frJhwfhr!hinfiol
THE GIRL
fHALFWAY
HOUGH. Al'THOR
At
CHAPTER XXV Continued.
Franklin burst open tho door, and
they both went In, half pausing. There
was that which might well give them
pause. Tho table was gone, the chairs
were gone. Tho Interior was nearly
denuded, bo that tho abode lay like nn
abandoned house, drifted half full of
lry, fine powdered snow. And even
this snow upon the floors had no
tracks upon Its surface. There was
no sign of life.
Awed, appalled, tho two men stood,
white and huge, In tho middle of the
abandoned room, listening for that
which they scarco expected to hear.
Yet from one of tho side rooms they
caught a moan, a call, a supplication.
Then from a door camo a tall and
wht to-faced llguro with staring eyes,
which held out Its arni3 to the taller
uf tho snow-shrouded forms and said:
"Undo, Is It you? Have you come
liack? We wero so afraid!" From
the room behind this figure came, a
voice sobbing, shouting, blessing tho
name of the Lord. So thoy knew that
two were saved, and one was miss
ing. They pushed Into tho remaining
room. "Auntie went away," said tho
tall and white-faced figure, shuddering
and shivering. "She went away Into
lier room. We could not find the
ience any more. Uncle, Is It you?
Come!" So they came to the bedsldo
and saw Mrs. Buford lying covered
with all her own clothing and much
tif that of Mary Ellen and Aunt Lucy,
lint with no robe; for the buffalo
robes had all gone with tho wagon,
as was right, though unavailing. U.n
ler this covering, heaped up, though
Insufficient, lay Mrs. Buford, her faco
white and still and marble-cold. They
found her with tho picture of her hus
liand clasped upon her breast.
"She went away!" sobbed Mary El
len, leaning her head upon Franklin's
shoulder and still under tho hallucina
tion of the fright and strain and suf
fering. Sho seemed scarce to under
stand thnt which lay before them, but
Came a tall,
continued to wander, babbling, shiver
ing, as her arms lay on Franklin's
whoulder. "We could not keep her
warm," she said. "It has been very,
very cold!"
CHAPTER XXVI.
The Artfulness of Sam.
For a brief time there might have
been found support for that ideally In
accurate statement of our Constitu
tion which holds that all men are born
free and equal, entitled to life, liber
ty and the pursuit of happiness. With
all our might wo belle this clause,
though In the tlmo or Ellisvlllo tt
might have had some footing. That
day has long since passed.
The stamping of the social die had
begun its work. Indeed, after a tlmo
there camo to be in tho great dining
loom of the Stono Hotel llttlo groups
bounded by unseen but Impassable
lines.
Sam, the owner of the livery barn,
had one table in the corner, where ho
Invariably sat. His mode of entering
the dining-room varied not with tho
passing of the years. Appearing at tho
door, he cast a frightened look at tho
occupants who bad preceded him, and
In whoso faces ho could Imagine noth
ing but critical censure of bis own
person. Becoming aware of his bat,
lie made a dive and hung It up. Then
he trod timidly through tho door, with
a certain side-draught in his step, yet
withal an acceleration of speed which
presently brought him alnioht at a
run to his comer of refuge, where ho
dropped, red and with a gulp. When
Nora stood at his chair, and repeated
- to him frostily the menu of tho day,
all the world went round to Sam, and
he gained no idea of what was offered
him. With much effort at noncha
lance, he would again wipe his fare,
take up his fork for twiddling, and
say always the same thing.
"Oh, I ain't very hungry; Jes' bring
mo a little pie an beef an coffee."
Ami Nora, scornfully Ignoring all this,
then doparted and brought htm many
things, setting them in array ubout
his plate, and enabling him to eat as
really he wlbhed. Whethor Sam know
that Nora would do this is a question
which must romaln unanswered, but
It Is certain that he never changed
the form of his own "order."
Sam was a citizen. He had grown
up with the town. Ho was, so to
speak, ono of tho charter members of
Elllsvflle, and thereby entitled to con
sideration. There was no reason why
!!am might not look any man in the
I A, STORY Or TH
T BY K HOl'CIl, At'THOR OP
B Ctttriehttd, fJ03, bt O.
ifaTf"irtfTrftrtlMiMftifflijftfcifcMM'ftiMfcftfMi
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HOUSE
E
PLAINS
TIIK STORY OH TUB COWBOY
tltten
CiMUHf. Atti Vtrk
wvtftyWM'''tyWwyV3
face, or any woman. But this latter
Sam had nover done. Ills admiration
for Nora bado fair to remain a secret
known of nil but tho ono most Inter
ested. Dally Sam sat at the tablo nnd
listened to Nora's Icy tones. Dally ho
nroso with the stern resolve that be
fore tho sun had set he would have
told this woman of that which bo op
pressed htm; yet each day, after ho
had dtned, ho stole furtively away to
the hat rack and slouched across tho
street to his barn, gazing down at
his feet with abasement on his soul.
"I ain't afcard o' any boss that over
Btood up," said ho to himself, "but 1
can't say a word to that Nory girl, no
matter how I try!"
Accident sometimes accomplishes
that which design falls to compnss.
One day Sam was detained with a
customer much later than his usual
dinner hour. Indeed, Sam bad not
been to dinner at the hotel for many
days, a fact which the district physi
cian at the railway might have ex
plained. "Of course," said Sam, "I
done the drlvlu', an' maybe that was
why I got frozo some more than Cap
Franklin did, when we went down
south that day." Frozen he had been,
so that two of his fingers were now
gone at the second joint, a part of his
right car was trimmed of unnecessary
tissue, and his right cheek remained
red nnd scarred with the blister of
tho cold endured on that drive over
tho desolated land. It was a crippled
and still more timid Sam who, unwit
tingly very late, halted that day at
the door of tho dining-room and gazed
within. He dodged to his tablo nnd
sat down without a look at any of his
neighbors. To him it seemed that
Nora regarded him wltfi"j'et more vis
ible scornfulncss.
One by ono tho guests at tho table
rose and left the room, and one by
ono the .waiter girls followed them.
Tho dining hour was nearly over.
Sam, absorbed In his own misery and
1 his own hunger, awoke with a start
white - faced figure.
to find the great hall apparently quite
deserted.
It is the curious faculty of somo
men (whereby scientists refer us to
the ape) that they are able at will to
work back and lorth the scalp upon
the skull. Yet others and perhaps
fewer men retain tho ability to work
either or both ears, moving them
back and forth voluntarily. It was
Sam's solitary accomplishment thnt
he could thus move his ears. Only
by this was ho set apart and superior
to other beings.
As Sam sat alono at tho table, his
spoon rattling loud upon his plate in
evidence of his mental disturbance,
ho absent-mindedly began to work
bark and forth his ears, perhaps so
licitous to learn If hjs accomplishment
had been impaired by tho mishap
which had caused him other loss. As
ho did this, he was Intensely startled
to hear behind him a burst of laugh
ter, albeit laughter quickly smothered.
He turned to seo Nora, his Idol, his
adored, standing back of him, where
sho bad slipped In with professional
quiet and stood with professional eti
quette, waiting for his departure, so
that she might hale forth tho dlslios
he lia! used. At this apparition, nt
this awful sight for never in tho his
tory of man had Nora, the head wait
ress, been known to smile the heart
of Sam stopped forthwith in his
bosom.
"1-1-J-I b-b-bog your M d-dldn't
know you was there," he stammerod
in abject perturbation.
Nora sniffed. "I should think you
might of knowed it," said she.
"I fl-d-don't b-b-blame you fer laugh
in', M-.M-.MIhh M-M-M-Markley," said
Sam miserably.
"What at?" demanded Nora flercoly.
"At m-ni-niy air. I know It's funny,
cut off, that way. But I cc-can't help
it. It's gone."
"I dldh't." exclaimed Nora hotly, her
face flushing. "Your oars is all right.
I was laughin' at seeln' you move 'em.
I beg your pardon. I didn't know
anybody could, that way, you know.
I'm I'm sorry."
A great light broke over Sam. A
vast dam crashed free. His soul
nttdied forth in one mad wave.
"M-M-MIss M-M-Markley Miss
Nory!" he exclaimed, whirling about
and facing her, "d-d-d-do y-y-you 1-1-like
to s-s-see me work my airs?" t
"Yes. it's funny," admitted Nora, on
the point of another outbreak in splto
of herself.
Sam saw his advantage. He squared
himself about, and, looking solemnly
and earnestly in Nora's faco, ho pulled
his right nnd then his left oar for
ward until tho members stood, nearly
at right angles to his head.
After all, tho ludicrous In bnt tho
unexpected. Many laugh who seo an
old woman fall upon tho slippery
pavement. This new spectacle was
tho absolutely undreamed-or to Nora,
who was no scientist. Her laughter
was irrepressible.
Sam followed up his advantngo roy
ally. "I can work 'em both to onctt"
ho oxclnlmed trJumphnntly. And did
so. "There! Look a-hero!" Howng
gled his ears ecstatically. The roservo
of Nora oozed, waned, vanished.
Even the sternest fiber must nt
length succumb under prolonged Her
culean endeavor. No man may long
continuously wag his ears, oven alter
nately; therefore Sam perforce paused
In tlmo. Yet by that time In what
manner It occurred no ouo may know
Nora was seated on tho chair next to
him at the table. They were alone.
Silence fell. Nora's hand moved nerv
ously among tho hihxhis. Upon It
dropped the mutilated ono of Sam.
"Nory." Haiti he, "I'd I'd work 'cm
all my llfo fer you!" And to Nora,
who turned away her head now, not
for the purpose of hiding a smile, this
seemed always a perfectly fit and
proper declaration of this man's re
gard. "I know I'm no good," murmured
Sam. "I'm a awful coward. I-M'vo
M-loved you ever sence tho fust tlmo
that I seen you, but 1 was such a
coward, I I couldn't couldn't "
"You're not!" cried Nora Imperi
ously. "Oh, yes. I am," said Sam.
"Look at them," said Nora, almost
touching his crippled fingers. "Don't
I know?"
"Oh, that." said Sam, hiding tho
hnnd under tho droop of tho table
cloth. "Why, that? 1 got froze some,
a-drlvln'."
"Yes, and," snld Nora accusingly,
"how did you get frozo? A-drlvln'
'way down there, In the storm, after
folks. No ono else'd go."
"Why. yes. Cap Franklin, he went."
said Sum, "That wasn't nothln'. Why,
('course we'd go."
"No ono else wouldn't, though."
Sam wondered. "I was ulways too
much a coward to sny a word to you,"
ho began. And then an nwful doubt
sat on his soul.
"Nory," he resumed solemnly, "did
ever any Teller sny anything to you
about my I-M well, my lovin' you?"
"I should say not!" said Norn. "I'd
a slapped his face, mighty quick!
What business "
"Not never n single one?" said Sam,
his face brightening.
"No. 'ndeed. Why. I'd like to know?
Did you ever a$k nnyono to!"
"1 should say not!" said Sam, with
the only lle'he ever told, and one most
ndmlrable. "1 should say not!" be re
peated with emphasis, and in tones
wlftch carried conviction even to him
self. "You'd belter not!" said Norn. "I
wouldn't of had you If they had!"
Snm started. "WhiifH that. Nory?"
ho said. "Say that ag'ln! Did you
sny you wouldn't of hnd me you
wouldn't of?" His hand found hers
again.
"Yes," faltered Nora, seeing herself
entrapped by her own speech.
"Then. Nory," said Sam firmly, cast
ing a big arm about her waist, "if you
wouldn't of had me then I reckon now
you do." And neither from this
subtlety lior from tho sturdy arm did
Nora seek evasion, though alio tugged
faintly nt the fingers which held fast
her waist.
"I don't care," sho murmured vague
ly. "There ain't no cowanl would of
done It!" Whereat Sam, seeing him
self a hero, wisely accepted fate and
ceased to argue. The big arm tight
ened manfully, and into his blue eyes
camo tho look of triumph.
"Nory," whispered ho loynlly, "I'll
never work my alfH ag'ln for any
woman In the world but you!"
(To be continued.)
Carnegie Dialect.
Though Andrew Carnegie's English
is singularly elegant and pure, he has
at his command a weird Scotch dia
lect. Mr. Carneglo is a student of Scotch
words nnd Idioms. He llkea to volnt
out the oddities and freaks of his na
tive tongue. Recently, at a dinner
party In New Yorl; he said to a young
womnn:
"So you think you can understand
Scots, oh? Well, then, what do wo
mean in Scotland when wo say a per
son Ih just ftnsb?"
"I don'i know. What do we pioan?"
the young woman asked.
"Wo mean ho Is a bit of a weed
harum-Kcartini," said Mr. Carnogle.
"A weed harum-scarum? What Is
that?"
"It Is tho same as wowf."
"But what is wowf?"
"Wowf Is nook or sal. That Is to
say, a bit by tne east. Havers, lassie,
ha'e ye no Scots at all?'
Then Mr. Carneglo laughed and ex
plained that a weed harum-scarum,
and flflsh, and wow, and nook, and
sal, and by tho east all signified the
one tiling, "crazy," Minneapolis Tri
bune. Economy Extraordinary.
W. W. Young, who had listened to
some remarks on economy, told of a
boy who enrrted the sentiment to ox
coss. "I saw tho lad In front of a gro
cery store In a llttlo town," said ho.
"Ho had a big green pcpper In his
hand and tho tears wore rolling down
bis cheek. The greon popper showed
the imprints of his teeth, i asked
him what was tho matter and he said,
it burns.
'"Why aro you oating it, then?' I
asked, and ho blubbered out. 'Well, I
thought It was an apple whon I bought
it. 1 guosH it ain't any apple, hut I
paid two cents for It an' I have to eat
It, auyway.' " New York Times.
I n
Red and Plnlc Combined.
A combination of colors most 'jcoplo
would exclaim nt has becomo very
popular this season. It is red nnd
pink, and brunettes mny consider this
a blesBlng, as it Is particularly becom
ing to their type. IMnk Is used for
tho foundation of the frock, nnd It Is
trimmed with clusters of cherry or
deep poppy shades that blond with
It. The effect Is very rich, and n hand
some gown Is the result If caro is
taken in the shading of tho color.
Blouse Eton.
Walking costumes nindo with short
coats and skirts that clear tho ground
arc tho latest Bhown nnd nro charm
ingly graceful as well as hygienic und
comfortable. This one Is made of
mixed homespun, In tans nnd browns,
with rovers of tnn colored cloth, nnd
4674 tlloiiro F.tnn, 32 to 40 bust.
4673 Walking Oklrt, 22 to30wnt3t.
includes the fashionable tucks In both
nloiiso and skirt. The'drop shoulders,
(he wide sleeves nnd the crushed belt
ill mark the blcniso as essentially
innrt, while tho skirt with Trout and
Jjnt'lc alike and short tucks between is
1ne of the newest and best liked. To
make the blouse for a womnn of mo
Jlum size will be required 3 yards
f material 27. 2 yards 44 or 2 yards
52 Inches wide; to make tho skirt 7V4
yards 27, 5 yards 4 1 or 3 yards 52
inches wide
A May Mnnton pattern of blouse,
No. 4674, sizes 32 to 40, or of skirt,
No. 4673, sizes 22 to 30. will bo mnlled
.o any address on receipt of ten cents
for encli.
Popular Laces.
Bruges nnd duchesso llguro on many
af tho new Paris gowns, which means
(t is hoped that Hontton will have a
look In. It is so pretty combined with
joft Suede in bolts nnd In appliques on
materials. Black lace sparkles with
let and Is uccompanled by beautiful
collars, which aro moro wonderfully
cut than jet has over been.
WITH CAPE
Waists made with fancy capes, or
capo collars, are both graceful and
fashionable, and also aro becoming to
the groater number of womankind.
TIiIh ono is peculiarly effootlvo and
makes part of a costume of vlolot
seeded voile trimmed with ecru Inoe
applique and vom with a crushed bolt
of mestiulliio satin. Tho tucks, that
aro arranged to give n yoke effect In
the waist and to confine tho sleeves
closely at the shoulders, provide soft
if rS3L I 1 1 1
iMmM h
m ifu'ij9& Mi II ,J
"ifci -t I iT"'
il iff a i fc-T l r I wi
v. m it"1! "-i ''-"VJA? Jr
The Latest of the Decrees of Fashion
Crepe Marquise One of the New
Spring and Summer Fabrics Jap
anese Satins That Are Bound to Be
Popular.
ReTTjTlnlNC6
Voiles for spring wenr show faint
colored plaids and raised dots, Borne
times both In tho one pattern.
Smnll three-cornered hats aro to bo
worn, their soverlty softened by a
ribbon rosetto holding a falling bunch
of flowers at the side.
Don't try to wear that now "Alge
rian" blue unless you have n faultless
complexion.
Somo of tho spring walking tints nro
trimmed with foulard handkerchiefs,
which Hhow Japanese centers nnd
plain borders.
LotB of tawny yellow shades nnd
umbers will bo worn by thoso who
can do so without endangering their
good looks.
Cotton Crepes.
Cropo mnrqulso Is one of tho now
spring and summer fabrics that can bo
washed. It has n crepo ground of
monotones, and Is distinguished by
embroidered dots. Crepo Jncquellno,
nnother silk nnd cotton goods In
monotones, runs through tho gamut of
colors from pnlo ecru to black, with
overrunning Jucqunrds. Crepo Ar
maztuo is similar to cropo marquise,
savo that silk stripes instead or dots
break lis Rurfnco. Crepe prlncoss Is
nil cotton, but Is n charming fabric.
Vollo duchess Is n now and chenp all
cotton goods, with three threads wov
en togothor In such n way aB to pre
vent sagging of the material. Pompa
dour crepo Ih nnother now dresB ma
terial, with the softness of cropo and
tho lustre of Bilk, and printed In
Pompadour dcslgnB.
Veils Are Passing.
Veils will bo much less worn be
caiiHo of tho veil effects In tho nco
trimmings, nnd fentherH, though seen
occasionally, will lie far less popular
than flowers. Hoses stand first In fn-vor--very
large and small, and pink
moro than other colors.
And nil the hniidsomest ornaments
are In art uovenu tinted to mutch nil
the spring flowers.
A Belt of Precious Stones.
An attractive new belt Is composed
of lnrgo gunmetal beads and precious
stones sot In a elrcte. Olivines, ame
thysts, topazes, coral nnd turquoises
figure In this licit. Gunmetal bends
separate the stones, so that there is
no clash of colors.
Alcohol clonus piano keys; kero
sene, oilcloth, tabic and shelf covers.
A tablespoonful of vinegar mixed
with three of pure Unseed oh will
freshen and fiollsh mahogany.
For sponging out bureau drawers or
sldcboardH uso tepid water containing
a small quantity of thymolln.
To clean plaster of parls ornamentB
cover them with a thick coating of
starch and allow It to become per
fectly dry. Then It mny be brushed
off and the dirt with it.
PoIlBhcd iron work can bo preserv-
EFFECT;
fullness below tho Btltchings that
means admirable folds and lines and
allows tho droop over the wide belt
that marks the lutost models. To
mnko the waist for a woman of me
dium size wilt be required G(. yards
of material 21 or 27 or 2Vs yards 41
inches wldo, with 5 yards of applique
to finish edges of capo, bleoves and
collar.
A May Manton pattern. No. 4678,
sizes 32 to 40, will bo mailed to any
address on receipt of ten cents.
.Lt&JU, ,J
I I 4J I -U J.L
W7
cd from rust by nn Inexpensive mix
turo nindo of copal vnrnfsh mixed
with as much olive oil as will give
It n dogreo of grcnslncss, and after
ward adding to this mixture as much
spirit of turpentine ns of varnish.
To cloan a clock lay in tho bottom
n rag saturated with kerosene. Tho
fumes loosen tho dirt nnd causo it
to drop out. In a fow days placo nn
other cloth saturated in koroseno In
tho clock, Tho fumes lubrlcato tho
works.
Child's Frock.
Long-wnlstcd or Fronch frocks nro
among tho most faRhlonnblu shown
for tho little folk and aro charming
In the extreme. This ono Is made of
mercerized blue chambray with trim
ming of whlto embroidery and is em
inently simple as woll as attractive,
4682 Child's Frock, 2 to 8 yean,
of 5 years of ngo will bo rcqulrod 3&
but tho design can bo reproduced n
many mntorlals. Tho slightly open
nock Js a special feature and tho wldo
collar Is peculiarly stylish and boconi'
lng. To mnko tho frock for a child
yards or material 27, 3V! yards 32 or
2Vs yards 44 inches wide.
A Mny Maulon pattern, No. 4652,
sizes 2 to 8 yonrs, will be mailed to
any address on receipt of ten cents.
Japanese Satins.
How lovely aro tho gauzes, somo of
them exhibiting velvet brocado, somo
satin stripes; many aro embroldorod
with gold wistaria blooms. Printed
Bntlns show something of tho Jap
nneso clement, nnd though wo cannot
qulto make up our minds whethor we
nro to bo faithful to 'silk and return
with all our nllcglnnco to It, It Is cer
tainly making Its way for picture
gowns', nnd soft makes arc dellcatel
painted with chlno effects. Diaphan
ous silk muslins and tulles cannot be
benton for evening wear, nnd tho am
plltudc of skirts show them oft well.
wmwit
i
When making a pudding don't for
get to mnko a pleat In tho cloth at tho
top of your basin, so as to allow tho
pudding room to swell.
Tho hands can bo cleansed better
with warm water than with cold,
but thoy should always be rinsed
afterward with cold water, as this
keeps thorn In a better condition.
, A good polish for stoves is mado of
one teaspoouful of powdered alum
mixed with tho stove oollsh. Tho
brllllauco that this polish will glvo to
a-stove will last for a long time.
To proservo stair carpetH put pads
of old blankets on each stop. If there
Is no store of ancient blankets to
draw from, a substltuto may bo mado
of several thicknesses of brown paper.
Whon a spoonful of borax, Is put
Into tho last water In which whlto
clothes are rinsed, It has tho effect,
of whitening them. Before It Is added
to tho rinsing water the borax should
be dissolved In a little hot water.
Readers or this paper can iccuro any May
Msntua pattern Illustrated uboe bj UUineout
11 blauki iu coupou, ami uiuilltir. with 10 ceuts,
toE. li Harrison Co., 65 Plymouth Place, Oat
lingo. Pattern will be mailed promptly.
Name ...
Town ....
Bute..
) ( m
Pattern No-.,
Yutt Measure (If for skirt) ...
bust Measure (It for waist) ..,.
Age (If child's ormlu's pattern)
Wrim plainly, ViV out all blanks. Knclosa
10c Malltolili IIi4rioa&Ca,C5Plnooutfe
Place. Chicago.
C-
U M ffj l I fl jfJTt
BSem l
