VOL. XXVI THE VERY PEOPLE WHO ■AVE THE LEAST HONEY| Are your wages small. L SPEND ARE THE ONES' Are * ou thc hca ' l ' W i family? bw RELIABLE CLOTHING Wi(h mlirketing billi ■ BEARS BOST TO |i arge? With house rent'a drag on you? Low price* for honest, long-wearing Clothing will be a boon to year pocket-book and your back. (Jet an Iron-clad Cloth Suit at sl2. Strongest All-Wool gait we know of. Nobody else sells it. Get J. N. PATTERSON'S Cloth Suit at sl6. For dress •ad everyday wear combined it's wonderful value. No how fine a suit you want tor dress or business we have that at a low price. There if no open question about Boys' Clothing. vV e are not only pioreers, but to-day's leaders in styles and qualities highest excellence and lowest prices. Remember the place. J. N. PATTERSON'S, One Price Clothing House, ~~ Our Spring goods which comprises the latest novelties at tainable, in Foreign and Domestic markets, HAVE ARRIVED. As it is a consideration of all gentlemen who desire to dress well, what to wear for Spring, and where he shall pur chase, we invite you to inspect our immense stock, and you can readily select something uitable. See -Our Window Display. No. 09, V - S. Main Mi. NEW GOODS. £UITS, PANTS, HATS, SHIRTS, Underwear, Neckwear, Collars and Cuffs in linen and water proof, Rubber coats, umbrellas,haiidkerchiefs, suspenders,dress [pants, .jean pants and cheap pants, over- Llls, Arc. A full line of clothing and Lents furnishing goods. We challenge Comparison and defy competition. Our ■lock is new and clean and our prices are LOW. Come in and see us. ■ JOHN T. KELLY. NEXT DOOR. Established ISSo I E.GRIEB, [THE JEWELER, Wo. 19, Horth Main St, BUTLER,SPA., , DEALER IN Diamonds, Watches, Clocks. Jewalry, Silverware, Spectacles, &.C., &c. Society Emblems of all Descriptions. Repairing in alljbranches skillfully done and warranted. leso ESTABLISHED XBSO SUMMER 1889 I We are now ready for BUMMER TRADE, having in stock a splendid assortment of KNE DRESS GOODS, ■ MEDIUM DRESS GOODS, K LOW PRICED DRESS GOODS, (4 all the new things for summer wear, with the very latest things in trimmings to match. ■ CARPETS, mattings, linoleums, rugs, stair rods, curtain poles, lace curtains, blinds and scrims at lower prices than ever before offered. a full line of all the standard domestic goods in plain sheeting, pillow casing, ginghams, prints, all kinds of house furnishing goods. BUYERS by examination that it always p»« them to do their THE BUTLER CITIZEN. yjJCOBS Q }l 2 it n BALL Wgßk Oillt Co«»fet« Sprains, Strain*. Q W M Bruises, Wound* ? S* l4 DrvniM* and DioUM. * TheChis. A. Veieler Co.. Belt#.. IM, for (lire op PRDMPTLYam DTERMA^NTI^ >ITXQIITKETImH QFE\irt *TDJ\IIBBISTS indPIAIIV TUEChas-AVqbblsr CD-BAUO-MQ' RESORTS. Puck says: "The white man who drives a coa! cart has to resort to soap and water, just as does a negro who has spent the day in Hut the most strange things of all are us ually resorted to when a man gets sick. Of course he doesn't want a doctor—at least not at lirst. He usually goes to the so-called saloon and gets a drink, which makes him feel rather dazed, so he takes another and comes home temporarily elated, supposing himself cured. When he wakes next morning, with a headache twice as bad as ever, aud feeling feverish and cross, he concludes he will have to try something else. He takes a dose of whatever he happens to have in the house—some liver renovator, kidney evaporator, or heart eularger—and sets forth saying if he isn't better to-morrow he will send for the doctor. _ Next morning he is sick in bed; the doctor is called, >hakes his head, prescribes two or three binds of medicine, according to his medicHl creed, but always insists upon per fect quiet, uud that the patient must not go to his office for two weeks, or the result will He does in truth lie in bed for a week or ten days, his recovery retarded by a multi tude of temedies, and the knowledge that his business is going to ruin in his absence. When he does drag out at last, he finds that that the family must deny themselves every thing but the common necessities of life for some time to come, in order that the dootor's bills may be paid, and repairs made in the business. Now. the proper thing for this mau to have done was to have bought a bottle of New Style, Pleasant Taste" Vinegar Bitters, the moment he felt the first headache, and to have taken two tablespoonfuls at once. Two or three half doses,two days apart, after the first dose had taken effect, would have cured him and prevented his illness, and his consequent financial loss. The man did not know this, or, as Beecher would have said, bis foresight was not so good as bis hindsight. Another time this man will know just what to do to save pain, time and money. New Style, Pleasant Taste Vinegar Bitters is a grand blood purifier, cathartic and tonic, contaius neither alcohol nor opium, has a most delicious flavoring, and will not harm an infant. For sale by druggists. See that carton and bottle are marked New Style Pleasant Taste. We keep the old style in stock for those who prefer it. An interesting book on Rules of Society, Fortune Telling, etc., free to all who send lor it. THE OHUANS of the body most given to shirk ing their regular work are the stomach, bowels, liver and kidneys. A medicine that stimulates these organs into healthy action without caus ing pain, is invaluable. Saw STYLE VINKCAR liiTTKlts does this,and it does its work permanently. It never robs Peter to pay Paul, as alcoholic and other (so called) remedies do. It is a most grateful, heal ing: medicine to all who are troubled with piles for it relieves at once, and soon cures this most painful disorder. IT aids digestion, cures constipation, head ache, bilious complaints, feverlshness, neural- Kia.;nervous diseases of every sort, and every class of skin disease known. As A FAMILY MEDICINE, for the use of ladles children and inen of sedentary habits, the New Style Vinegar Hitters has 110 equal In the world. It is Invaluable for curing the ills that beset childhood, and gently regulates the diseases to which women fit every period of life are sub ject. LA IT IKS, get a bottle from your druggist and try it. If your druggist has not the Is ew Style Vinegar Bitters, ask him to send for It. If you once try it you will never be without this price less remedy in the house. Ladles book free Address, B. H. MrDOJiALD DBl'U CO., C'or. Washington and Charlton Sts., S, Y. Willard Hotel, W. H. P.EIHING, Prop'r BXJTLBR, - PA. KTABLIKti IN CONNECTION. SAMPLE BOOM for COMMEBCIAL TBAYELEBS SAMPLE ROOM. LIVER* IN CONNECTION Hotel Vogeley ( Strictly First Class.) HENRY L. BECK, PEOP'RS. J. H. FAUBEL, Manager. Butler, Pa. Diamond : - : Hotel, Fronting Butler, Pa. THOMAS WASSON, Pro'r. ,Good rooms, good meals, stabling in con nection, everything first class. EITENIILLEI HOTEL, No. 88 and 90, S. Main St., BUTLER, - - IP-A. Near New Court House—formerly Donaldson House—good accommodations for travelers. Good stabling connected. H-9-'8«-lyl H EITENMULLER. Prop'r. NIXON'S HOME, 3.1 N. McKEAN ST., BUTLER, PA. Meals at all hours. Open all night. Breaktast *25 cents. I»lnuer2s cents, Supper 25 cents. Lodging 25 cents. SIMEON NIXON - PROP'R. WHEN YOU VISIT PITTSBURGH CALL ON JOHN R. & A. MURDOCH, 608 smlthtleld street, for Trees, Seeds. Lilies, (4 rape Vines, Hardy Roses, Canary Birds, Gold Fish. etc. Descriptive Fall Cata louge mailed free. THE WRONG CARD. (SCSAX HARTLEY IN HARPER'S WEEKLY.) Mr. Hiram Leadbetter passed very lone ly evenings. In fact he did not know what to do with himself since his wife died, and the delightful card party which had been gathered in the sitting-room of his little domicile for years was broken up. Since that time he had not even had an opportu nity to play a two handed game of euchre or high-low jack, for in less than a week after his wife's funeral his old neighbor, who had formed one of the party, had gone to live with his daughter and the other member, his wife's youngest daughter, had married a sea-captain and sailed with him to South America. There were no card playing people in the town now. The Pride's Corner minister did not approve of games, unless it might be, as he said, "an innocent game of checkers or fox-and geese, at a suitable time." Hiram and his wife had joined the Cniversalist church years before over at Plumtield, where they lived in their youth, and where, as Hiram frequently remarked, ''folks hed sense enough to kuow that religion hedn't nothin' more to do with checkers'n fox'n'- geese than it hed with cards, 'n' thet Satan hedn't much in'trest in neither." But the worthy couple were shunned by the major ity of the towns-people on account of their persistence in this unholy entertainment. When the minister asked Hiram if his wife had not repented of her downward course before her death, his indignation was so great that he declare* he was sick of the whole place, aad was going to leave it anyway, whether he could sell his farm or not, though he answered the reverend gentleman very quietly that she was alwus a-believin' as well as a-doin' Christian, 'n hedn't nothin' ter repent of, 'n' no regrets, without t'was learin' her family. The last words she said to him, poor M'riar, was, "How dretfully you'll miss your game even in's, Hiram,if you can't git nobody to take my place!" It was February then, and as it grew toward spring the long twilights were al most maddening in their dreary blankness. Heretofore there had been the one bright hour of lamp-light and the pleasing excite ment of whist to look forward to before bedtime. M'riar would never couseut to play until eight o'clock, as she did hold that it was not right to put by one's work until that time,unless shehurrled to finish the task which she had alloted herself for the day. Butwith such a pleasure before one, who would dot wait? Cyntey, his wife's oldest daugher. had come to keep house for Hi ram now—a neat and industrious spinster, the best of housekeepers, the best of cooks, but he did not find her company enliven ing. She stepped about in her cloth slip pers noiselessly as a ghost, with her prim little mouth closed as tightly as if it had been fastened with a lock and key, and if it was only at the table that she opened it, having a strange fashion of speaking the few words which she found it necessa ry to speak without moving her lips. She sang psalm tunes also in the same object ionable manner. When, on her first arriv al. Hiram timidly proposed that the}' should try a game of euchre, just to while away away the long evenin', she looked abso lutely horrified, and said he "mustn't run of an idea that she had such dretful slack notions about things as uia had. She was clear Averill, Ma was a Baldwin. She hadn't no Baldwin blood in her." Hiram w meek by nature, but he re torted, witu considerable emphasis, that "daughters 'twas half as good as such a ma as she was'd orter be thankful, an' he didn't know what she meant by slack no tions." But Cynthy made no reply. She was apparently absorbed in what she call ed "slop-work," which occupation she pur sued every moment she could snatch from her household duties when Rhe was not playing on her melodeon. Hiram settled into abject melancholy; the very cocks crowed in a minor key; his food became tasteless, his sleep broken. He reproach ed himself for not being thankful for his mercies. If he had lost a good wife—he hadn't half realized until she was gone how cheery and comfortable a companion she was—he had still plenty o' cretur comforts. His tasks were light; there was no lack of money for his simple needs; his home was peaceful, at least, if it was lonely, and there was no more card-playing. "'N'here I be settin' up grievances," he would say over and over to himself. "Mebbo Satan does hev thc doin' o' cards, as the minister said, the habit of playin' had me in so tight a clutch. 'Tis like gamblin', a kind cr greed, though I hain't never played for a cent or nothin' in my life." And then he would console himself by concluding it warn't nothin' but a miss—missin' M'riar 'n' the cards too —'n' a miss at his time o' life was hard. He tried to follow the example of his neighbors, and find entertainment by sit ting in the store evenings, but it was even drearier there than at home. The men in variably talked politics or told sea yarns, and Hiram wasn't much interested in poli tics, and hated the very name of the sea, having been taken as cabin-boy by his father, who was a sea-captain, in his ex treme youth, where he suffered untold ag onies of sea-sickness. So he sat silent and listless while the other men argued and narrated. Sometimes one would ask his opinion when there some disputed point to be settled, but he would shake his head dismally. "I can't seem ter git up enough ent'rest in politics ter git the hang of 'em nohow. I catilate it's like fallin' in love, this fallin' in politics; folks must do it young; then they git it bad, 'n' it kinder hangs on to 'em." When planting-time came the days were less tedious, his time aud thoughts being so wholly occupied in working his little farm; but the evenings,though shorter,were more dreary than before. The frogs in the little pool at the back of the orchard seem ed to be piping his own gloomy thoughts. The perfume of the lilacs was like a voice shouting continually of the good old times, when the lamp-light shone on M'riar's rosy and beaming countenance as she deftly shuffled the cards, the pleasant, expectant one of the wrinkled old neighbor, aud the sympathetic, smiling one of the young one opposite him at the table. But one warm evening when Cynthy's voice and the mournful wail of her melo deon mingled with the songs of the frogs to the tune of "Federal Street" aud "Bal erma," Hiram, sitting dismally on the back porch, was suddenly blessed with a new idea. There were two maiden ladies, sis ters, living oyer at Brimport, about six miles away, who were famous for card playing. Hiram had known them when he was a young man aud they were youug women, and had sometimes enjoyed a so cial game with them, though they evident ly regarded him as being somewhat be neath them, as he was only a farm hand then, and they the daughters of the richost ship-master in town. But living in a se verely orthodox neighborhood, they were willing to stoop for the sake of having an opportunity to indulge iu their favorite recreation. He had not seen them now for nearly twenty years, aud affairs had chang ed since that time. Aftei their father's death they had lost the greater part of their property through bad management, aud though they still BUTLER, PA., FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1889- lived in the spacious old family mansion, it was said that they had a hard time to make both ends meet. The neighbors said that it was because they were so unlikely, "both inclined to be cranky, and Miss Lu cy, the younger of the two, of a dreadful spunky disposition," which, iu common par lance,means that she had a bad temper. Hiram was no longer a farm hand, but had a good farm of his own and bank stock be sides, and was not be looked down upon by the two spinsters, though they began life under so much more favorable circum stances than he did. Why should he not drive over to Brimport and play cards with them occasionally! The roads were not bad between Pride's Corner and that place, and Dolly, his old white mare, though not very nimble, was sure and steady, and was good for such a journey any pleasant even ing, when she had not been working much during the day. To-morrow would be a lei* urely day, as the early planting was fin ished, and he would just go over and make a call to see how the land lay in the direc tion of his desires. Miss Lucy, as prim and polite as ever, opened the door in answer to his ring, greeting him with gratifying cordiality, and inviting him into the same room where he had spent such delectable evenings twenty years before. Everything seemed unchanged there, with the exception of Miss Lucy herself, who hat! grown old and sallow. "So glad to see you, Mr. Leadbetter!" smoothing down her black silk apron with both hands, as if to emphasize her speech in this way. "I knew you was somebody I knew the minute I saw you coming up the walk. Now don't say a-word. 'n' see if Jane 'll know you; she's coming in now." But Jane did not exactly remember. She "reckoned he was somebody she used to be acquainted with, but there, he had the advantage of her anyhow." "Can't you call to mind i card party that used ter play consid'able in this Yery room the year the cars begun to run here, 'n' the packet was took off that used ter land down ter the wharf below, 'n' y«ur father 'n' ole Cap'n Turner bad their mead ows set out ter cranb'ry vines?" Miss Jane, who was several years older than her sister, and not nearly as (what the Brimport people called) "genteel and pretty-spoken" as she was, though credit ed with being less fiery-tempered, reflect ed a moment. "There,go 'long!" she exclaimed; "you're Hiram Leadbetter. Well! well! who'd 'a thought it? It's been a long spell since we sot eyes on you, au' we was speakin' about you not long ago. We saw your wife's death in the county paper." Hiram did not care to be reminded of poor Maria just then; he was afraid they would think he had come courting. He was sure Cynthy and all his neighbors would be absolutely certain that such was the case when they found out that he had called on the Slater girls—they were still called girls, though Jane was more than sixty—and they would find it out in some way before the week was over. Pride's Corner and Brimport had nothing to do with each other, but gossip of that kind seemed to go on the wings of the wind. "M'riar wouldn't care nothin' about it," he reflected; "but there, it don't seem re spectful to her mcm'ry to have folks sayin' such things." Miss Jane would not be satisfied, howev er, without hearing hearing all 'he details of her illness, listening witb a kind of sol emn pleasure, and eager to know if the poor lady's countenance looked natural af ter her demise. "Don't you never have a game o' whist or ole sledge now'days?" Hiram hastened to inquire, when these mournful prelimina ries were over. "Oh yes, whenever we get a chance," said Miss Lucy; "but that ain't very fre quent, unless we play three-handed, or whist with a dummy, and that ain't very interesting. Cap'n Bowers, that's built that new house you see across the street, likes to play as well's we do, but his wife don't know one card from another, and if she tries to learn she just goes to sleep over it. But she's willing he should play all he wants to. Folks about here never were any hands for cardsj most of 'em thinks it's wicked to play; the ministers both preach against it. Jane and I never should have learned if we hadn't gone to the city visiting at uncle's when we were young girls, likely as not, though pa some times liked a game when he was at home. There's a young set here now that go about from house to house playing a little on the sly in the winter-time. But they don't in vite any of the older folks, and it's a kind of outlandish game they play—progressive euchre they call it, I believe." "Yes, and somethin'they call it drivin' whist too," said Miss Jane. "Fur my part, I don't want no fashions hitched on to my game. I like it plenty well enough as 'tis. Lucy"—addressing her sister—"if Hiram would put up his hoss, and stop till after tea, Cap'n Bowers would be tickled ter death ter come over this evening, and we could hev a beautiful rubber." Hiram looked radiant. "I don't want ye to put yourselves out on my account," he said, "but I should like a rubber first-rate. I shall have to start for home pritty early, though, for it's a good six miles, you know, and in my neighborhood folks are expected to be in bed bed by nine cr-clock, or a few minutes past." "Well, I'll go right in and speak to Cap'n Bowers now, and we'll get under way early, so you can get home in good season. But Ido wish you lived nearer, it's so hard to stop before nine o'clock." Hiram hadn't enjoyed an evening for years as he enjoyed that one. "And Mriar 'd be glad of it," he kept saying to himself over and over again in answer to little prickings of conscience which he felt in his breast, that he shonld be so happy and she dead and gone. Miss Lucy made a delicious cup of Old Hyson, brought out the best china from the old corner cupboard iu the parlor, and as the trio sat about the festive board they became quite exhilarated. After tea, the card-playing neighbor appeared with his fat jolly wife, who brought her knitting work and sat down to watch the game, as she said, but who was soon fast asleep in her chair. Everything progressed beauti fully. The first game was won by Hiram and Miss Lucy, the socond by Captain Bowers and Miss Jane, and the first rubber by Hiram and his partuer. When this was finished, Hirain thought he really must be starting for home. It was a rather dark night, aud he shouldn't be home much before nine if he drove at a pretty good jog. But they all protested against such an early termination of the festivities. "You'll have a moon to light you in the course of an hour, and you can get over the ground twice as fast then," said Cap'n Bowers; "and what's one rubber o' whist! —only au aggravation." So Hiram remained for another. And this rubber was so exciting that he became entirely reckless, and played another with out even looking at the clock. And it was just striking nine when he finally took bis departure, having engaged to come as soon as he possibly could, and to make arrange ments to come once a week when the even ings should be longer and the farm mork over for the summer. Poor Iliram! he felt fairly appalled as he drove along over the deserted roads and realized the lateness of the hour. The lights had nearly all disappeared in the houses far and near, and only night sounds were astir. The way for a long distance lay through deep woods,where the shadows were so dense that one must drive care fully and slowly to keep in the road: so it was after 10 o'clock when he drove through his own gate at Pride's Corner. '•And here I be a widower, and she 'ain't been dead much more'n three months yit. But M'riar'd be glad of it—she'd be glad of it," be still consoled himself by repeating over and over again. He was careful to make as little noise as possible; but in the stillness of the hour his every movement woke answering echoes throughout the whole neighborhood. The roosters fluttered down from their perches aud began to crow lustily as be opened the barn door, evidently in the belief that morning had come. The wagon wheels took a wrong turn and bumped against the wall, and the barn door had never squeak ed so unmereilessly before. Cynthy's head was immediately thrust from a chamber window. "Is that you?" she called. ''l've been real concerned. What's happened to keep you out so late? 'Ain't met with any ac cident, have yon?" "Well, it 'pears to be me, and I ain't met with no accident as I know of. T call ed on some old irienns, aad we was haviu' such a proper sociable time that time pass ed a little quicker'n I was aware of," said Hiram, trying to be facetious. "That indeed!" remarked C'ynthy, from her height, with great dignity. "But 1 thought this was a Christian cominnnerty, where folks don't do jest as they do over to Plum field.'' And she closed the window with considerable energy. Hiram crept up to bed with a guilty feel ing which he could not shake off in spite of of indignant remonstrances with himself. "I 'ain't done the leastest tiling to be ashamed of, so why should I care what Cynthy and the folks round here say? Isut I ain't goin' to let on jest where 1 spent the evenin', though Cynthy 'll try to find out pritty hard. She's master close-mouth ed till she gits ter askin' questions, then you find out she has got a tongue and no mistake." But Cynthy had tound out before the next afternoon, though he had been very discreet under her cross-questioning. The news had been brought by a neighbor. Cynthy's indignation was too deep for words, but her looks were fairly overpow ering, stern, injured, contemptuous; and poor Hiram, sitting opposite her at the table, found it hard work to swallow his food under such a weight of displeasure; and hurried out-of-doors as soon as possible. At twilight she wailed "Balerma" and "Federal Street" with such unparaleled dis malness that the whippoorwills themselves were silenced, and flew away from their accustomed pereli on the old pump in the orchard. But Hiram bore the music with more fortitude this time. The memory of last night's cheer and the sure prospect of more such evenings in the future served to uphold him. He should not be obliged to spend all his hours of relaxation to the tune of Cynthy's melodeon. The next week he drove over to Brimport again, aud spent a more delightful season, if possible, than before; and all through the summer, even during haying-time, he managed to go and have one rubber at least as often as once a fortnight. The games had become quite thrilling now, and the ladies were not a whit less interested in them than Hiram and Captain Bowers. They looked forward to Hiram's appear ance, for there were few bright spots in their lives. "I don't see why you can't come over once a week when theharvest is in, Mr. Leadbet ter," Miss Lucy said to him one evening. "Bless me!" said Captain Bowers, "I be lieve I shall be obliged to pull up anchor and be off to sea again if you can't come as often as that. This is a confoundedly dull place to stay ashore in." "Oh, do come, Mr. Leadbetter. Card playing's kind o' lonesome for me, but any thing to keep John contented at home,' the captain's jolly little wife chimed in. Then Miss Jane added her voice to the general pleading "It's real harrowin to get so interested in games," she said, "and then have to wait so long between 'em." And he thought he could come once a week till winter set in; " 'twould be kinder hard gittin' over then." A great pang came over him when he looked forward to that time. From the first of September to the middle of October nothing occurred to hin der this happy arrangement. The weather was beautiful; the roads continued good; the moon smiled upon his way. It is true, Cynthy grew more solemn and severe, and the whole village, from the squire's family down to the half-gypsy folk who inhabited a rat-ridden bam on the outskirts of Hiram's farm, were talking about him, for it was impossible for them to believe that a man would drive so far as that, so often, and at such regular intervals, for any other object than courting, and that they all agreed was shameful, as his wife had only been dead a few months. I3ut Hiraui bore it all with a good degree of composure, the waitings of Cynthy's melodeon being the only thing which he felt that he could not endure. But about the middle of October the fall rains commenced —a dreary an dishearten ing drizzle which lasted weeks almost with out intermission. The dark nights shut in early, and there was no possibility of going abroad. Then, after the rains were over, the roads were almost impassable, and for four whole weeks he was unable to go to Brimport, and on that occasion it took him so long to get there, there only time to play two games of cards, much to the re gret of the whole party. "I tell you what, Leadbetter," said Cap tain Bowers one day, in the absence ol the ladies, "you must come over to Brimport and live. There's no other way as I can see. What's the use in living over there to Pride's Corner all alone when there's such good company over here? A cheerful win ter you'd have with nothing to'liven up your evenings but the presence of that aw ful glum-looking woman I saw over there the other day! And here's Miss Lucy all ready ter name the day, I've no doubt— good-looking, genteol and about the best card player I ever did see. A little lively tempered, maybe, but that ain t such a terrible fault." " 'Twill be a dretful lonesome winter.and M'riar wouldn't care; she'd be glad—she d bo glad," said Hiram, with serious reflec tion. "But then, if she'd have me. 'twould be too soon; folks would wear their tongues out talking about it." "If you mind what folks say, your peace of mind is gone in this world. Let 'em talk if they want to." Hiram pondered deepl}' on this advice for a week aud two days, and during this time the weather was cloudy, the wind moaned around the house, keeping time with the. monotonous click of Cynthy's, sewing machine or the harrowing wail of her melodeon. "Supposing she's willing to have me, and everything should go sniojttt!,"he reflected, "am I doing right to bgfe her jest ter get rid of these without any t card-playing or any heartening sociability of any kind? I don't set any great store by Miss Lucy, and that's a fact. I'd give more for one look of M'riar's than twenty years of her society, and I'm afraid what folks say about her having an unlikely temper is true. She's flared up once or twice over the card playing. Still 1 hev a proper friendly feeling fur her, and respect her highly fur her good qualities, fur she has good ones, certain; and she's smart too —smart a< a steel trap, Lucy is, and pritt \ - appearing too—genteel, iu fact, fur a rough farmer like me." But as the days went on he became more and more inclined to take the advice which had been given him, aud one bright sunny afternoon iu November, the first sunny day that had blessed thc world for a long time, he harnessed Dolly into the top-buggy,and donning his best black broadcloth suit, which bad been purchased for bis wife's funeral, and was most impressive in its shining and unwriukled newness, drove solemnly toward Brimport. Cynthy looked after him with dilated ed eyes aud open mouth, for he had never dressed himself so elaborately for his even ing outjngs, and the neighbors, like the historical Cortez and his men. "Looked at each other with a wild sur mise, Silent," save for sundry spasmodic ejaculations on the part of some, such as, "I told yon so!" "Disgraceful!" "Did you ever!" Miss Lucy opened thedoor to him as usu al. and seeing hiui in this state, she also seemed somewhat taken aback. Hiram's countenance was deeply serious, but was deprived of its usual calui. "I —I'd like ter speak to you alone, if it's convenient," he said, stammeringly. "Oh, certainly;" and she led the way in to the disused parlor, for the privacy of' an interview there none alive would dare to interrupt. "You see," be begnn, pulling at his somewhat ragged fringe of whisker, "I couldn't come over to play cards regular in thc winter-time. I—l1 —I suppose I might come over now and then when the sleigh ing was real good,but 'twould be oncertain, proper uncertain, and I've been a-thinking 'twould be master lonesome through the jong cold winter evenings." "Oh, dreadful lonesome!" sighed Miss Lucy, wondering what he was driving at, after all. "And in the course of meditation," he continued, "it come acrost me that—that perhaps you'd be willing to marry me. and I could let my farm to M'riar's—that is to say, my wife's—oldest son John, and come here to live, if—if 'twould be agreeable all around. There ain't any other way, as I see." Miss Lucy blushed, and nervously pleat ed her black silk apron into folds for a mo ment without speaking. "Well," she said at length, "I've got kind of out the way of marrying, aud so set in my ways that I'm afraid 1 should find a husband the least bit trying. How ever, as it's you. Air. Leadbetter, why, I'll think of it. and let you know in a few davs. It's too soon, I—" "I s'pose 'tis too soon. Thc regerlation time fur a widower to take another com panion seems to be a year, but I don't know as we're obligated to foller the fash ion." Aud having quite recovered his self-possession by this time, he explained to her just how he felt on this point, be cause he knew just how M'riar 'dfeel: she d be glad, ho was so lonesome. "Don't put yourself out a mite, though,'' he added; "but if it's goin' to be, it's got to be right away, because, you see, I've got a good chance to let my farm now. John's ready to come this month, but if I put him off, he'll get another place before spring." ••Well," said Miss Lucy. "I don't see as there's any other way as you say; and how folks will talk!" And betore Hiam left the house the time had bee set for the wedding—just two weeks from that day—every detail bad been arranged, and Captain Bowers, who was greatly delighted, had invited them to his house for a wedding supper. Everything was ready when the happy day arrived, and Hiram departed for his new home at an early hour, carrying with him such worldly goods as his betrothed had expressed a desiro to have, namely, one brass kettle, two new wash tubs for wh'ch Maria herself had bargained with a tin peddler, also two tin milking-pails and an assortment of pans, several small farm ing tools, and tied to the back of the cart his best Jersey cow. Manv curious eyes attended him a l * he drove through the village, and every small detail of the morning was repeated over and over again to those who were not so fortunate as to have seen it. The wedding ceremony was performed at the Slater homestead in the afternoon, and all would have gone off well if Cousin Louisa, when she was asked to sing some thing appropriate to the occasion, had not struck up "Thou art gone from my gaze," accompanying herself on the ancient,heart broken. and spider-legged piano. Hirm, who was not generally superstitious, felt that it was a bad omen, aud the indignant Miss Jane declared that it was just like Louisy for all the world, so nervous aud flustrated that she made 'bout everybody 'bout crazy with her blunders. Cap tain Bowers, who facetiously called it his wedding, was the life of the party, and the wedding supper which he gave lingers still in the happy memory of most of the participants. \\ hen the relatives and near friends had all de parted, with the exception of Miss Jane, the captain proposed, as wedding days didn't come often iu one's lile, they should be reckless for once, and play whist as long as they liked, and it was after the solemn midnight before the party broke up. Hiram found a plenty to occupy himself in his new home,for everything had gone to decay through neglect aud want of means, and whatever he did he found his Lucy in clined to manage the situation,and have her own way at all cost. But his equanimity was not easily disturbed, and though he may have ontortaincd some fears for his future peace of mind, was not all prepared for what happened one evening about six weeks after the wedding. They were playing some very exciting games of cards, Captain Bowers playing with Mrs. Leadbetter and Hiram with Miss Jane, when Hiram detected his wife in playing a trump which she had withheld wUen trumps were called before. "Hold!" he cried; "you cheat, you cheat! You denied trumps just now." She darted him one glance full of un speakable rage, and throwing her cards iu every direction, rose from the table and fled from the room, sk,milling the door af ter her. The two men seemed perfectly stunned with astonishment. "Lucy always was dretful quick-temper ed." said poor Miss Jane, looking deeply mortified. "She gets over it pritty quick, but I guoss we may as well st playin' for to-night. We shan't any of us feel like it now." "I ought not to have spoke so hasty, but I didn't mean no offence," said Hiram, and following his irate spouse, he npoligized humbly for what be bad said. But this only seemed to infuriate her the more. ,- I won't bear being accused of cheating by anybody!'' she cried. "Leave my house at once, and don't you ever dare to darken my doors again!" "There, now. Lucy. I reckon you don't know jest what you're sayin'," said Hiraui. growing very white. "I see it's no use talkin' to you now. I'll wait till you come to your senses." She sent a perfect torrent of angry words after him. bnt lie paid no heed to them, and betook himself to the kitchen lounge for the night, hoping to find her in a differ ent frame of mind in the morning. • But her anger had not abated in the least degree, and she still repeated her command that he should leave her house, and never darken the doors again. Poor Miss Jane remonstrated with tears in her eyes, saying she hain't been so comforta ble in twei.ty-five years as she had since Hiram had been in the house to provide and care for things. How kind and thought ful he had been, and then to treat hiin in this way, and he her husband too!" "Well, Lucy." said Hiram at length, "if I go. I shall go for good. I sha n't never come back again: remember that. I'm sor ry that I spoke so hasty, as I've said over and over again, but I can't do no inore about it as I know of." "Come back, indeed! I'll never speak to you again in this world—never." It took Hiram some time to collect his possessions and reload them on the cart, and it was quite dark when he drove through the village of Pride's Corner after the same fashion in which he left it a few weeks before. The blue tubs were there, and the brass kettle, with the moon's face face reflected in its shining depths, and the Jersey cow walked sedately along be hind. lowing gladly when she came in sight of her old home. But the friendly shades of evening hid him from general ob servation this time. "I played the wrong card; I hadn't ought to hev married her jest for the sake of the games eveniu's, and p'raps my pun ishment's only just. Folks mnsn't be too self-indulgent,fur pleasure is alwus desate ful," Hiram said to himself, sadly. But though it was humiliating to be sent home in this way—and the event has not yet ceased to be talked of at Pride's Cor ner—Hiram began to feel in a few days that his punishment was not as great as he deserved. John's folks were'very glad to take him as a boarder, and John's house hold was a delightfully cheerful one. Cyn thy's melodeon had vanished with her. A rosy-cheeked little bey played about the house; and to crown all. John's jolly little wife was an enthusiastic whist player, her her sister, who lived with her was of the same mind;and as John himself was always willing to take a hand Hiram brightened into something of the kind of a man lie was while Maria was living. In the course of two or three months Lucy wrote him a letter saying "if he would return to the side of his grief-slrick en wife he would be forgiven all." But lliram could not bring himself to think it his duty to do so. "'Twouldn't be inore'n another six weeks before she'd flare up again, an' it's jest like livin' ou the a'dge of a volcana to be her husband," he reflected; "an" ef a man have a chance ter play whist without encumbrances, it's a good deal better. But I'll take care to give her a good maintenance." And so he did. He Was Straight. "Look here, sir!" exclaimed an excited citizen as he grabbed hold of a man ou Michigan avenue yesterday, "I want an explanation from you!" "You can have it. sir." was the calm re ply. "Y'ou were at my house yesterday asking for charity." "Very likely." "N'o doubt of it, sir." "But when she asked you where Johns town was you located it in lowa." "I certainly did, sir." "Then it is proof enough that you arc a fraud and deserve arrest!" "Don't be so previous, my friend. Here is a state map of lowa. Do you see Johns town right there under my finger?" "Y-e-s." "Well, here is a clipping from a Du buque paper. Doesn't it say that Buffalo Creek is out of its banks and flooding the main streets of Johnstown?" "Yes." "AYell. then, what have you got to say? Flood took my house and shop away, drowned my wife, and I'm asking for mon ey to make a new start." "Yes—l see. Here's a quarter to help you along. It's very strange coincidence —very. Haven't got a Cambria iron works out there, have ygut" "Not quite. I believe they call it the Cambria lead and shot works." "Yes. Y'ou can go on. Curious coinci dence —very."— Free Press. The Railway Dinner. WENT. "Superfish." Bing! "Stakerliver," Bang! "Pieorpud," Bung! "Tearcough," Sling! ' 'Chcesererackers," Slang! "Nutsrapples," Slung! A'l out! Fifty cents! Awlaboard! Ph-wiz! Rival Cities. Chicago lawyer—And. gentlemen of the jury, remember 3*ou can't take this poor man's life without reducing the population of our might}- metropolis, an act of which I am sure such patriotic citizens as your selves will never be guilty while Brooklyn puts in her absurd claims to being 'he third great city in the country. —A soft ant, sir, turncth away a pick nicker from the custard pie. —Mayors of cities along the rivers from Johnstown, in the Pennsylvania moun tains, to New Orleans, the queen of the sub-tropics, are asked in the name of hu manity to see to it that a vigilant outlook for the dead of the Conemaugh is kept. Nothing could better illustrate the vastne>- of the disaster and even now silent wit nesses of the horror are reported as found as far from its scene as where the Ohio skirts Indiana. —The Incorporation at Chicago of the American Executing Company, organized to execute criminals who are sentenced to death, is either a huge joke or one of the grimmest of commentaries upon_the capac ity of tho American to turn everything to business advantage. I am lying. Egypt, lying, in my own pecu liar way. 1 acquired the habit lately,but I do it every day. Every "morning to the streamlet with my tackle I repair To beguile the speckled troutlet from the deep, pellucid lair: In the evening, on returning. I describe my victim's size, And aiu roamiuir, Egypt, roaming, in a wilderness vl'lies. "I Will Walt." N. V. Correspondence. The fact ha.> been widely ami tmthfnllr printed that General William T. Sherman dUlikes to hear the tune of "Kan-hing Through Georgia." It is not that he U un mindful of the fame which hi* Georgian march made for him. lmt that on every oc casion when a t>and of music play* know ingly in his hearing they feel in dnty hound to render * Marching Through Georgi*." and he has heard it so many, many time* thut it has become tiresome. Ue listened attentively, however, the other evening, to a war song with the making of which be had had something to do. There was onee a dinner at the Ohio Club, in Fifth avenue, and General* .Sher man. Sheridan and < 'arr were th"r» Stories of c uriously wounded men were 'old. and one of the narratives wa* by General Carr. and it related to a soldier in the Second New York Volunteers, of which Carr was colonel at the outset. In a battle a piee« of an exploded shell struck the man on the head and gave to him what would ordinar ily havo proved a fatal wound. He lay in sensible among the dead for several hours, nobody supposing that he was alive. Those who went to him foond gripped in one hand a small portion of a letter from his wife. In this she spoke of a furlangh which had been granted to him. and which he was going to use for a visit to his home, his health being poor. She wrote affection ately of their wedlock, reminded him of • willow tree under which they had done some of their courtship, and told him that on the day for his arrival she would meet him there. In the hurry and confusion he was left lying with this paper still in his grasp. Night fell upon the battle lield with the dead unburied and the living bnsy with de fenses of thc-inselves and care for tho wounded. In tlie morning the I todies of the slain were hastily buried in a trench. It was supposed our soldier was among them. Bnt he was not. During the night he had revived and wandered away. "Word was sent to bis home that be was dead.and this was regarded as bey end doubt, bat as a matter of fact he wandered off to a distant hospital, remained there unidentified until his wounds healed and was discharged, ut terly without memory of the past. It happened that he retained the merest scrap of his wife's letter, lmt withont name or place left on it. This he retained, and with a vagnc knowledge that it was from his wife, who was waiting for him some where. he wandered here and there over the country for four years. Then mere chance or a shadowy recollection of his home led his tramp to the very spot where his wife had promised to meet him. It was the willow tree close to his old home, and there he found her. The shock ofjoy and recognition neatly, if not quite, cured him of his malady. General Carr told tho story very touch ingly and it made a pathetic impression up on his hearers. One of them was a rhymster. and turning to him. General Sheridan said: "Ton ought to make verses out of that." "It should have music, too," General Sherman suggested. It ought to make a splendid song." The rliymster promised to nndertake the job. and to get a friend to compose an air, with the proviso that the three generals mentioned shou'.d get together to hear it sung. The words that resulted were as follows: WHERE THE WILLOW MAKES A SHADE. The last flash of battle, the last glint of sun, Lit lurid a blood-trampled plain; But twilight was waiting, when carnage was done, To throw a pall o'er the slain. Midst them lay a soldier nigh to death. With agony bravely l>orne: Fainting and bleeding, and gasping for breath, For a shell his head had torn, A letter he drew with strength all sped, And to read it an effort made. "I will wait," his wife in the writing said, ••Where the willow makes a shade." Though his mind was blurred, and memory dead, These words from his heart could not fade; '•I will wait," his wife in the letter said, "Where the willow ru■'':.0"0 tons of freight carried yearly by the railways of the coun try they sell 300.000.000. —There are some curious men on the le gal bench in this country. A t'onncetkat court tines a man five dollars for lying in wait to kill his wife and stabbing her, and an Ohio Court calls it *-".anlt and battery when four bnllets are fired into a fanner and he is robbed of his wallet. NO. 34