"'-n--T - !?V ... . .... .... . ' i v . . B. F. SCHWEIER, THE COnSTITUTIONTHE UNION AND THE ENFORCENENT OF THE LAWS. Editor and ProprUton VOL. LIV. MIFFLilNTOWN, JUNIATA COUNTY, PENN., WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1900 NO. 45 . .etxAltMaAA hMt A irVTi fi WW A WW A ftAlA A kftfc 4a1e.aa... t m m i m mm )mmmMmmmmmiMjZ4 r-' ?"e. 3,m on "tu.aue.tion n . vw5gg- 'JiN0l4iU I lu onl7 one. supposing n-i I irv . 1 I JvUn. ' -'"V A i "f - as as " w w "uu 00 iV? l Captain grabajoi? BY B. TO. jq.ilitapy.omance.of.goutlMc C HATTER XV. (Continued.) "Yim were in too great a hurry, old ojau " aid Teddy, reprovingly. "Why did -.ii uot take your time? you should look before you leap. Why did you not k" What was there to ask? Had 1 not seen tor myself? And is not seeing be- lievinc? I never dreamed that she had auoih. r brother; never. In any case you, or auj fellow, would have done Just the a maaaening reflection., tie Mnie." ' hated to be alone, he hated to speculate l ai awfully sorry." said Teddy, slow- on "ht might have been." He wrote It. speaking with his eyes meditatively J? Esme, of course, and also to Mrs. fixed ii the ground; "sorry for the money. Brabazon, and he counted the very days It's a baJ business about that'." un,iI the answers would come. He "Mi.nev: it's not the money I'm think- 1 thought with a sinking heart of the meag Injf uf." returned Miles, huskily. ; r balance at his banker's. Two hun- ob. if you are thinking of Ksme, shell dred nd fifty pounds a year, besides his be all right." rejoined her brother, cheer- Day was ee very most he could scrap fullv. "Once the mistake is known, and together. Ample hitherto for himself and you muke the amende honorable, you need hta modeflt wants, but for Esme It would not be a bit uneasy about her; it will be . beggary. And now his mind sometimes all riht;" which was Teddy's usual way "welt for a very long time with the moat of summing up most questions. ' poignant, bitter regret, on the lost forty "All right! How very likely!" returned hi i-oustu, sarcastically. "She will never tpeuk to me again as long as she Uvea, never! Do you not understand that we were w ithin one day and a half of being married, that the guesta were bidden, th dresses and everything in the house, all there but the bridegroom? I was, a 1 always am when I'm in a rage, mad. 1 never stopped to breathe, much leas to reflect or think; all 1 wanted to do waa to put the seas between us." "Have you had any letters?" "Not one line since I came out. You are the first who has opened my eyea to the awful mistake I have made." "I hope. Miles," said Teddy, humbly, "that you won't hate the very sight of me. for I was the cause innocently enough, but still the. cause of the whole catastrophe. "No, no. Why should I? It was not ! was pretty thoroughly ashamed of him your fault, it was no one's fault. It waa self and his insane and idiotic behavior, just sheer bad luck. What evil spirit I Ton got out of the business better thee iiidiieed me to go to Portsmouth that ! could have been expected, thank to Mrs. day, of all others?" he demanded pas- B.'s presence of mind and talent for in sionately. rent Ion; assuring everyone that at the "It is all chance," returned Teddy. "Do very last minute Miles had been compell you know that once yon were actually ed to go on foreign service!" within a hair of finding it out? It all I "That only passed with outsiders," said turned upon such a little thing as the . Esme, shaking her head; "of course all striking of a match! It did indeed. I ! the servants and the villagers and the don't know if you remember the last J Bells knew; and the way people used to night you were at Baronsford In August. I stop on the road and look after me, or Well, I was there, too, prowling about J whisper together and point, was too, too the bushes on chance of seeing Esme. ! dreadful." She came running out about nine o'clock i "The little trip you took with Aunt " - . I Jane snoot bed over matters:. -tha-.ad "I now remember It perfectly." Inter- j rupted Miles, hastily. VL very' ! one within twentv miles of Baronsford i thinks me the most finished and complete ' bat still I am always fancying that peo acoundreL and, goodness knows, I cannot ' pie are staring at me and talking about blame them. Appearances are frightful- me." ly against me. I think the best thing you j Nonsense, my dear. Tour affair is can do for me. Teddy." with a grim smile, forgotten long ago; you are not of such "is to blow my brains out Quite accident- importance as you imagine; it was only ally." ' a nine days' wonder." "Stuff and nonsense! If it Is Ksme you ' "Yes. I dare say you are right, Gussie: are so much afraid of. I can tell you that you need not be uneasy; she will marry you all the same." "Even if she would which 1 am sure he wouldn't how could I marrv with scarcelv anything besides my pay?" "Pooh: That's easily answered. Esme has never been brought up to luxuries, She'll make a grand poor man's wife. Why, she used to turn my ties and patch mv enntt " "Yes. all very well for her to do those things for her brother, but I n different, Why should I bring her to poverty? What right have I to ask her to snare my pit tance? Mrs. Brabazon would never listen to it." "Mrs. B. be bothered!" interpolated Teddy, rudely; "who cares for her?" "And she will marry some rich swell. A pretty girl like her, a face like hers, will have dozens of suitors; snd, of, course, she will marry one of them, and 1 can't blame her." "Not she!" returned Teddy, stoutly, "and I'll tell you the reason, old fellow," taking his cousin literally by the button of his red-serge coat. "She won't look at a duke, if she's the girl I take her to be, and I ought to know her pretty well, because" smiling and pausing for a mo ment. "Yes," with feverish eagerness. "Because she likes you. Can't you grasp that?" It was about the only pleasant fact that had been placed before him this morning, and he seized it with avidity. And he did grasp it most gratefully. "Of course, the loss of the money is a bore." said Teddy; "but I think you and Esme would have fancied one another, anyhow, without that. Old George Brab azon was certainly touched In the top story, leaving the reversion after six months to this perfectly unnecessary na tive college in Calcutta. I think we all are a little queer Uncle Sandy, Uncle George, Aunt Jane, myself and you, with your rushing out here at three days' no tice, have certainly qualified for being called 'eccentric' Hullo! there's the breakfast bugle, and I must be off. Cheer up, old man! it will be all right, you'll see." "Captain Brabazon, sir." said a rich Milesian accent. breathlessly; "Mr. Mitt-hell's compliments, and would ye oblige him with the lind of a tin of cocoa?" "Yes. yes, certainly!" impatiently; "go to White." "Time for ns to be moving, too, to our morning mea!; there's not much to set leiore you. Teddy, but cold stew, and black coffee, our rations being of the least luxurious description." "I'm not particular about quality as long as I hare quantity, and I fancy you are even better off for grub than we are. You're sure you don't hate the sight of e. Miles?" he added diffidently, as they cine more rume near the tents. J "That's the second time you've asked roe that. Teddy. No. In fact, take it all nrwund, now that I have got my breath again, so to Kak, I'm very glad to see you. After a.l. t bints are not so black as ttiey were yesterday. I might get on the staff. I might have some luck out here; and, if Esme will only forgive me, if I thought there was any chance of that. I would be all right." It would not be necessary to describe the condition of Miles Brabazon s mind at this period, unless the term "change able" from fair to stormy might be ap plied. tP t. At ouv time he was buoyed CRQKER ui with hopes that rested on Teddy's as- suranee that Esine was a girl to stick to fellow through thick aud thin, and that ' course it would be "all right;" but ese gleams of sunshiae were but rare generally he was plunged into an' abyss of despair. To find that he had thrown a wife and fortune entirely through ca9e of mistaken identity, from ignor- "nce ' somewhat transparent family u,rana pounus. CHAPTER XVI. "What has happened now? whence this beaming face and these seraphic smiles?" Inquired Gussie, raising her eyes lazily from her book, as her sister entered th room. "I've just had a letter from Miles." re plied Esme, hastily advancing with an air of bashful elation; "such a nice let ter!" "Oh. is that it?" rejoined Miss Bra ba ses, ia a very wintry tone of voice. "And pray what has he got to say for himself?" "Oh. of course he is in a dreadful state of mind. I believe it is really worse for him now than it ever -was for me," len iently. "I should hope so," with a little, angry sniff. "I should humbly trust that he Mrs. B.siourageoaa fjafcfJcationa; - so don't be nngratefuL" -W,r- "Yea." dubiously;-"in a kind of way; people have had heaps of other things to think about. An:' now drawing a long sigh of relief, "of course it does not mat- ter, as it's all right." "What on earth do you mean?" de- manded Augusta, sharply, turning half round in her chair, and surveying her sis- ter critically. "I mean that the wedding dress, locked away upstairs, will be worn, after all. when he comes home," said Esme shyly. To this remark there was no answer for at least a minme. ana uitu uumk verv decidedly "Esme. tou must be mad; you would not think of marrying him now?" speak ing as It were in capital letters. "And pray, why not?" regarding her sister with angry blusnes. "He did not say anything about it in his letter, did he?" apprehenaively. "There was no occasion; we are as inm-h encased as before; there Is no phiDn." "No change: un, dear, no cenainiy not, by no means!" sarcastically. "What are you going to live upon, you goose? Your money ia being turned into bricks and mortar at the other side of the globe, and Miles la a genteel pauper, who will find quite enough to do to keep himself, much less you, and your excellent appe tite." with homely candor. "Rnf-hesitatingly "but. Gussie. 1 have some money." "Not a penny nnless you marry to please Mrs. B., and she hates Miles like poison." "I think you are very unkind. tQ say ill these horrfa things," returned Esme 'ndignantly and with a suspicion or tears In her voice. "This is not the way 1 take your good news, when you have any; and you always pretended to like Miles so much." " I Ho. mv sweet, silly sister, as a cousin, but not as a brother-in-law. Just sit down here," giving a chair a little push, "and listen, for a few minutes, to sound common sense. When Miles was an eligible parti, you would not marry him; your accepting him at all was sim ply because you saw him do a plucky thing at Sandborough, and, carried off your feet by the emotion of the moment, you said yes; and then the wedding was hurried on, and the dresses and presents were such-delicious novelties you had not the heart to go back! But you were nev er one bit in love with him; you would rather have Teddy's little finger than fifty Mileses." "You are wrong, quite wrong; every word you have said has been wrong," cried Esme, with blazing cheeks; "be cause Miles and I did not make an hum bling exhibition of ourselves and sit hand in hand and arm in arm like other peo ple," expressively, "you imagine that we that I don't care for him. I do very much." "Fiddle-de-dee, fiddle-de-dee. I was not talking of love, I was talking of sense my strong point, you will please to re member! This time next year, my beauti ful, impulsive sister, I shall have you up to London, and marry you to some very nice, rich and, if you are very good, titled young man! Think of that!" "Marry anyone you like yourself, my dear Gussie; but, as far as I am concern ed, I shall never marry anyone but Miles never r' "And yet, in this very room, and not so very long sgo, you raved and stamped and all but tore your hair out, and declar ed that, dragged to the foot of the altar you might be, but become his bride nev er! And ah! I see you remember the episode l nave Just one little question to ask, and -only one. Supposing now, for the sake of argument, that he won't marry you what then?" Ah! this waa a phase of the matter that Esme had never contemplated; but, al though she made prompt and cheerful an. swer to herself to her sister's query, she vouchsafed no reply, beyond what might be called a superior smile, and loud and triumphant poking of a most offensive firs. Gussie's allusion to Mrs. Brabazon was timely, Esme well knew. That lady had always been antagonistic to her nephew when he waa a moneyed man, and was not likely to be any fonder of him now that he waa as poor aa a church mouse. Quite lately she had awakened to a due appreciation of the unusual personal gifts of her younger step-daughter, and thor ough understanding of her marketable value coronet! Eame's visit to Brigh ton, her appearance at all the winter country balls, had given her quite a rep utation, and a certain young honorable, the eldest son of Lard Mangel-Wurrle, was constantly finding hia way over to Baronsford. He waa received by Gussie with open arms, by Esme with smiles, for he had best) one of what Mrs. Brabazon would have called Teddy's "boon" com- paniona. He waa a pleasant, ruddy faced young gentleman, with a .cheery voice, frank, unaffected manners, and was real ly very much enamored of the beautiful Miss Brabaaon. Of course he heard that she had been engaged to her cousin, but it was all broken off months ago, and "the dear girl had never really cared about him; it was a family business," so Mrs. Brabaaon had whispered confidentially to Lady Mangel-Wurzle, and she looked, for ward to a double wedding before long, for Gussie had accepted her long-suffering Freddy, who had come in for another fortune, and already, as she remarked complacently, "the presents had been both numerous and costly." Now here was this odious, tiresome Miles Brabazon coml-g to the surface again, aad writing Mrs. Brabazon a long letter from some outlandish camp in South Africa. W hat was to be done with him? What a worry and affliction he had been from first to last. "What a good thing it would be if the Boers were to kill him." thought thi amiable lady. Should she answer his letter, or not? After some very grave reflection she decided that she would re ply, and by the next mail, in a friendly spirit, giving him largely of her forgive ness and sympathy; but appealing to him, forcibly, to release Esme from her pres ent ridiculous engagement. The epistle took some time to put together, and as she was sitting biting the end of her pen In the throes of composition, Esme came into the room with her hat on, and aald she was going to the village with the nost-bag. "I am not quite ready yet; but in ten minutes' time I shall have finished. 1 am writing a rather difficult letter to Miles. "Yes." returned Esme, coloring, and looking at her interrogatively. "Of course I forgive him freely; but the engagement must not be talked of Just at present; aa matters are it would be too imprudent. You see. my dear, although he is very nice himself, be has nothing to marry on now." "But we can wait, Mrs. Brabaaon." "Ah. yes, yon are only twenty; you have written to htm, too?" - , -Tea." holding up a letter, i "Oh, dear me! yon might have inclosed mine and saved me sixpence; it Is not stamped, thongh, I see." "Not -ret: I'm taking it to the post." "Then give It to me. it can go In mine; there is plenty of room in my envelope, and I have a stamp." Esme handed it over with a little reluc tance. She would have liked to have post ed it herself! but she did not one moment doubt her stepmother's honesty of pur- Dose, and was firmly convinced, ten min utes later, as she walked down to the village with elastic, springing steps, that she was carrying it over the first stage of its long, long journey, and that in five weeka it would be in Miles own Hands. Deluded young damsel! The Instant she had left the room Mrs. Brabazon naa taken up her epistle, had turned it over meditatively, and said to herself: "This billet doux will encourage him. ana tnat would be fatal to all our hopes; probably she la teMngTiTm she wTTJ waft for him for veers:" smiling contemptuously. "No, no, we cannot have any of that kind of uooserme." so this right-minded, honorable ladv deliberately walked over to the fire. poked an open place among the coals, in to which she carefully dropped the mis sive; for a second it lay, seemingly star ing pt her like some living thing, with its clear address confronting ner inus: "Captain Brabazon, "2d Battalion, Boyal Marchers, "With the army In the field, "South Africa.' Then it became a delicate biscuit color, then it curled at the edges and suddenly shot up in a bright flame, and in another moment a few black fragments, lazily sailing up the chimney, were all that re mained of Miss Ksme ttraDazon's foreign letter. (To be continued.) Notes of the Street. Consolidated Lake Superior common will. It Is stated, be placed on an 8 per xnt. dividend basis next month. September was the best month the - . i...n hnaineftst has en- soumeru ..v.. loyed this year, the aggregate exports jelng over au.uuu A cable dispatch announces the fall are of two Brazilian banks, the Banco Industrial and Mercantile of Santos ind the Banco ve rara. The total net earnings of the Easton Consolidated Electric Co. for August were 111,800. as against i0.860 for the jorresponding month last year. '2JT Znkclea" ar a"""5. " "". ' far fall ilcate me uauai Dusiness. . .. Vt.- The annual inspecnoi. rvlvania Kaiiroaa oy " . n r.f Directors, which l hedCredfor-Oc'tober U. has been postponed to a laieruwc. Industrial. m Amo.-1.nn Tin Plate Company announce that tney win sian inn umm 4 ann,,n.nn ..f ilu Xllea Ohio, tin Th. .mtilnvra mv they will not return unless the scale Is signed, and . . . . 1 . V. an attempt will oe maae 10 aiuii u non-union men, mun onnl mini, at 0lf Hill. OUtarlO. were tied by e strike for the union scale of 80 cents per ten a-ainai u ceois now Deing paia. ITh. ITnitwi fit.tH rtriilt Court of Appeals, at San Francisco, has quashed tne inaictmems against n mm u ho Pneur D'Alene mi.. Hpiiro lout von,, for Interfering: with the United States malls. It was shown that the men did not Know uim the train which tney inienertt wiv carried the maila. 4 AFTER THE STORM. svasvusyuevuevisYUsvtusY 66 T7F w can't tree, ma'am. It's it high time we partea company, said Mr. Barnabas Bufflngton. "My sentiments exactly," said Miss Patty Chickson, "and the sooner the better, according to my way of think ing." Mr. Bufflngton was a portly individ ual, with a Roman nose. Iron gray halt and a stout, short figure. Miss Chickson was tall and spare. with little spiral curls and the remains of a complexion, and with blue eyes that bed been passing bright twenty years ago. There is an end to ell human endur ance, observed the gentlemen sternly. "Sir." said Miss Chickson, "I have put up with your eccentricities until for- beerence has ceased to be a virtue." 'A month's notice!" ssld Mr. Buffing ton, savagely flourishing his yellow silk pocket handkerchief. "You are quite at liberty to go at the end of twenty-four hours, for ell I care!" retorted Miss Chickson with dig nity. "Madame, I take you at your word," said the gentleman. "Sir, I shall congratulete myself if you will," ssld the lady. Mr. Barnabas Bufflngton had lodged with Miss Patty Chickson for ten years. He was rich and eccentric; she was poor and proud. As young people there bad been certain love passages between them or rather the buds of love passages, which had never blos somed Into full perfection end when Mr. Bufflngton came home from China and found his old pastor's orphan daughter trying to gain a scanty live lihood by letting epartments be en gaged her entire second floor at once and paid his way like a rajah. "Poor girl! poor girl!" said Mr. Bar nebes Bufflngton. "But how thin and old-maldlsh she bos grown! I really can't Imagine how I ever could have fancied her a divinity. What fools young men are, to be surer "Poor, dear Mr. Bufflngton! How stont and vulger he has become !" said Miss Chickson. "And only to think how slender he was once! How the dreams of he's youthful days do alter!" Mr. Barnabas Bufflngton was not per fect enough to be canonized and Mist Chickson had her petty peculiarities. The consequence was that little colli sions were inevitable. And one day there came' e longer measuring of wordy words then usual, and Mr. Bufflngton and Miss Chickson formally parted. "Ten years Is quite long enough to tolerate this state of things," said the old bachelor. "I'm only surprised that I haven't turned him awey long ego," aald the old maid. So when Mr. Bufflngton hed gone away in a cab piled high with baggage, Miss Chickson rang the bell for her meld. "Barbara." said she. "Yes, ma'am," said Barbara. , "Mr. Bufflngton has gone at last" "So I perceive, ma'am," geld Barbara "And won't be come back again. ma'am?" "Never," said Miss Chickson with spirit. "Oh," said Barbara, rather surprised. "It will be necessary for us to reduce expenses," remarked the mistress. "Of coarse I cannot afford any longer to keep so large a honse aa this. Mr. Bufflngton, whatever his faults, cannot at least be accused of parsimony." "Certainly not ma'am," said Bar bare. "Of all liberal, free-handed, klnd apoken gents " "Barbara, yon will oblige me by hold ing your tongue!" said Miss Chickson. "Certainly, me'em," said Barbara. "Get me e cup of tee," seld Miss Chickson, "end when I have drunk It I will go out to look for a cheeper house In a less aristocratic neighbor hood. Barbara brought up the cup of tee in a quelnt little Wedgewood teapot on e Japanese tray. Miss Chickson drank it In silence, looking sadly et the fire. Tea was, so to speak. Miss Chick son's inspiration. When she was low spirited or in doubt or puzzled, or in any way thrown off her mental bal ance, she drank tee end straightway became herself again. Meanwhile, Mr. Bernebea Bufflngton, tn the solitary splendors of the West End hotel, was scarcely less ill at eese. "I don't like this sort of thing et ell." seld Mr. Bufflngton to himself one morn lug e month leter. "It Isn't home-like. There's no cat here. Patty Chickson always kept a cat There's something very domestic and cozy-looking about a cat I'll go out end look down the advertising columns of the dally paper and see what Inducements they have to offer In the way of quiet respectable homes for elderly gentlemen." So It came to pass that Mr. Barnabas Bufflngton sallied forth, not house bun tine, but home-hunting. It wes not a so readily disposed of business es he supposed. This house wes next to a livery stable; thet one contained a young lady who wes prac ticing for en opera singer; the third amelled aa If the drainage were defec tive; the fourth was too splendid; th fifth too shabby. "I dont know but that I shell be compelled, to aleep at the station house," gloomily remarked Mr. Barna bas Bufflngton, "for, come what may, nothing shell Induce me to go back to that noisy hotel, where the welters don't come until yon have rung the bell forty times, aad the soap Is served keif cold." .He ww walking PMllraix.lJMli; J quiet and shady uttie street with both bands thrust down in his pockets end the front of his hat tilted down over his nose, when, chenclng to look up, he perceived e grey cet dosing In the bey window of i modest-looking house, enc on the doorway thereof wes pieced ec unpretentious notice: "Hoard end lodgings at moderet prices." "I like the look of that place,"- said Mr. Bufflngton. "They keep e vet there a gray cat. It's not splendid, but if looks comfortable. I'll try it" lie rang the bell; e neet little meld servant in e white apron and frilled cap responded to the summons. "Please, sir. Missis ain't et home, but I knowa all about the rooms," aald the little damsel. "I can show 'em, aud I can tell you the terms." - Barnebes Bufflngton liked the look of the rooms and he did not object to the terms. There was a bright coal fire burning In the grate. "Missis wanted the rooms to be well aired," said the girl, courtesying at ev ery other word. lour mistress, my girl. Is a woman if sense," seld Bufilnstou. "This settles the matter. I'll take the apartments Cor a mouth, certain, with the privilege of renewal If I find myself suited." He took off his hat unwound his com forter from about his neck aud sat own before the cheery shine of the grate. "Co and tear down the bill at once,' said be. "Aud leave the door open so that cats " "But, sir," whispered the white- aproued lassie, "If my missis " "Never uilud your mistress," said Mr. Butllugtou, cavalierly. "She wanted a boarder and she's got one What more would she have?" And so speaking, he hailed a cab In the street end bade the drver go for his trunk aud bet boxes without delay Miss Chickson snd Barbere had been out selecting some new pie platters and pudding basins, and little Betsey was eagerly watching for them at the area door when they came In. - "please, missis," said Betsey, "the room is let. And he's sitting upstairs now, with the cet in his lap." "Who ia it?" demanded Miss Chick son. "The new boarder, ma'am." "What Is his name?" "Please, ma'am. I don't know," said Betsey. Miss Chickson walked off Into her little parlor and sat down, fanning her- self with her bonnet. "Betsey," said she, "go upstairs, pre sent my compliments to this stranger, and tell him I shall be glad of en Inter view at once. He may be a burglar. fvir what I know." "Y'es'm." said Betsey. And ' away sue tripped, returning presently. "He's comln', ma'am," said she. And In stalked Mr. Barnebes Buf- flngtou! "Good gracious me!" seld Miss Chick son. "It's Petty Chickson, isn't It?" seld Mr. Bufflngton. staring with ell his eyes. "I might heve known that It was the seme cet However, me'am," re-lap.ilr-s into e belligerent attitude, "I won't intrude; I'll leave the premises at ouce." "Don't" said Miss Chickson, faintly. "Eh?" said Mr. Bufflngton. 1 'I I hope you don't bear malice," seld .Miss Chickson. "I'm sure I was a little Impatient" "Don't mention it" said Mr. Bufflng ton. "It was all my fault" "I was unreasonable," said Miss Chickson. "I was e brute," seld Mr. Bufflngton. "I heve reproeched myself bitterly." said the lady. "I haven't had e moment of peece since," seld Mr. Barnabas Bufflngton. sincerely. "Shall we forget and forgive?" whis pered Miss Chickson. "I know a better plan than that' said Mr. Bufflngton. "Let's begin the world on e new bests." "I don't understand you," seld Mist Chickson. "I like you end your ways," seld Mr. Bufflngton. "I didn't know how much until we separated. Let us settle down together for life. Patty Chickson. Lefu be married." "At our age?" said Miss Chickson. "We shall never be any younger." said Mr. Bufflngton. "If you really think people wouldn't laugh," hesitated the spinster. "What do we care whether they do oi not?" said the bachelor, recklessly. And the result of this conference w thet Mr. end Mrs. Barnebes Buffiiu"" are now sitting, one on either side of the hearthrug, with the gray cat in the middle, as harmonious a trio as one will often And. And the bill Is taken down perma nently. Cleveland Plain Dealer. v Unman Nature. "There are very few people who don get Interested in e good scrap." "That's right I think there ere t number of advocates of universe! peati who would be somewhat dlseppointec at an abrupt termination of the Boei war." Harper's Bazaar. Kxclnalve Inforaaatlon. "Bay, pa, whaf s a bachelor?" "A bachelor, my son. Is a might lucky fellow, but don't tell your mi that I told your Der Floh. Odds and Ends. Four miles from Bath. England, is a mysterious monument known as the Three Shires Stone. From It yoa can parts of Somersetshire, Glouces tershire and Wiltshire. The French Government considers its postal system rather In the light of a source of revenue than as a public service, which Is obvious from the fact that it cleared about 93.000.000 francs ($17,949,000) profit through it last year. In Arkansas a man has planted red birch, native willows end soft maple for two miles along a stream to pre vent the washing of the banks. A fruit tree progagator has produced a seedless apple. These new apples are superior in flavor to the ordinary kinds. High prices are being paid for the trees. From very early times Kurope was astonished by the wonderful things which came from the Chinese the silk, tea, spices, the great Ideas and Inven tions. Health authorities estimate that 10 per cent, of the men who go to Cape Nome never come back aliva. Even the common potato Is good med icine for rheumatism. A decoction of potatoes used as a fomentation will srlve perfect relief. A Chicago nrm nas set up a line oi automobiles to carry pasengers be tween Its store and one of the railroad stations for 5 cents. A Florida man has purchased 300 acres of swamp land near Swan Brida-es. and will turn it Into a breed ing place for alligators. These reptiles are becoming: scarce, owing to the ac tivity of Northern hunters and as there Is a steady demand lor alligator sain, the speculator hopes to do well. The Indians are not an important po litical factor In this country, but there is a county in Nebraska Thurston county where they hold the balance of power between the parties and are cultivated accordingly oy ine pomi clans. They number about 1500, and comprise Onr.ehas and Winnebagoes Useful Hints. In broiling meat over coals never al low them to smoke the least. After the coals have burned down somewhat throw on a handful of salt to deaden the blue flame that arises. If the drip ping from your meat takes fire remove from the stove to cool for a few min utes. Don't try to blow It out, as there Is danger of burning the face. All vegetables are better to be sea soned when they are ready for the ta ble. Never let them stand after coming off the Are. Put them instantly Into a colander, over a pot of boiling water, if you have to keep them hack for din ner. Cauliflower should be tied up tn a net or a piece of white mosquito net ting when boiling, and served with rich drawn butter. Roll twenty minutes. Look carefully through this vegetable for worms. Just the color of the stalk. Black lace will resume much of Its pristine beauty If washed In thick suds made of tar soap. The lace must be al lowed to dry without rinsing, as the tar imparts a slight stiffness which Is very desirable. Electric Sparklets. An electric canal service Is to be maintained between Cincinnati and Dayton. . The rubber annually made up into golf balls is sufficient to Insulate an Atlantic cable. Prof. J. J. Thomson has discovered bodies smaller than atoms and these he calls corpuscles. The Mediterranean squadron of the French navy Is being equipped with wireless telegraphy instruments. A $5,000,000 municipal telephone plant is being Installed In the city of Lon o which Is expected to serve 40,000 subscribers at a nominal rate. Out of the Ordinary. In China a doctor's fee varies fiem t .ents to a quarter. A penny will buy twenty times aa nuch nourishment in the shape of oat neal as in the form of beef. There are no snakes nor frogs in Alas ka, but there are toads. Women clean the streets of Cannes. Ihe cleanest town in the world. A Chinese drink is made of lamb's lesh, bruised with rice and fermented. Meat has been preserved in a froze! itate for thirty yaai-s. aid found per-tei-tly eatable at the end f that time. 1 Among the Banks. The Traders' Bank has been incor porated to do a general banking busi iess in Kansas City. The State banks of Kansas have a reserve of 110,968.000, the largest In the aistory of the state. The amount of national bank notes n circulation September 30 was $32$. 135 973, an Increase of $4,112,163 sine August 31 and of $85,045,845 Bince Sep :ember 30. 1899. , Chicago bank clearings for Septem oer were $516,737,035. a decrease of $6, 87.100 from August. They were the imallest since February. As compared with last year, there was a reduction jf $32.116.402. or 5 per cent. Personals. Wnh Jefferson has given $1000 tow- rd the relief of the Galveston sufferers. He attended school in Galveston v hen i mere boy. and his earlier successes B his dramatic career were made in .hat town. . . John Hopkins, who was for more than orty years the organist at Rochester Cathedral, Kngland, died recently In his tightieth year. His last performance n the Cathedral organ was a dtad narch" on the occasion of the death cf :he Duke of Saxe-Coburg. When Emperor William drives In ter. In he Is followed by two officers on bi cycles, whose duty it is to arrest pcr tons who throw letters into the lniper al carriage. I cease to be depressed by learning slowly If I am te learn forever. You know that a little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money. This char ity of thought Is not merely to be ex ercised toward the poor; It ia to be exercised toward ell men. Persons who cheat themselves are easy victims to others. Instead of a little position In this world exalting a man to honor, it is service that exalts man and makes him worthy of any position In this world. Away from the Idea that some have that you must have position to be great. Hope is a flatterer. Nothing Is truer in the experience of life than that selAshnesa overreaches itself He that would get the most out of life must contribute of his thought sympathy, time and substance for the good of others. The kangaroos which used to be a plague In Australia, are now getting so scarce that It pays to raise them In herds. ' SERMON Y Qto. Br. Calmaoc SatjMt: Thickening flloam Orowtm Oli! Without Itellelon Dismal Prut ute Consoling 8oga-.tlnna ThoM Who Have Fauod Llf.'. Merillnn. CopyrmUt lnuo.1 Washikotos. D. C. In this sermon I)r. Talmaire discourses upon the invita tion given to Christ to stay overnight in the Oriental village, and makes some con solatory suggestions. The text is Luke xxiv. 29. "Abide with us, for it is toward evening. two villagers, having concluded their errand in Jerusalem, have started out at the city gate and are on their way to r.mmaus. the place ot their rciden.-c. They go with a sad heart. Jesus, who had been their admiration and their joy, had been baselv massacred and entombed. As, with sad face and broken heart, tlicy pass on their wav a stranger accosts them. Ihev tell Him their anxieties and bitterness of soul. He in turn talks to them, mightily expounding the Scriptures. He throws over them the fascination of intelligent conversation. They forget the time and notice not the objects they pass and before they are aware have come in front of their house. They pause before the entrance and attempt to persuade the stranger to tarry with them. They press upon Him their hospitalities. Night is coming on, and He mav meet a prowling wild beast, or be obliged to be unsheltered from the dew. He cannot go much farther now. Why not stop there and continue their pleRsant conversation? They take Him by the arm, and they insist upon His coming in. addressing Him in the words, "Abide with us. f-ir it is toward evening.' The lamps are lighted, the table is spread, pleasantsocialtiesareenkindled. They re joice in the presence of this stranger guest. He asks a blessing upon the bread they eat, and He hands a piece of it to each. Snd' denly and with overwhelming power the thought flashes upon the astounded peo ple it is the Lord! And as they sit in breathless wonder, looking upon the resur rected bodv of Jesus. He vanished. The interview ended. He was gone. With many of us it is a bright sunshiny day of proserity. There is not a cloud in the sky, not a leaf rustling in the forest, no chill in the air. Rut we cannot expect all this to last. He is not an intelligent man who exects perpetual daylight of joy. The sun will after awhile near tlie horizon; the shadows will lengthen. Wrhile I speak many of us stand in the very hour described in the text, "For it is toward evening. the request ot the text is appronriate for some in every commu nity, for with them it ia toward the even ing of old age. They have passed the me ridian of life. They are sometimes star tled to i.iin c how old they are. They do not, however, like others to remark uiion ft. If others suggest their approximation toward venerable appear.ince, they say, "Why, I am not so old, after all." They do. indeed, notice that thev cannot utt quite as much as once; they cannot walk quite so last; they cannot read quite so well without spectacles; they cannot so easily recover from a cough or any occa sional ailment; they have lost their taste for merriment; they are surprised at the quick passage of the year; they say that it only seems but a little while ago tnat they were bovs: they are going a little down hill; there is something in their health. something in their vision, something in their walk, something in their changing associations, something above, something beneath, something within to remind them that it is toward evening. The great want of all such is to have Jesus abide with them. It is a dismal thing to be getting old without the reju venating influence of religion. hen we stop on the down grade of life and see l tat it dips to the verge of the cold river, we want to behold some one near who will help us across it. When the sight loses its power to glance and gather up, we need the faith that can illumine. When we feel the failure of the ear. we need the clear tones of that voice which in olden times broke up the silence of the deaf with cadences of mercy. When the ax men of death hew down whole forests of strength and beauty around us and we are left in solitude, we need the dove of divine mercv to sing in our branches. When the shadows begin to fall and we feel that the day ' far spent, we need most of all to "-jpplicate the beneficent Jesus in the grayer of the villagers. "Abide :vitr- us, for it is toward evening." The re- -est of the text is an appropriate ex -!-.. otion for all those who are ap proaching the gloomy hour of temptation. There is nothing easier than to be good natured when everything pleases, or to be humble when there is nothing to puff us un, or forgiving when we have not been assailed, or honest when we have no in ducement to fraud. But you have felt the grapple of some temptation. Your nature at some time quaked and groaned under tne infernal power. You feel that the devil was after you; you saw your Christian graces retreating; you fe; ed that you would fail in the awful wrestle with sin and be thrown into the dust. The gloom thickened. The first indications of the night were seen. In all the trembling of your soul, in all the infernal suggestions of Satan, in all the surging up of tumultuous passions and excitements, you felt with awful emphasis that it was toward even ing. In the tempted hour you need to ask Jesus to abide with you. You can beat back the monster that would devour you; you can unhorse the sin that would ride you down; you can sharpen the battleax with which you split the head of helmeted abomination. Who bellied Paul shake the brazen gated heart of Felix? Who acted like a good sailor when all the crew howled in the Mediterranean shipwreck? Who helped the martyrs to be firm when one word of recantation would have unfastened the withes of the stake and put out the kindling fire? When the night of the soul came on and all the denizens of darkness came rid ing upon the winds of perdition, who gave strength to the soul? Who gave calmness to the heart? Who broke the spell of infernal enchantment? He who heard the request of the villagers, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening." One of the forts of France was attacked, and the outworks were taken before night. The besieging army lay down, thinking that there was out little to do in tne morning, and that the soldiery in the fort could be easily made to surrender. Rut during the night, through a bagk stairs, they escaped into the country. In the morning the besieging army sprang upon the battlements, but found that their prey was gone. So when we are assaulted by temptation there is always some stcret stair by which we might get off. God will not allow us to be tempted above what we are able, but with every tempta tion will bring a way of escape that we may be able to bear it. The prayer of the text is appropriate for all who are anticipating sorrow. The greatest folly that ever grew on this planet is the tendency to borrow trouble, but there are times when approaching sorrow is so evident that we need to be making especial preparations for its com ing. One of your children has lately be come a favorite. The cry of that child strikes deeper into the heart than the cry of all the others. You think more about it; you give it more attention, not because it is any more of a treasure than the oth ers, but because it is becoming frail. There is something in the cheek, in the eye and in the walk that makes you quite sure that the leaves of the flower are going to be scattered. The utmost nursing and medical attendance are ineffectual. The praise becomes feeble, the co-np'erlon light er, the step weaker, the laugh fainter. No more romping for that one through hall and parlor. The nursery is darkened by an approaching calamity. The heart feels with mournful anticipation that the sun is going down. Night speeds on. It is to - raxd CYtning- You nave long rejoiced in the care of a mother; you have done everything to make her last days happy; you have run with quick feet to wait upon her every want. Her presence has been a perpetual blessing in the household. Rut the fruit gatherers are looking wistfully at that tree. Her soul ia ripe for heaven. The gates are ready to flash open for her en trance. But your soul siaks at the thought of separation. You cannot bear to think that soon you will be called to take the last look at that face, which from the first hour has looked upon you with affection unchangeable. But you see that life is ebbing, and the grave will soon hide her from your sight. You sit ijuiet: you feel heavy hearted. The light is fading from the sky; the air is chill. It is toward evening. The words of the text are pertinent to us all from the fact that we are nearing the evening of death. I have heard it said that we ought to live as though each moment were to be our last. I do not be lieve that theory. As far as prearat:on is concerned we ought always to lie ready, but we cannot always be thinking of death, for we have duties in lite that de mand our attention when a man is seiiuig goods it is his business to think of the bargain he is making; when a man is pleading in the courts, it is his duty to think of the in terests of his clients; when a clerk is add ing up accounts it is his duty to keep his mind Uon the column of figures. He who fills up his life with thoughts of death is far from being the highest style of t hris tian. 1 knew a man who used often to say at night, "I wish I might die before morning! He is now an intidel. But there are times when we can aad ought to give ourselves to the contempla tion of that solemn moment when to the soul time ends and eternity begins. We must go through that one pass. There is no roundabout way, no bypath, no circuitou route. Die we must, aud it will be to ut a shameful occurrence or a time of admir able behavior. Our friends may stretch out their hands to keep us back, but no imploration on their part can hinder us. They might offer large retainers, but death would not take the tee. I ne nreain will fail, and the eyes will close, and the heart will stop. You may hang the couch with gorgeous tapestry, but what does death care for bed curtains? You majr hang the room with the finest works ot art, but what does.death care for pictures? You mav fill the house with the waitings of widowhood and orphanage. Does death min i weeping? Listen to 1'aul'a battle shout with mis fortune, hark to mounting Iitimer s fire song; look at the glory that hath reft the dungeon and filled the earth and heavens with the crash of the falling manacles oi despotism and then look at those who have tried to cure themselves by human prescriptions, attempting to neal n srrene with atch of court plaster and to atop the plague of dying empires with the quackery of earthly wisdom. Nothing can siieak peace to the soul, nothing can un strap our crushing burdens, nothing can overcome our spiritual foes, nothing can open our eyea to see the surrounding horses and chariots of salvation that till all the mountains but the voice and com mand of Hun who stopped one nignt at Emmaus. You ought to be willing to exchange your body that has headaches and side aches anil weaknesses innumerable, that limps w . !i the stone bruise or festers with the thorn or flames on the funeral pyre f fevers, for an incorruptible body and an eve that blinks not before the jasper gates and the great white throne. But between tlint and this there is an hour about which no man should be reckless or foolhardy. 1 doubt not your courage, but 1 tell yo.i that you will want something better t'na.i a strong arm, a good aim and a trusty sword when you come to your last battle You will need a better robe than any you have in your wardrobe to keep you warai in that place. Circumstances do not make so much dif ference. It may be bright day when you push off from the planet, or it may be dark night and while the owl is hooting from the forest. It may be spring, and your soul may go out among the blossoms, apple orchards swinging their censers in the way. It may be winter and the earth in a snow shroud. It may lie autumn and the forests set on fire by the retreating year dead nature laid out in state. It may be with your wife's hand in your hand, or you may be in a strange hotel, with a servant faithful to the last. It may be in the rail train, shot off the switch and tumbling in long reverberation lown the embankment crash, crash! I know not the time, I know not the mode, but the days of our life are being iihtracted awav. and we shall come down to the time when we have but ten days left, then nine days, then eight days, then seven days, six days, five days, four days, three days, two days, one day. Then hours, three hours, two hours, one hour, rtien only minutes left five minutes, four minutes, three minutes, two minutes, one minute. Then only seconds left four sec onds, three seconds, two seconds, one sec ond. Gone! The chapter of life ended! The book closed! The pulses at rest! The feet through with the journey! The hands closed" from all work! No word on the lips! No breath in the nostrils! Hair combed back to lie undisheveled by any human hands. The muscles still. The nerves still. The lungs still. The tongue still. AH still. You might put the steth oscope to breast and hear no sound. You might put a speaking trumpet to the ear, but you could not wake the deafness. No motion. No throb. No life. Still! Still! On earth with many of you the evening is the happiest part of the twenty-four hours. You gather about the stand. You talk and laugh and sing. You recount the day. You plan for the morrow. You have games and repartees. Amid all the toil of the day that is the goal for which you run, and as you take out your watch or at the descending sun you thrill with the thought that it is toward even- ing. So death comes to the disciple. What if the sun of life is about to set? Jesus is the dayspring from on high, the perpetual morning of every ransomed spirit. What if the darkness comes? Jesus is the light of the world and of heaven. What though this earthly house does crumble? Jesus has prepared a house of many mansions. Jesus is the anchor that always holds. Jesus is the fountain that is never exhausted. Jesus is the evening star hung up amid the gloom of the gathering night. You are almost through with the abuse and backbiting of enemies. They will call you no more oy evil names, lour good deeds will not longer be misinterpreted or your honor filched. The troubles of earth will end in the felicities of heaven. To ward evening! The bereavements of earth will soon be lifted. You will not much longer stand pouring your grief in the tomb like Rachel weeping tor her chil dren or David mourning for Absalom. Broken hearts bound up. Wounds healed. Tears wiped away. Sorrows terminated. No more sounding of the dead march. To ward evening. Death will come sweet as slumber to the eyelids of the babe, as full rations to a starving soldier, aa evening hour to the exhausted workman. The sky will take on its sunset glow, every cloud a fire psalm, every lake a glossy mirror, the forests transfigured, delicate mists climbing the air. Your friemis will an nounce it, your pulses will beat it, your joys will ring it, your lips will whisper it, "Toward evening." Africa Is the most elevated of all the continents. It is the continent of "plateaus." The great table land In the south has a mean altitude of over 3500 feet: the wide table land on the north has an average elevation of about 13O0 feet. In the province of Smolensk, Russia there Is held every three months a lot tery In husbands and wives, vho are chosen by the chance drawinsT of a lot tery ticket. A woman who wears a stuffed bird on her hat Is liable to a fine of from $25 to $50 by a 1-iw recently passed by the Legislature of Arkansas. i it