Pe-ru-na Ueiicvcs
Spring Catarrh.
V-'l-Vs
t:,AVV .::'':,;
MISS DORA HAYDE3C.
"TTKnost Aesttario vrita to thank
yea for ia preaf rcite 1 tore fuund in
your valuable medicine, Peruna, and wilt
call the attention of alt my friend
nfferina with catarrh to that foot. D
aidei I cheerfully recommend it to oil uf
fering with catarrh in any form." 1M
Dor navden. 819 tith'St 8. W TVoih
ington, D. C. ,
A Case of Spring Catarrh.
Mrs. N. P. Lawler, 423 V, N. Broadway.
Pittsburg, Kan., writes: "Last spring I
caught a sever cold, which developed
Into a serious case of catarrh. I felt weak
nd sick, and could neither eat nor sleep
well. I
"A member of our club who had been
-cured of catarrh through the use of Pe-
i runa adrlsed me to try it, and I did so at
once. I .-x pec ted help, but nothing like
(he wonderful change for the better I ob
served almost as soon as I started taking
' It. In three dajs I felt much better, an!
within two weeks I wai in fine 'health.
Fcruna la a wonderful medicine."
LEGISLATION FOR EFFECT.
. Sfaay Bills Introduced la. Conar'
to Impress Constituents.
Leas than 6 per cent of the bills In
troduced In Congress relate to public
business. Instead, they bare to do
vith matters bearing directly or Indi
rectly on the Congressman's hope of re
nomination and re-election. The total
number of Uoune bills Introduced dur
ing the first session of the FIfty-olghtb
Congress (Including the special ses-
!on), waa 15,570. Of these, only 1,013
Hvere public measures. The othet
13,931 were private. Two hundred
nd sixty-four public laws wore enact'
M and 1,800 private laws. Much ol
the proposed private legislation wai
pat In without any thought of its ulti
mate passage; but, whether It was ex
:pected to pass or not, and whether it
was pushed or not, the purposo of its
introduction was generally the same
'to give aa appearance of uetlvMy and
Influence "the boys" at home.
About 35 per cent of the Congress
men rely on river and harbor leglsla
tion to carry tbero through. Many
"bills relating to proposed ljmprove-
menta are Introduced which are not in
-eluded in the big general measures
fcut sometimes they do almost as much
cood as If they were passed, so far a.i
their effect on the voters Is concerned,
especially If the introducer is of the
minority party. Then he can assert
that the demons of the other tide p re-
Tented favorable action on his pro
i cts, and thus kept Justice from het
throne.
Not many years ago a man who bad
iperslstently brought the claims of
Kt project before the river and bar
r committee broke down when b
aw that bis reiterated arguments wen
.having no effect
"Gentlemen," betsald, to the assent-
tried committeemen, as he wiped the
tears from bis eyes, "I'll ' be qui
frank with you. If I fail to get tl.
appropriation I am asklpg for I wll.
fall to get back to Congress. I know
'this is an unmanly exhibition, but il
means so much to me!" And the tenrt
-continued to flow. Success Magazine.
Afraid, to Ask Too Hhi,
First Legislator I see a Kansas mai
has declared "a pass Is a bribe, and anj
man ought to be too big to accept aucl
a small bribe.
Becona Legislator well, or course
that's true, but It would look klndei
mall fer us to go further und ask tin
railroads to puy us fer rldlu', wouldn't
II T Kansas Clt,v Times.
Eoonoasr,
Mr. Justwed-rlt's so sweet of you tt
agree that we must economise. But do
you think you can get along without a
cook 7
- Mrs. Justwed Oh, yes. We'll have
II our meals sent in by a caterer.
Cleveland Leader.
Between Friends.
Miss Tartun Arch! Feathertop telli
one you are advising him to spend hii
.vacation this summer in the Swiss moun
tains.
Mrs. , " Chllllcon-Kearney Yes ; 1
thought that If I could Indue him to fall
town some precipice I would be doin
teal tavor to you, dear.
"Did Catesby marry for lore?"
"Yes, poor fellow, and b got nothing
SHit money, -uetroit ere t'reu.
Obi the Ocean Bine.
"When that storm was blowing yester
day," said the vivacious girl, "I Jusl
threw np my bands in despair.
"Well," retuned her escort, grimly,
otn thing got th matter with me, too,
but I didn't er er I didn't throw ui
mf hands.
The Mlsalaai Paper.
Vrs.--Function I should think tt
would be dreadfully bard for you play-
rtchts to think of plots.
i i lit. Quick Lee Dnahemoff When
there's a will there's a, warMadlanop.
Btar. .
Madame
Vy Fmrjtu
(fir
C1IAPTER XXII X. (Continued.)
Kitty turned out to be a perfect treas
ure, as her pretty lace ana cnirmmg
trolc soon made her a favorite, and when
n bnrlesque she played Princess to ran
dy woppies' rrinc tner was sore io v
t crowded housa and lots of applause.
Kitty's voice was clear and sweet aa a
lark's, and her execution something won
Jerful, so Mr. Wopples christened her the
Australian Nightingale, and caused her to
oe so advertised in ths papers. Moreover,
her dainty appearance carried the audi
ence Irresistibly away, and had tanny
wopples not been a really good gin sne
would have been jealous of the auceess
achieved by the newcomer.
"Next year," aald Mr. Wopples, at a
supper which they had ta ceiooraie me
success of their tour, "we'll hava a thea
ter in Melbourne, and HI make It trie
favorite house of the city, sea If I don't."
It seemed, therefore, aa though Kitty I
had found her vocation, and would de-l
velop Inta an operatic star, but fata ta-1
terrenes, and Misa Warcnurst Teurea
from the stage, which aba had adorned so I
much. This waa dna to Madame Miaas,
who, driving down Collins street one day,
saw Kitty at the corner walking with
Fanny Wopples. She Immediately stop-
ped her carriage, and, alighting therefrom,
went straight up to the girl, who, taming
and seeing ber for tha first time, grew
deadly pale. I
"KJtt, my dear," said Madame, grsve
It, "I have been looking for you vainly
for a year but; I hava found you at 1
last."
Kittv'a breast was full of conflicting
emotions; she thought that Madama knew M y0B . I think," significantly, "we under
all about her .having married Vandoloup, I stand one another."
and that she would speak severely to ner.
Mrs.1 Villiers' next words, however, reas- ,
surod her.
"You left Ballarat to go on the atage,
did you not?" she said kindly, looking at
the girl: "why did you not come 10 meii
vou knew I was alwaya your iriena. i
"Yes. Madame." said Kitty, putting out
her hand and averting her head, "I would
have come to you, but I tuouguc you
wnnlri atnn me from soing."
"Mv dear child." replied Madame, i
thouKht you knew roe better than that;
what theater are you at?"
"She's with us." said Misa Fanny, who
had been starine at this grave, handsome
ly dressed lady who I.ad alighted irom
such a swell carriage : "we are the wop-
nlea Psmllv"
"Ahl" said Mrs. Villiers, thinking, "I
remember you were up at Ballarat last I
year. AVell, Kitty, will you ana your
friend drive down to St. Kilda wltii me,
and I'll show vou my new house7
Klttv would have refused, for she was
afraid Madame Midas would perhaps send
her back to her father, but the appealing
looks of Fanny Wopples, who had never
rlddea in a carriage in her, life, and wa
dymg to do ao, decided her te accept. Bo
tlrey stepped into the carriage and Mrs.
Villiers told the coachman te orive norao,
'But how la It," asked Madams, who I
believed her fully, "that I could not find
vou?"
"Because I was up tne country an ine
time." resiled Kitty oulckly, "and or
course did not act under my real name."
"Yon would not like to go back to your
father, I suppose," suggested Madame.
No," she answered, determinedly ; "I'm
on tha stase now. and I mean to stick
ca it."
"But why not stay with me, my deary"
said Mrs. Villiers, looking at her; "I am
a lonely woman, aa you know, and you
com to me I will treat you aa a aaugu
ter,
"Oh 1 how good you are," cried the girl
In revulsion of feeling, falling on her
friend's neck ; "but indeed I cannot leave I
the staae I'm too fand of it."
Madame sighed and gave np the argu
xnent for a time, then showed the two
iris all ever the house, and after they
bad dinner with her she sent tnera oaca
te town In her carriage, witn strict lnjun
tlons to Kitty to com down next day
and brine Mr. Wopples with ber.
Wopples saw Madame next day, and a
long talk ensued, which ended In Kitty
agreeing to stay six months with Mrs. VII-1
liers, and then, it she still wisned to con-i
tinue on the stage, she was to go to Mr. I
Wonoles. On the other hand, la consld-1
eratlon of Wopples losing the services of I
Klttv. Madame promised that next yearl
she would give him sufficient money to I
start a theater In Melbourne. Bo both I
parted mutually satisfied. Kitty made!
presents to all tne lamuy, wno were very I
sorry to part witn ner, ana men took np
her abode with Mrs. Villiers, aa a kind of
adopted daughter, and was quite prepared
to play her part in tne comedy ol rash-
Ion.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Owing to the quiet life Kitty had led
since she came to Melbourne, and the
tact that her appearance on the atage
had taken place In the country, she felt
quite sate when making her appearance
In Melbourne society that no one would
recognise ber. It was unlikely she would
meet with any of the Pulchop family
again, and sh knew Mr. Wopples wonld
hold his tongue regarding ner, so th only
en who could reveal anything about her
would be Vandeloup, and he would cer
tainly be silent for his own sake, as sh
knew h valued the friendship of Madam
Midas too much to los It. Neverthelei
ah awaited his coming In considerable
trepidation, a sh was still in love with
him, and was nervous a ta what recep
tion sh would meet with.
Vandeleup, on tne otnsr Hand, was
quit unaware f th surprise in store for
him. When h next called on Madame
Midas b wa shown into th drawing
room by th servant. There were no
lights In th room, aa it was not sutB
ciently dark for them, and Vandeloup
smiled aa he saw a Br in the grate.
"My faith," he said to himself. "Mad
am Is as chilly as ever."
Th servant had retired, and he was
11 by himself in this large room, with
h subdoe twilight all through It, and
fh flicker ef the flame on the celling,
fie wert to th fir more from habit than
anything else, and suddenly came en a big
armchair, drawn up close to tb tide, la
which a woman was sitting.
"Ah ! the sleeping beauty," said Vande
loup carelessly, Th whit figur sad
danly ro and confronted him. The light
from the fire was fair on ber 'ce, and
with a sudden start Vandeloup saw before
him the wife he had deserted.
"Bebe!" he gasped, recoiling a step.
"Yes." said Kitty, In an agitate toae,
"your deserted wife."
"Bah said Uaston. coo II, having re
covered freas the first shock of tmiyrUa
Midas
Ham
"That style suits Sarah Bernhardt, not
you, my dear. The first act of this com
edy Is excellent, but It is necessary the
characters should know one another la
order to finish the play."
"Ah!" said Kitty, with a bitter smile,
"do I not know you too well, as tha man
who promised me lore and then broke bfa
word? Yon forgot all your vows to me."
"My dear child," replied Gaston leis
urely, leaning up against the mantelpiece,
"if you had read Balsae you would dis
cover that he says. 'Life would be Intol
erable without a certain amount of for
getting.' I must say," smiling, "I agree
with the novelist."
Kitty tasked at him as he stood there
cool and complacent, and threw herself
bark into the chair angrily.
"Just the same," she muttered restless
ly, "Just the same."
Tea, my Bene," he said, in a caressing
tone, taking her hand
"So, no!" she cried, wrenching them
away, while an angry spot of color glow-
e$ on npr chee. "I loved you aa you
were not as you are now we are done
with sentiment, M. Vandeloup," she said,
sneering, "and now our relations to one
another will bo purely business ones."
"g glad you understand the position,"
he said, blandly; "I see the age of mlra-
cm ( not yet past when woman can
talk sense."
"iou won t disturb me with your
sneers," retorted the girl, glaring fiercely
t him out of the gathering gloom in the
room.
"Bah!" he said, gaily, "our comedy Is
turning Into a tragedy : I am as foolish
"les, I think wa do," sb answered,
calmly, the color coming back to her
check. "Neither of us is to refer to the
pgt, ani wa both on our different
roads unhindered."
-Mademoiselle Marenurst," said vanue-
loun ceremoniously, I am delighted to
mt vou after a rear'a absence come,'
with a gay langh, "let ns begin the comedy
thus, for here," he added quickly, as the
door opened, "here comes the spectators."
"Well, young people," ssld Madame s
voice, as she came slowly into the room.
"you are all In the dark; ring the bell
for lights, M. Vandeloup."
"Certainly, Madame," he a-nswered.
touching the electric buttqn. ."Miss Mar
chant and myself were renewing our for
mer friendship."
now do you think she is looking?"
asked Madame, as the servant came
In
ftnd lit the gas
"Charming," replied Vandeloup, look
ing at the dainty little figure In white
standing under the blaze of the chande
lier ; "she Is more beautiful than ever."
Kitty made a saucy little curtsey, and
burst into a musical laugh.
"Ho is Just the same, Madame," she
said, merrily, to the tall, grave woman
In black velvet, who stood looking at her
affectionately, "full of compliments, and
not meaning one ; but when is dinner to be
ready?" pathetically; "I'm dying of star
vation."
"I hope you have peaches, Madame,"
said Vandeloup, gaily; "the first time I
met Mademoiselle she was longing for
peaches." .
"I am unchanged In that respect," re
torted Kitty, brightly; "I adore peaches
still."
"I am Just waiting for Mr. Calton,"
said Madame Midas, looking at her
watch ; "he ought Xo be here by now."
"Ia that tha lawyer, Madame?" aaked
Vandeloup.
"Xes, she replied, quietly, "be la a
most delightful man."
"So I have heard, answered Vande-
loup, nonchalantly, "and he had something
to do with a former owner of this house.
I think.
'Oh, don't tain ef that," said Mrs.
Villiers, nervously ; "the first time I took
the house I beard all about the owner
being murdered."
"Why, Madame, you are not nervous,"
said Kitty, gaily.
"No, my dear," replied the elder, quiet
ly, 'Dot l must confess that tor some
reason or another I have been a little
upset since coming ner; l don't ilk De
ing alone;
"You shall never be that," said Kitty,
fondly nestling to her,
"Thank you, puss, said Madame, tap-
ping her cheek ; "but I am nervous," she
said, rapidly ; "at night especially. Some-
times I. have to get Sellna to come into
my room aaa stay an nigDt,
"Madam Midas nervous," thought
Vandoloup to himself; "then I can guess
the reason; she Is afraid of her husband
coming back to her."
Just at this moment the servant an
nounced Mr. Calton, and he entered, with
his sharp', incisive face, looking clever
and keen.
"I miiat apologise for being late, Mrs,
Villiers," he said, shaking handa with his
hostess; "but business, you know, the
pleasure ef business."
"Now," said Madame, quickly, "I hope
you have com te th business of pleas
ure."
"Very epigrammatic, my dear lady,'
said Calton, in his high, clear voice;
"pray introduce me."
Madame did so, and they all went to
dinner, Madame with Calton and Kitty
foilewiag with Vandeloup.
"This," observed Calton, when they
were all seated at the dinner table, "is the
perfection of dining; for we are four,
and the guests, according to an epicure,
should never be less than the Graces nor
greater than th Muses."
And a very merry little dinner It was.
All four were clever talkers, and Vaude-
loup and Calton being pitted against one
another, excelled themselves; witty re
marks, satirical sayings, and well-told
stories were constantly coming from their
CHAPTER XXV.
The Meddlechlp were giving a ball,
tneretore tn mansion at loorsx was
brilliantly illuminated and crowded with
fashlonabl people. Th ball room was a
tho side of th house, and from It French
windows opened on to a wide 'veranda,
which was Inclosed with drapery and
hung with many-colored Chinese lanterns.
Beyond this th smooth gi-een lawns
stretched away te a thick fringe of trees.
which grew beside th fence and screened
the Meddlechlp rcsidenee from th curi
ous gase of vulgar eyes.
Kitty cam under theardianshlp of
Mrs. Killer, a young matron with dark
hair, an Imperious msnner, and a young
mau always at her heels. Mrs. VUllera
lutended to have con.e, but at th last nut
meat was scuwd with on ef her nervous
fins, so defiled to stop at hem
Bellna for eompaay. Kitty, therefore,
accompanied Mrs. Killer to the ball, but
ths guardianship of that lady was more
nominal than anything else, as she went
f with Mr. BelHborp after intredadng
Kitty to Mrs. Meddleohip, end danced
wtth him the wh!e evening. Kitty, hew
ever, did not in the least mind being left
te her own devices, for being an extremely
pretty girl she soon bad plenty ef yeaeg
men round her anxious te be latrodneea,
She filled her program rapidly and kept
two valses for Vandeleup, aa she knew
he was going te be present, bnt he as yet
had not made his appearance.
lie arrived about a qnarter past tea
o'clock, and was strolling leisurely tip
te the house, when he saw Flerre, stand
ing amid a number of idlers at the gats.
The dnmb man stepped forward, and
Vandeloup paused with a smile en hts
handsome lips, though he was angry
enongh at the meeting.
"Money again, I suppose?" he said to
Pierre, In a lew veice, la French; "den't
trouble me now, but eeme te my rooms
to-morrow."
The dumb man nodded, and VandeTonp
walked leisurely np the path. Thea
Flerre followed him rlcht up te the step
which led to the hoifce, saw him enter
the brilliantly lighted hall, and then hta
himself In the shrubs which grew on the
edge of the lawn. There, In close hiding,
he could hear the sound of musle and
voices, and could aee the door of the
fernery wide epea, and caugnt gtlmpses
ef dainty dresses within.
Vandeloup, quite Ignorant that his
friend was watching the house, put en his
gloves leisurely, and walked in search ef
his hostess. Mrs. Meddlechlp glanced ap
provingly at Vandeloup as he eame up,
for be waa extremely good looking.
Released from Mrs. Meddlecfaip, Oastea
went In search of Kitty, and found her
with Felix Rolleston, who was amusing
her with his gay chatter.
"I don't want to dance," Kitty said
curtly, pointing to the seat beside her as
an invitation fer him to sit down.
"Pardon me," observed Vandeleup,
blandly, "I do; we can talk afterwards
if yon like."
Their eyes met, and then Kitty arose
and took his arm, with a charming pout.
It was no good fighting sgainst the quiet,
masterful manner of this man, so she
allowed him to put his arm round her
waist and swing her slowly Into the cen
ter of the room. "One Summer's Night in
Munich" was a favorite vatse, and every
one who could dance, and a good many
who could not, were up on the floor. Ev
ery now and then, through the steady
beat of the music, came the light laugh of
a woman or the deeper tones of a man's
voice; and the glare of the lights, the
flashing Jewels, the soft frou-frou ef
dresses, and the subtle perfume of flow
ers gave an Indescribable flavor to ths
whole scene.
(To be continued.)
A Habit.
Occasionally tho brightest lawyer en-
counters a witness whose answers are
a disappointment to him, says a writer
In the Boston Herald. It is said that
the late Governor Robinson was one
day examining a man from whom he
was trying to get a definition of a mira
cle.
"If a man should fall from a third
story window," he said, "and should
strike on his head on a stone walk, and
get up and go away unhurt, what would
that be?"
"That would be an accident," said the
witness. ,
"Well, if the same man next day fell
from the same .window, struck on the
same spot, on his head again, and
again walked away unhurt, what would
that be?".
"That would be a coincidence."
"Very well," said the lawyer, patient
ly end certain that he had bis man at
last; "now, if on a third day the same
man fell again from the same window
on the same spot, on his bead, and
ogalu walked away unhurt, what would
you call that?"
'The same man?" demanded the wit
cess.
"Yes."
"The same window?"
"Yes."
"Aud fall on the same sidewalk J
"Yes."
"I should call ' that a habit"
Subjective Drowning.
The dentist's chair was tipped so far
back that escape for the village seam
stress, a lady of remarkable conver
sational ability, was Impossible. Wads
of absorbent cotton were . tucked be
neath her tongue, some patent appli
ance held her Jaws apart, and all the
lower half of her countenance except
oue back tooth was concealed under a
decidedly damp rubber dam. The pa
tient's mouth was full of water, speech
was Impossible, and the poor, naturally
talkative lady was suffering agonies ef
discomfort.
The engrossed dentist paid no heed
to ber squlrmlngs nor to the appeal In
her eyes. Fortunately, however, the
patient's hands were free. Groping In
the rettcule that hung from her belt, she
brought forth paper und pencil and
wrote:
"Help! Help! I'm drowning."
Trn Enonsrn.
"Here," sold, the cranky patron of
the reading room, "you've been anor
Ing horribly."
"He?" gurgled the drowsy patron.
"If you only keep your mouth shut,"
went on the cranky one, "you wouldn't
make so much noise."
"Neither wosjd you." replied the oth
er. Philadelphia Ledger.
Flsnlna- In Shallow Water.
She Poor Maude had such bard
luck at the beach yesterday.
He Why, what happened?
She Well, she tried the drowning
gnme, and, would you bellere It, with
nil the eligible young men en the beach,
hr rescuer was an old fossil of a ben
edict Boston Transcript
aulas Hint Up.
"Who Is that big man?" asked the
stranger.
That" replied the native, "Is Mr.
Pompus."
"Only a plain 'mister? Why, he ha
the bearing of a major general."
"Yes, and the overbearing e.r a young
lieutenant." rhlludelphla .Ledger.
Cspnsbl mm A W m sBJJff
"Do you think," queried the anxious
candidate, "that my opponent wlfl take
the initiative?"
"Sure," answered the political boea,
"He has a reputation fr taking any ol4
thing that Isn't nailed down."
Tear ef being found out Is respoua.;
kl. AIam Maa at aeiat rfr null ISlHaVas S.
WHO AEE THE
Who are the happy, who are the free?
You tell me and I'll tell thee ;
Those who have tongues that never He,
Truth on the lip, truth In the eye ;
To Friend or to Foe,
To all above and to all below ;
These are the happy, these are the free,
So may It be with thee and me.
-London Times.
$ Dave's Triumphant Marriage
o . . X
"That little Allle Elsls Is a dear!"
said one matron to another. "Watch
her, now, over there talking with Dare
Ethbcrt See bow Dave brightens. Al
lle Is really a magnet for smiles ; never
saw her like."
"Nor I" said the other. "Allle Is
beautiful ; an unusual type, anyhow-
small, black balr, blue eyes, rosy. She
and Dave will come to a proper under
standing some day, I hope. Did you
ever see another man who looked more
like a figure on a tailor's fashion-plate
than Dave does? The rooms will soon
be crowded. Here comes Mr. Channlng
and Caroline Coree."
The two thus singled out passed to
where Allle and Dave were, their group
soon becoming the most animated to
be seen.
"My husband thinks that Mr. Chan
nlng Is already tho most important law
yer In town," continued the matron's
monotonous flow of speech. "I suppose
he will eventually take hts father's po
sition. It is time that the old Chan
nlng mansion should have a mistress.
How do you think Caroline would do?"
"The best In the world," the other
affirmed. 'That high-lady air of hers
would suit the grand proportions of the
place. It's a pity she isn't pretty."
"Not pretty? Why, Caroline is love
ly!" was declared.
"No. She Is too much like dozens of
others; brown hair, gray eyes, fair,
plump. I think Caroline's chief attrac
tions are that she looks straight at you
when she speaks to you, and that her
dresses always fit her ns If made for
her and not for another. Her hair Is
an attraction, too; fluffy ns Allio's, yet
done up in a style that makes one sure
it Is not coming down, and that the
combs are going to stay exactly where
Bhe placed them."
The other lady smiled. "You observe
very closely," she remarked. "I think
her pretty, despite your Ideas."
When Caroline reached homo after
tho entertainment she and Mr. Chan
nlng seated themselves In her quiet
parlor for what they thought was to
be the happiest chat of the evening.
It was only . a few minutes until, ac
cidentally, the conversation turned to
personal affairs. The two had been
friends since the days of childhood, but
it had been only within the last year
that Mr. Channlng had discovered that
Caroline was dearer to him than any
one else. He had never told her, and
there was a noticeable diffidence In his
mien as be said: "It Is good to be
alone with you, Caroline, and to feel
safe from Interruption. To-night I
want, to talk of myself as I can talk
to no one but you. May I do It?"
"You may begin," she permitted,
smiling. "I may have to stop you since
I am In the dark as to how you mean
to handle your subject" She settled
ber elbow on a pile of cushions In the
corner of the settee, and nestling her
cheek In ber palm, looked, at blm,
awaiting his words. Her ease was dis
concerting. Moving his rocker side
ways, but In front of her, be said, a
little awkwardly:
"You look so provoklngly nonchalant,
Caroline, and I feel so serious. I al
ways do In a genuine home. You know
I have never bad a borne. Even when
I waa a kid, there was only that big
bouse of ours, full of furniture and
an all-Invading housekeeper. Father
would come at night, and leave In the
morning. I certainly did have a bleak
boyhood." He turned his eyes from
an almost unconscious survey of the
pretty room to surprise on Caroline's
face, a responsive expression.
"You poor fellow!" she said, with
charming Intonation. "I have thought
about you as homeless in that big
bouse! Haven't we always been
friends? I used to feel dreadfully sor
ry for you even when we went to school
together."
"Since then, also?" he asked, quick
ly. "Yes, since then, also," she admit
ted, reluctantly. ,
"I have needed it," he said almost
sternly. "Have needed It most of all
In the last two years, because In that
time I have not even had father. Do
you know, Caroline, I am glad you
have been sorry? It does not sound
well, but I am glad. It even makes It
easier for me to tell you that In the
last year I have come to know that I
love you. I am afraid, now that you
know; afraid, because, If you do not
love me, Caroline, my life can never
again have any zest to It Was It be
cause you do care for me that you
Mve felt sorry for my loneliness?"
Without changing her position, Caro
line bad looked away from blm during
bla last few seutences, and an expres
sion near akin to sadness was on her
face. A new womanliness was about
ber as'she turned again to blm, wait
Ing, and said, with the faintest smile,
and the gentlest tones, "Are all men
ao calm when they tell their love?"
Not pausing for answer, she put forth
ber warm, tender hand, and let It rest
on bis amazed and trembling one, as
she aald simply, a new pluk suffusing
ber face: "I have known of your love
a long while, Harold, and you are wel
come to know that never can I give
to any other man love like the love
feel for Just you." She was looking
at blm gravely, unhesitatingly, con
scious all the while of the emotion
aroused tn both of tbem.
Perhaps It wa the certain sympathy
i I"' ber tone, perhaps It was the volun
Itary touch of her hand, perhaps t was
what aha snlil: hut cnlmnesa In Harold
w no wore for tb. Um b
HAPPY t
Ing.- Caroline saw and heard, her face,
a beautiful transparency,' showing each
successive feeling he awakeued In her
soul. They talked on and on, time for
gotten ; tjjen, at the last they stumbled
unaware on a cause of dissension.
Unbelievable as It may be, they bade
each other a cool, curt goodbye, tho
engagement of an hour broken.
It is seldom that any of the Inhabi
tant of a small town can possess a se
cret In a way mysterious past under
standing, the secret Is shouted from the
housetops before it Is many days old.
8e, every one In Greenville soon knew
thut Caroline Coree had lovingly but
firmly broken an exceedingly short en
gagement to Mr. Channlng. She had
doue It lovingly, gossip said, because
she reully did love bint ; and firmly, be
cause she simply would not do what he
desired leavo her aged and Invalid
father to the care of her young brother,
after her marriage. Greenville at once
elected to tnke Caroline's side, even be
coming proud, as time wore on, of the
sad expression which was so at home
on the young countenance.
Harold and Caroline had agreed,
when they broke their engagement, to
continue their lives In accustomed
grooves. If possible, hoping thus to es
cape publicity. It was Caroline's wish
especially, for she hoped tunt her fath
er would never learn of the affair.
Thus each attendtxl the same social
gatherings, even conversing together
whenever It would have been notice
able to keep silence. At such times,
however, only each heart knew how
the tones of the other voice hurt; while
both became conscious that their every
m
THE WEODINO WAS HOME AFi'AIK.
word was caught by others, their every
movement was watched.
After mouths of this weariness, these
came a new phase of the affair. Mr.
Channlng began paying constant atten
tions to Allle Elsls, thereby causing
Dave Ethbcrt the liveliest concern.
Caroline saw and heard with feelings
she could scarcely analyze, and,-ex
cused by the fact that her father really
was worse, she stayed much at home.
Not until then had she tried to over
come her love, because sho had hitherto
felt that Harold's love for her was real.
and would conquer his selfishness. It
was with a feeling of horror that she
gradually realized the import of his at
tentions to Allle, and of Allle's seem
ing delight She could scarcely hide
her sympathy for Dave, who was open
ly miserable. He had been Allle's
slave-like lover for years.
Of course, gossip was busy. Even
Caroline was not spared listening . to
that dame. She hoard that Dave had
begged Allle to believe that Mr. Chan
nlng was only striking at Miss Coree
over her shoulders. Deep down In Car
oline's heart this was what she herself
believed, and ber gentle soul was afraid
for Allle. So, It was like tho news of
woe past averting, that there came to
Caroline an invitation to the marriage
of Harold Channlng and Allle Elsls.
She knew In that moment's experience
such suffering as had never before
come to her. Either Harold had never
loved her, or he was a weak character,
unworthy the love she was giving to
him. For a moment or two her face
bent toward the paper In ber lap, then
ber head was raised with what was
called ber high-lady air. The pride of
tho really gentle woman had come to
her aid. Abundantly was she able, now.
to hide ber suffering.
The wedding was a home affair. Her
heart schooled aud skilled, Caroline at
tended. Allle was almost bewildering
In her beauty. Harold, a new expres
sion on bis face, looked neither at
Allle nor at any one else. Something
of scorn wus In Caroline's heart as she
turued her gaze for a moment ou him.
standing In front of the minister.
The bridal party were to leave for
a northern city ao hour after the cere
-.uony, and an luro.riui supper was
served In the meantime. Tbo guests
saw Allle depart to don her traveling
dress; then soon became conscious of
some unusual excitement among mem
bers of the family. First the parents
left the room, then her sister, and at
last even her cousins. Questions and
suppositions weut the rounds as the
minutes Increased In number and the
guests were still left to themselves.
Some thought that something had gone
wrong with Dare Etbbert' He bad been
seen standing alouo ou the front side
walk before (be marriage, but no one
had seen bhu since. Train-time came
and passed, and the guests could
scarcely control themselves. None of
the family were yet visible, though
tbero was a constant passing and re
posing going on upstairs. Just when
Mm mmfo-
'.I JrtSn . SLnV V
the tension was almost unbearable, '
portly man, who had not been seen In
the rooms until then, appeared, and
rapped for silence. It enveloped blm
In a moment ao quickly that he smiled, v
"At the reqpest of the family," be
commenced, "I have the duty, unpleas
ant and pleasdnt, of making a few
necessary explanations. It has been
decided that lest the truth be warped,
nn exact statement of affairs shall be
given out at once, preventing Injustice
all around.
"When Mr. Channlng stepped from
his carriage to-night, ho learned that
the gentleman who was to have pro
cured the license bad not done ao, be
not being exactly hhnsetf. Consultlngl
with the minister before entering the
bouse, It seemed best for the sake of
avoiding delay, and possible annoy
ance to the bride-expectant to go
through with the ceremony at once,
though It would mean nothing. Then
to send for the license, explain things
to Miss Allle, and, as soon aa the li
cense should come,- erform another
ceremony upstairs, very quietly and
with but few witnesses.
"Two things happened to prevent
some of these arrangements. Miss Allle
became Indignant at what she thought
unpardonable neglect in Mr. Channlng.
She made trouble over it, and while
the matter was still unsettled, Mr.
DaTe Ethbcrt found his way to her,
did his talking satisfactorily, and they
were married before the family knew
that she had left the house."
An uncontrollable ripple of applause
at this point astonished and horrified
the speaker. Simply his expression
quelled the noise, and some one at the
door asked how Mr. Ethhbert got bis 11-
conso so promptly, yhere stole a twin
kle Into the sjeaker's eye.
"Dave beard at the name moment
that Mr. Channlng did." was explained.
that no license had been procured.
Knowing the little lady pretty well, he
beat Mr. Channlng's messenger to the
ordinary's honse, and procured the li
cense ' for himself with the result
known."
This time he had to raise his hand to
hush the irrepressible laughter, and,
himself smiling, said: "Mr. and Mrs.
Etbbert left on the train which she had
expected, before the first ceremony, to
take. I suppose It Is now In order for
us to go to our homes." '
Probably every mortal in Greenville
knew of Dave Ethbert's love for Allle,
and when It became known how he had
snlled Into his desired haven, an exul
tation In his daring made them forget
the pain of the other man In the affair.
Only Caroline cast a pitying look at
the solitary light high up In the Chan
nlng borne as her carriage passed It that
night On all sides she hoard loud
cbeers for Dave, and smiled at the evi
dent youth of soaie of the cheerers. As
she stepped from the carriage, a boy
rose stiffly from the curbing, put a note
In ber hand, and went off. whistling.
Pausing under the hall light she tore
open the missive, and read these words:
Caroline, I swear to you that I began
the affair with Allle only to try to quit
thinking of you, and that then I became
compromised through a blunder not of
my making. After that any honorable
man wmi . 1 1 fiatrn otArl na T AA V am
only relieved Immeasurably over the
turn affairs have taken to-night
II. C."
Did she believe him? Probably she
did. A very pleasant light was in her
eyes, and since her love was of the
kind that endureth all things, and en
dure th forever, we may feel sure that
she rend much between his lines. At
any rate, there is a royal-hearted lady
In the Channlng home to-day, and ber
husband Is . no selfish lover, though
lover he surely Is. Wnverley Maga
zine. MAKK TWAIN ON SLAVEBY.
lacldeat of the Humorist's Boyhood
Dart Revealed Its Traarle Side.
In my schoolboy days I had no aver
sion to slavery, says Mark Twain In
the North American Review. I was
not aware that there was anything
wrong about it No one arraigned it
In my bearing; the local papers said
nothing against it; the local pulpit
tuught us that God approved it, that it
was a holy thing, and the doubter need
only look In the BIblo If he wished to
settle hts mind and then the texts
were read aloud to us to inuke the
matter sure; If the slaves themselves
had an aversion to slavery they were
wise and said nothing. In Hannibal
we seldom saw a slave misused ; on the
farm, never.
There was, however, one small inci
dent of my boyhood days which touch
ed this matter, and It must have meant
a good deal to me or It would not have
stayed In my memory, clear nud sharp,
vivid and shadowless, all these slow
drifting years. We had a little slave
boy whom we had hired from some one
there in Hannibal. He was from the
eastern shore of Maryland ond had
been brought nway from his family and
his friends half way across the Ameri
can continent and sold' ne was a
cheery spirit Innocent and gentle, and
the noisiest creature that ever was, per
haps. All day long he was singing,
whistling, yelling, devastating, unen
durable. At last, one day I lost all
my temper and went raging to my
mother and said Sandy had been sing
ing for an hour, without a single break,
nnd I couldn't stand It. aud wouldn't
she please shut blm up. The tears
came Into her eyea and her Hp trem
bled and she said something like this:
"Poor thing, when he sings It shows
that he Is not remembering, and that
comforts me; but when he Is still I ani
afraid he Is thinking and I cannot
bear It He will never see bis mother
again; If be can sing I must not hinder
it. but be thankful for It If you were
older you would understand me; then
that -friendless child's noise would
make you glad."
- Bhe Had.
She stepped on to a rolling stone
' ' 1 And, though the pain may rankl.
Sh has what every woman like
(And man) a well-turaec: aakle.
Houston Post.
Paste this on the lid of your trunks.
Your friends are not us anxious to
have you come aud see them as you
think they arv , -T