1 4RUNGLEWITS. # J "Look out of the window here," said the surveyor, as the train rattled across a short [trestle on its way from Excelsior down to San Rafael. "Do you see that -.vagon-bridge spanning the washout up there? Well, that is the bridge my friend Bunglewits kept in the brave days of old." "Your friend who?" "Well, Bunglewits was the name he went by. What his real name was I don-'t know. He was a South-German, I think, although 119 may have been a Pole or a Hungarian. At any rate, he had an unpronounceable name, some thing like Bunglewits, and as he see lied to be a very stupid, slow sort of fellow, Bunglewits he was called. He was not so dull, though, but that he recognized the ridicule in the nick name, and so, in order that his Amer ican neighbors might have no excuse for miscalling him, he assumed the simple name of Smith. But he couldn't get anybody to call him Smith until his exploit of holding the bridge up there relieved him from the nickname. I can tell you the story before we get down to Sail liafael." And this is the story he told. Twenty-one years ago the silver mining industry in Colorado was booming from the discoveries at Lead ville. New camps started up every where, one of them being Excelsior, the town we have just left. Among the people who came flocking in was Bunglewits, then an apple-faced boy of 17, square, solid and very strong. He was an expert axeman and earned a good living by cutting timbers for the different mines. Bunglewits spoke English well enough, but he was a reticent sort of fellow, which is not surpiising, for none of the inhabitants, with a single exception, ever spoke to him without trying to "take a rise" ont of the slow-thinking German. It wa* much to the credit of bunglewits that he did not actively resent this perpetual badgering, for he was surprisingly strong, and there were few men in the camp whom he could not have thrashed, had he been so minded. The one person who treated him well was Mrs. Benson, a quiet little body, and timid, too, except when she thought there was an injustice to be righted. She was the wife of Martin Benson, a prospector, well known in the place. By way of showing her disapproval of the general maltreat ment of the sober,hard-working young German, she always addressed him by the name he had adopted—Mr.Smith; or, later on, when she came to know him better, Henry. She opposed the whole town by refusing to understand when anyone spoke to her of Bungle wits. It was a small thing; but, as matters turned out, she had good rea son to believe that her quiet cham pionship touched the heart of the sto lid German boy. The winter of 1877 was extremely severe in all this part of the moun tains. After the first heavy snow fell in October the ground was never clear, for one storm followed another until, about New Year's, there wore three feet of snow 011 the level. One consequence of the hard weather was that the timber wolves became very bold. The few people on the outskirts of town who kept a cow were careful to shut her up at night, aud very often in the morning the tracks of wolves might be seen in the snow, where the hungry brutes had walked round aud round the shed in the hope of finding an opening. Two or three times during the win ter they ventured to come right into town, when their visit would be pro claimed by the yelping of some cap tured stray dog. Children were kept indoors after sunset, aud even the men disliked going about alone when the darkness settled down, for the town was unlighted then,and the black woods whence the marauders came fringed the little place closely on every side. Mrs. Bensou's husband, Martin,the prospector, went off iu December down to Han Eafael to look for employ ment, for he couldn't go prospecting iu tlirea<eet of snow. Presently Mrs. Benson had a letter from him, telling her to pack up aud come down to San Rafael with the two children on the following Saturday. She therefore got ready aud engaged passage iu the mail sleigh, which was a wagon-bed set 0:1 runners. The distance is 30 miles; the driver used to make the trip down one day aud back the next. But the usual driver could not go with Mrs. Benson and her two chil dren, for he came in on Friday night very late with bitli his hands frozen So it was necessary to find a mau to take his place. Bunglewits heard of this, and being out of work jnst then he applied for the position, aud as he knew the road well from freighting over it, he was taken on trial. Wheu the cumbrous looking sleigh pulled up at Mrs. Ben eon's door next morning she was sur prised and pleased to find iu the new driver her young friend, Henry Smith. Bunglewits brought out her one big trunk, handling it with as much ease as if it had been empty; next he put his passengers in the bottom of the wagon-bed, so that the high sides would protect them from the wind; then he drove down to the postoffice and took iu the mail sacks. Giving no attention to the jeers aud chaffing of the loafers about the postoffice door, he cracked his whip and awßy they went, squeaking over the frosty snow. They made the first 15 miles to tho relay stable indue time, aud soon af terward they were clear of the wood? and ont. nnoo the rollinsr nlain whic.b extends all the way down i& San Ra fael. The horses were on a brisk trot when Mrs.Bensou saw her driver sud denly sit up straight and turn to look back. "What is it, Henry?" she asked. "I thought I heard wolves,ma'am," was the quiet reply. The next moment Mrs. Benson saw him stoop quickly and take up the whip. "Is it?" cried she. "i'es, ma'am. Get up, horses!" Freeing herself from her wraps and steadying herself by holding to the driver's seat, the little woman stood up to look back. Half-way between one of the distant pine-clad slopes and the road Mrs. Bensou saw a dark patch moviug toward them over tlie snow, and then the familiar howl of the timber wolf eume faintly to her ears. But this was not all, for, like an echo, came an answering howl. Look ing in this new direction, they saw a second dark patch ott' t > the right and considerably in advance of them, com ing swiftly toward the road. Henry lashed the horses into a gal lop. Then he asked Mrs. Benson to kneel down and hold the reins for a minute. Then he unshipped the seat and threw it out. Next he gathered ni> the mail sacks and sent them after the seat. Finally he lifted the heavy trunk and pitched it over the tail board. As the load lessened the horses galloped faster. When near the point at which the course of the wolves would cut the road, Henry saw that his team would get by safely unless the foremost wolf, which was a good deal ahead of the pack, should reach the spot first. The horses seemed to understand; they put forth all their speed, and by the barest margin they passed the point before the enemy got there. But the wolf was in time to spring open mouthed at Henry, right over the whiitfetree and the front of the sleigh. It might have gone hard with Bun glewits and with his passengers but for his streusth of arm. With his gloved list he struck the flying wolf a tremen dous blow, knocking it backward over the sleigh front and into the i'oad, so that the runners caught it, bumped over it aud seamed to break some of its bones. Up it scrambled, yelling and limping. The next minute the pack was down in the road, tearing their hurt leader to pieces. This gave the sleigh a good start; it also gave the other wolf pack time to come up with the foremost. Henry, looking back, saw that they had joined forces and were all coming on again, strung out iu two long tiles in the ruts of the road. Knowing that his horses must soon be exhausted by the great pace, Bungle wits checked them a little and then for a long time stool watching over his shoulder the tireless, relentless gallop of the wolves. They gained decidedly on a long upward slope, but in the downward race 011 the other side the horses gained as much iu their turn. At the next hill, howeve", the team plainly showed distress,came down to a trot, and so continued until the near approach of the pack sent them Hying again iu terror. The town was still five mi e* away, and escape from the wolves seemed impossible. The horses might hold their own 011 the slope they were then descending, which continued to the bridge over the washout, but after that there would be a rather steep hill of a mile or more to climli. Bungle wits, quietly reckoning up the chances, decided that the wolves would catch them ou the hill. He therefore looked down at Mrs. Benson, who was crouching in the bottom of the wagon bed, holding her two terrified children iu her arms, aud said, with a mattor of-conr.-e air: "If you please, ma'am, we'll stop at the bri Ige, and I'll stand 'em ofl'." "Can you do it, Henry?" "Yes, ma'am." "Sure?" Henry j ause.l for an instant to think and then replied, "Yes, ma'am, I'm sure." "Very well, Henry. If yon tell me you're sure, I believe you are sure. Just let me know what I'm to do, and I'll do it." "It is good," said the youug Ger man. Once more he plied the whip and with such good effect that the wolves were 200 yards behind when he pulled up the panting, trembling horses on the bridge. "(Jet out!" he cried. Suiting the D tion to the word, he sprang out ' liself, unhooked the horses and wi j a smack sent them ou by them selves. Next he tilted the sleigh 011 edge and swung it round so that it stood lengthwise across tlio narrow bridge, which it completely blocked. Glancing up the hill, he saw that the wolves had halted in some doubt and spread out widely. The energy and clatter and formidable look of his movements iu throwing the sleigh about had daunted them for a mo ment. Seeing that he still had time to spare, he spread the blankets on the bridge and called to Mrs. Bensou to lie down upon them. She did so at once, hugging the ch ldren close to her. Henry then pulled down the wagon-box over them, shutting tlieiu in completely. They were as safe in there as in a house. Grasping the axe, which always made part of the furniture of the stage, Henry awaited the coming of the enemy. He stood behind the wagon-box—no mean bar rier, for it stood over three feet high, including the runners, and was an ex eeedingly awkward obstacle for har rying wolves to scramble over. Seeing only one figure, and that at j rest, the w.ilves came on again, but on nearing the bridge they stopped short ! on the edge of the washout, as if sus -1 pecting the strange thing before them ] was a trap. For several minutes I they stood there, 19 of them, with their long, red tongues lolling out, and then with one accord all turned and ran off along the top of the bank. ■ Presently they disappeared; but in another moment Henry saw them lop | ing away, one behind the other, down iiu the botto.n of the washout. He j presumed they knew of some way to '■ get up the opposite bank and were in i tending to come back and attack him | from behind. At this wolfish plan ! Bunglewits chuckled,for he was bright ! enough to see that he could put the wagon-box between him and the wolves again by simply crossing over it; but he chuckled more at thinking how the wolves were giving him time to make a better defence. The washout was about '2O feet wide, ; with perpendicular sides eight or ten feet high, except for an occasional break. The bridge was formed by two big tree trunks lying from bank to bank as striugers, across which were set stout floor timbers, tightly jammed down but not spiked to tho striugers, for in those days freightage was high, ! and heavy things like spikes were not used lavishly, j Bunglewits had helped to bnil 1 the bridge. No sooner, therefore, did he divine the intention of the wolves to come behind him than he dropped his axe, sprang to the far end of the bridge aud with one jerk wrenched up one of the crosspieces and sent it whirling into the washout. The first <ne being out, the rust came easily, and for a minute or two the air seemed to be full of flying timbers. So hard, s J fast aud so intelligently did the misnamed Bunglewits work that wheU the eager pack rushed to the end of the bridge, expecting in I another moment to make an end of 1 him, they found before them a yawn ing gap ten feet wide aud on the other side the stout vouug German with his axe, defying t'uem to "come on." One of them, bolder than tue rest, did "come on," but he was met in mid-air by such a crushing blow from the axe that he went tumbling end over end to the bottom of the washout. At this a second wolf, which had crept part way across one of the stringers, thought better of it and backed care fully off again. Then they all "bunched" on the edge of the washout, howling in im potent rage at Bunglewits, those near est him pushing backward and those j behind leaping and struggling to get to the front. Jf hud ever read i the story or Horatius lie must have | thought their behavior to be strangely like that of"the ranks of Tuscany," I more than 2000 vears before. This had been going on for u quar ter of an hour or more when the whole baiitl suddenly dispersed in every direction, and in u twinkling there was not a wolf to be saei. Their sharp ears had detected sonuthiug to alarm them. In another minute Henry saw, coming down the hill tow ard him,a s'eigh drawn by two horses, which were being urged to their best pace by four shouting men. Henry held up his arm- as a warn ing to them to stop, and as soon as he saw that they were slackeniug speed he threw down the axe and turned his sleigh over, and up rose Mrs. Benson and her children, none the wo.se for their temporary imprisonment. Then the four men, led by "long" Hank Marks, the keeper of the stage stable, came balancing themselves across the stringers. They had no wea that it was not the regular stage driver who stood with his ba.'k toward them; when, therefore, Henry turned and faced them they all, with one ac cord, exclaimed: "Why, it's Bunglewits!" "No!" cried Mrs. Benson, s*ej ping forward and taking Henry by the Laid. "It is not Bunglewits. It is our very dear friend,Henry Smith." The men stood a little abashed, see iug the tears in her eyes, but they were decent fellows, and seeing the just C 3 of her protest, they heartily approved the tall stable keeper when, pulling oft' his cap in a deferential manner, ha said: "If you say so, ma'am, it's so. It's Ileury Smith from now on." The ua lie of Bunglewits had died with the wolf that lay in the bottom of the washout, —Y> uth"» '"ompanion. Tanneries ami Turin era in Japan. There are but *.wc tanneries of any magnitude ii> operation throughout Japan—one located in Osaka and the other in Tokio—and they are chiefly occupied in supplying the leather wants of the army and navy. A largo tanning establishment is locate 1 near Kobe. It was formerly under Euro pean management, but, after several unsuccessful attempts to operate it, it has been closed. There are, however, many small "home tauneries" in the emntry, and they are operated exclu sively by the "Etas," a of per sons whose occupation is looked upon as unclean. The beggars"Kojiki"oon stitute the lowest class in Japan, and next above them are the "Eta," who monopolize the occupation of killing animals for food, the tanning and dreFsi'ig of leather, grave digging aud similar work. The "Etas" are popu larly supposed to be in possession of a secret method of tanning. Tanning being looked upon in Japan as a de graded calling, it is not probable that the industry will materially improve in the near future; and it is for tliat» reason, together with the additional ones that cattle arc scarce, and that there is a growing demand in Japan for leather of all kinds, that the United States has a Held in which it may largely increase its excitation of tlii» article year by year. THE) REALM OK FASHION. NEW YORK CITY (Special).—Elegance of material and simplicity of design enhance the attractiveness of this charming toilette, which is one of Way Man ton's latest designs. The STRIKING AT-HOME TOILETTE. jet sequin spangled net is stylishly trimmed with bands of sequin and worn over a skirt of moire antique. The same silk is used for the rovers, chemisette, coliar with flare portions, epaulettes and flaring cuffs, bauds of the same in narrower widths supply ing the decoration. A fancy belt with jeweled clasp encircles the waist. The skirt may be black or of any becoming color, so long as the lining of waist and sleeves and the accessories match. The waist may be made without the lining and with the drapery worn over different slips. The stock collar has added flare portions that stand up behind the ears. The back fits smoothly across the shoulders, slight fulness being drawn to the centre at the waist line. The A WAIST CHARMINGLY YOUTHFUL IN STYLE. nnder-arm gores are smoothly covered and the fronts have graceful fulness caused by single backward turning plaits at the edge cf each shoulder aud two plaits at the waist line where they blouse very slightly. Above the invisible closing the fronts are cut away to disclose the chemisette, the edges being finished bj prettily shaped revers. The drapery is in circular form and falls in soft ripples all around. It may be arranged over any style of skirt in circular shape as here shown, or in five, six, seven or three piece style. The mode is suitable for foulard, India or other softly finished silks, crepe-de-chine, crepeliue-de-soie, wool, veiling, canvas, cashmere, camel's hair or cloth. The waist may be made separately and worn with any style of skirt, charming combinations being pos sible. To make this waist for a lady of medium size will require one and three-quarter yards of material forty four inches wide. To make the over skirt drapery will require two and sne-quarter yards of same width ma terial. A Favored Fashion. Yoke waists are charmingly youth ful in style and the favored fashion for misses' waists. The large illus tration shows a design at once girlish and smart, and suitable to many stuffs. The model, which is pale blue, is of sott India silk with trimmings of black velvet ribbon, but the pattern is equally well suited to thin summer materials and to the light weight wools in light colors demanded by the coming fall. If preferred, the yoke can be of contrasting material or color or both, but as given it matches the body of the gown, contrast being made by the narrow tucks in which it is laid. The foundation is the usual fitted lining which closes with the waist proper, at the centre back. On it are arranged the full portion and the yoke and the frills. The sleeves are slight ly fulled the entire length, a style which is admirable for young girls whose arms are not usually sufficient ly plump to look their best in the tight, plain sort which at present pre vails. At the wrists are narrow frills of lace, headed by velvet bands, but if desired the sleeves can be cut elbow length, and finished with a somewhat deeper fall. To make this waist for a miss of four teen years, three yards of material thirty inches wide will be required. Black and White Fishnets in VOJFII©. Black and white fishnets will be used extensively this season. Many beautiful effects can be brought out with these nets. Cream white over buttercup satin or surah silk, with a wide flounce at the bottom of the fish net skirt, gives a decidedly pretty ef fect. Wear either a gold belt or a crush belt of cream white silk with a tiny gold buckle. Topaz or an amber string of beads will give a perfect touch to such a costume. A largj black hat unrelieved by colors should be worn with such a gown. ITandftome Silk I'nranol*. Among the latest French novelties to be chronicled are silk paraso'.e trimmed with flat, very deep Vandykes of cream-colored silk embroidery, and edged with silk fringe to match, and "dress" umbrellas with a border of embroidery or Irish guipure inser tion. Pretty AVlilte Shirt Waists. Some of the daintiest white shirt waists to be found in the shops have a little stripe in the material, dimity fashion, that is very pretty in effect. These waists are among the most ex pensive and are made perfectly plain without Hamburg or lace which in many waists, where it is not fine, is a disfigurement. Dainty Collars ami Cufls. Lineu collars and cuffs are still worn with silk waists, but those of sheer lawn and Valenciennes lace are more dainty and more universally be coming. A Late Accessory of Dress. A trim, dainty look is associated with these latest accessories, which are worn over coats and jackets in every style. White pique or (luck is usually chosen, although stylish revers are shown iu polka dotted, plaid and farcy pique. "All-over" embroidery is also used for handsome revers, insertion or edging, or both together, affording ef fective garniture. The shawl and notched revers are shaped with a short seatn in centre back. The "sailor" is cut without seam. The revers are usually made double, the edges being turned iu and stitched to gether in tailor style. As here illus trated, No. 1 (iu shawl shape) is of white linen duck, with facing of "all over" embroidery. As shown witb notched collar, it is made of plain white pique. No. 2 has a sailor collat of white faced with black and white cross-barred pique, a bias fold of whits piped with black ckambray decorating the edges. Worn with smart tuilor gowns, these revers are stylish and ef •wo MAN'S "ADMIRAL" Kr.VERS. fective. They are simply constructed, easily made and readily adjusted. To make No. 1 will require five eighths of a yard of material twenty seven inches -wide. To make No. 2 will require three-quarters of a yard of name width material. The Favorite CHemUette*. All sorts of chemisettes are worn, but the ones of line lawn in dainty tucks and sheer lace insertion are by far the most popular THE HF.RO. i. There was a man who chanced, one day. To hold a certain place \Vht<u Fate and Fortune passed that way And looked him in the face! When It was time to strike he struck Nor stopped to weigh the cause ! He wrought a marvel, by good luck, And heard the world's applause. Then straightway he that had been there To strike when It was time Assumed a high and mighty air And thought himself sublime! He made brave speeches unto mon, He boasted of his act, Ami it became apparent then How small he was, in fact. ii. Another chanced, one day, to be Where Fate and Fortune met, He seized the opportunity, His fame Is spreading yet! When it was time to strike he struck Without a moment's pause, And, full of wonder at his luck, He heard the world's applause. "The mighty thing that I have wrought A many another could Have done as well as I," he thought, "Had he stood where I stood. I merely chanced to be on hand To strike when it was time;" Dut still he kept his counsel, and Is, therefore, deemed sublime. —S. E. Klscr. HUMOROUS. "Some men have the best luck!" "How so?" "There's Mcintosh, for instance; ice cream gives his girl neu ralgia." A—lt is when a man is in trouble that he knows the value of a wife. B—Yes; he can put all his property iu her natne. Clei'k —I am only waiting for you to raise my salary, sir, to get married. Employer—Then dou't expect it. I think too much of you. "Doctors say mental depression usually arises from stomach troubles." "That's true; nothing makes a man so low-spirited as not haviug anything to eat." "Were thsre no servants in the in telligence otlice?" asked the wife. " t was iull of 'em," replied the lonely husband, "but they had all worked for us before." Passenger (on ocean liner) —Think we'll break the record, captain? Cap tain (witheringly)—Well, do you sup pose we are only running this ship to carry passengers and freight? The window has its pane, we know, But that's for giving light, And not to furce some one to walk Tho floor with it nil night. Papa—l hear you were a bad giri today and had to be spanked. Small Daughter —Mamma is awful strict. If I'd 'a' known she used to be a school teacher, I'd 'a' told you not to u.arry her. Hicks—The-e's Grillity. What ® pity so fine o looking fellow should be deaf and df.mb. Wicks—The dumb is all right; but if he.wasn't dpaf what an agreeable person he would be to converse with! Young Wife I got a beautiful parchment diploma from the Cooking College to lav - and I've cooked this* for you. Now,guess what it is. Hus band (with a slab of omelet between his teeth) —The diploma. "The weather," said the ollest in habitant, "is not what it used to be when I was a boy." "For that mat ter," commented the smart young man,"the weather is not what it was seven months afro." And the oldest inhabitant could not be persuaded to talk for more than hour. Wheelman —I believe I' 1 give up bicycling. lam as careful as can be, but every now and then some acci dent happens. This is the seoonc 1 time I've been arrested and fined foi running into people. Businessman— I'll tell you how to manage. Just get a job as a bill collector. Eve ybody wi 1 dodge you th n. Tlie First ISomb and Mnrtnr. The Ko.eans invented the first bomb and mortar. The Inst for revenge had taken such a grip upon them that nothing sulliced to hold them in check when once they had the enemy on the run. Before the first year of tho wai had expired tho Koreans had imitated the firearms o! their euemies, though pebbles were at first the only missiles use.l. They even surpassed the in' vaders in the use of gunpowder, for the records tell us that a certain gen» eral invented a piece of ordnance which, when discharged, would throw itself bodily over the walls of the be sieged fortress, and when it exploded, the Japanese who had crowded around to examine it were torn to pieces by the Hying debris or choked by the sul phurous fumes of the burning pow» del - . The startling statement that the mortar threw itself over the wall is merely the work of an excited imagi nation, whereby the projectile became confused with the machine usel in it# projection. We are told that the se cret of tho invention perished with it? inventor, but that the mortar then used still lies in one of the govern ment storehonsos in the fortress of Nau-ham, which guards the southern approach to the capital.—Harper'? Magazine. How He Won Her. "Do yon think," asked the beauti« fttl, stately girl, "that the world is degenerating ?" Tho young mau who had for months loved her iu secret saw his chance. Every time ho had ever attempted to Bay anything seutiinental to her she had switched him off into politics or the social problem, but at last the mo ment for which he had longed had come. Drawing in a full breath he replied. "No! How could the world degen erate with women doing so much to run it? How could the world be otherwise than better since you have interested yourself in it ?" That evening her mother said it would be all right, no matter what J papa might think.—Chicago News.
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