p. F. SOHWEIER,
TO O0ZST1T U 1101 TES TJHOJ-AID mjnOXOLKEXT 0? TEE LATS.
Editor and Proprietor.
VOL. XL.
MIFFLINTOWN, JUNIATA COUNTY. PENNA.. WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 20, 18S6.
NO.
tat .
Sea Birds.
OfcMoJ i KarJ by the Ma,
j "rcbiJ the white pulis flicker by,
L wfrP ta'l, white lilire at her knot),
iTii;''l. ted uii-el in the sky,
irin' ,lie sn" bMUia'1
JSbr "one thev follow the ua
oTdie win-s of the salt sea wind.
a. lean? 1 on the terrace wall and sighed
ike th-sorely ebbing tide,
rjrt like the wild birds to the west,"
ttepilis s-ail by on the wind.
I ut-shore lehind.
. .I,-- ...ii-. tk. .....
Oatie wing 01 the " ssa wind.
pvf jrows the sansct sky and tray,
fiii ,t:js thi wiud across the lea;
Sow a the glory ol the day;
gjj w tlw story of the sea.
Ami :oe soil ail ly on the wind.
Laiiij ihe shore In-hind,
On, bt uue they follow the sun
0i tie BinfiS of the salt sea wind.
THE DEACON'S DESIRE.
Deacon Bxssett's favorite quotation
at prayer tootling was the wM re ait in
tend bnn:
'Musi I be carried to th pie
itn tlowerr b(sls of ease.
Whilf otht-Ti" fought to win the pflla
And siiitil through blooily soils?"
Id fact it was tha ouiy poetry in
a-Licn he ever indulged. One look,
however, at the stern, solemu face of
the goi'd, sincere, earnest, old man
would nave convinced any one present
that not with his lips only did lie utter
these words, but with all the strength
of his be srt.
Deacon Bassett kept the village store
as bis father had done before him, but
thirds were din's ent now from then.
There was no ntod for him to measure
oat sugar and molasses, as l.ii parent
Hi doue. There were busy clerks to
do a now, tor the store bad grown
with the village, and with the excep
tion of the squire there was not a richer
man for miies around than Deacon
Bassett. His fortune had been honestly
made, too, for the smallest child could
he safely trusted in buying at his store,
let with ail, a harder, sterner man
could cot be found. With him if a
thin? was not right, it was wrong.
There were no half-way measures, as
ever? man employed in his establish
ment d.stiucily understood.
Perhaps if tiis fair, gentle wife had
Eved it might have been different. S le
was the ouly one who ever understood
to riied nature. But early one
March inorning. when the snow was
railing on the hills and the birds began
to chirp a little, she laid her tiny girl
in his arms and said, oh 1 so tenderly,
led in such low, faint tones: "Zadok,
dear, take care of my little blossom.
eep her for me, unspotted from the
wurld." She died that nubt.
"Unspotted from the world." He
was he to keep his little girl in tbo
world and jet not of the world?
Eveivbody thought the deacon would
E-uTYUJum. That he would marry some
rood, sens tile woman. herliaiis, who
would take care of bis little motherless
chilli; and there were some of the good
sisters of his church that would gladly
have consented to console him and at
the same time take charge of his hand
some house opposite the store.
Bat the deacon himself neverdreamed
of sucu a thing. How could Le thins
of aiiotiier wife when before his eyes
always was that lonely little crave on
the hillside, coveiei in spriugtime with
Tioltts as blue as her eyes? No one
ever guessed thai, beneath that hard,
Kern exterior he carried a heart that
was well-nigh broken when the great
Clods of eai th were thrown on the coffin
of his loved one.
He sent for his i-irter. Miss Priscilla
Bassett, who certainly carried out his
Tfcws in regard to raising children. She
dearly loved the little Prudence, but
line her brother, she never allowed her
affection to show itself. Strict and
stem had been the religious training
of bulb, the deacon and herself. There
was no compromise with Satan in re-
pro to either dress or deportment.
Anything that savored of worldly tie
sire or fleshy vanities was stricken out
Of their lives.
"Levity in manners leads to laxity in
principles," was a part of her cieed.
So she sternly glowed at the bad little
top who sat on the back benches.
The possibility that there might be
some good ones among them never en
tered Ler head. Of course they were
all bad. Ilow could they help it, with
sucu raising as they had?
Yet: when thn tevpr raiml in the vil
lage,nd Tew were found willing to
tnter the infected homes. Miss Friscilla
"me to the front. From house to
house she went, with nourishing food
ma medicine, and tenderly bathed
the flashed, burning brows with a cool,
Ready hand.
Prudence rtastt irrpw ti nriiman.
hood. Dura anrl wMt lit-a fsifr Innalv
JitUe harebell, clinging with all its gen-
w might to the great stony rocks. A
tonty little lady, with eyes as blue and
ftas her dead mother's. She never
t1 a companion except the squire's
Joang daughter, aud site had died
Jfwn she was fifteen. So from that
e Prudence had gone on her way,
foely and quiet, for the deacon was
Tepr careful of his daughter's friends.
Ieacon Bassett had one great desire.
Uless that was gratiQed, he could not,
thought, devote his 'time to any
"g else. Years before he had made
P his mind just how many thousands
ere necessary to make Prudence a
wouiau before he could waste one
ttoment In pleasure. So all his energies
e:e directed to that end.
came to pass one bright morning
Jjt Zadok Bassett was surprised by a
t Irom his cousin, Harriet Weat-
"I'm going to take your little girl
a with me, Cousin Zadok," she
a, emphatically. 'Trudence does
t look very strong, and certainly
change from the humdrum life
has been leading."
Humdrum life? Deacon Bassett
waned in amazement. It was the same
"at he had always lived, and his
r"r tad lived before him, and there-
was g.od enough for her.
"She
1;
is the age of my Alice," con-
rw Mrs. Nentwortb, "and I am
are they will both enjoy the visit."
ai first the deacon was strenuously
B.1 lo tlle unheard o' proceeding
wanked bis cousin very stiffly, but
"p. preferred to keep bis daughter
nome, and away from the follies of
We. But Mrs. Wentworth was
balked.
tiJf lier come witn me. Zadok," she
waded. "Ii,dHwl it te f.ir hpr sool.
bhe
erows more lite mother every
suggestion made him falter.
a remembered bow ber mother.
with the same aweet dinr.if;
genUe ways." had faded hf. ra til a
So, after little mare nprsn,, .
was decided, and when cousin Harriet
-.lit . l"wn' "udence went
"c uu wunout many a silent
v . : . . ?in"'a heart that she
might not le led away by the pomps
" wicKea world.
At first the bustle of city life con
fused the quiet, sliv nialdn xrJn. .
time she wished herself back with her
.cm, aiuer aim precise Aunt Priscilla.
But as days wore awiv thirnj. .h.
One afternoon her cousin Alice came
bustling into the room, exclaiming:
"Oh, True, Tom la waiting down stairs
iiu m iriena or nis, Owen liiinsford
wu la Kounr u try our new organ
in tae church; and Tom says be will
take us, if we hurry."
In the confusion Prue lmrdW noticed
the dark-eyed stranger who wa intro-
auceu to ner; and in a few minutes.
under her cousin Tom's quiet escort.
iue pariy reacned uie church.
"Lei me Stav down bore?" nleaded
Prudence, as they prepareJ to go up to
me organ joit. "i will wait in one of
the pews for you; indeed, I would
much rather."
"Wny. you bashful little Prne,
laughed Alice. Bui they let berhave
ner wish.
AVith hands clas:ed tightly together.
irunence Bassett looked with awe
around the beautiful church, so differ
ent from an to which she bad been
accustomed. Down through the great
siamea wumow tue sun fell in a mel
low light at her feet, aud glittered on
the chancel rails.
Suddfuly there fell upon her ear such
a burst of music that she fairly held
her breath. Louder and grander the
notes or the organ pealed forth, and
tbeD sank to low sweet tones, and fin'
ally died away into silence.
I he pink on her cheeks deepened to
carnation, as she listened, breath
lessly.
Was it possible there could be sounds
uke that on earth?
When the music ceased the merry
party came down stairs. But Prudence
still sat silent in the pew.
"Well, Prue," said Alice, "have
you fallen a.l?ei? How did you like
Mr. Kainsford's playing?"
IVudence did not answer, but there
was a quiver about the sensitive mouth,
an J the blue eyes bad grown dars with
eini'tion.
With ready tact Owen Rainsford
said, "Supiose we go aud ask the sex
ton for a glass of water. The church
is too hot."
Something In the look of those sweet
eyes raised to m aud brimming with
tears made bis heart beat as it never
had done before.
That was the beginning of it.
Frm that time scarcely a day passed
uut.vjeu Uaiasfbrd found his way to
the Wentworths. - cousin Harriet
Doticed it. Ho if could she help it?
he war fcereon 1 ran
intimate friend, a, id a talented young
man of spotless reputation, so he was
perfectly welcome.
The days and weeks went by, and
I'rue's visit grew to an end. w ith
pang she acknowledged to herself that
she was not half so eager to ret irn as
s e ought to be, when she recollected
bow patiently her father and louely
aunt Priscilla awaited her return.
"I am going away to-morrow," sus
said toO"en Kimsford as they stool
before the open gate oue morning.
"Going away," he repeated it
blankly. Then he turned suddenly to
her and said:
D.-ar little Pjue, day by day your
face has grown into my heart uutil
every note I play is for yon. Oaly
promise some day to love me as dearly
as l love you?"
A great wave of wonder and bap.ii
ne?s swept over the girJ, as she listened
lo these words, so d liferent from any
thine; she had ever heard.
"Prue," he said, looking down into
the beautiful eyes, "I am going to ask
your father if he will some day let me
have you. it he says yes,' wiu you
say so too?"
Such a low, faint cry came from
Prue. But It satisfied him. Deacon
Bassett was dumb with astonishment
when 0eu Rainsford asked to marry
his daughter. It could not be possible I
Why, Prue had scarcely been away
three months. In vain the young man
pleaded that he was willing to wait for
years, if only he migat be permitted to
:ee her in the meantime. Tne Deacon
bitterly reproached himself for having
permitted his daughter to fall Into the
hands of the Philistines, the latter being
represented by this scheming fortune
huuter. Of course It was her money
the touns fellow wanted. The possi
bility that Rainsford might really be
in love did not enter her father's head.
How could he In that short time?
Whv. he himself had gone to sea her
mother for five years before he had
asked her to marry him.
It did not matter to him bow much
his cousin Harriet thought of the young
man. oae was a woman auu eaauy
deceived. Nothing she could say on
the subject would have any effect In
the most decisive and sweeping terms,
therefore, he let Owen Rainsford know
that never azain. by word or deed, was
he to attempt to address his daughter.
But the young man was one not to
be so easily disposed or. uniu ne
heard his fate from Prae's own lips he
would not consider it decided, ne saia.
Perhaps if Prue bad tola ner iatner
that with all her hearthe loved Rains
fnrrl thinrrs mieht have been different.
But she was too timid to acknowledge
it in the face of his stern Indignation.
So with trembling lips she said "good
bye." Her lover took her hand In his
for the last time and said: "I will never
forget you, and though it should be to
the ends of the earth." Then he went
Deacon Bassett congratulated him
self that he had saved his daughter so
promptly, and inwardly resolved that
never again should she leave his sight.
Ti, winter was a hard one that year
and It seemed to tell on Prue's delicate
constitution. When the spring would
come she would be better, she said.
But the spring came anu biui ouo
seemed to droop.
Deacon Bassett Ts;aesire, meauwu-,
ua in oranted. With a creat sigh
of relief be closed the account book,
tilted back his chair and looked
around the room with gratified pride.
At last be had acmeveu mo
of his existence. , ,
At the end of the year he would
leave the store forever and devote all
his time to her ror me rewumCi .
Ufe. He was not a mt-srly man; it
was all for he A And now he had ac
complished what he had undertaken.
Prue need never have a wish ungratt
fied for the want of money.
n-ith oenoA of ease be leaned back
and indulged himself in dreams ol the
future. They were quickly brought to
an end by the entrance of Mrs. Went-
worth.
"Why. cousin Harriet," he ex
claimed, "when did yoa come? Have
you been over to the house?"
Cousin Uaniet shook hands with
him and answered ia the affirmative.
Then having seated herself in one of
the wooden chairs, fclm began abruptly.
"Cousin Zidok, what have you been
doing with Prue? Sho looks as if she
would not live a year, and I believe it
will be your fault."
The deacon sprang to his feet, his
face ashen with terror, and caught, tier
convulsively by the arm.
'Harriet Went worth, he gasped
" w nat ao you mean?"
She was startled by the effect of her
words, and answered, soothingly,
it is very likely I am mistaken.
It
She
may be only a little lonely. But
believe in my heart she Is pining for
uwen itainsrord,"
ane has never mentioned his name
once since he went away," said the
deacon, eagerly. "I think she has
almost forgotten him."
Mrs. Wentworth shook her head
"Prue is such a shy little thing, and
be.ieves so implicitly in you, that I do
not wonder she does not speak of him
But she will never forget him."
Dacon Bassett hurried across the
road. Was ;t possible that for this he
bad toiled all his ljfe long? Could it
be true that this little blossom would
never use the money which be had
spent all this time in making?
With trembling hands he pushed
back the half-open door, and entered
the room where Prudence was sitting.
With a pang be noticed how very pale
and fragile she looked.
"Little Prue," he said, as he bent
over tha pretty brown hair, "did you
love Owen itainsrord?"
A crimson blush swept over her face.
"Oil, father," she answered, softly,
could not help."
tor a moment the stern old man
was silent. Then he took her hand in
hrs and tried to smile, as he said
huskily: "I have changed my mind
and am going back to the city to tell
him to come and see us. Cousin Har
riet tells me he is a very worthy young
man."
A surprised happy look came into
her eyes. She laid her cheek down on
bis great rough band, as she said.
' You are the dearest father in all the
world."
Deacon Bassett's visit te the city,
however, was all in vain. Owen Rains-
lord could not be found. He had gone
to Europe, his friends said, end they
could not give bis address just then.
But the deacon did not abandon his
quest. He would have given his life to
save that little race at home. So week
after week, he went to the city, till at
lat Prue's letter went across the ocean.
Back over the great water came the
clicKin memaje; "Will return on next
etew-Mei." w.ta - vlcMt'J'stme trie
deacon laid the words in the little blue
veined band.
I am so glad." she said simply,
want to see him once again."
tiger ly the anxious father watched
ror the vessel, hoping by some means
to restore Prue to health. The day the
steamer was expected to arrive he went
up to the c:ty, saying to Prue, as he
bid her good bye, "I will bring him
back with me."
He never brought him back. There
was a message, instead, awaiting him.
stating that Owen Rainsford bad died
on the day before the vessel arrived.
"He is dead," groaned the deacon.
"It is my fault. 1 bave killed my little
limb."
For a moment the room seemed to
reel around as Priscilla Bassett's steady
nerves deserted ber. Then she spake
up bravely:
Zadok, no earthly power could bave
s ived our Prudence, even if she bad
her lover, for she never was strong.
What you did yon thought was for the
best, and she never will blame you."
Somehow there came to the poor
broken heart of the deacon a ray of
comfort at these words. With tremb
ling steps be follow, d Priscilla up the
stairs where his darling lay.
As they entered the room, Prue
turned her eyes expectantly towards
the door. "Is be coming?'' she asked
softly. "Shall I see blm soon?"
The deacon could not answer, nut
with a great sob dropped down on bis
knees by the little white bed and buried
his face In his bands.
Miss Priscilla looked at the wan.
wistful face and a mist carse over her
"Yes, dear," she soruy answered
gently, "you will see him very soon."
A glad, contented look came into
the violet eyes. Then Prue slipped her
cold little hand like a snowflake into
the great brown one of ber father.
"Prue," he gasped, "wiu you iorgive
me? 1 thought I was doing it for your
good. But it was all all a dreadful
mistake." "Why, father," she answered in
tender tones, "you have always been
good to me."
"Don't, aonT, my aarnng," ne
groaned in despair. Then he tried to
Drav. but the prayers that he could
deliver so promptly in meetings faded
him, and his Hps refused to move.
The shadow on tha wall grew aeeper.
The white eyelids fell lower, till the
lashes almost swept the cheek. Miss
Priscilla looked despairingly at the
deacon. But no words came.
Suddenly there rose to Cousin Alice
the remembrance of something owen
Rainsford had sunz the night before
Prue went home. She softly commenced
to sing, while her tears were failing:
Art thou weary, are thou languid
Art thou sore dlstrcss'd?
"Come to me," saitb one, "and coming-
Be at rest."
Such a happy look came over Prue's
face and the thin band clasped more
tightly that of her father.
Then there reii a siience in too mum.
Outside the bees were huming ana tne
birds were twittering in a slow sleepy
fashion. Nearer and nearer crept the
shadow on the wall as the sun went
down. But another had entered the
room, a still unseen preoeuwa, uu
quietly, with a smile on her lips, tired
litue Prue lay at reiu
Mme. Fatti Is to begin ber Ameri
can tour on Jiovemner 10, in xew
York.
nninlnns alter, manners change,
creeds rise and fall, but the moral law
is written on tablets of eternity.
The Builder and Wood-Woflcer
.wim mends the use of mahogany as a
finish to business offices, as most dur
able, economical and handsome.
Perftclly clean and dry wooi contains
about 5 per cent, oi suipuur, uu
nine-pound fleece about seven ounces
of potash, about six of wUlch can be re
covered by well washin? the wool and
evaporating the wash water.
Lcjrentt of a Kia.
There Is at the court of Km
Chis-
tlan of Denmark an equerry,
high
in
iavor.
This gentlemen is called Paul
delboe, Baron Lenwenenrue.
Wen-
And there has been at the court of
Dsnmark an equerry called Paul Wen
delboe. Baron Lenwenenrue, for more
man zjj years.
The presence of this perennial
equerry is accounted for in a iweet and
simple legend, having for its basis just
an innocent little kiss.
At the university in Copenhagen
there sojourned, something more than
kj years ago. a youth named Paul
Wendelboe.
He was the son of a poor clergyman,
who, in a Danish province, for forty
years had lived and preached the Word
and done the work of his master, in
humble content, in a poor and tiny
hamlet.
It was the hope of this good clergy
man that, when in the fulness ot time,
he should be called to rest from his
labors, bis son Paul should succeed
him.
To this end Paul bad been, with
much pinching and privation, sent to
the university at Copenhagen to com
p iete ins education.
But Master Paul did not desire to
emulate bis father.
He longed to travel.
To see the world of whose wonders
and bsautlss he had read and heard so
much.
This desire had grown and strength
ened every hour, having been fed by
the talk of his two chosen comrades,
who, more fortunate than our hero In
having fathers rich in this world's
goods, intended at the close of their
school probation to set out together on
their travel to see the would.
The academic year bad ended.
The day full of triumphs for Paul
who had passed the examinations with
honor had ended.
I5ut bis triumphs brought him no
happiness.
The morrow would sea him bid adieu
to his two young friends, who for
year had been his constant companions,
sharing his studies, his sports, his sor
rows, bis hopes.
To-morrow they would go tozether
out into that beautiful, unknown
world.
They would look upon the glories of
art, or whlcu he had only obtained cold
glimpses through the pages of books.
They would be face to face with
nature in all her moods her beauties
would be unfolded to them.
They would mingle in the great
drama of which the world was the
stage.
l'erbapel Oh, glorlouj thought!
i hey would draw their swords In soma
of the great battles that from time to
time convulsed that grand, unknown
LyoriOx,. , . , . . .
I TVnue he, alone, must turn toward
the white face of the north; must take
up his duties with a heart as cold as
her clime.
Must forever closs his eyes against
beauty, his heart against ambition.
He mourned like a boy, B at be kept
silence like a man.
As the sun went down and the long
sweet twilight ot the white land began,
the three friends set out for a farewell
walk.
Tbey selected their favorite route.the
wall surrounding the town.
Occasionally across the gay talk.QHed
with brightness of youth and hope,
there would float a sigh from our poor
hero, which would be laughed back
Into shadow-land by his gay young
comrades.
As they sauntered on they spied at
the window or a stately old bouse a
face, all framed in by the flowers that
grew and flourished there.
It was the face or rair young girL
No rose was ever sweeter than those
lips and cheeks.
No lily was ever fairer than that
cool white brow.
No jasmine ever sweeter than the
look of innocence and peace that rested
like a halo round that bead.
In the careless recklessness of happy
youth the comrades of our hero said to
him, if he would go and claim a kiss ot
that fair maiden as she stool among
her flowers he should join them on their
travels.
Go where they went, see what they
saw. enjoy what the? enjoyed.
Without a word Paul left his wild
companions.
Went to the manion In whose case
ment gleamed this beauteous jewel of
maidenhood and sounded a summons.
His summons was answered by the
maid herself, who, in her sweet hu
mility, never dreaming she was the ob
ject of his quest, said ber father, the
professor, was absent from home, but
would shortly return.
Then our brave young hero told ber
it was not ber father, bnt herself he
sought.
There, standing on the threshold, be
told her of his comrade's offer told
her of his wish his wild, Insatiable
thirst to travel to sea the beautiful,
the unknown world.
With eyes ca3t down and with never
word, the maiden listened. And
when be bed finished, still without a
word, she took him by the hand and
led bim to the window where the flow
ers bloomed upon the sill. And there.
with eyes uplifted to his, and in the
sight of his comrades, she offered him
ber bps all dewy witn innocence ana
truth.
Then with a murmured blessing she
lei him forth.
The next morning three young gen
tlemen set cut to travel and see the
world.
After five years again there was a
summons at the door or me nouse
where dwelt the beauteous maiden with
her father, the old professor.
Bnt this time the visitor was a young
gentleman bronzed with travel, and at
tired m the gorgeous uniform of an
officer high in rank.
Again the maiden answerea me sum
mons, and, as before, in sweet humility,
she said, "My father is not within,
sir."
The voung gentleman made answer
as did the youth five years before. It
was not ber father, but nerseu ne
sought.
He asked ber it sue rememoerea me
youth on whom she had bestowed a
kiss.
Remember bim I
With blushes and eyes cast down.she
answered, -Yes."
Then he led her to me room wnere
bloomed the flowers on the window
sill. He remembered quite well the way.
and told her how her pure kiss had
been as a seal up n his lips and had
kept them virgin to her through all the
years of his absence. ,
now ins tiguc uom ner uptumea
eyes bad been bis beacon light that had
lex1 him on to fortune.
He told ber bow while traveling with
his young friends be had visited Russia,
ana irnding that country involved In a
war ho had enrolled himself under ber
banner.
lie told ber In a few modest words
tb it in more than one action be had
been so fortunate as to win the notice
and good-will of the great Czir himself,
who had bestowed upon him rank and
honors.
Butl He told her bis heart often
turned with longing to his native land.
Oiren, by the camp-fire's light, on
the locely march, amid the dazzling
splendor of the court, he felt again ber
pure kiss upon his lips, be heard again
her murmured blessing.
Hut gratitude to his imperial patron
kept him at his post.
At last there came to visit at the
court of Russia the king of Denmark.
During bis visit the Czar mentioned
to his royal cousin of Denmark that
a.ong the bravest and most honored of
his young officers there was a Danish
gentleman.
The Danish kmg sumnone 1 to his
ptssencs this subject who had so
bravely upheld the honor of bis native
land.
Ue told our young hero tha.
there was always room for such tn he
in the ranks of his own army.
And when the king of Denmark re
tcrned to his own realm there came in
his train Major Paul Wendelboe,
Baron Lenwenenrue, cquerry-ln-wait-ing
upon bis majesty.
And Maj. Paul Wendelboe bad lost
no time in seeking out the maiden,
whose name even he did not know, but
whose visage had been his guidinz star
that had led him on to win honor and
title, which he brought now, with love
and gratitude, to lay at her feet.
The maiden whispered to him Ler
name was "Lugeborg," and then! she
whispered
No need to tell what she whispered.
Tis the same sweet sentence that
Don Cupid prompts'all maids to whis
per since the world began.
And this is why there Is alwavs at
the court of Denmark an equerry-in-waiting
called "Paul Wendelboe,
JJaron Lenwenenrue. "
And why the eldest dauzhter of the
house of Lenwenenrue is always chris
tened "Lugeborg."
Conld Not Pay His Bill.
"Now that we are engaged come and
le't ace introduce you to papa," said Miss
PotUeworth.
"1 believe I bave met bim before."
replied young Spickle.
"Bat in quite another capacity than
that or son-m-law."
"Yes er; bat I would rather not
mert him to-night."
Afid despite tue most violent strug
gles of the young man, he was drawn
into th librarv, where a large, red
faced man, with a squint In oue eye
and an enlargement of the nose, sat
looking over a lot of papers.
"Father," said the girL
"Huml" he replied, without looking
up.
I wish to present you to"
"Whatl" he exclaimed, looking up
and catching sight ot young Spickle.
"Have you the impudence to follow me
here? Didn't I t-tl you that I would
see you to-morrow?"
"Why, father do you know Mr.
Spickle; do you?"
"I don't know bis name, but I
know that he has been to my cfhzi
three times a day for a week with a
bill. I know him well enough. 1
can't pay that bill to-night, young
man. Come to my office to-morrow."
"I hope you do not think ill of me,'
said Spickle. "I have not come to col
lect the bill you have reference to,
but"
"Whatl Got another one?"
"You persist in misunderstanding
me. I did not come to collect a bill.
can come to-morrow about that.
To-night I propose! to your daughter,
and have been accepted. Our mission
is to acquaint yon with the fact, and
gain your consent to our marriage."
"Well, is that all? asked the old
fellow. "Blamed if I didn't think you
bad a bill. Take the girl, if that's
what you want But say, didn't 1 tell
you to bring the bill to-morrow?"
"Yes. sir."
"IVeH, you needn't. Oar relations
are ditierent now. v uii I naa a
daughter for every bill collector In
town,"
Electric Swords.
One of the most interesting features
of modern progress is the influence on
p "$3 of warfare exercised by scientific
of.Verles. The bicycle has been util
ized in Germany for mounting troops,
and now we bear of an electric sword.
It will be seen at once that the latter
an essentially shocking weapon.
Strangely enough, it was invented in
Shanghai. The warrior using such a
sword has a battery that is, of course,
an electric battery concealed at bis
wa st. Insulated wires run from the
battery to the sword. When the point
ot the weapon touches an adversary the
latter is paralyzed. 1 he wlelder of the
sword can be said to have made an elec
tric charge.
There is much that is luxurious and
pleasing in the possibilities suggested
by the Shanghai sword. In the first
place, the victims to the weapons are
not hewn down in a bloody death.
They perish neatly and quickly and do
not soil the ground with gore. Of
course, suck scientific execution would
take away much thst is poetical about
battle-field. No longer could the
romancers revel in such phrases as
rivers of blood" land "gory pools."
In fact, the electric sword would offer
Itftla mnra f Vt a n on AlAnrrii Hruart tr on
wtrle corst as a subiect for Imafflna-
Ha on-itora Rut it nnneala at nnn In '
the lovers of the practical. If warfare 1
is really a necessary adjunct of human ;
existence, let us keep it as strictly j
abreast of the times as possible.
The electric sword is a great advance
on the weaoon which has for so many
centuries sprung from its scabbard to
seek men's vitals. It has one great
drawback, however, which may retard
its popularity. It is apt to prove fatal. "" " kua le i 6 ,7 ,.
imagine a French duel fought with'" in the room that several ladies
electric swords. Some one would be
.,,,- t mPt with rfi.rir nrl Frpnrh !
HtAn(iQt vauM Via fn-oaflv ui trj trail
1 n tha nrhnla II SAm nr.ihati'a th:lt tha
Shanghai weapon will not ba received
with favor in Europe. The great armed
nations of the continent would feel re
luctant to place lightning-rods on their
trcops, and unless some such precaution
were taken the electric sword would be
invincible.
QUKEX YICTOniA FAVORS OPALS.'
She ha Distribut . Vnt Among
Jer Friend and Made Them
i- asnionaoie.
2 teen victoria has male the oral
shinnaliln ora'n All tha rir.
fxcMr.nal.l, an '
jewelry that she has bestowed amonz
.....v.uu.u .uo kum UL
ner menus ror the past year have been """-". "" ueionjrmn w rurai
opals. Sometimes they bave been set "wrstiUons. It has not disappeared
slone, sometimes set with diamonds. yL Dwellers in remote country dis
Tha (mm huiignnhii.i,..i trlcts are aware how very freauentlv.
for these allpired nninckr BtniiM sh
has insisted that they brought no moe ' the,,r Provincial-reared neighbors. The statutes ot New Jersey now
bad luck to those wearing them than : ffje luI?r0M bovers on the border of , forbid the killing, wounding or catch
any other jewels, and she has long tried ; roblime. A man or woman entl- j ing of any song hints at any time.
to aiiay mat superstition. Her rather . '"ul,u? lu i"" la luo Lumber is siii.l tn h
-:-.!,.!..! 'roll of nutnm's nh lit hnl.l 1km. i.uiLi uer 13 sam 10 DO
yiutiuo uuuiuuuuu ui uieae stones " , . scarce in om ri i-r nf
among her friends.lt is said, had for nlou9. intelligent, stout of arm, and hZlft--, ?1
its
obiect tha do n awavwirh th
superstition altogether. , and over aga n proved the victim of Iromment members of the Ohio
The queen's own jeweller naturally some delusion, or craven, ignoble dub gave ex-S.-uator Tuurmaa a rous
took the bint, and the other jewellers ! terT0T- There are working men in se- .In reception at Cincinnati recently,
who were not the queen's own, but clua namlets who still cling to their An English angler explains hU de
who were more than willing to be. i n'" aS0,7 n? to ito wnJ$?MuZ
were not slow in perceiving that there l2Tf tbe M tmslt.ea ' i'tl.e only amuUmeut fishes ever lave."
was a ready sale for the very gems that mudjne comprehension through the n, , , i
had been heretofore looked unon with mealum of the prophetic almanacs. ! O. the thirty-four large coffin fac
suTpS rKoX' WIT. tentatively, but Uo'ted States Cincinnati
pins, and momer ways, all they had in iwitQ a ?ba3t credulity which can the largest and Chicago the
eivwir on, MAM th i. ! shape aau rovem their everv-diiv ac- i utxt
vvuvf .uu iwjuk VUk 1U1 UUliCX 1UU3 Jv
wasn't very lonir before everv blooded
English lady or ceatleman who wore
jewelry at all, sported many and beau- i wn"1er ?laI. commercial, or matri
tlful opals. Then it wouldn't be Eng-lmonlal We 1uote bona fide exam
lish, you know, if the blooded Amer-ip e. , ... . . . .
icans didn't have a lot of opals, too, A86!1 country mechanic, a man
and, although President Cleveland ?f dUne Pretentions to ability, lost
didn't have any "own jeweler," to set hia wtJuatlon1 after fifteen years of ap
the opal a rolling, there were lots Er0, Vfl 8e.rvlce' He wught another,
ot jewelers who did. There wasn't a but at flr?t unsuccessfully. Trade was
very big stock of opals in these parts, dePrwsed, and the outlook sombre. An
so orders weie sent to Hungary, the
great opal market, to rush on Vre the
best they had. Then opals went up.
To-day they are 100 per cent, higher
than they were a year ago. Good ones
: - .
sell for Soo a carat, and increase in
price in almost the same ratio as dia
monds. Of course small and inferior
stones can be bought as low as $5
a carat, but they are not a bit pretty.
The big jewelry bouses are working
them into all sorts of jewelry, and are
very sad because they cannot get as
many as they want.
The jewelers and precious stone
dealers of the eighteenth century, who
had invested largely in opals, were
nearly thrown into bankruptcy by Sir
Walter Scott, who, in one of his
Waverley Novels, pretty nearly ruined
the opal's reputation forever, and it Is
said that many jewelers of the present
great novelist, on account of the injury
that he did to their forefathers, and
will not allow any of bis works on their
library shelves. The ancients had
called the opal the "love stone, v aud
no bloodel young U izian or Greek
would have even faintly considered tu-
gaging himself in marriage if he hadn't
an opal ring for the girl. And any an-
cieut who bad a very caoice opal,
ava pecans p" i aaa lowawl flows
on the other ancients who were not so
fortunate.
Indeed, there are strange stories told
a(iw-..,.. ..r.i.i --J .,.;. ,!. i,
is chronicled in the encyclo.aslia,
which took the facts straight from the
old records, that a Roman senator
named Nonius bad an opal that made
?if.?if ' .'ii11! .FlSi
.1 if"1 "ni,ble,he said; "as is well known and
intimated to the senator that it would
net be a bad scheme to make him a
present of it. But the senator didn't
f it In that liht Than A ntfrtv c-l
I... ...,..! 1 . l.. I
..- ..auv .-- v.. ,
be banished. Nonius replied that he
uo nuulU U4IC tJ glvc UIUJ lUdb upU Ul
would be banished, then, and le.t the
country with his opaL all his other
goods having been contiscated. The
ancient Pliny, who saw this opal, tays
that it wasworth in Roman money e iuiv
aient to oOO.UHJ.
When b.r Walter Scott wrote that
novel it was "Anna of Giierstein"
and told about the Baron von Arn-
heim, who bad an opal which occas.on-
ally got angry and flashed red nre. the
opal market dropped at once. Tnat
opal worked too much mischief not to
rum the reputation of its family. Its
first little eccenix.cities weren't so
mud', but its wind up was very bad.
The Baron had wedjed a beautiful
Persian maiden, and for a year or two,
while that opal was behaving itself, af
fairs went smoothly enough.
Then the Baron and his wife, along
with their relatives and friends, went
to church to bave their baby chris
tened. It was all right until a drop of
holy water fell on that opal. There
was a sizzle, and a lot of red fire darted
out of the opal, which at once became
as dull and lustreless as a piece of a
dinner plate, and It wasn't long after
this that the Baron and the Baroness
died.
Arter reading that story nobody
cared much for opals, and it would
have been hard to find a girl who
would bave consented to have one
iu her engagement ring. Apparently
Queen Victoria doesn't believe the
story, or superstition isn't as strong as
it was. At any rate, the latest engage
ment rings will contain opals.
One thing has leaked out since opal.)
have again become fashionable, and
that is the dealers in Hungary have
been playing it low on the other
dealers. The best opals were said
to come from Hungary, and everybody
sent there for t&era. Now, the truth
is that the best opal mines are in South
America, just where, nobody is willing
to tell, and the Hungarian merchants
have been having them shipped to Hun
gary, where they are sold as a home
product. One bright jeweler of New
York tumbled to this ract, and sent an
agent down t South America, who
bought up 2,500 very Qne opals, and
bargained for several thousand more.
The other jewelers bave tried hard to
get bim to tell where the mines are, but
he won't
Snowstorm in a Ballroom.
Every one has heard of dancing
On the iCO, but dancing in a ball-
rom undera snowstorm is not so
laminar, ma
PJ w""1
'n8 not long ago in Sareden. The cir-
luu'
10Z Pap" Vw8
cold night but with the sky clear and
the stars blning. a large assembly was
Peered fora ball m Swedenand in
lamteu. au wu W.D
window, but he saw that the pressure
ot the lc
ot the ice was holding it fast shut So
ne DrOK.6
pane, and the rush of cold
air coming from without produced a
fall of snow In the room. The atmos
phere bad been changed with watery
vapor, and this becoming suddenly con
densed and refrigerated fell, under the
form of snow, cn the heads of the as
tonished dancers.
6CPERSTmOX3.
The Phase
I
DFuSLa Conn"i
i
A pTiafe or rustic bumor wn'cn
. deal In6d Tear hr voir and hannilv xn
l? "n further and yet further into
. ... J J v 1' r " J
m the characters and modes of tbouzht
strong or wm-is nevertheless over
. . , w , '
"" uujiuk anu aeuiuj. tueir
i8010? ana reaping, their contracts.
l , " """"""" V"'"
!1uartr. The inquiry was made if he
lW-ktllsa ft.
could commence work on the Mondav
succeeding his engagement. Ue hesi
tated, and lugubriously demurred.
"I will come on the Tuesday, without
fail," he said.
"Why not on the previous day?"
curiously asked the employer.
"It's a bad one, sir."
"A bad one! How? I don't under
stand." "By the almanac, sir. I wouldn't
marry on that day if I were ever so
deeply smitten by "Cupid's arrow," as
they call it on the valentines, and if it
were a choice between then and never;
and I won't start at a new job on Mon
day next for any master in the country.
Sorry to disoblige, sir."
Remonstrance and ridicule were alike
vain. "No, no: I mayn't be able to
il'L,. .C :h""'
s a heap o' thinzs in
the world we can't tell just the why
and the wbyfore of but I've proved,
and that's better than explaining it;"
"in fact, there's a proof here in this
little bit of business. My almanac told
me I was to bave changes tins year. I
looked all round, but couldn't so much
T,7"
T"u .
1 tim ?, '
as guess where they were to come from.
that after all the almanac
and I've noticed it scores of
times.
lbe same artan fet-jd sponsor on
another occas on for a statement as
curious as to be worthy reproducing.
iusHxiuKuut uiu uuuior uut Bimuiy
l?fjuraT,Ibai aof1 techa "PtUioa
l
j "JlT -i heaverv ,b?d.e3
'f P congenial au-
I 'The moon's power is very reinarka-
admitted, it ru!e3 the tides. And it
! likewise makes a wonderful difference
to timber. You may hardly credit this,
i " cm-o SJU.
P,nl A. 1 . .,1
ICUCV
when the moon is wax
!"InL" F AJ
and growth ot timber felled when the
moon Is on the wane. It's queer, but
true.
Pare Lack.
"Talk about luck!" says Colonel A.
R. McGill. State Insurance Commis
sioner of Minnesota, and then he pro-
ceeds to tell this story, on the truth of
I which he is willing to stake his chances
j for the next Gubernatorial nomination.
"When. In the spring of 1302, the army
of the Potomac moved into the f or till -
' cations at Manassas and Centerville,
which had been vacated by the rebels,
the boys spent much of their time
gathering relics from the battlefield
of Bull Run, to send home to their
friends. One day a irawky member of
the Fcurth New York, brought in an
unexploded percussion bomb and pro
ceeded to draw the load before sending
it away. He might, if be had bad
brains enough to last him over the door
sill, bave taken it to an artilleryman
and had It safely unloaded, but Instead
of this, he took it to the blacksmith
shop, where, with hammer and cold
chisel, he sat down in the middle of the
fl'ior, took the bomb between his legs,
placed the chisel on the brass screw at
the point, and rave it a smart lick with
the hammer. The next Instant the at
mosphere was dense with disintegrated
blacksmith shop. A section of the bat
ting roof had business over in another
county, and a chunk of the side wail
went down to visit a neighboring camp.
Pieces of iron and steel that were once
tools took an immediate vacation and
fled to parte unknown. In short, the
shop was eemoiisbed."
"But what of the man?" we askel
of Colonel McGilT.
'.He's the chap I was coming to.
When the boys rushed over to see what
was the matter, there be sat, bolt
upright in the midst of the debris, with
his legs straddled out, a hammer in one
hand and a cold-chisel In the other, and
trying to spit a hair off the end ot his
tongue. 'By gosh,' he said, as he
slowly crawled to his feet, 'I guess the
rolks 't home Ml have to gtt along
'thout thU shell.'
"The only injury that had been done
to him was the singeing of his hair and
whiskers. He wasn't even much
frightened till the next day."
Silhouettes.
There is a paragraph going the rounds
which speaks of the "the cheap portrai
ture invented by Silhouette." Silhou
ette was neither an artiste, nor an in
ventor in portraiture, he was financial
minister for Louis XIV. He instituted
such economies and reforms, in the
hopeless effort to place French finances
on a healthy basi3, that he became an
object of ridicule. Coats were made
minus collars and all ornamentation
was done away with. This was con
sidered very funny at the time. Then
portraits were made in black and called
silhouettes, in ridicule of the unpopular
minister. The name has remained long
after the minister is forgotten.
LowIoa engineers say that as a mat
ter ot theory it is possible to make
steamers run forty knots an hour and
across the Atlantic in three days. But
the vessel could only carry passengers.
NEWS IN BRIEF
-The ballet of the Faris opera cost
! vA,UUU I
a year.
i The Princess of Wales spends KO-.
IS : .
: jv v iuuhucu,
The leading New York restau
rants and cafes have undergone reno
vations for the winter season.
Gen. Booth, the head center of the
Salvation Army, is said to haveaprom-
; inent. massive and very red nose.
growing
Alabama and
I "
There are thirty-two separate taxes
' on wheat in Mexico from the time it
j leaves the field until it reaches the
miller.
White ash of fine 'quality is consid
ered the best for the inside finish of
cars, being the most durable in reflect
ing light.
Senator Edmunds Is enjoying de
lightful autumn weather at Butler's
Island, Lake t'hamplaln, the guest of
Dr. W. S. Webb.
Large jobbing houses in the grocery
trade in New York are complaining ot
the condition of the canned peaches put
up in Maryland.
The New York Ti nes says of the
opening of autumn in the Catskills that
the sumacs are aflame and there is an
avalanche of girls.
We suppose it had to commence
somewhere and at some time, so the
Chicago Inter-O'iean has discharged Eli
Perkins for lying.
The New York Mail-Express says
"the really 'better element' of the re
publican party in that city are rapidly
coming to the fiont."
The new French line steamer La
Gascogne, which coat $l,77j,tXH) ha
made a very flattering passage from
Havre to New York.
Emperor William has accepted the
godfathership in the case of the recent
ly born eleventh son ot a well-to-do
master butcher in Barmen.
The United States Hotel, at Sara
toga, made tlUO.I -J the past season,
aud the Grand Union, which has no
rental to pay, made Slo VX.
Gov. Foraker, of Ohio, is doing the
people ot not only that slate but of alt
other states a valuable service by ex
posing pecitent-ary rascalities.
Cranberry picking on the lower
part of Cane Cod will begin in a few
days, the crop is fully up to the aver
age, and tte fruit is well colored.
A transparent man, through whose
body larj-'e print can be read, is adver
tise! as on exhibition in a Chicago mu
seum an e i -glass eater, ierliaps.
A young woman, named Miss
Downer, is the regular lasior of a
Metliodist church in Kewanee. 111., and
U an earnest, convincing preacher.
Munkacsy's famous picture, Christ
Before Pilate, is to bo exhibited In
this country. In Europe 1,500,000
persons bave paid admission fees to see
1U
London clubs are becoming so
thoroughly "Americanized" that, so
the rumor goes oue is to be started to
which ouly proved Londoners are eli
gible. The congressional committee, not
the president, will send invitations to
French dignitaries and citizens to be
present at the Barthold: statue inaugu
ration. A photograph lately taken in Wil
liamsport, Md., shows a young couple
ini their infant child, surrounded by
the latter's two grandfathers aud three
zreat-grandfathers.
A British ship, the Melanope, from
London, was diainasted In rounding
the Horn, and proceeded all the way
under jury mats to s.,n . Francisco,
where the arrived recently.
The richest country iu the world,
England, has a mii'.i n of paupers, and
:f the eight mdlio i workingmen more
than half, says a member of parliament,
stand at the workhouso door.
The Charleston -Vetri bays the de
mand is reding in that city for addi
tional bricklayer?, carpenters, laborers,
and others whose work goes into the
erectioe of building?.
Recent discoveries In various re
mote places of families living like wild
beasts indicate that no well regulated
museum or circus need be without Its
wild-family feature this season.
Beu Butler is developing a fancy
for yellow ribbons on the backs ot all
of bis chairs, and he is an expert with
the knitting needle, and m his time has
worn stockings of his own make.
1'he Timberman, Chicago, predicts
an extensive use ot cypress for inside
Gnish, and for doors especially. i the
red and white varieties are used in
tasteful combinationa
The Italian Ministry of Public
Works 13 seriously considering the pro
ject of making Rome a seaport by con
necting the city through a canal of
eight meters in depth with the Tyrrhe
nian Sea.
The ancient city of Damascus is In
a prosperous condition. Its trade with
foreign countries is rapidly increasing.
The narrow thoroughfares aud bazaars
are disappearing and giving place to
wider streets.
It has been discovers 1 in France
that nickel can be rolled upon soft steel
plates In such a manner as to produce
a material from the lamp reflectors of
equal brilliancy with those made of
silvered copper, and will not rust.
Visitors to the Markisches Museum
in .Berlin are always attracted oy a
curious collection of executioners swords
In old times it was customary for these
instruments of punishment to bear in
scriptions, and most of tha swords In
the museum are inscribed.
Sunar can be made from any descrip
tion of vegetable fibre, such as sawdust,
rags or tow. The process is to digest
for several hours in sulphuric acid;
then to dilute the mixture with water
and to boil for some time, when the
rags or what not will be found to have
undergone a magical change, and to
have been converted into sugur. A
curious fact 13 that 100 parts of rags
wnl yield 115 parts sugar, tho increase
In weight being due to the elements of
water absorbed during the change.