THROUGH THE MESHES OF WINTER. Through tlin meshes of winter lbs (lipped a tlay Prom nut aome rmllnnt nnthi Blie breathed a iihII (ruin lmr llower-ahaped month, And the rouiul world dreamed of May. Thn birds dreamed cnftly of ncatltnr-tlmo, TIim bare iMirth iln'tinuM of tl-twcr, The lirook'ii irlnl dri'iim wins merry rhyme, lint tliu bet of thu dream wita hum. For thn aoiig of thi wind swept into our k"ti, From tim (lrt pink dnwn I: I'h'W, Ami wo dreamed we ImiKhad In tliiiinslilno then, When Joy nnd thn world worn now. Dtit thn ilnv pi.nl by on folded whiff, Anil our ilr.'iim I" nub, r r Till ovor tho tliro'lmld of winter mow Hhn ahull mull" from th hoiirt of rli.rliiB, Allno Kiitlmrlue Fnllown, In Harper' bnzar. jiissioicil .,. -. . Lawyer Northbrooke hud just driven away from (llenthorne-, and l.lizabeth I'.vei ill stood for a moment on t lie broad terrace, anl then, with n turned nml eutored tlie house. Only tlint dny Lor nnut, Miss Matilda Thome, had leett buried, nhil Mr. Northbrookelind come down front Lon don to rend the dead wo nan's will. It was simple enough, nud those who had known Minn Thornn intimately hardly wondered at its wording: "To my niece, Klinlieth l.verill, provided idio tnurry n man of title, I will and bequeath all my worldly pos sessions." "And if I do not marry?" Miss Everill had asked. "Voit retain your inheritance," the lawyer answered with a smile. "Miss Thome drew up tho will herself, aud it is dollcicut on that point." Kliza'ioth's mother, Miss Thome's sister, had run oil' with Paul Kverill, the organist of the church, before she was IS. Her father had forbidden her name to be mentioned in his heariuu;, and at his dentil (ileiithorno had passed to Matilda unconditionally. Hue hnd held no rouimunicntiou with her married sistor till she read iu a newspaper of tho death of Paul Ever ill, and then she had pnid otto visit to the dismal Loudon lodging where Mrs. Everill lay dyinu;. There had never been much love between tho sisters, but Miss Thome was willing to take her sister's daughter under her care. 80, when tho oi-ganist's wife was laid besido him, their only daughter had been brought to her mother's home. Masters and governesses had been employed to perfect her education, and her aunt had never wearied of instal ling a lore of wealth and power, and a horror of poverty into the girl's ruiud. That her words had uot fallen on barren ground she would have un derstood could she have known her niece's thoughts that eveuing. She was thinking of a scene that had takeu place there just flvo years beforj. Some old paintings had been sadly mm 01 luo attention mat on.y a skillful hand could give, and Miss 1 3 orne had heard l?alph Crosby favor kbly spoken of, and had asked him to do the work. Elizabeth had been much jn the long portrait gallery while Halph Crosby talked and paiuted, and at length he had forgotten that he w as only a struggling artist aud she the niece of the wealthiest woman in the country aud had spoken bis love. Miss Everill could still remembor the haughty stare and mocking smile of her aunt when she spoke of her love (or Balph. "Lovel Your mother loved Faul Everill, I suppose, aud yon kuow something of hor life. But make your owu choice. Marry this young man if you will, but not ono farthing of mine will be yours." And the girl had lain awake till day break thinking of the sordid sur roundings amid which her childhood had been passed, and of the poverty (or which she had such a horror, till at last she resolved to answer "No" to her lover's pleading. She wiuced even now as she re called the grief that struggled with a contemptuous pity for her reasoning when she told him the next day that be conld not be a poor man's wife, aud remembered the few bitter words that fell from his lips as he turned away without seemiug to see her out stretched baud. In the last few days she had thought once or twice, in a vague way, that if Oleuthorne should chance to lie hers she would liud a way of letting him know that she loved him still, that she bad loved hint always. "And now and now," she said to herself.while the shadows grew deeper in the corners of the wide library, "an insurmountable barrier divides us." She clasped her hands tightly, and, with eyes that were dimmed by tears, gazed into the glowing embers. "Ob, Aunt Matilda, your very kind ness is but cruelty. J wonder where BalpUisnow? Oh, I almost wish I was a poor girl today. And yet, uo I couldn't bear that!" And the latter reflection, was con stantly passing through the girl's mind as time wore on. It was very pleasant to be mistress of the great house and to have money to oommand. Under her rule Glenthorue became a very pleasant place indeed; and be fore the year was ended it was whispered tbat Lord Arthur Kendal was very much in love with her. Elizabeth heard ' Ralph Crosby's name meutionea several times later, when sue went to Xjouaon. lie was oconpiea upon work tbat was to make name for him, some said. Others hinted that he was ill; and Miss Everill wondered that her heart should beat so quickly at the sound of his name. She bud resolved to accept Lord Arthur. He was rich much richer than she and quite at the top - ( the social lacldat Certaluly she did not lore hlm he was hardly man whom any woman conld respect. Anyhow she did uot respect him, and j-et she would marry him. They were uncongenial spirits, sho knew, but what of that? In such a mood she was going one night 1 1 a great bull given by one of the most fashionable women in Lon don. Lord Arthur would be there, and probn'ily she would say "Yes" to his pleadings that night. Hhe lather thought she would as she stood be fore a mirror when her maid had given tho finishing touches to her toilet. Hho had on a new white dross, and pearls were on her neck nnd amid her dusky hnir; she was radiantly beautiful. ".-Uc years ago!" sho muttered. "Hit years and more since tLe dny ltnlph Crosby en id " She turned away. Now nnd again a feeling came over her that she could not utiilmstnud n feeling that her wealth and her beauty wero not to b.'iug her happiness; and she had grown impatient with herself for feel ing so. (lenerall.v at such tinios she was oven gayer than usual, and when, some hours Inter, Lord Arthur sat liy her sido in a convenient lecoss iu Lady Javonell's conservatory, he felt that he could almost die for her There was something in her beauty that night a sadnoss iu the dark eyes behind their mirth thnt he could uot understand. "Elizabeth," he whispered, "soy Yes!' " and just then tho sound of voices reached thorn. "And Crosby, tho artist, you know, IS blind. "Illind!" "Unite. Ho consulted Ileynolds yesterday, his case is hopeless. " "Poor beggar! What will he do?" "I don't know. He hasn't a penny. He has nover steadied himself to work for years. Somebody told me of girl who jilted him, or something." Miss l.verill rose. "Lord Arthur, I hope you will never spenk to me like this again'" Lord Arthur bowed. Ho knew that further pleading would be useless. Very early on the following morn ing Miss Evcrill's carriage stopped at li ilpll Crosby's chambers, nnd Eliz both was informed thnt be was at home. She gave no name, but entered the room whuro ho was, "Halph!" "Jt was a voice that he had not heard for six long years, but he 10 coguize I it at once, and turuod his sightless eyes toward her. "Elizabeth!" he cried rapturously, opening his arms, nnd in au instant sho was folded iu them. "Hut you must not, Elizabeth," he said later, "you must uot saorilice all lor me." "It is no sacrifice," she replied, composedly; "but I era dreadfully afraid that I had to ask you to marry met I wonder what Mr. Northbrooke will say when be hears of this?" nud she laughed. "What fools womou'arel" was what the old lawyer said on being apprised of it, and he drew a large euvelope from mil011g a nilmber oI ,Uut i 1 .,,. ,,. i,f were iu a largo box beforo him It was addressed, in Miss Thome's very masculine caligraph, to himself, and written iu oue corner were the wor Is; "To be opened in the event of my niece s marringe. Inside was a will, properly signed nud witnessed, and the old lawyer's face cleared as he glanced at it Thore was also au open letter addressed to Miss Everill. "If you have sold yourself, ' my niece, take the price of your slavery. If you have been honest enough to mnrry (or love, take your reward. In cither case Oleuthorne is yours." "Heaven bless met" the lawyer ex claimed, "Heaven bless me! There's no understanding a woman I I'm heartily glad, anyhow; and now I must go aud tell these two that they wou't be beggars after all." An Knnrinoiia Yocnl lCpartn!r. aiy mother s love (or music was so great, says Sarah T. Meigs, that she could sing anything that was called for, from the old Scotch aud English ballads, through the entire range of Italian opera, down to the modern German Lied; or play anything, from Clement! to Chopin. All this 111 any key, and with an exquisite taste and enthusiastic eujo7iueut that was ir resistible. On being asked once how many pieces sue tliougut sue knew, sue re plied: "About 1000." My (ather said: "1 11 give you $ if you will write down the names of 500." "Very well; 1 11 do it. A blank book was se cured aud the only sound heard in our sitting room was the scratching of pen. On my father's return he asked what progress was mnde. The answer was: "I wrote nntil I was tired. If there are uot enough names, don't think I've exhausted my repertory, for I can write at least two hours longer." The juveniles crowdol round to 'watch the counting, and wbeu the last column was reached there was just BOO. "How am I to know that you really know all these pieces?" "I will slug them to you," was the undaunted reply. My father laughingly said; "I am quite willing to take your word (or it, my dear," aud paid over the money amid the cheers and laughter of the delighted family. Indianapolis News, Mlaplarad Unas. Nell Mad at bim? Why, be wrote a lovely poem to her. Belle Yes, but she never read it, When she saw the title of it she tor the whole thing up in a fit of auger xou see, u cnueu it "jjinbs on Mabel's Face. "-Philadelphia Catholic btanauru ana nines. ft I '; 'r-S TvTTTTTT AFlTr Designs For Costumes That Have Bo come Popular in tho Metropolis. New YonK Citt (Special). Some very simple but yet effective gowns for bridetnaids nre now being made fur a wadding which is to take place later in the season. They are to be of that beautiful shndo of pinkish lilac called ashes-of-roses. The material 8 Liberty satin. Tho skirts, which will bavo short trains, have threo rtillles of whito mull around the bot tom. Tho waists have yokes of the white inn'!, Ilnely tucked, and elbow sleeves of tho Liberty satin. Tho col lars are of white mull, tucked, and the bridemaids are to wear largo white mull Helms tied iu frout, with milled ends hanging well down 011 the skirts. Tho largo hats tho young girls will wear promiso to bo very effective. They will be of white mull, with a band of swan's-down around the ciowu, and ono very full white mull rosette at the left side. Uudor the brim, resting on the hair, are pink roses of a vory delicato shado. Iu their hands they will carry what nre tho latest novelty of tho season Liborty-satin mil flu, of the same shade as the gowns, with long bows and cuds of whito mull. VIVhU ASH RWAK'H-DOW! HAT. FIGURED BILK GOWN. LIGHT GUAX CLOTH. These muffs nro to be imported from Faris, and when seen hero at this wedding, which will take place at one of the most fashionable churohos in town, will undoubtedly set a fashion for weddings to come. At another re cent weddiug the bridemauts camort parasols of cream-milled tulle, which wore the gift of the bride to her chosen attendauts. Three Striking Coatninet. Three stylish new costumes are shown in the lurge illustration, taken from Harper's Bazar. This publica tion seems to be more aud more tho true mirror of fashion. No. 1 is a figured silk gown, with waist out square and trimmed with a broad collar of guipure lace and rosettes of black chiffon. No. 2 is of light gray cloth with over-skirt cut in Vandyke points, and trimmed with narrow silk friuge of the same shade. There is an ao- cordion-pleated ruffle ou the under skirt. Laoe revers are edged with fringe, and the rosettes are made of blaok velvet with rhinestone buoklos. No. 3 is a gown of pastel-blue oloth, tucked from the waist to the h'em of the skirt, and U-imtnod with deep flounoe ot heavy white laoe. The bolero jacket is of laoe and thore is a chiffon rosette at the left aide. Lena Shirts Are Vallilooabla. Long skirts iu the streot, longer skirts in the house, and it pleases every one but the woman of economi cal mind. There is a sweep to the train of extra length whbh gives a pleasant sensatiou to a woman of presenoe; she likes the feeliug of the siring of the skirts. The dressmaker can get better effects with tho loug skirt; it shows up the material to bet ter advantage, and as it takes more of it, that is a satisfaction to manufac turers and merchants. But that is not so agreeablo p the woman who has to oouut the dollars. A long train requires loss trimming, if any thing, than a shorter oue, for it has a certain dignity of its own in a rich material, aud is opt to lose by boiug trimmed. Tl K f7TTTA YT(7 ' U 7k: nanMllsiriiinllinMtitavs.flnvr)M)nill Laloit Ptjrls In Cnllnra, Collars are growing higher and higher. One of the new stocks is ot whito silk, tucked and hemstitched, and has two wide elephants' cars' ends standing tip at the back. Others are cut with points which almost cut off the unhappy wearer's ears. A new feature of Hie silk stock is the tab-like ends that hung on either sido. These are bead-erabroidered, or edged with lace to match the stock, and they are not very pretty. Still, they are the latest. , Klliow PrntpHnr Far f.ace atoevafl. Up-to-date laoe sleeves may have elbow protectors. They may not bo intended for that, but they will serve the purpose. A light cloth gowu has long sleeves of lace, a piece of the cloth set in at wrist aud shoulder, nnd another, broad at tho outside scam, with points 011 either edge, the piece growing narrower insido tho arm. It may not be to hide a shurp elbow, but it might bo. One of llis Wmmii'i Nnvrllloa. Floral uiufTs nre ono of the season's novelties. Au enormous nnd very lovely one Is composed entirely of vio lets, nml unislieil with great Hopping frills of shaded mniivo chiffon. Unlit lrr For Spring IVrnr, Possibly the place of most impor taueo as a spring tone Piay bo givon tu gray, the lighter the better. Perle, iirKent, nickel and plntine nre the four foremost tints. A llnnilAoitio Comhliiullitn. Russian lace iu heavy quality and lino Veuetinn laces are very much em ployed for trimming handsome cloth gowus iu the pastel colors. In llrutilirul llroii.lilntli. Ilero is au illustration of one of tho cleverest dresses iu that dolighlfnl now shade, which is n softly pinkish chocolate. Hroadcloth is the material, and tho skirt is ntitchod down to ho low the knees in doublo tucks. Tho extra fulness is very becoming at tho foot. Tho triiumiug which finishes OOWN OP l'ASTEL-CLUE. the odtre so effectively consists of a stitched iniroir velvot baud a shado dooner enriched along the centre with lloral aiiDlinues eaou nua every pciai beinr out out of the cloth and skill fully aiumod. Tho bodioe blouse, sleeves and all, is tucked to correspond with the skirt. nnd it is topped off by one of the new cape-like yokes with which nearly everybody has fallen iu love. It is of renaissance and the cloth appliques on velvot, and the chio turn-up edgo is of the velvet plainly stitched. Ap parontly it is caught together iu front by orearay chiffon jabot edged with tiuv ruches, aud held by beautiful A OXXVBn BROADCLOTH QOWX. bronze enamel clasps, with rose gold shadiugs. Tho stock and V are com posed of soft, narrow folds ot the oreaut chiffon. I HUE STATE OS GQNDENSED MORE COAL DEALS. Suit Km Been Brought Against Bondsmin ol Ex-County Traaiuror Hcrshty Juggled Boltlo ot Dynamite. County Solicitiir It;is1er brought suit against the bondsmen of cx-Loiinty irca-iiirrr Mcrshcy, who was short $05," 000 in hie accounts and who is now a fugitive troin justice. The suit include' both the State and Lancaster county bondsmen, each ct holding other responsible for the shortage. The mat ter will come up at the March term ol court for argument. The following pensions were granted last week: W. T. Wilson, Indiana, $0; Michael Miller, Wxluoon, Armstrong, $14; Eliabeth Opalunan, l'ittsbttrg, $N; Sarah Sunders, VVilliainsport, William T. Taylor, l.casilale. Y; (icorgc T, llnddin, dead. Johnstown, $u; Nancy C. lladtlin, Johnstown, $H; Barbara Mauser. Linden, $S; Charles W. Wallace, ConnclUville, $17; Robert A. ltoat, Heaver Tails. $0; William Aclicson, Pittsburg, $K; John R. Mark lay, Kdgewood Park, $; Chadwick Winnings, Kane, $0; Thomas Hudson, Pittsburg, $d; Charles A. Crassel, Alle gheny, $.; Robert lientiett, dead, Ilrail- dock, $0 to $u; Samuel J. Elgin, Salts burg, $u to $10; William A. Kulins, l'rceport, !f' to $8; Lizzie M. Jacobs, Center Hall. $; Christina James, Johnstown, $8;Corydon W. Baybrooks, (irccnfirld. $0: Charles C. Mooney, Milcsgrovc, $':oscph A. Kcrbcy, Alle gheny. Sn; I Immas Oormnn, Mines, $10; David T. Zimmerman, Johnstown, $10; John Barnes, MunhaU, $"; Harvey I. Coleman, Mcrricksvillc, William R. Moran, Altoona. $S; Luc M. Bird, Eranklin. $H; William K. Ramsey. Nor ristown. $12: Joseph II. Ltitz. Mahoney Citv, $f; John Reed. New Alexan dria. $0; David K. Palmer. New Wil mington, $0; John P.oyer, ConOiohock en, $0; icorgc Harnett. Rankin, $tf; Eli Panpihar. East Bethlehem. $d; Sam uel Cordon. Reed, ?: William L. Wal lis. Sharon. $b; Ceorife Drcllingcr, Chanilicrsdurg. $0: Jacob W. Ream, dc-id, Johnstown, $u; John Cregg, Monrocton, $17; Ccorcte Crumbling, Johnstown, $10; James Caldwell, Hick ory. SK; James M. Crawford, Becks Mills. ?8; William Keener. Danville. $7; Benjamin McKillips, Patterson. $12; John Miller, Butler. ?io; Jacob B. Stall). Hastings. !?I7; Louise Morton, Ma ansfi'M. $X; Libbic McLaughlin, Oil ity, ?'; Martha llaincs, Craysvillc, $K. John C. Doitgal, accused of sheep caling in the West Alexander region, Washington county, was fcnteiiccd by udgc Taylor to twenty months in Riv erside penitentiary. Dougal pleaded guilty to the charge before the grand urv and was at once taken before the court for sentence. The arrest of Dou- al occurred two weeks ago ami was responsible for the murder of Ccorge l.ammon. IJoiigal implicated no one in his confession before the court. He said he had stolen over 100 head of cep suiee last tall anil Had ueen in no ther business, lie took the sheep from le sheds at night and bad them taken o Wheeling, where he had previously rranged to dispose ol them. An engineer was blown from his cab y an explosion of a cylinder head on the locomotive Wednesday, and that aved his life. The engine was uscl in it construction of the new Snuthlicld & Masontown railroaod and was going at a moderate speed when the explosion occurred. Pieces of metal and bolts were burled through the cab and passed through where the engineer was sitting when he was blown out 01 tnc engine second before, escaping with a severe baking up nnd some bruises. While rutting timber on his farm near Polk Saturday afternoon, John Russell was struck across the neck and shoul ders by a falling tree and pinned to the ground. 1 he tree was large and kus scll suffered terribly, until his assistant. boy, chopped through the tree and rc- cased him. Even after this was ac complished he lay on the snow for some time until a conveyance could be procured to take him home. His recov ery is cloubttul. Mrs. Joseph G. Mognct. near Salis- urv. Somerset county, sold her tine farm to the Continental Coal Company, operating in that section, for $13,000. Henry J. Wilmotli. engaged in tne coai business in the same section, will erect 25 houses. S. D. Livcngood and J. V. Naugle sold to Llilent Keen, uammore, 1,200 acres of coal near Cassctman, Somerset county, which they will devel op at once. The State medical examining board reports the result of its investigation in to the charges that the questions for the semi-annual examination for licenses to nractice medicine and surgery in Penn- sylvania last June at i niiaoeipin.i aim Pittsburg were known to several appli cants prior to the examinations. The board decided that hereafter the ques tions shall not be printed. Judson Fields, awaiting trial for horse stealing; Joseph laylor, for felonious shooting, and James Carson, for bur glary, escaped from the county jail at New Castle, Tuesday night by cutting through the roof and climbing down a telegraph pole. Ihey got out ot ineir cells by unscrewing a bolt holding the lock. Six other prisoners claim that they heard nothing. The iail had just been remodeled and was thought to be doubly secure. The county commissioners of Favcttc county have refused the petition of the citizens of Connellsville for the condem nation of the new toll bridge just erect ed by the Youghiogheny Bridge Com pany and make the same free. The pro ceedings were brought under the act of May S, 1803. The borough council of Mt. Pleasant has granted the Connellsville & Union town Electric Railway Comoanv a right of way through the borough. The company pays $J,oco for the privilege itid promises to have the line in opera tion within iS months. Richard C. Stollcs. of Washington, D. r... was arrested at Stcelton, Wednesday charged with raising a note from $500 to f5.ooo and other falsifications to the cxtnet of $na,oco. Stolles was loca ted at the home of a relative by a Wash ington detective and va tancn to uiai city ior a hearing. ' "A Thread Every Day Makes a Skein in a Year'j One tmall dbtisn germ untied by M blood through tht tysUm will comxrt healthy humtn My to condition of In validism. Do not ivaH unlit you trt bed ridden. Keep your blood port nd Uft-gfo tng $11 the time. Hood's StrstMi&A accomplishes this as nothing else csju U -trm t y ftiTM CcMivh nr PnM at ftrtr. ConqcMfft Croup without fail. Ii! t th best fur fcronchitift. linm. TZi for ino euro of Cntmu nipt ion. Moftimprolwit. foflortprecnbell nroaii aamtm ; quick, tirr reauiu. L.l-g, lk!IHI,U.- .1 1 11 rirel Come, First Nerved, Dnn't say that yon couldn't get the vnlunhls presents ofTernil with "Red Cross" and "Hiiblmrer's Best" lnnndry stnrnlij your groner has thorn for yon; ask him for a coupon book, which will enable yon to get one large 101. pack aire of "lied Cross" starch, one large lOo. package of "Habtnger's Best" tareh, with the premiums, two bAUtl fnl Hlinkespenre panels, printed In twtve beautiful colors, or one Twen tieth Century Olrl calendar, all for So. Vale of rictnrea. ricturcs do more toward furnishing a house and determining the status ot Its Inmates than anything else. If you have a suspicion that you are not wise In choosing and hanging pictures, get advice from someone wbose taste need not be questioned, says the Pittsburg Dispatch. Cheap pictures are not nec essarily poor, but a poor picture Is usually cheap. To be able to discern the difference Is a quality with which every ono Is not blessed. A good plan Is to purchase copies of famous pic tures, etchings and engravings. These are almost sure to be good. In fram ing pictures remember that gold frames are for oil paintings and dark pictures, white frames for water col ors, and black enamel or Flemish oak and modern oak for etchings and photographs. have boon relieved of female troubles by Mrs N Plnkham'a advloa and medicine. The letters of a few aro printed regularly In this paper. If any ono doubts Via efficiency and saoredly confidential oharaoter of Mrs, Plnkham'a methods, write for a book she has recently published which contains letters from tha mayor of Lynn, tho post : master, and others of her city who have made care" ful Investigation, and who verify all of Mrs. Pink ham's statements and claims. The Plnkham claims aro sweeping. Investlgato them. THIRTY YEARS OF CURES !fy wife bad pimples on hrffco.bu Una otwt io;u whiiik lAOt.Andi,? nuu tutjy k.iita ml iiiuinriMM.reil- T ti:ti hnn trnuhlAd with n.initltHiLtnn fur tome lime, but alter talc- lvof Tilwill-tJLM." FRIED WahTMAN, tn LniBi 1111 rntniia n o caaiiimit ut- iuu 11m CANDY ff WATnAKTtC eiarroeio PleaaanL ralataOla. rolent. Tatte Good. Tm Good. Nar leku. Waalua. or Grip. 10i, 360, OK. ... CURE CONSTIPATION. ... H.ill.t Mwi, CUMa, MatiM!. ttm Ilk. US Mr) TA Rlf Sols ane atiaraniead br alldru. HlMlU'DAW gnu w I'YKETooaooo UaOlk ffflRTEnsniiK lias the Unrest sale of any Ink la me world. 7. L. DOUGLAS 3 ft 3.8Q SHOES m& AMortt) 4 to $6 oomparsd. Wlin einvr maava. Iluloraed by over 1 ,000,000 wearers. rke imaiM have W. L. I DuugUV same and prk I Uaipcd on bottom. 1 .k I no eubmme claimed to be aa good. Your MaletV bould keen them aol. we will aend a pair a n ..t.iiit at nriue and acu. antra lor carriage. Nlate kind ot leather, alae, and width, iilaln nr cat trie. Cm. tree. . L OOUGIAS SHOE CO., Broikton, Miu. TTl. J ai!7Ilal. aad ill dale' trMtuw UUJMMdDiw 4? Bv af0 in errs ii BBS 1 T lliiT A CeTS I.I y'SBk. suamuii I evee se. a. a. a a i aavaa