; : -i- i . i '
DON'T WEAR MOTONINQ.
By
One of the almost unnoticed blessings of
our time Is tbe modification of mourning
dress and customs. In late years there has
been a great Improvement In thin resect, the
hideous and unsanitary crepe veil having en
tirely disappeared, at least from the costumes
f well-dressed women.
All Impreslonablc people are depressed by
the sight of the unrelieved, or mourning black
costume. Who cannot remember the cloud that used to
fall upon the children of a family when a visitor came,
wearing the dress of a widow, such as fashion prescribed
until a very short time ago? Many men detest the sight
of mourning dress, and I have heard more than one say
that he would not have a woman In mourning garb em
ployed In his office. To be continually reminded of death,
grief and anguish is acceptable to no one. Why should
the aflllcted allllct every one who sees them? A plain
dress, one such as a womnn who Is not engrossed In
thoughts of dress might naturally wear, Is suitable, for one
in deep affliction. Hut this garb should not be depress
ing In Its Influence, on the wearer, or upon whoever sees
It. The French custom of making the period of mourn
ing short Is humane and Christian. Death Is as natural
an event as birth. It la inevitable, and therefore must
not be looked upon with dread, nor be made more sad
and full of awe than It has been made by nature.
Moreover, most of us believe that when death comes It
is only to open the door to a new life, one of growth
lid development beyond the possibilities of this world.
Why, then, should we cover ourselves with black, sad
dealng all who see us, simply because we are sad over
the loss, for a time, of one we love?
FATHER'S LOVE IS GREAT AS THAT OF MOTHER.
By Delia Austrian.
As a general thing, when a novelist wishes
to show the joy of home life and the sacrlllccs
made by devoted parents, he paints the pic
ture of a devoted, happy mother, overlooklyg
the fact that fathers play an Important part
in the making of a home and the happiness
found there. However devoted a man may
be to his business affairs, be Is glad to ex
change those irksome duties for the pleasures
gained with his children. Even rulers and the heads of
governments find their truest recreation with their fam
ilies. Many women are so tired when their homes are put
in rder and tbe rest of tbe work done that they are
anxious ta seek their recreation out of the home ; but it
does not matter bow hard some men work they, feel
that the best way to refresh themselves Is by playing
with their children. They would not exchange their
dally romps, runs and outdoor sports for all the trips
abroad.
We often hear of women getting so
families when they go on visits that
THE RETURN.
He sought the old scenes with eager
feet
The scenes he had known as a boy ;
"Oh, for a draught of those fountains
sweet,
And a taste' of that vanished joy."
He roamed the fields, he mused by the
streams,
lie threaded the paths and lanes;
On the hills he sought his youthful
dreams,
. In the woods to forget his pains.
Oh, sad, sad hills; oh, cold, cold hearth!
la sorrow he learned thy truth
One may go back to the place of his
cannot go back to his youth.
John Burroughs.
iCrpHE gas was blazing in the cban-
Modeller In the most wasteful and
' extravagant manner. That was
because the young niau of sedate de
meanor bad not bad the nerve to turn
It down. He was unaccustomed to
that sort of thing; In fact It was by
the merest accident that he had ar
rived at the point of declaring hlm
elf. Even then It was In a sort of
.Impressionistic fashion.
The young woman under the clreura
jstances wanted to be assured of cer
tain things In precise terms. It Is not
jenough to have a mild gaze of affec
tion directed at once through a pair of
Igold-rlmmed spectacles while one Is
tasked If one could care enough for
another one sufficiently to Intrust one's
future to him. When the answer to
fthnt question happens to bo con-
Etructlvely favorable, something more
s to be expected. Having one's band
bld really doesn't count for anything
Hn particular.
"Are you quite sure that you you
love me?" she asked.
"I'm quite positive," replied the
young man, "I don't see what else It
can be."
"What else what can be?"
"The way I feel toward you. I don't
'wt..i- v Arnr fnlt nnlte the usmn tnttmrri
ilUlllIk , ' ' " " -
:any other young lady of my acquaint
ance." I "Are jvu 1u!te sure-"
i "I think so. Not that I can remem
ber, at least."
! "What makes you love me, do you
think?"
"I couldn't say."
"Do I seem different to any of the
other young ladles you are acquainted
with?"
"Er well, yes. In a way."
"What way?"
"Well, you are different. I don't
think that any two persons are exactly
the same, do you? Of course, In some
respects you are like other people, but
In other respects of course you aren't"
i "Well, you didnt fall In love with me
for my beauty "
"No, 1 don't think that would be a
very sensible sort of thing to do."
"Because I know I'm not beautiful."
"Perhaps not beautiful, exactly. But
there are other qualities besides mere
beauty to admire. I've heard that
beautiful girls are apt to be selfish and
exacting. They are used to attracting
attention from the opposite sex aud it
spoils them ; no, I'm glad that yon are
not beautiful."
Tb (trl giggled nervously. "How
am M ru
' ,
Ada C. Sweet.
finish their stay. But this Is mild in comparison with
what some men suffer wheu they send tlelr families on
a holiday. Men would send their families off on vaca
tions much oftener than they do were It not for the fact
that they cannot endure the thought of Iwing alone.
They sit on the doorstep and smoke the first night, go
to their clubs in search of friends the second, and the
night following stay at home with a caso of genuine
blues. When the visit Is over they take an oath to
themselves that It never shall be repeated unless they
go along. At least If the children go the wife must stay
at home and keep them company, but they try this plan
with no better result
It generally Is conceded that mother Is more patient
with her children than Is a father. This is true, but
a father finds It harder to correct the shortcomings
of his children. How often we hear a wife tell he
husband to make his boy or girl behave, and he will ex
plain, "Let them have a good time. You can't expect
children to act like grownups." Men who are exacting
In their business and relations to other people often are
lenient with their children. Fathers are as proud of
their girls as of their boys, and they take as much pleaa
ure In their companionship. A girl often will go to her
father for favors and confide secrets to him that she .
would not share with her mother.
KNIFELESS SURGERY NEW ERA IN HEALING.
By Gustavua M. Btech.
from the operation Itself, tbe fact remains that the
knife, Irrespective of tbe outcome, is In Itself an unde
sirable therapeutic agent. Few patients consent as read
ily to an operation as they do to take ti bath, an electric
treatment, or a bottle of medicine. In the majority
of Instances the patient submits to tho knife either be
cause he has failed to obtain relief from Icrs risky
methods or because there exists an urgent demand to
save life.
The Roentgen or so-called X-ray Is the first discovery
which has proved useful in certain forms of cancer
(cpltblioma, sarcoma) and the surgeons were glad to
lay aside the knife and make use of this agent Now a
number of Inflammatory diseases are treated success
fully without operation, the surgeons relying on physio
logical methods. Professor August Bier of Bonn, Ger
many, las shown that if we succeed In introducing the
right kind of blood by purely mechanical means luto a
diseased organ, many infectious and Inflammatory dis
eases will get well without tbe knife. And they dol
This ooly Is the beginning of the era of knifeless sur
gery. The end is not yet
homesick for their
they do not try to
funny!" she remarked. "And are you
glad that I don't attract tbe attention
of the opposite sex?" she asked.
"Yes, indeed," replied the young man.
Tho young woman released her hand
from the somewhat feeble clasp that
had hold It "It's strange that I ever
attracted your attention, don't you
think?" she asked, sweetly. Then, in a
slightly Irritated tone. "I wish you
wouldn't sit quite so close to me."
The young man Increased the space
already between them by about two
feet and looked still more uncomfort
able. "I beg your pardon," he said,
earnestly.
The young woman smiled. "You
don't answer my question," she said.
"Since I am such an extremely unat
tractive sort of person how has It hap
pened that you have fallen so desper
ately and passionntely In love with
me?"
"Excuse me," said the young man.
"I didn't say that at all."
"That you were desperately madly
hopelessly In love with me? Oh, I
beg your pardon. I must have misun
derstood you. v It has been a beautiful
day, has It not?"
The young man looked genuinely dis
tressed. "You misunderstand mo so,"
he complained. "You take mo up so
quickly that I don't know " Ho
paused and, pulling his handkerchief
from his pocket, wiped his face. The
girl leaned back on tbe cushions at tho
"OH, COME AND SIT DOWN."
extreme end of tho lounge and watched
hlui maliciously.
"I er I meant to say that I bad
no Intention of saying that you were
unattractive," he explained. "It would
be untrue to say that. I think that
you are very attractive."
"This Is encouraging," murmured the
young womnn. "I shall be quite vain
presently. I am afraid you are Just
trying to flatter me."
"No, Indeed," protested the young
man. "I hope I am Incapable of that.
Believe me."
"I believe I do," said tho young
woman, with gentle sarcasm.
"Thank you," he said, gratefully. "I
have always tried to bo sincere In what
I say. I want to make myself as clear
as possible, but I find It difficult. 1
meant to convey somethlug altogether
different from what you seem to Imag
ine. There are very few girls who
could Justly lay claim to your loveli
ness. In "
"My what!" exclaimed the young
woman with an air of amazement.
The young man blushed. "I said your
loveliness. Perhaps that may seem a
romantic sort of word and I might
have said 'prettlness' or that very few
were as good-looking. Still. I don't
think I am exaggerating when I ay
'loveliness.' "
"But this Isn't at all what yon told
me a few minutes ago. Don't you know
you said I was "
"Pardon me. ( Mid that I was glad
that you did not attract the attention
of the opposite sex or, rather, I as
sented to tbe qaestlon that you pat In
that form and you hardly cave me
.lJ.UJ i ,. ... J-J'r-- i.-t'M i--.u--.
The battl" cry of the Immune surgeon Is, Do
no harm! The surgeon's knife, which has
proved a blessing to suffering humanity, and
which In many Instances Is the only means
of saving life, Is not without danger and
risks. While it must be admitted that mod
ern method of operating enable a well trained
surgeon to undertake bold operations without
having to four serious injury to tho patient
time to modify it When I said that 1
was glad that you were not beautiful
I meant beauty In the altogether per
fect aud unusual sense of the word,
not to Imply that you were possessed
of no personal charms. That would ba
altogether absurd. I am very short
sighted, as you know, but I nm uo
altogether blind."
"Oh 1"
"I meant to say that young ladlei
who are In the sense beautiful are s.
continually reminded of it from In
fancy, I might say so habituated to
tho admiration that beauty excites, that
they become entirely self -centered.
They demand absolute deference on the
part of others to every caprice and are
quite inconsiderate of the feelings or
the comfort of those about them. They
are not exactly to blame for It I
should not be Inclined to Judge thorn
too harshly."
"Dear nie!" said tbe girl.
"But. after ail." pursued the sedate
young man, "admiration of that sort l
a very superficial and evanescent thing.
It seldom stands the test of continual
association. It Is nothlne. for Instance.
to the feeling that I have for you, be
cause It is based on something com
paratlvcly worthless."
Tho girl did not look quite so ma
liclous as before. "Then you do think
I nm passably good-looking?" she said.
"More than that, to be exact," re
plied the young man.
"And not altogether unattractive to
the other sex?"
If you were I shonld have been
spared quite a great deal of anxiety."
"But you are not madly and desper
ately In love with mo?"
"Not 'mndly' or 'desperately.' But I
do love you."
"I'm sorry." said the girl, "because
I am afraid that I can never marry
you. I know I said I thought that I
might, but I had not considered suf
ficiently."
The young man gasped. "Why, I
thoughtyou said Why do you
think that? Grace, If you reject me
I shall be most unhappy. I shall be
mad and desperate, I'm afraid. Grace!"
Ie rose In great agitation and began
to pace the floor. The girl laughed
oud be turned sharply upon her, bis
spectacles absolutely flashing.
"Oh, coino and sit down!" said the
young woman. George, you re an
awful stupid and I'm going to bavo
a great deal to put up with, but
Come over here and sit down !" Chi
cago Daily News.
The Mean Thing!
Praise from a husband's lips n al
ways pleasant to the wife; but tho
praise may bo too discriminating to
suit her.
"I thought It was nice of you to tell
that carpenter, who seemed to think
women know nothing, that I could
'hammer nulls) like lightning.'" said
Mrs. Morse to her husband. ."But I'm
afraid, dear, you are not an unpreju
diced judge. I really don't think I'm
such a very good hammerer."
"Oh, he knew what I meant," said
Mr. Morse, cheerfully. "You know
lightning never strikes twice in tha
some place, they say."
Not an Armltu Venn.
"Ah! Miss Strong you re a regular
Venus," said Jack Nervy as he attempt
ed to kiss her.
That's what." he replied as she
gave him a right -arm Jolt on the nose
and followed it up with a left-arm
swing to tbe jmv, "but, unfortunately,
I'm no Yaau CI .Vil-j." Philadelphia
Press.
FAB AWAY.
The old home, tho old borne, the home so far away,
Tbe pumpkins In the cellar and the apple In the bin;
The path wo used to wander In, the gnrncs we used to play,
The loads of stnclly clover that the horses trundled In;
The creek beyond the orchard, tlie meadow path and wait,
? fields of nodding daisies, the fields n thousand eyed.
The memory ef yesterdays, the birds that used to rail,
And then another memory the little girl who died.
Oh, blue eyes; oh, true eyes; oh, maid of long ago.
I was Just n little fellow, but I loved, I loved yon true;
II was Just a schoolboy fancy, anyone would tell me s,
But I see yon, see you smiling Just the way you used to do;
Aad I'm walking, walking with you half-abashed and scared and glad
Town the dusty, twisty highway to the little country school,
And the old cat birds are mocking In their sober colers clad.
And the maple trees are bending to their shadows In the pool.
Oh, wee girl; eh, sweet girl; oh, girl of long ago.
The years between are many, years of gladness, years of rue,
I" was Just a little fellow, but I loved you, loved you sa,
I can see your red Hps smllinit Just the way they used to do J
Ha checkered gingham aprons and In starchy pinafore
Who hasn't got a sweetlieart down tbe waya of long ago,
Panic one be brought red apples to la dear old days of yore,
Some one to Cream of sometimes, and to say : "I loved her so."
-Houston Tost.
A BIT OF DIPLOMACY.
llTH WING geuernlly thought
Lenox fairly bearable.
It was built on the regulation
f nes of a small Middle West town.wldc.
lonesome looking streets, n few stores
set around Indiscriminately, n huddle
of houses, then an expanse of vacant
lots, constant Illustrators of the West
ern thrift which leaves room for a
boom, even If thereby, in a manner, It
has to tuck down Its roat tails and sit
on Its feet
Here and there n big gabled, portl
coed bouse'reared Itself from among Its
humbler neighbors, with something the
effect of a store tooth Inserted among
nature's stubs In an ancient mouth.
When It was green, or when It was
white. It wasn't so bad ; but that even
ing, as Ruth stood on the wooden plat
form in front of the store nnd looked
at the prospect she made up her mind
It was unspeakable; the "general mer
chandise" sign above her occasionally
flirted extra drops of water down her
neck as she struggled with her um
brella. Behind her she knew every
thread In tlie patterns of the ginghams
and wool goods In the right hand win
dow, while the cut plug tobacco, dried
"I IIAKDLY THINK I DESERVE IT.'
herring, box of oranires and peck of
onions in tho other window were equal
ly familiar. .
The snow had melted off, leaving the
winter's accumulation of debris scat
tered over the black, puddly surface of
the earth. There was a depressing drlz
tie, through which tbe Jagged outlli
f the houses loomed blackly against
tbe murky sky.
Ruth stepped gingerly down on to
the sloppy sidewalk, her skirts held
high, find her straight little nose tilted
quite out of Its ordinary angle. In
spite of it all, though, her brown eyes
sparkled, and there was a hint of a
smile on her pretty, linn lips. She
walked as rapidly as she could under
the circumstances down the muddy
streets, and with a sigh of relief clicked
the gate shut behind her.
The low-browed little house beyond
the gate looked as sullen as any of
then i, but the light flashed up just then,
and her mother oncmM the door.
"Bless her dear heart!" alio said.
In a gentle, solicitous voice, "If she Isn't
Just completely mired down. Here's
your slippers an' wrapper an' every
thing to get right Into."
Kuth slIpiKHi out of her muddy
clothes and Into tbe soft, clean wrapper,
with a little gurgle of satisfaction.
"Oh," she exclaimed, "how good and
resjKH'table I feel"
Mrs. Wing picked up the discarded
heap.
"How dreadfully they do smell of to
bacco smoke. Ituthle dear!" she said,
with as much of a sniff as her mild
voice was capable of.
"1 expect so," Ituth answered, with
a little luugh; "1 believe half tbe farm
ers In the county came In and sat
around tbe stove visiting. The smoke
was so thick sometimes, you couldn't
tell who they were; and I couldn't even
stay up at my end of the store. Jim
has the grippe and wasn't there to-day,
so I hud to go ovei and help on the
grocery side. There wasn't a very big
dry goods trade, anyway ; two spools of
thread and some dress lining. Oh,
yes, Mr. Peters got a cnllco dress for
his wife."
"Was It pretty, Kuth?" Mrs. Wing
asked anxiously.
"Well, I shrtuld say. Do you remem
ber that old purplish piece we have
bud so long? He took that because Mr.
Spencer said I could let blm have It
half a cent cheaper on the yard."
Ch, dear!" Mrs. Wing murmured
sorrowfully. "I was so In hopes she'd
have something pretty once. , Come,
dearie, supper's ready, nnd I know you
Deed It I Just don't see how you can
keep so bright"
Kuth blushed rather self-consciously,
liv I fit
3
Hid It was considerably later, almost at
the end of the cream toast aud eggs,
U'fore she made a little announcement
I had a letter from Mr. Wlllard to
day, mother. He Is comlnc down on the
8 o'clock train to-night."
Mrs. Wing's mild, sweet 'face began
t look troubled.
"I don't mean to Interfere. Ituthle.
dear, but I am dreadfully afraid he Is
going to ask you to marry him. He's
been coming pretty nearly every week
lately."
Well, mother, if he did. would von
mum. can t you like him?" There was
n note of decided anxiety In Ruth's In
terrogations.
"YV by, yes, I like him. I guess he's
real nice, as men go, but I wouldn't oh.
dear, no! Ruth, I wouldn't want you
to nmrry mm.
"But why, mother?"
"Haven't Just you and I got alone
together for twenty years, no trouble
to speak af, or anything?". Mrs. Wing's
huh quite piteous, ir a man
comes in, you Just can't tell how things
are going to go. Anything is liable to
hapjen. I know clerking In the store Is
hard, trying work, but It Isn't a circum
stance to what some married women
have to put up with."
"Mother, dear, you married."
Mrs. Wing's fingers twisted nervous
ly. "It was such a little while, though.
Ituthle, and so long ago, that I don't
rightly consider by experience I know
anything about It Only a year and
a-half ; but 1 have seen so much since.
Dou't talk about It dear; I Just cuu't
think of It, even."
Ruth sat and thought with a trou
bled face. This tender, timid little
mother had been her charge ever slnco
her sturdy' babyhood. It was so sel
dom sho ever expressed a wish, or ob
jected to anything, and now, to object
to this, the one great light that had
come Into her barren, monotonous girl
hood! Ho had asked her In that letter
to marry him, und to-night he was com
ing for his answer.
looking ut It Just from a worldly
standpoint, how It would life them from
their pinching life!
Every one knew Arthur Wlllard, und
how he had prospered from the time ho
tirst came to Lenox, a beardless, open
faced boy, soliciting his first orders for
Belfast & Mayhcw, paper manufactur
ers, until now ho was head salesman of
the firm.
She did not especially love clerking
In tho general merchandise store '
Senoer & Spencer; but the codfish and
calico had been glorified a good many
times, when the big yellow grip, mark
ed A. W. on tbe cuds, entered tho stor"
door.
She knew very well what her answer
would be; It bad sung Itself In her
heart all day; but If her mother ob
jected so much, that settled It, for the
time, anyway.
When she told Arthur that night she
was Indiscreet enough to give her opin
ion first
"My dear little girl," he said, with
generous, masculine superiority, "she
will get over that and enjoy tho city Im
mensely ; possibly your servant, too,
Mistress Ruth, when she knows how
nice I am. Ix?t nie talk with her."
The embarrassed, nervous lltlo lady
in the next room certainly did not seem
very formidable; but sho did look so
appealing that he said, very gently and
quite dcprecatlngly :
"You must have known my feelings
toward Ruth for some time, Mrs. Wing.
I hope you are willing that I should
marry her."
"No," Mrs. Wing answered desper
ately, "I nm not willing. How dare I
U willing? I dou't know how it Ut go
it to turn out. Anybody Is wicked to
be willing to have a daughter marry."
"Why, Mrs. Wing!" the young man
answered, rather taken aback. "A great
many js'ople have been willing. It Is
natural that people should marry."
Mrs. Wing was not arguing tho ab
stract question, so sho Ignored tho last
remark.
"I am very sorry," sho said, tremu
lously, "but I know I am doing it for
Ruth's good. I wish you would Just let
It go for quite a while, anyway." This
last relenting In response to tbe distress
lu Ruth's face.
The silence that followed seemod to
Ruth nnd Mrs. Wing Interminable
"'icn Mr. Wlllard sH)ke slowly:
"I am both grieved and surprised,
Mrs. Wing. I hardly think I deserve ,
It. Still, feeling us you do, and know
lug Ruth as 1 do, there Is nothing to do,
I supiKise, but ottcy you. I would Ilka ,
to ask Just one favor of you, though, I
and that Is, that you and Ruth will !
Hwnd Easter In the city with me. I
planned that little recr-ation for us all,
quite a while ago. Think of me as a
friend, If you will, and grant ma that
much,"
"If Ruth want to. Mr. Wlllard, I
guess we can," Mrs. Wing responded, n
trifle faintly. Her sudden triumph was
rather dazing, even If tt did fill her
with delight
Although Lenox was so near the city,
It bad been years since Mrs. Wing was
there; and she began to feel a good
deal of surreptitious pleasure In tho
Idea of tho trip. As a friend. Mr. Wll
lard was entirely acceptable. For tlie
other part Ruth's silence helped settlo
the small prickings of her conscience.
Like a good many old people who have
forgotten their own lovo sffalrs, she
had very llttlo faith In that sort of
thing, anyway, and an overweening
feat of the terrible risk In marriage; a
risk, In her mind, much greater than Ita
possible benefits.
Easter was lato that year and the
spring rather advanced, so that the
short rldo to tho city was a pageant
of young, vivid green. The country
broke Into smooth, rolling little bills;
through them they caught frequent
glimpses of fanciful country homes and
substantial brick farm houses. The
pretty toy stations bad all been freshly
painted, and a general air of smiling
freshness pervaded everything.
Once Mrs. Wing made a remark. She
turned an Instant from tho window to
Ruth :
"I didn't know things could be so
pretty so near to Lenox," she said ; then
turned eagerly again to her contempla
tions. Mr. Wlllard took them to one of tho
great hotels of tho city. Their room
was respondent In all the luxuries of
soft carpeting, glistening brass bed
stead, Turkish couch and easy chairs;
opening from It was the tiled bathroom,
with all Its marble and porcelain appur
tenances. Mrs. Whig viewed It with a beaming
face.
"Ruth," she said, "I am going to taka
a bath. I have sort of felt all my life
ns If I'd had to bathe In a soap dish.
I'd like to stretch out once."
Later, when sho emerged, moist and
rosy, her soft gray hair In damp little
curls on her forehead, she sank down
lu an easy chair with a deep sigh of
satisfaction.
"Well, dear, for once in my life T fee'
as If I had been In the lap of luxury,"
she remarked gently.
In the great dining room that night
tho polished floor reflected back the
myriads of colored electric lights. Gor
geous panels of tho seasons emblazoned
tlie side walls. An army of waiters In
full dress moved noiselessly among tbe
glittering tables.
Mrs. Wing studied her dainty menu
with plensed appreciation.
"Of course, I shouldn't like thla sort
of thing all tho while, but It's real stir
ring," she whispered to Ruth.
Suuday evening after dinner, they,
wandered through the long series of
artistic reception rooms.
In tho Moorish room, In the shadow
of a great group of palms, stood a divan
piled high with cushions. The room
was empty and tho lights dim.
"I think I will sit here awhile; you
two may go on, If you want to," sho
iald.
Somewhere In the distance she could
hear faintly a piano nnd a voice sing
ing. She closed her eyes and leaned
hack against the cushions In drecmy
content She could see again the great
dim church fragrant with flowers, and
heur the Joyful waves of Easter music.
It had echoed In her soul all day. Then
the park that afternoon, ' In ull its
young green beauty aud freshness! Sho
knew Just how It would look In June,
when the fountains played and tho
flowers bloomed.
Her heart had alwoys gone out wltu
great longings to tho tauie, monoton
ous, commonplace nature she knew, hut
this, this satisfied her. Other things
ecemed different, too; she remembered
her long-dead girlhood's husband, and
the look In his eyes; she had seen tho
sumo expression on Arthur Wlllard's
fuce a dozen times when be looked at
Ruth, aud Ruth, how bright and happy
sho was! Maybe there wasn't so much
danger, maybe.
Sho heard a slight movement and
opened her eyes. Mr. Wlllard stood by
her. How very strong and self-assertive
ho looked!
"Getting lonesomo?'' ho questioned.
"Lonesome?" she echoed.
He sat down beside her and began to
talk. She could see Ruth through one
of the archways, sitting with a maga
zine In her hand.
She began to edge off; she knew of
nothing tho was particularly auxtous
to say. How well be talked, though!
She began to grow Interested In spite
of her distress. After a while a si
lence fell between them.
"Mrs. Wing." he said abruptly.
She Jumped nervously, then waited.
"Do you really think it would be
such a dreadful thing for Ruth to mar
ry me?"
Mrs. Wing's face was both perplexed
aud anxious. Why should they keep
thrusting this thing ou her for decis
ion? "I suppose I am a selfish, fearful old
body," she said Anally. "May bo you
will do better by Ruth than I can. I
can't do anything but just be good to
her. You can give her a great many
beautiful things to enjoy, and they are
lieautlful ; when a body has Just
slurved for them all their lives, they
know how beautiful. They won't
amount to anything, though, If you
aren't good."
There was a tremulous appeal la her
voice.
Tlie young man took ber hand rever
ently. "I will try," ho said solemnly, "to be
good."
There was another little pause, then
Mrs. Wing continued hesitatingly:
"I can't say yet I am willing. Still,
If Ruth wants to risk It, I don't sup
pose 1 ought to Interfere, do you?"
"I think 6'ou might leave It to Ruth.
She Is a very sensible girl, Mr. Wll
lard answered gravely.
Then be leaned over and kissed bis
prospective iniithcr-ln law on her soft
pink cheek with a right good wilt
Tho HoUKcwlfe.
I It Is a test of a gt.od housekeeper It
' she can light a lump, and the bouse
doesn't Immediately begin to smell of
kerosene.
Trains of thought have many head-
, on colllblous.
I 0LD
Tk Sailor's Wife.
And are ye suro the news Is true?
And are ye sure he's weel?
Is this a time to think o' wark?
Ye jades, lay by your wheel :
Is thla tha time to spin a thread,
When Colin's at the door?
Reach down my cloak, I'll to tbe quay
And see him come ashore.
For there's nae lurk about the boose,
There's nae luck at a';
There's little pleasure In the loose
When our gndeman's awa'.
And glo to me my btgonet.
My blshop's-satin gown ;
For I maun toll the balllle's wife-
That Colin's in the town.
My Turkey slippers mann gae Da
My stockln's pearly blue;
It's a' to pleasure our gudeman,'
For he's baith leal and tree.
Rl.e, lass, and mnk' a clean fireside.
Put on the muckle pot;
Uie little Kate her button gown,
And Jock his Sunday coat ;
And mak thoh shoon as blark as alaea
' Their hose as white as snaw
It's a' to please my aln gndeman,
For he's been long awa'.
There's twa fat hens upo the coop
Itoen fed this month and inalr
Mak' haste and thraw their aecks akaat.
That Colin weel may fare;
And spread the table neat and clean,
Gar Ilka thing look braw,
For wha can tell how Colin fared
When he was far awa'?
Sae true his heart, sue smooth his speech.
Ills breath like caller air;
His very foot has music In't
As ho comes up the stair
and will I see his face agaim?
And will I hear him speak?
I'm downright dizzy wi' the taoajht.
In troth I'm like to greet I
If Colin's weel, and wee! content,
I hue nae nialr to crave ;
And gin I live to keep him sae
I'm bleat aboon the lave.
And will I see his face again?
And will I hear him apeak?
I'm downright dissy wi' the ,
In troth I'm like to greet.
For there's nae luck about tkt ksnse,
There's nae luck at a';
There's little pleasure In the aaase
When our gudeman's awa.
William Julius Mlckle.
BED FOR A LIFETIME.
Rise laervaaed or Decreased, mm tha'
Etnvrtrener Reantrca.
Children are known to grasr aasae-i
times with alarming rapidity, adnHag'
inch after Inch to their height Wktk-j
cr this necessitates the purckuwe of n
new bed every year to accostaiodatei
their Increased length or not la hajrf. to-
say. To provide for such ensergeaakts,
however, a wldeawako womaa af Mas-
SI7.I Or BED INCBKASW.
sachusetts hos designed a bed tmat an
be Increased or decreased la length, to
fit tbe occasion. Tbe change Is v
easily accomplished. The side rails af!
the bed are made in two sectlaaa, anat
fitting into the other and held tatker
by pins Inserted In corresponding aye'-)
tures in each. A bed such as this should)
last a lifetime If properly cared for..
Guests of different sizes could be lead-i
lly cured for, and to make the bed
doubly useful, she also provides far tn
attacument of a gymnastic apparatus in
the form of a horizontal bar. The lat
ter Is held In position in the ceater of
tho bed by uprights at each aide. The
uprights are also firmly attached to tb
sldo rails of tbe bed by pins. By such'
attachments modern furniture Is aiado
serviceable to its owners In njare ways
than one.
Gold from a Smelter Ckiasnex.
A chimney connected with a ajald
xmeltlng furnace In Vallejo jMaatWn
has enriched the company's aatkrs
$7,000.
Tbe chimney bad been fllHag ay tor
the past year, nnd finally becawa a
troublesome that tbe managers of the
plant ordered It cleaned. The rsfaae'
was afterward treated In the gald .,
nnd was found to contain gold Oast
worth $7,000. Tho directors lauavsal-
utely ordered appliances attuclMMl
the chimneys to prevent refuse laam
nasHlne out luto tho air. This aaaall
bonanza Is the result of one year's ac
cumulation. It Is not knowa haw saah
was lost
Exports of Attar of Kaaes.
The exports of attar of roses fsatn
Bulgaria In 1003 nmounted to U.tKi
pounds, valued at $752,400, as compared
with 0,130 pouuds, the annual nvarage
for the seven preceding years. Th
IS i r H
United States bought only about twenty-five
pouuds of attar of roses frsm
Bulgaria In 1807. but took 30.8 r tbe
product In 1905. France came next
with 28.8 per cent; tne unitea nlBig
dom, 16.8 per cent; Germany, 13.4 per
eent ; Russia. 4.3 per cent and Turkey,
V3 per cent.
Vaexpccted.
"My dear, these are not a ha abVa
the plea my mother used to nialr"
telling me If they are ao very aaaaVr-
ent?"
"As different as day from Bight
lean.