r MY MAliF SISTER By ELXON HARRIS XXX CHAPTER VII ( Continued. ) "I tnank you , monsieur , for your of fer , " Mollie snid gently at length , "bui I must decline it. I am very sorry i ! you feel hurt , but when you leave hen I hope you will soon forget it. " "What , you refuse ! " he exclaimed In credulously. "You will not accept mj warning ? You will be my enemy ? " "I hope not , surely. But if you-ar < my enemy I shall not be yours , " sh < answered steadily , , backing away , ye keeping an eye upon the glass doors. For a moment the young man stod\ gazing at Tier with more feeling in hli face than she could havs believed pos sible. Mollie little knew how pretty shi looked , as she stood there in her whit gown , with the soft dark night as i background , and the 'lights from thi drawing room falling on her curly ruffled head , nor the simple dignity o the grey eyes that regarded him si fearlessly. All at once his expressioi changed , and grew black and fierce distorted with evil thought. "So you decline , " he hissed in he ear. "You think you will marry tha long-legged , curly-headed soldier ! Bu disabuse your mind of that idea. Yoi will marry me , Henri Dubois. I swea It ! Whether you love me or not , will be your husband. Oh , you wil peen bo glad enough to escape fror madame ma mere , and you can do i by me only by me. Ah ! how quie you are ! Do you hear ? " "Yes , and so will every one else , Mollie replied , standing very erect , an eyeing with haughty disdain his ex cited face. "I have listened to yo patiently , but I decline to be threat ened or coerced. It may answer wit some people it never did with a L'Es trange. Let me pass. " For a moment Henri paused Irresc Jute , glaring at her ; then he gave wa a step , and she was through the draw ing room and half way upstairs befor be could realize that he had been bai fled and refused by this girl of 19. He had thought to reduce her t submission , and at the first threat shi usually so gentle , had turned upon hii fearlessly ; and he , a coward by nz ture , failed to recognize , what hi mother dimly felt , that it was impo : sible to cower a spirit that rose higl er whenever danger threatened. As for Mollie , she was angry an Indignant ; yet , once in her room , sb could not help laughing. "So I am to marry Henri , who wi devote his life to making me happy ! she murmured , as she brushed he hair. "It will not be a money-makin profession for him. I have an ide that once he had my wretched fortur he would turn his devotion to his ow amusement. " But from that night the life i Chalfont became almost unbearable. Madame openly espoused her son cause , saying it was strange Moll : could refuse one so handsome and di voted , for whom other girls were sigl Ing in vain. Slowly and steadily si tried to force her into the hated ei gagement , implying that it would 1 a great relief to her mind to have h < married to so estimable a young ma : the only one she could countenam for her ; and well Mollie knew whi this latter remark meant neither M Anstruther nor any one else need e : pect her consent. As for Henri , 1 was worse than ever , following In everywhere , sullen or sentimental 1 turns , repeating his proposals whe : ever he had an opportunity ; and tl only friend she liad in the house ws her little half-sister , Kate. For the strange child , ever since tl Easter eve when she had flown Mollie for protection , had attached he T self to her with a quiet persistence th was both amusing and touching. Eve : night she found her rolled up in 01 corner of her bed asleep , or preten ing to be , and the fear of losing th privilege made her try to check tb irritability that was part of her tei perament , . and be more amenable the sorely-tried governess. This much Mollie exacted , thouj she would never have had the hea to enforce it , for the little one's nerv were in a terribly strained state , ai Mollie's room seemed her haven refuge. There she felt safe thei dark or light , nothing could tou , her ; there she never had horril dreams. Bad things could not cor near Mollie , who was so sweet a : Day by day she followed h about , at first with shy defiance , last with unconcealed affection and funny motherly solicitude , and ere t roses beganto bloom there was : crime so great in her eyes as to lui Mollie. "What is the matter ? " asked Mol one morning , when she found h IX - prancing about the lawn 'n a fui scolding like a young virago the g dener , who was marking out a ten : \ court "Misses says she won't have no coi -here , " said the man helplessly , touc ing his cap , "and the gentleman < dered me to mark one. " "It is my lawn ; I won't allow He has no right to meddle and I sh tell Aunt Clare so ; " she stormed. "But I would teach you to play , " Mollie said quietly. It was no idle threat on Kate's part , she knew. Her father's will strictly enjoined that her wishes were to be in dulged , and madame happened to be in a frightful temper that day. "Would you like it ? " demanded Kate , stopping abruptly. "I think it would bo nice. " "You can go on , John , " she said im periously to the man. "Anything Miss L'Estrange desires Is to be done. " It was the same in everything. Her little face would grow haggard with anxiety when Mollie drove with mad ame , and she had no peace until she met her on the steps ; while one morn ing , when Mollie awoke , she heard her murmuring away to herself , and a fur tive peep revealed the little maid sit ting up in her frilled nightgown , nurs ing her knees , her flaxen curls falling thickly round her shoulders. "She is.so pretty ; look at her long , curling lashes ! " she was whispering In a tone of satisfaction. "But I should love her anyhow , for she is my sister ; she is my own Mollie , my very own Mollie ! " "My own Mollie ! " Just what her mother had always called her. Mollie knew better than to move or disturb the child , but from that moment she was never "my half-sister Kate" again , but the little sister her mother had left to her , to be guarded and shielded by every means in her power , to be loved and taught all that Mollie , humble in her strength , could teach her , that together they might struggle along that narrow path which leads to eternal life. CHAPTER VIII. It was a hot August evening , and after Mollie had heard Kate's hymns and prayers for which purpose she always went upstairs after dinner she took a book and sat at the wide open window in preference to return ing to the drawing room. She often did this now , for lately things had been worse than ever , Henri more persist ent. At-first Kate tossed about , rest less with the heat , but at length her regular breathing showed that she slept ; and Mollie's book dropped un heeded , as she sat watching the har vest lightning flashing across the darkening sky. She was thinking of Reggie , who had been obliged to rejoin his regiment in Ireland months ago , without say ing good-by to her , though he had brought Joyce up to Chalfont to call for that purpose. Madame had never mentioned this. She only heard it e from Joyce later , when it seemed too late to be angry , though she was very sorry. She had missed him dreadfully. Rev- erton was not the same place some- s how when there was no chance during their walks and drives of seeing his tall , upright figure swinging along , but he used to send all sorts of messages through Joyce. He would come back , and , meantime , she devoted herself to Kate , who daily grew happier and more childlike. Mrs. Anstruther and Joyce did their best for her ; but madame cut her off from every one , and lately they had been away , which was a great matter of regret , for it was something to feel their friendly presence near , though she was free to wander in the woods and fields with Kate in their absence. The scent of a cigar , chairs being dragged along the pantiles below , and voices , made her lean further out oi the window. Madame and Henri were evidently sitting there ! How clearly their voices were borne upwards iu the still air little they guessed ho\v it plainly ! Mollie would have moved away , feeling that she ought not tc listen had she not caught a few words ; then she leaned forward with all hei might. "Kate's money cannot be touched. ] have got all I can every farthing. ] literally do not know where to turn foi a penny. " And madame's voice sound ed harsh and weary. "You musl fts marry the girl ; her fortune will lasl ftd you for a time. I can do nothing mon , d yet. " jf "Bah ! Marry the girl ! " He mimick e , ed her angrily. "It is easy to say , bui : h she will not have me. Truly , me mere le 1 have a respect for her more than : have felt for any woman before. Whei id I look into those beautiful eyes of hers jr so young , so frank , I want her as : it have wanted no one else. Were sh < ita a my wife I could trust her absolutely le I would even try to be a good bus 10 band. " rt "You love her ! " madame said jeal ously. "There , now , you will upbraid mi for that ! " he sneered. "But she wil y , never have me , she adores that An r- struther ; they love in English fashion ris You may give up all hopes of bend ing la belle Mol-lee to our will unles : rt you can get her away from rReverton d- Come to Paris.1' dr r- "I cannot. You know by you rt uncle's will I am obliged to live a t ! Chalfont with Kate. Oh. if I couli ill only get away from the place ge away ! " And lier. voice rose wit ) strange trembling intenalty that was almost'a walL "There , do not begin that ! " he mut tered , with callous impatience. "To continue from where we started , I must have money ! You have largo sums for both girls. " "You have had most of It. " she re torted. "As also that large sum through your uncle's check. " "Hush ! we need not speak of that. You have been ever the best of moth ers , as also the handsomest. " "Ah , Henri , my eon , you are my all ! " she said , in a softened voice. "All I want Is your love , and now you would care more for this girl. Now , listen , you must.marry her , for in that way 1 can assure your fortune. True , her fortune Is not so large as Kate's , but did anything happen to the child she would have all. Kate is very delicate. Any one can see that. And it would surprise no one If , after your marriage , she did not live long. " There was a moment's silence. The listener above started and clenched her hands. A match was struck. HenrL was evidently lighting a fresh cigar. Then his high voice said lightly : "Ah , ma belle mere , you are clever ! That is certainly to be considered. I had thought of it also ! " They had moved into the drawing- room , and Mollie , white with wrath and dismay , crept quietly to the bed , and stood looking at the sleeping child. Poor little girl ! Her whole life she had been made the center for the evil passions of others , and now a fresh danger threatened her. "Touch Kate ! " thought Mollie , with beating heart , as she gently brushed the fair curls from the small thin face. Touch her little sister ! Not while she , Mollie , could protect her. And she would rouse all Reverton ; she would flgkt them by every means in her pow er , before this nervous , excitable child should suffer further. Then she re membered that she herself was Kate's great safeguard , so long as she did not marry Henri. And she would die rather ; for the child was madame's largest source of income , and would be cared for accordingly. But as she sat in the garden the fol lowing afternoon she felt sick at heart. How could these people be so wicked. Lying back in an American chair , looking up into the great trees , she re flected sadly upon the terrible abuse of money. People would do anything for it- scheme , lie , and cheat ; and what did it come to in the end ? for "They brought nothing into the world , neither can they carry anything out" She and Kate were very fond of this part of the garden. They spent all the hot afternoons there , and madame and Henri were out today , so it was very peaceful. Suddenly a bird in the bushes sang a few notes , then a very clear whistle followed ; but it came from no bird's throat it was a tune she knew well , but never expected to hear in the gar den at Chalfont , and she sat up eager ly and looked round. There was Reggie , who ought to have been a hundred miles away , standing a few yards off , clad in riding clothes , whip in hand , and a smile on his good-looking young face. "Well , what are you doing here ? " she cried in amazement , with a decided access of color. "Why , your people are away ! " "Oh , yes ; but I have just run down about the horses , you see , " returned he glibly , coming quite close. "No ; bother the horses. That is not it at all. So you remember the old tune , Mollie ? " "It would be funny if I did not. You never whistle anything else. " "But I never sang the words for you , did I ? They go like this" and in a clear mellow voice , Mr. Anstruth er softly trolled them out : " 'Won't you tell me , Mollie darling , That you love none else but me ? For I love you , Mollie darling You are all the world to me. ' ( To be continued. ) Democracy of the Press. The newspaper press is the mosl democratic institution on earth , sayj a New York writer. Witnin the pages of a daily journal all classes come to gether on the same level. Fayn ? Moore and Mrs. Astor are mentioned in the same column. William C Whitney and Brown , the expressman have their portraits published side b3 side. Toduel Sloane , the jockey , ant J. Pierpont Morgan , the financier , di vide oodles of space. The convict li the penitentiary is exhibited along side of the Christian minister of th < Gospel. The bloodthirsty Boxer ant the peaceable peasant of Piedmon have their say in the same style o type. A Newport cotillon and a Texa : lynching are equally displayed. Th < newspapers play no favorites. Al knowledge is their forte , all news thei : capital stock. The red hat of the car dinal is no redder to them than thi red gore that is spilled in the ropei arena. The bluest blood of the revo lution is treated with no more respec than the blue nose of a Cape Cod fist ernian. American Enterprise In China. An American merchant in Hong kong spppiles the China coast witl masts , spars and other timber. Hi name and property appear in the Eng lish records , but he and his busines nevertheless are American. At leas ten houses in Hawaii do a remunera tive business with China , both export ing and importing. The America ] Trading company , which usually i regarded as a Japanese house , ha its agencies in China and does a larg business with that land. Los Angels Times. MY HAliF SIST By EL/TON HARRIS CHAPTER VIII. ( Continued. ) "Look here , Mollie , will you won't you ? I love you awfully. I have Just run over on the chance of seeing you , because I could not stay away any longer. And I hate to think of you here with these people. Won't you look at me ? Do ! " A most persuasiVe voice was Reg gie's ; but Mollie's eyes were fixed on the point of her shoe , and she put her hands behind her when he attempted to take them. "Give me time to think , " she whis pered in a subdued tone. "I can hardly believe that you are here. How did you find me ? " "Saw the Dubois in town , but they did not see me. Rode straight on and met the little "kiddle , who brought me here. Told her that I wanted to speak to you very particularly alone ; and she flew off and promised to keep watch for the return of the enemy , " said Reg gie briefly. "Dear little Kittle ! " "Won't you say , 'Dear Reggie , ' too , Mollie ? " he suggested , eyeing her wist fully. "I have come all the way from Ireland to ask you. " Then , as she flashed a quick , half-smiling glance at him , he added. " 'She who hesitates is lost ; ' 'Silence gives consent. ' How usefully these ancient copybook say ing come in in one's old age , don't they. " "They certainly seem to , " allowed Mollie hesitatingly. And as there seemed no opposition offered to the arm Reggie had stolen round her , It stayed there , while , two not being able to sit with any comfort in an American cane chair , they re paired to the rustic seat , and were as happy and forgetful of the world as mortal lovers could be for the next half hour , as they sat in the sunshine , in the springtime of youth , hope , and love. "Oh , Reggie Madam Dubois ! " ex claimed the girl at length. "She will never , never consent ; she means mete to marry Henri. " "Then we will pay Henri's country the compliment of taking French leave , my dear child , " he returned gaily. But she shook her head. "I shall be of age In 18 months , " she said shyly. "Eighteen centuries ! Why , I hate to leave you hero now ! " "And I could not leave my poor lit tle Kittle , " she exclaimed , raising her eyes to his deprecatingly. "By then I hope she will be better , stronger. Oh , Reggie , couldn't you bargain with them to give me Kittle ? It would be so cruel to leave her ; you cannot thinii how loving , how true to me the little pet is ! " And she poured into his ear all that she had overheard that hot evening at the window. Reggie's face grew very pale as he listened , and he gave a low whistle of dismay ; but whatever he thought he was too wise to make his sweetheart more uncomfortable than she already was. But she had to promise that on no account would she even listen to Henri , against whom Reggie's senti ments were far from peaceful , and that if matters became worse she would take refuge at the White house , whither his mother returned in a week's time. And then Kate came run ning back to announce her aunt's re turn. "Oh , Reggie ! " ejaculated Mollie , ris ing , and turning very pink. "Sit down , child , " he said calmly , dragging her back to his side , and tak ing Kate on his knee. "Let them come. " Kate pushed back her curls and re garded him with a frown. She was very foad of Reggie , but He under stood the look , read the dawning jeal ousy of any one coming between Mollie and herself , in those sharp hazel eyes , which had already discovereu the truth ; and as this tall , merry young officer's heart was as tender as a girl's towards those he cared for , he hastened to dissipate it. "You are going to be my sister , kid- ling , " he said gently. "I know , " she answered , with tremb ling lips. "You will take her away. " "But she tells me she cannot be happy without you , so we shall have to manage for you to come , too , " he continued. "Now if you think that will be jolly , and we shall be the besl brother and sister going , never jeal ous of each other , signify the same in the usual manner by a kiss. " And he was more touched than he liked to show when the little girl threw her arms round his neck in a transport of relief , happily unconscious of the ob stacles that might come in their way. It was this group that madame , fol lowed by her son , came in sight of , and great was her wrath. Nor was it in anyway mollified when Mr. An- struther advanced politely , and , after the usual greetings , informed her that Miss L'Estrange had promised to be his wife , and he trusted that he should have her consent ; he was sure of that of the trustees , who were old friends of his father's. Madame was very euave at first , though Mollie knew the effort it must have cost her. She un derstood the firmly-shut mouth , the hal -onened eyes ; but , suave or not , ahe Staged to convey plainly her de cision. She not only could not sanc tion the engagement , but Miss L/Estrauge must be considered qulto free. "I don't wish to be free , " said Mollie iodlyj over hlo shoulder. "I have given Mr. Anstruther my word , and will not break it" "My sweet child , you are young , you do not know your own mind. Mr. An- struthor has taken advantage of findIng - Ing you alone In my absence " "I naturally wished 10 find Miss L'Estrange alone , " answered Reggie , haughtily. "Oh , yes ! " sneered Hcrl , who had been standing biting his nails gloom ily , ' in direful dismay. "It is well to pay court to the heiress , but she has protection. I " He paused uneasily , yet Reggie had only stooped to pick up the riding whip which he had dropped , and then looked'at him. But it was enough he said no more , while madame , goIng - Ing a shade paler as she watched the two young men , hastened to close the interview. When Reggie left things were only what he had expected. Madame ab solutely refused her consent , and de clined to see him at Chalfont again , so far losing her temper as to utter innuendoes and insults , which she could say with impunity , as a woman , but which would certainly have brought Reggie's whip across the shoulders of her adored son. Reggie , for his part , courteously re peated that the engagement was a fact , and would be known all over Rever- ton ; he was sorry for her decision , but it would alter nothing , only cause a little delay. Then , after a few words with Mollie , he reluctantly tore him self away , and she heard the gate clang behind him and watched him down the road until she was blinded by he-r tears. CHAPTER IX. "Mollie , it is so bad again ! " "Is it , my pet ? What can I do foi you ? " said a sleepy voice , as Mollie roused herself from the slumber into which she had fallen by the side of the bed. "Kittie , it is striking 12 by the hall clock ; I had no idea it was so late ! I will go down to the drawing room and get the cloves ; we left them there , and they may ease the pain a little. " Kate saf ; up in bed , looking as mis erable as a child with teeth ache can look , and Mollie slipped off for the cloves , closing the door softly behind her. her.It It was Easter eve once more ; not balmy and soft like last time , but cola and frosty , witn a cruel east wind howling round the house , like the night two years ago when Leonard Barlowe had so mysteriously met his death. The months that had passed had been full of trouble and anxiety Jo Mollie L'Estrange , and she looked paler and thinner ; but the gray eyes were as fearless and sweeter than ever , for the trials had been bravely borne , and if she could not Quite love har enemies , she had at least endeavored to follow that splendid precept and re turn good for evil. , Henri had been away for some weeks now ; at first much to her relief , but latterly she had almost wished him back , for his mother's sake. Ever since his departure she had seemed con sumed with restlessness , growing daiiy more morose and gloomy , and break ing into fits of passion for the merest trifle , while she watched Mollie with suspicious eyes , never allowing her to see the Anstruthers , through whom alone she could hear from Reggie , foi both knew that the ordinary post would not be safe. Stealing quietiy down the darli stairs , Mollie gained the drawingroom and , possessing herself of the bottle of cloves , was returning , when as she got to the door she saw a faint lighl at the top of the stairs. Who was abroad in the house this night of all others , when no servant would stir alone , when they vowed thai the ghost of Mr. Barlowe walked ir his haunts and a light had been seer in his study ? Drawing back against the heavj plush curtains in the hall , she watchec with beating heart as it came glimmer ing nearer , not exactly frightened , bui with a curious awe and dread , a feel ing that something was going to hap pen. A moment later , and madame a lamp In her hand , a strange , dazet glitter in her great black eyes swep noiselessly past her and went straigh to the study. , The girl's first thought was to stea up stairs again , her next to creei across the dark hall after madame , ant look in at the half-open door , and so unthinkingly , she witnessed a sigh that froze the blood in her veins ant that she never forgot. For had sh < followed her first impulse and gen < upstairs , neither she nor Kate woult have been alive when daylight dawnet that Easter day. On such slight thing ; as this do great events hang ! Madame put the lamp on a tabli close by , and then stole with cat-liki step tc the back of the chair befon the writing table , where the detective ; said that Mr. Barlowe must have beei ' , Hitting nslccp nt the tlmo of the at tack. Suddenly she raised her arma , holding thorn as If she had coino henry weapon In them , nnd went through the motion twice of bringing It down with terrific force on the back of some one's icad. It was awful to see her face as she stood there , wild , fierce , watchful , her features working convulsively as she eyed the empty chair as If It were oc cupied , her dark hair streaming down the light dressing gown she wore , her breath coming In heavy gasps. After a minute she began muttering to her self , nnd leaned over as If to examine what was In the chair ; then she went : o the table and turned over the papers In a strange , troubled manner , her eye ever returning to that empty chair. "It Is only what you deserve what you deserve ! " she muttered In a harsh , strained voice , addressing the chair. "You are a hard , bad man. I begged to you for mercy for my child my son , my beloved and you only laugh ed. What 5f ho did forge your name ? It was not for much. You arc rolling In wealth your wretched wife's money and we are poor , and Henri Is young and extravagant. But you shall not punish him. I helped you In the past , but that goes for nothing with such as you. You have only yourself to blarao that I have taken the law Into my own hands. I would die a thousand times rather than that you should expose my boy. Now you cannot say a word , and I take the proofs of his guilt and burn them ! " She went through the motions phantomwlse , yet strangely real ot taking papers and thrusting them Into the grate , apparently holding them down with the weapon she thought she held , doing it all In a strange , dull calm , which her twitching face belled. For some minutes she crouched over the empty grate moaning and wring ing her hands ; then , when she evi dently thought the papers and weapons destroyed , she rose , appeared to drag what was on the chair to the window which she threw wide open and , before Mollie could move , she came swiftly out of the room , and , lamp In hand , went towards the kitchen. To describe the feelings of the her ror-stricken girl watching her would be impossible. As one act after an other of this terrible drama was played out before her she felt powerless to move , almost to think. All her senses were bound up In the effort to keep her trembling knees from giving way under her , for well she know that to make the least sound might cost her her life ! No need to ask again who killed Leonard Barlowe. She had been how it was done ; she had seen every thing knew it was by his own sister's hand that the blow was struck. Yet frightened as she was Mollle'a courage did not desert her. She de termined to see what took this wretch ed woman , whom she felt persuaded was mad , to the kitchen ; so , with chat tering teeth , she gathered her skirts together , and crept silently through the dark passages after her. The lamplight guided her to the but- ler's pantry , and there stood madame , holding her hands under a tap which she had not turned on , and muttering incessantly to herself. As she wrung the imaginary water off them and rubbed them on her skirt. It occurred to Mollie , with a cold chill of fear , that she was action by action following out just what she must have done that terrible night that it was she whom the servants took for a ghost , who had frightened Kate by brushing past her In the dark. Suddenly madame's glance f ill upon some knives lying on. a table , and a gleam like fire flashed into her eyes , a gleam that had neither reason nor sanity in it , only cunning and fierce exultation. "Why not kill them both ? " she mut tered , standing still with a meditative look. "They are no use to Henri ; the girl will not marry him ; the child had better follow her father. Yes , yes ; that will be best ! " ( To be continued. ) DISPOSAL OF IDIOTS. Society Cannot Shirk Its Responsibility for Criminal * . Now , of course it is the thing in the world to pick out indi vidual cases where this highly effect ive and economical plan would seem justifiable , but the obstacle which must everlastingly keep all such ob stacles out in the realm of purely vis ionary and impossible propositions is the fact that no man , or group of men no , nor that of angels , probably could ever bo trusted to decide that such and such a person could not bo reformed , but must die. There is the crux of the whole matter. That little word "very" which is supposed to de scribe the kind of vicious and crimi nal persons who are to be "gently and. painlessly' ' assisted out of this world. contains the whole range of subtle , unknown and unfathomable qualities of character upon whose possibilities no human wisdom is competent to pass the final word. With Dr. McKim de claring , for example , that John Jones , aged thirty , whom he has carefully examined , is incorrigible and should be executed , and John Jones' mother , \7ho , presumably , also knows some thing about him , declaring that there is that within the boy which , bad as he is , can and may reclaim him to useful manhood where is the judge or jury that would venture to pass upon the awful issue ? Oh , no ! Society has long since passed the point where it can shirk its share of original respon sibility for its criminals and imbeciles by killing them no matter if doing it is a little more "gentle" than our sav age forefathers' custom of stranglng- female babies because they were an incumbrance to the tribe. Gnnton's.