FOREVER. HvTrtavw unites the rong, tho iiylit up- ta spite el r'iw' rlnniniinp rtics IWUuerr uproots tlio fitUr, (lie 1 1 it I h un folding, AJong the pn!b there iunoriinoe lie", Whoe'er, opposing vjiT, in nolilv Siviiitf To vhinc's cunno hi best null uvor, However lowly life lip lives, in living A lilo (a he forgotten ycvcr. (Wlioevrr lil'tn hi lisnil against oppreMion, Where'er the lili(hiwi cwriw tuny lull, Whonrer makes Ins life swot cipiwiion Of hw o( cipnnl right for nlk IrYTioc'er the wor)i t fes4 or lrm bo towing, .AssM the tvmnt's ctnimn to sever. Though tumble, deed ha loc, anie lent it sowing Whnee fruiti tlinll gladden brarlt for- An African mmm By ROBERT BARNES CRAMER. ED mill I lay stretched out mi tl:e warm sand, watch ing ottr guide draw it dia gram of a proposed hunt ing trip tin olio side of n HiniMitli stone. 'ed offered ecaslc4inl suggestions mill naked In smavrnblc question, nil of which It i -ns truthfully answered, while 1 leokad. on lu silence. "But see hero, olil mnn," said my tsVlow tourist, nliriiptly. "Isn't this the iVtei wiere tho forty thieve lire sup posed to bang nut?" Our guide fhriignel hi RlinuUler, nd in broken KukIInIi kiiuci-hII that If we Truro tfiHlil to vi'iitnro on tho trip m-0 could M:iy nt Alexniitlrln nml toe quite rot of reai-li of tho robber. "Hut w ro Tint nfcnlil," I liitrriioel; "we only want to bo prepnreil for the robber In rune tiey iut In an nppear nee." "No rnbler-lio need prepnve," 111 nto imld, onrneMly. "I bn-u there bo Jore, many n time." This popular Avm-rlcun phra fcroiiRht a amlle to NJ' lip, us lie eloped tho contriu't. Ned and I were visiting my uncle, who was then tlio United States Con mil at Cairo. Wo had planned a limit Inn trip up the Knzaiiii Illvor Ions be fore wo met ItU-nr.o; but Unc'e Dli-k !vrould not let ns go nlone, nml It wn only afh'r nineU ieruaBloi tfcnt be ronvontcd to n Journey under t be u liervliiton of thu dnrk-xhlniicd native. There liad been numerous tttorie flouting about of a band of rohbors auppoKcd to exist In that locality; but this, instead of deterring us, only niatle us both Nvd partlculnrly mora anx ious to go. It was very early the next morning When Klenzo called u. So early, in fac that Ned refused to get up for noir.s time, and l was hIiiionI ton ed to iull Iilin out of bed. lUit we got started finally, and when w belted, Into In the afternoon, Ned nnd I took a run of Severn I hundred yards to stretch our stiffened legs, nnd when wo returned Iticnzo had made all tbe preparations for vpvndiiis a night la camp. Throughout the evening we trumped long the river in enreh of game, but iwlrb Indifferent snows, and It was not tttitil the next morning that our fcopes In that line were rejilleed. Rlcnco and I were kneeling together tiehlnd a clump of bushes about mid day, a pile of game lying at our feet, JieCi was soino distance from me, but I could hear him banging nway when ever tiro sky was darkened by a flock of ducks. I liad Just finished reloading my liotgon, and was about to take uiin t a slnglo bird sitting on the nand some distance away, when ltletuo help up a warning finger. "No Bhoot," be whispered. "Lay iown quick." I dropped to the ground, wondering What bis sudden action meant. "Keep still I fetch boy," he went on, In a low tone of voice, and the next instant be had walked quietly away, I lay on the ground several moments eefore be returned, briuglng Ned with Mm. They bad evidently held a con sultation, for, as soon us tb.y reached Die, Ned whispered: "Kcuzy says we nrc In for it now, old man. That fctnry about the robbers is nly too true." "What do you mean?" I nske eager ly. . "Have you seen " "Hushl" interrupted Ned. In n guard ed voice. "Don't Kcak no ,uil. Kenny ays bo knows they arc iiround hero omewhere, probably attracted by our shooting." We crawled on our hands nnd Vzeo for several hundred yard, and tU I tiecamn uiNgustod vviih our guld: plan of action, and halted abrupt 1; "Camels gone," lit' truaiivd. ''We b good!" "I gnesg you're right," ngreed NeS, sitting down. "Those thieves have taken our beasts, and lor my part, I'm Clad of it. Let's stay here uud shoot them as tliey come up." "No care," said ltlcuzo. "They shoot too mauy more." "Then what are we to do?" I asked uxlously. "Thone fellows will be bore In a little while. Cun t wo bldo sojne- Tfthere? This suggestion seemed to brine an Idea into tho brilliant Intellect of our Kulde, and be at once set forth a plan avhlch we strenuously objected to ut first, but were finally forced to adopt It vas simply a scberns to bury us Uv to bide us from the robbers, and ar set about at once to put It in peratloi for full to bow w dug In lie toft fl'hw'cr to n sfHirlrd tirnllirr. needing, Kxteiul tin- linnil nf charily, Whoe'er binds up a heart Hint's broken, l.leciliny, With bonds nf love unit sympathy. Whoe'er, Iy kindly wind nr n t hcslon Iiir, IlimU human hearts more clone together, His deeds, through year in beauty glow ing. Shall five in memory forever. Whoe'er, from tin (nil shame nnd ilcjra ilntion, Assist an "ring one to rie; Whoe'er, villi lifo itself uphold the tin tion, When freeitnm needs the nrriflrel Whoe'er liven not for sollish cniln nnd glory. The law of love forgetting never. Hi nsiue, though written not in long cr lory, Will live in human hearts forever. Adventure. mm niiil, anil then, everything being ready, Ned unit t Htretched oiii'Kctrcx out hi the excavation, nnd peruiitled Itleiuo to shovel the nirth iixm the lower part of our Isnlles with the slocks of our rides. This done, he disappeared for some nilinttes, and then returned with two peculiarly shaped gourds, which he Iih.I evidently picked lip In the woods. With a ckill that excited my admira tion, be cut away a piece from the narrow nock of the vegetable and then another from lis large, round, hollow body. This done, he lilted tlio larger end over our nostrils, permitting the smaller one to project un Inch or two above the ground. Having done this, lie covered us up completely with the sand and smoothed over the top so as not to show any signs of its having been disturbed. Then he went away, Kor about an hour wo lay there In silence, suflYring terrll4y from tho bent of our ridiculous position, but not daring to move for fear of disarrang ing tUe imvlnuiisni of our breathing apparatus. At the end of that time Ned spoke: "Say, Jack." Ills voice was miillled and almost In audible sounding somewhat as if bo was talking over a telephone wire, but bo managed to make himself beard. "WellV" I answered. "I don't want to say anything anainst the character of Hienzo, but ' Shut up," said I, "some one may hear you." .My fellow sufferer subsided for sev eral minutes, and then I tell you, old man," be went on. "that Kenny is playing n Irlck on us. I believe he's gone himself to " "Keep still," 1 whispered. "I shan't do it. That old rascal- say, Jack, I'm going to get up." I was horrified at the proposition. but before I could protest, ho had leaped to his feet, and with an inward groun I followed his example. our appearance above ground created a sensation.. II. Major Dunworlhy sat on n camp stool with his legs crossed and n long stemmed pipe resting in one hand. He was telling a story. J lie ftarty consisted of thirty Knclish students under the leadership of Major Diinwortlir, and they were mukimr a pleasure trip through the Interesting portions of Kgypt and Nnbla. Tbe -Major hlinself was a well informed man of tho world who bad traveled In every civilised country ou earth, and in many unit were not civ llzod. At the time of ills introduction to the leader he was engaged in giving a very interesting nnd excitimr account of an adventure which once befcl him lu India. i "Now, my lioys.t be said, mifflnc nway at ins nuge pipe, "wo are com iortuuiy settled for the night. I wish some of yon would build a good fire lu iront or tne big tent to cook those fish over. When you get ready I will show you bow to broil them. I don't want to trust any of you boys again, after spoiling those mackerel we caught the ot nor uay." The young men gathered wood for tlio ure, while the littie Major went on: "Speaking of nVh puts me in mind ot something that happened to me In In ula a long time ago." If they had ppoken of gunpowder nr steamboats tlio result would have been till' same but let that puss. "I was there for several years, and I saw the most surprising things that any mortal man could ever think of. J on may talk about your sli Iclit of. band performers and Jugglers, but I tell you, boys, there isn't anything vuii npini inose inutau fakirs, i .ow, they 11 take a nine lust nn rdinury pipe like tUis-mid put some Jid nf stuff -in it that'll burn like coal o4 uud light it. You can seo it Ibuuc up out of the bowl of tho nine. Then on of them will put bis lips to the en of the stem nnd suck ull thut fire !'. cis mouth as if It were smoke. I nev saw anything like it, but that win las euslest thing In thu whole lot. "t some more of tho fakirs built a lift cl shavings nnd logs on the ground, and danced about it and yelled for ull they were worth. Then, mettv soon tbe man that had taken lu the nre weut up to tho pile and kneeled bv U and breuthed-yes, sir, Just breathed on the wood, and it got afire." The Major pawsod for breath and looked complacently abdUfSrJui. A story teller lie wsi the equal X Baron Munchausen, and, being encourage! by bh aildltors, bo proceeded: "The pile of wood took flro easy anything, and burned like so much straw for about fifteen minutes. Then,' contlttii"il the Major, Impressively, while the students hold their breath, "a man eninn out of tho ground wliein that lire had been, and" A faint shriek from the story telle a gaxp of terror from bis circle of lis tener", nnd a yell of fear from tlmst In the liimicillato vicinity of tho II is accompanied n sudden scattering i! the flames as two form bounded lutC tbe air. "I'd rather die Hits minute," snld Ned,', glaring, about him, whllo I trembled In my shoes, "than slay down there nnd be roasted. Thesii fellows built their lire right on top of me." We mtit have frightened the party nearly to dciitb, for with our soiled clothes ami dirty faces, and the unfor tunate time of our resurrection, not out of tbe students would approach us, whllo the Major lay on hi back pant ing out a supplication for us to treat lit iu like a gentleman and n soldier. Kleii7.n i nine back some time after ward, and meekly admitted Hint the camels bad strayed off nnd made tin nolve which hn thought bud emanated from the Im ml of robbers. Itiruzo," snld Ned, solemnly, "yoa are a fool." Me fink item so; no bury else," was bis logical reply, which, translated, means mat be wouldn't huvu burled us If be linilu'l thought we were In Immi nent danger of being murdered by the thieves. And you've got the camels back';" I asked. "Yep all light, camel." ''Then let's go boinc." Nisi assented, mid n soon n wa could uct our game uud camping outfit fastened on the camels' backs, wn started 'on the return trip to Alexan dria. When wo readied the hotel we dls harged our guide nml went to bed. not rllng until late the next day, when we found tbe gallant Major Dun worthy awaiting us In the parlor down stairs. He came to assure us that the rumor of bis hair having turned will to with fright at the conclusion of bis remark able story was u vicious falsehood set afloat by Jealous enemies. New York News. simple Creation.. These are generally the most costly garments you can have costliness that apes economy: garments Appar ently made of unobtrusive materials, but which cost guineas a yard. Such gowns cannot bo often repented, and therefore are charged a hluhor price, A good deal of purple Is being worn Just now, especially in cloth, but about tho skirt there does not seem to bo any trimming nl all. Ail the gorgeous- ness is reserved for the bodice. Very simple net skirts are rendered ruliioiH by the incrustations of velvet nnd tho addition of chenille fringe, and, what ever the groundwork ot tho dress, the ornamentation Is the same. Crepo do bine Is one of these delusive fabrics; it looks simple and costs a fortune, says tho Queen. Many of them are being made up wllh n sort of under skirt. We nre veering toward trlplo skirts, but ns yet wo only see treblo flounces. The one touch of economy In any of the modes Is that a good gown, with a very Httlo alteration, can bo made to answer a double purpose, ami this especially applies to panne nnd glace for evening and day wear. New York Evening Telegram. lie Forgot. You tee that well-dressod fellow coming across tho street? I'll bet you nre afraid to ask him to direct you to Third and Market streets." said Chief of Deicclivcs Johu Martin tho other day. "I'm not looking for trouble," replied the reporter. "Hut why J" That's .llinmie Itlniik. It's an ol story, but li's always fresh to Jlmmle, because his old frleuiU always have It on tap when they meet him. Tlfteen years ago Jimuite was bunco num. One day on Kearny stres be walked up to a seedy looking yomt fellow n ml asked him the way to Tbiri and Market streets. 'The stranger, with a scornful Sh1. strolled across tho street. 'JUmg afterward Jlmmle met Ve same ehifp, uud, not recognizing hii , asked: 'Say. old man, I nm a stranger 1A town. Can you show uio the way to Third nr.d Market streets? "Weil, for the Lord's sake, haven't you found that place yet? You asked me that ip'estiou moro thun a year ago,' wu tLu reply." San ErancHco Cull. Two KsUert. In mnry voj tho two Kaisers Francis Joseph 8'id Wllhclm II. pre sent many points of contrast. In noth ing, perhaps, is till, moro marked than In the feverish ncllvjty of tho younger mnn and tho quiet cvlm of tho cider, Tho Herman Emperor comes near to realizing the idea of pcpctuul motion; be is essentially the traveling Kaiser, nnd has visited every cKy of Impor tance in Europe I'ivrls, pwhaps, ex cepted. Even Purls ho in said to visit Incognito. The Austrian Emperor, on tlio other Iniud. rarely loaves bl3 own dominions, and now, having reached thu age of tfvcnty-foui', bo announces thut ho is no longer equal to tlvi fa tigue of paying return visits. J'ull Mall Gazette. Gallantry, Is gwllontry dying out? Several newspapers headed uu item ot news lust week, "A Woman Burglar." W may be old fashioned, but wo prefef the more courteous expression, " Lady Bumlar." London Punch. A plOck ft. 1 1'RdVentare. FED BEAK MATCHES. Hn was a venerable nnd Intelligent man and had been a great traveler, and ho kindly undertook to whllo away nn bile hour by telling n reporter of tho true Inwnrdnoss ot California life in tho foothills ot tho Sierra. "As to your question about grlzr.lle," lie said, "I'll tell you my first and rath er remarkable experience with one of those varmints. 1 was a kid, not yet twenty, and new to the region of the Sierras, baring eomo from tho East but a few months before. On a moon light night early In April I was gently meandering homo on mulrlinek. I was unarmed with the exception of pocket knife, for I bad foolishly lent my pistol to a friend early lu tho day. I hud almost rcHchcd the ranch, hav ing only a short stretch of ground to pass. I bad heard the settlers allude respectfully to old Ephralm. They snld ho was tin- fiercest lu the spring, after bl winter's siesta. He's always an ugly customer, and after a man bus had a wipe or two from hi tahms there Is seldom enough left of thut man to tell the tale. 'On this evening I speak of I was dead tired, ns I bad been tiding all day. I had almost fallen asleep on my mule, wbeu-iny word! how that mule did Jump! Standing abend, ns large us life, on the lunik of a llltto brook, was a big grlr.zly. He grinned at me and growled lu a way calculat ed to agitate the nerves ot AJax, the fellow who ilctled the lightning, much more those of a tenderfoot, as 1 was then. 'I liad beard enough to know that If I turned tail, that Is, the mule's tall, I could leave Ephraim behind me; but ou the other side of him was home, nnd I hud my share of gilt even then. I had beard of tbe notion entertained by some people that n man cm muster the most ferocious wild creature by looking blm in Die eyes and advanc ing straight upon liiiu. Even a green horn would back out of such nn ex periment with Ephralm, the most fero cious of nil wild creatures. Suddenly 1 remembered t had In my pocket a largo liox filled with fric tion matches those made with plenty of brimstone for use lu a strong wind. An idea occurred to me, and I patted nml encouraged the mule, who trem bled so that I thought slio would drop down under me, nnd urged her boldly right In tho face of old Burin. When within a few feet I suddenly struck n dozen matches and threw them right into his open Jaws, Never was there a morn sudden change from malignant ferocity to the most object cowardice. The lingo brute actually cowered nnd shook Willi terror equal to that of the iiiulo herself. "This was something altogether out side of ids experience. I suppose lie thought be bad struck n prairie Urn on mulebuck. Even the mule saw the situation nnd gained courage. Sho ad; vanced, and I kept it continuous' show er of burning mutches. Luckily u rather strong wind blew from me and curried away the fumes, lu fact, this is what brought the varmint to me. To cut things short, old Epb turned tall and iguomlniously lied. "Now, stranger, I might proceed to relate further how I stuck to the heels of that old grizzly, and kept setting fire to bis fur until bo wus entirely burned up, but In this skeptical age It may bo well to suppress soino of the fuels of the ease, for four of being doubted." Liverpool (Eng.) Mercury. RETURN OF THE DESERTERS. Back ot the fnct that nine enlisted men of tho Fourteenth Cavalry have recently been proved not guilty of the charge of desertion, which Involves dis honorable discharge mid Imprisonment, nnd have been found guilty of being "absent without leave," which Involves a line and a short term in tho guard house, there Is nn example ot what an American soldier will endure for the snko of nctlvo service, and what he can't endure stationed in barracks. .When tho Fourteenth Cnvulry was or ganized some two years ngo, men rusbed to enlist because they thought tho regiment would bo sent .o the Phil ippines. Two years rolled by, uud fur those two years a battalion of tl: Fourteenth was stationed at Fort Du chesne, Utah, tho most forsaken j.mst on tho army map a slntlon "ninety miles cit the map and liiK) miles from nnywhere." While tho men were eat ing their hearts out there word came last spring that if they wanted to re- enlist they could get their discharges lit once and re-enter the nrmy for nn other three years. Tho news flew like wild lire, and, as it wus generally tin derstood that this meant tho regiment wus going to the Islands, ulmost every man renewed his oath. In August tho long wished for but wlll-o'-the-wlsp order came for the Fourteenth to start for the railroad station eurouto for the Philippines. They didn't stop for dinner thut night, but began breaking camp thnt hour, nnd In a short tlmo tho battalion was started on its two days' "hike" to tho railroad. But when It had covered a Jittlo more than half the Journey a dusty, perspiring courier overlook it with a telegram stating that tho rogl meat's sailing orders had been revoked and the battalion ordered to return to camp. That night two of tho men bought horses and disappeared, and for days following mail after man si lently faded away. Sumo were caught, but others remuluud out of reach. Then, when tlio battalion scorned threatened with disintegration, from Washington there Unshod across the I Hires the word that tbe War Depart ment bad cxcreiscd Is prerogative: nnd the troops would proceed to tho Island. An silently and mysteriously as they had disappeared, Iho arlf-nbsent sol dliri began to dispose themselves lit pillule where Ihelr ofllem'S could lint avid seeing them and pulling thein under arrest. Nine of them were tried by a court ma it In 1 upon their arrival nf. Presidio with (he Fotuteenth en route In the Philippines. But when Ihelr chaplain told his story the court reduced the elm mo to absence without leave uud sent them along wllh their regiment nn the Inst transport. Hon eral MaeArllnir reviewed the case and agreed with the court. Sun Frsnelscsi Chronicle, DE aiAtMX'K first noitit.L.v. Suddenly an Immense gorilla ad vanced out of the wood straight to ward us, nnd gave vei.t, ns he came up, to a terrible bowl of rna-i, ns much us to sny, "1 am tired of being pursued, and will face yon." It was a lone mule. the kind which are always the most ferocious. This fellow miulo Iho woods resound with his roar, which Is really an awful sound, resembling the rolling and miillering of dlst.'int thunder. He was about twenty yards off when wo first saw him. Wo ut once gathered tniccthcr. mid 1 was nliout to take uiin ami bring him down whero be slisul, when my most trusted man, Muluo nen, stopped me, saying In n whl'pcr, Not time yet." We stood, therefore, In silence, gun lu hn ml. The gorilla Imiked at us for n minute or so out of bis evil eyes, then bent his breast with bis gigantic arm' nnd what arms )m hnill then gave another bowl ot defiance nnd ad vanced upon us. How terrible tin lookeii: I shall never forget It. Again be stopped, not more than fifteen yards nway. SUM Mahiolieu snld, "Not y el." !ool gracious! What is to become of us if our guns miss lire, or if we only Wound the great beast? .'liiiin the gorilla made nil ndviitico iip-j-i us. ."Sow he was not twelvo yards oil'. I could sen plainly his fero cious lace. It was illstorled with rage; Ills bono teeth Mere ground against each nlher, so that we could bear the sound; the skin of the forehead was drawn forward and buck rapidly, which made bis hair move up ami down and gave a truly devilish expres sion to bis hideous face. Once more the mosl horrible monster ever creut- id by Alinluhly Coil gave u roar, villi li seemed to sli:kc Hie woods like tliiimlcr. I coiilil ("iilly feel tho earlh trembling under my feet. The goril la. I. inking us In the iji', and healing bjs lirelisl, iiivnil":'l ii uti in. "Hou'l lire too soon," said Mahtoucu: If you don't kill blm he will kill you." This time he came w ithin eight yards of us before be stopped. I was breath ing fast with excitement as l watched tlio huge beast. Malaoiicii only said, Sieady," as the gorilla cnine up. When he stopped, Malaolien said, "Now!" And before he could utter the roar for which he was opening bis mouth three musket halls were In his body, lie fell dead alino-i without, u struggle Advc'iiurcs in Equatorial A hi'. a. A DISTINtil'ISIIED M. P. An M. P. who distinguished himself greatly during the late war In Soulli Africa Is Major .1. E. B. Scely, who represents tho Isle of Wight nt SI. Stephen's. Major Scely gained the D. S. O. during the campaign,, and the manner in which be nml u handful of yeomanry covered the retreat of their comrades, who hud suddenly come up on n large party of concealed Boers, won them unstinted praise. Major Scely Is also one of the crew of the Tolland Bay lifeboat, and it: is not strange that In Hie Isle of Wight they think highly of his courage. Some time back hn swam with a lino from the lifeboat to a sinking French ship, mid was thus Instrumental In saving nine lives. For this net of gallantry ),.. received tho thanks ot the French tioveriiinent, and lie enjoys tho dis tini'lioii of being the only IllVhoulinnu in Parliament. John i'.urns, however, liui saved a man from drowning, lu his younger days the member for But tersen was engineer ou board a siemncr In the Nluer, nnd on the cry of ".Man overboard!" being raised, he Jumped inlo the river and effected a rescue. M ;r,rial .Star. III NNlNi: THE BI.OCKADR. Sir Willi. mi Allan, the veteran mem le. : of lite IV'ilisli Parliament fur i Irt' sli! .'il, i.ti v made the ncqua'nt-nn-e "T ill.- I:"i'le of 11 prlsoil OS n re sult of his llie for adventure. When a young man. Si'1 William, then a ma rine e'lineer, s;lv a good deal of tho world and faced many perils of tho sea. During the war between tho Northern ami Southern Stales, tho yonuu Scot engaged in ihe exciting yet dnrgerons pursuit of blockade run ning, but on one eventful night tho steamer of which he was chief cng neer fell a prey to a Federal cruiser. The engine room, whero Sir William re mained awaiting his fate, was invad ed by a Vnion officer, who, hearing nn ominous rush ot water, jumped to the erroneous conclusion that tho young engineer was sinking the ves sel. Willi a fierce gesture the Federal leveled bis revolver ut the head of tho Scot, but It was not fated that the lat ter should die that day, though lie suf fered imprisonment for bis bloikado running exploits, be was ultimately lit tle thu worse for the experience. rut-Is Ilivelllucs. It is rumored that the Roibf.thtlda propose to spend lO.OOD.lHK) f nines lu the setting up lu Paris of dwellings for wage earners, In which thu rentals sliull be extremely moderate and out of which tlio owners do not intend to uiuko tiny profits. Similar work has been done In tho Pea body buildings in London nnd In various extensive enter prises of tho sort iu a number of lead ing cities. CHILDREN'S THE !RAPE niltL, In Duly there once lived a wicked liiiin named Borgn, who owned miles and miles of beautiful vineyards, but who wonld not pny the peasants work lug In them enough wage to enable them lo buy food. You may be very sure that Borgn was not loved by tho poor men and women uud little children who tolled during Hie long, sunny hours In order to fill bis baskets with cluster upon cluster of the beautiful purple fruit. But Bores did not cure whether they liked blm or not, so long as he con tinued to grow richer every year. . Among the peasant In Borgo's vine yard there worked a little girl named Bettlnn, who was compelled to sup port her poor old mother by gather ing the grape. Nobody knew better tliau she how hard It was to live on the miserable wages which Borgn paid. One day, emboldened by her mother's suffering nnd her own hun ger, Bettlnn went In see the wicked old man, nnd asked him to do better by the peasants, to mid a few more copper coin, which he could readily pare, to their scant wages. Borgo laughed aloud at Iteltlmi. and told her Ihe vineyard workers were well enough paid, nnd that be should Soon reduce their wages still more. Tim poor child went nway full of sorrow, and imparled Hie news to Ihe others, whereat they ull began to weep uud pray that the saints Would soften Borgo's miserly heart. That siune evening as the peasants took their way homo over Iho green fields, they policed nn old wniuaii sit ting beside the wooden cross at the roadside. Tim vineyard workers often paused before this cross to sny u prayer on their way to uud from their labor, but Ihe.v did not slop this time because the old woman had one arm onlstietched ns lliouuli asking for alms, sii they all went by and protrud ed not to see Iit. Only P. ttina wailed a bil, for tin woman looked lnmuiy, and lieltlua knew just bow llial fell. Presently she went no lo her and she saw then Hint the old woman's Innilile was ipdii of another kind. Oil the ground be side her was an overturned basket of beautiful grains, and as fast as the (lame tried to put the fruit back in tho basket it ad fell out iiualn. "Let mo help you, Slt'iiora," cried llu lit! lo girl, and bent over to assist her; but the old woman called nut shrilly: "Co away, go away! I know what your helping mean-". You will want life lo repay you when you have re placed the grapes. I know- I know bow selllsh everyone Is." ileltlnii shrank back nt Iho cross w ords, but her kind tin turn soon prompted her to offer her services again, which she did. explaining mean tlmo that sho asked no reward. Soon tlio grapes were piled carefully into Ihe basket nml Bcttlirn turned to go. The old woman had watched her siienliy us she worked, but now sin spoke. "My child." sho snld, and her voice hnd changed suddenly to the sweetest of tones, "my child, I thank you for your nsslstnnco. Y'oii ore h dear, nn Nclflsh little girl, and Jon have made It possible for mc to aid the peasants, although they nearly forfeited my help by their refusal to do a kindly act. Know that I nm imt uu old woman at all. I ii in Iho Fairy (I'rapeltii, uud 1 wnteh ovev the vineyards. Betllnu I. ad never heard of her be fore, but she vas sure she must really be a fairy, for as she spoke her ruuged garmenls fell nway, and she stood there clad in u long gown ot purple tilk, Just the very color of ripe grapes Her face was quite young now, and her hair fell about her shoulders like a silver shower. In one band sho held u long wand twined about wlib clsis tcrs of graphs and llielr glossy, green leaves. "Now," continued ihcFnlry firapoltn, "hold out your hand, and I will give you the power to make tho wicked Borgo repent." Bcitina held out her right bund mid the fairy slowly low ered her wand and touched tho fore linger nml tiic Utile linger with it. "Whenever you please," she declared "you can toiiuh the grape with your forefinger -mid they will fill with ricu est wine." Bi'tllmi looked surprised, but she was a polite child,' so sho tried not to show that she doubted the fairy s word. "Whenever you please," repeated Grnpetta, shaking ljer silver curls uud smiling kindly, "you liavo only to touch the grapes with your little linger lind immediately they will bo filled With ear ih." As soon lis she bad said these things he Hew right up in the blue sky uud Vanished. Bettiuu stood staring after her and then down at her small brown Imud which sho held closed, excepting her forefinger ami little finger, and this is a position In which some of the Italian people bold their 1 minis to this very Uay when they wish to ward off evil. "I give you power to nmko tho wicked Borgo repent!" thut was what tho fairy had said. But as Bettina continued her Journey homewnri?, she could not seo how it lay In her power to do this. Sho stopped before vine ot wild frapc, which grew in thick clusters DEPARTMENT: close to llie roadside. She would trf If what Ihe fairy hud snld could really be true. Willi her small linnet ex tended she touched evcrsl of the Ins elnn grape, and then broke open their satiny skins. When lot Instead of the fruit which she expected to find Inside, (here fell to the ground a little trickling shower of coarse, brown clay. Belllmi then Ii Int Ihe forefinger, With which she touched some of tho neatest hcrrlcn. These she pressed open, snrt behold! a grnpofut of rich, red ftfne flowed out Immediately. So ihen It was true, the fairy had really given her this queer little gift. But how was it lo help her to maks Boriio pay the peasants lietter wsg? It'dtlmi shook her bend sadly. She could not understand. I -ate Hint night, while she was sleep ing softly In her little hut, she beard her, name culied. II was tho sweet voice of Hie Fairy tlrapetts, and Bet tlmi u woke to find her standing at the foot of her bed, clad In her silken .Tnb of purple, with the moonlight filling upon her wonderful silver hair. "Cot iip: gel up!" she cried. "Why are you not lonklm: use of your power? You mul go forth Into tho vineyard at once, Mid tomorrow wicked Borito will repent of his evil ways." l',i lliua arose and dressed, and fol lowed the I'alry lirapeltu out Into Ihe mooulitlii, until she enme In the vlhe )ird. where the glistening purp!e urupc and Ihelr green leaves covered, llie tines In thick profusion. .Sow." said the fairy, "touch every grape wllh your Utile finger, and then I will leave you to think out for your self how the test in ii L bo aceom-pli-hcil." AliiIii she vanished, and Bettina did as she was bid. As she touched grape ufler crape vOlh her small finger, all nl Mice she saw what the fairy men n't h"r to ilo, and she ran home in (h moi.iiMght, laughing happily to h?r self. Th" rirM dny there was great trou ble iu the vineyard, for Ihn peasant! hail t "ill liorso ili.it his grapes were tilled wllh c.irlh. The wicked old loan sloi'nuil ami raved and stamps! Ids Ice;. ., "I i. la hew Ibdu d!" he cried. ' I am lieu itclu ii:" and nl last, when his rage had exhausted Itself, lie began to weep. Iltit nobody was veryorry for hliu, for In- rad never lieeu sorry for anybody else. At la Bettina stepped to him ami snld: "Oh, rmili;r. It wast who bcwitcl-ed your grapes, and II Is a punlahniT.t lnviiii-e you would not pay us euotish money for food. Only say that you re pMit and all will bo well. I promise you that your grapes shall all be filled wllh richest wine." "When Borsn heard this bo screamed nt Bet: ln.1 with nil his might. "Co away, you evil child! fJo aw.iyt Co away, or I will have you burned for a nlreh!" But ltrttimi did not move, only looked at him quietly and said: "Oh, no, I am not afraid of you, Borgo, f-r I nm the only one who knows bow to fill your grapes with wine." Borgn turned to his peasants. ' 1 "Burst open tlio grapes," he cried, angrily. 'Burst I hem open, I say. There must be only a few which are filled wi:li clay, the rest aro all right. I know, and I pay yon enough wages. Say, tin I not pay you enough wages'-" lie shouted at the peasants loudiy, lo.t they were no longer afraid of him, for as they burst tho grapes open, ehist.r after cluster sent forth sj shower of brown earth, and the ripe. Juicy fruit was gone. Seeing that Imt words mado no !m presio;j on the peasants, und that bis grapes wri-e indeed worthless, Borg fell once more to crying. "oh! what shall I do?" he wailed. "What shall I do? I will be a poor man! I wiil be ruined!" Beitinii began to feel very sorry for her master, even though bo had been so erm I. she weut over to him ami put one little baud timidly on bis shoul der. "Don't cry, master," sho said, "for have l not told you that I will re store your grapes if only you will promise to pay your people fairly for their hard labor? Sec!" sho said, and touched with her forcllugvr several grape that lay on the ground before him. One ot the peasants slandinj by sprang forward and crushed the fruit under bis foot, and thre, nt once, n thin stream of red wine flowed out. Borgo raised his bead quickly at sight of the wine. "Oh," he said to Bettina, "I wilt promise anything that you say; only lill my grape once more, thut I miy not lose ull my fortune." Bettina promised that it should be so, and Borgo promised to Increase the wages of tho poor peasants, which he did, and ever ufterwurds Bettina was called tho Crape Ctrl! For m.iny years she prospered with the other peasants, and lived to be an old, old woman, and it was said thut she pos sessed the power to change tho grapes at will ull her life long. One thing is certain, old Borgo belioved so, and never dared to ill trout his peasants again. Anna Muble, iu tbe Indiana Furmer, Gunnery practice at Newport Hat itlgbtened away tho tub. 7
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