fT7 . HO HW BIER, 1; ' THE OONBTITDTION-THE DNION-AND THE ENFOKOEMKNT OP THK I .A WH. VOL. L. MIFFLINTOW1N. JUNIATA COUNTY. FENN A.. WEDNESDAY. JULY 15. 18 NO. 31. ML I CHAPTER XXIV. After leaving the doctor! house Fev ral walked slowly and thoughtfully along n the direction of Park Lane. He seem "i to have grown much older within the ivt few days, for the one aim and pnr se of hia life was about to be fulfilled to was about to meet face to face the uan who had wrecked his life, and driven sis beloved wife into an early grave. He proceeded at once to the ducal resl lence. lie was admitted without question tf any kind, but when he asked to see the luchess, the footman gravely informed lim that both she and Miss Greybrooi lad left the house. The man led the way to the duke's itudy. During the two preceding nights die duke had had no rest, and the want f sleep as well as the mental anguish which he had endured had left strongj 3-aces npon him. He spent the whole of ne night arranging his papers, and a tarly morning the next day, bis Spanish, errant entered the study, only to finil Sis master still busily at work. He hand al him a note found in the rooms of the) I lichens. It read: "After what has occurred, yn cannot expect me to remain longer in yeur house: . i am, therefore, returning to the home from which you took me. Meanwhile let ne assure you that whatever step you may ;hoose to take will not be opposed by me, ts my sole wish now is to be fre from the legradation of bearing your name. CONSTANCE UOWAKTH." Crushing the letter in his hand, fhe duke returned to his Btudy; all his de.res seem ed altered now. If Constance wished to be free if by obtaining a divorce he would be acceding to her wishes, ho no longer seemed to desire it. Ho had re garded this act on his part as a means of revenge; he oeliered it would be torture to her to be branded as infamous before the world, bnt since rhis was not the case, he determined to think of some other means of gaining his end. He was so lost in his meditations that be did not hear the gentle rap at the uoor. When the door was aliened, however, he started np and faced l-'evernl. "My lord." said the latter, with some thing of his old airiness of manner, "I have come to inform you that all my ar rangements are made, and that I can place myself at your disposal at any time yon may be plonseft to name. The duke, who had reseated himself. looked up angrily. I must request you, Sir. Feveral," said he, "not to thrust yourself upon me unan nounced. At present 1 am too nnay to at tend you. He so good as to leave me." "Sorry to be cmellcd to refuse, re turned Feveral, taking a chair; "you have agreed to light me, and until you do I hull remain your constant compnnion The duke stared: was the man mad or drunk? Feveral, folding his arms, calmly returned his companion's gaze. "You are astonished," said he, "yet I see no cause for astonishment. As I said, yon accepted my challenge. I do not mean to let you escape." "Escape! what do you mean? Do you think I fear you?" "It looks like it," returned Feveral, still sitting with folded arms and preserving an unruffled demeanor. For a moment the two looked into each other's eyes, then the duke returned to his desk. He made no further attempt to rid himself of his companion, but tried to con tinue his work. It was a difficult task, however; the strange nervousness which had taken possession of him was increas ed ten-fold by the fact of his enemy's presence in the room, silent and unobtru sive as it was. Whatever he did, he felt that Feveral was watching, nay, more, that he had power to read his inmost thoughts. He had intended to leave that evening for Avondale Castle; he How changed his mind, and resolved to defer his journey until the next nlorning, hoping by that time to have shaken himself free of his tormentor. But though he retired to his room, he did not go to rest, but sat hour after hour gazing into vacancy, and thinking. As the boors passed on the house grew quieter; all the servants had retired. One o'clock struck, and the duke started from his seat. A sudden thought occurred to him; Fev eral must be sleeping; here was a chanco to escape from this man! CHAPTER XXV. Tin duke moved noiselessly forward 4o the room which had been formerly occu pied by Feveral. and of whicn he believed the secretary bad retaken possession. 1 1 tried the aoor geuuy, uuu iuuuu n iockcu. Perfectly satisfied now, the duke con tinued his way, noiselessly passing along .l. A.Jr.ra and down the thicklv Car- HHJ UUAt.U".- peted stairs; when he reached the door be found It securely lumeueu, uui iir noiselessly drew back the bolts and bars and tnrned the key in the lock. The door yielded to his touch, it opened, he stepped across the threshold, and was met face to face by man. It was Feveral! "Ah, my lord," said he, "I see I was not fhe only one who was restless to-night Moonlight and fresh air are certainly preferable to stuffy rooms and sleepless ness; at least, I thought so, anil so I cuine forth; and see how beautiful everything looks beneath the calm silver light." He paused; the duke made no reply; at first it was surprise, now it was shame . which kept him silent. Had he remained a moment longer Is would most assuredly bare tried to st rouble the man, so great (vas his rage and senaa of humiliation; with one quick mrramit b. step! back had dosed the door, leaving Feveral oot awn. After breakfast the carnage was an nounced, and, greatly to the duke's amaze ment, he was allowed to enter it alone. He believed that Feveral, wearied with hi long night of watching, had determined to let I p escaint. Ue drore JuiklT krailn fl station, and having taken bi ticket ( secured a compartment whicl be asked the guard to lock. jof a time fee TM left alone; he watch I Cu the crowd gathering uiwd the plat ! form, but saw no face he knew; at length the train began to move; he was con gratulating himself on hia escape, when the carriage door was hurriedly unlocked and 1' everal stepped in. It was useless to protest,' or indeed tc make a movement of any kind; the train was now well started, and the two met were locked np alone. Neither spoke; Feveral, Indeed, behaveo as if he were entirely alone. Taking nc notice whatever of his companion, be re clined la tne further end of the compart ment and began to read a newspaper. The duke, angry at first, gradually became more snbdued, and stared at his compan ion in singular rascination. To escape irom nim was impossible; II at the next station he changed his comparrment Fev eral would assuredly fallow; and be dar- ea uoi sees; protection, tor once given into custody Feveral would be silent no longer, but would most assuredly heu ignominy on him before the world. He looked at Feveral; he had dropped nis paper now, and lay back with closed eyes. Very noiselessly and cautiously thf duke crept forward; Feveral did not movf suddenly, with a spring, like that of wild panther, the duke leaped npon hi. sleeping companion, fixing his fingers it his throat. But Feveral was instantly aroused. It was bis last lapse of weariness. It wai the duke's final chance to rid himself ol an implacable foe. Resisting him. over powering him, Feveral told him what he should insist npon the duel, and at once. The night mail to Dover, the Calais boat, the train for Paris what a sombre, ominous journey it was! Pertinacious at a ferret, Feveral kept a close watch on hutjeuemji aud.at last the duke, grimly welcvuued the crucial moment when hit siiierior ability as a marksman would certainly rid him of a dreaded enemy, At 5 o'clock the next morning they met at the spot agreed on. The duke had fought several duels, and yet the feeling wki.h poum inn it htm was a certain kind of fear. He dreaded lest the fortune ot war might go against him, and so prevent Inin from dealing to Constance that amount of punishment which he believed to be her due. 1 he pistols were produced, examined nim loaded. The doctor nut out his in strnmeuts, the ground was measured, and the gentlemen were asked to take theii places. One moment," said Feveral, politely. i nave a word to say to the duke." Tne seconds and the surgeons retired. and the two men were left alone. Tin duke said nothing it was Feveral wh siMike. -My lord, he said, "as we, neither o( ns, can tell what kind of a termination this little affair will have, I wish, be fori we take our places, to confide to you s piece of information which will doubtlese give you some satisfaction. It is th your rival lives!" The duke started. "ily rival lives!" he exclaimed. "Whai do yon mean, sir? "Simply this, my lord; that I have dared to disobey your instructions; you told me to cast the poor gentleman into thi street Instead, I had him carried to the house of a physician, who dressed the wound, and undertook to cure rhe patient. Lord Harrington is at the present moment progressing rapidly toward recovery." During this sicech the duke's face was a study. Huge at this news, coupled wirh intense hatred for the man who brought it, completely mastered him. Scarcely knowing what he did, he sprung upon l-r-eral and, locked in each other's arms, the two men fell upon the sand. The seconds, alarmed at the unexpected turn events had taken, immediately rush ed to the rescue, and the two men were separated. Feveral arose, seemingly as calm as he had Keen before, but the duke was panting with fury. The two men were placed back to back: the paces were counted, the signal was given; the principals wheeled and fired. When the smoke cleared Feveral was seen to be standing apparently unhurt, but the duke was lying on the ground. Hugo rushed to his master and lifted his head. Cine glance at his face, and he tamed with a startled look to his companion. "The duke is dead!" be said. CHAPTER XXVI. At 4 o'clock that same afternoon Fev eral stood again in the streets of London. The journey from France had been made mechanically, but now he paused, realiz ing the nature of the task which was be fore him. Some one must tell Constance what bad occurred. He hailed a hansom at once and drove to Dr. Priestly's house. On alighting at the gate he came face to face with Alice Creybrook. "Miss Greybrook, this is fortunate," said he, taking her hand; "how is Lord Harrington?" "Much better, and past all danger." "I wish some one to go to Avondale Castle, to the Duchess d'Azzeglio." "Ti Constance?" cried Alice in alarm; "is there ill news for her, Mr. Feveral?" "Whether the news be good or ill, it will be for her to determine. The duke is dead." That same evening Alice left London for Avondale Castle, but before startl ing she had heard from Feveral the whole story of the duke's death. While all these terrible events bad been faking place, Constance, utterly ignorant of what was going on, had been living quietly with her grandmother. Life to her was virtually over; abe be ieved that all happiness for her was end ed, but she was glad to escape the degra dation which would have come upon her had she been compelled to return and live with her husband. The only consolation for all her sorrow was the knowledge that her cousin lived. Day by day she waited and watched In feverish eagerness for the letters which came to her fro, her friend, always bringing her some comfort and making her miserable life a little less hard to bear. When Alice arrived she rushed to embrace her friend; then she saw that her face was pale and troubled. "Alice, what is the matter? why have yog. comeZ abe cried, in, alarm. "Ljrd Ha.Tington is almost well." said Alice, quietly taking her friend's baud "I have other news for you. Coustance." Then she told her aa tenderly as irissi Ide the whole of the story, which she bao heard from Feveral, and Coustance, lis teuing to her, realized that she was free. Early the next morning the three ladies left Avondale Castle for Iondou. By that time the news of Coustauce's widowhood had spread. - They reached London early iu th. day, and drove at once to l'ark Lane. One glance at the house, and Con stance began to realize for the first time that the news was really true. It seem ed t her as if the shadow of death hung ver the place. All the b iuds were d.swr, and she felt almost suffocated by the fee ing of intense stillness which reigned everywhere. The body of the duke had not arrived from France, but was hourly expected. Hugo had telegraphed that all must be in readiness for its reception. The story of the duke's death was a nine days' wonder. The papers took it np and discussed it in their columns, . the ladies in their drawing rooms. Various stories were circulated, and certain whis pers concerning the duchess were set afloat, but none of these could be substan tiated, since the only man who could have given credence to these reports was dead. Meanwhile Coustance lived on very quietly in l'ark Lane. Greatly to. Hugo's amazement, the only will to be found was one which made Constance the sole mis tress of her husband's immense fortune. Her first care was to dismiss Hugo, and half her retinue of servants: then she caused a number of the rooms to be closed; and lived quietly with her grandmother and Miss Gr.ybrook in the few small rooms which were set apart for them. Three weeks passed thns. At the cud of that time Coustance, yielding to the en treaties of ber friend, consented to take a trip abroad. She was in her room one day, giving orders to her maid, when Alice came to her, and asked to speak to het alone. "Constance," said Alice, "whom do you think I hare seen to-day? Some one who wishes to see you." In a moinentConstance's face flushed: for she thought of Frank, and Alice not ing this, continued hurriedly: r'It was Mr. Feverai, dear." "Mr. Feveral! exciaimed Constance. Alice, have you forgotten he killed the duke?" 'lie killed the duke; yes, in fair and open fight Oh, do not look startled, dear. I do not wish to condone a murder but this was not a murder, and there are some wrongs which only blood can wipe out He came to me to-day while I wai walking In the park, and my heart bled for him, he was so changed." Half an hour later, when Constance was again in her sitting room, the door of the room was opened, and Feveral was nhown in. Mr. Feveral! Could this Indeed be he this grave, gray man? Although only a few weeka had passed since she bad seen him, as many years seemed to have been added to his age; the mask which he had assumed while in the service of the duke had been cast aside, and she saw instead of the plotting spy a weary, heart-broken man. M r. Feveral," she said, "I sent for you yes; and now that you are here I do not repent of my action. I could not speak because I am so sorry to see yon like thW you are so changed." Ho smiled sadly. "I hrve no longer a part to play," he said; "my work on earth is done. All I pray for now is death. My one joy in life has gone from me, and 1 have lived to avenge ber; that was all craved for, to see the man who had killed my wife and wrecked my happiness deaj t my feet "Yon have suffered so much," she said; "I am sorry for yon." She held out her hand; he took it, held it in both of his, and the next moment war gone. Since that day two years have come and gone; thel4ulou season lat 114 neint again, a-d tne tragic story of the death of the Duke d'Azzeglio Las passed entirely from every mind. Th. spring has come on with unusual brightness; so thinks Sir John I'riestly as he sits at the window of his study gaz- ng ont upon his garden, where bis wife i busy amongst her flowers. His wife, none other indeed than out old friend, Alice Greybrook. looks up and beckons to him, and he obedieutijr rise and goes down. I have news," she said, bnghtly. "Con stance is coming home." "Von don't say ao!" "But I do. Just listen." She produced from her pocket a letter and commenced to read: We are coming back, dear, and would like to stay with yon fur a few days before taking possession of our home. Frank bat managed to dispose of my old house m Park Lane, so I thank heaven I shall have nothing now to remind me of that one ter rible episode in onr Uvea. Frank and I are as much united as if we had never been parted; and I shall try to forget that there was ever a time when I was not bis wife. CONSTANCE." That same evening a happy party gath ered in Sir John I'riestly's dining room. There was Alice, fulfilling the duties of lost ess; near to her was Constance, and .a her right was r- rank, looking nsnrt- aomer than ever. The talk was flowing merrily, when it was interrupted by Alice. Do yon know what to-day is? Rhe cried. 'It is the anniversary of the day in which we were all married." "Then let ns drink a toast," cried Frank. "Priestly, old fellow, may you and Alice be as happy as you deserve to be; and may Connie and I continue as wc are; ch. Connie?" She laughed and nodded, and drank tho toast (The end.) Food for Thought. S'rfe t has rn:ncd more people than starvation. Nothing is mora noble, nothing mor enerablo than fidelity. Love can lx miKUUiiorttood. bn never ovel-estimated. There are two kinds of Rniinaes the clever and the too clever. Only be who lives a life of bis own can help tue lives of other men. Men of great methods seldom niakq a blunder sad aseeliloni make a hit. It is bard to tell which will weaken a man tuott, to natter or to pity him. If von admire a thing, don't examine it too closely. Everyone occasionally feela that it is bis doty to say something to keep bis neighbor from beinc too promt One tenth part of the labor and anxiety that men display to acqnire fame on eartu would establish their reputation in Heaven forever. When a man wins a las-suit, it doesn't mean that be will get the money that be has been fighting for, but that another snit will be filed. Each one ot as is hemmed in by the horizon of his own times; imagination can penetrate beyond. f.c fa's-; ANY were the eccentricities of the recent disastrous cyclone in St. Louis. While stout build ings collapsed iu the wild embrace of the itorm, weak structures survived and re main to-day as though they never experi mceed a severer atmospheric disturbance than a gentle summer zephyr. One of the remarknble incidents of the fatal visi tation was that of an infant which was PLEA FOR SIMPLICITY. iri.. mentation One of th. Greatest Fault, of American Architecture. One of the greatest faults In Ameri can architecture, although happily it la more to be noticed in the buildings of a past generation than tlioso of the pres ent. Is a too profuao use of ornamenta tion. Ornamentation may bo beautiful h. Itself, and when applied to nrchiti-c-ture niny not ofTcnd the eye at the fir.it glance, nnd yet as one lives within its presence, grows tlresomo and creates resentment. If one builds a house ami Its gouoml linw are strong, be should Insist, before everything else, on a fii'e dom from petty details of ornamenta tion. There should be no tawdry cor nices, flimsy brackets and spindle work. In design these tuny seem attractive, nud may be deemed necessary to cover bare spaces of stone or wood; when they are 111 place, however, they prove a torment to the eye. In the matter of Interior finish the Annie rule holds goon. There cannot be but general regret at the panning of the honest handiwork In wood. The workman was an artisan. If not an artist, and he rarely si mod against good t:uo, everything beln in keeping nud general harmony of de sign. One must be clinry. Now In the use of machine work, mouldings and earrings are practically turned out by wholesale without regard to Its partlc nbir use or location, anil they frequent- ratsFKrvm visw. ly clash with themselves and surrotiiid ingn. -There should be plain cnflnss and door panels, and no elnboratesha.se boards If the best effects are to be ob tained; In particular, one should guin-il against ornate mantels and the "built In corner" cabinets glittering with p!;iss or mirrors. Plain walls give the best background for pictures, and nrtliicial Ailments virtually kill one's furniture, no matter how handsome It may be, The passing of the style of ornamental plaster work Is matter for congratula tion. A simple center piece for the chandelier in a large room Is permissi ble. If It Is unobtrusive, bnt even this Is not necessary. .There Is no longer any need for plaster cornices. These gather dust and dirt and consequently become unhealthy as well as ugly. The modem method of paper hanging cov ers the break between celling and side walls, and furnishes an artistic nub ititute for the old-time cornices. There is a less need for the warnings over ornamentation at this time inas much as popular taste Is steadily mov ing In the direction of rich and slni;l effects. Every year brings a notable improvement In architectural style. We Illustrate an attractive residence and describe Its principal features as follows: General Dimensions: Width, through sitting-room and dining-room, 31 feet 3 inches; depth. Including veranda, f3 feet Heights of Stories: Cellar, T feet 0 Inches; first story, 0 feet 6 Inches; sec ond story, 0 feet; attic, 7 feet Exterior Materials: Foundation, stone; first story, clapboards; second story, gables and roof, shingles. Interior Finish: Hard, white plas ter; plaster cornices and centers In parlor, dining and sitting rooms. Dou ble floe? In first story "with "paper be tween; finished floor, soft wood. Trim In hall and vestibule, quartered oak. Main staircase, oak. Panel backs un der, wjfldws to parlor djpljif-room STRANGE THINGS DONE EY THE GREAT ST. JZZ carried high into the air and then safely deposited in a tub. In another case a por tion of the bark of a tree trunk was cut off as though by a knife, but the rest of the bark was untouched, and even the foliage remained on the tree. Through the side of a stout barn three beams were driven us though forced by a battering ram and a four-inch beam was forced entirely through a steel boiler. Lafayette l'ark and vicinity bore the brunt of the storm and the beautiful pleasure ground. FIRST FLOOR. ar.d sitting-room. Picture molding In prlnclpnl rooms and hall of first story. Chnlr-ruil In dining-room. Bath-room slid kitchen, wainscoted. Interior wood work stained to suit owner nnd finished In hard oil. Colors: ClaplMiards, seal brown. Trim, Including water table, corner boards, cornices, casings, bands, ver anda posts and rails, outside blinds, rain conductors, etc., chocolate. Out side doors finished with hard olL Bash, es, Pompelian roil. Veranda floor and celling and all brickwork, oiled. Wall shingles dipped In and brush-coated with light sienna stain. Roof shingles dipped in and bruah-coated dark red stain. Accommodations: Tho prlnclpnl rooms and their sizes, closets, etc., are shown by the floor plans. Collar under the whole house, with inside and out side entrances and concrete floor. One room finished In attic; space for two sacoxD noes. more. Attractive main staircase. Slid ing doors connect ball and parlor, dining-room and sitting-room. Attractive circular bay In second story. Cost: $3,400, not Including mantels, .ange or heater. The estimate Is based an New York prices for materials and a nor. in many sections of The country the cast should be less. Copyright. 1806. A Poem by Artemaf Ward. A writer in one of the New York pa pers haa been printing some interesting reminiscences of Artemus Ward, In the coarse of which he brings to light some amusing verses by the famous humor ist Inaamuch as they have not been reprinted for nearly forty years, we re produce them here. They are entitled "Loss of the Good Ship Polly Ann: A Pathetic Nautical Ballad." "As the good ship Polly Ann was calling Across the briny, briny sea, -She sprang a leak, and no kind ot baling Could save or would save she; For she went down to the bottom of the j nsii 11 m j J 1 Jr iijjllHA.ll VSj P Tii5 I J VerAndA I 3 rwid. j PdR S BeejRj H 13'XIS' Wbbsbsbbbisbb BwiacMsg bar Jmmmm. Bay B y - Rooj LOUIS CYCLONf. one of the fineet In the nation, waa turned into ruin. Bat while monuments crum bled and giant trees were uprooted ol snapped asunder a weak, thatched-roofed summer garden remained unharmed. All around it trees were broken down and swept away, yet not a handful of thatch from Its roof waa removed. There were many other vagaries of the storm in and around 8t Louis, but these incidents and illustrations give a good idea of its truly wonderful operation. The sea, the sea, my boys. With her cargo, and old Captain Grives, Being the total loss of the good ship Polly Ann and 1,400 Uvea. 'Captain Grives waa a gallant old man. Gallant, gallant was he; :Ie drank his rum from a large tin pan. Jovial and jovial was he. Says hp, My boys,' when the storm wai ragin. 'Farewell to onr friends and wives. For we're goin' down In waters very surgin'.' Being the total loss of the good ship Polly Ann and 1,400 live. "Then np did speak the brave first mat, And a nice-spoken man was he; Says he, 'Ere we go I've a suggestion to. to make. To make, to make,' says he; 'Ere this vessel goes down and we all d sink, I propose, propose we all take a drink.' 'That's very well said,' says the goo Captain Grives. So he filled np his pan; the brave seafaring men proceeded to Individually and collectively imbibe, and the unfor tunate vessel went down, being the total loss of the good ship Polly Anr and 1,400 lives. "Previous to which the second mate he spoke, His name, and his name was Rrown; He says, 'With deep grief do I very nearl) cnoke, At the Idea, the Idea of going down While ashore my Betsy cleans the dishes, Likewise the spoons and the knives, I shall be food for the pesky old fishes.' And I regret to say that he was; being the total loss of the good ship Polly Ann and fourteen hundred Uvea. "And now ronng men of high and low degree. Your attention, your attention 1 ask; Never leave the land for a life npon the sea 'Tis a very, a very sad task; You'd far better plow, you'd far bett mow. Than to go, to go for a sailor. Never leave the land don't a sailing go. For fear yon may suffer the same mel ancholy and harrowing fate that be fell the gallant Captain Grives, his energetic and worthy crew, and the rery valuable cargo on board the Ill-fated vessel; being, as I have already Informed my readers, the total loss of the good ship Folly Ann and fourteen hundred lives!" A LATE NOVELTY. New Style Bicycle Frame for Whlcr Much la Claimed. A wheel made In New London, Conn, Is one of the season's decided novelties. When the Inventor first made the draw ing of this now famous wheel he was a bit dubious regarding Its practicabil ity. The weight of tho machine, with road tires and saddle, Is twenty pounds. It is claimed that the triangular form of construction is the stillest and light est It also Is maintained by the mak ers that in this form of construction there can exist no cross vibrations. One feature which would not be ap parent to the average person Is that the outside front tube of this machine Is the upright or steering tube of the TB I.ATB8T XOVELTT IN WBICI.S. front fork. This allows any adjustment of the handle bar from the front fork crown to the seat post; also the handle bar Is made rocking In the piece, so that any leslred position can be se cured. " The front frame tube Is within the steering tube of the front fork, entering through an opening in the fork crown. The back stays are detachable, admit fng of this method of assembling. A large diameter of tubing Is used throughout, making the frame appear attractive. The wheels used are twenty-eight Inches In diameter. People pretend to hate eln, but they all lore It REV. Ml TALMAGE The Eminent Divine's Sunday Discourse. Subject: 44 Woman and fli es. Her Sacrt- irxT: "to i.riint .i hU theqneen nnfort llm koig with the crown royal to show tm IhoiIh and the pri:i her heiuty, foi sn was talr to look . n. But thu quewt 'i.-bll ro iiw. l to noma at the fcincM coin 111 inilniBiils y his ohamhorlain": therofox m in in- vnrv wroth, nn.X bis augo burned blin." V-iIi.t 1.. 11, 12. Va """"I nint l tho pniaiws of Hhuahnm. I ho plunxeltM Hi n!U;iie wMh tho moru 1111 mil. lilt columns r:"""llr,lil an wreathed, the wi-iilth of i-..uplres Uashinc ,.,, ITK.V15, 1 no eerings a-lornnl witt limutes of bird nnd Iw-ist and sonues o- po-r nn l e-.i,.u;t. The walls are hunt ".in :iiiii.i,i Hli.l einnlitxoneit until It seem' that the wholn rouiM of splendors is ex- nausie.1. Each areh is a miuhty leap 01 ...u.iik. lurai aruiuveitient. uol ten Hlarf shining down 011 gloa im; arnhtn,un. Iliing IncH 1 of embroider-. I work in whleli niiiiule the b.ueuens of the sky, the gtvenm-M of thf Itnissanil th whiteness of the tea foam, iapwtrios hung on silver riutrs, weddinir to gether th pillar of marble. Pavilion r aoblmr out iu every direction. 'Jheefot repose, filled with luxuriant couches, into whlob weary limbs sink until all fatigue is submerged. Thtwe for earon nl. w!ir. kings drink down a kingdom at oneswallow. Amazinir Npnctaul! Light of silver drippim; down over stairs of ivory on xhiolds of gold. Floors of stained marblo, sunw-t red aud uiitht black and inlaid with gleaming pearl. Why, it shoiiis as if a hoavoul v vision of nm. thysl and jf-luth an-l lopas ami ohrysopr.isu.H ..a uanniuni ran iiii;iiikii upon Htiushan. It seems as if a billow of nnliHiial plortr h,.. lashed clear over hnaveu's battlumeuts upon this metropolis of Persia. in connection with this nalnco thnm la pinion whent the mighty mn of foreign lands are sealed at a hannnet. ITn.w 11,,. spread of oak aud linden aud acucia the iuoii-8 are arrantreii. The breath of honey suckle and frauklncen.se Alls the air. Foun tains lean np Into the llcht. the sr.raw str,.,.t through with rainbow falling in crystalline ntpuniu ukiu uowcry snruns, then rollinir down through channels of marble and widening out her and thero into swirling with the finny tnbes of foreign aquariums, bontered with scarlet annuin omes, hyperii-mns and main- color.l ranunculus. Montsof rnn-st nir.l nn.l lu.,wt smoking np smbl wreathes of aromntb-H. The vases filled with apriuots and almonds. Th liaskets piled up with apricots and dates and Hps ami oranses and pomegran ates. Melons tastefully twined wilh leaves of ac-aeliu The bright witters of Eula-us tilling the urns aud sweating outside, the rim in llit-liniir tM-a.ls amid the traeerl.-s win from the royal vats of Ispahan and Shiniz. in hotilos of linked shell, and lily shaiioTl cups or silver and flaifous ami tnnkar.u of solid colli. The music rises higher, and the revelry breaks out into wilder transport and the wine has flushed the ch eelc and touched the brain, and louder than nil other voices an the htc-ough of th Ine briates, the ifabbloof fools and the song ol the drunkards. In another part of the pnlaco Queen Yashti Is entertalnlngthopiini-essi-HOf Persia at n banquet. Drunken Ahasiierus pays to his .servants, "You go out and fetch Vnshti from thnt ban. put with the women, nn.l briiu; her to this banquet with tho men, and mh im oispiay ner beauty. Tho nervants imiieiiiately start to oney th king's com mand, but there was a rul in oriental so ciety that no woman mitrht apfiear in public without having her face veiled. Yet here was a mantliite, ami no on dnro dispute, do mauding that Vnshti come in 11 tl v.-ili-.l be fore the multitude. However, th-rn was in Vast. It's soul a principle mor regal than AtiHsuerus. mor brilliant than the goti ol Shiishan, of more wealth than th realm of 1'enjni, which comiuiuiileii her to disoln-y this order of the kinir, and so all th rlght eousness and holiness and modesty of her nature risis up into on sublime refusal. She says, '! will not go into th banquet un veiled." Of course Ahiisiioriis was intimate, and Vasbtl, robbd of l.eristtiou and hot estate, is driven forth in poverty an I ruin to suffer the scorn or a nation and yi to re. ceive th applause of alter generalions who shall risu4i. to admire this martyr to kingly iiisolcm-e. Well, th last veoi.ii; of that b-a-t is gone; t.. Inst garland has faded: the Inst arch has fallen; th hist tankard has been destroyed, and Shiishan is a ruin. But as long as th world stands ther will be multitudes of men and women, familiar with the llible, who wid com into this pic ture gallery of (tod and admire the divine M.rtrab o' Vashti lh queen, Vnshti tho veiled, V.uditi thu saorilice, Vashti the silent. In th first place, I want you to look upon Vnshti the queen. A bluo ribbon, rayed with white, drawn around her forehead, indi cated her qui-cnly position. It was no small honor to lie qus n In such a realm as that. Hark to th rustle of her rolies! Nee tilt" blaw of her jewels! And yet, my friends, It Is not necessary to have pal-u-ealid regal robe in order to be queenly. When I seen woman with strong faith in Oo I putting her foot upon a'l meanness nnd solllshness aud godless dl-plny, going right forward to. serve Christ and the race by a grand and glorious; service, I say, "That woman is a queen," and the ranks of heaven look over the bat tlements upnn the coronation, and whet bet she come up from the shanty on th com mons or the mansion ot the fashionable square, I greet h- r with the shout: "All hail! Queen Vashti." What glory was there on th brow of Mary of Scotland, or Eliaihetb of England, or Margaret of France or Cath erine of ttussia, compared with the worth of some of our Christian mothers, many of them gone into glory or of that woman mentioned in the Hertptures, who put all her money into the Lord's treasury or ol Jcphthahs daughter, who made a dem onstration of unselfish patriotism or of Abigail, who rescued the herds and flocks ol her husband or of Ruth, who toiled un der a tropical sun for poor old, helpless Naomi or of Floienoe Nightingale, who went at midnight tostnnch the battle wouuds of the Crimen or of Mrs. Adoniram Judson,' who kindle-t the lights of ia vation amid the dnrkm-us of Vurmah or of Mrs. Humans,' who poured out her holy soul in words which will forever be associated with hunter's born and captive's chain and bridal hour and lute's throb and curfew's knell at the dyiuJ day and scores and hundreds of womcnj -unknown on earth who have given water to! the thirsty and bread to th hungry ami! medicine to the sick and smiles to the dis-l eo'jragit their footsteps heard along darkj lane and in government hospital and in! almshouse corridor and by prison gate' Ther may be no royal robe there mny be no palatial surrounding,, Bhe does not noedj them, for all charitable men will unite with the crackling lips of fever struck hospltaf. and plague blotched buuiretto in greeting her as she passes: "Hail! Hall! Queen Vaahti." Again, I want yon to consider Vashti th veiled. Had she appeared liefore Ahasuerus and bis court on that day with her face un4 covered she would have shocked all th deti-j caeies of oriental society, and the very men who in their intoxication demanded thnt she come In their sober momeuts would have de spised her. As some fl-.wers seem to tbrlvi! best in the dnrk lane and in tho shadow aud where the sun does not seem to reach them, so God appoints to most womanly natures a retiring and unobtrusive spirit. God once in a while does call an Isabella to a throne, ora Miriam to slrikethe timbrel at the front of a host, or a Marie Antoinette to quell a French mob, or a lHjbofah to stand at I he front of an armed batlaiion, crying out "Up, up! This is the day in which the Lord Will deliver Sbu ra into thine hand." Aud when women a e called to such outdooi work and to such heroic positions God propane them for it, and they have iron in their souls and lightning in their eye, and whirlwinds in their broaih.and the borrowed strength ot the Lord Omnipotent In their right arm. They walk through furnaces as though they were hedges of wild flowers and cross seas as though they were shimmering sapphire, and all the harpies of hell down to their dungeon at the stamp of her woman'V indignation. But these are the exception. Generally Dorcas would rathar make a gar- ninnt for tho poor boy. ii-necifi would ruther till th trough for th camels. Han nah would rather makes e-cit forHimue. The Hebrew maid w uld rniher plv a pre scription for Nmman's lepr.isy. Tho women of Sareptu would rather gnthor a- few "ticks to cook a meal for faini bed l-'lijnh. Phin' would nit her carry a letter for theinspiied aiHtetl. Mother L'ds would rather educate Timothy in th Scriptures W hen I sea a woman goin nbout her dai'y duty, with cheerful dignity presiding at tho table, with kind and gentle but Ann disci pline presiding In the nursery, goin. 'out Into . I he world without any blast ot trumpets, fol lowing in the footsies of Htm wlw went aiiout doing good, I snv, "This Is Vashtlwilh a veil on.'" But when I seen woman of un blushing bol I1103S, loiiil-voieci, with a longu of infinite ci-tler clatter, with rri giuit look, passing throirth th stn-cts wall th step of a walking bn-im, mylv arrayed i i n very hurricane of mil inerv, 1 cry out, f'Vahii has lost h"r veil!" When 1 see a woman of comely featnie", and of adroitness I Inteiiiv-t, and endowed will all that I lit -hoola can do for on, and of hiirh social I'-wition. yet moving in siv-iety with sui-er-iliousuiss and hauteur, ns though siiv.voiil-l iuve people know tticir place. 1111. 1 an iinile- 4ip3d 'corhLinatlo of giggi and strut and rhodomontn le, endowed with allopathic quantities of talk, but only homeopathic in liiiitesiiiiii's of sens, th terror of dry goods clerks and' railroad conductors, discoverers of sigiiiflcnnt meuniiigs In plain conversa tion, prodigies of badinage and innuendo, f hv: "Look, look! Vnshti has lost her veil!" Agn'n. I want you to consider Vnshti tho ineriflc. Who Is this I sin coming out of that ptlace gat of Kliushau? It seems to m that I hav seen her lie fore. Hho coino4 homeless, houseless, friendless, trudgimt long with u br-kim heart. Who Is she? It is Vashti th Hacrill.-e. Oh, what a chant; it wits from regal position to a wayfarer's crust! A little while ago approved and lought for: now non so poor as to ai-Unowl- eilg her acquaintan.-is.liip. Vnshti th :ic riflco! Ah, vou and I linve seen it many a time! Here is a home empahvod with beauty. All that refinement aud books and wealth nn do for that home has been done, but Ahasuerus, tho hiisb-inil and father, is taking hold on pal lis of sin. II is gradually going sown. After nwull lie will tl un.ler nn.l struggle like a will I wast in tho hunter's net farther away from God, farther away from tho right. Moon th bright apparel of tho children will turn to razs; soon the house hold song will ltccouie th sobbing of a broken heart. Tho old story over again. lirntal centaurs breaking up th mar riage least of Lapitha. Th hous" full of outrage and cruelty and ii'iomiiia tlon, while trudging forth from tho palace gate ar t lasbii and her i-hil.lrcn. There are ho:n-s that are in danger of such a breaking up. Oh, Ah iBuerus, that you should staud in 11 homo, by a dissionic-.t life destroy th pea--e a id comfort of that home. God forbid that yourehil.lren should ever have to wring their handsan I have peo ple point their linger lit tlietn as they pass town th slr.-et and cay, "lheto goes a drunkard's child." Ood lorbid that the littl feet should ever have to trade; th p ilb of poverty and wretchedness. God forbid that ny evil spirit horn of th wmo cuportn brandy glass should com forth and uproot that garden, and with a lasting blistering, all consuming curse shut forever th palace gatu against Vashti and th children. During th war I went to Hagorstown to look at the army, and 1 stoo 1 in the night on hilltop and looked down upon them. I saw th catuptlres all through the valleys and nil over th hills. It was a w.-ir.l spc Jacle, those campflres, and I stool nud Wntcned them, nnd the soldiers who were gathering around them were, no iloubt. talk- ug 01 their Homes nnd 01 tun long match, hev bnd taken and of the battles tliev u-oro to tight, ltut after awhile I saw thtocnmp- llreH begin to lower, nn.l they continued to ower until they were all gou out and th mny slept. It was imposing when I saw ho eauipllros; it was imimsing in th dnrk less when I thought of thai great host lSliH'p. Well, Ood looks down from heaven, nud Jl sees the llri'siib-s of Christendom and th nved ones gathered nr.Miud these flnsldes. !These nre the cainpllr--s where we warm our fclvi'S at th close of th day and talk over (he battles of life we have fought and th battles that nn yet to come, find grant that whon at last thes fires lieglu to go out and continue 10 lower, until llnady they nre ex tinguished and the ashes of consumed hopes trow the hearth of the old homestead, it may lie because wu have Goo to sleep thnt Inst long sleep From which mm ever wnk-i to weep. Now we are an army on th march of ilf. Then w will bn nn army hivou t 'ke.l in lh tout of th grave. Once more I want yen to look at Vnshti the silent. You do not hear any outcry from tills woman as sh goi-s forth from the palace gate. From th very dignity of her nature, you know ther will l no v-icifer.ition. Sometimes in life it is necessary to make a retort; somctlmit in life it Is necessary to resist, but tliere are crl.-s when lb in.t triumphant thing to do l.s to keep silence. The philosopher, confident in bis newly ilis 'jovcred principle, waiting for th coming of more Intelligent generations, willing thnt men should laugh at th light niug rod and ootton gin and sto.imlxmt waiting for long years through th scoffing of philosophical schools, in grand nnd magnificent silence. Qulilel, condemned by mathematicians and scientists, caricatured everywhere, yet wait ing and watching with his tclcscop to nw tho coming up of stellar ro-enforcements, whenthostars in their courses would fight for tho tVqmrnlcan system, then sitting down In complete blindness ami dcafm-ps to wait for the coming on of tho generations who would build his monument nnd boir at his grave The reformer, execrated by his cnlom pornrles, fastened In a pillory, the slow lire at public contempt hurnlu-; under him, jrouud under tho cylinders ot the printing press, yet calmly waiting for the day when purity of soul and heroism of character will let the sanction of earl h and 111 plaudits of heaven. Affliction, enduring without any complaint the sharpness of the pang and th violence of the storm, and tho heft of the Jhnln and of the darknesss ot night. Wait ing until a divine hand shall bo put forth to tootho the pang and hush the storm and re lease the captive. A wife, abused, persecuted ind a perpetual exile from every earthly Jomfort waiting, waiting, until th Lord hall gather all His dear childrenin a heaven ly home, and no poor Vnshti will ever be thrust out from the palace gnto. Jeois, In lilence and answering not a worn, iinnking the gall, bearing the cross. In prospect of the rapt uo us consummation wncn Angels thronged Ills chariot wheel And bore Him to His throne, Then swit their golden harps and sung The glorious work is don. Oh, woman! Docs not this story of Ynrhtl the queen, Vashti the veiled, Vashti tho sac rifice, Vasnti the silent, move your soul? My sermon converges into th on nlisorbing hope thnt none of you mny bn shut out of the palace gate of heaven. You can endure the hardsh'.s. and the privations, and the cruelties, and the misfortunes of this life it you can only gain admission there. Through the blood of the everlasting covenant you go through these gates or nuver go at nil. God lorbid that you should at last hn banished Irom the society of angels and liinished from the companionship of your glorified kindred and Iwnlahod forever. Through tho rich grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, may you tie enabled, to imitate the example of iU.-hel, and Hannah, and Abigail, and Deborah, ami Mary, and Esther, and Vashti. Amen. How bard the man who paints tries to bring the conversation aronnd to artists. Had the prodigal's money held out be would never have knowu the, taste ol bis father's fatted oilf. Our own hearte, and not o'her men's opiuious ot ns, form onr true boaor. Revenge is the coward's courage; forgiveness is tiij brave man's re venge. Men, in general, are but great chil dren. No woman who has a house tbat is clean i.eed ever be ashamed of the fut bitnre. It you want to please a man, recom uieud tbat be dt boiuethiug he has long wanted to do. 'I, : W'i'S-i--! -. -.f'3fvV
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers