The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, October 19, 1894, Image 6

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IAt1O.RS S GOVERNOR
, His Exceltemit Record While acting as
Chief Excctiuvt au Indication of
What He Will Bo } { 'lieu
- Eh ctcd ,
ECONOMICAL RULES ABOL"ED BY
. TILE STATE BOARD ,
An Absolute Check on All IIs iw esty
Planned and Pat Into Execution
by Ilonest Tons Majors.
The assailants of Lieutenant Governor -
nor Majors profess to be filled with
grief because Governer Crounse was
not accorded a nomination for a second
teim , and Congressman Bryan took occasion -
casion , while presenting the name of
Judge Holcomb to the recQnt demo-pop
convention , to take the republican party -
ty to task for its failure to thus honor
the present chief executive of the state.
The fact that Governor Crounse was
' not a candidate and declined to stand
for a second term is persistently and
wilfully ignored by these enemies of
the lieutenant governor. That Governor -
nor Crounse repeatedly expressed his
unwillingness to longer continue in the
gubernatorial field cannot be denied ,
' and his assertions to that end , made
privately to personal friends as well as
publicly through the press , were simply -
ply accorded the consideration by the
republican convention to which they
were entitled.
' 1'hc assertions that the nomination
of Majors was a rebuke to the honest
and efficient administration of Governor -
nor Crounse is the sheerest political
Buncombe , and this is most conclusively
shown to be the case when one stops
to consider that it has so happened that
the lieutenant governor has occupied
the gubernatorial chair on numerous
occas.ons during the past two years as
acting governor , and is really entitled
to personal credit for much of the good
work of the present administration.
A striking example of this is to be
found in the records of the state board
of purchase and supplies. No one has
the temerity to deny that the state institutions -
stitutions have been conducted.for the
past two years on a remarkably economical -
nomical oasis , or that the business
methods in vogue could be emulated to
advantage by many a private enterprise
or institution , \eev rules regulating
the purchases of all supplies were
adopted , and additional ' safeguards
rere thrown about the annual expenditure -
diture of hundreds of thousands of dol-
j hus for this purpose.
ij The records at the state house show
that this new system was inaugurated
during the absence of Governor Crounse
I from the state , when Lieutenant Governor -
ernor Majors , by virtue of his position
as acting governor , was a member of
the state board and presided over the
' deliberations of its meetings. To him ,
as much as to any one individual , is
due credit for the new system , and his
vote is recorded in favor of the adoption -
tion of such rules as would throw the
most stringent supervision around the
expenditure of public funds. Appended
is the official record , showing the posi-
tioli taken by the lieutenant governor ,
as well as by the other republican members -
bers of the board , in favor of business
methods in public affairs :
OFFICE OF BOARD OF PUnCUASE
AND SUPI'LIEs ,
June 13 , 1893.
The board of purchase and supplies
met pursuant to call of lion. 'L J.
.Majors , actin , governor.
l'resent T. J.
Majors , acting governor -
nor , and president of said board , A. R ,
lluuiphrey , commissioner of public
lands and buildings , J. C. Allen , sec 't
of state , George H. Hastings , attorney
genrrsl , and i. S. Barley , State treas-
urer. 'lie following rules for the gov-
ernrnent of state institutions were read
stnd considered as follows , viz :
1. 1'lie Nebraska hospital of insane.
: . ' ! lie Asylum for the incurable in--
sane.
Norfolk hospital for the insane.
4. Soldiers and sailors home.
: i. State industrial school fdr juvenile
nile offenders.
u. Institute for the deaf and dumb.
S. Institute for feeble minded youth.
b. Institute for the blind.
9. industrial home at Milford.
10. ! home for the friendless.
11. Girls' industrial school for juvenile -
nile delinquents. i
I'IItST.-Each of said institutions' '
shall make out the estimate for supplies -
plies as near as can be ascertained to
meet the requirements of the institutions -
tions for the quarter , and all goods
nweed in the contract shall , be purchased -
chased within ten day's after the con- '
ttact shall be awarded , where store
i cums are provided , except those goods
which are of a perishab4e nature , and
inauufactured clothing.
In case goods of the same character
arc purchased as those under contract
LL't which have not been included in
the contract , the person having the con-
trace for teat quarter shall have the
prcfe ; &sce provided always that he
will ftirnissaid goods at as reasonable
a fate as the same can be purchased
t : s.whre.
ECCCnd-A bill or invoice shall accom-
p.ny bill of goods delivered to each of
.said institutions , and the superintendent -
ent shall Compare goods with the bill
or invoice at the time the goods are received -
ceived , and he shall definitely ascertain -
tain if weights , prices , quantities ,
brands , quality and the likeare correct
and in strict accordane with the terms t
of the contract , and if found to be cor-
rest in every particular , he shall duly
infuse and indorse upon such invoice a
certificate showing that he has carei i
dully compared said bill with the goods
11 herein named , which have all been delivered -
livered to the institution and that the
satneis just , true and correct and that
the pieces therein charged are in ac-
ordanee with the contract price. After
i
svliicli the bill shall be turned over to ,
-the bookheper , who shall enter the i
Lame uDOn the books of the institution'
in a proper manner. All of such bills '
or invoices which said. certificate indorsed
dorsed thereon shall be kept and preserved -
-served as a pat : o : the records of the
iostit't iou.
Third-The superintendent of any
instiuti0ndesiring to puechaseany sup-
'plies for such institution which are not
anduded in contract shall make a written -
ten request to the board of purchaser
r
I and supplies for permission to purchase
such supplies , naming each and every
item which lie desires to purchase , and
the fund upon which the warrant there-
for is to be drawn. No request shall ,
contain items to be paid for from more
than one fund. A written order to the
superintendent of an institution for
the purchase of such supplies shall be
issued by the board of purchase and
supplies , before any article not named
in the contract shall be purchased , and
upon the receipt of such order by the
superintendent he shall give his written -
ten order to the steward for the purchase -
chase of the goods named.
The written order of the board shall
be aftached to the.original vouchers to
the board therewith and the order of
the superintendent shall be retained at
the institution. The same certificate
shall be endorsed on the invoice there-
for as is provided for in rule second.
Fourth.-That a full , true , perfect
and accurate set of books shall be kept
by said several institutions in which
shall be entered in a proper and accurate -
rate manner all business transaction
between such institutions and all par-
tics having transactions therewith.
Such books shall also contain a true
and accurate account showing at all
times the condition of the several funds
of the institution.
Fifth.-There shall be kept at each
institution also , a book to be known as
a warrant book in which shall be entered -
tered the name of each claimant , the
number of each voucher , the date of
the same , also number and date of the
warrant , which shall be issued thereon ,
as well as the amount thereof and the
fundon which the same is , drawn.
Sixth--An invoice book shall be kept
at each institution in which shall be
correctly entered a statement of all
goods received as well as issued or used ,
and at the close of each month said superintendent -
perintendent shall report to this board
and accurate account of all goods received -
ceived , issued , or used as well as of all
goods remaining on hand.
Seventh.-The superintendents of the
several institutions are hereby required
to meet with this board at their regular -
lar meetings.
Eighth-'t'hat all coal and other
commodities sold by weight shall be
weighed at the institution where the
same shall be delivered and shall be
paid forr according to those weights.
.ln weighing coal a scale book shall be
kept which shall consist of duplicate
sale tickets with corresponding stubs.
On each shall be entered the name of
the contractor , kind of coal , date of delivery -
livery , number and initial of car , name
of teamster , name of weigher , gross
weight , weight of wagon and net
weight.
The memorandum and coupon ticket
shall be filled out for each load of coal
as delivered. The coupon ticket shall
be given to the party delivering the
coal , the duplicate shall be retained
and filled in the office of the institu-
tion.
Ninth.-It shall be deemed sufficient
grounds upon which to prefer charges
against the superintendent or steward
or both of any institution in the state
if there shall be articles placed upon the
estimate for such institution , which
afo not needed or not intended to be
purchased , or articles omitted there-
from which are manifestly needed or
intended to be purchased , or the quantity -
tity named in such estimate be grossly
disproportionate to the actual needs of
the institution for the quarter.
Attorney General Hastings moved
the adoption of the rules as read. Motion -
tion seconded by Secretary of State
Allen.
Poll being called , those voting in favor -
vor of the adoption of said rules were :
Hon. T. J. Majors.
Hon. Geo. H. Hastings.
Hon. J. C. Allen.
lion. J. S. Bartley.
Hon. A. H. Humphrey.
On motion of Allen , second by Hastings -
tings , the board adjourned.
Because of the stringent rules that
have been adopted to regulate they
transaction of business in connection
with the state institutions , and the
system of vouchers , checking and coun- ,
ter-clieching that has been rnadeneces-
sary , i ; is an impossibility for any
crooked work to be conducted or stealing -
ing from the state to be carried on
without the connivance of the governor ,
auditor of public accounts and the
stewards of the various institutions , as
well as direct felonious intent and conduct -
duct on the part of the members of the
board of public lands and buildings.
No matter how great an effort might
be made by any of the officials to benefit -
efit themseveles financially at the expense -
ponse of the state , it could not be sue-
cessful without the connivance of all
the parties through whose hands the
business has to pass.
An examination of the records and
of the system that has been in vogue i
for the past two years shows conclusively -
sively that every purchase , be it however -
ever small , has to come before the
board and approving officers. and without -
out the official 0. IC. of fill these officials
no payment is made for even a shade
roller , a chunk of putty or a pound of
nails. It is , of course , impossible for
the officials to be present in person and
witness the delivery of goods and the
quality of the same , but the monthly
inventoryy that is required from each
institution and the strict accountability -
ity to which the officers of these institutions - '
tions are held , is an absolute check on
all dishonesty. In view of this fact ,
the insinuations and innuendoes of.
those who are dpposing any or all or
the republican nominees are a slap at
Governor Crounse and Auditor Moore. '
No one believes or dares intimate that
either of these gentlemen has been in
any way connected with any questionable -
able transaction , and the utter folly of
charging that such things have occurred -
curred in channels which were open to
them and of which they must of necessity -
sity have known is apparent on the
very face of things.
In making these idiotic assertions
regarding the management of public'
institutions , the enemy has gone on
the foolish assumption that each state
official is independent of the- others ,
which is manifestly not the case. But
the best proof of economy is in the
bills , and none can question the management -
agement that has kept' thtrin down to
the appropriations of the non-partisan
-legislature of two years ago. It waste
to keep the institutions running on a
bed-rock basis that would secure , the
most possible in return for every dollar
expended and admit of the closest scrutiny -
tiny of every outlay that Thomas J.
Majors assisted in the formulation and
adoption of the rules that made that
lecord of economic management possi-
bre. Conceding that credit to him is
but the demand of commondecency. .
It is not desired to deprive Governor
Crounse of the credit to which he is en- i
, e r.1d
,
titled. In fact it would be impossible
to to do this with the record of his incumbency -
cumbency in the gubernatorial office
standing out so prominently and challenging -
lenging criticism for economical ad-
ministration. There would have been
no necessity for thus referring to the
particular work of individual officials
but for the malicious charges that
Majors would , if elected , play into the
hands of public plunderers. Whenever
he has been called upon to exercise
personal supervision over the affairs of
state he has been careful , painstaking
and technical almost to a fault , and has
been particularly vigilant to see that
no loophole was left through which
unscrupulous parties might obtain an
advantage or the interests of the state
be made to suffer.
This is the official record touching
all matters with which lie has been
connected , and is the past can be taken
as a criterion by which to judge the
future , Tom Majors will be the most
careful , watchful and particular governor -
ernor the state of Nebraska has ever
had.
Buslness and Financial Issues.
The people of Nebraska and Kansas
and a few Iowa districts will make a
mistake if they do not realize that the
issue in this election is one of business
and financial credit. The tariff is an
'important issue , generally speaking ,
but it is not as important in states like
Nebraska as the one of the restoration
of ordinary business confidence. The
personalities of the candidates are'also
minor matters.
But instead of striking the real issue
many papers , and many speakers in
Nebraska , are discussing the personalities -
ties of the candidates. If they are wise
tbey will put all other matters aside
and make theissue , along the lines'of
financial credit. That state is still in
embryo. It has not yet reached one-
half of its glory in an industrial sense.
Every voter ought to ask himself ,
what effect will the success of the republican -
publican party or of the populist party
have upon the reputation of the state
abroad , upon those whose money and
whose labor , in the form of settlers ,
and upon those who want to build and
borrow and develop ? The business interests - 1
terests that are suffering , the commercial -
cial credit that is bleeding at every
pore-these are the real issues. The
struggle in Nebraska is not personal ,
it is not a general political struggle. It
is a business struggle and Nebraska is
either going to come out still more
crippled , or strong enough to regain
her former position as a state for the
investment of capital.
It does seem as if the people of that
state will realize this and will fight a
winning fight to maintain property
values and business credit. The endorsement -
dorsement of republicanism as it exists
in Nebraska this year means stability
and . .confidence. The endorsement of
populism means the opposite. Let the
people make this issue , regardless of
politicians. Let them realize that populism -
ulism endorsed in that state this year
will mean a loss of millions , and a loss
of confidence that ten years can hardly
overcome. Democrats interested in
their state should realize that the offices
cannot mean as much to them as the
law of credit. The south is recovering
froin populism. Will the west throw
away the opportunity it this year haste
to redeem itself from wild financial
theories which have already meant the
loss of millions.-Des Moines Ilegister.
Our Credit Is Our Capital.
It should be borne in mind that this
is not a national campaign. While the
noble principles of our grand party are
dear to every republican's. heart this
year , we have an issue of such vast and
overshadowing importance to our state
that all others are for the time eclipsed.
It must not be forgotten that this issue -
sue presents itself to every citizen of
the state and no one is debarred from
participating in the contest. While
good men and wise may honestydiffer
on the great questions oi-national import -
port , all such must agree that the credit -
it of our people and the reputation of
ourr state is of first importance to every
man in Nebraska , regardless of politics -
tics \Vithoutcredit it would have required -
quired a hundred years for this state
to have reached the position of prosperity -
perity which it now occupies and to
have acquired the wealth which it pos-
sesses. lye have borrowed vast sums
of money and still owe a large amount.
That it has in the main been wisely
employed is attested by the amount of
visible property within the state. To
injure our credit now would be disas-
trous. Farm foreclosures , chattel foreclosures -
closures , business failures and general
financial disaster would warn us when
too late of the grievous mistake we had
made. No fanciful notions nor Euro-
pian theories should prevail over actual
and existing facts To elect any populist -
ulist ticket , whatever may be the candidates -
didates , will endanger and surely injure -
jure the creditof every man in Nebras
eta.
THiS. THAT AND THE OTHER ,
Collodion was first used in photography -
phy by Archer in 1851.
In parts of Peru taxes are paid in
cocoa leaves and Peruvian bark.
"Pilgrims' Progress" has been translated -
lated into 203 dialects and languages.
An authority claims that there are
now more than 50,000 miles of ocean
cable. :
When a Russian family move they
carry fire from the hearth in the old
home to that in the new.
The bank of Japan has a capital of
20,000,000 yens. The value of the yen
is about the same as that of the silver
dollar.
. A resident of Tuscaloosa county ,
Ala. , is the father of eleven children ,
six being school teachers and the other -
er five attending school.
The West Indian migratory crab is
the only creature that is born in the
sea , matures : in fresh water , and
passes its adult life on land.
Albert Hazen of Darlington , Pa. ,
aged 14 years , used an umbrella to
make a parachute descent from the
top of the barn. The umbrella collapsed -
lapsed , and the boy had two ribs and
one leg broken.
Diver Pahlberg of New London
Conn. , found a ring owned by Mr.
Webb of New York city , in twenty-
five feet of water recently. Webb
was yachting when the ring fell overboard -
board , and that the diver recovered.
it seems almost wonderful.
Gorden opportunities donot travel by a
time table
. . . . -
THE TRAVELING CALF.
It was a festive little calf
That left his home behind.
And went a travelin ; to improve
His somewhat bovine mind.
He walked into himaster's home ,
And took a glance about :
But not'a thing did ho see-there
That ho could quite make out.
And when he felt his appetite
Beginning for to grow ,
lie tried to eat the bud- that on
The papered wall did blow.
But finding that this diet was
A disappointment sore ,
He treed to taste the carpet greens
Upon the parlor floor.
But these ho found were quite as vain ;
And so it came to pass
He saw 'twas better far for him
To go again to grass ,
And leave to other creatures , quite
Distinct from his own hind.
The task of traveling to improve
A somewhat bovine mind
-Barper's Young People.
Passive rime.
BY "THE DUCHESS. "
CHAPTER II-Co.rrlnuED.
Penruddock , sitting in the oriel
window of the library that looks out
upon the garden , watches the children -
dren at their play with moody brow
and lips compressed. Upon Hilda
more especially his gaze is fixed.
What a frail life--a breath
- - mere , as
it were-to stand between his and
( what is far more to him ) the boy's
advancement !
That this baby should inherit
what : but for her unwelcome birth ,
would by law have been his. embitters -
ters and makes wretched every mc-
ment of his life. What a little , fragile -
gile thing she looks , flitting about
in the sunshine , in spite of her merry -
ry laugh and joyous disposition-a
thread that might be easily snapped !
At this moment he sees the children
leaning over the bank ( perpendicular -
lar and utterly unprotected ) , at the
base of which the water runs so
ra4)idly. The boy's warning to stand
back comes to him upon the air.
What if the child , stooping too
far , should overbalance herself , and
sink into the foaming depths be-
neath-swollen with last night's
rain-and be carried onward to the
cruel ocean ? Whose fault would it
be ? Who would be to blame ? Such
accidents happen very frequently.-
Idly the awful thought presents
itself , bearing with it a fascination
hard to combat. Heart and brain it
fills , to the exclusion of all other
thoughts. Meantime , Hilda has
stopped short , and in her shrill ,
sweet treble has ordered Dick to go
in-doors and bring her out the dolly
that shall represent another unhappy
captive to his powerful and daring
arm.
arm.Dick
Dick , engrossed in the reality of
his game , departs for the fresh
prey , nothing loath , leaving her
alone in the quiet garden , with no
eye upon her save his who watches
with disfavor her every movement.
At first , when left alone , she stands ,
her little finger in her mouth , as
though uncertain what next to do.
Then a butterfly , blue as the skies
above her , crossing her path , she
gives chase , and runs until it is beyond
her reach , and she herself is once
more close to the fatal bank before
described.
oho is singing softly a little gay
song all about that silly Bo peep of
ancient memory- , and the song is
borne inward , even to the ears of
Penruddock , as he sits behind the
curtains , cold and motionless , waiting -
ing forhe ; hardly knows what. Hhlda ,
with all the youthful longing
for forbidden fruit , gazes eagerly
down upon the water-lilies that
are rocking two and fro on the disturbed -
turbed breast of the agitated river.
Scooping over she examines them
minutely , longingly , her eyes intense -
tense , a faint smile of pleasure on
her lips. Presently , kneeling down ,
she suspends half her small body
over the sloping bank , as though to
gain a nearer knowledge of the coveted -
eted flowers. Penruddock , shrinking -
ing back , with one hand grasps the
curtains , and trembles violently ,
whilst great drops of dew lie thick
upon his forehead , that already in
anticipation seems red with the
cursed brand of Cain.
Eagerly he gazes on the little one.
She is barely balanced ; the slightest
touch , the faintest motion , may send
her over into the river. Prompted ,
it may be , by his good angel , he
makes a step forward , as though to
stay the catastrophe so imminent.
Then he suddenly stops. A wretched
memory that but belongs to his vile
desire , comes to him and crushes all
good within him. Has he not heard
somewhere that to speak , or call or
cry aloud to a child when in a dangerous -
gerous position is but a swift and
sure means to cause its sudden destruction -
struction ? Therefore wilt ho not
speak.
And , as though virtuous feeling
alone prompts him , he holds his
peace , and tries to believe that his
noninterference may yet save the
child. The little heiress creeps still
nearer to the brink , always with her
soft and tender song upon her lips.
She sways suddenly , seeks to recover
herself , and then the poor baby-
filled with her childish longing for
the unattainable , and with all her
littid soul rapt in admiration of the
fats : lilies-falls forward. For a
moment she clings convulsively to
the slippery bank , then with a sharp
and bitter scream , rolls downward
and is instantly snatched to the
bosom of the greedy river as it
rushes onward to the sea. The
whole awful tragedy has occupied
scarcely more than one.shortminute.
Penruddock , rousing himself when
it is too late , springs through the
window , out into the garden , past
tlto 'roses-that still smile and
tremble coquettishly beneath the
touch of the fickle = breeze , as though .
.
. . . . 4' t
I no horrible thing had just been
done-and igains the fatal spot.
Gazing with wild and too late remorse -
morse into the river , ho fails to see
sign of white frock , or whiter limbs ,
or small face , pale with terror. The
river has caught the little body
and hurried it along , past the curve
of the rock , through the meadow
perhaps already-so deadly swifi ; it
is-out into the open sea No tiny ,
struggling mass , still instinct with
life , can be seen-nothing but the
! .turbid waters. Penruddock , with a
groan , sinks upon his knees , and
falling each second lower , soon lies
prone , an inertand unconscious heap
upon the grass. flow long he remains -
mains there. prostrate and merchful-
ly lost to time , lie never knoe'rs , but
a voice sweet and loving , rouses him
to life again.
"What is it , papa ? " says Dick ,
bending over him. "Are you ill ? "
You will , catch cold. Nurse is always -
ways saying that Miles and 1 are
sure to catch sore throats if we He
on the grass. "
As the little one's name passes
his boy's lips , Ienruddock starts
and shivers , and after a few seconds
by a supreme effort , raises himself
to his feet. Never shall the boy
know how evil has been this'deed he
has committed. lie moves feebly
indeed toward the house ; but Dick
follows him.
"Where is Hilda ? " he asks , stand-
lug on tiptoe to bring his face nearer
his father's. "I can't find her anywhere -
where , and I left her just here. She
is a little imp , and is always hiding
from me ; but she will come back
when I want her. Hilda , " raising
his voice to a shout , "I shall pick
the eyes out of Miss Maud ( the 'loll )
if you don't come soon. One would
think she was dead , she is so silent.
Why , papa , how pate you are ! and
how ill you look ! Has any one been
vexing you ? "
"No , " Penruddock
says , harshly ;
and pushing the boy , for the first
timeroughly from him , goes indoors.
11any years afterward Iick Pen-
ruddock remembered how that day
his father , for the only time in all
his life , treated him harshly , and
without the accustomed tenderness.
CHAPTER III.
At the Opera.
It is the height of the London sea-
son. All the world is alive and
eager in search of amusement , and
to-night , as Patti is to sing , each
box and stall in the Italian house is
filled - overflowing , indeed. One
box alone on the second tier is
empty , and toward it numerous
lorgnettes from the stalls beneath
and boxes opposite are anxiously
directed. The diva has appeared ,
she has sung her first solo , has been
rapturously received and applauded
to the echo , and the house is now
listlessly paying attention to a somewhat -
what overdone tenor , when the door
of the empty box opens , and a woman -
man , pretty and with a charming
expression , if slightly passe , conies
slowly within the light of t e lamps.
She is followed by a girl , who ,
coming to her side , stands for a
moment motionless , gazing down
and around with a careless calm
upon the fashionable multitude with
which the vast building is crowded.
So standing together , the elder woman -
man sinks into insignificance , whilst
the younger becomes the center of
attraction. She is of medium hight ,
with a clear , colorless skin , and
large , , blue , expressive eyes. Her
hair is not golt.en , but light brown ,
through which a touch of gold runs
brightly. She is aristocratic , almost
haughty. in appearance ; yet every
feature , and , indeed , her whole
bearing , is marked with a melancholy -
choly that seems to check oven a
smile that on rare occasions seeks to
dissipate the sadness of her lovely
countenance.
She is dressed in a somewhat
strange fashion for so young a girl.
Her gown is of black satin , relieved
by some heavy goal chains about
her neck ; she wears black gloves to
the elbow , and an enormous black
fan flecked with gold. Upon her fair
hair a tiny Indian cap of black satin ,
embroidered with gold , amid hung
sequins , rests lightly.
"What a success you are , Maud ! "
says the elder woman , fondly. "Even
royalty has taken notice of your
entrance ! Did you observe that ? "
"Royalty , as a rule , is rude ! " says
Maud , slowly , after which they both
fall into line and turn their attention
to the divine Adelina.
Two young men in the stalls beneath -
neath , who , up to this have been engrossed -
grossed with the new beauty , at this
moment turn to each other-
"Who is she ? " asks the younger ,
eagerly. "I have been in town some
time-quite three weeks-but anything -
thing like that has not- "
"Dear child , don't-don't say it ! "
interrupts his companion , sadly. "It
isn't like you. Not to know her ,
argues yourself unknown ! I thought
better of you ! She is our beauty
par excellence , our modern Venus ,
and licks every one else into fits !
She is the very cream of the cream ,
where beauty is concerned , though
somewhat shady , I am reluctantly
compelled to admitt in the matter of
birth. "
"Birth ! " repeats the young man
a start. "But look at her-look at
her hands , her profile ! Who can
dispute the question of birth ? "
"No one ! It is indisputable ! That
charming girl up there. with the
most irreproachable nose and the
haughtiest mouth in Christendom ,
was picked off the street by her
chaperon , Mrs. Nevillowhen a baby ,
and is probably-at least , so I , hear-
the daughter of a woman , poor , but
strictly honest-they are always
strictly honest-who lives by infusing -
ing starch into limp linen ! l , really
don't like to say coarsely that she
was a washerwoman , it sf unds so
vulgar. "
(
)
(
s ,
1
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t i
(
i
"Ito sounds as horrible as it is 1mg
possible. " says the younger man , '
still gazing dreamily at the box that
holds his harmonyin black anti gold.
"Most impossible things are horrible -
riblo , " says his companion , lightly.
"They grate ; they arc out of the
common. Perhaps that is their
charm. Miss Neville charms. Yes ,
that is her name ; her adoP6cd mother . . .
1 wishes her to be so called. Don't
look so excessively shocked , my
i dear Penruddock : it is 'rather a
I romance , if it is anything at all , and . l ,
should create in your mind interest
rather than disgust. "
"It is not disgust I feel , it is
merely a difficulty of belief , " says
Penruddock , vaguely. 'Is that her
adopted mother ? " shifting his glasses
for just a moment from the calm and ,
beautiful blue eyes that have so bewitched -
witched him , to the faded pretty
woman who sits near them.
"Yes. She is all right , you know
-quite correct. She is George
Neville's widow , son to Lord Dun
more , who broke his neck or his
head , or somothingyou may remem-
bor-I don't know exactly what-
when out hunting. "
"Yes , I remember , Ho was a
friend of my father's. By the by.
that Mrs. Neville must be a sort of
connection of ours-at least her
sister married my uncle. But all
friendship there ceased with my
aunt's death. I don't recollect anything -
thing about it myself , but I believe
a coldness arosb after my poor little
cousin's unhappy accident. You
heard all about that , of course ? "
"A very fortunate accident for
you , all things considered. Other
fellows' cousins don't drop of like
that , " says Mr. Wilding , in an ' c
aggrieved tone.
"My father was awfully cut up
about it , " says Penruddock ; "ho
has never been the same man since.
Moody , you know , and that ; and
goes about for days together without t
speaking a word. It preyed upon-
him. And the Wyntors-my aunt's
people-say ugly things about it ; '
that sufficient care hadn't been
taken of the poor little thing , and
all the rest of it. But of course it
was nobody's fault. "
"Of course not ! Some people-
especially law relations-are never
happy except when making'
themselves disagreeable. 'That's
their special forte. The fact
that your father minds them betrays -
trays in him a charming amount of
freshness. "
"And so she adopted that beautiful -
ful girl ! " says Penruddock , presently -
ly , returning to his contemplation
of Beauty's box , and referring to
Mrs. Neville.
"There isn't much of it. It is a
romantic story , certainly , and a very
Quixotic one , but it can be told in a
word or two. Brevity is the soul of
wit. To begin with you must try to
master the fact that Mrs. Neville
adores dogs , and driving in the park
one day about fifteen years ago , she
drew up her carriage at the railing
and proceeded to gratify the appetite -
tito of her Pomeranian by bestowing -
ing upon him a cracknel.
"Even as she broke it a faint cry
from the world outside tier carriage
attracted her attention , and glancing
up she saw a lovely child in the
arms of a tall , rather peculiar-look-
ing woman. The child was gazing
at her imploringly , its little hand
extended as though desirous of the
biscuit the dog was devouring
Mrs. Neville is tender hearted.
The child , as I said , was beautiful ;
a perfect model for an angel or a
love. Mrs. Neville , who even now
is nothing if not emotional , gazed
entranced ; the pretty baby pouted ,
and cried again for the biscuit. The
cry went to her listener's heart.
' . 'She li ; hungry. ' " she said to the
woman , who leaned against the railings -
ings in a picturesque attitude. '
' . 'She is often hungry , madam , '
returned the woman , stolidly. , yet
far from brutally ; Indeed , the apparent -
ent hopeless resignation 0 in her tone
must have been very perfectly done
from all I have heard.
[ To BE CONTINUED.
Paper iIorae-hoes.
When paper horseshoes were first
introduced into the cavalry service
of the Getman army a few years ago
they excited a good deal of interest.
Several cavalry horses were first
shod with the paper shoes and the ,
effecf observed. It was found that
not only did the lightness and elasticity -
ticity of the shoe help the horse on
the march , making it possible for
him to travel faster and farther
without fatigue than horses shod
with iron , bait that the paper shoe
had the property of being unaffected ,
by water and other liquids. These
new sheets of paper are press'-d
closely together , one above another ,
and rendered impervious to the
moisture by the application of oil of
turpentine. The sheets are glued '
together by a sort of paste composed
of turpentine , whiting , gum and linseed -
seed oil , and then submitted to a
powerful hydraulic pressure. Paper
horseshoes are also male by grnd-
ing up the paper into a mass , coin-
bining it with turpentine , sand , gum ,
lhtharge and certain other substances -
stances , pressing it and afterward
drying it. But these shoes are. less
tough and elastic than those made -t
of thin sheets of paper laid ono upon
another. These shoes are fastened
to the horse's feet either by moans
of nails or with a kind of glue made
of coal tar and caoutchoue.
The PULteomctor.
The latest thing out is a pulseo 1
meter , by which the life insurance
examiners can tell to a fraction the
exact condition of an applicant's
heart beat. An electric pen traces
on prepared paper the ongoings , -
haltings , and precise peregrinatton3
of the bloodshowing ; with the fidelity -
ity of science the strenth Qr we ml.
ness et the toUtaie pulse , ' '
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