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A Story of Patriarchal Times.
By JULIA MAGRUDER. . . ftft
CorvniniiTED 1890 , 1691 AND 1800 BT ROBERT Boraen's SONS.
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ra *
CHAPTER X. ( Continued. )
Now , the young man Adina , having
spent the night in ceaseless vigil also ,
was at the canement of his window , be
fore the earliest streak of dawn , his
life-blood throbbing to the thought
that he was to see once more the form
of her whom his soul so greatly loved ,
albeit speech and touch would be de
nied him. It had been the maiden's
wish that she might not see him on
this fateful morning , less that the sight
of his unhappiness might cause her
courage to give way. Still it was
known to her the house wherein he
dwelt , and he waited with his soul
athirst , to see her make to him some
sign of parting as she passed beneath
the casement of his window. The blood
flew surging to his heart as the group
of maidens came in sight , their mourn
ing garments rosied o'er by the glory
of the rising sun , and their approach
heralded by the wailings of the people
who lined the streets on either side.
His face went deadly white , and he was
fain to clutch with both his hands at
the casement of the window to keep
from falling back.
Onward she moved toward him , the
form that he was wont to fondle in his
arms , screened from his loving eyes by
those harsh draperies from which the
ashes fell , as the morning breezes
played about her. He was screened
from view behind a curtain , but the
resolution rushed upon him , that if she
turned and looked , for even one instant
upward , ho would throw the curtain
back and look at her , that she might
see the mighty love-light in his face ,
and the compassion wherewith he pit
ied her. Strong man as he was it was
a bitter thing to bear that she should
go onward to suffering and death , and
he stand by , in bodily safety , and see
it. !
But Namarah looked not up , and as
she passed beneath his window , her
head was bent forward , and she walke.1 ,
on calmly and as if in total uncon
sciousness of the dying heart that beat
so near her. It seemed to him to be a
cruel thing , untender and unthought-
ful , and Adina rent his clothes , and
turned away from the window with
great groans of anguish that made one
with the wailings of the people in the
streets. It almost seemed to him as
though he were nothing to her as
though she loved him not , and thought
no more of him and of his love and
woe. He paced the room , with the long
strides of an angry beast , and ever and
anon great sobs , that brought with
them no soothing tears , shook mightily
his strong young breast. All the day
he spent alone , in the anguish of his
stricken heart , fearing to go even unto
Jephthah , knowing that his presence
could be no comfort while that his
grief so mastered him ; but when even
ing was come he crept from the house ,
unseen of any , and went silently to the
garden of Jephthah's house , that he
might once more be in the place that
had seen him so happy in the presence
of his soul's love. Still and deserted
was the garden , and the wan moon
looked down to-night with the same
cold face that she had turned upon the
far different scene of last night.
Adina wandered here and there among
the trees , but ever he came back to the
dear spot where lately he had stood
with Namarah in his arms. The brook
still babbled on , and the cooing of the
doves came ever to his ears , as if to
remind him that all was the same as
before , save that-Namarah was gone.
CHAPTER XI.
Resting his two arms against the
trunk of a great tree , he laid his face
upon them , shutting out the beautiful
garden-scene , in which the maiden was
not , and there he rested long in ex
ceeding bitterness of spirit. Suddenly
there was a sound of wings , and again
the bird which he could recognize by
its broken and injured plumage flew
down , and hovering above him a mo
ment , as if in doubt , came and nestled
on his shoulder.
Adina took it softly in his hands ,
and turned his sad eyes silently toward
the house where he lived alone. Even
yet he had not the courage to go to
Jephthah , but put it off until the mor
row. As he walked along , ever smooth
ing the bird's feathers with caressing
touches , he suddenly became aware of
something smooth and hard fastened
beneath its wing. Instantly the thought
occurred to him that it might be a mes
sage from Namarah ; but how , indeed ,
could it be so ? Breathless with eager
ness , he reached his chamber , and
there found lights.
Carefully shutting himself in , and
even drawing the curtains of the windows
dews rflose , he severed' the cord that
held in place the little folded note , and
opening the sheet , read :
"Adiua , My Beloved : I can give thee
no greeting as I pass thy window , but
I shall even then have close to my
breast the dove which is to bear this
my last message to thee. The mes
sage is but this , that thou hast heard is
so often : I love thee , and I charge
thee , by that love , give not thyseh to
heavy grief , but ever take courage and ,
have hope. If thou lovest me , I would
have thee bear tip with patience under
the heavy burden and tpjcomfprt my
father Jephthah. Pray ever for deliv-
if cr
crance for us both. Sorrow not , be
loved , seeing that I ever love thee , both
in this life and that which is to come.
Thine , NAMARAH. "
And underneath she had written the
word "Mizpeh. "
In reading those lines , the soul of
Adina was greatly comforted , so that
lie felt a new courage come to him , and
ever thereafter , until the two months
were come to an end , he bore himself
patiently and submissively and mur
mured no more. Each day that dawned
saw him beside the old man Jephthah ,
sustaining , comforting and cherishing
him , though , mayhap , his own heart
was even at that same time sunk down
with weariness.
And after he had brought the white
dove home that night , it ever came to
him afterward of its own accord , flying
at sunset into his window and perching -
ing there , if he was absent , until he
returned , and often he would take it
in his hands and talk to it , such words
as his frozen heart refused to utter
unto human ears , and ever it seemed
to give him greater comfort than any
human friend.
As the two months of absence of the
maiden Namarah began to draw to a
close , the soul of Adina grew each hour
more exceedingly sorrowful , and Jeph
thah also went heavily from morn till
evening-and took no comfort save in
the presence and companionship of
Adina , who was become to him even as
his own son.
And when the eve of the return of
Namarah and her maidens was come ,
all the people of Mizpeh were aware of
it , but so great was their sorrow for
the maiden , that they feared to look
upon her face , and as at set of sun the
children playing in the streets
brought news that the maidens were
returning , behold , the people gat them
* T their houses , they and their chila
"rea , that none might look upon Nav
narah in her misery and her affliction ,
And as Namarah and her maidens
made their way along the streets of
Iiiizpeh , behold , they made a picture
sad to see , for their garments of sackcloth -
cloth were torn and stained with their
sojourn in the wilderness of the mound
tains , and their feet were sore and4
weary , and as Namarah walked first
among them , her companions uttered a
low wailing of distress. But the maidt
en herself was silent and made no
sound , cither with her voice or with
the worn-out sandals of her feet , but
ever moved noiselessly as a shadow ,
with bent head and hands clasped
wearily.
No human creature did they see.
The streets of Mizpeh were as unin-
habited as were the mountain forests
they had left , and a vast and solemn
silence , more awful in this place of
many habitations than in the open
country , brooded over everythin e >
As they moved along in slow proces
sion , suddenly above their heads there
was the sound of wings , and a flock of
snow-white doves came downward
from high in the air , and , flying low ,
preceded them with slow and steady
motions all up the empty streets. And
as men or women here or there
watched furtively from behind the
drawn curtains of their windows , this
most strange sight the maidens in
their mourning garments preceded by
the flock of white doves struck awe
unto their hearts. And added to the
sight there was a strange and awful
sound , for even as the .maidens crooned
their low , sad wails , the doves.from
their flight in the air joined to the
sound their plaintive cooing and com-
plaining.
To the other maidens it seemed as .
but an accident that the birds should
meet and join themselves to the pro
cession ; but Namarah believed it not.
Her heart told her that her tenderly
loved birds had recognized her , and before -
fore she reached the door of her father's a
house one of them had even separated
from its companions , and circling a
moment , as if in doubt , above her head , sib
presently flew downward and alighted b
on her shoulder. Then did Namarah hbi
unclasp her hands and take it under biP'
her cloak and press it against the P'ci
warmth of her heart ; and although ci
the feathers of its wings had grown tlw
out again , and it was even smooth and tlb
shapely and snow-white as the rest , b
she knew it to be the messenger be Cbl
tween Adina and herself. Howbeit , blw
she knew not that it had earned a blh
stronger claim to her affection yet , in h
that it had been the chief companion aiu
and comfort of her lover during the u
long days and nights of her absence. N
( To be continued. )
A Now Artificial ravins ; Stone *
A new artificial paving stone is
made in Germany. It is composed of
coal tar , sulphur and chlorate of lime.
The tar is mixed with the sulphur and
warmed thoroughly , and the lime is
added to the semi-liquid mass. "After
cooling.this product is broken fine and
mixed with ground glass or blast
furnace slag. The blocks are then sub
jected to a pressure of 3,000 pounds to
the square inch.
W. Blake. to
DEGENERATE DOG.
Many Diabolical TrlcltM Flayed by. the
Viciously Aborrnut Animal.
Now and then there is a degenerate
dog , just as there are degenerate men.
I once knew a dog of that kind. He
was a handsome fellow , a Scotch collie ,
black , with white breast , and lower
forelegs and tip of tail also white. His
father was a gentlemanly dog , and his
mother was also reputable. At an
early age this dog took to killing
chickens , and would mouth and kill a
whole brood of downy chickens in less
than a minute from the first alarmed
screech of the mother hen. A little
later he killed , as a daily recreation ,
chickens of all sorts and conditions.
Many attempts were made to shoot
him 1 , but he seemed bullet-proof. He
1A
would run into the street , seize a horse
by the nose , and , swinging clear of
the pavement , would hang there , while
the terrified horse would vainly try to
dislodge him. When a man on horse
back 1I 1 came along , he would proceed to
have I fun with him by seizing his
horse's 1 tail. No whip could reach him ,
and 1 when the rider would dismount
1t
the dog would beat a successful re
treat. He killed all the cats in the
neighborhood. When a peddler with
samples of potatoes or apples entered
the yard of his owner he would greet
him with a friendly wagging tail and
escort him to the door , but when the
same peddler turned his back to go
he never failed to take a bite at the
calf , of his leg. The dog's conduct
finally , raised the neighbors against
him , and the owner was informed that
.
if he did not get rid of him the dog
would be shot. To save his life the
owner gave him to a butcher. In his
new environment he lasted but one
day. He bit the butcher's daughter ,
and the butcher killed him. Indian
apolis News.
A START ! N THE LAW.
Wliat UlttluK a aiulo Over the He id
Had to Do With making a X.avryer.
Illustrating what a trifling incident
can influence a man's whole career , it
is i told of Judge William Lindsay , who
is * now United States senator from
Kentucky , that when a young man
still in his teens he was plowing in
his father's field , which was near a
cross roads store where a dozen or
more men usually congregated. Young
Lindsay and the mule he was working
to the plow did not "gee" well , and
finally in trying to turn the mule
around at the far side of the field a
worse misunderstanding than usual
occurred. The mule turned square
around and started back over the plow
right at Lindsay , who grabbed a piec
of fence rail and hit his big-eared serv
ant a terrific jolt above the eye. The
mule fell dead. Lindsay looked at the
dead mule and then ? .t the crowd
across the field at the store. He saw
the men had witnessed his killing of
the mule and he started at full run to
the store. When he reached there , al
most out of breath , he exclaimed :
"Gentlemen , I killed the mule , but I
did it"in self-defense. " "By jingo ,
Bill , you ought to be a lawyer , " said
one of the men , "for anybody who can
think of a plea of that sort on the
spur of the moment would make a
good one. " That suggestion stuck in
young Lindsay's mind he did study
yli
law , became chief justice of Kentucky
and one of the greatest lawyers they
ever had. In 1896 , when Lindsay , as
senator , deserted his party on the sil
ver issue , one of his old friends who
knew of the mule incident , and who
was angry at Lindsay for his course ,
said : "Say , boys , ain't it a pity that
Lindsay killed that mute ? " Cincinnati
Enquirer.
.
HIS DEADLY PRACTICAL JOKE.
Humorous Mau Poke A Ilia Umbrella
Into a Friend's Back and Ho Died.
If
It was a joke ; a duet sung in cele
bration of Cuba's dawning era of progress -
ress ( ; a slap on the back and a play
ful retaliation with the prod of an umbrella - .
brella , that together formed the merry
preface to a fatal tragedy. The actors
were Cubans. One , who died the other
day , was George Alamillo , a cigar-
maker , whose home was in 182 Ham
burg avenue , Brooklyn. He was drink
ing and singing with his friend , Sam pa '
uel G. Bagley , an insurance adjuster Mi
at 50 Howard avenue , in a saloon on sh
Jan. 20. * They cracked many jokes shi
about the ejectment of the Spaniards
from Cuba , and about the relative
merits of the cigar trade and the insurance
msi
surance business. Suddenly Bagley ,
by ; way of emphasizing his sense of
humor , jabbed his Cuban friend in the
back with an umbrella. It's sharp
point ' pierced Alamillo's flesh. Ho
cried out in pain , but did not realize at
the time the serious nature of his
wound. His death was caused by
blood ! poisoning. Before he died the
Cutam declared that his friend was
blameless. But the police said they
would arrest Bagley , if only to cure
him of his dangerously playful use of
an umbrella as a means to impress
upon ; a victim the point of a joke.
New York Press.
Wearing Out Needlessly.
Many people wear themselves out
needlessly ; their conscience is a ty
rant. An exaggerated sense of duty !
leads a person to anxious , ceaseless ac
tivity , to be constantly doing some
thing , over-punctual , never idle a second si
end of time , scorn to rest ; such are in
unconscious nerve tension. They say tii
they have no time to rest , they have so ar
much to do , not thinking they are
rapidly unfitting themselves for prob
ably what would have been their best wl
and greatest work in after years.
Ba
a
Auburn , N. Y. , churches have united Sil
war on the treating habit. tli
7
It isn't what it used to be , .jffpi/A
" " " "
This Easter walk , I own. ' ' 7"
The "nobodies" now promenade.
Where only "nobs" were known ;
But after church it's well enough.
To do your little mile ,
And view with an admiring eye
Solidity and style.
Behold the queens of wondrous
wealth
The money kings of power.
Fifth avenue's a stirring sight ,
If only for an hour.
There furry fortunes are displayed ,
Here comes the clubman , stout of form
And fishy as to gaze ;
"Manhattan cocktails" he suggests.
And many "pousse cafes. "
He dresses well , but he is not
Much happier , I ween ,
Than "Rocky" Ryan , close behind.
Whose suit cost "eight-fifteen. "
The actor shows himself with pride ;
The lawyer's walk is brief ;
The lover's at his darling's side ;
The henchman's with his chief ;
The modiste comes to note the styled ;
The gay soubrette is there ,
If Easter should be cold , And throngs of nobodies at all ,
.Vorn by the wives of millionaires Who only stand and stare !
A modern "clique of gold. "
Roll on ! roll on ! O , human tide
Vith what creations for the head Of wealth and power and fame.
The avenue is lined , You change with every passing day ,
f Sol will condescend to smile Yet always seem the same.
And spring is only kind ; So love and hate and shame and faith ,
Vhat glories of bewildering hue , The false beside the true ,
That seem not born to fade , In rich array on Easter Day
Lnd blur the discontented eyes Shall walk Fifth avenue !
Of poverty's brigade ! New York Herald.
ETHEL'S EASTEE.
Ethel lived on the seashore that
'art of the Alabama coast which the
lobilians call "Over the Bay , " and
he visited Mobile rarely except during
Ihristmas i and Easter. She was a busy
ittle girl with lessons and piano prac-
UDDENLY ONE NIGHT THE BELL i I
DID RING.
ce , and asked so many questions that
i old sea-captain who lived near her
3me gave her the name of Little
onundrum.
Some days before Easter she went
ith her governess into the city , and
iw a woman attired in a black gown ,
black bonnet and a black veil. In-
de the bonnet she wore a closely fli
ng cap , not at all like a widow's cap.
"Oh ! " exclaimed Ethel , seizing the
arm of her governess. "Who is that ,
Miss Mary ? What makes her dress so ?
She has a chain at her side , too ! "
"That is a Sister of Mercy , " answered
Miss Mary.
"Whose sister ? " asked Ethel.
"A Sister of Mercy a sister to all
who need her. "
"A sister to everybody ? " echoed
Ethel , looking puzzled.
"Yes. She spends her life in acts of
mercy to the poor and the rich , too , if
they need her. "
"Does everybody love her ? " asked
Ethel , looking after the black gown.
"Oh , yes. People send for her when
they are in distress. A Sister of Mercy
nursed your Uncle Frank when he was
ill of yellow fever. "
"Oh , I wish I was a Sister of Mercy ! "
said Ethel , as they left the carriage
and entered a shop , "but I wouldn't
like to wear that dress. "
"You need not wear it to be a good
nurse. "
"Well , but I want to be a sure
enough Sister of Mercy. Can't I have
a mark so people will know it ? "
"Oh , yes , " said Miss Mar- , laughing ,
"If you insist unon a mark , you can
wear a badge on your sleeve. I can
easily make one for you. "
On Easter morning Ethel put on the
badge which Miss Mary had made for
her of beautiful white ribbon. As she
returned from church she found a bird
with a broken leg , which she bandaged.
Then she put the little invalid in a box ,
which Tom called the hospital. Easter
Monday her first act of mercy was to
carry a dinner to old Uncle Ebenezer ,
who was a cripple from rheumatism. to
He had been her grandfather's slave ,
and now lived with her father at the
old homestead , the Maples.
O ]
' ' said she
"Look here , Uncle Ebby ,
'You can t
pointing to her shoulder.
guess what that Is , can you ?
" Uncle Ebb7 ,
answered
"
honey
"No , ,
already beginning to eat.
' of Mercy replied
"It means I'm a Sister
plied Ethel. "I begin this Easter. That
is my Easter resolution. "
"Dat , indeed ! " said Uncle Ebby , ab
sorbed in his dinner. "Is you gwino
bout nussin' fokes ? " he added
"No-o" drawled Ethel. Mamma
won't let me do that. Maybe I'll do
something after a while for that poor
woman at the wharf ; but I'm going
to help everybody here. I'm going to
help Aunt Mclindy feed the chickens ,
and now I will help you scrape lint for
your lame foot. "
While Uncle Ebby was eating. Ethel
filled a basket with lint and set it on
the chimney sl'elf.
"Now , Uncle Ebby , listen to me , '
said Ethel , "when you are sick in bed
you mustn't call Jake or 'Tildy or any
of your grandchildren. I'm to do the
nursing on this plantation , and I want
to call Jake and make him tie a string
to your bedpost.ind the other end to my
bedpost , so that you can ring a bell
right over my head when you are sick.
You understand ? "
"Jake ! Jake ! " called Ethel. Jake
came when called , and after many
trials arranged an unsightly contriv i
ance , so that the pulling of the string
did ring a bell just over Ethel's bed.
Her brother Tom ridiculed It , but
mamma said Sisters of Mercy must bo
patient under ridicule. , " *
Every night Ethel hung her cloak
near her bedside , ready to rush out at
the sound of the bell. One night Tom
played a practical joke by ringing the
bell , but papa's sharp reprimand pre
vented a repetition of his mischief.
Suddenly one night the bell did ring ,
long and loud. Ethel jumped out of
bed , and in a few minutes stood at
Uncle Ebby's bedside. The moonlight
fell on the black face and white head.
Shaking his arm with all her might ,
she called out , "Uncle Ebby , wake up ! "
The old man opened his eyes and sat
up in bed.
"Didn't you ring the bell ? What Is
the matter ? "
"Nuthin" 'tall , " said Uncle Ebby , at
last recognizing the little sister.
Suddenly Ethel turned and perceived
a curl of smoke in the corner of the
cabin.
"What's that , Uncle Ebby ? Look !
Look ! "
"Sump'u a-fiah. sho' ! "
And so it was. Uncle Ebby screamed
for help. Black and white rushed to
the rescue. Jake and the other men
led the cattle out of danger , and the
mystery of the bell was solved when
old Brindle's horns were seen strug
gling with the string , which In order
to reach up to Ethel's chamber , had
been passed through the cow-shed. The
smoke had driven her to the open
door , and in making her way she had
caught her horns in the string. For
tunately nothing was burned except
the corner o the shed.
Next morning at breakfast Tom , who
had been very brave In putting out tha
fire , said , "Well , Ethel , which is the
Sister of Mercy , you or old Brindle ? "
But papa said , "If she had not been
a Sister of Mercy , there is no telling
what a fire we might have had , and
perhaps poor old Uncle Ebby would
have been burned in his bed. Ethel's
Easter resolution was a noble one , and
I hope it will last until next Easter. "
Tom looked at his sister with ad
miring eyes , and Ethel still wears her
badge. Zitella Cocke , in Youth's Com
panion.
Something1 Now.
One must wear something new on
Easter Sunday , of course , if only for
the good luck that is supposed to come
from such a proceeding.
I said to my washerwoman , who has
recently returned to me after quite an
absence :
"Don't forget to wear something new
if you go walking on Sunday , Mary. "
"Faith , madam , an' I'll not forget.
I'll be afther wearin' it on me arm. "
"May I ask what it is ? "
"It's me new baby , ma'am , good luck
to it. "
And I said "Amen ! "
r
The early sun is shining ,
The grass is soft and dry.
The bluebird sings his carol
Along the bright blue sky.
So bring the dainty treasurer.
The eggs of every hue
The Easter hare hid slyly
On Easter night for you.
See , purple eggs and golden
And red as sunset skies ;
Now don't you think he stole them
From birds of paradise ?
Then start them on their journey ;
How gaily down they roll.
A"i ? a troop of flowers
Had started on a stroll.
The birds laugh in the tree-top ,
The brooks laugh from the hill ,
And all the little people
Are laughing louder still.
Selected.
An Actress on Kastcr.
"I love Easter "
, said an actress re
cently , "for it is a real holy day holi
day , and the only one all the year
round that does not inspire managers
matinees , as it happily always falls
upon Sunday a movable feast as to
date , stationary as to day. it is the
only day that I do
or can really keep. "