VOL. XXXIII
COME AND SEE US
Wo are Located od South Main Street,
(>]>] iosite Hotel Butler,
'T* ST* A
In the room formerly occupied by Hartzell & jl
Kemper. VV e have received our spring stock |
of Tans in different shades, Patent Leathers, t M 1
Kangaroos, etc. Our stock of Ladies Fine i tjjja I
Shoes and Oxfords is \ery large — all the latest
style la.-;s to be found among our stock. We 1 ,
carry these goods in all sizes and widths, and
prices the lowest. Come and see us. We
have many bargains in store for you.
The variety was never so great,
The styles were never so perfect,
The quality never so good, {
And the prices were never so low. i JBr • t
Biinnwautia 3
' 1 1 *
A FEW OF OUR PRICES
Ladies fine dongola pat tip ox
fords 5 C
jf .TTj Ladies fine serge congress gait
&L ers 45C
rj Ladies gra.n shoes pat tip heel
or spring 9 ° c
/^S Ladies waterproof oil grain
| «J 2 shoes 75 c
V % ; *\l Ladies fine calf slippers 50c
ys/ Mens waterproof working shoes 95c
.JJL Mens fine dress shoes lace or
~ m x. congress $ 1 -OO
\ v < Boys fine shoes.. S7SC, sl, $125
Misses good wearing school
Childrens fine dongola pat tip
shoes
I si< «k of Leather 1 and^Findings.
i-1 < irrakers supplies of all kinds.
Ai' lii ( < f russirg for Dongola.
'J ; 1 ;1 t! attM 1 «aihtr she ts at reduced piices.
Mail c idcis leceive prompt attention.
JOHN BICKEL
South Main St.
"Tn" 225, ' Butler Pa.
1 SPRING & SUririEß
FOOTWEAR!
B. C. HUSELTON J
Undeniably Shows the Largest Stock of Ladies \
, ftand Gents Fine Shoes of the Latest and (
? M ost* Stylish Patterns ever Displayed in v
\ HAVE YOU SEEN THE (
? \ | y&\ 'STILETTO," S
J \ I \ J One of the most perfect shoes for C
1 I % VA/ men ever made. Dark wine C
C I shade of Russia Calf, the latest r
} / W tint; black eyelets, silk stitched. 7
S i 20th Century shape welt. ✓
\ War-^I. Ladies low cut shoes in tan /
; and black. 1
r \*r t on Tailor made, in lace or button, /
\y onion S ZU Russet or Dongola, Kid or Pat- \
J ent Leather Tips. We sell these C
t v <* T1 Lli 1 \ beautiful and comfortable shoes at I
our trade winning figures, |M 0
i WOMEN'S DONGOLA SHOES IN Wk 1 ?
? BUTTON AND LACE. S
? Made on the latest lasts, only 75c, sl, \ C
j $1.25 and $1.50. Easy shoes a speci- m ?
S MEN'S AND BOYS' TANS I
j Highest grades, Russia Calf, in all the (
S most fashionable shades, comfortable t
f lasts, pointed or derby toe, positively /
? unequaled in Butler. Men's at £1 .50, $2, $2.50, $3, $3.50, C
Js4 :ind $5; Boys' at $1.35, $1.50 and $2; Youths' at $1.25, C
\ $1.50 and $1.90. 7
C | ,. r | Men's and Boys' Fine Shoes. C
\ k,,' Bl'lain. Square, Nee»lle or Opera Toe; \
/ a " widths, Calf at sl, $7.50, S3 and (
X __ . #5-s<>; Buff and A Calf at yie, |i, /
? an . d /.-5o; Boys' at 85c, $., \
C \nv f 5 an Yoiiths* at 751:, 11 €
) Mens Solid Working Shoes (
/ st y° u cver saw at 75c, fi, $1.25 S
v Jt I ' 3- See our |i.oo shoe with C
J <££ l Crcdemore, tlie best shoe mafle f
\ J o ' money —°^ ers K e t
C sses * ldrens Sprlng-biel Shoes
f All the New Styles in Tan and Black, Lace or Button, Pointed or Square C
1 Toe at 75c, |r, #1.25 and 1r.50, sizes ia-2- Childs at 40c, 50c, 75c f 1 and (
f $1.25, si/es
f Come in and see us and try our shoes. t
i B. C. HUSELTON, OPP- Hotel Lowry. I
*umi mn * sfST GOODS*
*S(iOD WORK %Hli) PfilCfS*
These .ire tin- things that have enabled tne to build i*> a tailoring trade
during the last year. p
We have the most skillful, painstaking cutter; employ none but the very best
workmen; handle nothing but the very best goods, both foreign and domestic, and
guarantee you perfect satisfaction in each and every particular, and for all this
charge you simply a fair living profit.
J. h5. YOUNG,
Tailor, Hatter and Men's Furnisher, "" ° p '
TT IE BUTLER CITIZEN.
Eawy to Take
My to Operate
Are features f *cuU%r to Hood's nils. Small in
•i 2€, tasteless, fcfQcient, thorough. As one man
Hood's
■Aid: " You n( ver know you _ _ _
hare taken a | til till it 1* all .11
over." see. C.t. Hood * Co., 111}%
Proprietors, i owell. Mas*.
The only pUli <0 Uk* with Hood's ftarsaparilia.
cTx D.
o mmwzazmm
iLWer- 1
|Wear |
|P©ip)ts |
Tborougb protection
Cv
fio irrit&tio?? g?
Mon-aljnnhfciMs' jS
£§ Perfect fittioj
SB pricey
Ail io J*ros Hy%i<zi)ic
[ §5
S& Un<i«rw<rar.
owmmffl&M&o
All grad'* of t'nderwer at very
low prices.
Largest stock of hats and
furnishings for gentleman ni the
country. An inspection will prove
this to any ones satisfacture.
Colbert & Dale.
242 5. Main St., Putler, ennV
THE HABIT OF
wearing good clothes
is a good habit and
our clothes are good
habits. We want to
help you torm this
good habit. Begin
now! in a short time
you will be convinced
we have saved you
money and that you
are always dressed in
good taste. Good
taste in dress secures
a cordial recognition
for those who show
it. No man can tell
how much injury a
shabby appearance
may do him. Our
handsome new Spring
stock is now ready
for your selection.
MODERN METHODS.
MODERATK RICKS.
ALAND,
MAKER OF
MEN'S CLOTHES.
JOS. HORNE& CO.
A Line
of Black Silks
WITHOUT PARALLEL
AS TO VALUE.
Many silk bargains have been
presented before—Never the
equal of this, anywhere!
3,600 yards
£1. 25, $1,50
anil $1.75.
Black Silks, ...
Comprising brocaded K
gross grain, satin da- / OC
mas, .....
27-inch satin duch- S - var °-
esse, rustling tafletas,
etc.
Come, or send soon for such
exceptional values can not
last, and we don't want dis
apyointment to follow your
order.
Penn Avenue and Fifth St.,
PITTSBURG.
L.O. WICK
DIALIB II
Rough and Worked Lumber
or AX. KI>DI
Doors, Sash, Blinds, Mouldings,
Shingles and Lath
Always In Stock.
LIME, HAIR AND PLASTER
0«o» opposite P. A.W. Depot.
rrtTLEH
m. A, mum
Funeral Director
37J>£liiji,St.
liTTTLER. THURSDAY, JL'NE S 4 189(».
eriT.
\ ®Y WIULiIAM T. MCHOIiS.
* ,Mi r ~ V'lghe ißqj. by J. B Comfiny...
VII.
Jiad the master of the house on the
knoll been other thun he was, this
latent precaution might have served to
excite a Suspicion that his mind was
lieglnning to gi v ® way under the de
pressing- influences of his manner of
existence. Afterward, It is trme, sus
picions of the sort came to me, though
they were never long-lived, but at that
time, while wonder was aroused, the
feeling carried with It no suggestion
that he was not actuated by some suf
ficient reason for the step he had taken.
So far as I knew, his safety was not
threatened; but I had to confess my
self in ignorance of tho character of the
peril he dreaded, and to note his ar
rangements, without appreciating the
need of them, much as a raw recruit
might watch the many and seemingly
excessive precautions of a veteran in
charge of a magazines
About a fortnight after the adven
ture in the marsh Lamar surprised mo
with an invitation to dine. He said very
little while the meal was in progress,
but when Martha bad cleared up the ta
ble and shuffled off to her own domain
be began to talk with unwonted free
dom. He asked questions about the
village, concerning which his curiosity
was certainly new-born,and thenabout
the progress I had made in building up
a practice.
"Well," said I, rather sheepishly,"it's
slow work. People hereabouts are
conservative. Most of them have sur
vived old Dr. Banks' attentions for a
good many years and they are cautioua
about changing. Besides, most of them
knew 11* as a youngster, and it takes
time to live down the fact that I was a
boy."
"You maintain the professional air?"
said he, inquiringly.
"Yes, though they give mo little
cause to smell of drugs. Strange and
powerful odors would impress them,
I suspect; at least some of the older
brethren seem to find such an aroma
worth carrying about with them."
"You should possess a conveyance of
your own."
"So far one has been unnecessary. In
case of need, Mrs. Weston lends me a
horse and buggy."
"That will not suffice. Procure a
suitable vehicle and a horse—one of
speed. The co&t shall be mine."
"Very well," I answered.
He rose and bowed in the fashion in
which he terminated an interview,
adding, however, before he left the
room: "Procure them at once."
I understood that in this order he
had an eye as much to his own benefit
as to mine, but it pleased me neverthe
less. There was nothing in the way of
horsetlesh in the neighborhood which
would meet the requirement of gTeat
speed, and I resolved to drive to Baf*-
settville the next day to seek Sam Car
penter's assistance, his knowledge of
the trotting Rtock of the region being
encyclopaedic in its scope. To th«
shrewdness of a horse trader born and
bred he joined a reasonable amount
of honesty, and, as there could be no'
haggling over his commission, he could
be relied on as a trustworthy adviser.
When I drew rein the following morn
ing before his stable he came out to
meet me, with a twinkle of profession
al amusement in his eye as he glanced
at Mrs. Weston's steady old mare and
ramshackle buckboard.
"Sam," said I, getting down to busi
ness at once, "I wont to buy a good
horse."
"Like enough ye dew," he answered,
dryly. "Many dews; some gits 'em."
"I want your help. What's more, I'll
pay for it."
"Now yer talkin' sense," said he,
warming up a little. "Buyin' a boss's
like gittin' a wife; if yer don't know yer
bizness.good looks 'll fool y<\ nine times
Out o' ten. But what's yer pick, go or
show ?"
"Go," said I. "A horee that will stand
without tying, that's easy to drive, that
has no bad tricks, that will jog along
till he's called upon, and then will give
anything inthccountryhlsdust—that's
the horse I'm after."
"D'jer ever try to namo a baby BO'S to
suit seven maiden aunts?" he queried,
with what seemed to be unnecessary
irrelevance.
"No."
"Wall, I reckon ye've got the same
kind of a job on band."
"Oh, come," said I, "you're my re
liance in this. Scratch your head, and
dig out what I'm after. It will be worth
your while."
He reflected for a moment.
"Wall," said he, "there's nothin' to
suit ye round here; but if yell come,
along to Trent, I'll show ye just the.
article yer after."
The proposal pleased mo; for I hod
several errands to attend to in that
city, and a ride of less than an hour by
rail would carry us there.
"Come on, then," said Carpenter,
when I had agreed to his plan; "let's
get down ter the deepo. Train's due in
ten minutes."
During the trip ho told me some
thing of tlie various happenings in
Basse ttville, tuvd, in turn, sought news
of Itodneytown in general, and of my
patient in particular. He had heard,
he said, a story that the invalid was a
rich brewer from the south who had
been sent to a less enervating climate. I
prayed that the yarn might receive, gen
eral circulation and credence, though
how it had been started was one of the
mysteries of countryside gossip.
"He's from Charleston, South Car*-
liny, some folks allow," said Carpenter,
suggestively.
"From that direction, certainly," I
answered.
"He keeps mighty close."
"Ho has to. Quiet, absolute quiet, is
tho bent medicine he can have," I hast
ened to explain.
" Toin't much fun fer a man ter live
.like a clam," Carpenter observed. "Still,
it's livin', and that beats dyin' every
time. It's like fishin' fer bass and
catchin' bull-heads."
When we left the train at the Trent
station Sam led the way to the stable
where we hoped to make a purchase.
The horse, a big dark bay, long-legged
and with a wisp of a tail, was brought
out of his stull and trotted up and
down tho street for insjicction. He was
not a pretty horse in any way, but
Carpenter gave me a nudge which
might be taken to indicate that the
animal met his approval. He drew me
aside, after having made a long and
thorough examination of tho horse.
"Eight years old, sound as a dollar;
wind and legs all right," said he, in u
whisper. "I've seen him before. He's
jjood for a mile under 2;40. Quiet as a
lamb, no fool notions; sensible as a
Christian about trains —knows the
Jnjiue can't hurt him if he keeps ofT the
track."
"What's the price?"
"Five hundred—asked," said he, with
a strong i mphasis on the last word.
I whistled softly.
"Oh, that's the askin' price," he ex
plained. "It's like a woman's chignon:
it'll come off."
"I'm in your hands," said I. "Under
stand, I want your guarantee in this
business, and you'll be paid for it. Be
sides the horse, I need harness and n
buggy."
"Wall," said he, after a moment's cal
culation, "I'll be fair with ye. Will ye
give me what I can clear under S3OO fer
the hull outfit, boss, light-runnin*
buggy, and a good harness?"
"It's a bargain. I'll go to the bank,
draw the money, and bring it to you
here. Will you drive the rig to Ba*sett
villc, so that I can get it there to-night
when I come down by train ?"
"By the time yer back from the bank
I'll have made the dicker and be ready
to start," suid he. And he was as good
as his word. Before noon the payment
had been made and my new horse was
trotting steadily along the road lead
ing from Trent. Carpenter's praise of
the animal had been enough to end my
doubts as to his speed, but I could not
but wish that the steed were more pleas
ing to look upon.
Though I wasted a good deal of time
over a mid-day dinner and the various
commissions I had to execute, I found
upon reaching the railway station that
there was nearly an hour of waiting
ahead of me before.the accommodation
train should begin its journey down the
rood. The station, however, was not a
bad place in which to kill time, for two
lines met there, and the rapid ebb and
flow of the human tide continued from
morning to night. I rubbed elbows
with stolid farmers, brisk townspeople
and nervous women, chatted for a mo
ment with an acquaintance, and then
stepped out upon the platform in
search of some sheltered nook where a
cigar might be enjoyed in peace. A
long train from the west monopolized
one of the tracks. It appeared to be
well filled with passengers, and I
strolled the length of It, surveying
with some amusement the faces flat
tened against the windows of the cars,
faces old, middle-aged and young, but
all alike in their expression of vague
curiosity, as their owners watched the
stream of travelers passing from the
waiting-rooms. I had nearly reached
the end of the last, car, and had l>ent
down to strike a match !n the lee of it,
when I heard my name called.
"Oh, Dr. Morris, Dr. Morris, dear doc
tor, that's you, isn't it? Do come here,
quick, quick! The train will bo start
ing in a second, and I must see you!
Oh, doetor, doctor, quick, quick!"
I recog-nized the voice. It was that
of Mrs. Loring', with all the old hurry
ing rush of words I remembered so well.
Looking up, I saw the itinerant sufferer
leaning far out. of the ear window, with
one arm waving wildly, as if to assist
in attracting my attention. Pullingoff
my hat, 1 sprang toward her.
"Oh, this is fortunate, fortunate, doc
tor —you can't know how fortunate!"
(she cried. "I've been anxious, so anx
iious, to see you. How is my health?
|Oh, doctor, it's terrible, terrible, worse
;thaji ever, doctor; worse, much worse,
very much worse."
"And Miss Gray, is she still with
[you?" I asked, my eyes roaming over
(the windows and seeking her niece's
(face at one of them.
"Yes, yes, dear girl, dear girl, she
jiever leaves me. Ilow could she, and
[have a heart? Mine, doctor, has been
|up to 120 a minute."
"Indeed!" said I, throwing due pro
fessional gmvity into the word. "I
[trust Miss Gray is well ?'
"Yes, yes, as well as ever. And a tem
ij<erature of 102, repeatedly, doctor, re
'pcatedly."
"What, Miss Gray's tern—?" cried I,
with no fictitious concern.
"No, no, mine. Dear me, doctor,
didn't I tell you it was mine? Those
springs in Kentucky—we've just come
from them —they did me no good, I'm
sure. And I was so hopeful, doctor, so
hopeful; the water had so many strange
tilings in it, I was sure some of them
must help me."
"Your case is a marvelous one, Mrs.
Loring," said I. "Will you kindly pre
sent my regards to your niece, and—"
She stopped me with a quick gesture.
"Please put your address here," said
she, thrusting a note book toward me.
"Hurry, pleas© hurry—the train is be
ginning to move. I have an Idea that—
Oh, thanks; yes, yes, I see, 'Bodney
,town.' So good of you, yes, so good.
Good-by, doctor, good-by.
The train was fairly under headway
now, and I stood bowing low, but not
to the vanishing invalid. At the next
window to hers I had hod a glimpse
of another face, one that dreams had
kept fresh in my memory and that had
figured in tlie little romance that had
crept into my existence.
VIII.
Winter, us a rule, displays few of his
milder moods on that coast, and I had
dreaded the effect of the season's rig
ors upon I.imiar, who certainly had had
no experience of the protracted cold of
the latitude. Luckily, the house on the
knoll had been built to withstand
storms, and I saw to it that an abundant
supply of fuel was laid in, so that, on
tlie whole, in spite of its exposed posi
tion, tho dwelling was fairly com
fortable even in the worst weather. Its
owner made no complaints. Ho spent
much of his time in one of the upper
rooms, which he bad fitted up as a sort
of laboratory. His interest appeared
to be divided between chemistry and
electricity, though whether his experi
ments iu either had any object save his
own amusement I never learned. Two
or three cases of books had been shipped
from Trent to my address, but for his
use, and, when he eared to read, a mis
cellaneous collection of worthies could
be drawn u]>on. There were a few
Portuguese books and a few Spanish, a
good many in Latin, and a still larger
number In French and in Fnglisli. Bur
ton's Anatomy, t'ieero's Letters, and
Voltaire's works seemed to be his fa
vorites. I say "seemed," for he never
took tlie trouble to speak of any of the
authors he read.
He was still as cadaverous as ever,
though his general physical condition
■was ns good as could be hoped for by
any man who led so sedentary a life.
December dragged through its tem
.pewtuous length, and January followed
with an even more trying sti-ieh of
gales and eitren .• cold. Thesi condi
tions he with.st«x>d so well that I had
hopes that the winter would p.u- with
out illness at the house on the knoll;
but oue day early in February I found
hiin suffering from a severe cold and
exhibiting symptoms which were most
unfavorable. It was my first oppor
tunity to earn the salary <>f his medical
adviser, and fortune was kind. Al
though ho developed a good deal of
fever, and at the worst it was touch
and-go with pneumonia, a week saw
him practically out of danger, though
still quite willing to keep to his bed,
and a good deal safer then; than he
would liave been prowling about the
house. lie expressed no opinion of Lis
treatment, no thanks to his doctor, no
imi>at ience to be about again. I was
his physician, hired by the year, and so
long as he was ill my orders were to be
obeyed unquestioning]}"; there was
uo need of gratitude either way. It
was all very logical, no doubt, but it in
creased my dislike for him. There
wcrtild have been more real satisfaction
in persuading a drooping sapling to
keep alive.
After his recovery we slipped back
into the old routine. He gave oriiers
occasionally, and I obeyed them, with
out question and without any great
heed for the reasons for them. In fact,
speculating upon this man's history or
his plans was such profitless business
that, for the time, I gave it up in dis
gust. He was a person who v ;:s t.> be
visited daily, who paid lib. : .' 1 v f > the
attention, and who thus •
pass my many leisure -
easy-going comfort. The ; i
were no longer inquisitive about the
hermit; the theory of the brewer from
Charleston appeared to have spread
widely and to have been accepted, find
ing believers far more easily than
would have been the case with any state
ment of the facts concerning him, so
far as they had fallen within my knowl
edge.
At last winter drew to a close, and
spring came on, advancing coyly, as is
the custom of maidens before whom
the world is ready to bow in eager hom
age. Then the last of the snow-banks
disappeared from tho recesses of the
hills, the slopes grew green, and the
rank vegetation of the marsh flourished
in all the vigor of its strong new life.
Once more there were birds in the trees,
r.nd flowers in the fields, and once more
from the 6ea swept invigorating
breezes.
To all about me spring brought re
newed activities. There was a fine
bustle on the farms, and even the sleepy
village seemed to bo awakened. For
the first time my ease became onerous;
I fell to inventing tasks to convince
myself that one could be busy if he
would. My horse, whose existence,
during the winter had been all That
equine sloth could desire, was now in
steady service, for the roads were excel
lent, being sufficiently sandy soon to
rid themselves of undesirable moisture,
and I explored the highways and by
ways for miles around. Near the vil
lage I let my steed choose his own gait,
but when we found a level bit of road
where there were likely to be r.o spec
tators the trotter had an opportunity
to provehis speed. He was all that Ca
rpenter had said for him; devoid of
nerves, yet, when pushed, by long odds
tho fastest animal in the region.
appearance certainly was ag-ainst him
Arching the neck he left to the younger
and less philosophical of his kind; his
head w as carried as low as that of the
oldest and most decrepit plow horse
in the town. He was free from the vice
of stumbling, yet often seemed to
threoteu to lose his footing on the
slightest provocation. A high knee
action was foreign to his notions, and
his ordinary trot was a mere shuffle.
Yet he covered ground surprisingly,
even when apparently only lounging
along. His only serious fault, from a
practical point of view, was a hard
mouth, which sometimes made it no
easy task to pull him in after one of
our spurts.
We were jogging along toward tho
village one day, when I heard a sharp
patter of hoofs behind me, and soon
Dr. Banks' clever little mare drew up
alongside the dark bay.
"Good morning, Morris," her on ner
called out, in his olieery voice, which
had done as much for his patients as
half his prescriptions.
"Fine day, doctor," I 6houted back to
him.
"Very professional-looking nag you've
got there," he continued. "Will stand
without hitching, I'll be bound."
"He answers my purpose well
enough," I responded, rather stiffly,
for after awhile jokes about one's horse,
no matter how well intentioned, lose tho
oharin of novelty.
"Pity he hasn't more speed," said the
other, and, with a twitch of the reins,
he shot his marc a couple of lengths
ahead. It was probably his scheme to
trot a hundred yards or so and then pull
up to watch in triumph my tardy ap
proach. When he looked over bis
shoulder, however, the bay's head was
close to his wheel. Much surprised,
and no less disappointed, he brought
his animal down to a walk, a proceed
ing which I promptly imitated.
"I've been wanting to have a talk
with you, Morris," he said. "It has
A we«k saw him practically oat of danger.
struck mo that we might cooperate a
little to our mutual advantage.''
"Indeed?" said I, wondering what
might be in tlie old gentleman's mind.
•"The fact is, I'm getting ancient,"
he went on.
"Not a bit of it," said I. "You're, in
v our prime, fair, plump, and forty."
"Deny the first, admit the second, and
make the third half as much again,'*
said he. "I'm not broken down —and
1 don't want to be before my time.
That's just the point. This last win
ter gave me a warning. Besides, I've
enough to live on, and I'd like to have
a little chance for play after 40 years
of work. I want to travel a bit, to see
something of this big country of ours.
I'm like a mole that knows Iris particu
lar garden by heart, but has hardly a
notion of what may be on the other side
of the fence. The long and short of it
is, I'd like to shift my heavy work to
younger Shoulders, which will bear It
more easily, and, I dare say, better."
"Not better," said I.
"The fact is, as you've probably dis
covered, this town is hardly big enough
to support two doctors comfortably,
tjtjios s«mcdf9 mo thaf w* might niakf
som 1 ? arrangvment which would be ad
rantr.goouß to both of us. There's a
yo uig chap in Trent « !.«> is tr\ idk to
dicker with me. but put hun otf,
f. r you're first ( <n the rround, ai.d 1
don't believe in maUiug two (>eople
sieep in a bed that's lar>re enough for
only one. fty the way. though, am 1
right in supposing that you're decided
'<-> rrmaiu lure pefuart '.tly That
,\u.4 " •""'f a <!uTerenee. of*course."
"I can'" il ' ! *<ave ar;r settled
plans." said I, "bu. <exp»^ta
tion of moving inimed jUIv. '
"Woll, think it over. Tliore's uo
hurry about it," he answered; anil,
chirrupint his mure, away he rattled
toward the villain".
I followed slowly In his wake, let
ting the bay choose his own gait. Dr.
Banks' proposition had taken me by
surprise; moreover, it had served to
rou«e me to n realization of the com
pleteness with which inv future was'
sulijer* to the caprices of fate. For the
present, to he sure, there was no cause
for anxiety; but a week might change
the situation completely. Suppose
I.nnior should choose to depart; there
was no certainty tiiat he would not
leave me behind. Suppose he should
die; it was hardly probable tbat I
sho'itd protit by ikny bequest. Supjiose
his- enemiu- should discover his retreat
and descend upon him; the result, so far
as I was concerned, would be the sanie.
This last danger st>\n*'d to be the least
imminent of the three, but it was as
well to reckon it in. I had been in his
pay for the. l>etter part of a y ear, but,
in reality, was my position improved ?
I hud lived in comfort, free from tha
cares which had burdened me in the
city, I had accumulated a few hundred
dollars, and physically 1 had been a
gainer by the removal to the country.
That was one. side of the ledger. On
the other could be read loss of the lit
tle progress I had made in my profes
sion, absence of settled purposes of any
sort, and a grow th of that often disas
trous docility which follows unques
tioning subjection to another's strong
will. Things could not go on as they
were indefinitely. Sooner or later the
end must come. And then? Was I
prepared to devote myself to the narrow
field of a country practitioner, useful
and honorable as it was? Banks had
done me a great service; he had roused
me in most timely fashion; but the'
awakening had been faj- from pleasant.
From habit my horse came to u stand
still in front of the village post ottice,
and equally from habit I entered thd
place and asked for my mail. A letter,
a medical journal, and a newspaper
were handed out, and, mechanically
thrusting them into my pocket, I
walked to the buggy, climbed in, and
turned my nag's head homeward. Still
possessed by doubts and speculations,
I rode to the farmhouse, and, reaching
it, locked myself in my office, there to
endeavor to arrive at some conclusion,
to choose a way out of my uncertainty.
I sat there for hours before I achieved
a decision, and it was hardly more than
a compromise. In justice to Dr. Banks,
I would tell him it was out of my power
to enter into u permanent arrangement
with him, for eventually I should seek
a more jjopulous district; if he cared
for a temporary alliance, such terms as
he offered should be accepted.
Catchiug eight of the newspaper in
my pocket, I drew it out, and, as 1 did
so, the letter fell from its folds to the
floor. I picked it up and read the ad
dress, written in a feminine hand, all
angles and straight lines, like the frame
work of a house, yet clear uud legible.
The postmark was New York. With
waxing curiosity, for my correspond
ence was extremely limited, I broke the
seal.
"Mv dear l>r. Morris," the letter ran.
"mv aunt, Mrs. Loring, desires to learn
whether it will be convenient for you
to receive her as a patient, and whether
rooms eun be secured for us near your
office. She has tried a number of treat
ments since the voyage from Bio, bnt
none of them has been of marked bene
fit to her. She remembers gratefully
the success attending your ministra
tions on shipboard, and feels confident
that your skill will bring her the relief
she has sought so long. She asks me to
add that this plan was in her mind when
our chance meeting made it possible to
secure your address.
"Yours very sincerely,
"Doßornv G HAY."
'Again and again I read these lines,
"poring over them as joyously as ever
did Egyptologistover freshly discovered
hieroglyphs which set at rest a much
mooted point. Out above the rest of the
letter stood two words, "for us." Mrs.
boring's niece would hardly leave her,
but here was proof that both of them
would come to Rodneytovvn. That 1
could succeed in convincing the elder
lady that nothing serious ailed her was
hardly jiossible; it was quite on the
cards that after a month or two she
would depart in a huff; but, in the mean
time —well, I didn't trouble myself
with the details of that problematical
period. The great central point of in
terest was that f<*r several weeks, at
least, Dorothy Gray and I would be
thrown together. For the moment
Lamar, Banks, and all my recent wor
ries were forgotten.
"Mrs. Weston," said I, pouncing upon
that good woman as she passed the
door of the office, "please do me a great
favor. I have un old friend—patient, I
mean —who is anxious to put herself
under my care. I must find a boarding
place for her. Can't you take her in?"
"Well, now, I'd real like to, doctor,
but I ain't got tlie room," she an
swered, with kindly regret in her tone.
"Is she all by herself?"
"No, she isn't," I confessed. "Her
niece is with her."
"Little girl, is she?"
"No; a young lady," I answered, try
ing to avoid the consciousness of a
twinkle in my hostess' eye.
"It's too bad, I'm sure; but we're a
pretty full house as it is." said she.
"How ever, don't get discouraged. Try
Mis' Clark across the road; she don't
use half that big house since her boys
went out west. It'll lie n good place,
too. Mis' Clark's a good provider, and
as neat as a hull paper of pins."
Over the way to the house of Clark I
hastened, only to find its mistress dis
inclined to receive boarders. "City
folks' notions," she averred, were not
to be endured. But she began to re
lent a little when 1 put her yielding on
the ground of a personal favor; and
when I dwelt prni rously on Mrs. Wes
ton's praise of her us a housekeeper, she
led me upstairs to two rooms, spiuk and.
span and very oni'ortuble withal, and,
with pretended ungraciousness, said
that my friends could occupy them,
provided they could "stand plain livin'
and plainer comp'ny." f closed the
bargain on the spot.
Mrs. Weston met me at her door, on
my return late that afternoon from a
drive, iu the course of which the an
swer to Miss Gray's letter hud been in
trusted to the mail.
"You look like a new man," said she,
approvingly. "Sakes ulive! how get
tin' a new patient does perk you young
doctors up!"
"The more the merrier, of court-e,"
said I.
"You're lucky to get two such speetul j
Buff"reis. You'll be gettin" rich, what >
with tl}9 new one -and tin* old on?*oT(Tf
She pointed to the bouse on the knoll,
which showed a dark spot among the
low lands lying about it fresh and green
and britrht in the slanting rays of th«
setting sun, now Hearing the creet.s of
the hills to the west.
"Seems like a blot on our landscape,
don't it?" she said, with her eye* still
ti\ed on the somber mound.
"Yes," thought I. in more
ways than one."
{TO JUS ooxrtxito.]
WEN WHO WEAR NO OVERCOATS.
letter (ttrrl.-ra, Comlaetora HUII Other
tlHOM'ii Who I>o Without Them.
"Man is a clothes-wearing aniiuai,"
,i\.- Carlyle in his "Sartor Kcsartus,"
but his description of thet-e garments
would have lieen curtailed had a cer
tain class of men, who never wenrover-
Conts, come within the limHw of his ob
servation. There are hundreds of men
in this city who do not wear overcoats
ut any time during the year.
Prominent among tlteHi air the letter
cariier*. They do not wear overcoats
because it Is against the rules of the
post office department. A nniform of
gray wa-s designed for them, atid they
haw to wear it the year round. Of
course the summer uniform U of lighter
v eight than those they wear during the
winter months The only exception Is
the rubber coat, which it> considered
part of the uniform, and is allowed on
rainy days. The writer asked a letter
carrier if he did not feel the need of an
overcoat.
"It would be u little more eouifortuble
just for to-day," he said, "but this
weather won't last, and so I'll get
through all right wlthoutone. The first
winter I wits in the department It was
terrible for me, and I thought I would
freeze, but Tve got used to being with
out one now, and don't mind the cold
weather at all."
Another great chuss of workers sel
dom seen wearing overcoats are the
messenger boys. No overcoat la In
cluded In their uniform either, but there
arc no rules prohibiting them from
wearing these garments if they desire,
Al times one may see a messenger with
a coat over his uniform, but he is usu
ally a new boy or a delicate chap who
cannot stand the cold, for the majority
of the messengers do not care to wear
coats.
Since the Introduction of the new uni
forms in the street cleaning depart
ment the übsenee of overcoats on street
sweepers is much noticed. Prior to this,
change these men presented a motley 1
sight during the winter mortths. On
cold days they wrapped themselves in
all sorts of ragged and tattered coats,
and even tied bagging about their feet
In order to keep warm. Although the
uniform of white duck does not present
a very comfortable aspect, the men keep
warm by wearing heavy short coats and
a pair or two of heavy trousers under
neath, and If they stick to their work
properly they will never feel the need
of a bulky overcoat.
Elevated railroad guards, as a class,
do not wear overcoats, although one is
included in the uniform. They usually
bundle up snugly underneath their
short jacket, and, as they are allowed
to pass their time betweon stations in
side the cars, they do not find an over
cdat at all necessary to their comfort.'
Few of them resort to an overcoat ex
cepting In very stormy weather.
Sailors never wear overcoats, and,
more than that, they never bundle up
jiround their necks. It is rare to see a
sailor with the collar of his pea-jacket
turned up around his neck. As a rule
they walk along in the fiercest breeze
with nearly one-fourth of their chests
bared, and, as a class, they are free
from colds and diseases of the lungs.
Many health experts hnve argued
about the use of overcoats, and the con
sensus of opinion Is that people wrap
up too much In winter time. Many men
can afford overcoats who do not War
them except during zero w eat her. They
claim that overcoat wearing is a habit,
and not only unnecessary, but detri
mental to health. A writerjn this city
has not worn an overcoat In five years,
and he has not had a cold during that
period.—N. Y. World.
PLAYING POKER FOR KEEPS.
This W»»m the btlffeat name tor Yfun on
the r»<-lAo ComK
"The biggest game of poker ) have
heerd of in the past few years," said
one of the Californiaus at the Capitol,
"was played In Son Francisco about
two years ago between Lucky Baldwin
and a California cattle man.
"The game was limited, but one by
one the players dropped out until no
body was left in bat Baldwin and the
cattle man. They agreed to waive the
limit, and the cattle man set the pace.
"lie wanted to bet SIO,OOO. Baldwin
stayed and offered to go him SIO,OOO bet
ter. The cattle owner scratched his
head, and said he didn't have that much
to lose, but he would like to put up his
cattle as collateral. Baldwin was agree
able, nnd the cattle were assessed at
ten dollars a bead.
,v Then the cattleman raised Baldwin
SIO,OOO. That made Baldwin scratch hi*
head and hem and haw a little. lie
said lie wns in the same predicament as
his friend. He didn't have quite that
much to lone.
" 'But,' said Baldwin, 'you know tny
house On Market street,' giving ihe
number of the property! 'well, I'll pit
that against 750 of your cattle, making
a total of $75,000.'
"Tli« cattleman agreed, and then it
came to a show down. The ruralist
laid d<rwn four queens. Baldwin laid
down four aco6. It was the stlffest
game of poker played on the Pacific
Coast for many long years."—Washings
lon Post.
A LotuiuotlTv'i Queer Loud.
One can never predict exactly what
will be the result of a railroad collision.
Sometimes the wrecked curs are piled
up in an astonishing heap; sometimes
they are telescoped; sometimes they
are turned over and over, or twisted
crosswise on the track, or stood up on
end, a* a baggageman loves to stand u
trunk. But perhaps the queerest of all
accident* of this kind occurred recently
at Townnda, Pii., where a locomotive
drawing a train at full ran into
three box ears standing on the track
One of theee cars was lifted bodily, and
almost uninjured, on top of the loco
motive, smashing the smokestack and
wirt of the cab. There it remained firm
ly In plnoe, und the locomotive carried it
to the town of Waverly, near by, whets*
a photograph was made, showing the
car on its lofty perch. Scientific
American.
liu Discovery.
"Yes," he said in a tone that had a
shadow of disappointment in it, "I went
to Washington. I had some business In
the east, and I thought it would be a :
good time to (jet a little in«iglitin the I
way flie affairs of the government are j
conducted.**
"I guess a mini can pick up a good j
deal that is interesting and instructive
there. What place in the capital im
pressed you most?"
"The senate restaurant'"
"You don't say so!"
"Yes. If was there I discovered that \
a man can eat lineklelierry pie with his
knife and still be a leader of Ills fellow- !
eitfre ns." Detroit Free TV<?W.
ISTo. 23
HUMOROUS.
—Conductor
Muller. You are not expected to play
flrst 'ill' 1 : • with your big drum!"—
riirtfrnde Hiuetter.
—Alas." exclaimed the pomilorleitffr,
"that 1 should have imbil>ed of the new
art movement. If 1 Imd jjot attempted
that pester« tTeet. I should now Wufree
man." IVtroit Tribune.
- Ifc-acon Jones "So John C'nrvei if
umong the converted'!" I>eacon Rrowlj
- "Yes. but Carvel is without a past;
tie won't out any tisrtirt) at praise nux-d
ings."- -lloston Tmiisoript
—Teacher—"What does h-a-m-ni-o-C
spell V Tommy "Don't know, ma'am.
Teacher—"What does your mothey
drive nails with, stupid?" Tommy—
"A strive lifter." -Snn Francisco Wave.
—Mrs. L>e Stoile-—"l>ld you onjoy tLa
opera ?" Mrs. Fushion—"Vury much.
We had a i>ox, and the H'Joneses sat
right opposite us in the circle. It WTIIJ
glorious!"— Philadelphia North Amer
ican.
—Theater Manager—-"Your* l£ tbo
best minstrel show wo hav<> bnd hftre fof
ten years. Where did you get on to all
those new jokes?" Interlocutor "On®
of the end men got hold of u file of onp
of last year's English jomci* n' mt it
year ago." -SommervMe Journal
—lndispensable. **l dou't think X
want n cyclopaedia," said tl»e woman of
the house, "but If you have got any nic€
books for children —" "Great Scott,
ma<lam! n exclaimed the unblushing
book agent. "We use thU cyclopaedia
for a children's book at our house alto
gether. They sit on it at the table."—
Chicago Tribune.
•—A Remarkable Child.—'Tome, little
girl, tell me what is your name and ho\s
Old you are?" asked an old bachelor,
who was visiting the Yerger family.
The child holds back eiind refuses to
talk. Mother- "That's the wa? she
She never likes to talk to gentlemen.*
"ITumph! If shekeeps that up, she will
make a splendid wife some of theae
days."—Texas Sifter.
PUTTING A MAN TO BLEEP.
Several Way* Described and So Two of
Them Alike.
The man who has just taken g»us and
had a tooth pulled while undor lta per
suasive Influence was sitting in a choir
and rubbing the side of his jaw. After
the blood had stopped flowing, he un
bosomed himself ad libitum tolheelrelo
of sympathetic friends.
"I have now been insensible throo
times tioni Interesting causes," }ic be
gan. "Once I was knocked Out In o
glove fight, once I was nearly drowned,
and this time I have taken gas."
"What was the difference In the set}*
sat ions?" asked the man with the yel
low whiskers.
"Quite a good deal," answered the vio
tim. "I remember that when I was
knocked out in a tight that there was
absolutely no accompanying phenom
ena except a sudden red flash In my eyea.
A moment later I found myself sitting
on the floor while they were pouring
water on me. The back of my head was
aching where I had hit the floor, and
there was n scratch on my jaw, under
the ear. The other fellow had npper
cut me ns I ducked a rlght-linnder; hU
wrist had caught my jaw, and that wa9
all there was to it. In ten minutes I wa»
around as chipper as ever. The time I
w as nearly drowned I experienced near»
ly all the sensations, I fancy, thatcoroe
to a man about to die amid the wat«*rs.
and I want to say right now thai all
this rot of the novelists about irweet
music sounding in the c ars and the past
life passing before one and the death
being painless Is nn Infernal lie. There's
no death more terrible. The wate/
rushes into noee and mouth.every breath
isacutting.a.-hing\>aveof liquid agony,
your chest seems bursting from the
w-elgbt of your lungs and the feeling is
cne of oppression and suffering from
the moment the first drop of water
surges into the throat to the time you
die or are rescued. This time I have
taken gns, and t he sensations are more
like what the story writers say of
drowning. I had a good time while in
sensible, and was just arguing over 9
bit of land with a neighbor when I came
to and began to spit out chuijjcs of
tooth. The after effects? Well, I hftVO
a pain in my gums and feel sleepy (uij
shaky on my pina. I think I will take a
nap right now."
And the man who had just lost a tooth
began a quiet slumber In his chair,—Chl»
cago News.
Hidden, Though In Sight*
All hunters are aware how difficult it
Is t»> oatoh sight of woodcocks ol* par
tridges sitting among the fallen leaves.
Not only do tie sober colors of the birds
blend deceptively with their surround
ings, but they manage also to disguise
the outlines of their bodies. In Scot'
land recently photographs have been
made of woodcocks concealed in leftv«s,
and these pictures, while revealing the
birds, show at the same tiiye how In
geniously the cunning creaturea hare
disposed their wings, tails and heads
so as to mislead the prying eyes of ene
mies. The bright, watchful eye of the
bird is its owner's surest betrayer, even
in the photographs. Youth's Com
panion.
Ho Answered the Question.
The following amusing passage took
place between counsel and witness in a
disputed will case:
"Did your father give you no parting
udmonltlon?"
"He never gave much away at any
time.*'
"I mean to say, what were his last
words ?"
"They don't concern you."
"They not only concern me, sir," re
marked the barrister, severely, "but
they concern the w hole court."
"Oh, all right," was the reply. "Father
said: 'Don't have no trouble when Tin
gone, Jim, 'cos lawyers is the biggest
thieves unhung.' "—Titbits.
At the Wrong House.
Tramp—Please, mum, I'm starring.
Won't you let me have a (Mjstage stamp
to lick?
Experienced Housekeeper—Why, cer
tainly. My husband is just finishing a
letter to 15ob FitzslminOns, offering to
fight him anywhere, at any time, for
SIO,OOO ft side. Marquis of Queensberry
rules. Wait until he is through, and
perhnj>s he'll let you put the stamp on.
Tramp (hastily departing)—Thftnkeo
kindly, mum, but maybe I can git a
rtamp at the next house without Wait
ing—N. Y. Weekly.
Couldn't Crawl Out pf It.
The tiir wan halmv ami the stArn were
peeping nt the lovers through thn
young foliage of the park trees.
'"Agatha," he cooed, "here amid the
sweet breath of lilac flowers and vio
lets let us linger, drinking in dear love
from cnch nther's eyes and dreaming
of the heaven that.is before—"
"See here, John Tipes, that there ice
creftin plnce'll be closing presently,
and yon ain't going to get out of a
straight promise by talking poetry at
me."
With a profound sigh the young man
ru-use, for it lacked yet four days of sal
ary time.—Texas Bi'ftings.
Friendship hath the skill and ob»
serration of the l>est physician, the dili
gence and vigilance of the l>e«t nurtte,
and the tenderness and pntlPriW trf tbQ
best mother. —Lord ClarcntTiu.