Nebraska Newspapers

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J, MICKEY'S MESSAGE
Legislature Listens to Its Reading
Thursday
URGES PROPER ECONOMY
itovora Retention or Supremo Court
CommliRloti and Hello c n llonrd
of Pardons Necessary Views In
Kogurd to Taxation
WHAT GOV. MICKEY
SAYS IN HIS MESSAGE.
-uln,,'n0.y' . fll, an1 complete).
should exist between tlio executive
and tlio legislature.
There should be "strict econ-
omy without parsimony "
. We should seek Divine nihintmr.
In tlio nffalrs of state.
Tho Increase In public debt la
Will ROM MV llttiTnft'nliti.tl.. 1... il.-
assessors. Tho law should bo
chnnireil en M,nf ii .
nnu personal uronertv innuf
listed.
An experimental farm should bo
established in Western Nebraska.
should not bo abolished. 81x of
tho nine members should im m. -j-
A board of pardons should bo
established.
T?rill(VlHntinl tnalltiittnnH ....... .1.1
y ; ....... iiio.ivuLiuiia csiiuuiu
t "-; Kuiieious treatment.
Oil should be carefully Inspected.
2. ,An, , ndequato appropriation
should bo made for the St. Louis
exposition.
ihe unfinished portions of tho
penitentiary should bo completed.
Thn Mni-fnllr oU. I..-. i ..1.1 i.
rebuilt.
,Tho hcopo of tho puro food law
should bo broadened.
A state accountant should bo
employed to scrutlnlzo and verify
accounts of state ofllcciH.
s
' In his message to the legislature to
day, John H. mickey, the new gov
err, r of Nebraska, says:
To tho Members of the Senate nnd
Houso of tho Twenty-eighth legislative
Assembly of tho Stato of Nebraska In
assuming the olllco of chief exccutlvo of
the great stato of Nebraska I am pro
foundly conscious of tho responsibility
resting upon mo nnd of tho magnltudo
of tho undertaking. With mo this Is a
tlmo for every serious thought. The nets
of my administration will ha've more or
less effect upon tho Interests of every
citizen, and the possibilities of doing
good stand out before mo in such promi
nence that I trust my mental perception
may never be diverted therefrom. As
between tho executive and your honor
nblo body, eoncunent branches of our
state government, thero ought to be, nnd
I hae confidence to bellovo thero will
be. a perfect harmony In our mutual
relations. You nro tho law making body
nnd your presence hero Is proof of tho
fact that j on nro lenders of thought and
controllers of oents in your respective
districts. Much, therefore, will depend
upon you, not only in tho enactment of
wise legislation but In co-operating with
mo In the enforcement of tho same, to
tho end that the law mav bo respected
nnd the Interests of tho people best con
served. Our responsibilities nro mutual
and there should bo no disposition to
shirk on tho part of either of us, Whllo
wo are not all of tho samo political faith
I bellovo wo aro all patriots and from our
several view points aro honcstlv looking
toward tlio ncconipllshemnt of the great
est good to tho greatest number. In tho
work that Is before us we should riso
above the exercise of mero partisan spirit
and occupy a plane of broad toleration
nnd charltv. Mv ambition Is to bo tho
governor of all tho people, regardless of
party, and to merit their conlldence.
GOD AND AFFAIRS OF STATE.
Preface to the Recommendations Is on
Character of Legislation.
Tho necessity for safe-guarding tho
public purse has been pertinently railed
to vour attention In tho messago of my
predecessor. Verv many matters per
taining to tho public good will be brought
to your notice, a large portion of them
contemplating moro or less of expense.
In tho consideration of nil theso questions
jour motto should bo "stilct economv
without parsimony " Tho stato should
bo too wise to bo lnlsh nnd too just to
be penurious Wo should remember, too,
thnt we are builders for tho future.
Our acts aro not confined nlono to tho
present but llko the concentllo circles
formed when a pebble Is dropped Into the
water thoy extend on nnd on In their In
fluence and effects. Legislation, there
fore, should bo of that broad, unselfish
character which looks past the pre&ont
Into the future and contemplates com
ing as well as Immediate necessities. It
Is n great responsibility to bo permitted
to have a prominent part In tho develop
ment of a young nnd progressive state,
so rich In resources and bright with
promise ns is Nebraska, nnd I trust that
this thought may bo over present in your
work.
Above all wo should seek Divine guid
ance. God controls tho affairs of states
and nations. Just ns ho does of individ
uals, and no people can permanently
prosper who nro not submissive to His
will. It Is therefore Important that In
nil our deliberations we should bo led by
Him. for In such leadership there Is tho
most perfect liberty, begetting a charltv
which in Itself is tho fulfillment of all
law. I sincerely hope thnt this legisla
ture will achieve distinction for tho wis
dom of Its acts nnd for tho hnrmony nnd
fraternal spirit which shall characterize
nil Its deliberations I especlnllv chal
lenge your attention to a few matters of
public policy.
FRANCHISE ASSESSMENTS.
Floatlnn Debt Exlstlnn Due to Under
valuation by Board of Equalization.
Tho question of revenuo is ono which
virtually coreerns every Intcrost in the
stato nnd always presents troublesomo
phases At present the floating Indebted
ness of the commonwealth Is lnigely in
excess of the amount permitted under tho
constitution and Is rapidly Increasing
There Is no defensible) teason for tho
existence of such a condition. it is
largely duo to tho prevalent and perni
cious practice of undei valuing all forms
of property nnd franchises which enter
Into tho makeup of tho assessors' sched
ules, tho result being that tho grand as
sessment roll Is meiely a financial shadow
of tho tangible resources and wenlth
whloh it Is Intended to joprosent. Willi
a stntutory limitation on the number of
mills that can bo levied, the amount of
revenuo derived from any given assess
ment Is coiruspondlngly abridged and at
present is far bolow the amount abso
lutely required to meet running expenses
Another Important contributory cause
to the Increasing indebtedness Is tho fur
ther faot that many county treasurers
are exceedingly lax In the matter of tax
collection. Largo sums are allowed to
encumber tho books year after year on
which collection ought to bo forced nnd
tho proceeds turned Into tho public
treasury for the general good At the
present tlmo tho delinquent taxes owed
to the stato aro approximately ? 400,000
Of this enoimous amount only n small
per cent, outside of the taxes of 1901 nnd
11102, is now collocUble though It is fre
quently quoted ns an available asset for
tho extinguishment of debt Those con
ditions ait unsatisfactory and should bo
relieved. It Is nppareut that tho state
ounnot Ignore Its obligations. Its educa
tional, philanthropic and corrective In
stitutions must not be Impaired in their
usefulness and the spirit of tho consti
tution rauat be respected In Its limita
tion of Indebtedness. To harmonize theso
divergent necessities Is tho task devolv
ing upon your honornblo body
As a first step It seems to mo that the
assessment roll should be Increased to tho
proportions contemplated for It by law,
ectlon 1, nrtlclo 0 of tho constitution
makes tt obligatory on tho legislature to
"provide such revenue ns mnv bo nocd
ful, by levying n tax by valuation, fo
that cvory person nnd corporation shall
pay a tax In proportion to the nluo of
his, her or Its property and franchises
the nluo to bo nscartamed In such man
ner rfs tho legislature shall direct," etc.
The legislature has declared that all per
sonal nnd leal property shall bo nlucd
nt Its fair cash value and tho plain In
tention of the statutes Is to impose upon
every person connected with tho assess
ment tho duty of enforcing that Idea.
I recommend that o!stlng laws bo cor
rected so ns to Insut o thnt nil forms of
loal and personal property will bo listed
at full valuation for purposes of taxa
tion; also that tho laws governing tho
collection of taxes bo made moro strin
gent and effective. I further recommend
thnt the duties of tho stato boird of
equalization bo broadened so thnt it shall
have ample power to ralso or lower as
sessments for state purposes in hnrmony
with tho full valuation plan, and that
county boards bo given such additional
authority as may bo needed In order to
carry out the same Idea.
It Is Important that theso matters re
ceive your Immediate attention that tho
tcsultant laws may bo operatlvo for tho
coming assessment.
NEW EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.
A Station In Western Nebraska and Its
Advantages.
Nebraska Is distinctively an ngrlcul
tural and llvo stock pioduclng stato.
Theso two industries, with horticulture,
aro tho basis of tho major part of tho
prosperity enjoyed by our people. What
ever tends to promoto theso Interests In
creases tho general weal In the same ra
tio. In wlso recognition of theso facts
the stato has long slnco established an
experimental fnim near Lincoln in con
nection with the stato university, where
careful nnd elaborate tests aro mado In
tho production of grains, grasses nnd
forngo plants under varying conditions,
whero tho several kinds of live stock
which mid wealth to the farm nro kept
for purposes of experimentation, whero
horticulture Is systematically promoted,
nnd from which Is disseminated from
tlmo to tlmo facts nnd data relative to
the woik accomplished.
As has been stnted, tho experimental
farm Is located near Lincoln, In tho
humid part of tho stato, whero tho cli
matic conditions nro verv different from
those which prevail farther west In tho
nrld and semi-nrld portions of tho com
monwealth. Tho conditions there, In my
Judgment, demand tho estnbllshmcnt of
nn experimental farm, also in connection
with tho stato unlveislty nnd under tho
mnnngement of tho board of regents,
which shall give special attontlon to tests
In agriculture, stock raising nnd horti
culture, under the pecullnilties of soil
and cllm.ito thero pre ailing. Such nn
Institution would give nn Impetus to tho
rural Interests of that part of tho stato
nnd would prove nn Important factor in
the moro thorough development of a
section which Is sometimes regarded as
being handicapped by nature but which
is rich In natural resources if agricul
tural energy Is directed along proper
lines.
Our congressional delegation hns re
ceived assurance from tho general gov
ernment that It will gladly co-operato
In tho woik. In connection with its Ir
rigation nnd reclamation plans, and if
Nebraska takes tho initiative it Is prob
nblo that our station will become tho
scat of tho government's tests and ex
periments conducted In behalf of tho
other stntes In this same region. I there
foro recommend that tho legislature make
an appropriation for tho purchase,
equipment nnd malntennnco of a farm
at Noma suitablo point In the west part of
tho state, to bo under tho control of tho
state university nnd known ns nn ad
junct of the same, for tho purposes men
tioned. SUPREME COURT COMMISSION.
Recommends That the Existing Body be
Continued.
Your nttention is urgently called to
the necessity of providing for tho con
tinuation of tho supremo court commis
sion. Tho present commission has per
formed commendnblo service and reduced
tho olumo of litigation for yenrs pend
ing In tho .supreme court While Mie
number of commissioners might bo de
creased, I am firmly of tho opinion that
tho number should not bo less than six.
considering the rights of litigants and
tho imperative demand of tho "people that
every case should receive fair and full
consideration.
I therefore recommend the enactment
of a law similar to the ono parsed by tho
Inst legislature creating tho present
commission, so modified ns to provldo
for six instead of nlno commissioners.
A BOARD OF PARDONS.
One Is Necessary to Consider Worth of
Applications.
Whllo I have no disposition to shrink
from tho constitutional and statutory re
sponsibility imposed on tho chief execu
tive in tho matter of exercising clemency
tow at d inmates of tho penitentiary, yet
I believe that tho publio good would bo
greatly enhanced bv tho ci cation of nn
advisory board of paidons to which
should be refeired nil applications for
relief from punishment ror penal offenses
and matters pertaining thereto.
Such bonrd should bo authorized to
hear and weigh all evidence on which
the application for pardon is predicated
and within a reasonable time to report
Its findings to the governor with a recom
mendation for or ng.ilnst the exerciso of
executive clemency, ns each Individual
case mny seem to require. I thereforo
recommend that such a boa id of pardons
bo created, tho details to bo arranged
by your honorable body.
LIBERAL TO FREE EDUCATION.
Institutions of the State Commended to
Best Consideration.
The peoplo of Nebraska nro Justly
proud of their educational Institutions.
Tho foundations of these interests have
been laid blond and deep nnd mny bo
properly regarded as tho corner stones
of that degreo of eminence and distinc
tion which the state now enjoys. No
other part of our country Is blessed with
so small n per cent or illiteracy or has
so much to show, In proportion to popu
lation. In the way of good school build
ings, fine equipments and specially fitted
Instructors. At tho head of theso In
terests stands the state university with
its numerous depaitments, closely sec
onded by tho state normal.
The Institutions havo done, nnd are do
ing, for tho stato a work greater than
can be estimated, tho Influence of which
will be felt throughout all time. Thoso
Interests should leeelvo tho careful at
tention of vour body and such npproprla
tlons should bo made us will Insure the
continuance of their beneficent work on
a scale commensurate with tho state's
development.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
An Amendment to Section I, Article XV,
Is Advocated.
During recont jears a number of at
tempts havo been mado to secure needed
changes In the organic law of tho stato
by submission to tho voters of pioposed
amendments to the constitution. Under
the constitutional provisions all proposed
amendments must lii submitted nt the
general election at which membors of tho
legislature aro oted for
Uy tho present law such proposed
amendments. In abridged form, nro
made a part of the regular ballot nnd a
majority of nil votes cast must bo re
corded nlllrmnttvely for each proposition
before It can be adopted. In the greater
interest nttnehing to the election of can
didates tho oters lose, sight of tho Im
portance of constitutional changes and
a majority of them fail to vote on tho
propositions submitted. As each failure
to voto Is in effect n negative voto on
tho question, or questions. It bocomos
practically impossible to amend the con
stitution by such means, ovon In cas.es
whore the peoplo are generally agreed
that the change should be made.
As a correction of this difficulty and
a means of securing tho needed consti
tutional modifications I recommend thnt
your body propose nn amendment to
section 1 or nrtlclo IB of tho constitution
which will provide thnt amendments to
tho constitution mny bo submitted to tho
electors for npprovnl or l ejection nt a
general or special election, nnd I fur
ther suggest that tho present election
law bo so changed ns to nuthnrlzo a
separate ballot for tho submission of
such questions.
CONDITIONS AT PENITENTIARY.
Money Needed For Reconstruction and
Enlaroement.
By renson of tho failure of tho Inst
legislature to make a sufficiently largo
appropriation tho icbulldlng of tho cen
ter nnd west wing of tho penitentiary,
destroyed by nro two yenrs ngo. Is not
yet completed. Tho stono Is practically
all laid but the Interior cannot bo fin
ished and made lendy for occupancy un
til another appropriation becomes avail
able. To this duty I trust ou will give
early nttention. It Is also absolutely
Imperative thnt tho west wing bo
cqulpper with from fifty to scventy-flvo
now steel cells, tho piosent cell room
being entirely Inadequate to tho needs
of the Institution,
At this tlmo threo convicts nro com
pelled to bunk In ono small mom, tho
capacity of which Is srnicoly equal to
tho proper accommodation of two. Tho
result is thnt theso unfortunntes mo
crowded together in nn nlmost barbarous
mnnner nnd in violation of tho prompt
ings of hiimano reason nnd tho laws of
henlth. This condition Is In no senso a
reflection nn tho management of tho pen
Itcntlnrv but Is unavoidable on nrcount
of the Inck of room. I recommend that
sufficient appropriations be mnile, both
for the completion of that part of tho
penitentiary which Is now In prooess of
construction nnd for tho addition of now
cells as suggested.
POOR QUALITY OF OIL.
More Careful Inspection of the Shipments
Is Necessary.
Tor some tlmo thero hns been verv
general complaint of tho quality of oil
which is shipped into reenraska for il
luminating purposes. Tho trouble seems
to bo thnt it is not property freed from
Its natural Impurities, or. in other words,
thnt It Is not sufficiently refined. Our
present Inspection law, ndequato so far
as tho points covered by It nro concerned,
was Intended to protect tho public fiom
the iiso or illuminating oil which might
volatlll7o nt so low n temperature as to
occasion the danger or explosion. It
does not provldo ror a test or theso Im
purities which mensure and weigh, and
the presence or which detract materlallv
from tho illuminating power of tho oil
with which thoy nro compounded. I
recommend that tho oil Inspection law
bo so amended ns to include a test ror
Impurities and that a standard or purity
bo established.
ST. LOUIS EXPOSITION.
Proper Representation For Nebraska
Desired,
During tho year 1904 tho Loulslnna
Puronnso Kvnnsltlnn will Via i.t.i i .i.
city or St. Louis. It Is estimated that ,
nut icii man ,iu minion uouars will bo
expended on this enterprise. Tho gen
eral government nnd a number or tho
states hno nlre.idv given It substantial
lecognltlon. nnd the other states .will
. ... . .j .... ., ,. uiuu i emiri;ii e
legislatures assemble Nebraska should !
nave a pan in mis grand dfsplay or tho
world's resources, nnd especially so as
the event Is intended to commemorate
tile npnlllRltfnn nf 41m ronof l...An...
----, ....... ... ...,j .ituob ,ui,ii unit.
teirltory ever ndded to the national do- I
mnlne, a territory from which tho stnto
was caived and of which It Is tho
brltrhtnsf Inwpl Ynur )m,i ni,n,,t.t ..!...
a liberal appropriation for tho pioper rep
lesontation of Nebraska nt this exposi
tion, subject to such restrictions nnd de
tails of c.xpcndlturo as prudence 'may
suggest.
PURE FOOD COMMISSION.
More Ct"rehcnslve Operations Are
Necessary.
Tho food commission law should bo
made moro comprehensive. At present
its operations nro confined to dairy, cider
nnd vinegar products, and while tho com
mission having chnrgo of tho department
has done excellent service in Its lim
ited sphere it Is cvlduit thnt a broaden
ing of the enactment would bo of cor
responding benefit. The public health is
largely dependent on the character of
rood products and certnlnly it is fitting
that n matter so intimately connected
with tho very existence of our peoplo
should be regulated by proper legislation.
Iho scopo of tho present law should
bo broadened so as to Includo tho tegu
latlon and contiol or rood products ror
the use or man. Such products should
bo plnced on tho market strictly on tholr
merits nnd deception ns to puritv nnd
quality should be mado n penal offense
Iho present ree nnd permit system Bhould
be paid from tho general fund nnd a
direct nppropiiatlon should bo mado foi
that purpose.
NORFOLK SHOULD RETAIN ASYLUM.
Governor Mickey Thinks Conditions
Favor Reconstruction.
In September. 1001. tho mnln building
of tho asylum ror tho Insane, at Norfolk
was partially destroyed by flro and nn
dered unfit for further use. At that
time tho Institution was caring for about
threo hundred Inmates. Theso were aft
erwards divided between tho similar In
stitutions owned by tho state at Lincoln
and Hastings nnd were thero given tho
caro and attention which their cases
demanded, as well ns could bo done under
tho crowded conditions thus imposed
Slnco then nn annex has been built to
tho Institution nt Hastings, affording ad
ditional accommodations which havo
temporarily rellovcd tho embarrassment
It is possible that for a short tlmo tho
state could continue to enre for Its un
fortunates at tho two institutions named,
but It should bo bornr In mind thnt tho
Lincoln hospital Is now charged with
thirty moro than its capacity will Justify
whllo tho nBvium at Hnstlngs hns its
normal capacity filled. It is evldont,
therefore, that prompt nnd decisive no
tion should bo taken In order to avoid
tho necessity of cnilng ror theso suffer
ers In any other wav than In a well
equipped hospital. Tho stato now Ihih
nt Norrolk an Investment or nbout $95,000
In tho way or land, uninjured buildings
nnd equipments, oxeluslvo of the partial
ruins of tho main building which nlso
represent a considerable monoy vnlue
In view of this Investment, or the grow
Ing needs or tho stato proportionate to
the growth in population nnd tho cor
responding Increase or dementia and as
a matter of convenience to tho North
Platto country It seems to mo that tho
Institution nt Noifolk should bo rehabili
tated and I recommend a reasonable np
proptiation for that put pose I further
advise that this, and nil other buildings
authorized by vour bodv. bo mado ns
nearly flro proof ns possible, to tho end
that danger to human life nnd of the
destruction or property on account or
fire bo reduced to tho minimum.
TO HANDLE STATE ACCOUNTS.
An Office Should be Created to Assist
the State Board.
With tho gradual Increase of state
business it becomoa more and moro nec
essary that a state accountant should be
provided as nn adjunct of tho board of
nubile lands and buildings, whoo duty
It shall be to scrutlnlzo nnd veriry the
nccounts of tho various stato oftlcers and
stnto Institutions, nnd who shall havo
authority over tho books nnd records of
said Institutions with n view to reducing
them to a uniform sstem llellevlng that
such nn officer would rendor vnlunble
servleo to the state and would servo as
a check on extravagance In tho conduit
of state nffalis, I recommend that tho
petition bo created.
These are the moro Important points
of dewlrsd legislation that suggost
themselves to my mtnd During the
progress of the sesHlon it may be that
other matters will arise to which I shall
wish to onll jour attention by special
mcHifcage, I trust that the utmost of har
mony nnd fraternal good-ulll may at
tend all your efforts.
JOHN ir. MICKEY.
I MRS. HAROLD STAGG.
Copyright, 1890 and 1801
'99959'S'flO'9i99,9vai9-i3as)'3a,9.-ai9.'9'aa,93!as'aiaa,9fl9is!9a
CHAPTER XI. (Continued.)
"Don't disturb yourself; you nro to
Blng," sho cried to StruUiorB, who
started up nn though to take his turn
nt swinging her. "I am enjoying It bo
much."
He thought n little anil began once
moro with ono of Moore's short lovo
songs, nnd a second, and still a third
tlmo he mndo a new cholco ueforo the
humor seized him to desist or her to
speak. Then thoy chanced to look up
nt the same moment and to porcolve
that tho professor's head hnd fallon
forward on his breast and that ho was
no longer Hinoklng.
"Ho Is asleep," said Eleanor, In a
whisper. Then, as bIio watched tho
electrician lay tho banjo softly besldo
hhn, shu added with enthusiasm: "It
must be an endless delight to bo able
to sing llko thnt."
"It Is a relaxation to mo from my
work, at any rate. Your undo seems
to llko to hear mo, and none of tho
neighbors havo complained ns yet."
Eleanor, shrouded In tho hammock,
was able to peep at him through tho
network without being observed. Tho
moonlight fell upon him In such a wny
that his features wore thrown Into re
lief. They were refined and suggested
a sensitive temperament. Eleanor said
to herself that he waB fifty-fold moro
Interesting to her than Owen Pngo and
the other young men with whom sho
had associated during tho past year.
Thero was, moreover, something shy
and unsophisticated about this ono,
which gavo her a sense of composuro
which it was lather pleasant to feel.
"Havo you lived hero long, Mr.
Struthers?" she asked.
"Only about six months In this
houso. But I was born nnd brought up
In the city. Last summer I was gradu
ated from tho school of mines."
"So you havo begun your life-work,"
sho replied, wistfully.
"I am Immensely lntorested In elec
tricity. Sooner or later I hope to ob
tain n position cither with some largo
concern that puts In electrical plants
or regular employment ns n consulting
engineer in such matters."
He spoko with a direct simplicity
thnt attracted Eleanor. Ho seemed so
modest nnd yet so self-rellnnt wlthnl.
"Then wo nro somewhat Blmllarly
situated," she was tempted to reply;
"only you havo your work already in
a measuro provided and mapped out,
and I am still an idler perforce."
"You?" ho ejaculated, wondeiingly.
She enjoyed his astonishment for a
moment without responding, then Bhe
Bald:
"You did not know, then, that I was
looking for a position."
Ho becamo confused, and It wns
plain that ho was nonplussed, doubt
ful whether she was bantering him or
no. Again sho wnlted, finding his cm
barrassed sllenco nnd nlmost dis
tressed mien delicious, by wny of con
trast to the veneered nudacltv tit tho
young men who visited her Aunt Em
ma. "Yes, I nm going to be n teacher;
that Is, If any ono will engngo me. I
hnvo come hero to nsk my undo nbout
it. He does not know ns yet. I should
like a position In n college if possible,
so thnt I might become n professor in
time, If I wcro fit for It. But I am
ready to begin at the bottom of tho
ladder, nnd accept nnythlng that of
fers. Does tho Idea shock you, Mr.
Struthers?"
"Shock me? Why should It?" ho
said, simply. "Only " ho ndded,
and then preclpltntely halted, while
renewed discomfiture betrayed Itself
on his cheeks.
"Only what, Mr. Struthers?" Eleanor
asked, with a delighted laugh.
For a moment ho hesitated, then
suddenly raising his eyes, ho an
swered: "Only I hnd not supposed you to be
that kind of a young lady."
"And what kind of a young lady
had you supposed mo to be, Mr.
StrutherB?"
Ho evidently realized that his bold
ness had merely diawn him on tho
thinner Ice, for he seemed to undergo
contortions before her interrogatory
and laughing glance. Sho had raised
herself in tho hammock as she spoke,
and was looking full at him. But It
plainly was not his wont to rescue
himself from peril by suhtorfuge, for
after n moment of ngonized confusion,
ho snid, with the same directness as
before:
"I assumed you wero rich, and that
it would not hnvo occurred. to you to
do anything of that sort."
"In other words, you took mo for
a frivolous butterfly of fashion."
Eleanor was sorry the moment sho
had spoken, and realized the flippancy
of her remark tho moro keenly ns he
answered In a tone that was free from
any suggestion that ho was punishing
his tormentor:
"It does not follow, does It, becauso
ono Is rich, thnt ono hns to be a frivol
ous buttorfly?"
There wns a nalvo soarchlng for
truth In tho Interrogative form of his
reply, and the solo evidence of Inten
tional satire lay in tho fact that ho
returned her gaze without flinching.
Even tho woundod worm will turn.
"I deserve the rebuke, Mr. Struth
ers. But I am neither rich nor a but
terfly, I hope. Sinco I havo said fco
much, I should enlighten you exactly
as to the truth. I suppose you moant
that bocauso I havo a moro or loss
prosperous air, It was fair to assumo
that it was not necessary for mo to
earn my own living. "Woll, In one
sense It is not. I havo an uncle an
othor uncle who Is vory rich, I bo
lieve, and who is willing to havo me
by Robert Bonner's Sons.
llvo with him ns long nH I like. Ho
has boon very kind to me. When my
fathor died n yenr nnd n half ngo, ho
Undo Hnrold cntne out West and
Insisted that I and my brothers should
return to New York with him to his
homo, nnd thero 1 havo lived over
slnco. I came on my brothers ac
count. Thoy wcro to bo sent to
school, and I told my Undo Hnrold
then thnt It wns my wish to be n
tenchcr. Tho boys are woll cared for
now, so thnt 1 nm ut liberty to enrry
out my Intention. The only trouble
Is" Eleanor paused, renllzlng thnt
It wnR rather ludicrous thnt sho Bhould
unbosom hor perplexities fin titer, yet
nn luoxpllcnblo impulso unscnlcd her
lips again, nnd she continued "tho
only trouble Is that thoy or pnrtlcu
lnrly my mint do not understnnd nt
nil why I should wish to leave them.
Sho and my uncle havo both been
exceedingly kind nnd generous to mo;
they havo nn exquisite house, where I
hnvo everything my henrt could do
slro In tho wny of luxury, and nothing
would plenso them moro thnn thnt I
should rcmnln with them until until
I nm married," she said, with a llttlo
laugh. "Aunt Emma Is bent upon my
marrying, nnd I'm afraid it will break
hor heart If I don't. But a woman
can't afford to throw away her wholo
futuro merely In order to bo mnrrled.
Why should n woman give up hor life
work moro than a man?" alio added,
oagerly. "Would a mart would you,
Mr. Struthers?"
Struthers blushed. "I havo nover
been In lovo," he snid.
"For tho matter of that, neither
havo I," bIio responded, gayly. "It Is
merely n supposititious case, so far as
that goes. But does it not como to
tho samo thing when Aunt Emma snyB
thnt If I become a teacher 1 shall cut
myholf oft from tho possibility of ever
making a brilliant match; for, of
com so, Mr. Struthers, I shall nover
put up with a match that Is not bril
liant." Tho fall of tho professor's plpo re
lieved the young electrician from tho
necessity of replying to this Inst ob
servation, for, aroused by tho iioIbo,
Undo l'hlneas opened lits eyes and Bat
upright.
"I verily believe I have been snooz
ing."
"I verily believe you havo, Undo
Phln," Eleanor answered, nnd she nnd
Mr. Struthers laughed gleefully.
Tho professor looked at his watch.
"Twcnty-flvo minutes to eleven!"
he cried. "Here, you young people,
this will never do. Roof Park closes
at half-past ten sharp. And what Is
more, young man, you forgot our cat
lee." "So I did, sir," stnmmered Struth
ers. "I apologize."
Tho professor shook his head In
credulously. "Again I verily bellovo that It was
done on purpose, In order thnt I might
fall asleep. Tho young against tho old!
History repeats Itself nlglit after
night, nnd, worst of all, the moon,
who used to havo the reputation of be
ing circumspect In such matters, winks
half the tlmo nt what is going on, nnd
leaves us In tho dark tho rest." Ho
rose, nnd nfter a last survey of tho
brilliant heavens, led tho way to tho
opening. "Come, It Is tlmo for bed."
"I shall petition tho trustees of Roof
Park to-morrow that in futuro tho
gates remain open un hour later,"
said Struthers, quietly, as ho offered
his hand to Eleanor to assist her ovor
the sill.
"But that will not help us to-night,"
sho replied, with a sigh, looking up re
gretfully at tho glorious moon. "A
woman never thinks of to-morrow."
CHAPTER XII.
A fortnight hnd slipped nway before
Eleanor had realized that tlmo was
passing. Tho days wero so very much
alike. What delightful afternoons they
passed together! When tho picture
stores and book-stores wero no longer
new, they visited tho markets and
tho hospitals nnd tho school houses
and the public Institutions plnces
whero Elennor hnd never been nnd
which she hnd longed to see. And
while they peregrinated thus, sho
never wearied of her uncle's discourse.
He had sojourned in mnny strange
plnces nnd seen mnny strange things
in tho course of tho qunrter of n cen
tury he hnd devoted to studying tho
earth's formation, and ho had facts
and anecdotes at his fingers' ends.
So matters went until dinner time,
then Mr. Struthers descended from his
attic, and they all set out to dino to
gether at some restaurant, nnd twice
tho eloctriclan was lured from his
work In tho early afternoon and car
ried off to one of tho popular rosorts
beside tho sea. But Roof Park was
not neglected. Almost every evening
tho moon found them there drinking
tho coffee prepared by Mr. Struthers In
IiIb laboratory, and notwithstanding
this beverage it Invariably happoncd
that Undo Phlneas fell asleep bofore
tho singing wns nt nn end.
Over and over again Eleanor was on
the point of broaching to her uncle
tho question of her future, but some
how tho words lingered on her lips.
Was it not probablo that, llko her
Aunt Emma, he would suggest that
sho paint on china or glvo lessons in
whist In order to satisfy hor yearnings
to bo use'fully employed? The moro
she pondered tho mattor tho gioator
was hor doubt as to what, vlow he
would take, and yet hor deslro for a
definite occupation was growing dnlly.
On sovoral occasions,, while she and
the profossor wore Bitting togothsr, his
face had assumed the pocullar con
strained expression observable when
ho was 111 nt case, nnd Lc, too, had
Beomod on tho point of sponklng of
something on his mind. Evor Blneo his
(shrinking from hor proffered confi
dence, he hnd, unknown to Eleanor,
boon n vl Him of rcmorso nnd had
boon trying to screw up his courage bo
far an to request her to inako a state
ment of her porplexItleB. Thus It hap
pened thnt there wero occasional
lapses In their conversation, when
each sat tongue-tied In tho presence of
tho other, yet wholly unnwaro of tho
other's uneasiness.
Rcmore proved In tho- end tho moro
potent factor, and Undo Phlneas was
tho first to speak. It was Just after
luncheon, when he- had fortified his
llngglng resolution with beer nnd sand
wiches. "My denr," he begnn, nnd then
halted.
As this wnB not his ordinary phraso
In addressing her, Elennor looked at
him Inquiringly, realizing that what
ho had to Bay must bo out of tho cora
inon run.
"My dear," ho resumed, 'T nm nfrnld
you got nn Jmprcsslon tho othor dny
tho day you arrived, you remember
from my manner when you Bpoko to
mo of wishing to nsk my ndvlco ns to
somo matter that I wns oh not ex
actly encouraging. You see, I felt Bomo
natural dlffldencc, ns I told you nt tho
time, in meddling with nffnlra of tho
henrt, which nro rather outside tho
oxpcrlonco of nn old bachelor llko
me." Ho paused, and laughed ner
votiBly, then, as though ho wero deter
mined, now that tho plungo was taken,
to faco tho situation squarely, ho said,
with an onrncst nlr, "But, my denr, If L
enn rcnlly bo of Bervlco to you In
holplng you reach n decision about
any matter, you must Bpealc and let
mo know what It Is, nnd not mind my
hearlshnoss, for you aro tho npple of
my cyo ,nB you ought to know, nnd L
am moro anxious thnt you should bo
hnppy, nnd mako n succcsb of life,
than I nm for nnythlng elso in tho
world. Come," ho ndded, moro blithe
ly, gnlnlng caso through his own sin
cerity, "mnko a clean breast of it. Lot
mo know tho facts In tho case, and I
will do tho best I can to solvo your
difficulties."
Eleanor, who had listened to him at
first perploxedly, waB regarding him
now with blushing merriment.
"There Is n mattor I wish to spoalc
to you about, Undo Phln, but It isn't
in tho least of tho kind you evidently
suppose. I rather think that I qulto
ngreo with what you Bald tho other
day, that In lovo affalra a woman had
bettor mako up her own mind with
out asking anybody's advice even ad
vice bb Benslblo nB yours would surely
be; and you must onco and for all get
tho Idea out of your head L can't
Imagine how It ever got there that
I am in lovo or engaged, or thinking
nbout being engnged, or, In fact, that
the notion of marriage Is nnywhoro
lurking In my brain. Now, If you will
promise me this, nnd say that you
bellovo mo on your word of honor,
I'll tell you what I really wish to havo
your advice about. You bellovo me,
don't you, Undo Phln?
"Of course, If you say so. Peach
Blossom: you ought to be the best
Judge," ho answered, with an equivo
cal air, as he struck a match to light
his meerschaum.
Eleanor leaned forward and blew
out the flame, and snatched up tho
matchbox from tho table.
"You nro a. perverse, obsCinato
man," she cried. "Now you shall not
havo a singlo whiff until you tell mo
you aro convinced I am speaking tho
truth." Sho sat down on tho nrm ot
his easy chair, and bending over,
looked into his eyes. "What have I
said or done to mako you Imagine any
thing so absurd?"
"Why absurd?" ho asked, restored
to equanimity.
"Of courso It would bo absurd. I
don't Intend to think of niarrlngo for
Ave years If ever."
" 'Methlnks tho woman, doth protest
too much.' "
(To bo continued.)
MRS. PULLMAN WAS SURPRISED
Widow of tho Late Car Magnate Gets
a Severe Jolt.
A well known Cambridge (Mass.)
doctor, in tho meeting of a society
held at his house a short time ago,
gavo tho following anccdoto relative
to Mrs. Georgo Pullman, widow of the
lato car magnate. A friend or mine
(tho name might havo been Anderson)
was HI with shaking palsy. Ho was a
western man and had many peculiar
ities. One was that when he went Into
a place whero It was warm ho would
take off his jacket. Ho came to mo
for advice, and I referred him to a
New York specialist. Ho called upon
tho doctor ono day and, taking off his
coat, sat down In a chair.
Shortly afterwards two woll dressed
ladles ontered and both looked at
him In astonishment. Ono was about
to lea'e. Tho other said that sho
would send In her card and havo tho
man removed. They evidently thought
hf was intoxicated. Tho doctor camo
out In response to the card, with
smiling face. Ho bowed to Mrs. Pull
mnn and then to Mr Anderson. He
thon Introduced tho latter to tho great
lady.
Whon Mr. Andorson caught the
namo "Pullman" he asked If sho waa
the wlfo of George Pullman. Sho an'
swerod affirmatively. Ho said: "Well,
I am glad to moot you. I remember
'George' whon ho used to work tot
mo for $2,50 a day."
The First Locomotive.
The centenary of tho locomotlvo
was celobrated at Camborne last
Christmas ove. Tho inventors of tho
first locomotive to mako a successful
run wero Richard Trevlthlck and
Andrew Vivian.