A eifit t .i'e B. F. SOHWEIEB, THE OONSTITUTION-THE UNION-AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS. Editor and Proprietor. VOL. XUIJ. MIFFLINTOWN. JUNIATA COUNTY. PENNA.. WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 4, 1SS9. NO. 50 The Cruiser Baltimore her second trial trip with unofficial re. lrts fully confirming tha estimate heretofore put upon her that she is the ta-test warship afloat. The United States in getting net only a new navy, Imt a good cne, and without a waste of money on huge iron-clads. Tub will of Mr. John Crerar. of Chicago, devises f 2.500,000 to that city UT the establishment and maintenance ..f a public library. The gift is a mag ii ticent one, and it la to be hoped that ne provisions of the will are so plain ih.it they cannot be overthrown by any of those legal technicalities which too i.rt.-n defeat tbe plans of philanthropy and generosity. Tiik extension of the letter-carrier i vice to all cities containing over :,iio4j inhabitants is in the public inter- i. The effect of this will 1 to largely increase the expenditurts of the Post t iffice Department and to di-courage ti e proposition to redu-e letter postage to one cent. But the prompt delivery i f letters is more imi-ortant to the public than a reduction of postage. limit Joiianx Oktii, formerly Archduke John Salvatnr. has his sanity brought into question because he wants to become a plain citizen and earn his living by woik. lie belong to a f.unil) rather above the average of the nobility robust, strong-willed and Huilntioiis to be doing something, llerr Johatui Ortli should come lieie and grow up with the country. He is n!y 37 years of age ami would here t id plenty of opportunity for the free xercise i t his talent a. It was hoped that with the execn t on of young Illllman for murder, an e d had been reached to the various l.es he has t Id aliout the murder fr which he wa executed, but another t omes aloir,; in the form of an ante mortem confession not published unt.l after his execution. It is not surpris ing, perhaps, that a murderer should 1 ave no res, ect for the truth, but this criminal shown an almost unexampled desire to involve other and innocent people in h s crime. Mft. Gror-KKSSAS's lecture on Russian convicts in Siberia hasstiircd up a movement looking to the relief of fie political prisoners of Russia, through the intervention of the Unitd S'ates. It is a delicate business, but there is no other nation that could so v. ell um'eitake friendly remonstrance with the Czar as the United State, nil, though the outlook ts by no means promising, yet some good might be done by the movement. At all events, it is a gixi.I c:uie that has been taken up by Ir. MeViekar, and it 's worth an effort to at least attempt to relieve the miseries of Sibeiian convicts. A TOt'NO woman of .t Loui, 23 years of age, has been married to a U ary-headed farmer w ho has seen 7D summers and an equal nuwl er of the ether seasons. The farmer is immensely wealthy. The young woman in ques tion may be thought foolish, but all will admit the degree of l er folly be comes insignificant wlruu compared with that of rich American girls, who Invest their cold in the matrin o lal markets of Europe and get only a coro ati and a spendthrift. The statement that a great discov ery ot gold has been made in North Carolina is not quite so suspicious as similar stories that are occasionally s-nt out from other Eastern States, (.clil has been found in North Carolina iii'l worked more or less for a ceuturv. The indications have been very clear of Lvrce deposits somewhere In the moun tains, but up to this time North Ca ro ll ua has uot turned up veins that would more thau pay on li nary ;iitl for the labor of recovering the metal. A-tiifre Is more or less novelty a'uniit industrial enterprises in the Southern Mates than in any other parts of the Union, a record is kept of such Hues mei.ts ot cap. lal south of Ma ion's and Dixon's line. According to this record, arrangements were made inetnly for the investment of over four million dollars in land companies, u. iu furuaces, cotton mills and. the 1 We. These are paper figures, of uur.', but they nevertheless represent a considerable amount of hard cash, J. what Is more to the purpose, a real design and effort to develop the resources of the South and to diversify Ler industries. Such a movement will kelp "to make a more perfect Union," Just a d.d the adoption of a constltu t on s.vu.g to Congress the authority to regulate commerce between the S'ates and with foreign nations. Trie coil and tangle of the baseball situation grows more intricate as tbe pUus of the club-ow nets, magnates and Payers are unfolded from day to day. Bfcently the Kansas City Club with drew from the. American Association al joined the Western League. This m a wise mova for the Kau?a City organization; but, following hard upon desertion to the National League of tte Brooklyn and Cincinnati Clubs, it must result in hastening tne dissolu tion of the American AssociaUon. The Ave remaining clubs in tbe latter organization may mall. tain some form "t associated union, but only at the coat of dropping to the position of a t&inor league. If they should enter into open negotiations with the Broth erhood clubs, that would le a violation of the national agreement." and the League magnates would be at liberty to take such of their players as might willing to sign League contracts. Tie atorm is raging and while it may &ar the baseball fie'rts of rubbish, it T also strike down public Interest in tt game. This is the gravest danger Mch all concerned in the sport hava W encounter. - - - " is -sssssssesisassssi 'Nalll Morris' Mistake Nellie Morris bent over her sewing machine as busy as a bee, while tha hands of the big clock in tbe corner went slowly around to six, and the sun began to sink: lower In the western There!" she cried, gayly, as she reached the end of the long strip of muslin that aba had been hemming, "tliat is done, thank fortune! And now I can rest, and" with a rosy little blush flitting over her round cheeks -Tom will soon be here. He promised to come at seven. He said he would be early this evening for he is going to finLh reading 'Aurora LeUu. " She closed the sewing machine,folded her work, and placed it in a dainty b tsket; and then ran op stairs to don a pretty white muslin, and loop bark her curly brown hair with a blue ribbon. Her toilet completed, she descended to the cozy sitting-room, where her mother, who was an invalid, lay reaiing upon a soft couch. "Will you have your tea now, mam ma?" she inquired. Mrs. Morris glanced up; a fragile little woman with pathetic brown eves. "Ves, dear," site answered. "You are eqpecting Tom, I suppose?" The girl's pretty face flushed; that was answer enough. Mrs. Morris smiled. 'I am glad that you are en gaged to Tom," she observed, "for he is good and reliable, unusual trait In the young men of the present day. Nellie, if 1 were a g Irl, 1 would never marry a man w h broke his word, even in the most tntling matter." "Nor I," quoth Nellie, gravely, slinking her curly brown bead. "Mam ma! ' after a brief ailence. "Jennie Ford has done all in her power to sow dissension between Tom and myself, liut she shall not succeed, for I would trust Tom anywhere. Ihey are not many men like Tom Lewis." AD, lit tie Xeli! the time is fast ap proaching when your faith will be put to the tent. She bustled about, little household fairy that she was, and piepared her mother's tea; that having been dis patched, she shook up the pillows, threw an afghan over her mother, and having lighted the lamp on the center table, turned it low, then she stole out upon the porch to wait for Tom. Jfot that she would let him know that she was waiting for him. on, no! she only meant to watch and wait, screened from observation by the trailing rose vims which covered the porch, and w hen she would hear tbe ringing foot steps coming down the street, and the gate latch would click.she would hasten into the house and meet ber lover with aa much fang froid as though she liad not been waiting with a wildly beating heart for his appearance. Where is the woman who has not some time p act iced such innocent deceit? The minutes slipped by; it seemed to waitiug Nellie that they were winged to-night. One, two, thn e, four, Ave, six, seven, chimed the old clock in the corner with its hands before its face like a bashful school girl, shrinking lrom notice. "Tom will I here in a minute," raid Nellie, cheerfully, "he is always so promvt; 1 can estimate to a moment just when to expect him." Alast the moment came and went, and another and another followed' it iu swift pursui'. NeJie stepped into the sitting-room and glanced at the clock a little anx iously. Surely the old time-piece had gone wrong! "Ah, well," exensed the little wo man (women are prolific of excuses, where tbe man they love is concerned), something important has detained him, and be will soon be here. He has never disappointed me or kept me wait ing. When Tom appoints an hour, he never fails." But there has to be a fir.-t time for everything, you see. Nellie stood waiting, waiting. Every instant she fancied that she could bear the familiar souud of his footsteps coming down tbe long street upon which stood ber sub urban home. But the moments passed, and she was doomed to disappointment. At last, overcome by the heartaclie which had gradually asserted itself, she succumbed to "a good cry." But af ter a time she lined her little head with a haughty gesture, and dashed the tears from her eyes, suddenly grown hard, and bright, and scornful. "Ijet him go," she panted, angrily, "if that is all that he cares for me! I will run over and see Aunt Mary, and Tom Iwna shall never know the full extent of my disappointment to-night, I don't care whether he comes or not!" Now. when a woman speaks in such a manner of the lover who is dearer to her than life itself, it is usually pretty safe to decide that she cares a great deal. Women are so inconsistent, you know; but men! ah, neverl of course notI . , , Nellie went Into the bouse, bathed her eyes, smoothed her disordered hair, and as her mother was sleeping, and their U tie maid-of-all-woik sat at ber side. Nellie threw a white wrap about her own shoulders and started to call upon her aunt, who lived very near. But at her own gate she came to a halt. For there, passing down the street as though in great haste (perhaps he feared that Nellie might catch a glimpse of him), was Tom Lewis, her betrothed husband, and at his side pretty Jennie Ford. For an instant Nellie's heart stopped bea'inir; then, without pausing to reflect, she turned angrily and ran back to the bouse. Once in her own room, she seated herself at her desk and wrote a cold line to ber lover, giv ing him back his freedom. And the romance of her lire was over or she thought it was, which amouuts to the the same thing, I suppose. Nellie did not sleep much that night, and morning found her pale and hag gard. But she mailed the letter to Tom Lewis, and went about her du ties cheerfully and as patiently as pos sible. , , Late in the day there was a ring at the door-bell. Nellie commanded the servant to say, if the visitor ' "uld prove to be Mr. Lewis, that she was tiigaged and could not see him. It wastlndeed, Mr. Lewis, and. much to Nellie's discomfiture, he insisted upon lSiw followed, after which Tom took his departure, and M.S. Morris sent for Nellie to come to :. k.M h wm lving. tue rwui . livj. "Nellie." she began, reproachfully, "vou owe Tom an apology." indeed!" 6tormed euie. .II us., my dear!" Interposed her mother; "you do not know all yet. Ll- V-llle Mrs. Ford was trken sud- would ceruW Ua before morning, and she cannot survive many hours, 1 I am told. Well. Lewis was sent for to execute her last will ana testament. As he is a lawyer, of course it is his business to attend to such calls. The message delayed him, and on his way to Mix Ford's he met Jennie, who bad been sent in great hasta to tbe drug store for medicine. Ot coarse Tom ac companied her to the store, and then eoi ted her home again, where he ar rived in time to arrange Mrs. Ford's business before she sank into a state of insensibility, from which will never never awaken. My dear, it is not al ways advisable to judge by appear ances Tou will make it all up with Tom, will you not, Aellie?" Ot course Nellie and Tom "made op" their quarrel; and in all her alter life Nellie never forgot that "seeing is not always believing," and "appear ances are often deceit! uL" Why Corn Pops. What Is tbe condition of tbe starchy interior of the grain just before it ex plodes? The common experience of tbe kitchen and laundry will help us here. In making upti e mixture tor stiffening clothes, the laundress pets starch into water and boils it, and e all know tliat in this process the starch loses Its pow dery character and becomes blended with tbe water Into a pasty, translucent mass. The effect ui on the Individual starch granule is a softening and con siderable luciease in lis bulk and, fin al It. its raptme and diffusion thiougb the water. While we cannot see the ins de of tin grain at the critical momeut when it has all but burst, we rosy, in view cf wliat we now know, probably surmise tbe truth. It is not very likely that, as the grain gets hotter and hotter, ti.e moisture present in the cells, or in the starch granules themselves, softens them first, and then, when the heat becomes too great to permit its remain ing in the fluid state, it suddenly turns to steam, and the now plastic starch ex pands in every direction, losing at the same time, of course, tbe moistuie and thus becoming firm and br ttle again? This is the conclusion to which I have been brought, and I think of the won derful physics of popped corn with great satisfaction whenever I shake my popper over the glowing coals. How a Chinaman Views English Customs. It Is refreshing to see what they thii k of Western customs in the Flowery Land. A Chinese journalist l as been writing In a native paper on Western customs as observed by h m iu the course of a visit to England. Speak ing of the meals taken by Englishmen, be explains that tea and comfits are taken twee a day, and a heavy meal twice; or tea and comfits nee and the heavy meal twice. About the t me for the latter, a bell is rur g once to 1 t the people know, so that they may change their clothes and wash their hands; w hen the I e'd is rung again they assem ble together in the dining-room. At tea-tune they take cow's milk and w hite sugar, inix-d with coffee or black tea. The m al is, iu f.t t, what is cal led iu the Mi Idle Kingdom tienshin (stay stomach) Their green meat is exceedingly tender. It is the custom to eat it uucooked, rinsed in water and dried, then mixed with sesamum, oil, salt and vinegar. Men and women, continues the gos si;er, are seated indiscriminately around the same dish aud at the same table. Even a mn aud bis daughter-in-law, a woman aud her brother-in-law i o uot avoid each other's company. Whn tlio time c mes for a dinner gath ering or a tea gathering, invitations are Sent to an equal number of men and women, and after they are all assem bled, tea and sugar, milk, bread and the like are sent out as aid to conver sation. More particular there are iu- v tatlons to skip and posture, when the host decides what man is to be the partner of what woman, and what woman of what man. Then, with b Hi arms grasping each other, ther leave the table in -air., and leap, sk p pu-ture aud prarx-o for their mutuaj giat tication. A man and a woman prevaiusly unknown to one another ui..y take part io it. They call this skipping taushen (dancing). The Old Enthusiasm Cone. A gentleman wno was In Paris dur ing tlie summer Just past, remarks that one of the thir.gs which struck him uio t forcibly and unpleasantly was tha singing of the "MarseUlaise" by three thousaud Frenchmen, chosen from the leadiug choral societies . of the city. They assembled in the- open air, aud lifted up their voices together In the song which for tlie last century has made every Frenchman's heart thrill wlieu it has sounded in his ears. . And tbe song rose on the air. beauti fully sung, finished and elegant, aud utterly lacking in fire. Of old, when it was forbidden to sing the "Marseil laise.'' a dozen men roaring it iu an ob scure cabaret would inflame tbe entire quarter, aud in the fiery days of the revolution a single voice would raise a neighborhood to deeds of blood simply by singing the inspiring words. Xw it was without force. It was correct, aud all enthusiasm had died out of it. 'And what is France?" some one asked, "when it is possible to sing tbe Marseillaise' in her streets without raising the paving stone?" Explanation Did Not Help: a tratarhnn business man w'tnessed a funny scene on a Xaugatuck train. He was seated in a corner when a man came In and took a seat three pews in front of him. depositing his grip on the rest bv his side. Soon after tbe man left his grip in tbe seat alone and went forward to enjoy a cigar in the smoking car. At the next station man Sa 3 came in and sat down by t"ie lonesome gripsack, man Xo. 4 tak as a seat next in the rear. At the next station the man by the grip left tlie car and No. 4, seeing the grip for the first time, supposed it belonged to No. 3, and he at once raised a window and threw tbe grip out at him, jelling; "Here, you! Here's your baggage," and away the car skurried before the Waterbury on looker had time to stop the fun. When the owner of the grip sauntered back to his seat from the smoker and could not find his baggage, the explana tion of tbe affair made the incident rather aggravating. The Scientific American suggests rub bing the joint of stylograph.c pens on which the fingers rest with the thin edge of a pieoe of wax to prevent soil ing the fingers with the ink that es capes from the imperfect joint. MOTHER'S COENZB, 'I know the mother of a family" say Emily Bonton, in the Toledo Blade, who is doing a work, which, began for her children's sake, has brought to her self in the doing a keen delight. It has taken time and study; many social en joyments have been sacrificed; much hard work has been and will have to be done in order to carry it forward; but the results already visible are those of which she may well be proud. She formed her family of six or seven rol licking boys and girls into an Agassis class tor the study of natural history and botany. The most familiar things in the way of plants and insects were made the subjects of earefnl observa tion and investigation. V hen it was possible, long rambles were taken in the woods, and ennom things (fathered, for study and examination. The chil dren, from the eldest to the least, were full of interest and enthusiann, if cot all at first, it came as t je lessons went on, until the hours spent in this way were the moat ijensu ruble of all in the day. She purchased a microscope that added to the interest, and in order to keep herself in tones with what was i oing on in these directions, took the best papers and periodicals devoted to such subjects. Seeing the good it wss doing her own children, ont of a desire to help others, she iuvited two or three motherless boys to join the class, and they did so gladly. So the work goes on, the interest increasing month by month, and year by vear. "I know, she sail, in answer to my inquiries as to how she came to inch an undertaking, "that I must do something to keep my boys and girls around me, for I could not bear to see them going elsewhere to find their treasures that might i e their ruin. So after much thought, I resolvi d to take this course, and it has worked admirably, besides being of the greatest benefit to myself Keep it up? Of course 1 shall, so long as any of my youngsters stay under the home roof, and then after Umt for my own pleasure." PLATTHrSOS FOB VISITORS. "Well, I just did not enjoy my visit there one bit, for one of ns had to hold t aby every minute to keep her ont of mischief. There was not even an em pty spool offered her to play with." So said a young mother to me a while ago, and it is a fairly good text for the preachment of some notions as to a duty owned to "even other folks' babies." We know very well, and have been amused sometimes at seeing how nervous people feel lest other foiks babies do damage to some of their pos sessions. Our little folks are very un -fortunate in always doing their worst when they are most unwelcome, as most mothers can confess, and to mothers I confess I do not care to work harder to get a visit than I do at home. It is a good plan to take along a few favorite toys and a picture book when going where there are no children; "then let baby find them for itself in the hand bag, and it is tolerably rare to enjoy them and be content. There is one caution in place, right here. If baby is not allowed to touch everything in the home parlor, it will not want to do so away from home, and every mother can provide her child with some half dozen light toys or a picture-book as its "go-visiting toys,' just as she keeps a xjit-c al dress or apron for state oc casions. Now the other side of the case. It is a small matter, and as "more evil is wrought from want of thought than ever from want of heart," a suggestion may be acceptable. In every well re gulated house there should be a box or basket into which the housekeeper may toss picture almanacs, a stump of lead pencil, some large empty spools not on a string, but a ball of string with them, an empty spool-box and a few large odd buttons, bits of bright calico or silk and a split clothes-pin or two, or, if she feels generous, half-a-dozen good clothes-pins, some advertising cards and an empty salt bag or even a paper bug or two. Then if a child comes in, the whole lot can he set out without a pang to be used and abused at will; all clean things easily gathered np and tucked away for the next time, aud not any the worse, it nnper-martea or I broken or torn, for tbe diversion of the n-xi cuiia. 1 1 ume suiuius meciuiura pins may be dressed in the calico scraps and make cunning dollies for baby girls. Once a basket is set apart for Biich a purpose, many odds and ends w ill find their way into it. If you act ually have nothing to give a ch id to amue it an hour, it is worth a moment's consideration, and a dozen corn cobs will do to begin with rittht away. A raisin box makes a good stool fur a chil.L If a bit of carpet is neatly tack ed over it, it adds to its appearance and comfort, or if it has a lid fitted over all the edpes it may be used as a place of deposit for the aforesaid traps as well as for a stool. The Lady. Afraid He Will Explode. Among those arraigned in the Ch'cago Insane Court, was oue Koppes, w ho imagines lie is full of bombshells aud power, and may at any time ex plode. Tbe J uuge heard the witnesses, and then, turning to Koppes, said: "Henry, you are Insane?" "I am not, sir," promptly responded the man. "What Is the matter with you. then?" "It is a aad story, your Honor, but I will tell you. My eneml s have filled roe with explosives, bombshells, you know, and I may blow up at any time. But tbe worst of 11 is. the people won't be careful; they will burn matches around where I am, when they know I might explode." The jury found him insane, and sent him to Kaukakee. An Elephant's Politics. Many stories are current of tbe re markable intelligence of the elephant, but I have come across nothing so con clusive of tbe noble animal's sagacity as tbe story of the elephant which broke loose tbe other day at Leigh, in Lanca shire. On gaining its liberty, this in telligent beast made straight for tbe Conservative Club, anl did his best to demolish the front of tbe p remises, -after which be proceeded to the paristr chuich and battered down a gat which barred tbe public access to tha sacred edifice. Leigh is a strong Radical town, end there can be little doubt, I take it, that this is a Radical elephant, who, in spired by the genius loci, determined to bold a political demonstration on his own account. Keal poverty, that comes upon us jom no fault of our own, is (ha most trievoua thing to bear. Whan tha Woods Turn Brown. Bbw wni ft be when the roses tads. Out or the rareen and oat ot the KladeT Whea tb froth plu bloom ot the sweet-bilsr wild. That lean from the dell Ilk i tha ehoeketa child. Is charged for dry hips oa a thorny bushf Then, scarlet and carmine, the rroTes will fiiuh. Hnw will It be when the snftrmii flowers Wither away from their leafless bower : W hen Bun-flower and etr-Auwer and gulden, rod Glimmer no more from tbelr fronted sod. And the hillside nooks are empty and cold? Tbes the forest tops win be gay with gold. How wTJ It be when woods turn brown. Their gold and tbelr crimson all dropped down m M. w WUWMU Mf HUM I . . 1. - , Oar ear to Earth's lips, we shall bear her say. w utk m in seeaana new genu lor my crown." We will dream of green leaves when the woods turn brown. Lucy Zareom A VICTOR VANQUISHED. Ten to one youH fall in love with her." said Fred Edgerly. emphatically. I won't take the wager. I don't want to rob you, Edgerly." "Tou think you are proof against any amount of attractions after tar ing assault and battery from West Point belles for five years and up ward," .txlgerly answered, laughingly, as he glanced at the handsome bronzed face of his friend as they drove over the high road leading from Carmen Station to Hurl ton Top, where the two men were expected to join Mrs. Hurl- ton's gay party. "But vou have not seen Miss Viner yet; when you do pre pare to surrender unconditionally." "Ion seem to forget that I am not an Impressionable school boy," Lieu tenant Fleetwell answered, with i scornful smile curling his lip under his heavy mustache. "I have seen hun dreds of women handsomer and more charming than Miss Viner, I dare say. and I have escaied heart whole, for tunately," be added, with a sarcastic curt of the lip. which escaped his friend's notic. "Fortunately! and why fortunately? burely when a man is good looking, wealthy and in tbe army he ought to marry and give hostages to fortune. "Ferhaps he ought, if be can," said Lieutenant Fleetwell, carelessly. "If he can! That can't apply to you. Fleet welL There is hardly a woman in five hundred who would refuse you." "is there not? Why? "Because you are rich and handsome. u v;ie army, ana eligible." . 'Excellent reasons for a woman to marry me." said Lieutenant Fleetwell. a trifle bitterly, "and equally excellent ones to keep me from matrimony," he added, as they turned in at the park ! gales and drove up the avenue leading ' to the old Hurl ton mansion. It was a fine day, toward the latter part of Sep tember, bright and cheerful and sun- . shiny, and the grand, stately old brown ' stone building was looking its best in tbe naze of golden sunlight. I It was upward of five years since Lieutenant Fleetwell had seen his i ' cousin's stately old mansion, aud his handsome dark eyes brightened yet more as they fell upon a lady in a picturesque tea gown who came out of tbe wide stone steps with ber eager ' hands outstretched and her dark eyes j aglow with pleasure. I "My dear Jerome, how glad I am. 1 she said, as Lieutenant Fleetwell took tbe little hands in his, and bending kissed them with a graceful, old W orld court ery, which was pleasant to see. 1 "Frank is fishing, of course, but he will be back early. What an age it is since we met!" I "It is a long time. Indeed," Jerome answered In his low, rich voice, "but . looking at you, Florence, I am inclined to think that it is five months, and not five years, which have elapsed since ' went to West l'omt." "Wait till you 6ee my boys," s'ie said, laughing, as she turned to greet the young collegian with pleasant, cor dial courtesy aud the two gentlemen followed her into the hall, a stately apartment in keeping with the exterior of tbe mansion. "Most of my lady guests have driven over to Uainby's Head," Mrs. Hurlton said, as she led the way across the marble pavement towards one of the many doors which opened Into the ball; "Miss Viner and I are alone. Mr. Edgerly, I have good iiews for you; Mis Dusau Is coming to-morrow. As sue soke she pushed open a door leading into a pretty, dainty, rather s&abelic-lookiug room, where tea was waiting, and which at first seemed to be unoccupied, but as tlie door opened a lady who was stauding by the open window, turned slowly round and came towards them, holding out her band to Mr. Edgerly with a smile, which did not blind him to the sudden gleam of intense, eager admiration which flashed into Lieutenant t leetwell's eyes as they rested uion her face. She was very beautiful there could haidly be two opinions upon that point, She was small, though Queeu-like; and i her dress of some soft cream-colored ' material, which fell around her in soft - folds, showed tbe beauty of a figure which was nothing less than perfect. "Lieutenant Fleetwell Miss Viner, said Mrs. Hurlton quietly, and Miss Viner bowed slightly, while the faintest tinge of piuk rose tn her fair face as she met Lieutenant r leetwell s eager, dark. admiring eyes. I Hurlton Top was one of the very pleasantest bouses in the country to stav at. for the hostess exercised the greatest discretion and judgment in tne choice of her guests, and spared no pains to make their visit an enjoyable one. Mis. Hurlton was, like another happy wife, a match-maker at heart. It very coon became apparent to some of ber lady visitors that their pretty hostess had designs against the peace oi mina ot ner nusuana-s cousin and Fred Edtrerly smiled to himself t as he saw how hopelessly and irretriev ably in love his friend bad fallen with Miss Viner before many days had elarsed. 1 September drifted into October. On a smooth lake some little distance from the house, an idle boat with idle oars ' was floating down wun tne current. Tbe moonlight played at will on thr nlaced breast of the lake. Such the picture had one been a mere spectator to tbe mimic scene out t the two actors surroundings were lost sight of they thought only of them selves. Mocking tbe silver moon, when they e lanced upward, they could see acros the lake and through the trees the twinkling lights of Hurlton Top ai d t bear the merry voices and gay laughter of the ctoud on tha bans, xrom wnicn they bad just escaped. Arch smiles liad nassed between its members as they cad seen Dorothy Viner and Je rome Fleetwell stroll off arm In arm to where the little boat was moored. The women had almost ceased to be jealous of Dorothv or to apeak where lay ber charm. ben she exercised her fascinations men bowed before her first from necessity, then from choice. But though ber victims were count less, she was twenty-four and Dorothy Viner stilL However, this time she had encountered (her little said) a foe mam worthy of her steeL What she was among men, Jerome Fleetwell was among women. There rore, seeing these two brought beneath the same roof and thrown into daily intercourse, rumor was rife and speculation awaited results with bated breath. Meanwhile the little boat floated calmly on the surface of the lake. "Miss Viner Dorothy!" It was the first word either had ut tered in full ten minutes. She looked quickly up at tbe speaker. Tbe white knit scarf thrown carelessly upon her dark hair, out from which peered the beautiful pale face, lent her some of tbe moon's mystic charm, but meeting tbe earnest gaze of the dark, magnetic eyes bent upon her, hers fell for an in stant. Then, as though ashamed of the momentary weakness, again shot a questioning look into Lieutenant Fleet- well s face. "Miss Viner," he repeated, calmly, did you know we were in danger?" "In danger?" The dreamy look faded from her far. the color deserted ber cheeks, and, shivering heavily, sle glanced up at the blue vault where sailed so majestically the goddess of night, down into the dark depths of the waters, only to see the moon's brilliancy reflected there, around, about her. AH was peaceful. ".No," he said, in answer to her look, not from any of these. The moon. the wind, the water all are our friends to-night. We are In danger from each other." Oh, bow she p raved the moon might fail to make apparent the instant flush ing of blood to her cheek. She felt it glow like a warm crimson rose, even while she raised her little head almost defiantly, as though to hurl a challenge at his audacity. Men had made love to ber in many forms, but always as sup plicants. This man dared to suppose her In equal danger with himself. 1 ou deal in riddles. Lieutenant Fleetwell," she returned coldly. "I am accustomed to plain speech. Rather say that plain speech is to you an unknown tongue, and that I am the first man who has dared to speak frankly. Would you have me speak plainer still? You shall have your wish. A week longer under the same roof with you. a week more of exposure to your fascinations, and my ship would go to wreck and ruin on the bar; unless" be leaned nearer, his voice grew softer, more fun of tender feeling, and his hand fell on hers very lightly. but with caressing grace "unless, .Dorothy, you would let it float your pennon and guide It into the safe har bor of your love." She had been wooed many times, in many climes, by many men, but noth ing had ever moved her as this wooing on this moonlight night in October. Yet this soldier this man dared to tell her that in another week this all might come to pass. Others bad sworn to go from her presence to put an end to tbe existence she had rendered miserable, or had vowed that henceforth womau's smile would be gall aud wormwood, or pleaded that she had shorn their man hood of its strength and rendered then life a burden. This one did none of these things. While his strength yet was his he saw and met the danger. "A week hence," she said to herself. bitterly, "aud the flame might singe him. N ow his wings are all unscorched. He does not say: '1 love you!' 'In 0,iiue I might love you!' Was he then to win so easy a victory? Aever. "Let us go home," she interrupted. in a constrained voice. "It is growing chilly." "Dorothy, is this my answer?" "Your answer?" with an assumption of surprise. "I was not aware of any question." "Vou shall not have even this excuse. Will you be my wife?" His voice was harsh and stern, and his grasp tightened on her hand. "Vou hurt me. Lieutenant Fleet- well," she complained, petulantly. making an effort to withdraw her flu sters. Instantly he released her. "I see that I hurt you," he returned, courteously, and took up the oars. "Pardon me." he continued. "I will not do it ever again." A few bold strokes and the boat's keel grated on the shoi e. Ten minutes later the two reappeared in Mrs. Hurl ton's beautifully-appointed salon. On the parterre beyond shone the red light from a man's cigar. It was still there. still gleaming when she had gone up to her own room. She crossed to the win dow to pull down the shade, but stood a moment, fascinated, motionless. "After to-night he will forget me," she murmured, sadly. "And I 1 shall remember him forever!" Then, as though a sudden truth had burst upon her, she drew down the shade to throw her-elf with a quick, impetuous motion prone upon her couch and weep the first hi art tears she had ever shed. "It is all over Miss Viner has re fused him." This was the general ver dict when twenty-four hours later Je rome Fleetwell bade his friends adieu, and withdrew to town on plea ot sud den business. The news soon reached Dorothy's ears. "1 have not refused him," she said aloud; "not even tliat satisfaction is miue," she said to herself "nor ever will be! It was only 'the might have been.' " lie was not a man. she knew full well, to plunge desperately Into flirta tion, or associate his name at once with another woman's, or to retire later or rise earlier or In any way disturb the even tenor of his way. Tbe difference between them was only this his heart was healing, perhaps already healed, but he would bear its scar to the grave; Let's was a festering sore, which hurt the more that she bad let the physician w l.o might work its cure pass her by. Tbe summer wanes to a close. Au tumn had touched the mountain and hiliside into a glorious beauty of brown aud red. Then came winter's lagging footsteps, mercifully bearing the exqui site white shroud of suow to coves up all signs of devastation and decay. The season in the gay world was at its height. Occasionally murmurs among its debutants for its honors arose at the fact that, though Miss Vlner's fifth win er, ber former success paled in its most effulgent light. She and Lieutenant Fleetwell constantly met. She almost wished be might avoid bar. bRt at their first chance an- counter he had approached with out s' retched hand. "How charmingly you are looking. Miss Viner." he had said. And all in vain she had watched for a tremor in bis voice, or a shadow of embarrass- j ment in his manner. "Only a week between him and shlt wreck," she thought, bitterly. "Oh, he has sailed so far from the iatal rock that doubtless be would now laugh at its supposed danger and I I was weak enough to think he stood u;on the precipice's brink." The new year had come, and one evening Dorothy stood alone in ber lather's drawing-room, looking out at the last gathering darkness, when through its sombre shade she saw a fig ure pass ana mount tne steps. A vis itor,' she uttered, wearily; then waited the inevitable announcement she knew must follow. But snite ot every effort she started when the servant, throwing oten the door, called out "Lieutenant i leetwell!" Oh, bow glad she was that the rooms were not yet lighted as she went forward to receive hnn. "May 1 welcome you in the dark ness?" she questioned. As you will," he answered. "I have but a few momenta to stav. I have come to bid you good bye aud to ask you to wish me boo voyage." Bon voyagel xou are going abroad?" Ves. I sail on Thursday. I hesita ted about calling, b'lt my desire to see you leJ me to believe you would pardon my audacity in supposing my going a question of enough moment to make it worthy of a secial call." "My friends are alwavs welcome. I did not suppose it necessary you should hear that repeated now." .or is It. It was oalv a morbid fancy on my part which lmiuced me to question it, I shall come back, I trust. with my mind clearer. At least I shall be some years older. When 1 return I presume I shall look for Miss Dorothy V luer in vain, until I shall find ber in some matron, equally charming. I can not imagine her quite staid and portly." So he could speak thus lightly of her liecomiug the wife of another man? And be was going away; she might never again hear his voice nor see his face. It was too cruel! He and fate were too strong for her. The tears gathered in the black eyes, but the darkness hid them. He rattled on she had no need to speak. Then he rose to go. ijrood-bye. iliss v inerl" be took her hands in both his "good-bye! tiod bless your' Was it ber fancy that just at the last bis voice trembled? He crossed the room; be had gained the door. Another instant he would be gone; another Instant it might be too Late. "Jerome!" she said, softly. Two strides, it seemed, brought him back to her side. "Vou called me, for what? To make my going harder?" "Oh, is it bard? In mercy tell me, for my own heart is breaklngl" "Your heart is breaking! Dorothy, Dorothy! what does this mean?" But the sound or her sobs was bis only answer. "Dorothy," he continued, "can it be that I have judged you wrongly? Look up, my darling. Is it your wish that I should stay?" Then she found her voice. "I thought you did not love me enough," she murmured. "But stay, or if you must go, take me with you." "I will," he answered her, simply, as he folded her iu his arms. A month la'er a great steamer moved slowly out to sea, and a they stood on tlie deck, band cla-ied iu hand, with the salt breeze blowing keenly in their faces, it bore them away Into the placid beaut v of the coming night, toward the Old World and the new life. When Rogers Kept Open House: It is scarcely too much to say that he kept open house for men of letters, and many distinguished writers of the time owed to him their introduction to Ijiii- den society. A large part of the corre- siondence which has been preserved arose out of such visits, aud much of the very high distinction Rogers' house attained Is due to the kindly mention made of it by men who had themselves helped to render it attractive. It dif fered in many respects from the houses of mere rich meu or men of title who played the patron of poor authors, lingers entertained them as one of themselves. He was not the tiatron, but the poet. Literary men and artists even at this day feel the difference between visiting one another and visit ing people who only want to parade them before their friend. How much greater was the distinc tion when the century was young. The j company at bis table was carefully cuosHii, aim men ami women v uu met, theie rarely found themselves antipa theticaily mixed. The table was not too large for the con vei sat ion to be gen eral; the company was not numerous enough to break up into groups. When the host spoke his guests listened. Ills good things were not for his next neigh bors only, but for all. So with his chief guests. They had the whole c m pauy for audience. Sharp's acute ob servations, Mackiutosti's wonderful talk, Wordsworth's monologue, Sydney Smithts irrepressible fun, were not con- fined to their next neighbors, but were for the whole group. People went away, tlnrefore, not merely remarking what agreeable people Eat by them at dinner, but what a pleasant party it was. Why tne Cat has Whiskers. Every one mu-t have observed what are usually- called the whiskers on a cat's ui r l.p. The use of t ese. In a state of naluie, is very important. They are organs of touclu They are attached to a bed of close glands under the skin, ...!. ,i' aillX WKHUl L i l rr.rwj mug iiaiiDjawuun.wu with the nerves of the lip. The slightest contact of these whiskers with any sur rounding ob ect is ttr.-s fell most dis tinctly by the animal, although tbe ban themselves are insensible. I hey stand ut on each side or tne lion as wen as in tne common cat; so that, from point to point, i hey are equal to the width of the animal's body. If we imagine, there- fore, a lion stealing through a covert of wood in an Imieifect light we shall at once see the use of these 1 ng hairs, They indicated him, thiougb the nicest feeling, any obstacle which may present itself to the passate of his body; they prevent the ru-tling of boughs and leaves, w hich would give warning to bis prey if he was to attempt to pa-sthrough too close a bush; and thus, in conjunc- tion with the soft cushions of his feet andthefur upon which be treads (the claws never coming in contact with tbe ground), they ena le him to move toward his victim with a soilness even greater than that of tbe snake, which creeps along the grass and Is not per-, ceived ont 1 it is coiled round his prey.' NEWS IN BRIEF. An Ohio peddler having fallen 13, his aVnntMn.TMrwilJ Hu.ialil.r minni. ed the cart and ilrov about the country for three weeks. Her sales exceeded any that her father ever made In tbe same length of time. A physician iu Boston sounds a warning against the practice of shew ing wooden toothpicks. He ears te habit is responsible for muck sickness. 8mall particles of the wood are swa' lowed, and, lodging frequently in the walls of the ftomach. induce gaatrio disturbance. He knows of several such cases which provei fatal. A. M. Bi-bee, w ho was the Chinese delegate to the maritime conference at Washington, Is an adventurous Yankee, born and bred on Cape Cod. In his travels he drifted across the continent . and over the l'acilic, and be is now Coast Inspector ot the Imper.al Marl time Customs Service of China. The King of Mam is atiout to send five Siamese boys to the Uuited States to be e 1u:aleJ at his own expense. It is the King's custom to Vlucate tbe sons of noblemen and the princes of his domain in vrrious countries, and when they return to Siam apiolnt them to high Government posilious. A check for several thousand dol lars sent to Toiie I-eoXIU. from New ark, N. J has lf n returned through the regular channels to the Newaik bank on which u was drawn, duly en dorsed by the Poi. The handwriting is neat aud even. 1 he check will be kept as a souvenir. The editor of a Japanese newspaper recently collected statistics of growth from all the I'rotestaiit churches of Ja pan, showing their increase during the last three years. From thirty-eight chuiches they h i ve grown to 151, and from 3,70) members to 11,XK). St. Paul has de. Id )d to build "the most fantastic ice palace ever known." aud to have the biggest and finest carnival ossible at a time to be net later. Finauc al backing in ahun 1 anc has already len secured, and every ihdication po.nts to the most suc cessful carnival in the history of the Northwest. Marion CiawfoiJ, the novelist, who is about to heroine a lesideut ot Washington, is known as a very expert swordsman, but he is mightier aa a penman. The postal cards anniversary. Tbe postal card was twe.ity years old ou the 1st of Oe toler. Austria has the credit of first adoplin? the invention though It was first advocated by the Uerinan Posttnastea-lieiieral, Dr. Step han. On Octolier 1, lo'.l, a "Oorres pondnz Karte" first burst on the as tonished Continental woiid. The French Postmaster General has published his telephonic tariff. Yearly subsr-riptloiis in I 'arts are re duced from 2i to i.' 10, and In towni which there is alre.itly an underground network of wires to JL'I J, on the condi tion, howexer, that evil sutmcribet shall bear a pruiKHtiouate share of the expnuse of making necessary repair. A Christian tribe, surrounded by pagans, has just been discovert'd in the heart of Africa, Tin-y had never be fore seen a white man. While tlielr religious ideas are crude, still they have a priesthood, the cross and other em blems of Christianity. They are ! lieved to have been exiled from Abys sinia about e'ght hundred years ago. An affidavit doe not accompany the following story, which Ohio wmli along: "A lady of Columbus used for her complex iou a in.xlure of arsenic and nitiate of silver. Then she went to the White Sulphur Springs and took the baths. The sulphur decouip ised the silver salts in her skin and turned her so black that she has goue into re tirement and will not be soen agarn fei a year." Over 100 guests in a Kalamazoo (Mich.) hotel tried in vain to guea why a drummer had two little plaster I of I aris skeletons fastened in the crown or his tile. After all gave up lie ex plained, saying: "It is simply a case of business. I used to have so many halt stolen it kept nieor buying new ones, but I find nobody i 1 steal a hat with skeletons in it; heme tlie skeletons." The talk heard so often nowaday! about China's growing friendliness to the outer l aibaiians is founded on er ror. The Chinese hate them as bitterly to-day as they did thirty years or more ago. The lives and limbs of foreigners in Cantou ate said to lie much less safe than formei ly, insomuch that if they choose to visit unattended the temples, the potter's lield wlier the beheading takes place, or any of the other I a mom sights iu the wonderful city, the risk run is considerable. Ben Butler has decided to write his memoirs and has selected his pub lisher. He says be wauls the truth la I appear in answer "to the false aud malicious statements madd concerning nearly everything I have done, engen dered by the venomous hatred of por tions of each jolili al party. Iiecauae I disagreed with both, mil in the early days of tbe war of the relielliou largely wrilteu and publ shed Ixilh in this country and Europe, and paraded t Ore the Southern heart' as a sort oi pjtrior justification o i,,. n f rebellion and treason. A remarkable story comes from Maine to the e fleet that a man who em ployed two intoxicated oaismen to take him across a lake was landed on an island instead of on the ma n shore. "All his shouts, when he di-covered where he was, were of no avail, and It was several days liefore he got off. Luckily he foun 1, in a cottage which he broke into, some crackers, onions I ne urowe iui, - .ue 1 and Potatoes, but these didn't last long i At last, by raising his ciwl as a signal At last, by raising his coat as a signal on a tall tree, he attracted attention from the malnl nd aud was rescued." Some interesting ancient relics were unearthed recently st Biddeford Pool, Me., by members of the lite sav- "s ' , , , ' " j bas badly washed tlie beaches, and upon tbe Pool beaca the bows of two "dugouts" boats, such as the Indians and earlier settlers used, were seen sticking out of the sand, having been uncovered by the action of tbe sea. The life savers got shovels and began digging, and, though it proved no small Job, they finally shovelled the aoclout crafts from the sand. The wood was in a perfect state of preservation. 1 he boats were pointed head to the sea. aud were about two-thirds of the way up to the higli-water mark. Before the re- cent washouts they must have lrn covered by some twelve fet of sand, Tbe remains of an old pier were also found at about the same depth near the boats. It is believed that tbe relics bave been buried for at Wast a coujue ot centuries. . . . .A r:!.;f,..,i. .. v v -. f:r) -. ; . , , - j'M ' K.l" .i ..;;'' '."i -.C ' ' j t "f i 1 V" I i t I it iTt il H f 1 ' II 'li mimtmmm
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers