Nebraska Newspapers

    NONE BUT MOTHER.
irtiows of Uic v/ork ft makes
_ To ki'i-p tin ? li.iitiLtogether ;
Xo1 < uly I ; 1 1 tws the stt-jis it lukcs ,
Kobody kiiuwa but iiu.ibcr.
Nnbn.lv lislcns tr > c-lifhllsb woes
\Vliidi Kii-si's only fcinolbor ;
Jf'ilxjdy'fl I'iiiiii-d by ti.uighty blows
Nobody only imithur.
Nobody knoirs of the sleepless care
I'l-strv.-fil iiiioii biby brother ;
-xly ktiuviM of t'li 'tender pray'r
dy oil } ' inotliur.
Nobo.'ly lno s < if tlie lessens taught
Of lovinir one nnother :
Ifnbody Kfious of llic patience sought ,
Nobouy only mother.
Nobody knows of the anlous fears
L < -st diirlinjrs may uolventher
The .storm 01 life In aftiT years ,
Nobody kuinva but mother.
Nobody kneels at tlie throne above
To tiank the Ilt-aveiily Father ,
Fortnat mother's love
sweeUu-tpft a ;
Nobcdy van but mother.
11 , U. L'odfjc. in Dclro't Prte Press.
THE LADY OF LONE LAKE.
Oner beautiful summer evening I was
rowing iv th a friend on one of those
romantic lakes in thu west of Ireland.
The day had been a hot one , and the
midsummer sun looked like a ball
of lire , as it slowly sank behind the
horizon. It was a beautiful scene. The
lake lay like a sheet of silver. 'To the
right , were high banks fringed with
dark Irees , and perpendicular clifl's al
most hidden by clinging vines. To the
left stretched level meadows , dolled
with grazing cattle. Above us was the
mellow sky , while from the cast arose
the full moon lo replace thu fierce rays
of the day-god with her mild radiance.
In the distance w could see the dark
outlines of an old baronial castle ,
almost hidden by intervening trees.
This , my companion informed 7iie , was
Larrimoor Hall.
We lay aside our oars , and for a time
floated silently over thu glassy surface
of the lake , enraptured by .the beauti
ful scene. . 1 was a young artist , living
in'London at that time , and now lakinc
my summer vacation. It was my first
vis.t to the "Emerald Isli > , ' and I had
been wandering with delight , among Hit
romantic mountains' glens and lakes ,
filling my soul with beauty and my
portfolio wilh sketches. My compan
ion was the young Lord of Glcudalc.
whose acquaintance 1 had madu while
traveling on the cont nent. Happening
to meet him in my wanderings he had
insisted on my accompanying him le
hiscountry seat , a-suring me that the
scenery around il surpassed anything 1
had yet seen.
The scenery was indeed charming ;
hut as yet I have been more charmed
with my host's fair sister , Nora , who ,
as their parents are de.ul , and the huir
yet unmarried , was acting as the lady
of Glendale.
As we floated the glow faded , and
thu soft moonlight bathed the lake and
rocks and meadows with silver. The
Jake was quite isolated , being on the
border between the estates of Glendale
nnd Lar moor , and wase'.Ueni visited
hy anyone but the members of these
two families. To-night we were its sole
visitors. Imag ne my surpr soafter
jfloat ng for some time in silence to sec
a small boat rowod S.y a ligure in white
glide swiftly over the aurfaep. "We
are not alone. " said I , pointing to it.
"Ah , " said my companion , "that is
only a spectre. Did y on never hear
the'story'of the 'Lady of Lone Lake. ' "
' No , " said 1 , "but melhinks she rows
remarkably well for a spirit ; let's give
chase. " 1 so"zed the oars and rowed
rapidly after Ihe receding boat. As
soon as Ihe rower perceived that she
ivas followed , she turned her boat
towards the high banks and in an in
stant disappeared mysteriously among
the ivy-clad rocks. Out of breath J
dropped the oars and sa'd , "Tell me
the story of which you spoke. " My
companion , who had sat silent during
jny rapid chase , smiled sadly as he
began :
"The present Lord of Larrimoor , who
lives in the hall yonder , is a very hard ,
stem man. and he rules everything in
his power with an iron hand. His
wife , a beautiful woman , has been dead
these many years. He married her lo
gain possession of her large estate.
While woo ng her he overcame his
harsh manners as much as his nature
would permit. But after the prize was
fully his , lie relaxed into his natural ,
icy sternness. She lived a most seclud
ed life , and died in a few \ cars , had one
child , much like4 its mother , only more
liighsp"rtcd. Her father idolized her ,
nnd , until she was twenty years old ,
never crossed her by word or deed.
Then his avaricious nature got the bet
ter of his affection. He desired her lo
juarrv a baron nearly as old as himself ,
hut possessed of vast 'estates. The
hgh-spiriled girl rebelled. The father
insisted * and , in spite of her remon
strance , preparations were made for the
-wedding. The daughter said no more
and the-father thought he was going to
have his way. The wedding night
came. The guests were assembled.
The bridegroom was waiting. The
hour came but thu bride came not
Complaining of weariness she had re
tired to her room soon after dinner ,
promising to appear at the appointed
time if they would not disturb her. Al
last her father sent for her. She was
Dot in her room. Tho house MTU
searched , the grounds , the neighbor
hood : but she could not be found.
"Next day a shawl belong.ng to th <
girl was found down bv this lake. A :
it was the only tract of her , people con
eluded that , to escape a fate so repulsivt
to her , she had drowned herself. J
little after that the spectre you hav <
just seen began to frequent those waters
Many have tried to overtake it as yoi
did , "but it alwavs vairshqs arnonsr thos <
rocks ; and so they think it is Lucia , th <
lost heiress of Larrimoor. "
The young lord seemed greatly mov
ed by the sad story he had just related
and I could not help but feelthat lit
had taken more than a pass'ng iutcres
Jn the unfortunate girl. After a mo
ment of science , during which he begai
to pull for lha homeward shore , I said
Hid the lady no other admirers ? "
"Oh , yes ; many : " he replied ; "bti
fe v dared to approach , and these hci
father repulsed. " After a minute lie
continued : "It is useless for mo to try
lo conceal mv feelings from you , fol
I fuel that you have already divined
them. I. also , loved the buautiful lady ,
though she knew not of 1113' affection.
My parents were the olily people in tLc
country with whom Lord Larrimooi
was on fr'cndly terms , and during his
lady's lost sickness my mother attended
her constantly. After her death slit
took great interest in tho child , who
was about the age of my sister , and
used to 'bring Lucia home with her to
stay a week at a time. Then we three
would ifavo grand times romping about
the hall and playing in the park. Some
times we were allowed to accompany
Lucia home ami stay to tea ; but 1 neve'i
enjoyed these visits. The old hall seemed
so dark and gloomy , and its master so
slcrn and taciturn. As we grew older we
wore together fcven more.Canteringovei
the hills on horseback , or taking rambles
in the woods. Hut most of all we
liked to row about on this very lake.
My father taught me to row as soon as
1 was large enough to handle an oar ,
and 1 instructed tlie girls. Lucia be
came very skillful , and could outrow
both of us. Afterwards my mother
died , and my sister and I were sent
away to school. As long as my father
lived we spent our vacations at home.
But ho survived my mother only two
years. 'After his death we made our
home with an aunt in Dublin , and
Glendale Hallvas closed. After J
iinishcd my course , we spent three
years in travel. After an absence ol
live years I returned to Glendale to
liud my playmate , whose memory ]
had cherished during all the years oi
our sepcration , a beautiful and accom
plished young lady. She and my sis
ter resumed the'r former friendship :
but she seemed shy of me , and before ]
had an opportunity to open my hear !
to her , she sought refuge from hoi
father's cruelty in a watery grave. "
Dur r.g this recital we had left the
boat , and were now picking our way
along the uneven path wiiich led to the
house. 11 was quite late when w < :
reached the hall , and we soon separated
for the night. '
I lay down , but not to sleep. The
occurrences of the evening filled my
mind , and banished sleep from my
eyelids. I longed to fathom the mys
tery. 1 had no faith in the supernatur
al , and I no more believed the boat we
had seen was rowed by a spirit , than ]
believed myself to be a ghost. I could
not help but think that it was the un
fortunate girl , whom my friend was
mourning as dead ; and that she was in
hiding somewhere among her native
rocks , though how she managed tt
evade pusiiit and vanish so suddenly ,
was more than I could make out. My
convictions were strengthened by the
fact that the body had never been re
covered , though the old lord had offer
ed large rewards , and every peasant in
the country had been on the lookout.
Before I went to sleep I had formed : i
plan , and determined to investigate the
matter the next night ; with my friend's
help if he were willing : if not , alone.
When I disclosed my project to Lord
Glendale , he shook his head dubiously ,
and tried lo dissuade me. assuring me
that he had tried many times to capture
the mysterious rover ; but always in
vain , but seeing that I was determined
to go. he was too gallant to refuse to
accompany me. About sunset we took
our way to the lake , and embarke.l in
separate boats. I felt that littlu could
be accomplished , by pursuit. It was
this mysterious vanishing we must pre
vent if possible. So 1 determined to
take my place near where tho boat
disappeared. Lord Glendaie , who was
a rapid rower , was to wait on tho op-
pos tc side and. at the right moment
give chase , while I would stand guard
over the mysterious rock. The evening
was not as bright as the preceding one
had been , for the sky was overcast bv
iihny clouds which part'ally obscured
the moon. I pushed my skiff as much
into the shadow as possible , and waited
in silence. In a lew minutes I heard
( he sound of splashing waters , it
seemed to come from behind the rocks.
Presently a boat , rowed by the most
beautiful creature I had ever seen ,
parted the vines wh'ch had hung down
over the rocks near by , and shot away
across the lake and down tlie stream. I
stationed myself at tlie exact spot whence
the iioat had emerged , and waited anx
iously for my friend to act. AI last it
came slowly back. Lord Glendale was
on the alert and immediately gave chase ,
anil pursued and pursuer shot towards
me with incredible rapidity. I tried to
keep down my rising excitement. I
felt that now or never was the time ,
and I crouched low , fearing that she
might sec me and dart oil' in some other
direction. She was evidently wearied
with her long row. for my friend was
close upon her. She did not see me un-
till her skiff touched mine. Quick as a
flash she turned but we were both close
upon her , and , by some unlucky move
ment , her frail bark was overturned ,
and , with a wild cry for help , she sank
out of sight.
Glendale was in tho water in an in
stant He caught her the first time she
rose , and we soon had her in the boat.
She was no ghost , but a dripping , half-
drowned , frightened girl. She re
proached us for molesting her , ami
hgjrged pitcously to be released. Glen
dale wrapped the dripping form in my
coat , assuring her that we were friends
and would be most happy to serve her.
She seemed to recognize him , and I fell
sure from their conversation that she
was indeed Lucia , the lost heiress oi
Larrim'oor. As the other boats had
floated away , Glendale explained to hei
that it would be necessary for us to con
vey her to her place of abode , and thai
we"must go quickly , for both of then ;
were dripping wet. To this she seem
ed reluctant to consent , but , being re
assured of our good-will , she shower
us an opening in , the rocks entirely
concealed by overhanging vines
Through this we passed into a shallow
channel. It was a very singular place.
This channel , enclosed between , twc
high and rocky banks , was about thre <
rods long and. perhaps , half as wide ii
tho midiilrt. narrowing at each end , it ;
inner wall became continuous with tin
shore of the lake. Our fair guide di
rectcd us to theupper end , where wt
found a natural landing , which led ii :
up to a door in the rocks. In answei
to her call this door was opened by ai
aged woman. She seemed very mucl
frightened on seeing us ; hut after a few
words from Lucia , she bade us enter ,
and , busied herself making a lire and
othewise ministering to our comfort.
The appartment was low , but roomy ,
and div.ded by screencs into parlor ,
sleeping rooms and kitchen. While
Glendale dried his drenched garments
and we drank the cheering cup of tea
prepared for us by the old woman ,
Lucia told her story , which was briefly
this :
.Despairing of escape from the hated
alliance in any other way , she" had ap
pealed lo her old nurse for aid. This
woman , then nearly eighty years old ,
was living with her son in a cottage on
a neighboring estate , having quarrelled
with Lord Larrimoor someyears before.
She and her husband , now dead , had
been servants to Lucia's grandfather.
The old woman readily espoused Lucia's
cause , and , the day before the wedding ,
she entered the hall unnoticed and
'found her way to Lucia's room. She
disguised Lucia as a beggar , and in the
bustle of preparation they managed to
escape.
The cave had been discovered and
occupied by some English fugitives dur
ing the troublous times of Cromwell.
It was afterward occupied and enlarged
by a wizard hermit. But he had been
dead for half a century and the cave
deserted. Its entrance had been over
grown by vines , and those who had
known of its existence , except the old
nursu , were deatl or gone away. Even
she had not thought of it for years , un
til her anxiety quickened her failing
memory. Hither she had conveyed
her charge , and hither they had lived
in seclusion for live years. A lonely
l.fe indeed for a beautiful young
woman ; but she chose it rather than
sell herself for gold. She besought us
not to reveal her hiding place. We re
assured her of our friendship , and
asked permission to visit her again.
This was readily granted , and we were
invited lo return again next evening
and bring Nora with us
Great was Nora's surprise when we
recounted our adventures to her. At
lirst she could hardly believe us ; but ,
seeing we were realy in earnest , she
\ gladly accepted the joyful news , and
expressed herself anxious to visit her
old friend in her strange abode. After
that we frequently visited the cave , but
always with great secrecy. Indeed , it
was seldom that the gathering shadows
of evening d d not find Lord Glendale
thither , and his radiant countenance
gave us assurance that his visits were
in vain. As for Nora and I , we loved
better to walk in the fragrant garden , or
wander among the grand old trees that
surround the hall.
I had already extended my vacation
to unprecedented length , and was be
ginning to think seriously of returning
to my work , when Glendale , one even
ing , informed me that on the morrow
he would wed the fair Lucia. It was a
quiet wedding , in the rocky cave which
had sheltered the beautiful bride for so
many weary years. An old priest per
formed the ceremony , of which Nora ,
tho nurse , and I were the only wit
nesses.
A few days later I look my departure
with a light heart , for Nora was my
promised wife. Tho Lord and Lady of
Glendale passed their honeymoon quiet
ly at Glendale Hall. The hard old Lord
had long looked upon his daughter as
dead , and was so overcome to receive
her again that he forgave her entirely ,
and became from that time forth a
changed man.
All this happened years ago. Nora
and I are married now. and our home
is in London ; but every summer we
spend our vacation with the Lord and
Lady of Glendale , at their beautiful
country seat. Mary Kcim , in The L'ttr-
renl.
An E-.hvin Forrest Anecdote.
When Clark Mills was casting his
statue of Gen. Jackson on a balancing
horse , now in Lafayette square , . Edwin
Forrest , then playing an engagement
at Washington , asked permission to
witness the casting of a large part of
it. On the day appointed for casting
the statue M.lls notified Forrest , who
with other gentlemen and ladies as
sembled within the inclosure. The
party gathered around the pit , while
Forrest placed himself on a plank laid
directly across the pit. At a given sig
nal Mills removed the plugs from the
furnace , and the molten bronze began
to pour out from the furnace into the
mold below. Unfortunately , some wa
ter had got into the mold and a terrible
explosion took place ; the earth , sand ,
and molten metal Hew in all directions.
Mills was knocked heels over head ; one
of the sides of the inelosnre was blown
out ; half the guests were knocked
down or covered with earth ; seme were
scorched , the others lied in dismay.
When the smoke and steam had cleared
away Mills rose from the earth and
discovered Forrest still standing on the
plank across the pit. "Great heavens ! "
exclaimed Mills , as soon as he could
get his breath , "Mr. Forrest , I hope
youj are not hurl. " "Hurt,1'replied
Forrest , "what is there to hurt anv-
bodv ? " "Thank God , " cried Mills.
"But ain't you frightened ? " "Fright
ened , " replied Forrest , "why should I
be frightened ? I thought this was a
part of tha performance. " Boston
Jiudget.
Multam in Parvo.
A bachelor's miss-shun is not a miss-
take.
take.Oaths
Oaths are passwords to Hell's outer
door.
A false-hood never covers an honest
head.
Memory is the storehouse of rnncL
mental rubbish.
Elasticity of imagination often gov
erns the grade of merit.
In life's great army you can find the
bummers at the front.
Kind words are like an oasis to a max
in the troubled desert.
To think you can do another's task
better than another is human.
Hope is an incentive to action and
the froth on the cup of life.
A ship is often saved by its anchor ,
but men are as often lost by their ran
cour.
The person who speaks a kind word
to a fellow-man in trouble sticks a pin
in the devil.
A MUSEUM FOR THE BLIND.
A Cirlous nncl Interesting "Exhibition
That ivus Opened Jleeciitly in '
Paris.
A museum for the blind was opened
: o-day in the Hue de Kousselet , writes
3. Paris correspondent of The London
News under date of Nov. 12. It has
been established by the blind Dr. Guil-
ocau , one of the professors in the Insti-
tut des Jetines Aveugles , and contains
specimens of nearly all the objects in
vented for a long course of years for
schools ( primary , technical and others )
for sightless pupils. Persons having
blind relatives or friends will on Tues
days obtain any information they may
want without books , maps , writing ap
paratus , teachers , and so on , foi their
special bench' ! . Not the least curious
part of the exhibition is what is con-
ta ned in the book cases. There is
there a large collection of quarto vol
umes , all the printed characters of
which are raised on the Bra lie system.
This i.s now more in use than any other
in Italy , Prussia. Alsace , and the United
States. It is said tluit it has the merit
of being very s.mple ; hut to an unac-
sustomed eye it is as hard to make out
as shorthand. The English blind al
phabet is quite different , locking'like a
Nincvite inscription. The letters , ac-
sording to the Braille system , are made
like the French sign for the acute ac-
senl , and are set in squares. Tlie rela
tive angles at which they are placed
one lo another give them alphabetical
meaning. Blindness is much more the
scourge of the poor than the rich. If.
therefore , charitable societies did
not bring out books for the blind it
would be impossible for this unfortunate
slass to obtain them. Most of those in
the Braille type are for school classes.
There are already eight volumes of
Littre's Dictionary" some works of ref
erence. La Fontaine's "Fables , " Flor-
ian's "Fables " Boileau's "Lutrin "
, , se
lections from the great French authors
in prose and verseand a bible which has
been printed by a society to further ed
ucation among the blind. But the ef
forts made in this direction in France
are poor when compared with the re
sults won in England , although the al
phabet used there seems loss easy to
learn and covers more space than the
iJraSHo one. In England there have
"
bcfen as many as a "hundred thousand
volumes printed for sightless readers ,
including the bible , Ihc "Pilgrim's
Progress , " Milton's works , and all
Shakspearc's plays , but , as Dr. Gnil-
bcau says these facts should not dis
courage him and his fellow-workers ,
because the English-speaking peoples
form the 11103,1 reading nations in the
world , or , at least , the nations who
give the most business to the printer
and publisher. An encouraging fact is
the ex stence in France of thive peri
odicals for the blind. One Le Louis
Braille , is monthly , and costs o francs
a year. Its fortnightly edit'on costs 7
francs , nnd embraces a great variety of
topics , which cuter into the common
range o'f journalism. Lcs Trols Inondcs
is the second. It appears at Marseilles ,
where the number of sightless persons
is great , and there appears in the same
city a weekly paper clnelly devoted to
musical topics. It has a circulation of
about six hundred , arid 480 blind per
sons subscribe to it. When sight goes
in youth the .souse of hearing be
comes intensely acute , and music i.s a
source of the deepest pleasure. Tho
sense of touch acquires such delicacy
and power that tho blind may he said
not only to see with ihe tips of their
own fingers , but with their whole
bodies. Those who recover sight are
a long time learning how to use
their eyes. According to L > r Gu Ibeau ,
who to-day was at the museum
of the Hue Kousselet to give any
infomiation visitors might want , such
persons often , when told to fetch
objects which they have already seen
and learned the names of. instinctively
shut their eyes and feel for th"in. A
variety of maps for the blind shown at
this museum display great ingenuity ,
anil the cost prices of them are low.
Among them are celestial atlases.
There are no more steady and ingenious
benefactors of the blind tiian the
brothers of St. Jean de Dieu , who de
vote themselves to the sick and infirm
of their own sex. and have won a name
for the intell'gent care with which they
attend lo i-ye diseases When M .
Sarcey , tlie famous theatrical critic ,
was threatened with loss of sight he
placed h.m > clf in the hands of his
brotherhood- niioul. 1 not forget the
various means for enabling the blind
to write and correspondith each
other and with persons who see. In
the former case they ine the Braille
characters ai.d in tlie latter the ordinary
Roman characters , but the pencil with
an agate or other point moves from
right ! o left. Its course is marked by
lines of strong threadtreteiu'd on : x
piece of cloth , beneath which there is a
sheet of paper. When tin : paper is
taken out : md turni'd the words that
have been traced are in relief , anil to
be read from left to right. The chess
boards differ little from tho e u < ed at
sea by naval oiiifsrThe playing
cards have all tiny marks 1:1 : rel.ef on
the inside corners which on being felt
by a blind player enable him to under
stand h s own hand , and know what
his partner or opponent has played.
The sightless thucri : play rubbers of
whist with persons who are not sight
less. Marseilles , because of its hot and
glaring aspect , and perhaps its fn-
quent relations with Egypt , is greatly
afilictcd with eye diseases. So is
Prussia , for different reasons. Alsace
is the region on this side of the Rhine
where thereare the most sightless
children. The cities of Italy moat un
fortunate in this respect are Milan and
Florence , ami in the United States the
large New England towns.
Another Lockout.
Editor's wife ( from second story
window ) "You can't get in this house
at anv such hour of the morning as
thK"
Editor ( appeaiingly ) "But. my dear ,
I was necessarily detained at the office.
You see we had late news of a tremend
ous big lock-out and "
Wife "All right , you've got news
cf another now , " slamming down the
window. Cincinnati Tdearam.
THE REPTILE GERANIUM.
A Slimy Horror of tho Vegetable
"World Hideous , Ilojmlslve , "X'ot
Strmiiroly Attractive.
"A snake geranium ? "
"Yes. that is what I call it , " said the
doctor.
I stooped down to examine the flower.
Hideous , repulsive , and yet strangely
attractive , the snake geranium seemed
to hold me under a spell.
To describe this llower one would
have to paint I'fe and motion. Mere
color is not enough. As I looked the
evil thing glared at me with sinister in
telligence. There was nothing remark
able about the stalk and the leaves of
the plant. The blossom was what riv
eted my gaze. BJack , sinuous and slimy ,
it looked more like a snake than any
thing else. As 1 changed my point of
view the thing changed its aspect. Its
scales were a purplish black , then a
dirty brown. Two little glassy beads
in the monster's head glittered with
prismatic hues and looked straight into
my eyes. Was I ni'staken ? I could
have sworn that th's awesome bloom
turned and twisted with the uncanny
freakishness of a repMe.
"You know something of botany , "
said the doctor , "how do vou classify
it. "
"It is not to be classified , " I answer
ed. "Jt is a monstrosity. There is
nothing like it. Is it poisonous ? "
"I think so. " was the reply , "the old
African who found it called it a 'pizen
plant , ' but I renamed it. "
1 have seen nearly every thing worth
seeing in the floral world , but this sin
gular plant blooming unnoticed in an
obscure corner of a country doctor's
garden amazed me beyond expression.
From the first the sickening odor of
the llower had been terribly oppressive.
In fact , it had prevented a close exam
ination. Suddenly my brain seemed
to be numbed , a cold chill seized me ,
and. with a face or deathly pallor , I
reeled and wotdd have fallen lo the
ground but for the doctor's strong arm.
1 was half sick , or rather in a dazed ,
half stupefied state , for days after my
return to town. One evening a negro
called atmy house With a note from my
friend the doctor , and a covered basket.
The messenger was gone before I could
read the note. I glanced at the paper
and then opened the basket. ,1 did not
know whether to laugh or b ; > . angry.
Comfortably lix'jd in a big jar , the
snake geranium gave a llirty twist and
snapped its wicked eyes in my face.
To have this floral honor in my house
was out of the question , andct I was
proud of the monster. I made a ser
vant carry it to a sunny nook in the
back yard. She returned with chat
tering teeth.
"De Lawd hab in ussy ! " she ex
claimed , "dat ting's alive. Hit'll bite ,
sho's yer bawn ! "
Sometime I carried my friends to sec
my pet. 1 invariably had the satisfac
tion of hearing them swear , and gener
ally I had to send them away in a car
riage. One whiff of the snake gerani
um was enough to make a lotter-wreck
of the strongest man.
A little girl living next door took a
wonderful fancy to the llower. Fre
quently she came over when I was ab
sent and spent an fiour at a time fond
ling lite plant and looking at it. Of all
the per-ons who saw it she was the
onlv one not allected by its peculiar
odor. onietuu'.s : % I fell into a deep
study over the mutual attachment exist
ing between my monster and the girl.
1 call it mutual because it was impo-si-
ble to view my snake ireranium without
giving it credit for life and intelligence.
The girl was a qu > ; cr little creature ,
w th midnight hair and velvety eyes.
She had a. certain impish beauty that
m'de : me shudder. Between the girl
and the geranium I came near being
deviled to death.
. As the weeks passed on the girl con
tinued her visits. She grew thinner
and paler , and her eyes grew larger
and blacker. Morethan once I over
heard the servants whispering that thu
snake geranium was killing the child.
This alarmed me. and one day I told
my young neighbor that the plant was
poisonous , and that she must not go
near it. She rather shrank from me.
and , with a sorrowful look , sped home
ward without sayiuir a word.
I came home unexpectedly ono dav ,
and found the girl paying a surrepti
tious visit to the flower. I went to her
full of wrath , but was disarmed by
what 1 saw. The poor thing had faint
ed , ami wr ggling and squirming over
the side of the jar was that diabolical
cranium !
I took my * visitor home and told her
mother all about it. We spoke with
some severity to the little offender , but
we thought it was for her ood. I
never once thought of destroying my
monster.
No words can express the horror 1
felt the nextmoruinir when 1 heard that
my girl neighbor was dead. She had
been found lifeless and cold in bed at
an early hour. Her appearance , 1 was
told , was that , of a person who had been
poisoned. On the pillow was a slimv
mark that resembled a serpent's trail.
When I heard this I rushed frantical
ly out to the corner containing my ger
anium. One of the servants divined
my purpose au-l followed me. In the
jar we found tho. stalk of the plant with
a few leaves attached to it , but the hor
rible blossom , wlit-re was it ?
The snake geranium was gone , I
could not utter a word. I had uo in
quiries to make , and I wanted to hear
no explanations. I ran back to the
housebut I heard the old negro cry-
out : ,
"Hit's gone ! Kit done crawled ober
into de next yard. I see hit's track.
Atlanta Cvnsliiulion.
Wouldn't Help ; i Fool.
Mendicant. "Could yon help a poor
man with a few cents , sir ? "
Old Porter. "Well , I don't know
but I might. Aro you married ? "
Mendicant. "Yes , sir. "
Old P.Poor devil ! I guess I'll
have to give you a half dollar.1
Mendicant "Yes , s.r , 1 have beeu
married twice. " '
Old P. "Well , then , you just pkij :
along. I'm not wasting money on : :
blamed fool. " Cliicaao yetzs.
OUT OF THE JAWS OF DEATH.
C'ount Co J.avnllott's .Escape from tho
Palo of Marshal Xcy How lie vi'us
Savetl by His ( , 'ouracoons AVIfe.
The presenceof Col. Nuy in tho
United States as a delegate from Franco
on the occasion of the dedication of tho
statue of Liberty lends an addeil inter
est to tho death of the Baron de Foyet ,
which occurred a few days ago in this
city , writes a Paris correspondent of
The Xcw York World. When Col.
Key's grandfather , Marshal Ney , "The
Bravest of the Brave , " was shot in 1815.
with his comrades , for having given his
allegiance lo Napoleon after Ihe lallerls
return from the island of Elba , the only
oie who escaped was the Count do La *
valleltc , father of the late baroness ,
who was the daughter cf Emiliu do
Ijeauhariuiis. niece of tho Empres. ?
Josephine , was at that time 21 years of
age. Thu father , who so narrowly es
caped death , was prefect of thu Audu
in 183'2 , and was drowned while fording
the Kivcr Allwr in 180G.
Horace Vernet , in his picture of
'TEvasion do la ConeiergurSu , " has
immortalized the scene in which thu
latu baroness played so conspicuous a
part. On Nov. l'0. ISlo. C'ount du La-
vailette was condemned to death hy thu
jury of the Seme , ami was to bu execu
ted"the following day for his allegiance
to Nepoleou.
His wife , accompanied by her litllu
Jaiighlur , thu latu baroness , and a.
faithful old/tf/HHJC dc vlntinbrc , came to
the eonciorgerie. at JJroO P. M. , and
asked permission of thu jailer to dinu
in the prison with her husband bcforo
tne execution. Thu jailer , who was a
lendur-hcarted man , assented , when
thu child begged to spend a last hour
with her father. At 7 oYIock the child
mid the old/fHiHJC dc chaining appcar-
"nl at the prison gatu and asked thu
jailer to let them pass Leaning on
thu arm of each was Mine , du Lavall-
3ltu. her face hidden in ner handker
chief. Thu rhlid. who was crying bit
terly , kept thaittention of the jailer
liveried from her mother. Ail the em
ploy es of thu prison were present and
saw the two women and thu child leave.
Their "identity" was established and
written in Ihu jail register.
A few minutes later thu concierge en
tered thu cell of Count du Lavailettu
and found there thucondeninded man's
iv.te dressed in her husband's clothes.
"Ah ! madame. " he exelaime.I. "I aii
lost ! ' Madame bad < rere-l him for a
while to gain time , while her daughter
was Juiid.nir li'ir husband to safety.
1'iiu i-unciergo. on realizing his position.
pruad thu nows anil in a few moment.- ;
tiiu gendarmewere in full chase after
Count ii ; Lavalk-tte. But thu count ,
accompanied by his little d-mghtjr. had
mounted : i cabriolet , and was gallop
ing toward thu Belgian frontier. Aft-
er'many hair-brcadtii escapes hu reach
ed Belgian turrilority next day. His
safe arrival in Belgium , he always
said , was due to tlu pru-ence of mind
of his 12-year-old daughter , thu lalu
baroness.
When Ming Louis XVlIL , newly re-
storc.l to thu throne and iSiled with
hale toward thu Bonapartists heard of
thu count's escape hu remarked to.thu
Due du Uet-a'/-s his prefect of police :
"Mine. Lavallettuu and her littlu
daughter havu only < ! onu their duty. "
And after a pausu he aildeti : "But thu
cliamber -iuputius will sav it was mu
whoddit. "
Mmc de LaV'illette. her daughter , and
the fi'innic.if fSt'iiiibrc were brought to
trial , and. wuru defended by tiiu thui -
famous lawyer. M. Dupin. A curious
feature of the trial was that thu thruu T
xveru acquitted by thu same jury that
had romiiMiied Count du Lavclleltee to
death a fuw days before.
The latu barone.-s Kept Horace Ver
nal's picture of the "Kapu" ' in a con
spicuous part of her salon. No. .30 lluu
La Koehufuurauld. for many years.
Opposite was a splundid picture of thu
Kinpre.-s Jo-ephinc and her two child
ren. Prince Ei unand Queen llor-
tense. mother of Napoleon III. Among
the other ornaments of tlusilon weru
: i winte marble. bt-t of Napoleon I. , by
Cr.ova : thu i5ed-gla-s ! whieh Naolecn ]
used at UKbattle of Au.sterlitwhen
directing his legions : tin : saber of lion-
tad B-y. presented by thu then ( Jen.
Bonaparte to his aid-du-eamp. Count :
lu LavuUetle , on the eveningof thu day
of the battle of the Pyramid- .
Mine , de Lavallettee. mother of tho
late Baronu-s died in 18 > > . in the samu
mansion wtiuru her daughter died thu
o'lher dav. Tho episode of her husband's
" -cape hauntedhir all her life.anda few
minut'-s before her death shu arosu
from her pillow , and. addres-Snir her
daughter , shrieked : "Quick ! quick ! t
can not detain the jailer much longer ! "
The Baroness < iu Foyet. though always
painfully mindful of thudarint ; esodu. ]
could never Lu induced to talk about it.
When Napoleon III. came to th's
i.iuonc he did not foriret his cosis. the
Lvalitt s but Mine , de Lavallettu
would receive no f.vors from him and
woiild havu nothing to lo with him.
Siu ! never even visited tiiu Tulleries.
Whenho died Napoleon HI. sent IL ?
aid-.lt-eamp. in full uniform , to rupru-
-cnt him at thu funeral , for which thu
late Baronus- FoyetImply returned
a formal notu of thankTiiu baroness
heid a conspicuous place among thu
ari.-toeracy of Pri- . ! > : tt was always
noted for her aversion lo luxurious dis
play. Shu was much noted for her wit.
amiability , and charity , and her knowl
edge of politics brought many politi
cians of all parties to her salon on re-
ccption days.
Not His Fault.
"What ! you say you can't pay for your
drinks"
-That's just the size of it. "
"Why , this is the most infamous
swindle yet. I'll ju-t v.-pe up the lloor
with you. I'll fan the ce.ling with your
heels you miserable dead beat. "
While the. barkeeper was partially
engaged in carry ing out his threats , the
victim managed to say :
"I shay , don't worry. Be calm.
Don't tear your shirt. Don't cxsh te
yourself unucsiishessiariy. It ain't
vour fault that 1 havn't got the uionev ,
ish it. Taint your fault. " Texas Sfj'L-