t 'i . THE RETURN. .OF THE CAT. BY ELBA ARMSTRONG. Bin jasATS," remarked Mr. I V Matt an tntlnnl tr . j , "are a good 'eal Iik men. Tbey require a lot of petting; tbey are very particular about their eat ing, and it'a bard to keep them In ' the house - at night." ; - i Am she waa entirely alone, there was no one to contradict this some what extraordinary state ment, so iUe dropped her eyes again on her work, the embroidering of dalsee oft a bit of Jineo. Suddenly, she heard the front door open and, turning her back, she whipped off her eyeglasses and elippedj them in her pocket, before turning 1oi greet her visitor. She was obliged to jwear glasses when she read or sewed, put she would have felt eter nally disgraced if anyone had seen her l on ber no. . "That yoli, Melinda? Walk in and sit down why. wbat't the matter? Any thing wroo;g?"! . .. I "Humph! Lorilla Mott. what's this about you land Ezra?" ' Mrs. Mett's hand shook visibly n "WHERE ON EARTH DID TOU FIND HIMT" folding her work, trot she answered, defiantly: "Don't know as I'll tell you." "Well, you needn't, then. 1 know t'ready. And nil I've got to say 1b, if you prefer n cat to a husband, why" "You don't know one thing about usbands, MelindaThompBonj why, you ever bud one yourself I" , Tli a t' just it; I know whatitistoj . witnout one. meres mv taxes, w " But Mr. Mott hastily interrupted; icn taxes were the theme. Miss Me da usually cpoke loud and lonp. : Yoii can't begin by giving In to a sband. Mrlinria. I know that, because t"ave in to Mr. Mott before we were married end the only comfort I got out. of ,iini in tlie 12 years we were married wain hislnMlllnefcs. Then. I could call on the doctor to help me. lie always sideil wi,h meagaiuRt Abner." ,Mli guess he knew which one of you was polng to pny his bill." emld lier1 vbitpr, though tfully. "Look here, Lo rilla.,8''' ,Vu and Ezra going to be mar ried ?'ew Year's day or not?" "WP "re not," replied Mrs.' Mott, firmly- Then (he hastened to the door, letting 1 huge ' tortoise-shell cat, which rubbed itself oVectionntely against ler gown, purring all the while. Present, ha jumped up on a gay patchwork cushion In a huge arm chair and Ml to washing his face. ' ' "And you've given that cat Ezra's chair," sn'd Miss Mellndn. solemnly and he wanted 1 forget what he did want and neither of you would give in. Why didn't you have a wedding without singing?" "Never thought of that. The choir took it real hard, too, after practicing for four weeks twice a week to be ready. They wanted to please us both and practiced the piece I wanted on Tues day evening after the regular choir meeting and the one Ezra wanted on Friday. They did offer to sing 'em both, but we couldn't agree which was to come first, so that did no good." . "And the next time you quarreled over the way you meant to celebrate your golden wedding, didn't you? And now it's about a cat I" .,; "Mellnda Thompson, It is not. It's about a dog, that's what I Ezra Mason has gone and bought a dog a hunting dog at hfs tinxe of life I lie-wanted to bring It here, too, knowing how afraid Jason is of dogs. I told him flat, I wouldn't have Jason's life made a bur den to please anybody. Then he said he'd never apeak to me again, and I said I guessed I eould talk to myself, if I got lonesome and wanted to bear the sound of a hamaa vole!"- .$ ' . X "There goes Ezra now, with ths dog at his heels.n remarked the visitor. "Tie's on the other aide of the stress. That's how I cams to JtvowkesaJ wv, naa quarreler. He only doea that when nee mad with you.", , Mrs. Mott tossed her head defiantly, i ne pavement's free," she said. "Must yon be going?" as Miss Mellnda rose. les. rm going to' run in and see mat strange family that's Just moved here. Ths little boy's on invalid and they don't know a soul here yet, so I thought maybe . they'd' like to hear the news. "Well, you're th one that can tell it to them," said Mrs. Mott, under her breath, as her friend walked away. Jason; here, sir, como back!" For the cat had slipped past ber and out into the street, pretending not to hear her calls. "Contrary as a man," she remarked, closing the door. "That s just the way Mr. Mott used to go out after supper." The big chair looked very lonesome without Ezra's portly presence in it, and, stopping to beat up the cushion as she passed, she remarked: "I'm sor ry now I told Melinda Thompson I'd give it to the cat, but it's too late now he knows it a'ready. Anyhow, he needn't have said he wished the Lord, or whoever looks after ccts, would take Jason 1" Late that evening passers-by heard Mrs. Mott calling Jason to come in. "What a fuss she does make over that cat," thoy said. Wakeful neighbors also noticed a light burning in her I . "A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO BOTH OP TOU." house almost all night and once and tiln funded they heard o, crjr of "Ja-son, Jason!" ' ' ! ' ' Early nex morning they knew that Mrs Mott was almost distracted ever "Melincln Thompson, I have!1 Fur. .the prolonged absence of her net, and thermore; It's my chair, and always fans offered, a reward ,of one dollar to tho been, though Ezra has sat in it pretty ,hpy, who should , briny ( him Jiorao n constant Jo the H years bo' -.most unlikely event, for all boy? were lng to se m" T " "Fourtl jonrs. An times ha the weddlnji Lemme ie' there w ntiarreler ' " roes to that pampered feline.' lf " '"- jpt until the morn ng of ,th? nee. id day' Old Mrs. Mo.tf give" tip hope, en standing ftoiirnfnliy'Bt tbe win , she saw Ezra pfas on V&e other of the street, Mlowed by his dog. . "Ears Masoa knows what feat, be, corns of Jason 1 " she cried, berating Into tears. "And to think I had meant to marry him, la gray satin, on Now Year day!" . Late that afternoon Melinda Thomp son bustled In, her bonnet gracefully encircling one ear. "Well. Lorilla Mott, have yon heard?" "Heard what?" said Mrs. Mott. "That Ezra Mason feeds that dog of his out of the silver sugar basin he had bought for your wedding present, and leta him sleep In the silk quilt you made him for Christmas! What do yon think of that?" ' "Think r ssid Mrs. Mott, slowly and deliberately. "Why. 1 think that a man who will commit murder will do anything." "Murder?" gasped Mellnda. "Yes, murder! For if Ezra Mason didn't kill my cat, why doesn't he come back?" The strange family with the invalid boy had received her advances coldly and .Miss Mellnda's time and tongue were entirely at Mrs. Mott's disposal. By nightfall everybody knew that she had accused Ezra Maaon of killing her cat. Later that evening, they also knew that Ezra had said he would never speak to a woman or a cat again. And this wtis the 29th of December, and the gray satin gown in which Mrs. Mott was to have been metamorphosed Into Mrs. Mason hung ready In her ward robe, while the ring, once more ex changed for a larger one, lay forgotten in Ezra's pocket. It was New Year's morning and Mrs. Mott felt forlorn and miserable seated before her untested breakfast. For the first time, she regretted her quarrel with Ezra. "If I hadn't quarreled with him he'd never have killed Jason," she sighed, "and I'd never have known he'd com mit murder. Now come in!" she hastened to open the door. " 1MB never drags save aa when one Is in prison, or, say, while waiting for a railrosd train, or upon the eve of one s marriage. All the pictures of old Father Time show him having wings, and very long ones, too. ' He flies faster and faster as age wears on,' so fast. In fact, that towards the decline and down it one may not be able to count the mile-posts. The year 1897 has gone and to older onea it seems but ss yesterday aince first it wss here. Yet during its little hour how many the friends that went to their long home, how many the hopes unfilled, how many the vows thst were broken, how many the disappointments, aye, and how many the pleasures, and glad nesses, how much hsppiness we com municated, and how much we bestowed upon others. Sitting down for retro spection, it was a very busy year after alL Bad we begun on -the first day with a diary of large dimensions, bow easily we might have filled its every page, and still have left many, many things unrecorded. Gone the old year altogether save its memories, which will remain for ever, precious or reprobative, as they troop up in passing review before one. Qone its spring of unfolding flower and atalk and grass; Its summer of developing beauties of field and wood; Its autumn of harvest, full fruit age and many-tinted leaves; and gone Ita winter of hoar-frost, Iridescent ice and snow of immaculate whiteness. Gone is It in Us glory and pride, its shame and weakness, and we hail the new with Its certain reoerd of good 1 fy Every mother feels an inde scribable dread of the pain and danger attend ant upon the most critical pe riod of ber life. Becoming a mother should be a source of joy to all, but the suffering and danger of the ordeal make its anticipation one of misery. MOTHER'S FRIEND is the remedy which relieves women of the great pain and suf fering incident to maternity; this hour which is dreaded as woman's severest trial is not only made painless, but all the danger is re moved by its use. Those who use this remedy are no longer de spondent or gloomy; nervousness nausea and other distressing con ditions are avoided, the system is made ready for the coming event, and the serious accidents so com mon to the critical hour are obviated by the use of Mother's Friend. is a biasing to woman. 1.00 PBB, B0TTLB at all Srur Store, or sent by mail an receipt of yric. BOOKS f"tnl Invaluable lafonaatioa of rntc to say address, npon appllostloa, by The BKAPniXB BKGtTLATOI CO., sUaate, 8a, BhM Beaut's wife looked r "I Mi," abs aaM U him, "Just Uk Tow wbtsfcsrs took, say dear.". . LevtovtU CbtirisisJowaau LOCATIHG) RIK. nut tlae tlx past tal tbMflv tors Bwi rwnl Me4 tow M lytWM'l Da, Xlwi a Bm f tank m ' lltnwaVfiwfrvalilai, tttl tH Mt IMtrMRI fhmt. OKSteSl Co stark o M ?ear Hiom Mi fltt ; i! tf aiS BaK ctawa ta Ixki rtx far Ms grit urns mr it tact rtyiM civ 1 tnmt at a Kd wn i fact, sad iM. JiHtXi. M-fkimS It Kt stewQ, XHtattiivnfitmri vtj, Crailef Iwkv Umn tboi wlrt gray. S 3- & CNy vitclxl fix aridalinf i cet wtajt PsiM, n and circle, Mil 'trttU, Hi a lawk afh la vMnhg rhst r tamaw field with aaitln tsrtati Baal clatstd la baad, aad Ulrat w, lit la tbelr beam lb exstctast fitm, OB sJlS ajB r Chat mmtt at the aliM met c Cbat nmtrrtd at rtx bmm'i kIIimi- Cftea cam Ac flrtt falat tirtakt of dm Jlad tpftct nttbed caitr to tkeir tipt, UJollc doi along tht cattcra shore Che red taa palated" nevermore." Crsnt ncCafftf, CALIFORNIA. Personal ly-Conducted Tours via Pennsylvania ftailroud. amerteaiss great country, ,1c variety and grandeur ot natural srenery lite unrivaled, lis wooded heights, its leiMlo sllejs. Its buundless plains, Kb rugged sod rocky laoautalns. Its great lakes, lt balmy Hopes sre tlie sdmlratlon ot sll masklnd To traverse tita great eouiitry, to behold Its dlverHltint abd IU wunilera, la a liberal education , a revelMllon 10 the (matured meirrv Kllian eltlten. Tbr'PerMoaalltMjoacMtrted Tour llofrnis under the dlrroiioi MUi Ponnsyi. vanla Rxllrusd Oompaay wuicb leaves Kew Yurk 61. January 1. 184, afford a most excellent opportunity to view the vant rte' and bound less beauty ol tills marvelous land. Ybe party ewlll iravtsreatwurdlu soeclul fullinkn ran In ohgt ot s Tourist Atmnt aod Cbsperoo, Mon- Bing an route at uiaans, Denver. CoJorado prlngs, MhdUoii. Oardeii ot ths Gods, 0111 wood (iprlnfR.and Bait Lake cut. IocoiirnrDia visits will he made to Moutarvy and the ramous uum uri jaunt, nanta vnu, sua J one. An ttoa, Sau DlBtro. KlvrrsMM, San Bernardino, Kedliinds and Pssadeaa. The nanv will ratiirn onlbe-UotdeaeateHnpotal." The a next trala tbat crowd thacomlneni, lesloff Los Angek-s February s. and stonmnir at Tuekua. B fun. and St. Loins: Ihrhtmu davs will ha amnt in California, . Resad-trlp rate, luoludiBt all nee eeiuuiry essenats dtirlug entire trip, iva iron) Kll K!)' 00 l.hrX'Jt'i'y)vii..ts .V.Jk'.W.? .Xrnu.vs eaal or rlttsi.urg . $U0 Irom Pltutburg. For Id nerary end full ialoi matton apply to ticket auente. or address omi. W. Borrt. Asalatantfln. ernl Pasbger Agent, r Boad street Mtailon. FbllidelphU St. V"' -1 L.iiwiur ;vf- ii,.-,,,. There stood ashylittleg'irl.and Mrs. Mott cried aloud Jason, alive and in 1 lie fur, was rubbing against her legs umi purring. "lie didn't kill him after all!" she crird; then, seeing the child's amazed looK. she said: "Where on earth did .vou Cud him, my dear? Was was he murli hurt?" "He wasn't hurt at all, ma'am. He come to us five days ago; my brother's sii U and we didn't know the cat was yours my brother kept him In' his room nil the time. The butcher boy saw him this morning and told us " "1 suppose he tried hnrd to get away and come home?" faltered Mrs. Mott. "Xo'm. He wanted to stay and I had to carry him part way." As the child was going away with the dollar Mrs. Mott hod thrust upon her, thnt lady stood on the doorstep with the door closed to prevent Jason from following his new friend. She sjiw Ezra approaching across the street and snid. bitterly: "To think I quar reled with IiIhk over nn ungrateful beast thnt forgot me in five days! Nan cy! she cnlled. Middenly. , ' "Ycs'm." said the child, stopping. "You can have tho cat if you want him. I don't." Then.she went into the house and shut th'e'dbor.i . , ,, , I'ive minutes later . a tremendous knock hro'ught her to the door. ' There Stood. Ezra with the now weeping1 Nan cy, who. held Jason In.hc'r rirtns. " V, 'Here's your catMie.' s'nid. shiirtlv; "this child says a nice ernzy lady te,ve him to her,"i ..... , , ' - 'jJli'V 'I gave-her the cat, Eara Mason's 1 guess 1 can do as I like with myown " roil gpve' Jason away?" ensned Ezra; "Lorilla. fie wedding- Is to be at seven, .aM.r;K.,. .;. c-es, bzra. nnlirrd you may bring your cine"! j -J " . , nain'tvfiriVin fsSnpW Ezi;T' mnn ' V-mM liltrj ffoSh-'h&d 'stolen'' him. arfftx " ; ,' X trappy -New YHt ro both'OfVonl". A 'otlrrls Thorn-.. ' and evil, false and true, tempest and calm, sunshine and shower, night and day. Hail the year 1898! Yet many will It cast down and many raise up; many destroy and many make alive. Hope will it fulfill In some and send utter despair to others. Aa In the years that have passed; so' in 1898 will there be simoons, tornadoes, zephyrs and calms; hall, rain, anow and diffusive, heart warming sunshine. There shall be wars, sorrows, pains, joys, gladnesses, droughts, floods, plenty and famine. War shall rage here and there, while pence , will be serene in most places. Birds shall sing sweetest songs at matin and eventide, while beasts shall utter their terrifying cries.- v What will the year bring to you, and you. and you? In the midst of such un certainties, who so wise aa to be able to declare his own fate or that of another? Oue hnving good-memory moy dilate of IS07; but no' man can predicate of 1E9S1 But .he may wiish himself well, and in the same breath he should wish well to all others. . . Ayr, and it is a time when ope may very properly make introspection with a view to information. As a garden, tliere is need for rooting out .'here, plaii.tlog there; ( weeding in this place and watering in that place. Find out Vhe eins that are besetting, the-virtues that are deficient.- Be honest and' let the work be thorough. All .that is good," cherish as the apple of the eyei ; what is bad east off as an old garment.: Such an undertaking faithfully done. una conscientiously adhering to resolui- J.ions,' adopted .will have much to do with .regulation , of the effects cf . tJie vesr before you.. t . . ,, JAlasI how many good resolutions are 1 made at the beginning1 of ever'yi new vcar on iy(t oe broken arter a fewavs. I'oartveelrs: at the most and so one e1ir J unoiner WHh' usr WTaavevett w do, the -dnys will goqulckty nr" 'he nd of it will 'n her only" toVsr.Hr Lippincott's Hagarino. 1898 TsiKTV-FiasT Annual Amnoumcsnuknt. LirrtHOOTT's IIaoazimb (or 188 will con tinue 10 oiler lu escu number a tteniplete Novel, alao is munb adaliloual reading uiHllc r lu se- hiciu Bioi n-a, eketi'iieb, tissa8. rorms, etu., as the average IliutAraled mugmlue cunialnt. AclmittlnlrD0ifTlnls.lt avoids the obleelton ol so many readers to a oonunuad story. Comb ining ail tue cuuracieriHtics oi a magazintt, tuon uuuiuer Is complete lu lutell. 1 We present a partial list ot the novels, etu.. to be published during isug. . Auki.is Rivtts (Princess Troubetskoy), author ot'The yuielt ur tbe DenOr" reiunm 10 the Deld In a love ilory lu her own pecultar style. Maria Lonsa I'ooli, well known by her Sketches i.t New Kuglund lllo, will ollor a tale ot abundant interest, In which comedy mingle with the elemeuU ot tragedy, ant. the characters 01 the two heroines are ably bkalcued and strongly contrasted. Captain Cuaslsh Kino, who Is supremo and aimoetalons lu descriptions ot army lite, lakes lor bis scene a poat lu the 'south-west, aud combines a picture ol gurrlaea snoteU with the stirring events o( the fleld, this time in pursuit ot white bandits and deserters. KowahdS. Van Zils, author ot "The Man liauaners, ""Tue Urowu Prince ot Kexaula," etc.. will be found to surpass his previous achi evements in a novelette ol which the hero Is a dramatist and the heroine an actress Joseph A. ALTsnkt.is, who has won much re pute by stories o the American revolution, finds a more rweul subject lu a supposed stronghold o( the Confederacy, held la the wilderness long alter the war Is over, - ' Jknnii Kvixard Watrrburv tells of the life ot an American girl who goes to Parts to st udv music. It Is a vividly depleted tale of student lite. Annie E. brand; Henry Wlllard French, and others will also contribute novels. , ( Sundry Industrial, soolal, geographical, and polltlral phases of Aiuorlca will be represenleu byUeorge UUielbert Walsh. Allan ;ilen(lrlcks, Wllllum Truwbrldge Larned, It. U. KobliiMin, Calviu DIM Wllttou, John K. Beuuetu aud othei good writers. ... - , . Dr. Tueooore F. Wolfe will continue his articles ou "Bouie Literal y Bhiues of Manhat tan." Hundry topics connected with letters will be dlactubod by Kinllvs. WhlU-ley.Eta A .Muddeu, Nina Alien, FriuiKU, Carpenu-r, William Cecil blam, and others. Dr. Jauirs Weir, Jr., Dr. Uurvey 11. liushore, Albert O. Kvaus, and utlur will wrliu tcca-km ally un scleulltlc subjects, Oscar Honflerg, Agnes Carr Base, Kmlly P. Weaver, and others will hiudle Umiues of his torical, forelgu, ur geuerul luiercaU . , . Thn short stories of tbe Magazine, ni hitherto, will have ulih aud bolul aud will come irom various sources. Among their authors are Ma rion Mauvllle . Pope, Meruiain Houuer, Dora l(o ad Uuodale, Alice MocUowcb. Mutt Crlin. Owen liall. rhllluti. Hubert. Win. T. NIMiolH Chus.NewioillooU, 11. cSllclmcjj, itn,- uot ai Whether a writer he known or unknown 1 nf Ifesscouneqiiecce than how he writes, and mux! "wrliurs, uew or old, are tho vulr"d contrlbu- lOrstoUPPICVTrsMAUAZINli. , . , - 1 pounsylYttuia . Kailroud Cotuiiariy will Issue Clerical Orders for 1898.r The Pennsylvania .KAllnad Toainanv an. nouuees Wiat 1 he Istme of the clerical orders wilt be continued for ou the same Hues u lu Bf leet at present. . .. , n t T , Annlllatlon htnhl mnvlM nritiilnnil nf tlz-Wnt gcsts, and same should reach the General Of- otiqeoy Decern uer su sir tAt orders !uay ibe mailed December 81 lo clergymen uotllled 10 re ceive them. Orders will be Issued only on In dividual application nt ole"-""- " n"''' "Seen my boy Tommy anyw'ere, Book?" I ."Well, no, I ain't seen Mm. but tD is fight at the other end of the si Plck-me-Up. Ilia Occupation Gonr . How doth the busy little bet Improve each modern h When g-lucoB. clrvnrly i Makes useleaa every flov -Chlcag Plenty of Tbcna. "You say you love my ttlaugl "I love her, sir, with every I posess.n , ".Every fiber?" v "Yes, sir. I'm in the rope business, sir." Cleveland Plain Second Edition. Biggs Do you think Dr.. T sermons are as good as tie former years? Diggs Certainly. 'They tbe same as be used ten yei. cago News. i;- , ; . - A Clever Ms Dyer How did the br io escape? , . . Puell He disguised b llveman and, of course' found. Town Topics. " nasi nesaea ; Office Doy Henpeck py. He'a beenyingl Home" all dayj Type wrWjr nh w Journal; - . , t , Bin 1 He Think of 0u this time! Ot... V-A J khould bot& meet' Up-to-Date. . v - 4asfars r Xrv. aoenny- Jsrhen-1 manried TupennyTIu.. .aay be, never given up anything m Topics. 4 . - Kecplnp; Aeeoant , 'Average Wifo My dear, 1 going to church with me thi Average HusbandGood la I went to church with you la N. Y. Weekly. Had. Bans Motive, Of C Mrs. BeHowsv I believe yo roc for my money. - Bellows A-hem! Well, I dldn't'go to tha altar for my N. Y. Journal. A Gennlne Dellsht. "There Is one thing which gr woman more than all things e' "And what is that?" ' . I "Being -told that other wo jealous of; her." Chicngo Keca Baals of Popalartty;. j Miss Elders Poor Sister Bai tt great worker; she will be sadl out of your church. . i Mrs. Kerrylawk Yes; ant so newsy! Puck. ' ' A Certainty. Mr. Harps Do you suppos that It Is possible for a man t or more women at the same t Mrs. nafps Not If Ptn on t 1 to rt'RR a coi.n ix owii i Take Ijkzativa Quinine Tliletn. A glut refund the money If it fulls to i-ur 1C AsasaaaAnaai ModQri) Treatment 01 J0 9'99W I, AS mrm . ' uonsumpt i ion The Uteti wV?St oa . tfic treatment of Hufpjsss, written by forty castas.'. Aiaerlcin phyitdans, i.r..f Cod-liver oil hat done more for the con- $ stlmptive than all Oiher reme dies pot together . It alsa lays t ' The hypophosphites of lime and soda are retarded by many English obsen ax specifics for consumptic 'Scott's Emuls ( I . SBBBSBBBSSSSBSSSBBBBBBBSaBBBSSBSi 1 1, contain the best cod-li u in a partially1 digested combined with the Hyy ,t J tfiHes of Llmi and Sod. V. J remedy, a standard for quarter of a century, is i ' I exact accord with the late 1 ' views of the medical professlc !l Be sure you get SCOTI I Emulsion. . 1 1 AUdauggtast " 1! I