Nebraska Newspapers

    FOTJOTJ.
fie sonrbt the rond to happiness
Through weary, weary years,
And all the ways ha traveled or
Wert aprinkkd with his tears.
.And lit ill tha storms of life opposed
And aorrow griped hla heart
'Tha whllo ha saw hla hopes taka wing
And ona by on a depart.
IT Bought the road to liApplnesa,
The sunny, golden land,
But all in vain until one day
Love took him by the band.
.And led him ou past frowning height
Into a, valley sweet,
"Where joy at Inst repaid him for
The lessons of defeat.
-Birmingham Age-Herald.
Captain of the Ship
The barque Deliverance was almost
teady for sea. The lust few enses of
cargo were belug swung nloard, the rig
gers were busily bonding the great
sheets of canvas that, ere many hours
were past, would be 'swelling to the
thrust of the Biscay gales. Her deck
Were Uttered from stem to stern with
ropes, provision 'nses, odds and ends of
refuse, and In and between all this
conglomeration the sweating stevedores
moved and sworo fluently, catching the
winging cases deftly, guiding them to
the open hatches, bestowing them in
Orderly precision, ready to stand what
vw the future might be pleased to
how In the way of weather.
"I've got something rather Important
to tell you, Flaxmnn," said Wenlock,
Hod had the skipper not been so taken
tip with his own Imaginings he might
bare noticed a trnee of nervous excite
ment In the owner's voice. "You're not
to bring the Deliverance home ngnln."
He tried to look the skipper In the face
aa he spoke, but failed. His eyes
dropped of their own accord to his feet
"I'll see you d d first," said Flax-
mnn, hotly. "What, throw away my
nip? If you weren't my owner, I'd tell
you pretty plainly what I think about
yon. Being that you are my owner, I
tell you to your face that I won't com
mit barratry for any man under the
sun, not if it meant drowning myself
first And I'll tell you this, Mr. Wen
lock, that if you so much ns put your
hand to pocket and show me the color
of your dirty ensh I'll throw It In your
face!?
"It isn't cash I'm going to show you,"
sneered Wenlock. "It's something else.
Look!" Tie took out a folded paper ns
ha spoke, and opened It, before the skip
per's eyes.
"Rend it," he commanded, and Flax-to.-fn,
with horror tightening his heart
strings, read: .
"On the 7th of August, 1001. I prom
ise to pay Samuel Wenlock the sum of
1,000, value received, with interest nt
the rate of 7 per cent per annum."
"See the signature?" asked the ship
owner. "That writing ought to be fa
miliar to you."
"Yes, I see It," gasped. Flaxmnn.
hoarsely. lie might well gnsp, for the
promissory note was signed by his own
father.
"Nineteen hundred and one," said
Wenlock, musingly. "And now It's '05.
Four years overdue, and never a penny
of interest been paid ever since the be
ginning. Do you know what that
means?" He had grown suddenly vi
cious, as weak men sometimes do. "It
means that I've only to lift my hand
to have your father thrown Into gaol as
a debtor. It means that I've only to
dose my hand as I now close it, to
have your father branded In the sight
of men. Well, on the day I hear the
Deliverance is thrown away I'll burn
this; or, better, when you come and
tell me the ship's lost I'll give it to you
to burn. What do yon think of the af
air now, Capt. Flnxman?"
A hundred times a day Flaxmnn
vent over his parting with the girl he
loveO. He conjured up soul-stlrrlng
Visions of her humid eyes which yet
hone with a light of perfect faith
Her parting words sounded in his ears,
above tho rustling fret of tho canvas
and the booming of the Atlantic gales:
1 know mere h something worrying
you, aear, bur remember .that I love
you with all my soul, and perhaps that
will help to llcliten the load."
What would fho think If she knew
'the cause of his worry? He could pic
ture tho cold pallor of her cheek, tha
proud disdain of her scornful mouth,
and picturing them he writhed In men
tal agony. For no man pursues villainy
lor villainy a sake.
"But It's no use," muttered the cap
tain to that vision that would persist
in growing out of tho night; "I've got
to do It, Elsie. It's ns much for your
sake as my own. I can't low you, girl,
I can't"
Now that ho had made up his mind
positively, he felt something of cheer
fulness enter Into h!m. Ho tried to as
sure himself that he was not actually
committing a crime; tho Deliverance
was old, she must come to her end
ahortly, by the inert action of Nature,
He was forestalling the Inevitable, that
iwas all. And so Ik; whistled about the
Cocks, now and then he sang a rolling
taVe of some jood old sea song; but
it was In the d irkness of his own
Shrouded cabin that the full horror of
What he purported came to him, and
then he saw himself lace to face, with
out any pleasure In the sight.
It was then the vision came to him,
the vision thut brought him to his feet
With parched lips and trembling hands,
with a throbbing heart und an awful
loathing In his soul. It was a vision of
Elsie Wenderwood, but such an Elsie!
Would ho ever forget the absolute dls
jjust depleted on her lovely face?
Would he ever forget the awful turning
away from his appeals, the haughty
contempt shown plainly In each line of
her dainty form? Was it possible that
be bad fallen so low as to earn that
Supremo loathing?
He went ou deck uow, big with pur
pose, it waa a wonderful night t a trop
ical night, with blazing stars crowding
tha velvet dome of heaven. The snip
was thrusting herself gallantly through
an alnit Reckless sea, the straining
of canvas, tho gentle frap-frap of ropes,
mingled soothingly with the plash and
hiss of parted water under the advan
clng prow. Flax man drew In deep
draughts of the Invigorating air, and
squared hla shoulders with the first
sense of freedom that he had known
for a month.
There waa a shivering groan pawed
along the whole length of tho Deliver
ance, a resounding crash, a sucking of
angry water, another crash, and the
thunder of falling yards. Then a wave
broke over the ship's stern, another fol
lowed It ; she stopped dead and heeled
over at an ugly angle.
"All hands to the boats; abandon
ship!" cried Flaxman, clearly, and now
was to be seen the result of that con
stant training of the past. With beauti
ful precision the boats swung out, the
men took their places, tho steward
brought food, water and arms. It was
a calm night ; the men were allowed to
take the beRt of their possessions with
them. Flaxman lowered himself into
the stern of the Inst boat and gave the
word to shove off Just as the Deliv
erance gave that sick lurch which
presages the Inevitable end.
As Cnpt. Flaxman turned Into the
entrnnee of the building where the in
quiry was to be held, he cannoned full
into Sheerpole, his late mate. Sheer
pole greeted him with a sinister smile.
Flnxmnn said nothing. He turned
awny to enter the fateful room, where
the judges sat In authority. What
would be bin fate when the door closed
on him again?
He stood up to give his account of
the happening, but just as he did so
Shecrpolo forced his way into the room.
"Who is this man?" said tho presi
dent of the board of Inquiry, and
Sheerpole answered, grimly: "First
mate of tho Deliverance, and I've come
to tell the truth of the matter."
Then, without waiting ror permlssoln,
550 told all he had to tell. Not a single
detail wns spared. Sheerpole licked hla
loose lips when the tale was told.
"Is this true?" asked the president
when he came to a close. His face was
very grave, his lips were tightly eom
pVessed. "True, sir. In every word," answered
Flaxman, bravely. "Tho facta as stated
are absolutely correct."
'Then this Is a case for a criminal
court, but before we commit Capt Flax-
man for trial I should like to hear his
defense."
In a clear voice that never faltered,
Flaxmau told of his desperate tempta
tion. 'Tut, sir," he said, "I repented in
time. Though the ship was lost, I
swear that I was innocent of evil In
tent. On that night when I altered the
course, which, so Mr. Sheerpole says,
was done with the Intention of casting
the ship on the rocks, I had fought a
bitter light with myself, but I had won.
I altered tho course to save the ship,
not to lose her, and had the mate been
a better navigator, ho would have
known that such was tho case. It was
an error of Judgment on my part, not
a criminal act." And then he waited,
stiffening himself to meet whatever waa
coming.
A whispered conversation was held
by the board. There was excitement in
the very air.
"What was your position when you
altered your course, captuln?" asked
one of tho board.
"As near as I could Judge, sir, it waa
in " and ho gave the exact spot on
the sea's surface where the Deliverance
lay at th moment ho altered her course
for safety.
There was a rustle of charts, and the
parallel rulers were laid carefully on
the parchment.
"And after that you steered what
course?"
"Sou'west, sir. Allowing for varla
tlon and deviation, it was south west-by
south-half-south true." A shuffling of
tho ruler, a bending of heads. Excited
arguments amongst the grave and rev
erend selgnors of the sea. Then the
president spoke.
According to the admiralty chort,
gentlemen, there Is no reef or rock with
in 200 miles of this spot An admiral
ty chart Is supposed to bo flawless, nut
there have been rumors of an unchart
ed rock In this vicinity, and If Capt
Flaxman's story bo true, we have am
ple verification of the rumor. Un
marked, unguarded In any way, there
exlHts a hidden roek, a menace to na I
gatlon, and this being the case, Cupt.
Flaxman Is guiltless of evil intent."
Flaxman heard, but did not under
stand. He had steeled himself to en
dure; the fact that he was blameless
had not penetrated to his understand
ing. But tho voice of the president
came to him nt last
"You are discharged, captain, with a
clean certificate. You were severely
tempted, perhaps none here knows how
severely; but you came through the
temptation bravely, and I pray that
none of us may ever have to cope with
a similar trial. I should like to shake
hands with you, captain, If you don't
mind." And so. with a sentiment that
It rare amongst inen who use the sea,
be gripped Flaxman's hurd hand.
"I have nothing to do with your own
er's share, but I think you are fit for
something better than his service, and
so I shall make It my business to keep
an eye on you, and I think I can prom
I m you an early command. How would
tha Falace suit you?"
Tha Palace line! Flaxman reeled on
A IX UANI1S AIUNDON TUB BHir.
certainly. They paid their captains
:tflQ a year to commence with!
"Where are you going, captain?"
asked the president, as Flaxman mad
a bolt for the door.
"Going to telegraph to Elsie," he
stammered, with a blush. CassoU'S
Saturday Journal.
SMUGGLING CHINAMEN.
A Business Which la Preatafcle, bat
Not Without Ita Dangers.
Smuggling Chinamen from Canada
Into tho United States Is a business
which brings largo profit but Is attend
ed by many dangers. Quite a number
of men are engaged In It. Peruana at
no point along Uie International boun
dary Is the business carried on more ex
tensively than at and near Detroit The
Detroit and St Clair rivers are not
broad and all that is required at least
for an attempt at smuggling an Ori
ental Into Uncle Sam's territory, Is a
rowboat nnd a dark night For 80
miles there Is not a spot where an at
tempt ut smuggling may not emanate
ina from this It can readily be seen
that Uncle Sam's agents must be pcr-
petually on tho Job and wide awake all
the time.
The smugglers make the Chinese pay
handsomely all the way from flO to
$100. But the rirtk is great enough to
warrant the charge. Capture and con
viction means fine and Imprisonment
for the smuggler and deportation for
the Chinaman.
It costs anywhere from fl,200 up
ward for a Chinaman to reach the
United States by way of Canada.
Steamer fare from China to Vancouver
is about $250. A like amount must be
paid to the steamer company to protect
It in the event of a man being caught
and sent back. The Canadian head tax
is 500. Transportation to Windsor and
tha pay which the smuggler demands
bring the total to tho amount named. '
One naturally wonders why tho
Chinamen, who once here will work lu
laundries at from $10 to $12 per week,
should be willing to pay such sum to
gnln admission to the United States.
But it Is worth it to the wealthy men
Chinese who put up the money.
Once here, the Immigrant la virtually
their slave until he works out the sum
expended, together with a handsome
profit. Even with thla handicap the
Celestials are able in a few years to
save enough money to enable them to
ruturu to China and live In comparative
affluence the balance of their lives.
The restriction placed on their Immi
gration to the United States is having
ita effect despite the activity of the
smugglers. A few years ago one or
more Chinamen could bo found in al
most every American village, conduct
ing a laundry. Now they are rarely
Keen except In the large cities.
BOSTON HAS 3,000 LAWYERS.
Comparison of Lan O III ceo ot 35
Yean Aaro with Those of To-day.
Thirty-five years ago there were 675
lawyers In Boston ; to-day tho roll of
attorneys contains more than 3,000
names, says tho Bostou Post.
The old court house in Court Bquare
was at that time the theater of action,
and tho lawyers wero concentrated in
tho Immediate vicinity.
Tho India building, a gloomy four
story granite structure, on which site
now stands a portion of Young's Hotel,
was headquarters for many eminent
men, and Barrister's Hall, in Court
square, since converted into hotel uses,
also boused quite a contingent Tho
Nllee block on School street and City
Hall avenue, the Scollay building on
Soollay square, where the subway sta
tion now stands, furnished quarters to
many attorneys, and at a later period
the abandoned dwellings In l'emberton
square were lnvndwl. Court street be
tween Washington street and Scollay
square was always a favorite situa
tion for lawyers, and the Merchants'
Bank building on State street the then
eastern limit
In the old days the offices even of
tho most celebrated lawyers were
cheerless-looking places. A common
pjaln table served as a desk, and a few
Inexpensive chairs completed tho out
fit, which with a bare floor added to
the gloom. Tho Judges of thirty-five
years ago fared little better .than their
brethren at tho bar. The accommoda
tions for tho Judges were very meager,
and the question of personal comfort
was hardly considered. Plain but sub
stantial furniture was the limit of ex
penditures for the courls, and tho out
lay as compared with present condi
tions was striking. Tho "mahogany"
room of the Justices of the Supreme
Judicial Court In the new court house
Is as luxurious as tho parlors of tho
largo hotels. Every part of the 'build
ing Is in keeping with tho apjiearance
of tho rooms axulgiied to the Justices
of the highest trlbural of tha com
monwealth, and no public building in
Its interior arrangements can excel the
present court house of Suffolk County.
The evolution of law has also been
shown In the growth of the Social
Law library. Originally starting in a
comparatively small room at the west
end of the old court house with a few
thousands of volumes, It now occupies
nearly the entire front of the second
floor of the new court house and con
tains 43,000 volumes. It has outgrown
Its present home, and when the court
bowse Is reniivieled, additional room
will be provided.
llov It Happened.
Jack llow did Spylow got the bum
eye football?
Juke No, elr. Sprained It lust sum
mer at dor bathing peach. Wisconsin
Sphinx.
Quit EnltKbtrnluo;,
"I plugged on that problem till 6
o'clock thla morning."
"And then did you got the Ideal"
Well, it began to dawn upon me."
Harvard Lampoon.
It's a safe bet that the man who bare
ly escapes being run over by a motor
car does not call the driver a chauffeur.
Remember, girls, that the young man
who writes the best lovo letters doesn't
necessarily make the best husband. '
This would be a brighter world 1
the people who can't sing wouldu't
taocoooooaovzaooooooooaaciC
B A HELPFUL CLERK. I
An old lady with a shopping ling In
her hand came Into a drug store near
tho railway station of a good sized New
England city. It was a warm after
noon, and the clerk sat reading a novel
behind tho prescription counter. "Young
man," said the old lady, "may I look at
your directory?"
"Certainly, madam." The clerk po
litely moved the bulky volume along
the counter and returned to his book.
For a few minutes there was no sound
in the drug store but the turning of tho
page of tho directory.
"Now thnt's funny," said the old lary,
presently. "Young man, do you know
John Smith?"
"Several times," replied tho clerk,
cheerfully looking up from his novel. ,
"Eh?"
The clerk got down from his stool.
"I know several John Smiths," ho
xplnlned. "Hasn't he nny middle Ini
tial?" ... "Well, ho used to have," said the old
lady. "I've clean forgot It You see,
I used to know his mother. She was
n Martin. A right pretty girl, too. And
so, being In this town, I thought I'd
surprise John by dropping In to see
him."
"I see," said the clerk. "And there
are so many of him "
"Eh?"
"I moan you didn't expect to find so
many of the same name in the direc
tory." "That's It. Did you know, young
man, that there's a baker's down of
John Smiths right here In this direc
tory?" "I hadn't counted 'em," said the
clerk, "but perhaps I can help you.
What docs your John Smith look like?"
"The last time I saw him he was a
fat boy. Now let me think! Yes, h
wns a fat boy with freckles, and wore
his hair pompadour. But that wns ten
years ago. I s'poso he's changed some
since then."
"Very likely." The clerk pondered.
Ho took the directory and looked nt the
aames himself, backward and forward.
"Do you recall anything else about
him?" asked the clerk.
"He used to be very fond of stick
peppermint," added the old lady,
thoughtfully. "And hla mother had an
awful time keeping him from going In
swimming with his clothes on "
"Thnt was certainly a peculiarity,"
snld the clerk. "But he has probably
chnnged his habits, nnd I'm afraid it
won't help us. You haven't any Idea
what his business is?"
"He used to be great at collecting
things toads and snakes nnd bugs and
stamps nnd birds' eggs and "
Tho clerk smiled. "So did I. What
we need, madam, Is thnt middle Initial.
How does A strike you John A. Smith?
Sound natural?"
The old lady shook her head. Tho
clerk again studied the directory.
"What wns his grandfather's name?"
h asked, presently.
"John. Just the same ns his. He
wns named nfter his grandfather."
"Ah!" Tho clerk's eyes sparkled.
"What was the rest of his grandfath
er's name? John what?"
"Martin."
"John M. Smith!" cried tho clerk,
triumphantly.
"That's It!" cried the old lady. And
In the excess of her gratitude she
bought two postage stamps. Youth's
Companion.
Hip Pocket No I'laoo for Gun.
"I have Just been reading one ol
these books of Texas life so called,"
said a gentleman of this city, who la nn
ex-runger and has had many dangerous
experiences with "bad men." 'The hero
wns a Texas cowboy, who wore a pistol
in his hip pocket Now anybody with
a grain of sense would know that cow
boys don't go Into hip pockets for their
shooting Irons. It's clumsy nnd unsafe.
"When a inun needs his gun, he needs
It had, and so he will keep It in bandy
reach, no isn't going to take any
chances of throwing his coat back or
having his pistol stick when he tries
to pull it out Besides, a pistol big
enough to do the work, with a barrel
long enough to insure accuracy of aim,
wouldn't go Into tho hip pocket, any
way. "Some fellows curry theirs In their
bolster, fixed ontbe right sldo of their
belts, and they let the belt swing loose,
to that the nlstol litmus well down on
! tho hip. Thnt's well enough; but I al
ways preferred lo carry mine In a
holster under my left 'arm, susKnded
from tho shoulder and n little to the
front.
"In this way there Is no vulgar dis
play of the weapon; yet when you need
It, nil you have to do Is to let -your
rk'ht hand fall carelessly, ns If you
wero going to take lead pencil out of
your vest pocket, and you nr'e ready for
any kind of argument" San Antonio
Express.
Cat nnd Fish.
A sen captain tells of his sailing k
southern sens where Hying fish abound.
They would sometimes In their flight
In the night come nboard tho ship and
drop on the der-k. He hnd three cats
that, though they were lying asleep bo
low, would hear the sound whenever a
fish struck the deck and would rush up
to get It. They distinguish this from
all other sounds. Tho crew tried to.
Imitate It in various ways, but could
not deceive the cols.
Tli o bo at
"I gossip very little," remarked Mr.
fjpccdcrllio.
"Indeed?"
"Yes, 1 iK'lieve that motorists should
be particularly careful not to run down
their friends nnd neighbors." Kan
sas City Times.
Tho man who has nothing to do
Isn't very well satisfied with a busy
man. The Idle man Is always saying
that tho tiiHy man works himself to
death, und squeezes u dollar until the
eaglo screams.
Some men haven't sense enough to
let well enough alone. When one girl
refuse to inurry them they ask another.
0TTC OJ IE8 5T0EJE.
Sometimes when 'neath the cares of tyfe
My shoulders seem to bend, and tr!o
Like some mad tempest rages 'round,
And nowhere la a haven found,
I think upon tho great broad sea,
ringued by the storm rctentTessly,
Tossed by the wlnda, yet soon is seen
Peaceful, untroubled nnd serene.
Where yesterday the tempest rnged,
To-day Its grief is all assuaged,
And from tho midst of stress and pain
Emerge surcease and peace again.
-John Ketidrlrk Bangs.
The Girl
4H4MjMj$MfMf J
"How much is she going topny you?"
demanded Mrs. Warner.
The color flamed Into Mies Aepnsla's
fair face. "Why, we couldn't let her
pay anything," she anld, gently. "Her
mother was a distant cousin nnd we
were playmates. And when the mother
died and Vlctorlne wrote that she
would like to visit us after she finished
school, of course we told her to come."
"Well, I think you were very fool
ish," was Mrs. Warner's untarnished
etatoment. 'A big, strong girl like
that! Why, she'll eat you out of house
and home!"
Ml as Emmellne looked anxious. She
was aa fat as Miss Aapasla wns thin,
and her longings were for tho flesh
pot, while Mlsa Aspnata's wero for the
things of tho spirit.
"I suppose she will have a pretty big
appetite," she said.
"Of course," Mrs. Warner asserted,
"and I can't see any reason why you
two should be saddled with a hoarder
who doesn't pay anything."
"Oh, we are very glad to hnve her."
It was Mlus Emmellne who emphasized
now. "It will ho pleasant to have r.ome
no young In thothouse."
But after Mrs. Warner had gone, the
flsters looked at each other doubtfully.
"Suppose she shouldn't be nice?" fal
tered Miss Aapasla.
"Suppose she should ent us out of
bouse and home 1"
And they stared at each other with
startled eyes.
Their guest was due at half-past six.
At six o'clock Miss Einmeline put some
delicate linen squares on the mahog
any table, and set forth n somewhat
meager supper of thinly sliced bread,
Jam and dried beef.
As the preparations progressed,
Josephus, the yellow cat, who hnd lieon
asleep In his own chnlr, waked up and
purred his appreciation.
Miss Emmellne smoothed his head
with a nervous hand. "Wo can't cut
down Josephus' crenm," she snld.
"Whatever else we do, we can't cut
down bis crenm."
"Of course not !" Miss Aspasln's tone
was Impatient. "I wish you wouldn't
always think about things to ent,
Emmy," and sho trailed upstairs to the
room which they hud prepared for Vlc
torlne.
It was a bare little place, although
the furniture wns of mahogany and
the old prints on the walls of greater
value than their owners guessed. But
of girlish decoration there was none,
and after Miss Aspasla had surveyed
it with 'some disapprobation, she went
across the hall and brought back a
heart-shaped satin cushion of faded
pink, that yonrs ago had been made to
grace hor own wedding furniture. And
when her romnnce had ended, the cush
ion had been laid away, to be brought
out now for the first time.
Mls Eitimellne puffed heavily up
the stairway and stopped in front of
the door. "I never supposed you would
let any one use that cushion," she said,
reprovingly.
"The dresser looked so bare," replied
Miss Aspasla. "But I couldn't stand It
to leave It there If she shouldn't be
nice."
"Well, I would wait until she came,"
was Miss Emmellne's way of settling It
"You'd foel perfectly dreadful to have
all kinds of pins stuck In It"
Miss Aspasla snatched the precious
relic to her bosom. "I'll wait," sho
agreed, and lied to her room to wrap
it In Its tlsKiio paper. As she went
Miss Emmellne announced, "I'm going
down to make the tea. She ought to
be here In a few minutes, and things
will bo all ready."
But sho wns not there lu a few min
utes; and when seven o'clock had come
and hnlf-past, the little ladles made
fresh tea, and ate a little of the sup
pur, reserving carefully the largest
share for the expected guest. Eight
o'clock struck, nnd Josephus curled
himself up for tho night on his cush
ion t nine o'clock, and Mrs, Warner
rushed over with a telegram.
"I mot the boy Just outside," she
explained.
"Something's happened," said Miss
Aspasla, faintly; but the telegram
merely announced that the train was
late five hours late.
"Now don't you sit up for her." Mrs.
Warner advised. "She wou't bo hero
till midnight, nnd Mr. Warner c;iu
meet her."
But another telegrum from the ap
pronchlng gi:isl came lit ten;
"Train lu-tlier delayed. Don't wait
up. Will take n -ul out."
"Ylctorlno certainly must like to
spend her nione.-," was Mrs. Warner's
comment. "Two telegrams nnd a cub!
Aj)d .Vet not p:iy her lio.ird!"
And In the face of her withering
sarcasm the sisters were sllenf.
But they did not go to bed. They
nodded lu their chairs, and at mid
night Miss Kuimellue said, wistfully,
s she looked at Yletorlne's eupier,
still et forth on the silver tray, "I'm
hungry."
Minn Aspaaiu shook her bead. "I
wouldn't eat auy of It," she said.
"Vlctorlne may want It when she
comes."
It was two o'clock when tbey hoard
the rattle ot the cab on the empty
street
Who Came
- ejv frJH$fH$HH$M$Hf
"She's here!" they said, breathlesalv.
and rnn to let her In.
She was pnylng the man. and her
low laugh came to them.
"Oh! oh!" she snld. "Did von alt
np, you bad little ladles? I told you
to go to bed."
Something In her voice made the sla
ters laugh In response. They had never
ixvn culled "bad little ladles" la that
affectionate way, and they luted It
"Tell him where to nut It" audi tha
voice again, and then they saw that
tho cabman wns staggering under a
tint trunk, and they made way for htm.
And after the cabman came Victor-
Inc. radiant, glowing, exnulalte. Rha
kissed them, and hnned Joseolms. and
cried, "Oh, It's lovely to be here! It
was perfectly ducky of you to let me
come 1"
MIks Asnnsla held the fflrl'a hand
lu a loving clnsp, while Mlsa Bmmellne
beamed on her. and said. "Ajid. now.
my dear, are you hungry?"
"Hungry I" said Vlctorlne. "I could
eat a house !"
Miss Aspnsla dropped her haad.
Wewe saved a little aupner." she
said. "Perhaps we should ret roa
something more."
Vlctorine's quick eves eanorht the
trouble In the old faces, and she re-
membered what her mother had told
her of the careful management that
had kept the two little ladles from ex
treme poverty.-
"No, indeed!" she said, aulcklv. "If
you'll Just make a cup of tea while I
get Into something comfortable." Then
her arms went round Miss Aspnsla
again. "I've been Just pining to see
you," she snld. "Mother has told mo
of the time when you were girls to
gether, and how Miss Emmellno liked
tarts and you liked to write poetry.
And now that she Isn't here I felt
that I Just had to come to you and
Mlas Emmellne "
"Predoua child!" murmured Miss
Aspasla, and wished that the pink cush
ion was In place on tho mahgonay
dresser.
"Please don't plan anything bat the
tea," Vlctorlne directed, as she went
upstairs. "I have some things m the
little trunk j my other trunks will come
up In the morning."
Miss Aspasla followed, taking In,
with fashion-starved eyes, tho cut of
tho tnllored gray suit, the bunch of
violets and llllcs-of the-valley thnt
brightened the front of It, the trim hat
with the gray veil.
Vlctorlne, on her knoos, llftod out
the tray of the flat trunk. "I bought
such things in New York the shops
wero perfectly irresistible. I found
thla kimono for myself," and she dis
played one of faint mauve crape, with
wistaria trailing over It, "and these I
brought for yu and Miss Emmellne."
"Oh !" Miss Apusla qnavered, as she
gathered up the exquisite pale blue gar
ment, all sprinkled with cherry blos
soms. Miss Emmellne's was a cheerful af
fair of gray, with a flight of swallows
across It, 'and a cherry-colored border
of sntln.
"Put It on," Vlctorlne urged, "and be
comfortable. We will muke a night
of It, dear Miss Aspasla."
And Mlsa AepnBla, with her eyes
shining like a girl's, ran down to Em
mellne.
"Oh, the lovely, lovely child, Emme
llne!" she said, with a break lu her
voice. "Sho has brouirht us these!"
They put on tho kimonos, surveying
thciiiseles almost stealthily In the mir
ror In the sitting-room.
"What would Sirs. Warner any?"
Miss Aspasla remarked, almost guilt
ily, as she blushed at her charming re
flection. "1 !ou't enro what she'd say." said
Miss Kmmeline, recklessly. "I've never
been so comfortable In my life," anil
sho swept Into tho dining-room to make
tho tea.
There she found Vlctorlne In the
midst of n picturesque urrny of parcels
with brilliant wrappings and gay la
bels. There wero boxes of wonderful
biscuits, and tins of sardines and
potted things, and bottles of olives and
Jars of ginger, and little cream cheeses
wrapped In tin-foil, and some delectable
little glnsses whose contents caught
the light and glowed crimson.
"on, it's bo lovexy to ns ucrk 1"
"What is It?" Miss BtnateilM ajV
curiously.
"flar-le-Duc," said Ttetertae. "tV $
French, preserve of carranta In honey",
and It's fine with cream and cheese
and crackers. Try It"
And Miss Erameliae did try it, atMft
the ate caviar and Cttawnn&ert, an4
goose livers and anther has, and a lot
of other things which aAe had read fet
cook-books, but bad never soon.
"I never felt so Bebeaslan la taf
life," she confided, at last. Tve hearel
of such things, but I never bad a
chanco to try them. Well I wondej
what Mrs. Warner woM say, Aa
unsla?"
Miss Aspnsla did net answer. 8h
wns watching Vlctorlne, wt was feed
ing sardines to the Ingratiating Jose
phus. As she girl meved her ansa, net
kimono fell back a little, showing
about her neck a slender chain, from
which hung a ring with a flashing
Jewel.
Vlctorlne looked up, and caught tha
glance of the tender old eyes.
"Oh," she said, and her hand went
toher neck, "I I want te anew It t
you It's my engagement ring. Boh
gave It to me and I wouMn't wear it
at school I wanted yea U he the first
to wish me happiness yeu see, I
haven't mother "
Her voice broke, and she reached out
her hands to them.
"And If you don't ml ad," she went
on, "I want to be married frera here.
Just a little quiet weddkag. But I am
so alone I haven't any near relative
and I told Bob If you don't mind "
Mind! It seemed te Miss Aspnsla,
as If her cup of happiness was full.
For years she had yearned fer romance,
and here, at last, It had come. Not for
herself, but In the form el thla lovely
proxy !
"You see," Vlctorlne went on, confid
Ingly, "I have so much money I dont
Just know what to do with It, and t
knew you would enjoy seeing my pretty
clothes, and I could have all the trou
blesome things, refreshment and all
that, sent out from the city bnt still
It would be a home wedding, and an
Mlsa Emmellne could bake the cake-"
"I baked your mother's weddin;
cake," said Mlas Enuneltae, between
smiles and tears.
"I know," said Vlctorlne, antf In the
silence that followed, Mlsa Aapaala
slipped away, to come back presently
with ber eyes shining like stars.
And when the gray dawn drove them
at last to bed, Vlctorlne found on the
old mahogany dresser the heart-shaped
cushion of faded pink.
"Mother made it for you !" she cried.
"She told me for your wedding and
O, Miss Aspnsla, your lover died "
"Yes," Miss Aspasla whispered; and
for a moment the young woman with,
love for her future and the old one
with love for her post clung together.
Then Vlctorlne straightened, with a
tremulous laugh. "I I I shnll never
stick a pin In It," she aaW, "but if you
don't mind, I'm going te snip off Just
a wee hit of faded ribbon from that
cushion and send It to Bob."
Youth's Companion.
EUROPEAN WOKEN AHEAD. '
Nearer tha So ft rasa than Their
American Sisters, Sara Mrs. Catt.
"In proportion to the population the
sentiment for woman suffrage la
stronger in Europe than In America,''
said Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, who
returned a few days ago from Europe,
to a New York Sun writer. "The rea
son is, I think, that all ever Europe
agitation of various kinds la going on
for further extension of suffrage to
men, and the women come in on thla
movement
"For Instance, the Hungarian Diet
for many centuries waa made np of cer
tain owners, of great estates. A woman
landholder of this class dM not sit In
the body, but she waa represented by
a male proxy.
"She appointed this proxy ; she could
remove him If he did not vote to ault
her and she was not obliged to appoint
her husband. Louis Ivosauth begnn his
public career as a proxy for a woman
In this parliament.
"With the grnntlng of popular auff-
rage to men In Hungary two years ago
this ancient right of woman was swept
away, and that fact is the most potent
argument in the present agitation for
woman suffrage in Hungary.
"The reports made to the Interna
tional Suffrage convention by tho wom
en from New Zeal nnd and the six Aus
tralian states of work done In educa
tion reform and every line of progress
wns so superior to any others that as
tonishment was marked. And In encat
case the delegate closed her report by
saying: We could not have done this
If we bad not ha?l suffrage.'
"I think the Dutch women gave us
the most telling example of Dutch
thrift and generosity combined," said
Mrs. Catt with a smile. "They enter
tained us royally; all the arrange
ments were perfect, all the social func
tions most splendid. And after It was
all over and they hnd balanced their
books they found they bud $1,000 left
over.
"It la curious to an outsider to find
that the queen and her husband and
mother do not seem to count for any-,
thin No one seems to paj any atten
tion to them or think anything about
thein. No one sepaks of them.
"llollaud Is at the other extreme
from England, where the Indorsement
of royalty Is so Immensely vaiaaule to
auy movement Holland Is essentially
republican.
'The ever-present horror lu Holland
Is that Germauy will swallow them up,
Tbey seem to think that this conld be
done more easily If they were a re
public and this seems to be their only
reason for inaluta'.nlng a monurchy. I
met only one woman who seemed t
have any opinions about Queen Wllhalr
mtna. She said ; 'It Is beautiful tha
way tho queen effaces herself.' That
seems to be their Idea of a good mon
arch, one who will effnee himself and.
let them run the country without him."
list ..; diadkuta.
Neighbor Bertie, your mother if
calling you. Berths Yea'ui, I know
It, but I fancy she don't wast, me very
badly. Neighbor But she has called
you seven times already. Bertie Tea,
I know, but she baan't called "Albert's
yet Philadelphia Inquirer.