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About Dakota County herald. (Dakota City, Neb.) 1891-1965 | View Entire Issue (May 15, 1908)
IIKENSIBE BY MRS. MARY J. HOLMES Aithsr tt " DM Nw," "Tlx Cnfllik Orrh.i " " HrnnWrtJ m Ikt Rllli'tV "Ual IItwi," " Maawfcrk," " Inrpfft aS Eanskin," "Caaula Maudt," ftc. CHAPTER X Vlt. (Continued.) Guy was a puzzlo to himself. He would hoc aamic mat during the past year ms liking for Maddy Clyde bnd grown to be WTn AtS. 1 n a mAtrtrf9 titan nmM f rljtnrldlil n. fior yet that his feelings toward Lucy had i undergone a ohange, prompting him not to go to her when she was sick, and not to be as sorry as he ought that the mar- Idaga was again deferred. Lucy had no -suspicion of the change, and- her rhild- liko trust In him was the anchor which held him still true to her in intentions at leant, if not In reality. lie knew from her letters how much she had lwirn d to like Muddy Clyde, and so, he argued, Ihere was no harm in his liking her. too. (Bhe was a splendid girl, and it seemed n tity that her lot should have been so humbly cast. This was usually the drift f his thoughts in connection with her; and now, as he stood there In that cot tage, Maddy's home, they reaarred to him rilh tenfold Intensity, for well ho fore taw that a struggle was bfore him it be rescued Maddy, as he meant to do, from her approaching fate. Ts'o such thoughts, however, Intruded 'themselves on Maddy's mind. She did not look away from the present, except 'It were at the past, In which she feared he had erred by leaving her grandmoth- ar too much alone. But to her passionate appeals for forgiveness, if she, ever had reelected the dying one, there some back mly loving looks and mute caresses, the aged hand smoothing lovingly tho bowed .bead, or pressing fondly the girlish checks "With the coming of daylight, however, tbere was a change; and Maddy, listen log intently, heard what sounded like her time. This tired tongue was loosed for a little, and In tones scarcely articulate, tie disciple who for long years had served 4er Heavenly Father faithfully, fcore tes timony to the blessed truth that God's promises to those who love Him are not mere promises that Ue Will go with them through the river of death, disarm ing the fainting soul of every fear, and making the dying bed the very fata of heaven. This tribute to the Sartor was her first thought,' while the second was 4 blessing for her darling, a charge to eek the narrow way now in life'a early morning. Disjointed sentences they were, but Maddy understood them all, treasur ing up every word even to the last, the words the farthest apart and most pain fully uttered, "You will care and omfort " She did not say whom, but Maddy knew whom she meant ; and without then real ising the magnitndo of the act, virtually accepted the burden from which Guy was -o anxious to save her. CHAPTER XVIII. Grandma Markbum was dead, and the covered sleigh, which late in the after- noon plowed its way heavily back to Aikenside, carried only Mrs. Noah, who, with her forehead tied up in knots, sat ' back among tho cushions, thinking not of the peaceful dead, gone forever to the rest which remains for the people of Ood, but of the wayward Gur who lnul : resisted all her efforts to persuade him - co return witn ncr, instead or staying where he was not needed, and where his presence was a restraint to all save one, and that one Maddy, for whose sake he stayed. "She'd be vummed," the indignant old : lady said, "if sho would not write to Lucy ' berself if Guy did not quit such doiu's," . and thus resolving she kept on her way, while the subject of her wrath was, it : may be, more than half repenting oi i.ls decision to stay, inasmuch as he began to have an unpleasant consciousness of him voelf being in everybody's way. In the first hour of Maddy's bereave' meat be had not spoken to her, but had kept himself aloof from the room w!.re, with her grandfather and Undo Joerf, he sat, holding the poor aching heud of the latter in her lap and trying to speak word of consolation to the old, broken hearted man, whose hand was grasped In :sers. But Maddy knew be was there dSke could hear his voice each time ho poke to Mrs. Noah, nnd that made the -desolation easier to bear. (She did not look forward to the time when he would Chi gone ; and when at last he told her he was going, she started quickly, and with gush of tears, exclaimed: "No, no I oh, "Maddy," Ouy whispered, bending over 'the strange trio, would you rather should stay 7 Will It be pleasanter for . ou, If I dor "Ye I don't know. I guess it would mot be so lonely. Oh, it's terrible to have . r grandmother dead!" was Maddy's re ponse; after which Guy would have ertayed If a whole regiment of Mrs, . Noahs had confronted him instead of-one, aiaauy wisnea u; mat was reason sough for him; and giving a few dlrec- ttons to John, lie stayed, thereby dlscon- certinf the neighboring women who came ' la to perform the last offices for the dead, mM who wished the young man from Aik nalde was anywhere but tWe, watching 'them all In their movements, as they vainly fancied he did. But Guy thought -only of Maddy, watching her so carefully that more than one meaning glance was exchanged between the women, who, even over the Inanimate form of the dead poke together of what might possibly oc cur, wondering waat would be the effee h Grandpa Markham and Uncle Joseph Who would take care of them? And then, tn case Maddy should feel it her duty to stay there, as they ball hoped she would thej fell to pitying the young girl, who seined bow so wholly unfitted for the Jrardea. fc Maddy there came no definite ld mt the future during the two days tba white, rigid form lay in the darkened otUgs ; but when, at last, the (ken era scads for Grandma Markham was occu pied, and the lounge In the little front room waa empty when the Aikenside carriage, which had been sent down for the use of the mourners, bad been driven Away, taking both Guy and Mrs. Noah when the neighbors, too, bad gone, leav lag only berself and the little hired ci sitting by the evening fire, with the grand father and the imbecile Uncle Joseph 4ben it waa that she lirst began to feci the pressure of the burden begun to ask be elf if she could lire thus always, or a least for many years as long as either o the two helpless men wss spared. MhJ -was young, and the world as she had s e it as very bright aud fair, biiitlucr fa bsn a lifd of laborious toll, and for while the idea that the latter alteiu tive must w accepted muue her a.uy an .taiat. As if divining her thoughts, poor ;: ; grandpa, In his prayers that night, ask ed in Ueuiblius tones, which showed how jaaucb he fait uat be wss sayiug, tout Ood would guide his darling In all she i, and give her wisdom to make the proper decixlon ; that if it were best she misht be happy there with them, but if ot, "Oh, Father, Father 1" he sobbed, help me and Joseph to bear It." He could pray no more aloud, and the gray ead remained bowed down upon his hair, while Uncle Joseph, in bis pecu- nr way, took up the theme, begging like very child that Ma 'My might be inclined o stay that no young men with curling air, a diamond cross, the smell of musk, Ight be permitted to come near her with nticing looks, but that she might stay she was and be an old maid forever! his was the subject of Uncle Jospph's prayer, n prayer which set the little hired rl to tittering, and would have wrung smile from Maddy herself had she not It all the strange petition implied. With waywardness natural to people his condition, Uncle Joseph that night turned to Maddy for the little services s sister had formerly rendered, and hich, since her Illness, Grandpa Mark- am had done, and would willingly do till. Itut Joseph refused to let him. Maddy must untie his cravat, unbutton h'W vest, and tuks off his shoes, while, aftor he was In bed, Maddy must sit by s side, holding his hand until he fell away to sleep. And .uaduy did It cheer fully, soothing him Into quiet, and keeping ack her own choking sorrow for the sake of comforting him. Then, when this task as done sho sought her grandfather, still. King before the kitchen Ore and evi- ntly waiting for her. ','Maddy," the old man said, "come sit ose by mo, where I can look into your face, while we talk over what must be done." With a half-shudder, Maddy drew a stool to her grandfather's feet, and rest ing her head upon his knee, listened lille he talked to her of the future ; told her all her grandmother had done; told of bis own helplessness; of the trial it was to care for Uncle Joseih, and then faltering tones asked who was going to look after them now. "We can't live here alone, Maddy. We can't. We're old and weak, and want someone to lean Oh, why didn't God take us with her, Joseph and me, and that would leave you free to go back to the school and the life which 1 know is pleasanter than to tay here with us. Oh, Maddy I it com forts mo to look at you to hear your oice, to know that though I don't see on every minute, you are somcwheYe, nd by and by you'll come in. I shan't live long, and maybe Joseph won't. God's promiso is to them who honor father and mother. It'll be hard for you to stay, ardor than it was once ; but, Maddy, oh, Maddy I Btay with me, stay with me ! stay with your old grandpa !" Maddy had a brave young heart, and nt nst, winding her arms around her grand father's neck, sho whispered : "I will not leave you, grandpa. I'll stay iu grand mother's place," Surely Heaven would answer the bless ings whispered over Maddy by the delight ed old man, aud the young girl taking no cheerfully the burden from which many would have shrunk, should be blessed of God. With her grandfather's hand upon her bead, Maddy could almost feel that the blessing was descending ; but wheu, in her own little room, the one where she had lain sick for so ninny weary weeks, her courage began to give way, and the urden, mngnilied tenfold by her nervous weakness, looked heavier than she could car. "I will, I will," she cried, while Into her heart there crept an intense longing for the love of Him who alone could make her task a light one. "If I were good like grandma, I could bear everything," he thought, and turning upon her pil low, Maddy prayed an earnest, childlike prayer, thnt Ood would help her do right, that He would take from her the proud spirit which rebelled against her lot be cause ot Its loneliness, that pride and love of her own ease and advancement in preference to others' good might all be ubdued ; In short, that she might be God's child, walking where He appointed her to walk without a murmur, and doing cheerfully Ills will. It was broad noon ere Maddy awoke. and starting up she looked fSout her la bewilderment, wondering where she was and what agency bad been at work in her room, transforming it from the cold comfortless apartment she bad entered the previous night into the cheery-looking chamber, with a warm fire blazing in the tiny fireplace, a rug spread down opon the hearth, a rocking chair drawn up be fore it, and all traces of the little hired girl as completely obliterated as if she had never been. In her grief Maddy seemed to have forgotten bow to make things cozy, and as, during her grand mother's illness, her own room had been left to the care of the hired girl, Nettle, it wore a neglected, rude aspect, which had grated on Maddy'e fl'er feelings, and maih) everything so uninviting. But this morning all was c nan god. some skillful hand bad been busy there while she slept, and Maddy waa wondering who it could be, when the door opened cautiously and Flora's good humored face looked in Flora from Aikenside. Maddy knew now to whom she was Indebted for all this comfort, and with a cry of Joy she welcomed the girl, whose very presence brought back something of the life with which she had parted forever. ilora, she exclaimed, "how came you here? Did you make the lire and tlx the room for me?" "Yes, I made the fire." Flora renlied, "and fixed up the things a little, hustlin' that young one's goods out of here; be cause it was not littin' for you to be sleeplu' with her. Mr. Guy waa mad enough when he found it out." "Mr. Guy, Flora? How should he know of our sleeping arrangements?" Muddy asked, but Flora evaded a direct reply, saying, "there was ruough ways for things to get to Aikenside;" then contin uing, "How tired you must be, Miss Muddy, to sleep so sound as never to heur me at all, tlwugh to be sure I tried to be still as a murine. But let me help you drre. It's all but noon, and you must Ue hungry, lour breakfast's all ready.' "Thunk you, Flora, I can dress my S'ii. .nanny said, stepping out p tiou self," Maddy said, stepping out upon the fiior, snd feeling that the world was not dark as It hud seemed to her wheu Itfkt n'tlit she came up to h'r chamber. Gad was comforting litr already, and as he made h.r siinpU toilet, she tried to I tl.ui.k Uim lor UU goodness, nud auk for grace to make ber what siiu ouht to be, .... . i . .. . ... 1 oi nave uoi yet tola me wfcy you came here," sh Mid to Flora, n I. j waa bus j making her bed, and who replisd, "ire Mr. Ony'a work. TTe thought 11 better come, as you would need help to get things set to rights, so you could go back to school." Maddy felt her heart coming up In hef throat, but she answered calmly, "Me, Guy la very kind so are you all ; but. Flora, I am not going back to school. "Not going back I" and Flora stopped her bed-making, while she stared blankly at Maddy. "What be you going to do?" "Stay here and take care of grandpa," Maddy said, bathing her face and neck In tho cold water, which could pot cool the feverish heat she felt spreading all over them. "Stay here! Tou are crazy, Miss Mad dy I 'Taln't no place for a girl like you. and Mr. Guy never will suffer It, I know. Flora rejoined, ns she resumed her work, thinking she "should die to be moped up in that nutshell of a house." With a little, sigh, ns she foresaw the opposition she should probably meet with from Guy, Maddy went on with her toi let, which was soon completed, ns It did not take long to arrange the dark calico dress and plain linen collar which she wore. She was not ns fresh-looking as usual that uvwning, for excitement and fatigue had lent a paleness to h r cheek nnd n hiiiuimr to her whole appearance, but Flora who glanced anxiously after her ns she went out, muttered to herself, "Sho was never more beautiful, and I don't wonder nn atom that Mr. Guy thinks so much of her." The kitchen was jn ierfect order, for Flora bnd been busy there as elsewhere. The kettle was boiling on the stove, while two or three littlo covered dUhea were ranged UMn tne iieann, as u waning for someone. Grandpa Markham had gone out, but Uncle Joseph sat in bis ac customed comer, rubbing his hands when he saw Muddy, nnd nodding mysteriously toward "the front room, the door of which was open, so that Maddy could hear the crackling on the hearth. Muddy entered tho room known at the cottage as tho parlor, tho one where the rag carpet was, the six cane-seated chaira and tho Boston rocker, and now tho lit tlo round table was nicely laid for two, while cozily seated In the rocking chair, reading last night's paper and looking very handsome nnd hepty, was Guy I (To be ontinued.) SIMPLE DIAMOND TESTS. A Needle Hole tn a Card One Mesma of Drlectlnsr Imitation Drllllants. "There ore few persons," remarked a Jeweler, "who are nblo to purchase a diamond on tho strength of their own knowledge nnd observation, and without plnclng implicit confidence la the man who sells tho stone. It Is a fact that even pawnbrokers have often been taken in by Jewelry and precious stone fakers," says the New York Sun. "Although it takes many years of actual observation and experience be fore one can become a diamond expert, there are a few simple testa which will considerably aid a buyer of diamonds. One test Is to prick a needle hole through a card and look at the hole through tho doubtful stone. "If the latter is spurious two holes will be seen, but if it is a diamond only one hole will bo visible. Every imitation stone which resembles n dia mond gives a double reflection, while the diamond's refraction is single. "This Is a delicate test, because it is difficult to see even a sharp and de fined object through a diamond. The single refraction of tho diamond also allows one to determine on uncertain Stone. "If the finger is placed behind it and viewed through tho stone with a watch maker's glass, the grain of the skin will be plainly seen if the stone is not diamond. But if it Is a diamond the grain of the skin will not ho distin guished at all. "A diamond in solid settings may be identified in the same manner. If gen uine, the setting at the back cannot be discerned, but if It Is a phony stone the foil or setting will he seen. "There Is no acid which has any per ceptible effect upon a genuine diamond. Ilydrofiurlc acid, If dropped on a stone mado of glass, will corrode it, but will not affect a diamond one way or the other. A trained eye can see the hard ness In a diamond, whereas the imita tions appear soft to the vision of the experts." Troof Not Needed. As General Henjamln F. Butler en tered the lobby of the Boston Stat House one morning ho saw two men whom he knew engaged In a heated ar gument "One moment, General," Bald one of them to him; "can't you settle) a dispute7 We ore arguing as to who Is the greatest lawyer In Massachu setts, and as we can't agree we win leave It to you." ' "That's easy. I am," said Butler, with perhaps more truth than mod esty. The two men were somewhat taken aback. "Er er hut. General, of course you know but Dut now can wt prove It?" the first speaker managed to get out 'Trove it? Prove It?" growled Bufr ler, "You don't have to prove It I ad mit It" Woman's Home Companion, The Servant Problem. 1 Bmlth Excuse me, Jones, but may 1 ask how you manage to have such de licious things to eat? Jones It's quite simple. I always kiss the cook before dinner, and bold her on my knee after dinner. . Pmlth But what does your wife, say? Jones Oh, she doesn't object She's the cook. Brooklyn Life. lie Had Ueen Stnnsr. Wedderly The only way to cur youi self of au attack of love la to run away. Singleton Why didn't you do that when you were courting the girl yon married? . Wedderly I did I ran away with her. Poor bnt Honest. She was an heiress and he was poof hut otherwise honest "How much do you love me, dear?" she asked, after the manner of her tax. "I love you," he replied In a ton i plcte witu condor, "tor au you are worth." Same Effect. "Wus you ever in love, EddieT" "Naw, but I fell rut of er story window ouctl" lH FARMER. Between the rising and the setting sun he stands, A silhouette against a background sky, lie holds the pulse of npos in ills hands, He. times the heiirt-bents of eternity. IIo cradles with his cmi the lives of men; Tho. sinews and the muscles mid the tlioiisjlit Which K!de the ei.nrt. the eaiuj, the in.it t, the pen, By Mm a ro wrought. Upon his plow he lei: to turn the sod; lie feels Ihe rushing simshi: by liim juis. lie rears a nation with th.it earthy Hod. Upholds n cycle v, li!i tli.it sj.ir of imsh. The morning stars .s;:v out to him alone. Tile gold of inn mliy n luvoli s dls hem I. I'.eneaih his torn Ii the I':.it; ::i.c .--s i" soine Ueeoim l h tin ail. Thus, vestured ny the tuiikhl uiifl the lawi. The heart oi' i:a;r;-e o;i; n.s to Ills e..s. The winds of heaven i I, is path have Htrown The hidden sec. is of h ly mysteries. The spade his s'lpter uud his throne the plow, lie s,t(tii(leth there, too free fur posturing. The royal drops of sweat upon his brow Prodaini hhn . lipf -ffpr A boy was sitting on a low stone wall rending a jiiiimt covered book, lie was a small boy with a big cap. and the big cap had a number on its front. Presently a quick puff of wind came up tin? roadway, lirting a little cloud of dust nnd whirling the fallen leave3. It fluttered the leaves of the boy's ff.s e'ratlng romance, too, and then deftly lifted n yellow envelop from a little pile of other yellow envelopes on the wall besjde the boy, and toppled it over the stone wqll and into the garden on the other side, and then sped along. When the boy finally roused himself and thrust tho romance Into his pocket, he failed to notice the loss of the en velope. If he remembered right there six messages to deliver, and now there were but five. Perhaps he had been mistaken. IIo. had been mistaken o:i several occasions. So he trudged along and the message sent by Shelburn Apgar wits not delivered. It was ln temled for the edllieatlon of his daugh ter, Grace. But she remained In happy ignorance of its contents. This was the message : "Am sending up Curtiss Thome on the three-thirty. Meet him at slntlon and make him welcome. There's noth ing too good for Thome. I can't leave hero until six." Grace would have understood this. She knew how Curtiss Thorne was the famous young engineer whom tint bridge company, of which her father was president, was so anxious to se cure. But at 3:!!0 o'clock the message was lying in the king grass behind the stone waTi on the F.ast hill. The father of Grace had said noth ing to her about the coming of this guest. She knew that the company was anxious to get his services, and that the directors meant to make hita a handsome offer. Her father had n;oken In high praise of his work, hut the engineer was out of the city at the time and nobody seeeed to know Just when he would return, So that Curtiss Thorne was not at all in Graco Apgar's mind. But at breakfast that morning her father had said something about his fear that the electrical wiring of the house was not in the best of order. There had been n disastrous fire in the neighborhood and the cause had been flveti as defective wiring. "I'm going to have a man up here," he said as he passed her coffee cup, "to look the wiring over. I'm a little afraid of electricity myself. And a vtitch in time may save a fight witu the insurance companies." "Can't you telephone for a workman, daddy?" Grace asked. "No," her father answered. "I want something better than an ordinary workman. I want an expert to look tho thing over and tell me what needs to l-e done. The ordinary workman can do the rest" "What you want is a specialist, daddy." "That's it. A specialist on installa tion. I'll attend to it as soon as I reach tin; city. Perhaps I can get the man tip here to-day." "All right, daddy, I'll be on the look- ofit for him." Grace had this electric specialist In mind when she saw a man coming up the gravel walk late that afternoon. l?he went to the door to admit him. II was a well built young man, not far from thirty. He wore a neat fit ting gray suit and a light felt lint and carried a liand satchel. He was rathor dark with dark hair, and he wore a pair of dark glasses over his presum ably dark eyes. 'Home of Sheiiiurn Apgur, I pre sume?" he said in a sharp, quick fash Ion. " es." "Possibly you are one of his house hold?" "I am his daughter." He drew off his gray hat. "Glad to inert you." He seemed to look nt her with either admiration or surprise the dark glasses quite effectually hiding Ills eyes, "Come In." said Grace. Ho entered the hall nud put down hU satchel. "Your farlier prepared me for the fact that I was to meet you r.t the railway station, I think ho said." "At the station?" exclaimed Grace. VI t is quite it dusty walk." sal 1 lh tran'i r. And then he added, "But dent mind the dust, and the exvuery was pleasing. May I sit down?" Grace started. Tills was a very friendly young mau. Much too frlvud- I If she thought. I "8it dowu if you are tired," ah aatd and jointed out a- high backed chair. hall "I'm not really tired," he said. "Just a littie languid, perhaps. Had a fall some time ago, and hnven't quite re comtcI from it. Besides, it looks a llitie mine well, a little more fnendlv tj sit. don't you think?" And he pointed to another chair. Grace, a good deal against her will, seated herself, and the presumptive young nmn took the chair she had pointed out. "Ah," ho said, "that's better. Then you hetttd from your father?" "Heard from my father?" "Yes." "You knew I was coining?" "Father said lie would secure you us soon as he reached the city." The young man started a little. ' Iid he? That's strange. He flldu't seetu at all sure about It when I met him tlits afternoon." Grace almost admired his egotism. ' "I suppose your services are in great demand?'' she said, and there waa a flavor of sarcasm in her tone. "Just nt present they seem to bo." lie sc.id. "Enough so, at least, to make it n litt'e embarrassing where to pk-k and choose." Really, this was a remarkably solt sufl'Hciit youth. "1 Mipyoso that's the penalty of be ing a specialist," said the sarcastic Grate. "A spe.-,lallst?" "Aren't joti a specialist?" "I never thought of that before. Per haps I am. But why?" "This Is nn age of specialists," said Graip. "We find them everywhere. Spoi hilisis for every disease, specialists in science and in law why shouldn't there be specialists in your line?" The strauger laughed. "Why not indeed? Hafter I'm u ppoc.ulist." Grate moved uneasily. ' llaxe you noticed that the daylight Is fading?" she said. ' o it is. Ih there anything remari i'bh about it?" ".No, oi ly J fancied you would find the sunlight useful." "I'.'il-.fditen me, please." G:ice bit her lip. Was he really stupid, or was he pretending? "Father said you would look ovet the electric wires. He Is afraid there is something wrong about them." Look over the wires? Why, yes, of course I ViM. Anything to make my self i.g"oeub!e. Your father must have kno'u that I had some littlo kuotvl edgo on the subject although I don't remember telling him." Grace si.-ned at him. He evidently considered himself a humorist "Where will you look first?" "In the cH.'ar, of course. Will you lead the wr.y?" She bes'taicd with a glance at his dark jriasse.i. "Can you tee in the dark?" "Much better in the dark," ho nn- rwered. "It's the light that affects me a sort of f-und blindness, you under stand. But I'm much better, thank you." Grace touched a button on the wall and a maid promptly appeared. "Have the outside cellar door open ed, Mary. The wires are to be In spected." The maid withdrew and then Grace led the stranger down the front steps and around to tho cellar door, "Conic," he said as he went down the steps. "I want you along as helper, If you please. Besides, I might be tempted to eat up the preserves. I've been living, you know, where preserves are not known." "Not even currents?" she asked. "Currents? Oh, I see. I didn't ex poet that of you I didn't really. Is that what you brought me down hero for? You evidently don't know that it isn't safe to get into a joking mood with electricity. That was an old tra dition at the School of Mines. Currents, Indeed !"' .Somehow she couldn't help smiling, lo had such a boyish way about hlin aid yet lie sadly needed snubbing. "I am quite sure my presence isn't necessary," she snid with dignity. "If you tiot'd help I will call the man from the stable." "Oh, no," he protested. "I couldn't think of troubling him. I'd much rather have you here. There, will you please bold my glasses?" lie thrust theiu into lur band. "I can see very well in this dim light Ah, here's the nest." He was up or. a chair looking at the wires, "Your father was right This Isn't a good Job. Here are a couple of 'em in contact Give 'em a little more time and they would be ready for any mis elder. No wonder your father found the service bail. Hold on a minute and I'll Pave m where they belong." He divw a knife from his pocket and work ed nt-tbe wires. And then suddenly there waa a shap crack, a fierce white flame and the stranger dropinsl limply aeroaa the chair atul lay there very still. Grace had shrunk back at the start ling Interruption. The glasses fell from her bund and tinkled on the floor. Then she spiting forward. "Are jou hurt?" she gasped and lift ed his head. He caught his breath. 'The currents got me," he murmur ed faintly. "You shouldn't have mad that joke.'.' "House up," she sold and shook him gently. "Io It again," he murmured. "I lll.e it." II raised himself and drew a qul'k breath. "I'm ali right," h added in a stronger tone. "Except my eyes." He stood up. "Let mo take your hand," he said. "I think I'd belt. walk around a little." She looked in his face. Ills eyes were tightly closed. Then she took his hand and led him to the steps. "Shall I call somebody?" sho asked. "No, no. Not if you will stay with u.e. It was all my fault. I was care less and out of practice.- I'll have to keep my eyes shut for a half hour or more. That flnSu has put tbem to the bnd again." "Here is the step,", she cautloni.d him. "Be very careful." "Wait," he said. "You'd better bind try eyes with a handkerchief. Hero U mine." She bandaged his eyes carefully. "I'm so sorry this thing happened," she said as she tightened the knot. 'Ouch!" he inuttoerd. "I think you tied some of my hair Into that knot." "I'm so sorry," she said, and loos ncd it "That's all right," he told her. I like to have my hair fussed up. Don't forget the glasses. "I dropped them," said Grace. "They are somewhere on the floor." "Not smashed?" "I I think not." "You'd better think not. If you don't find those glasses you will have to go cur nnd buy a string with a dog at tached to It to lead me around." 'Please don't talk like that." said the girl. "Let me help you up the steps." She put her hand under his arm nnd assisted him to the outside walk nnd then up the front steps and into the parlor. Grace had the stranger sit in the big easy chair by the windaw. Then she turned on a single light All her re sentment against him seemed to have fled. "Can I do something for you?" she asked. "Nothing," he replied. "Except give me your society." "Of course, I'm not going to desert you," she said. "Do your eyes pain you?" 'Not exactly," he replied. "They are Just aching a little because' they cau't see you." Grace drew back. "If you mean that or a compli ment," she said, "I don't like it." "Don't you?" he retorted. "I'm sorry It seems to me rather poetical. You see I Haven t really had a good look at you yet Those black glasses cloud everything, and the cellar light was dim. As for the flash light, that passed too quickly. Of course, your father gave me no ideas regarding your per son appearance "My father! Why shuld he?" "Why, Indeed? More especially when I was coming here nnd you were to meet me at the station." 'There Is some mistake about that." said Grace quickly. 'I began to think so myself when I saw you were not tnere. Hut, never mind, let us talk of something else. Did you ever sit alone In the dark, or with your eyes tightly shut, and make pictures?" "No.". "You've missed quite a pleasant oc cupation. I'm making n picture of you now. It Is based on your voice which' 13 very pleasant, and on your manner -may I sjieak of your manner?" "If It entertains you?" "Oh, it does. Well, your manner Is a little cold, and a little haughty, and a little discouraging for the stranger within the gates. Wait I can see that you do not take newcomers at their own estimation. That you are careful aod cautious. I can see. too, that one has to know you for a little while be fore one can hope to be admitted to your good graces." The girl flushed warmly. "You seem to be a person of con siderable Imagination for a a special ist,' she said. He softly laughed. . "You are too gentle," he said. "You know that you think I am nn Impudent young ruffian. Yes, you do." Grace drew back coldly. Then she suddenly smiled. Of course he couldn't see her. "Are you sure there is nothing I can order for you? Perhaps you would like to have the maid bring you a cooling drink?" "Hold on," he cried. "You must'nt go away. It's bad enough to be In the dark without being deserted. And your conscience should tell you that I got Into this scrape at your suggestion' "At my suggestion?" cried Grace. "Of course. Do you suppose I would go Into a strange cellar and meddle with a lot of tangled wires of my own accord?" "Wl'V, why?" stammered Grace. "Of course I'm not complaining," said the stranger. "It served me rlgiit. But it does seem as If the least you could do would be to avoid Irritating me In my extremely helpless condition I ask you to stay here aud keep me company for a little while. There is ouly one thing else I want, and that's my dinner." Grace could only 6tare at him. Sho fancied he must have been dazed by the shock. "Perhaps you would liKe to have something nourishing brought to you now?" "No. I can wait nutil your father comes." "My father P "Yes, he's coming, isn't he?" "Of course. He should be here In a few minutes." "Good. What time is it, please?" She looked at the clock. "Half past six." "May I ask you to remove this hand kerchief? I am sure I cannot solve i the intricacies of the knot" Ph heslUted a moment. Then sha lowered the light a little nnd went to him. Her quick fingers unfastened th knot nnd drew the handkerchief from his eyes. Ho slowly raised the lids and looked nt her. "How very pretty you are." he slowly said. Whereat Grace flushed and t'ovw back and tried to look provoked. And Just nt that moment there was the sound of an opening door and a quick stop in the hafl. m "All, here you are." said Shelluirti" Apgar ns he looked into the room. "And of course Grace lias made it pleasant for you? Dinner ready, dear?" "As soon ns you are. father." "Give me n moment or two to freshen up." He turned from the door and they heard his step on the stair. Grace looked at the young man. "There there lias been a mistake," she stammered. . "Yes." "Who are you?" "My name is Thorne." "Are you Curtiss Thorne, the famous engineer?" "I am Curtiss Thorne." "I I took you for- some one else." He laughed. "That explains several things," hi said. She looked at him nppeallngly. "Please don't tell father." "Any bribes to olTer?" "Bribes?" He came a lltle nearer. "I'm a very impulsive fellow,' he said. "Your father wants me tp enter tho service of his company. I have been undecided about it. The offer from tho company In New York seems equal ly attractive. But now I think I would like to stay here. If you will say that you want me to stay Fll promise to keep our little comedy of this afternoon a secret from your father. Quick. 1 hear him coming." Grace flushed. I let father's step ;rew louder. "I want you to stay," she softly mur mured. And then Shelburne Apgar entered the room. W. R. Rose In Cleveland I'laindealer. OPEHAS OF OUR GRANDMOTHERS America Still Content with Old-Knsli- loned, l'tiKxIonleNN Production. Because the city of New York pos sesses two great opera houses nnd he cause there arr throughout the country a numlter of pretentions muleal organ izations whose oonivrts are largely at tended, we are prone to believe our musical taste is up to date. As a mat ter of fact, in my humble opinion, this is very far from the truth, says Mary. Garden in Everybody's. Of the great modern school of mifsie the American public knows as yet scarcely anything, and it is to-day quite content nnd hap py with the operas of Its grandmoth ers. America Is still satisfied with "tone." as opposed to inTerprctation. This Is shown by the great popularity of MHiia ind Senibrieh, perhaps the last, nnd certainly tho greatest, exponents of the colornture school, which charmed the world until near the Hose of the nine teenth century. To-day we see the be littling of the great modern school, the music of which deals with timrcarric.i to the hearta of its audiences great, hu man truths. This modern music aims not wholly nt til" series, hut also at the mind. It doe not aim meivly nt providing a vehicle for the production of glorious tones. It goes deeper than tone. It strives for a musical interpre tation of the Impulses and motives of the human mind and heart and sou!. It represents not jieiv ons, but passion . In France it no longer .suffices for a fine large woman to walk more or lcs: stitlly through the scenes of a lonjj opera, until, at a signal from the con ductor, she suddenly steps forward, squures herself toward the audience and emits the few glorious tones of an aria. The top note may thrill and as tonish an audience, may even gain the approval of the critics, but this is not art, It Is mere vocal acrobatics. No thought Is conveyed. No one pure tone, nor even a whole flock of pure tones, can of themselves make an opera. Were It not for the actor's art modern opers could not endure. On to Her iillin. Our Landlady It's the strangest thing In the world ! Do you know, our dear old pet cat disappeared very sud denly yesterday. Excuse me, Mr. Ru dolph, will you have another piece of rabbit pie? Mr. Rudolph (promptly) No, thank you. Our Landlady (an hour later) That Is three more pies saved. This season will be a profitable one. Indeed. Lon don TIt-Blts. A Freak of Memory. "Why in the world are you carryinj two umbrellas?" somebody asked the forgetful man, and he looked amazed at the question. "I should think you'd guess that easily, knowing me so well," he said. "I'm carrying two so that if I forget and leave one anywhere I shall still have the other!" Youth's Companion. Helping II Im. "Jinx Is dressing butter than usual lately." "Yes, his wife has beeu helping blm to reduce expenses." "Ills wife? Why, man, she was di vorced from him a year ago!" "I know It; but she has married again, so he doesn't have to pay any more alimony." Houston l'ost. All They llcm-rve. "Some people claim they don't get nut liin' out o' life." "And they are the kind that don't put nutbln' into It to draw Interest on." Louisville Courier-Journal. Vur aud Worse. "Dearie, why are you so worried about your husband?" "He goes out every iilght." "Oh, cheer1, up! Mine starts out lo the afternoon." Cleveland leader. Art for art's sake would be all right If food wasn't uecessury for tht stom ach's take.