liiwfi B. F. BOHWEIEB, THE OONtfriT U TION-THE UNION AND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS. Editor ud rropn VOL. XLIi MIFFUNTOWN. JUNIATA COUNTY. PENNA.. WEDNESDAY. MARCH 6. 189&. NO. 12. WE TWO. Just we two, love, only we two. To drink the honey wine of life And never taste the rue. To find the sunshine ever fair, The sky a tender bine. And rich with Joy the balmy air. And love forever true. Just we two, love, only we two. To let the mad world swing along Aa it is wont to do. To see within each other's eyes The happy thoughts pursue, 1 perfect faith onr paradise. Each day of love renew. Just we two, love, only we two. To make of life a summer bright, Where storms can never brew, My heart to be in all the years A shelter warm for you. And May sun's drink the April tear While yet the skies are blue. Just we two, love, only we two. No matter if the world forgot Our world would still be true. . For love would guard the holy spot. The oak and not the yew Protect the sweet forget-me-not. And love forever woo. MRS. BLACK'S PROPOSAL. "Oh, dearr cried Mr. Coates. furtive ly mopping his forehead, "whatever can It mean?" lie knitted his brow and gazed firs! at the celling, then at the floor, and. Anally took out of his pocket and read for the fifth time the following note "Dear Mr. Coates I am deeply sen sible of the honor you have conferred upon me In asking me to be your wife, and hasten to say that to nobody could I so confidently give my hand and heart. I quite agree with you that we are both past the nonsensical age, and shall be happy to conform to your wishes as regards the absence of undue ceremony. I f yon are really bent on the twenty-eighth I will try to manage It. Yours affectionately, "MATILDA BLACK, "Myrtle Cottage." Mr. Coates buried his face In his hands and subjected himself to a se vere metal cross-examination. What did happen last night aftes that Innocent little festival? I remem ber taking Mrs. Black home, but I'H swear I didn't speak ten words all tho way. The weather, I know, we touch ed upon, and I think I made some slight allusion to the moon. Beyond that I'll take my oath nothing more passed most certainly nothing of the alarming nature Insinuated. Egad, though, I don't remember the parting at the gate! It is possible but nol It Is Impossible preposterous!" Mr. Coates mused for a few moments, then he broke out again: "Of course, I've nothing to saj against the woman as a woman she's a nice, decent little body, and If I wanted a wife I'd as lief pitch on her as any one. But I don't want to mar ry. I've knocked along In single bless edness these forty years come Michael mas, and have never felt the need of a wife. Moreover, Martha understands me like a book, and I doubt If there's her equal In all Thornbury for cheese cakes and delicious muffins.' The mention of his handmaid seem ed to offer a suggestion to Mr. Coates, and rinsing the bell, he requested Mar tha to give him the pleasure of a few minutes' conversation. Martha was a Jewel of a cook and nice housekeeper. She had made It her special object In life to minister to Mr. Coates' comfort; It needed but half an eye to see that she had not been unsuc cessful. She bad but one complaint the smallness of the field she worked In. In her own words, she wanted "a larger spere to hoperate In." Martha had long desired to see Mr. Coates married; and although she knew her position too well to try to In struct her master, she had by various gentle hints conveyed to him her will Ingness to be under the superintendence of another. All these hints had proved unavail ing, though as Mr. Coates called her to his study on this particular night, sevr eral of the aforesaid were presented to his feverish imagination In their true significance. "Take a seat, Martha, please." Martha dumped herself Into the near est chair, rubbing her floury hands the while, and Mr. Coates proceeded In as off-hand a manner as bo could com mand: "Let's see; what time did I come home last night?" "Why, sir, I should say about ten, o'clock mebbe a quarter past." "Ah, to be sure; yon see, my watch, stopped last night, Martha, and I er i have reasons for wishing to know the exact time." "To be sure, sir." Mr. Coates nerved himself np for an other effort. "By the way, Martha, you didn't no tice anything extraordinary in my con duct last night, did you?" "Extraordinary in your conduct, sir) So, sir, that I didn't, and the chap as means to Insinuate " "Stay, Martha, I didn't say that any, one lad been insinuating. I merely, wished to know from your lips that my conduct last night was Just the same as on every other night Can you assure me confidently that such was the case, Martha?" "Yes, sir, excepting " "Excepting what? Speak out, Mar tha. Don't be afraid." "Well, sir, yon sane; Just a little bit not boisterous, sir, nor rowdy like; but Just low and sweet, sir, as If yon were afraid of being overheard. In fact, sir. It was quite a treat to hear yon." "I sang-, Martha?" echoed Mr. Coates, in genuine amazement, knowing full well that he had not done such a thing la twenty years. "Are jroa quite aur of that, Martha?" "Perfectly, sir." Mr. Coates thought long and deep for n moment, while his countenance bo trayed his worst apprehension, , "Perhaps yon can tell me what I san about, Martha the words, I mean.'' 1 "Why, no, sir, I can't say that I re member the words, but It went osae tlilug like 'Happy the wooing That's not long a-doing.' "What!" gasped Mr. Coatee. Martha slowly repeated the Ilea) Mr. Coates groaned ! "Yon you're quite sure of that, Mar tha?" ha fWhlv antral ' "Perfectly, sir." That will do, Martha, thank youj "y K oacx to yonr duties. And, by the way, I shall not require my tea till late to-night, as I have Important Business to attend to." "But the muffins, sir; they'll be spoil ed," protested Martha. "TTnni ttm M,.,lnatM 1 m n MJW IIMtCII nil Coates. "I beg yonr pardon, Martha,' he said, softening; "I mean save the inunlns. I really am not myself tbl. evening: I trust you will excuse any eoemlng- rudeness on my part." "No offence, sir," replied the nnper turbed Martha. "But you'll have a cup o tea, sir, before you go?" "All right Martha. And Mr. Coates departed to his dressing-room, where he made a hasty toilet descended for his tea. and two mlnutei tfter was on bis way to Mrs. Black's. Could Mr. Coates have but stepped back to his hearth and home, be would have been shocked at the antics of his housemaid Martha, who, taking by tho paws the sleeping Tang, danced blm round the kitchen on bis hind legs, worrying him with such queries as: : "What d'you say to a new mistress. Tang? Eh? What? Can't you speak ?" Although Tang could only bark, ha seemsd to understand there was some thing very Interesting In thu wind. i Cold. damn, and In anvthln but an amiable frame of mind. Mr. Coates found himself nt the irate of Mm Black's cottage. Once within the gate, however, and walking up the path, he found his anger suddenly transformed Into a kind of nervous dread. Several times he was on the point of retreat Ing, arguing that the morning wonld do as well; but his sense of duty prevailed and rehearsing for the last time tha speech be had prepared on bis Journey, be walked np to the door and knocked. hoping that the lady might be ont His worst fears were realized. 'Enter," called a soft musical Tolce from within. The next moment Mr. Coates found himself In the little kitchen and parlor combined, vaguely conscious of rows of shining pans, a bright fire, and last but not least a trim figure meeting him hair way, and drawing him towand the warmth and light 'Good evening, Mr. Coates," said Mrs. Black, In accents of genuine pleas ure; "this Is Indeed a pleasant surprise. To what must I ascribe the honor of this timely visit V Now was Mr. Coates' time to deliver his carefully prepared speech. But tho utmost he could do was to gaze about him In a dazed way as be stammered: "The note, Mrs. Black. I I called about the note." ' 'Ah, to be sure-ryoa got my note. then? But really, Mr. Coates, what a tremendous hurry you are In!" - "I assure you, ma'am, there Is nq hurry at alL I was only Joking wbeq said there was If Indeed I ever did ay there was. I can easily wait si months, or a year, rr " Ten years, Mr. Coates bad almost said In bis eagerness. But be checked himself, reflecting that such heartless Indifference was hardly compatible with an affianced husband's passion. The lady smiled sweetly. "Z am afraid yon say that entirely out of consideration for myself," she murmured. "But I won't be selfish; and, besides, I can manage very well. MIsj M lines tried me on this afternoon. and she has promised the dress faith fully by the 25th." Mr. Coates fairly gasped at the auda cious manner In which bis objections wcr 3 overruled. However," continued Mrs. Black, suavely, "business will wait I think. Mr. Coates. and I'm sure you've had no tea. You'll have a cup of tea, of course?" Tea with this little woman. In a lone bouse, and in a lone part! Mr. Coates shuddered at the thought And, be sides, would It not be a sort of tacit compliance? He wonld have protest ed, but his tongue again failed him. Vacantly he allowed himself to be quar tered in the old arm-chair, while Mrs. Black, with a bewitching smile. In which a shade of triumph might have been detected, seated herself opposite and poured the tea. And here another surprise awaited the already bewildered Mr. Coates. To bis right he found a plate literally stacked with muffins, while at bis left rose majestically a plate of and bis eyes sparkled cneesecakes: ilow in the world did Mrs. Black know of his fondness for the particular dainties? He looked at his hostess for an ex planation. That astute lady, antici pating his query, murmured something about studying the wishes of those we love, and for the first time began to blush furiously. Mr. Coates wasted no further time, but fell to. 'As good as Martha's, every bit" be murmured, as the first cheesecake dls apeared. "So glad you like them." More cakes disappeared. The guest waxed sociable. "Ueally, Mrs. Black," he exclaimed, "your cheesecakes excel Martha's.' Mrs. Black smiled modestly. She thought It quite superfluous to Inform him that they were Martha's; that In fact, they bad preceded bis advent bat a few minutes. "All's fair In love and war," she ar gued; and gazed upon his features with a scrutiny almost bordering on rude ness. . It. was now Mrs. Black's turn to ap pear embarrassed, and she excuse1 herself to clear away the tea-things, i Mr. Coates' eyes wandered around the little parlor, and he was obliged to admit that be bad never come across a neater or cosier room. Everything was In perfect harmony, even to the diminu tive canary In a pink cage, hanging against the spotless curtains. Once more bis eyes fell upon Mrs Black. Singularly enough, now be came to think of It be discovered many charming peculiarities, and divers stor ting qualities, all of which be bad failed to notice previously. "Really, be mused, as be watched the play of her fingers among the cups and saucers, "she Is a charming crea ture. I well, I might do a great deal worse. And now I think of It, I've fell late! that single life Is apt to be lone ly. I shouldn't know what to do If my id Martha were taken, and she cant lira forera - flaving bustled about as long as con venient Mrs. Black returned to th charge by asking Mr. Coates If be would like to see cr the dress or at least a picture of it Mr. Coates, now prepared for almost anything, readily acquiesced. Skipping upstairs she returned wltl a ladies' Journal. "Of course," she explained, as sh rapidly turned over the leaves, "It's not the usual thing to consult the tha bridegroom" with a blush "but we'vj grown so confidential that I fecl'l must confide In yon. There!" she exclaimed, .is she found the page, "that's the dress white, of course, and there'll be a wreath of orange blossoms passing around here, and another bunch at tha throat I hope you like It" Mr. Coates expressed his admiration of the dress and bis approbation of her choice, though he could not for his life detect tbe difference between tt anj any of Martha's kitchen gowns. He was now so Infatuated that he would probably have proceeded to express ad miration for the lady of the bouse, had not the clock begun to strike 12. "Dear me!" he exclaimed; "I reallj must be off, Mrs. Black. I had no Idea bow late It was. How the time has flown to be sure! You see," he contin ued, beamingly, "Martha will be wait big up for me, and I must consider her feelings In my my new-found happl- jurs. oiacK neia out ner nana ted np a becoming blush. an-i I " you must go." she murmured, Mr- Coates took her hand In his and held It a moment "I must thank yon before I go," h said earnestly, "for the pleasant even ing I have spent In your company. I I hope we shall spend 'many more to gether." "I trust so, Mr. Coates. t Be still held her band. "Good-night Mrs. .Black," he said softly. "Good-night," she replied. Still he seemed dissatisfied. lit I lanced toward the street all was dark and quiet Mrs. Block was visibly em barrassed. He gave ' another glance around the parlor. There also perfect ljulet reigned; It was Impossible that any one could be spying. Mr. Coates hesitated no longer, but yielding to his indden Impulse, he clasped the widow round the waist and kissed her upon the noae! and, setting her free, scam pered down the garden path with oil the ardor of a schoolboy. "I've bad tea. Martha." he shouted, a few mlnntes later, as he bounced into the kitchen, having run all e -y. "Don't waat the cheesecakes eat 'em yourself, or give 'em to the 'first tramp." ' Not nntil they were married and on their way to Switzerland for the honey moon did Mr. Coates muster up cour age to ask for Information regarding the manner of bis proposal. At that mo ment however, a lovely bit of scenery zlalmed the bride's attention, and Mr. Coates was too happy to press th question. I-nstly Martha, alder and abettor ol the nefarious scheme, also shares tha universal contentment for she has at last acquired a considerably larger, and also steadily Increasing, sphere In which to "hoperate." Waverly Mago dne. rerpetunl Ice in Virginia. A was not long ago reported that a natural Icehouse on a grand scale bad ben l covered under, singular clrcum-) stances on the north . side, of Stone Mountain, six miles from the mouth of Stony Creek, In Scott County, Vir ginia. As the story goes. It appears that one of the old settlers first discov ered It about 18S0, but owing to the fact that the land on which It was situ ated could not be bought be refused to tell Its whereabouts and would only take Ice from it In case of sickness. He died without revealing the secret to even his own family, and but for a, party, of seng diggers entering the re gion It might have remained a secret for generations, as It Is situated In an unfrequented part of the mountain. The ice was only protected from the rays of the sun by a thick growth of moss, resembling that seen dangling from the oaks of Louisiana and Texas. Its formation was after the fashion of a coal vein, being a few Inches thick In some places, while several feet In others. The formation Indicates that tt had been spread over the surface In a liquid state and then congealed. By what process It freezes or was frozen Is a matter of conjecture. Some think that It was formed In the winter and had been protected since by a dense growth of moss which covers It while the more plausible theory is that be neath the bed la situated a great na tural laboratory whose function is a formation of ether, and the process ol freezing goes steadily on through the heat as well as the cold. The bed coven one acre. Brooklyn Eagle. There Is a good deal of. cheap wit ibont hugging girls In the waltz, but is a matter of fact when a man hugs a woman be does not do It In a crowd. From an Old Cynic, The older a man Is when he gets mar rlcd the sooner ho commences takiuf his lunch at noon downtown. Atcblsoi Globe. - Only Fairly So. Hardluck So you are prospering a lost, eh? Sufficiently so to bo able t keep servants? Struckltt (on the lookout for thf fourth within a month) Er no; ont to Lire them. Buffalo Courier. . She Learned Differently. Vicar (severely, to bis cook) Mary, rou had a soldier to supper last nlgl t Cook Yes. sir; he's my brother. Vicar But you told me you bad no brother. Cook So I thought sir. until you preached last Sunday and told us w were all brothers and sisters. London nt-Blta. Something Bnbtfe. "I've been pondering over a very sin ruler thing." "What Is Itr "How putting' a ring on a woman's ihird finger should place you under tbaf woman's thumb." Life. . . Distance -shows the Coming Woniat be so unattractive that heaven alone mows what a near view will be. CHAPTER XII Contlnoofl. Oollendon was now, she told herself, less than nothing to her. Shectuo meet him on the most perfectly easj and equal footing, and so far from be iiifT dazzled by his pcrlections. and panting lor his notice, she could nou (oolly rejoico in any opportunity which' oiTeroi for disconcerting and perplex inji her childish hero. She bad hardly hoped to have me. rith one at her aunt's. Is had been a urpriso to her when bo had walked in, and astill greater ono when he had offered her his r.rm. Oh, what thai .Ter would onco have meant! Now, she had risen, as self-possessed as any woman there, and had rippled forward across the room, and down the broad staircase, looking her prettiest, and smiling her gayest, and laughing within herself at the merry time she meant to have of it For she could see that he was grave and rather anxious. That meant that ho would bo suro to stumble on to (Janeiro s ground presently, and then and then sho would lead him gaily on, wily, witchincr Will-o'-the-wisp that ihn was! until she bad got him fust in to a quatrmire, hopelessly fast an! bound, when she would mock bim to his face, leaving nothing but darkness bohind She could, bide her time, eho would not hurry anyboiy. Verv dqmurcly passed the first courses. Miss Campbell was engaged with bet loup, her tish, tho pretty llowers on the table, the heat ol the evening, the forthcoxing reception at the for eign embassy, the concert she bad been to in the afternoon. Sir Frederick was quietly listening, and when no essary responding. Sj far he bad not afforded any sport Nc r did he by any means seek to en gross her, as f ho had somehow fancied he would have done; on the contrary. ho allowed long intervals to elapse without siieaklnir at all, and when these were si ed upon and made use of Dy t.erauino s garrulous neighbor on the other side, sne - was provoked to find how indifferent be soemol to be towards takinsr un the reins acain. But one thing ho neglected utterly, and this, of which he himself seemed absolutely unconscious, was taken no tice by her at once -he entirely omit ted the necessary civilties towards the lady on his other hand. If addre-sed by her, he would rouse himself with e start, as though unaware of the pees ence of any ono so near, and when ho had replied to her overture, ho would drop the subject- At length sho gave over taking notice of him, and Coral dine marked this also. "I wonder, I very much wonder what be is thinking about?" quote the little cat to herself at lust. Now perhaps Bellenden hardly knew nimseii. Almost from tho first moment, from his first sisrht of her on her presenta- t on day be had been conscious or new feeling about this lovely girL Tuere had been a burst of recollection, of tenderness, and of resolve. He would renew the old friendship. make up for the past, and n.ake his wav in the future. Then he had been thrown back on the very threshold of the pretty ca-itle in tho air, and had lounJ himself shut out from entering at every point Had she been ono whit less I eautiful, less charming, less tantalizing, ho would have turned his buck and been off, shrugrinsr his shoulders: but Ceraldine had played, and was still playing her part too well, bhe was never quite cold enough to drive him Irom her. She never was gentler than when sho was loveliest, and most sought after. And. nt times, now and asraln it had so happened that when with velvet hand she had dolt the little stab, the wound which had I con meant to rankle and fester presantly. and had seen him turn from h.-r t bite' his lip.'-and flush with mingled shame and vexation, her heart had so smote her for the light. cruel jest, that she had sought him out, and set to work to undo what had been dono so humbly and wistfully that tor i ne moment ne naa almost been happy enough to believe anything. . tor he was now in love with Geral dine. and know it. ' ... -'it is because 1 know that she is as good and true as she Is beautiful," he would sigh with regret all unavail ing. ''The woman whom I marry must be unspoiled by all the folly and heart lessness of this miserable world of fashion. What is it to a man that his wife knows bow to dress, and dine, and parade herself from house to t.ouse, if she cares nothing lor him, nor her home and children, and the things that good women love? Who wants a fash iou plate for his dailv companion and tne motner oi nis little ones i am !ck cf seeing girl after girl brought simpering out, ana instructed how to dance, and chatter, and show o'f her points, and trot out her accomplish ments. One is exactly like another. They all dote on country life, on gar dening, and riding, and old women's cottasres, and the next moment it slips out that there in a dreadful frigh lest papa should hurrv them home be' fore the season 7s quite over, aud that they thought it so cruel of blm to stop1 down in the shires so long at Faster and Whitsuntide. Not one but would exchange a country home with glee for Homburg, or Monte Carlo, or Brighton, or Scarborough. But I knew onco a girl different to that, ' Bellenden would say, with animation, when with some intimate on whom such revllings had been vented, "I knew one child - she is a woman now who, if she be not utterly change 1.' would make any man, any home happy. Pshaw! She is not fir me. I should have but. a poor chance, ' even if i meant to co jo for one. I tell vou. Anc" 1 don't mean it But the man who wins her " and the speaker would here break off abruptly, and . his auditor wou'd know what to think with toler able accuracy. . - Be would tell the next person be met that Bellenden was bit at last. and that the pMi fellow was very far gone, but would give no hint In what direction.- . Had . the sneaker been ' present at Lady Raymond's Thursday dinner party he would not have needed mucb of a hint Bellenden's silence, his abstraction, the quick glances be cast round from time to time if his fair partner looked towards him or moved towards him, the lingering gare which still hung upon her lips after she had ceased' to speak-all meant the same thing. Be was anxious puzzled, cu -ious, ill at ease; bat he would not have been any where but where he waa for the world. The custom of having flat decora tions lor the dinner table bad not ob tained, at the time we write of, and in front of Geraldine and her partner large flowering plants formed an ef fectual screen Irom the eyes of those opposite. 'I like a lot of Cowers," observed he once; "these are pretty, aren't theyi"' "Very pretty. But," amended the boauty, afraid that her voluble lricna on the other side was about to strike in before she could continue, and be ginning to be a little desirons for one of those encounters of wits which had always a certain exhilarating effect upon her, especially when they left Bellendei looking blank and per turbed, "but for my own part I love the sweeter scented flowers. These are very ehowy, very handsome; but I nice " men she cauernt nis eye ana stopped. ' lio knew what she liked, and she knew that she was thinking he did so. M v grandmother had our window- boxes filled with large ox-eyed daisies be lore I knew anything about it,' pro ceeded Geraldine, going on at all haz ards." "I did feel vexed when I first saw them. Oh no; it is not that I dis like daisies, only I wanted to have had mignonette, and and " 'Yes. 1 think 1 know what i saw some charming window gardening to day. The best I have seen yet. ' 'nave you any boxes yourself?" "At ray rooms: on yes. Both my rooms are full of the scent to-day. It was delicious just now. 1 know you would have liked it ." Then he, oo, stopped, warned by her face, "indeed! May I ask what the scent was?" said Geraldine lightly. "I don't like every scent, you know." "1 know." "Then why should I have liked yojrs? What is it.-1 What have yov got in yoar Doxes.'" "Am I to tell you truly?" said he in rather a low voice. Perhaps I had no right to say that? I meant no harm " "Then tell me," and her voice was ilmost an echo of his. She could not help it, she told herself afterwards. "They are full of purole heliotrope,' he answered, aud turned his face away from her. . CHAPTER XIII. LADY . KAYMONDU STAWBERRY TEA. Cecil told his ' mother that she hai managed very b-ialy. t oor boy, he really had some cause for complaint, for, as ho did not fa 1 to point out. in sp to of the dofecion of Lady Dawlish, Bellenden cculd still have handed in his sister Ethel, while i the deserted Mr. Le Masserer would have been equally, if not still belter pleased to havo bad the pretty heiress. lie did not add that in this case he would have been satisfied on his own account, laying a'.l the stress on his friend's having been separated fro n his sister; but Lady Hay.i ond under itood him perfectly, nevertheless. The poor woman bad not a word tc say for herself. Of course she too coull have sees the better arrangement bad one min ute's time been given her to think about it; but how could she, or how could anyone have been expected to take in all the bearings ot the case in the buzz ot a full drawing-room, with the dinner imminent and a husband signalling the one thing ol importance, to which all besides must give way? She had not enjoyed her own dinner that she knew; and whether the turbo: were fresh or stale, or the whitebait ill or well done, she had not cared an atom. She had only eyes for two things, Cecil's unhappy, and Ethel's discontented laces; and neltherof theta ought to have cast a stone at her, she was so truly penitent. rtiow, Cecil would not have mindec one half as much had it not been for a certain increase of spirits on Bellen den's part, visible after the meal. Bellenden, usually somewhat grave and distrait of. late; had on the recent occasion been almost merry after the ladies had gone upstairs, and had shone forth as one of the talkers and enter tainers of the room. Lord Kuyznond bad told bis wife afterwards that Sir Frederick Bellenden had been a great success; Mr.Le Masserer had expressed his pleasure at meeting him; they must have him again. Where bad he dis appeared to when the gentlemen came uj to tne drawing-room.' lie had disappeared, certainly, and -oh. he had gone to the foreign re ccption, had ho? With Cecil? No; Cecil had gone with the Camp bells l.'ellendeu by himself? IJ it I ady Kaymonddid not know.anc Cecil did not tell her, that the further shadow on the voung man's brow after that evening was due to another cause beside that ot the disarranged dinner table, namely, to what hud transpired during tho email hours that followed. Bellenden had aoneared at the em bassy soon after, he and his grand mother and cousin had taken ud nosi- tion near the head of the grand stair caso. Tbev had seen him comlntr: and he had felt a flash of conviction that bv one at least of the party he had been expected. Geraldine had expressed no surprise, ant? on his own suggestion of an ad otirnment to ono of the rooms a suggestion wnich exponence bad taught him to believe would be accept able under the circumstances the had obst!n .tely held her ground. It was too hot to go inside, she had alleged. and the crowd was too great, and she was sure granny did better where she was. tieraldices eyes, meanwhile, had been following Bellenden slowly mak ing his way up the staircase, as though, impatient of his tardy progress, yet she had not spoken his name, nor told nor grandmother or nis proximity. Be had como straight to them di rectly it had been ossible. Still there has been nothing definite. nothing tangible, nothing that a rival could take hold of. .Mrs. Campbell bad received Sir Frederick courteous ly, but still with something of the stately dignity lately assumed in his presence, and Geraldine had merely honored him with a casual remark or two, such as might have been maJe to any one. There .had been no .chatter ing, -co flirting ho picking u of threads diopped at the dinner-table. He would' have told himself he waa a fool for his uneasiness, had it not been fo what took p lace presently. Bellenden bad been with them for about a quarter of an hour, quietly as suming his pla.e as one of the party in a manner he had never done before, when some acquaintance of the Ray monds had claimed Cecil's attention, and had for some minutes completely diverted it from his cousin. He had had to tell them how he came to be there, and how his "people" were not there, what they were about, where they were to be met, and where they were not to be met He had bad to put some questions on his own account. The new-comers were great folks whom he did not often chance to meet peo ple who seldom frequented fashionable resorts, but who would te noted wher ever Been; the sort of acquaintances, in short, that young Kaymond ap proved of, and with whom he would not for the world have cut short an in terview. For full five minutes he had been thus completely engrossed, and when he had looked around at the expiry of that peri odf neither Bellenden nor his tousin had been anywhere to be seen. "They have only gone to hear the band," Mrs. Campbell had said placid ly. "I told them that I should remain here, and that you wou'd take care of me." How long the strains of the band had been heard thereafter he could not have told. It had seemed ages, and must really have been during a con siderable length of time, since airectly Geraldine had reappeared, it had been time to go. Geraldine had seemed hurried and apologetic, and there had been a good deal said about the crowds, and the number of rooms, and the difficulty of making way through them: but all the talking had been uoue by her. Bellenden had said nothing, but haa stood by with a sort of a smile on his face, which it had not cheered poor Cecil's heart to sen. He had, indeed, left all the excuse and explanations to his lair companion; but there bad been that in his air which had said so plainly as words could have done, that she was herself his excuse, and one sufficient for him or for any man. No wonder the son spoke sharply and sulkily to the parent wno had, as it were, opened the way to so much; lor that Bellenden had by some means or other; now contrived to break down the barrier which had ex isted for so long between him and his quondam "little friend," ana which had, up to the present, seemed so im pregnable, was only too obvious. Geraldine herself was bitterly indig nant with herself during the summer morn which had set in ere the party quitted the festive halls, and which, gathering strength and giory, was blazing forth in its full tide of light anl life as the weary girl sought in vain the slumber that had fled her pillow. She wondered what she had been thinking of,d reaming of? She had gone on so well until now. Never un til this evening bad she really faltered; scarcely ever had she been tempted to falter. She had, indeed, been aware of being ever more constantly on the look-out for.- him but what of that? he had hail nothing from her but gay, mo king words, and sharp, two-edged jests. Only once or twice, only when sho had been really too unkind, too barefaced, had she wheeled about and murmured the gentle after-word and c;.st the soft glance which had undone ihe rest But to-night? To-night there had been nothing to undo. She bad tried to be sarcastic, flippant, and unfeeling, and had failed, and had failed utterly. For tho future sho must beware. And there was yet something fur ther. Bellenden had offered a box at the opera, and she had almost accepted it How should she now escape the con e juences of such imprudence? "The only thing will be to make granny refuse," she ruminated, tossing hither and th;ther on her fretful, fe verish couch; "Granny must just say we have not an evening, or that the weather is too hot for theaters. I can show her that I do not care to go, and that will be enough to make her not care. Then I can toll Sir Frederick what she says." But when it came to telling Sir Frederick, the message, somehow, took another form. Granny was very much o diged.and would like immense ly to go, and either Tuesday or Wednesday woull suit her, as they had no engagements for those even ings. Now, how was this? Let us hearken to the preceding dialogue, and judge to whom the apparent inconsistency is due. Granny Well, my dear, Sir Freder ick is very kiud, and I dare say we Bhall en 'oy it Geraldine It is the ono opera that I have not seen, which i should really care to see. Granny I am told it is very good. Geraldine The Kaymond girls say it is beautiful. Even Uncle Kaymond has been to it. Granny Well, what night shall we fix? Geraldine Why, if you really think of going Granny My dear, I am ready to go or not, as you decide. 1 thought you would certainly wish to go Geraldine Ye-es. Granny Do you not . wish it? Ot course if you do not Geraldine Oh, but I T I I do. Granny (smiling) Then let us say Tuesday or Wednesday, for we ought to give him a choice ol days, as he may not be able to get a box for the first. (TO BE CONTINUED. Tins better men and women know each other, the less they say about ;deals. ' ' Tiik only social occasion at which! married men are allowed to assist, is a funeral Mo man never achieved fame by de pending on the labor of others. Many a man is compelled to stand pnnishmoat who never fongbt a prize fight . All the world is barren to him who will not cultivate the fruits it offers. Gold is a base thing; it to often is the case that you have to steal, to get it, and fie to keep it No young man ought to forget that if he 'sows wild oate he will have to reap the crop himself. The man whose aim is only to make others laugh is one whom it won't do to trust; he is as uncertain as a monkey. It is a very poor family indeed that does not support at least one drone. A man with a pint of importance or; dinarily has a quart on election day. Electricity ii now used to improve the nomplexion. If mankind only took as much pnde in doing their duty as horses do, bow slick tilings wonld move along. Don't allow yourself to be hoodooed into the belief that life is only a pre tentions strut No man would listen to yon talk if he didn't know it was hk turn next REV, DB. .TALMAGE. 1HH BBOOKLYR DIVUTK'g bUH DAY SSBMOS. Snbjectt 'The Glorious Gospel." Txxrs MAHrdlng to tha glorious gospel ot the blessed God, which was committed to my trust" Z Timothy L, 11. The (rreateet novelty ot our time is the gos pel. It is so old that it is new. As potters and artists are now attempting to fashion 8itoheia and cups and curious ware Ilka lose of 1900 years ago recently brought up from boiled Pompeii, and such cups and pitchers and curious ware are universally admired, so anyon. who can unshovel tha real gospel from tha mountains of staff un der whioh tt has been burled will be able to present something that will attract the gaze and admiration and adoption ot all the peo ple. It is amazing what substitutes have been presented for what my teort calls "the glorious gospel." There has been a heml- spneno apostasy. There are many poople in this and all c titer urge assemoiaras who nave no more Idea ol what the gospel really is than they have of wnm is ooniBJiea in tne loiirteenth nhantnr ol Zend-Avesta, the Bible of the Hindoo, the u copy oi wmon j. ever. saw 1 purcoasea in Calcutta last Septomber. Tha old gospel Is fifty feet under, and the work has been dona by the shovels of those who have been trying to contrive tha nhilnannhv nf mil There is no philosophy about It. It is a plain matter ot Bible statement and ot childlike faith! Some of the theological sominarieS have been hotbeds of Infidelity because the have tried to teach the "philosophy of reli-j (tion." Bv the time that manv a vound theological student gets ha! through htt DreDaratorr eouraa hA in ra fillnri with doubts about plenary lnsjiectiou. and tha divinity of Christ, and the questions ot eternal destiny, that he Is more fit for the lowest bench in the infant class of a Sunday-school than to become a fsaohet and leader of the people. The ablest theo logical professor is a Christian mother, who out of her own experience can tell the four-year-old how beautiful Christ was on earth, and how beautiful He now is In heaven, ana how dearly He loves little folks, and then she kneels down and puts one arm around the boy, and with her somewhat faded cheelt against the roseate cheek of the little one consecrates him for time and eternity to Him who said, "Suffer them to coma unto Me." What an awful work Paul made with the D. D.'s, and the Zi-D.'s, and the P. R. a's, when h. cleared the decks of tha old gospel ship by saying, "Not many wise men, not many noble, are called, but God hath chosen the weak things ot Jie world to confound the mighty." There sits the dear old theologian with his table plied up with all the great books on In spiration and exegesis and apologetics for the Almighty and writing ont nis own elab orate work on the philosophy of religion, and his little grandchild coming up to him for a good night kiss he ascidentaily knocks off the biggest book from the table, and it falls on the head of the child, of whom Christ Him self said, "Out of the mouths ot babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise." Ah, my friends, the Bible wants no apologetics. The throne of the lost Judgment wants no apologetics. Eternity wonts no apologetics. Scientists may toll us that natural light is the "propagation of undulations in an elastic medium, and thus s"t in vibratory motion by tha action of luminous bodies." but no one knows what gospel light is until his own blind eyes by the touch of the Divine Spirit have opened to see the noonday of pardon and peace. Scien tists may tell us that natural sound is "tha effect of an impression made on tha organs of hearing by an impulse of the air, caused by a collision of bodies, or by other means," but those only know what tho gospel sound is who have heard the voice of Christ direct ly, saying: "Thy sins are forgiven theei Go In peace." The theological dude unrollJ upon the plush of the exquisitely caired puH pit a learned discourse showing that the garden of Eden was an allegory, and Solo mon's Song a rnther Indelicate love ditty, and the book of Job a drama in which satan was the star actor, and that Kenan was three- auarters right about miracles of Jesus, and lat the Bible was gradually evoluted and the best thought of the different agfs, Moses and David and Taul doing the best they could under the circumstances, and therefore to be encouraged. Lord of heaven and earth, get us out of the London fog of higher criticism! The night is dark, and the way is rough, and we havo a lantern which God has put in our hau ls, but Instead of employing that lantern to show ourselves and others the right way we are discussing lanterns, their shape, their size, their material, and which is the better light kerosene, lamp oil or can dle and while wo discuss it we stand ail around the lantern, so that we shut out the light from the multitudes who are stumbling on the dark mountains of sin and death. Twelve hundred dead birds were found one morning around Bartholdl's statue In New ! York Harbor. They ha 1 dashed their ille out against the lighthouse the night before. Poor things 1 And the great lighthouse of ie gospel how many high scaring thinkers ave beaten all Uiolr religious life out against it, while it was intended for only one thing, and that to show all Kntluns the way Into tue harbor oi God's mercy and to the orystalline wharves of the heavenly city, where the Immortals are waiting for ca'w arrivals. Dead skylarks, when they might have been flying seraphs. Here also come, covering np the old gos pel, some who think they con by law and ex posure of crimes save the world, and from Portland. Ms., across to San Pranclsoo, and back again to New Orleans and Savannah, many of the mlnisteis have gone Into the de tective business. Worldly . reform by all means, but unless It be also gospel reform it wiUbe dead failure. In New York Its ohiet work has been to give us a change of bosses. We had a Demoortalc boss, and now it is to be a Republican boss, but She quarrel is. Who shall be the Republican? Politics will save the cities the same day that satan evan gelizes perdition. The glorious gospel of tha blessed God a spoken ot In my text will have more drawing power, and when that gospel gets full swing ft will have a momentum and a power mightier than that of tha Atlantio Ocean. When under the force of the September equi nox it strikes the Highlands of the Navesink. The meaning ot the word "gospel" Is "good news," and my text says It is glorious good) news, and w. must tell It in our churches; and over our ary goods counters, ana In our factories, and over our threshing machines,' and behind our plows, and on our ships' deeks. and in our parlors, onr nurseries and kitohens,as though It were glorious good news, and not with a dismal drawl in our voloe, ana a aismai look on our laces, as tnougn re ligion was a rheumatic twinge, or a dyspep tic pang, or a malarial chill, or an attack of nervous prostration. With nine "blesseds" or "happys," Christ began His sermon on the mount blessed the poor) blessed the mourner; blessed the meek; blessed tha hun- Sy; blessed the merclrali blessed the pure; eased the peacemakers; blessed the perse cuted; blessed the reviled: blessed, blessed. blessed; happyr happy, happy. Glorious good news for the young' as through Christ they may have their coming years ennobled, and for a lifetime all the angels of God their coadjutors, and ail the armies of heaven, their allies. Glorious good news for the middle aged as through Christ they may have their perplex! ties disentangled,and their courage tallied, and their victory over all obstacle, and hindrances made forever sure. Glorious good news for the aged as they may have the sympathy of Him of whom St. John wrote, "His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white aa snow," and the de fense of the everlasting arms. Glorious good news for the dying as they may have minis tering spirits to escort them, and opening gates to receive them, and a sweep of eternal glories to encircle them, and the welcome of a loving God to embosom them. Oh, my text Is right when it speaks of th. glorious gospeL It is an Invitation from the most radiant Being that ever trod the earth or asoeneM tne neavens, to vou ana me co some and be made happy, ana then take af ter that a royal castle for everlasting resi dence, the angels of God our cup bearers. The price paid for all ot this on the cliff ol limestone about as high aa this house, about even minutes walk from the wall ot Jerusa lem, where with aa agony that with one hand tore down the rooks, and with th. other drew a midnight blackness over the heavens, our Ziord sec us forever tree. Making no logy for any one of the million sins of out not eoaxessuig ail ox tnam, wa eaa pom 1aid our indebtedness, ahU G7d never eoC , ects a biU twice." Glad am I that all tha Christian poets have exerted their pen In ex tolling the m atonies, one ot this gospel, lsaaa Watts, bow do yon feel concerning Him? Ana be writes, "I a-n not ashamed to own my Lord." Newton, what do you think of this gospel and ha writes, "Amazing grace, how swoet the sound!" Cowper, what io yon think ot Him? And the answer comes. "There is a fountain filled with blood.'1 Charles Wesley, what do you think of Him? And he answers, Jesus, lover of my souL" Horatiua Bonar, wbnt do you think of Him? And he responds, "I lay my sins on Jesus." Ray ralmer. what do you think of Him? And he writes, 'My faith looks up to Tbwe." Fannie Crosby, what do you think of Him? And she writes, "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine." But I take higher testimony! Solo mon, what do you think of Him? And the answer is, "Lily of the valley." Ezekiel, what do you think of ilim? And the answer Is, "Plant of.renown." David, what do you think of Ilim? And the answer is, "My shep herd.". St. John, what do rou think of Him? And the .answer Is, "Bright and morning star." St. Paul, what do you think of Him? And the answer oomes, "Christ is all in all." Do you think as well of Him, O man, O wo man of the blood bought immortal spirit? les, raui waa ngnt wnen no styiea it -tne glorious gospeL" And then as a druggist, T7hlla you are waiting for him to make up the doctor's prescription, puts into a bottle so many grains of this, and so many grains ot that,' and so many drops of this, and so many drops of that, and the intermixture taken, though sour or bitter, restores to health. So Christ, the Divine Physician, prepares this trouble of our lifetime, and that disap pointment, and this persocution, and that hardship, and that tear, and we must take the intermixture, sot though it be a bitter draft. Under the fflvlne prescription it ad ministers to our restoration and spiritual health, "all things working tegetlic-r for God." Glorious gospel! And then the royal castle into which wa step out of this life without so much 03 soil ing our foot with tho upturnel earth of tho grave. "They shall reign forever." Does not that mean that you are, if saved, to be kines and queens, and do not k!n and queens have castles? But the ono that you are offered was for thirty-three years an abandoned castle, though now gloriously In habited. There is on abandoned royal eartle at Amber, India. One hundred and" seventy years ago a king moved out of it never ta return. But the castle still stands In inde scribable grandeur, acd you go through brazen doorway alter brazen doorwaV, and carved room after carved rooin. and under embellished ceiling af ter embellished ceiling, anl through halls precious eioned Into wider hrjii prec ious stoned, and on that hill are pavilions deeply dyed and tasseled and arched, the tire of colored gardens cooled by the snow of white architecture; birds In the arabesque so natural to life that while you cannot hear their voices you lmagina you see the flutter of their wings while you are passing; walls pictured with triumphal proceIon; rooms that were called "Alcove of Light" and "Hall of Victory;" marble, white and blaok, like a mixture of morn and night; alabaster, and mother of pearl, and lacquer work. Standing before tt the eye climbs from step to latticed balcony, and "from latticed bal cony to oriel, and from oriel to arch, and from arch to roof, and then descends on lad der of all colors, and by stairs of perfect lines to'tropical gardens of pomegranate and pineapple. Seven stories of resplendent architecture I But the royal castle provided for you, if yon will only, take it on the pro scribed terms, is grander than aU that; and, though an abandoned castle while Christ was here, aemenng your redemption, is again oc cupied by the "chief among ten thousand," and some or your own kindred who have gone up and waiting for you aro leaning from the balcony. The windows of that castle look off on the King's gardens where immortals walk linked in eternal friend ship, and the banqueting hall of that castlo has princes and princesses nt the table, and the wine is "the new wine of the kingdom,'' and the supper is the nrarriage supper of tho Lamb, and there are fountains Into which no tear ever fell, and thero is music that trem- Dies witn no grier, ert l tho light that falls upon that scene Is never heeloudod, and there is the kiss of these reunited after long sepa ration, juore ni?rve win we nave there than now, or wa would swoon nway under the raptures. Stronger vision will wa have there than now, or our eyesight would be blinded by the brilliance. Stronger ear will we have there than now, or 'under the roll of that minstrelsy, and the clapping cf that fcla matlon, and the boom ol that halleluiah we ould be defeated. Glorious gospel! Tou tho'ight re!if-!on was a stra!tjacket: that it put you on the limits; that thereafter you must go oowed down. No, no, no! It to be castellated. By the oleansing power of the shed blood of Golgotha set your fa-os toward the shining pinnacles. Oh, tt does not . matter much what beoomcs of us here for at the longest our stay is short if wa can only land thereu 1'ou sea thero are so many I do want to meet there. Joshua, my favorite prophet, and John among the evnngslists, anlVaul among the apostles, ru! Wyciif among tha martyrs, and Bourdaloua among tho preach, ers, end Dants among the poets, and Havelook among tha heroes, and our loved ones whom we havo S3 much missed since they left us so many darlings of the heart, their a!ence sometimes almost unbearable, and, mentioned In this sentence last of all becauso I want the thought climac teric, our blessed Lord, without whom we oould never reach the old oastle at aiL He took our place. Ha purchased our ransom. He wept our woes, lie suffered our stripes. He died our death. He assured our resurrec tion. Blessed be His glorious name forever! Surging to His ear be all the anthems! Facing Him be all the thrones! Oh, I want to see It, and I will see It the day of His coronation. On a throne already. Methinks the day will come when In some great hall of eternity all the Nations cf earth whom He had conquered by His grace will assemble again to crown Him. Wide and high and immense and upholstered as with the sunrise and sunsets of 1C0O years, great audience room of heaven. Like the leaves of an Adirondack forest the ransomed muitl-' tudes, and Christ standing on. a blgh place surrounded by worshipers and subjects. They Shall eome out of the farthest past led on by the prophets; they shall come out of tha early gospel days led on Dy the apostles; they . , hall come out of tho centuries still ahead ot us led on by champions of the truth, heroes and heroines yet to be born. And then from that vastest audience ever assembled In all the universe there will go up the shout: "Crown Him! Crown-Him! Crown Him!" and the Father who long ago prom ised this His only begotten Son, ''I will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritaace and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy pos session," shall set the crown upon the fore head yet scarred with crucilbuon bramble, and all the hosts ot heaven, down on tha levels and up In the galleries, will drop on their knees, crying: "Hail, King of earth! King of heaven! King of saints! King of Beraphsi Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and to Thy dominions there shall be no endl Amen and amen! Amen and ameni" Big Lumber Combine. Tha lumber manufacturers of the East and Korth and the forest owners ot the same sec tions met in Boston, Mass., and organized the Northeastern Lumbermen's Association. Those present represented over 675,000,000 Invested In forest lands, saw-mills, wood working manufactories and the manufacture of lumber geneiaily. Which is the better man of tlto two he who never repents, or ho who' is going to repent to morrow of the fins he is committing to-cluy. If all things look blue to yonr eyes onsnlt an optimist No man who donbts the worthinew tf his principles can be biava in the r defense. All advances are attendod with dis advantages. A universal compensation prevails in all conditions of being and existence. It is hard to believe that a sin' will bite when it comes along vit i gold in its teeth. ' It must bo m'ghty lonosomo to bo a ' aoawuit for an Heal husband Nearly any man will sijn any peti tion, or give a lotter of recommenda tion to anybody. r i t ' 1 ; ! i! i . ? . ( ' - " -