagine a lady-doctor, or or "
"Or a lady-member of a Board of
Guardians, ' put in Miss Merivaile.
"I would rather say an authoress,"
said Trevor, a little awkwardly.
"Well?" said Rhoda. with a provok
ing composure which did not lessen his
embarrassment.
"Wrbat I was about to say was that 1
did not think ladies whose time and at
tention were so f ully occupied with the
affairs of other people could interest
themselves suOciently in domestic mat
ters to make good wives." .
It was not a very gallaut speech m
the circumstances, and Trevor felt it
was not, for he added immediately af-
"Forgive me if I speak my thoughts
too plainly."
' I am grateful that you have been
honest enough to say what you think.
I hope some day you may have reason
to change your opinion.
Trevor would have proceeded further
in bis apology, for there was a senous
ness .taut the young lady's manner
which made him think he had, despite
her words, really offendel her. How
ever at that moment Mrs. Lansdowne
Sup ana bore away Bhoda in tn-
"""ham." whispered
Trevor, kftir live minutes of Beethoven
"My neighbor Miss Merivaile may be
veVnfi; but she is too clever for my
taste. JustimaaiuD "
ing towards Devonshire in the Flying
Dutchman.
"It Is pleasant to be here once more,
mother," said he after his arrival. "The
old place has not changed a bit, excep
ting that the box-trees are perceptibly
larger."
"Well, dear, why should it? Your
father was perfectly contented with it
as it is, and so am I. But Clevesdorms
not what it was. There has been a
great deal of building; a railway has
been brought to the place; there is a
large manufactory which fills the val
ley with smoke from its dreadful chim
neys, and there is actually a Boarding
school. Really, if I had not lived in
Clevesdon for so many years, I should
be inclined to move."
"What a shamel By-the-way, mother
talking of School-Boards, I hear that
we rejoice in the possession of a lady
member." "Yes, indeed," returned Mrs. Tre
vor emphatichlly. "It is perfectly ridic
ulous and most unlady-like, I call it, on
Miss Merivaile's part. I'm thankful to
say I did not vote for her. You can
not imagine what a scandle it caused."
"No doubt," returned Dick. "But
did she hold meetings and speak?"
"Of course and actually contradic
ted the Rector to his face! I cannot
think what women are comiDg to now
adays. I'm sure such boldness would
not have been tolerated when I was
young.
Dick felt very much inclined to
argue the point with his mother, de
spite the fact that not forty-eight hours
before he had enunciated sentiments to
Miss Merivaile herself not very fax re
moved from thus just expressed by Mrs.
Trevor. But he altered his mind, and,
once more stepping into the garden,
sauntered to the stables, and spent the
remainder of the morning in a "horsy"
conference with Roger, the old coach
man. "Pooh!" he muttered, as he walked
home. "What an idiot I am to inter
est myself in a strong-minded woman
I, who hate the very name!"
And, as if to emphasise this asser
tion, he strode along the rode at a fu
rious pace, oblivious of everything
and everybody, or he must have notic
ed a quietly dressed lady, with a deci
dedly countrified air, who passed him
with a sidelong glance from her bright
eyes.
Nothing happens but the unforseen;
and so It came about that a bicyclist,
trying to pass a carriage-and-pair in a
narrow part of the road, went too near
to the horses and caused them to take
fright. The shouts of the coachman
made Dick Trevor turn around. He
caught sight of the lady standing, as
though paralyzed, in the path of the ad
vancing animals, and with a soldier
like promptness rushed to her assis
tance. His aid however was scarcely needed,
for the driver managed to recover the
control of his horses, and all danger
was passed by the time he had reached
her. Still the incident served to bring
them together, and Trevor consequent
ly found himself face to face with the
lady.""-" - --- - - -j-
"You have had a narrow escape." he
was beginning, when he suddenly stop
ped. "Miss Merivailet" he exclaimed
Involuntarily.
But the lady did not retora his salu
tation. She looked pale the result So
doubt of the fright. It was natural;
but what was not natural was that she
did not appear to recognize him.
"I had the pleasure oi meeting you at
Mrs. Lansdowne 's a week or so ago."
"Indeed! I think you must mistake
me for Rhoda. I remember she wrote
home that she had been visiting there."
"If you are not Miss Rhoda Meri
vaile, you must surely be her sister.
I never saw so extraordinary resem
blance," said Dick.
"Yes," replied the lauy, witn a strong
Devonshire accent. "I am thought to
be greatly like Rhoda."
"The likeness is wonaenui; ana yet,
now I look at you, I can see a differ
ence, lour hair, ror instance, isqii-
ferentlv arranged. But I ought to in
troduce myself, especially as I under
stand we are neighbors. My name is
Trevor probably you know my
mother?"
"Oh. yes; and I have heard of you
Captain Trevor!"
Captain Trevor lelt pleased, mere
was a delightful naiute about Miss
Merivaile's sister which attracted him
far more than the composure the re
sult of what he termed "self-conscious
cleverness" of the lady-guardian.
He walked by her side chatting about
nothing in particular at least, he could
not remember afterwards what he had
said; but he knew the electoral disabil
ities of women were never once alluded
to, nor was the condition of the poor
ever hinted at.
Presently they arrived at an old-fashioned
ivy-covered house, from the gar
den of which came the sweet scent of
wallflowers for it was in the early
spring; and Miss Merivaile stopped at
the gate.
"I hope," said Captain Trevor "we
shall be friends."
"I hope so too."
"By Jove, she's charming!" thought
Dick. "Might I take the liberty of
calling?" said he aloud.
'I dare say aunt would be pleased to
see you." .
"I see two sisters living with their
aunt! Wonder if there's an objection
able brother?" reflected the Captain.
He would have liked to linger, for
she was very pleasant to talk to; but
she put out her hand, and he was com
pelled to take it and say "good-bye. "
"She has all the good qualities of
Rhoda Merivaile without the least tinge
of the blue stocking!" exclaimed the
gallant captain enthusiastically as he
walked this time slowly home.
Hitherto Clevesdon had been lnsuffer
ablv dull-even the mild excitement of
anticipating Rhoda's speeches in the
newspaper bad failed him; but now here
was an lrresistable attraction.
"I suppose her sister hasn't returned
from town yet. Wonder what her
Christian name is? No matter, I am
bound to hear It when I call. "
And call accordingly Captain Trevor
did and not once but thrice. He made
the gratifying discovery that Lucie
Merivaile was as domesticated as tne
most exacting Ccelebs could wish.
A fortnight passed, and by the end
of that time it had become quite part of
Trevor's daily occupation to call at Lau
rel Lodge; and, as Mies Dangerfield
Lucius aunt-was deaf, it naturally
fell to the lot of her niece to entertain
the visitor. .
"You met Rhoda m London, Cap
tain Trevor?" said Lucie, as they stroll
the lawn after a game
at lawn-tennis, in which theyoung lady
proved herself to be more than proffl-
cl1nv t taA that nleasure. In fact, I
cannot congratulate myself sufficiently
itnon my good fortune in so doing, as I
was enabled to recognize you when we
first met."
"And how did you get on with her?"
said Miss Merivaile, taking no notice of
the implied compliment. "Did she not
frighten you?"
"Almost, I must confess. Isn't it
rather dreadful when she Is at home?
I suppose she is at work all day long,
and looks daggers at anyone who makes
the least noise?"
"Of course she doesn't like to be dis
turbed when she is busy no one does.
But we get on very well together."
"Ah, that is the advantage of oppo
site tastes! I suppose your sister never
interferes in household affairs?"
"Well, she is a g-jod deal engaged in
other ways," laughed Lucie; "and mak
ing puddings does not quite go with
making speeches."
"My own opinion, Miss Merivaile.
But does not having seen you fourteea
times at least justify main calling you
'Lucie'?"
"Certainly not."
"Well, then. Miss Merivaile, may ?
say how charmed I am that you do not
go in for the 'amelioration of the working-classes'
I believe that is the phrase
like your sister?"
"Oh, I would not be too sure about
thatl Rhoda; you know, might irsuade
me to become a guardian like herself
which, by-the-way, reminds me that I
must say good-bye to you."
"Good-byel" he repeated with a puz
zled expression.
"Yes; Rhoda is coming home, and I
am going to Paris for three months."
Three months! It was an eternity.
"I hope the time will be sufficient for
Rhoda toconvince you of the correctness
of her views, on the woman's rights
question," she added demurely.
"But, Mif Merivaile "
"There I must go to aunt now. I
have much to do, as I start to-morrow."
But he detained her hand and she
was forced to slay.
"Miss Merivaile " said he hurriedly,
"one word. I have something to say
which, now tliat you are going away, I
can no longer keep to myself. I love
you. Will you be my wife?"
She started and turned away her
head. When she looked at him again
her face was white. '
"No, no!" she exclaimed faintly.
"You must not ask me to be that. Cap
tain Trevor."
"Why not? Am I too late?" His
suppressed feelings gave almost a fierce
ness to his tone, and, as though he were
conscious of it, he added, in a gentle
voice, "I have been too precipitate and
frightened you. forgive me!"
"I have nothing to forgive, I should
rather ask you to forgive me. I never
suspected-"
Sue paused and turned away her
head.
"You never suspected I loved you?"
be said quickly. "But, now that I
swear that I do, what is your answer?"
"I cannot give any answer but 'no,"
she replied; and then she turned aud
ran into the house.
"Dick stood motionless for a moment
gulped down something which would
sMe ii hi hrmt,pvl pwaikrf BkM4r X
to tne garden gate.
JJick Trevor was terribly uejectea.
Like most Impulsive men. be was as
easily depressed as exhilarated; and for
the next three days after bis repulse
life was in his eyes a miserable mistake.
Nor was there any consolation when
Rhoda Merivaile arrived. While walk
ing to Clevesdon, he saw her In the dis
tance coming towards him. He knew
her directlv, in spite or tier smoKe-coi-
ored classes and short-cut hair, and
would have avoided her if he could;
but there was no io.ss;bility of so do
ing without appearing rude.
"How do you do. Captain Trevor?"
said she, when they got within speaking
distance.
He started. The voice was so like
Lucie's that, had he had his eyes closed
be would certainly have said it was
hers.
"Thank you, I am quite well."
'"I have "just come from a relief com
mittee at the workhouse," said she, in
a matter-of-fact tone. "I trust that
we shall see you on the board next
year."
"1 think not." he returned. "Con
found the board!" he muttered to him
self. "It's a perfect nuisance."
"I should be very pleased to lend you
the reports of the Local Government
Board for the last ten years. You'd
Gnd no difficulty in making yourself ac
quainted with the subject."
"I'm much obliged," he began.
"Don't mention it, I'll send them
to you this evening. I have an
appointment at home with the School
Board visitor, so I'm sure you'll excuse
my running away. Good afternoon."
"Good Heaven!" ejaculated the un
fortunate captain, gazing in blank as
tonishment at the energetic little lady's
retreating fieure. "The woman's de
termined to make a guardian of me.
whether I will or not. If this goes
much farther, I shall have to fly to
town. And to think that she is sister
to the most lovable, the most unaffec
ted, the most Oh, hang it!"
Miss Merivaile was as good as her
word, for about seven o'cloek that
evening a servant arrived with a pile of
books bound in stiff paper covers of a
repellent blue. Dick gave a sigh of
despair when he saw them.
"Shall I take them to your room,
sir?" asked his man.
"Put them anywhere, Simmons in
the" "fire ha was going to add "yes,
take them up-stairs."
And up-stairs they were accordingly
carried.
During the next two days he kept
within doors, for fear of meeting his
self-appointed tutor. But this only
made matters worse. There was a hor
rible fascination about Rhoda Merivaile
which made him long to see her again.
Besides, he had another reason. After
his first burst of despair consequent up
on Lucie's refusal came a reaction.
Perhaps lie had been too sudden. Lucie
had not said she loved anybody else.
At any rate. If he interrogated Rhoda
cautiously, he might find out the true
state of the case. And ro be took care
to be out about the time when he thought
he should be likely to meet her.
His judgment was not at fault, for,
after smoking a couple of cigars, he
saw the lady-guardian tripping along
at a most business-like pace.
He raised bis bat when she approach
ed, and she bowed in acknowledgment
but did not seem Inclined to stop.
"Miss Merivaile!" said he, hastening
after her.
"I'm afraid I haven't time to speak
to you this morning. Captain Trevor,"
she answered, scarcely looking round.
"I have a most important meeting I
must attend, and I am rather late,"
"Oh, certainly I" said Dick gruffly.
He returned home In great ill-humor,
and, with a determination not to think
any more about the name of Merivaile.
Two months successfully be contriv
ed to meet Rhoda, but each time she
was In as great a hurry as ever. Then
he took a desperate resolution. He
would call at Laurel Lodge and exact
some Information from Miss Danger
field, in spite of her deafness. He se
lected a time when he thought Rhoda
would be away, aud was accord incly
ushered into the presence, of Miss
Dangerfield, who received him cordially.
"You have almost deserted us, Cap
tain Trevor," said she.
"I have been lately a good deid en
gage i," he shouted.
"I am very glad to hear it," nodded
the oC lady. "There Is nothing like
being married aud settled. And who
is the lady?"
"Confound it, she thinks I told her I
was engaged!" murmured the captain.
"How ridiculous.''
When Miss Dangerfield made a mis
take, she always, like most deaf persons
adhere'i to it pertinaciously; and the
consequence was that, although Tievor
bawlec out an explanation as loud as
he "I4,-; he failed to remove the lady's
irepioi-olon of hisnuagement.
"How is Miss Lucie?" said he at
last, changing the conversation in de
spair. ""Has she written lately?"
"Oh, yes she is always writing!"
"The affectionate dear girl!" ejacu
lated Dick sotto we. "I wonder now
if I could get her address in Paris out
of the old woman? I feel sure, if I
saw her once more, I could persuade
her to alter her mind."
But to ask where Lucie was staying
was an impertinence, especially after
Miss Dangerfield 's annoying blunder.
No; he would have patience and wait
until her return.
"And when do you expect Miss Mer
ivaile back?" he shouted.
"The day after to-morrow, most
llkely.f
The day after to-morrowj Dick's
heart pave a great bound. Why, that
was no time at all! Gaily he took his
leave, and walked home in the best pos
sible Sfirits.
He allowed two days to go by before
he agvn visited Laurel Lodge.
"I will surprise her," he thought,
and, telling the sen ant not to announce
him, be walked into the drawing-room.
Luci-i there could be no doubt that
it was Lucie was sitting with her face
towards him, reading. She wore the
same dress which be remembered she
had ou when he last saw her, and she
sat in an attitude of negligent grace
very differently from the angularity and
bolt-uprightness of her sister.
"Is it ywu, aunt?" said she, hearing
him enter, but without looking np.
"Miss Merivaile!"
She hiarted and a delicate pink suf
fused her cheeks but only for an in
stant, "Captain Trevor!"
It was now Dicks turn to start. What
bad Lucie done to make her so strange
ly like Khoda? Ah, be could see it now!
She had had her hair cut short That
was alb
He took one step towards her. She
turned awav from him for two or three
seconds; and, when he saw her face
again, she too was wearing the odious
' "By Jove, It's the other one," after
all! And yet," he muttered. "Miss
Merivaile,'' he exclaimed aloud, in des
peration, "in mercy's name, tell me who
you are! Are you Lucie or Rhoda?"
"Both," returned the young lady
quietly. "It is only a little joke. Cap
tain Trevor. I apologize for deceiving
you, but I could not resist refuting
practically your opinion that women
who interest themselves in public mat
ters could not Gnd time for domestic
duties."
"And you have converted me en
tirely. I will never again contradict
you on that point. But, Rhoda that
is, I mean Lucie "
He stopped. There was a look on the
girl's face which checked his utterance,
lie drew a long breath.
"I see." said he bitterly. "It is an
honor I did not expect, to afford you so
much amusement. Of course what you
said in your impersonation of Lucie
Merivaile was also a joke. It was very
amusing oh, exceedingly funny!
Rhoda Lucie for such was her full
name remained silent. She bad risen
while be was speaRing, and was stand
lug with her eyes fixed on the floor.
"Good-bye." said be holding out his
hand.
She hesitated, and then held out hers.
"Can you forgive me?" she mur
mured. "There is nothing to forgive," said
be simply. "You were quite at liberty
to jest, if it so pleased you. 1 was fool
enough to be deceived that is all."
"Am I the only one who deceived?"
said she calmly, though he could feel
her lingers throb as she asked the ques
tion. "I do not understand you."
"13 it not deceptiou when a man who
is engaged to one lady makes love, or
pretends to make love, to another?"
He stared at her in a bewildered
fashion, aud then a suddeu light broke
in upon him, and he burst into a shout
of laughter.
"I se now what you mean. Youraunt
told you I w?j engaged."
r'She simply told me what you told
her."
"But I never said so. It was all a
mistake, caused through her deafness.
Lucie--I like that name best were
you in earnest when you said 'no' io
my question?"
'Yes; I did not think "
';I should fall In love? Your jest has
ended seriously for nie," he added,
with a sigh.
"I had hoped that Rhoda Merivaile
would have dispelled the Illusion." said
she quietly. "She tried to do so."
"And failed miserably."
He was looking into her eyes as he
said the words, and noted au expression
in them which caused a flame of hope
to leap into his heart.
"Rhoda," said he suddenly; "sup
posing I were to put to you the question
I asked of Lucie? Come I will try
vouj Will you be my wife?"
" Shall I be intensely practical and
strong-minded in my reply," said she,
with a glad smile playing about her
ips, "and say, yes'?"
It is said that at least four hundred
and fifty thousand meteors fall from
the heavens and strike the earth every
hour during the year; and yet, when a
man goes home with a damaged hat,
and tells his wife that he was struck
by a meteor, she will not believe him!
Daughter (home from school):
"Now, pa, are you satisfied? Just look
at my testimonial 'Political economy,
satisfactory; fine arts and music, very
good; logic, excellent.'" Father:
"Very much so, my dear especially
as regards your future. If your hus
band should understand anything of
housekeeping, cooking, mending, and
the use of a sewing machine, perhaps
your married life will indeed be
happy."- - . . .
CTRIOI'S FEATURES OP ACITTAJj
LIFE.
riie Goose Bone and the Weather it
Predict a.
The Goose Bone may be called "Ken
lucky's weather prophet.' In many
farm houses it will be fonnd banging in
the hall, and old men who have It for
years says that the genuine bone never
... : i r, . i , i l 1 t. I
ciiia. a ue rcai uuue cau uuij uo wr
tained from a goose that was hatched
Dut iu the spring; the month of May
is said to be the best. The goose must
not be killed until Indian summer has
passed away. After cooking, remove
the breast bone, scrape it clean, and j a syrup, ane naun u prooauiy ui
tuen wash it in warm water and let it j result of the commerced intercourse
dry for a day or two, When It has i which at an early perioi existed be
been thus prepared, bold it up to the ! tween Persia aud China, and which, as
sun, or in front of a lamp in a dark ; now well known, gave an impulse to
room is better, and the discolorations ; Hie arts of Persia, or which evidences
tan be easily deciphered, and to one appear at various stages of her thet
who knows the bone the reading is as w history. At Teheran the tea houses
Dlain as a book. A bone shown to a take the place of the coffee houses of
reporter recently was taken from a .
goose hatched out in May. A row of
dots found along the keel of the bone
indicates the temperature, and the
darker the spots the colder will be the
weather. Some light, cloudy discolora
tions that spread out over the keel of
the bone are indications of falling wea
ther, and the darker their discolorations
the msre rain or snow there will be.
The marks dividing the bone indicate
the three winter months, December
commencing at the front.
A careful reading of the bone indi
cates much more regular weather than
was had last vear and not so severe.
There will not be many days in which
running water will freeze. The coldest i
9 . . . .
weather will occur during the first half
of January, and along between the th
and 12th there will be several days of
freezing. It will be the severest part
of the whole season. Near the point of ,
the bone the discoloration is a little
heavy, thus showing that the first days
of winter will give proof of the season's
change. This will be followed by rising
temperature and falling weather for
Christmas.
January" will be ushered in cold, and
the cold will strengthen as the uays
lengthen, the coldest day of the winter
falling about the th of the month.
This severe weathur will be brief, lol
lowed by rising temperature and heavj
thaws, and the last half of the month
will see many rams ana snows.
During February there will not be
,y very cold weather, but It will be a
.i.:.omi.i th itii snow
anv
rather tiisazreeable month, with snow
and ram. A few cold days is all that
the month will contribute to the win- j
ter. An early aud decided thaw is
ftinnnc the nromises of the bone. The :
heavy snows of January, under the m-;
fluences of the February thaw, will:
overflow the mountain streams, and dis-
astrous floods may be looked for. !
Aitncpfhpr. the winter will be what !
is known as an open season, and a good
wheat year.
Novel riea for Divorce.
' -
Mary Hodge, a pretty young woman
of 20 years, who, on the 21st of August,
18S3, was married by Alderman Flinck
to Henry Fuchias, sued In the Superior
Court to have the marriage set asme,
claiming that it was brougt about by
fraudulent representations on the part ;
of the defendant. Her story Is that j
when her parents learned that Fuchsius,
who lived near them, and who had been
but three months in this country,
sought her society, they forbade her
seeing him. Meeting her one day, Fu
chsius asked her to take a walk with
i him. Then he said he was about to
go West, and would make money and
' so conduct himself that her father
would not oppose the marriage, and on
his return he would claim her hand.
He asked her to engage herself to him
before Lis departure, and they would
go to the City Hall and be formally be
trothed. She consented, and at the
City Hall she signed a paper, but there
was no ceremony of marriase. She said
noting to her parents about it, until .
soon after Fuchsius told her she was
his wife. She told him she would never
be his wife, and would commit suicide
rather than acknowledge him as her
husband. Judge Truax recently gave
' judgment in her favor on the report of
the referee annulling the marriage.
The .Summit of Mount AVhitney.
Captain Keeler In a descriptive ac-'
' count of a recent trip through the
mountains of Inyo County, thus por- ;
trays the Summit of Mount Whitney, !
j Nevada, one of the grrndest mountain
: piles on the face of the earth: "The en
tire surface of the summit proper, vari
ously estimated at from four to five
acres in extent, is covered with granite
blocks and slabs, enough to build two
or three St, Peter's, or even one of the
pyramids; the incline Is slightly to the
west. Looking down from the- apex
brougtit a shudder over me a vertical
fall of some 4,000 feet down to the lake
that looks like a spot of silver. Now,
j when you crawl up to the edge to look .
' off this awful steep, the very flesh seems
1 to crawl on your bones. It is truly
startling to look into some of the yawn
ing chasms surrounding this grand ele-!
, vation nearly three miles above the
: sea! The sky was not perfectly clear, '
but we could see Lone Pine distinctly,
and Owens Lake was plainly outlined
so far as it lay in our view. The whole
valley looked more like a sea than terra
Jirma. One interesting fact strikes you
the moment yon cast your eyes around
you from this height you know every
object is below you.
Feminine Credulity. '
On the water side of Vera Cruz
stands a stone image who bruised coun
tenance tells a queer tale of feminine
credulity. From time immemorial it
has been believed that if a marriagea
ble woman shall hit this image square
ly in the face with a stone she will im
mediately obtain a husband and an ad
vantageous settlement in life. The
inventor of the fable was evidently ac
quainted with the fact that women are
not expert in throwing stones. Were
it not for this lamentable inability, the
poor image would have been totally de
molished years ago. As it is, the bat
tered face has lost all sembUnee of feat-
urea, and heaps or smaii stones lying
all about attest the industry or trie
Mexican maidens.
According to recent experiments
made by Dr. Fischer, a German chem-
ist. it is shown that ordinary stoves do
not use more than 20 per cent, of
the fuel they consume for heating pur-
poses. There Is still a field for the in-
yentor in this direction. . .
Teheran Tea Hooscsl
At all hours the tea houses are in full
blast. The reader may 1 surprised to
learn that the national beverage of
Persia Is not coffee but tea. One would
naturally suppose that a country so near
Araby the Blest and the aromatic groves
of Mocha would, like the Turks, prefer
coffee. Of course, a great deal of cof
fee, prepared in the Turkish way, is
consumed by the Persians, but the fact
remains that they are essentially a tea
drinking race, drinking it in vast quan
tities, flavored with lemon or tourchee,
which is the prepared juice of
the lime, and sweetened almost
ConsantinopIe,
One nvets them at
every turn, of every rank, but all alike
: resorts for rest, leisure and entertain
: nieut. There one may see public dan
cers, who by law are now Invariably
men, although women of questionable
; repute contrive to evade the laws some
times and exhibit in the harems.
The male dancers are brought up to
; this vocation from boyhood, and invari
; ably wear long hair in imitation of wo
i men, and shave their faces smootlu
J What interests an intelligent European
; more at these tea houses than the dance
; are the recitations from the poets. The
' sonzs of Haliz may be heard there and
entire cantos from the great epic of
Feruoonsee, related with loud, sonor-
mid niA.1 1 1 I ! f it i Gl iVrT 1 III AO !t 1
ous modulation, heard sometimes at
quite a distance at the more inspiring
passages, and listened to with enthusi
astic rapture. Here, too, one may hear
the "Arabian Nights'" tales given
without any attempt at expurgation ex
actly as in a recent translation.
The reader will recollect that the
characters in the "Arabian N ights" are
constantly and at every opportunity
quoting long and appropriate passages
from the poets. This may to the Euro-
pean appear an affectation of a freak of
poetic license on the part of the author
of these tales. Ou the contrary, he was
simply giving us another of tho.se traits
of Oriental character, the record of
which ha3 given to those inimitable
narratives immortality as the finest
picture ever given of the E.ist. wh eh
after thousands of years, is only just
beginning to feel the triiisformmg in
lluence of Western civilization.
Croat Salt I.ako.
Great Salt lake is in fact not a branch
of the sea at all, but a mere shrunken
remnant of a very large fresh watei
lake system, like that of the still exist-
ing St. Lawrence chain. Ouce upon a
time, American geoloiists say, a huge
sheet of water, for which they have
even invented a definite name. Lake
Bonneville, occupied a far larger valley
amonz the outliers of the Rocky moun-
taius, Tie8ur'ng iJ'J nr.ie in oueni-
rectj0n bv ISO nines in the other. B
sije tliis primitive Suerior lay a great
second, sheet an early Huron ( Lake
Lahontan the geologists call it) al-
ni03t big aud equally of f tesh
water. By and by the precise
dates are necessarily indefinite some
change in the rainfall, unregister
ed by any contemiorary, made the
waters of these big lakes shrink and
evaporate. Lake Lahoutau shrank
away, like Alice in Wonderland,
till there was absolutely nothing
left of it. Lake Bonnev'.ll shrank till
it attained the diminished size of the
existing Great Salt lake. Terrace af
ter terrace running in long parallel
lines on the sides of the Wahsatch
mountains around, mark the various
levels at which It rested for awhile ou
its gradual downward course. It is
still falling. Indeed, and the plain
around is being gradually uncovered,
forming the white, salt-e.'jjrusted shore
with which all visitors to The Mormoa
city are so familiar. But why should
the water have become briny ? Why
should the evaporation of an old Su
ltrier produce at last a Great Salt Lake?
Well, there is a small quantity of salt
ia solution even in the freshest of lakes
.lnj ponds, brought down to them by
the streams of rivers, and, as the water
of the hypothetical Lake Bonneville
slowly evaporates, the salt and other
mineral constituents remained behind.
Thus the solutioin grew constantly
till at the present day it is extremely
saline. Professor Geikie, to whose
work the present paier is much indeb
ted, found that he floated on the water
In spite or himseit; ana tne unuer siues
of the steps at the bathing places are all
encrusted with short stalactitiesof salt,
produced from the drip of the bathers
as they leave the water. The mineral
constituents, however, differ corsid
erably in their proportions from those
found in true salt lakes of marine origin
and the pointat which thesaltis thrown
down is still far from having been reach
ed. Great Salt Lake must simmer In
the sun for many centuries yet before
the point arrives at which as cooks say,
t begins to settle.
Tho Fall of Thrcbaw.
The great capital, with its palace
citadel half a mile square covered with
cilded roofs, its pagodas and its public
buildings, lay as if asleep. The gates
were thrown open anu there was a
population of a hundred thousand
quietly at gaze while the white men,
with music ply ng, went forward to
arrest their King. The palace was oc
cupied, the city guarded and on the fol
lowing day the General was "accorded
an audience" an entered the palace by
the staircase reserved exclusively to
royalty. He found the King, "a stout
young man, undersized but dignified,"
and his Queen, a "woman with a clever
face and an evil mouth," almost alone,
body guards and councilors having
fled, and signified to him his deposition.
The King spoke little, except when
promptedby his wire, but seemed chiefly
anxious about his own life, and when
informed that he must visit Calcuttajas
sented. Accordingly, in the afternoon,
he and his Queen and a number of wo
men seated themselvesin carts drawn by
oxen and se were dragged to the wharf
under the gaze of that huge populace.
wnich neither wept nor cheered nor
cared. As soon as they were on board
the steamer started for Rangoon, where
the last Emperor of Delhi died on a
mat In a cottage, a state prisoner; and
so departed from history the House of
Alompra, which only sixty-two years
since reigned over Bnrmah, Assam,
Pegu, Arakan and Tenasserim, de-
manded tribute of Siam and promised
to become dominant throughout Indo-
China.
NEWS IN BRIEF.
Bartley Campbell, the playwriterls
iu poor health.
A hen's nest has just been patented
iu Washington.
A water famine Is said to be pre
vailing iu Vienna.
Insurance rates in Galveston havs
advanced 50 per cent.
Roast elephant is a sacred dish in
Tonqiiin and Annarn.
Orean-gnndeis are said to average
about f I a day in receipts.
Russian pn-)ners were first sent to
Siberia in 1710 by Peter the Great.
Uis and downs come with very
regular alternation to the elevator boy.
Dembert, a baker in Gainesville,
FI;u, has just fallen heir to il.000,000.
A beef recently slaughtered at
Temple, La., weighed, it is said, 2020
lbs.
The robea, frills and insignia of
Knights of the Garter cost about ii,
500. Mormons are settling in south
eastern Oregon In considerable num
bers. The will of Mr. Miner, of PlHladel
ihia, reads: "Emily R. Miner is my
heir "
Oillcial reports say that the produc
tion of genuine brandy I as ceased iu
France.
The Western Union sends a thou
sand million words a year of pre-s tele
grams. Fulton market, New York, sells
40,000,0u0 pounds of Ilsh and rejects
8.000.UJ0 annually.
Mr. Irving's Brooklyn engagement
was the best, in point of receipts, evei
played in that ciiy.
Henry III. compelled all person;
having a yearly income of 10 to b
knighted or pay a tine.
Lapeer, Michigan, Las a little two-year-old
buttou collector that has al
ready swallowed seventeen.
Donn Tiatt is reported to be build
ing a SlO.OuO Catholic Church at Mae
a Cheek, near his country home.
Mary Anderson is said to send most
of the flowers she receives to the hospi
tals and charity schools of Loudon.
Belle Boyd, the "spy," is reported
to be now living near Sau Antonio,
Texas, the wife of a ranchman there.
Joseph Cairn Simpson, cf San Fran
cisco, has sold bis horse Auteeo to the
Santa Rosa Stock Company tot 510,000.
Fencing is now the favorite reciea
tion of Viennese belles, the Empress
Elizabeth, as usual, having set the fash
ion. - The mail from San Francisco foi
Australia last week Clled about JUG
sacks. The most of it wai from Eu
rope. A bale of Persian raw silk was re
ceived iu Paterson, N. J., recently,
said to be the first ever Iiupoited into
America.
Bismarck's aveeige weight haj
been reduced from 237 unds.o that
of 105 pounds by Dr. hwennengerY
regime,
An Aucrusta (Me.) railroad man
went to bed the oiher night with hu
hearing perfect, and arose in the morn
ing deaf.
Rummelsburg, near .lierhu, is the
largest goose market in iho world.
They handle . 20,000,000 a year Z the
succulent bird.
At the German Gymnasium foi
girls in London, the highest jump is
four feet ten inches. The Iud.au clubs
weigh four pounds.
The Pennsylvania Editorial Asso
ciation is to meet In annual sessiou at
the Lochiel House, Harrisburg, on
Wednesday, January 23d.
Sou'.h Carolina is said to be the
only State that has no divorce laws.
Her Legislature recently defeated a bill
regulating divorces.
One of the notable bridges of the
world crosses an arm of the China sea
at Sangang. It is five miles long aud
has three hundred arches.
The carp was originally a native r f
Central Asia. It was introduced into
Austria in 1227, into England in 15o4
and into this country in 130.
The amount of gold in the United
States at the present timo is estimated
to be $.178,000,000, being au increase of
S300,0O0,ioO within five years.
Mine. Gerster is reported to have
contracted with Mr. Mapleson for her
' appearance m the title part of Ielibes
new opera "iAKtne" next spring.
The "Jim" river in Dakota is sail
to be ths longest unnavigable river lu
the United States, if not in the world,
its distance being nearly 1,000 miles.
News is thus nutshelled by the Ar
gonaut, a Texas raper: "Iredell is
booming. Walnut Is growing. Valley
Mills is howling and Fowler is quiet "
Killing alligators for their skins and
teeth empleys a large force of men in
Florida, who have eugaged to furnish
500,000 to a French tannery in a given
time.
Sir Tatton Sykes continued his
benefactions to the Church of Eugland,
notwithstanding the fact that he has
"gone over to Rome," says au English
laper.
Java is said to contain thirty-eight
lame volcanoes, some of which are
j more than 10,000 feet high, aud which
instead of lava eject enormous ujianti
I ties of mud.
A white pine, famously big, has
;just been cut at Pepperell, Mass. It
I was 40 inches through, 120 feet high,
i aud is said to have been a year old for
j almost every foot of its length.
DavidGraham Adee Is in Honolulu,
I at the government's expense, to inquire
into recent business matters between
: the Hawaiian Government aud the 1'a
'cilic Mail Steamship Company.
The town of Luxemberg will lnhe
' rit a large and invaluable collection of
pictures from the late M. Leo Lipp
mann. Consul for the archduchy of Am
sterdam, on the death of bis widow,
i Venison, despite the fact that $100
! fine is Imposed by Minnesota on every
! carcass carried out of that State, Is In
i market, plentiful enough for those who
'can afford it, and of unusually good
quality.
1 The "living skeleton," Isaac S.
Sprague, has made arrangements for
the transfer ol his body after death to
Harvard College, for scientific purposes.
He is now 40 years old, and weighs just
that many pounds.
Of the persons on the muster roll
of the Light Horse Artillery, of Hunt
ingdon, L. I., m 1312, ouly two are
now alive Daniel Totten, of Babylon,
aged 05, and Alexander Smith, of Am
ityvllie, who Is a few years younger.
ovttAisse3' vows- EiRbt ye
and I come back with a mad