A BLADE OF CRASS.
Tall, slender blade of grass,
Bending and swaying:
Now standing motionless.
Now, as if praying
Bowc«3 to the earth you are
fobbing and shaking,
Housed from your grief at last.
Quivering and quaking.
Stilled now, your wild distress'
Silently heaving.
b;r wind's soft caress
Joyously waving.
—New York Sun
| Mis. Williams's Wild Ride. \
BY CLARICE IRENE CLISOHAS.
The women of the east, secure in
guarded homes, have little con
ception of the perils which in years
past attended their pioneer sisters on
the frontier. They may have a theo
retical idea, it is true, but one mu§t
have had actual experience to realize
fully the constant dangers that beset
these brave souls.
The Williams ranch at Rockdale,
Wyoming, lay near the foot of tlia
Medicine Bow mountains, and was
miles from railroad station and
j/ostoflice. A young married couple
.ftad settled there, and invested their
■savings in cattle and horses. Thsy
throve and were happy, until ona
unfortunate day, when Mrs. Williams'
brother, Addison White, arrived from
a mining camp in California where he
bad been prospecting and working for
two or three years. In boyish glee he
produced from his capacious pockets
four stout buckskin bags tied with
thongs, which he flung upon the kitch
en table.
"Open em, Mab," he said to Mrs. Wil
liams. She untied one of the bags,
turned it upside down, and was as
tonished to see an avalanche of
bright, gold pieces roll over the table
and down upon the floor.
"O. Ad," said Mabel, pursuing the
,spinning runaways," what does it
mean? Where did you get them?"
"They're my savings of the last four
years." replied Addison, proudly.
"Each of those bags has twenty-five
S2O gold pieces in it."
"Two thousand dollars! And you
brought it all the way from the rail
road station alone on horseback!"
exclaimed his sister, aghast. "How
very imprudent! Don't you know this
country is full of desperadoes? Why
didn't you deposit it in a savings
bank?"
"Because I want to invest it right
away, and didn't want to be bothered
putting it in and then drawing it right
out again," returned Addison, with a
Belf-satisfled air, walking up and down
the room with his hands in his pock
ets. "I'm going to leave it in your
lands, sis, for safe keeping. Mean
while I'll look around, and when I
strike a nice little location in a mining
jamp for a general merchandise store,
I'll use the money in buying stock."
Being thus left in possession of the
■treasure, Mabyl cast about for a suit
able hiding place; but the secluded
Jitt'.ti nooks, the corner cupboards, the
jnrsterious oak closets and big, ram
blirg garrets neeuliar to old-fashioned
eastern houses were totallv larkine i*i
this small, bars walled, three roomed
log cabin.
First Mabel loosened a board in the
fluor and put the four buckskin bags
underneath. It seemed to her excited
imagination that any one might no
tice that that particular board had
J»een pried up and nailed down again;
3id besides, the first thing a robber
In search of concealed wealth would
do would be to look under the floor.
So, after a few days, she removed the
four bags and put them with affected
carelessness in the dark recesses of a
little cupboard where she kept her bot
tles and frying pans.
But this was worse still. Her eyes
seemed fixed in a telltale gaze on the
place where the treasure lay concealed.
Bo one day after dark she pried up
one of the flat stones which formed
part of a walk leading to the spring
house, dug out some of the soil under
neath to make room, placed the four
little bags therein, and then carefully
replaced the stone.
It was not surprising that Mrs. Wil
liams was a little apprehensive, for
Bhe was usually quite alone during the
daytime. Her brother had gone 011 his
trip to look up a mining camp, and her
husband was busy branding calves and
tolts at a roundup seven miles away.
Nevertheless, Mabel was by no means
timid woman. She broke all her
husband's colts, and was never so
happy as when conquering a mettle
some bronco. She was now subduing
a particularly fine thoroughbred colt
named Taurus, which was kept in the
etable instead of being allowed to fol
low the herd, much to his anger and
disgust.
One morning, while she was en
gaged with household duties in the
cabin, a loud, ringing blow sounded
upon the door. Upon opening it, she
■was confronted by two rough looking
men, one of whom covered her with a
revolver.
"We know you have S2OOO in gold
In this house,"he said. "Get it at
once."
"I give you my word of honor," said
Mabel, speaking calmly, "that the only
money in the house is about SSO that
I have on hand for household ex
penses. It is in the next room."
"Go get It, then, and be lively." said
the man with the revolver. "As for
the S2OOO, I know it's here. We'll see
about that afterward."
Mabel went into the adjoining room,
seized her husband's rifle that stood
In a corner, slammed the door shut
and shot a thick wooden bolt into
tta hasp.
"I am armed," she called, "and will
I shoot tile man that breaks dowa the
door!"
She thee made a pretense of piling
up furniture before the door to barri
cade it, and under cover of the noise
opened the rear window and sprang
out. As soon as she gained the ground
she fairly flew to the stable, where she
unloosed the half broken colt, Taurus.
Not daring to take time to saddle or
bridle him, she led him to the bars,
and grasping the single rope attached
to his halter, sprang upon his back.
By this time the robbers had broken
down the locked door and discovered
her escape. They returned hastily Ho
the front of the cabin, where their
horses were tethered, mounted them,
and started in pursuit of their victim.
The odds seemed greatly agianst the
brave little woman. Taurus under
stood at once that without bridle or
bit he was practically master of the
situation, and began kicking, rearing
and plunging. But on hearing pur
suing hoof beats he started, sniffed
the air, and then, detecting the old
familiar trail down the creek, which
he had followed so many times in
company with the herd, he galloped
rapidly in that direction. This was
what Mrs. Williams had counted upon
and trusted to. As shot after shot
whistled round her from her pursuers
she clasped her arms around Taurus'
neck and laid her head against his
long, black mane, In an attempt to
make as poor a target as possible.
But now Taurus' blood was up. At
the sound of the pursuing horses, the
singing of the bullets round his head,
and a touch as of Are on his back,
where one of the missiles made a slight
flesh' wound, he threw up his head,
snorted with rage, and with one migh
ty leap into the air, bounded down the
trail with a speed which it is probable
was never equalled by any of his fa
mous progenitors.
Whether the robbers' horses were
already jaded, or whether Taurus'
speed was too great for them at best,
the desperadoes soon gave up the
chase. But the colt did not slacken
his speed till, trembling, wild-eyed,
his flanks reeking with blood and
foam, he stopped at the round up
seren miles away.
Breathless and dizzy, Mabel slid to
the ground, and in a few words in
formed her husband of what had taken
place at the cabin. In a few moment 3
Mr. Williams and four of his men had
saddlad their horses and were on their
way to the ranch.
When they arrived they found the
house in utter confusion and the rob
bers gone. Nothing had been taken.
Under the flat stone the four little
buckskin bags and their contents re
mained safe and untouched.
A few months later the robbers wera
apprehended for other crimes, for
which they were tried and served their
terms in the panitentiary.
As for Addison, he discovered a fa
vorable location for his store, and is
now a well-to-do merchant in a large
western city.
Mrs. Williams is past middle life
now, and has streaks of gray in her
black hair, but she has never forgot
ten her wild seven-mile ride on the
back of the unbroken colt, and rather
enjoys relating the adventure whea
coaxed to do so. She likes better,
however, to call attention to her favor
ite horse, Taurus, which, although ra
ther advanced in years, is still a hand
some, mettlesome animal, with a scar
across his back where the robber's
bullet plowed his skin on that memo
rable morning 20 years ago.—Youth's
Companion.
A Cariom Chinese Custom.
According to the rule sanctioned by
ceuturies of Chinese observance, no
document can have the authority of
the imperial throne of China unless it
bears a red spot placed there by the
sovereign. To the Grand Council the
Tsung-li-Yamen and all other depart
ments of state takes their business,
and the Grand Council in turn consid
ers all documents, and attaches to each
a piece of red paper on which its own
decision is written. Each morning at
daybreak the Grand Council proceeds
to the palace to submit the papers to
the sovereign, who, as each document
is produced, signifies approval by mak
ing a small spot with a brush on the
margin of the red paper. With the
red spot upon it the paper is the most
sacred thing in the world to a China
man; without it, it may be torn to
shreds with impunity.—Leslie's
Weekly.
The Kirat an«l Second Men Hail No Chance
"Gentlemen," remarked a third man.
"I don't like to compete in fish stories
because I am not a fisherman, but I'll
take the liberty of telling you that
when I lived in Texas I had a friend
who went out fishing on? morning and
when he returned he had a wagonload
of fish and he claims that when he
went out before day he went to what
he thought was his favorite fishing
place. He began operations, throwing
out his line and pulling in fish as
fast as he could move. When day
broke he had a wagonload and could
find no creek at all. Upon investiga
tion he discovered that he was half a
mile from the creek and that he had
been fishing in the fog."—Macon Tele
graph.
Great Demantl for Victorian Coin*.
There is a great demand in England
for Victorian coins during the present
year. In the dockyard cashier's offi
ces at Woolwich Arsenal and else
where large quantities are being put
in circulation, and it is believed that
the men employed in government es
tablishments will make a profitable bar
gain by selling the coins received in
payment for thedr services to the
bidders. —New York Sun.
There have been but nine chief Jus
tices in England during the last 140
years.
TK)E EtS)[©T& Off ASHIOH.
New York City.—Russian styles have
taken an accepted place and bid fair
to continue their popularity for many
months. The tasteful yet simple May
• RUSSIAN" WAIST.
Manton waist illustrated exemplifies
one of the best forms and Is in every
way desirable. The model is a Beatrice
cloth, in a soft pastel shade of tan,
with bands of white covered with
rows of machine stitching, but the
style is equally appropriate for French
flannel, Henrietta, albatross and the
like, and for taffeta and other waist
silks, as well ns for cotton, cheviot,
Madras and linen; but when made
ROUND O KB P E R.
from washable materials should be
unlined.
The foundation is a fitted lining that
closes at the centre front, and upon
which the waist proper is arranged.
The back of the waist is plain across
the shoulders, and has the fulness
drawn down at the waist line. The
fronts show no fulness at the upper
portion, but are arranged in gathers
it the waist line and blouse slightly
it the centre. The right side laps
well over the left and is held in place
')y invisible fastenings of small hooks
2nd loops. The sleeves are in bishop
style, finished at the wrists by straight
cuffs, the pointed ends of which lap
over the straight. At the neck is a
deep standing collar, that is pointed
at one end to match the cuffs, and
closes slightly to the left of the cen
tre.
To cut this waist for a woman of
medium size four yards of material
twenty-one inches wide, three and a
half yards twenty-seven inches wide,
two and a half yards thirty-two inches
wide, or two and one-eight yards for
ty-four inches wide, wili be required.
Woman's Round Yoke Wrapper.
No woman likes to be without a sim
ple, tasteful morning gown that can
be slipped on with ease. The excel
lent May Manton model given amply
tills the need and is essentially com
fortable at the same time that It pre
sents a dainty and attractive appear
ance. The material from which the
original is made is white lawn with
figures of old blue, and the trimming
stitched bands of plain blue on white;
but the entire range of washable cot
ton materials, as well as simple light
weight wools, are appropriate.
The back is graceful and shapely
and includes becoming fulness below
the deep round yoke. The fronts are
simply gathered and arranged over
the lining, or seamed to the yoke when
this last is omitted. The sleeves are
in bishop style and comfortable as
well as fashionable.
To cut this wrapper for a woman of
medium size, ten and a half yards
of material thirty-two inches wide, or
six and a half yards forty-four inches
wide, will be required.
Marcelline Glace.
A serious rival to silken gauze. Lib
erty silk and chiffon, sheer tissues in
great favor, is the new silken fabric
offered for use as ernpiecements, yokes
and chemisettes. It is almost as ten
der and soft as mull, but has a lus
trous sheen, with glistening surface.
This proves immensely becoming to
the majority of women. It smartens
up a toilet which would otherwise be
a dull black. The new silk is used as
a chemisette, and also for undersleeves
when such are worn. Slender young
girls wear folded belts of the same
glistening material. It is as cool as
sea foam in appearance.
A Stunning Dust Cloak.
Batiste seems an odd material for a
dust cloak, but it is correct for a wrap
in warm weather and on smart occa
sions. Each of these delicate garments
has a collar of colored silk or prune
satin. Pomegranate pink, turquoise
blue, orange, copper red are some of
the tints chosen. Whie silk mohair is
the material of a smart dust cloak in
tended to be worn on a coaching expe
dition. It has a smart collar of mossy
green silk, with a very heavy rib, and
has turned-up cuffs of the same.
The Battlements of a Bolero.
A modish bolero is extended down
ward in front in "battlement" tabs. It
can then be cut up sharply under the
arms, for the long front aspect is se
cured. The battlement tabs are now
preferred to a rounded or ovoid finish.
Boys* Shirt Waist.
The strongly-made, well-fitted shirt
waist that can be relied upon to with
stand the typical boy's wear is a gar
ment that is always in demand. The
advantage of home-making is to bo
found in the opportunity to select the
best material and to secure a perfect
tit. The May Manton model illus
trated can be relied upon to be correct
in every detail, and to give certain
satisfaction. As shown it Is of per
cale, white with strips of blue, but
the same material in different colors
and in figures, -as well as stripes, is
correct, and both Madras and cheviot
are also fashionable materials, while
outing and Scotch flannels are much
liked for morning wear.
The fronts of the waist are laid in
straight tucks at each side of the cen
tre box pleats, and the back is laid in
three straight bos pleats, so insuring
simple and perfect laundering. The
sleeves are in regulation shirt style,
with stiff cuffs of the latest decreed
width. The neck is finished with a
band to which the turn-over collar is
attached by studs or buttons and but
tonholes. The shoulder seams are cov
ered and stayed with appliqued bands
stitched on each edge, and stitched on
at the waist is a belt, to ■which buttons
are sewn to support the trousers.
To cut this shirt waist for a boy of
flora' SHIRT waist.
eight years of age three yards of ma
terial twenty-seven inches wide, or
two and a half yards thirty-two inches
wide, will be required.
DEFICIENT EDUCATION.
I'm really sorry for the man
Who's breil to idleness.
He passes through life's little span
A picture of distress.
Alas, he may not even kaow
What joy it is to shirk.
He is indeed a man of woe
Who hasa't learned to work.
Bat sadder is the busy one
Who hurries through this life
And never stops to think of fun
Amid the bustling strife.
Heis the mourn fullest of men—
You see him every day—
Who feels like loaßng now and then,
But doesu't kuow the way.
—Washington Star.
HUMOROUS.
Riter—Have you read my last
poem? Reeder —I hope so.
The Photographer—But this picture
doesn't look like her. Astute Assist
ant—Of course, not; but it looks like
she thinks she looks.
Wigg—Young Gotrox is an imbecile.
He hasn't even horse sense. Wagg—
Ke doesn't need horse sense. He
rides in an automobile.
"Some people say," remarked the
talkative barber, "that barbers are
too fond of conversation." "O! that's
all wrong," replied the man in the
chair; "it's soliloquy they're fond of."
"What does the teacher say when
you don't know your lessons?" asked
Willie's father. "She says I must be
a chip of the old blockhead," replied
Willie. And then something hap
pened.
"I know all the tricks of the trade,"
declared the loud-mouthed lodger.
"You don't suppose I've been board
ing 20 years for nothing." "No," said
the landlady icily. "I'm positive you
haven't."
"For a man who doesn't work," said
the housekeeper, "you have a pretty
good appetite." "Yes, ma'am," replied
Hungry Higgins: "dat's why I don't
work. If I did, dey wouldn' be no sat
lsfyin' me."
Smith —I suppose you are one of
those who claim the world owes you
a living. Laziman—Yes; and the
trouble is collections are bad. It's
as much as I can do to scrape together
a bare existence.
Two bulls were once in love with
the same heifer. In the midst of
their dispute a man was seen ap
proaching. "Aha!" exclaimed the
heifer, who played no favorites.
"Here is a way out of the difficulty.
You may toss up for me." Thus is
feminine wit always equal to an
emergency.
"I was getting measured for a suit
of clothes this mawning," said young
Mr. Sissy to his pretty cousin; "and
just for a joke, y' know, I awsked Sni
pen if it weally took nine tailors to
make a man. He said it would take
more than nine tailors to make a man
of some people. I thought it waa
quite clevah."
"You are the sunshine of my life!"
he exclaimed. She smiled encourag
ingly. "You reign in my heart alone!"
he continued. She frowned. "I could
not wed a man who mixed his meta
phors like a weather prognosticator,"
she said, haughtily. He realized at
once that his case was hopeless, and,
putting on his mackintosh, he stag
gered out into the moonlight.
NO MORE BIG CITIES-
Improved Rnpiil Transit Will Be the
Municipal Solvent.
In an effort to picture the future of
great cities as afflicted by the devel
opment of rapid transit, Mr. H.
Wells contributes to the London Fort
nightly Review a fascinating article
on the England of 200 A. D. It is the
second of a series of serious scientific
anticipations, the first of which placed
the speed of railway journeys for
the near future at 100 mile or more
an hour, and of omnibuses, cabs, etc.,
at 30 miles or more.
Mr. Wells believes that the influ
ence of this rapid transit will be not
to condense population, but to spread
it out all over the land. Huge towns
and cities will all but disappear, and
the inhabitants will uetake themseves
to the country again. Hitherto the
great cities have been confined, he
points out. within a radius of about
eight miles from the centre; horse
traction and bad train services have
compelled it. Soon the radius will be
30 miles.
"And is it too much." asks Mr.
Wells, "not expect that, the available
area for even the common daily toilers
of the great city of the year 2000 will
have a radius very much larger than
that? Now, a circle with a radius of
30 miles gives an area of over 2800
square miles, which is almost a quarter
that of Belgium."
The social equivalent of the season
ticket holder, will, he suggests, have
an available area with a radius of over
100 miles, or almost the size of Ire
land. "Indeed, it is not too much to
say that the London citizen of the
year 2000 A. D. may have a choice of
nearly all England and Wales south
of Nottingham and east of Exeter as
his suburb, and that thi9 vast stretch
of country from Washington to Al
bany will be all available to the active
citizen of New York and Philadelphia
before that date."
Mr. Wells' picture Is indeed delight
ful. He gives Englishmen a London
city of a sort, a Lancashire-Yorkshire
city, and a Scotch city, consisting
chiefly of business premises, while the
whole of Great Britain will be dotted
over with houses very different from
their. >dern "villa" each in its spa
cious garden. It will be much less
monotonous, Mr. Wells says. There
will be more life and more character,
and each district will grow in its own
particular way. The postofllce will de
liver nearly everything that every
household wants.
IBARRBTA'S PATE.
Relies of Explorer Mid His Comrade*
Found In the Grand cbaco.
It was reported early in September,
1899, that Senor Enrique Ibarreta and
his men had mysteriously disappeared
while exploring the Pilcomayo River,
In north Argentina, one of the longest
of the second-class streams of South
America. There was little doubt that
they have been massacred by the In
dians, who for 170 years past have
defeated the attempts made by a con
siderable number of explorers to ex
plore this stream. A little later the
bare fact was published that there
was no longer any doubt of the mas
sacre of the party, but no details of
the tragedy had been obtained. Then
a report reached Buenos Ayres that
Ibarreta and a part of his expedition
were probably still alive. This report
led to the sending of an expedition
under the command of Senor Uriarte
to rescue the explorers if they could be
found. The relief expedition has re
cently returned to Buenos Ayres with
evidence that leaves no doubt that the
entire party was killed by the hostile
Indians 'of the northern part of Ar
gentina. In the depths of the Chaco
forests, near a place called Esteros de
Patino, Uriarte found the camp of
Ibarreta. Strewn all around were the
camp utensils and equipment, most of
it rendered useless by the weapons of
the Indians, who had destroyed prac
tically everything which they could
not utilize. Even the voluminous
notes which Ibarreta had made upon
the work he was doing from day to
day were torn to pieces and scattered
to the winds. A considerable number
of these fragments were recovered and
they supplied undoubted prc-of of hav
ing been written by the ill-fated ex
plorer. Many photographic negatives
he had made were also found. Not a
trace, however, of any of the party
could be discovered. It is believed the
entire party was surprised and over
whelmed by a superior force of In
dians and that after the whites were
killed their bodies were dragged away
and concealed In order, if possible, to
destroy any direct evidence of their
having met a violent death. It is nat
ural that these Indians should en
deavor to conceal evidences of their
crime that mtght bring it home to
them, for on one or two occasions they
have been made to suffer severely for
murdering white men.—New York Sun
The military effect on dresses for
children is th« correct thing tor
spring.
PUTNAM FADELESS DYES do not spot, streak
or give your goods an unevenly dyed appear
ance. Sold by all druggists.
There is one admirable thing about the
leader of an orchestra. He always faces
the music.
There are thirty-four cheese factories in
the State of Washington.
J. R. Parker, Fredonia, N. Y., Says: "Shall
not call on you for the SIOO reward, for I be
lieve HaU's*Catarrh Cure will cure any esse
of catarrh. Was very bad." Write him for
particulars. Sold by Druggists, 75c.
It doesn't take a horsewoman to drive a
bargain.
FITS permanently cured. No fits or nervous
ness after first day's use of Dr. Kline's Great
Nerve Restorer. $2 trial bottle and treatise fre*
Dr. R. U. KLINE, Ltd.. 931 ArchSt., Phila., Pa.
Three thousand marriages are performed
every day all over (J; world.
Blacii\
" I have used your Vigor
for five years and V eatly
pleased with it. It ceL re
stores the original colo*, 'ay
hair. It keeps my hair soft.\ s.
Helen Kilkenny, New PortlaK \
rnmrnmim—ammmmmmm—ammmmmm—mmmmmmm %
Ayer's Hair Vigor uas
been restoring color to
gray hair for nfty years,
and it never fails to do
this work, either.
You can rely upon it
for stopping your hair
from falling, for keeping
your scalp clean, and for
making your hair grow.
SI.OO a bottle. All drutfists.
If your druggist cannot supply you,
•end us one dollar and we will express
you a bottle. Be sure and give the name
of your nearest express oftioe. Address,
J. C- AYEK CO., Lowell. Mass.
CONSTIPATION;
Inward Piles, Fullness of the Blood
in the Head, Acidity of the Stomach,
Nausea, Heartburn, Disgust of Food,
Fullness of Weight in the Stomach.
Sour Ecrutatious, Sinking or Flutter
ing of the Heart, Choking or Suffo- j
eating Sensations when in lying i
posture, Dimness of Vision, Dizziness
on rising suddenly, Dot", or Webs be
fore the Sight. Fever and Dull Tain \
in the head. Deficiency of Perspiration,
Yellowness of the Skin and Eyes, Paiu
in the Side, Chest, Limbs and Sud
den Flushes of Heat, Burning in the
Flesh. A few doses of
DADWAY'S
11 PILLS
will free the system of all the above
named disorders.
Price, 25 cents per box. Sold by all
druggists, or sent by mail on receipt
of price.
IUPWAY & CO., 55 Elm St., N. Y.
nDADCV WBWDiacovUT;«<«»
1 quick and car»i want
OHM- Book of twtimoniaU »nd 10 day*' treatment
*r««. to. 1.1 auil fiouiu •.uiuu.k.