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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 24, 1900)
JR Broad lint sp, T WAS an early summer evening, 7 1 too warm to walk, and Just com- fortable for talking. So Capt. 1)111 tnd his brother Jack sat content U edly on the shaded bench In the captain's garden, overlooking ten miles of sen, from Shcppey cliffs to Bouthend, They smoked two pipes apiece over tho situation In China, and two more over tho decay of the mercantile marine. During the fifth pipe after tea, the an cient femalo who "did" for the captain shuffled by with a grunt, and tolled slowly across tho Ileitis to her home In the village of Minster. Tho captain fol lowed her retreating figure with a shake of his head. "Oils more contrary every day, she do," ho remarked, feelingly. "Wub an' wu3l" "Wot you want," said Brother Jack, "Is a wife." Tho captain relit his pipe, and looked thoughtfully at a trail of smoke; strug gling between sky and sea. "Lady of Lorno flvo minutes late," he observed, casually. "I s'pose, now," Inquired Jack persist ently, "you've some one In your eye?" "I won't say,' admitted Hill, "but I might avo." "Keeps a baccy shop?" "You don't mean to say as pcoplo as been tnlkln'7" "Talkln'I" repeated tho brother. "Wen you given me a couple- o' pound o' baccy, orl In hair-ounce bltsl Wot's tho need a' talkln'?" The captain sighed as ono confronted with on Insoluble problem. "You goes In," continued Jack, wagging tho stem of his long clay pipe In admoni tion, "In tho mornln' an' 'ns 'alf an ounce." The captain nodded. "An In the afternoon nn' 'tin another." The captain growled assent. "An' In the evenln' an' 'as one more." ' "Sometimes two," he said solemnly. "That 'ere big chest wot came off the Saucy Jano Is 'most full already. You'll 'nve to set up a shop yourself soon If you don't stop It." , , The captain refilled his plpo slowly. '"Ow am I goln' to stop It? Thnt's the pint." Jack smiled tho superior smllo of twice married wisdom. ' liars!: 'cr wen she'll 'avo the chest moved up to the shop?" "S'poso she won't?" "Then she won't. There's others." "S'pose," asked the captain as ono who puts an abstract argument, "us I was set on 'er?" "Moro reason to settle It." "Ay; but not nil nt onst," raid tho cap tain, artfully. "I've bin leadln' up to It." '"Ow long?" "A matter o' two year." Jack laughed rcornfully. "Some men," ho stated, "would 'ave married a dozen gnls In two year." "Ay," said the captain, enviously, "des say they would. P'rhnps 1 might give 'cr b 'Int, If I knowed 'ow." "Wy don't you send 'cr somcthlnk out of the gardln? A few flowers " " 'Ain't got none; only wegetnbles." "Well," said Jack, 'vegetables Is nourlshln'." "'Ay, with a bit o' pork. If I 'ad a pig now " "But you nln't." "No." He sighed. "That's where It Is." They smoked another couple of pipes In silence. "Well, mate," said Jack, "I must bo goln. So long." "So long, Jock." Bill watched his brother till he had gone over tho hill. Then he walked Indoors with an air of resolution. "Marrers an' peas," he muttered, "It shall be." Then he brushed himself carefully, nnd set out with a Jaunty air to the village, where the widow Riley kept a smart shop In which tobacco, swectstuffs and penny novelettes predominated. After a few re marks upon tho weather, ho Invested In his usual half-ounce, and repaired to the Waterloo for his usual wholo pint. Then ho returned for another half-ounce. "Just for the mornln'," he explained. "Lor, captain, you don't lovo nothlnk llko Vur smoke!" said the widow, archly. She was a nice-looking, round-faced widow, and she had a very pleasant smile. "Don't you think that, Mrs. Blley," sold tho captain, with sudden boldness. "If I was to tell you wot I liked best you'd never bcllevo me." "Oh, go on, captain," said the widow with a laugh. But the captain's courago fled and took him with It. "Might 'most think," ho muttered with awesomo delight, "as sho knowed wot was In my mind to say!" Next morning, when tho ancient Mrs. Grummldgo had gono down to tho coast guards' houses for a gossip, tho captain cut a couplo of vegetnblo marrows and picked a few pecks of peas. Ho added a gallon of potatoes and packed them carefully in n big basket. Then ho hnlled daft Tommy, who was busy frightening the crows from Farmer Jackson's field. "HI, Tom, my man!" ho called. "Llko to earn a pint?" "Yus," told Tom, grinning. "Then take this 'ero to Mrs. Ttlley at tho shop, with my compliments, d'you see?" Tom looked doubtful. "Who'll scare tho birds?" he asked. "Oh er I will," said tho captain. "Look sharp." "Yus." Tom gazed lovingly at the veg etables. 'Wot bo they worth7" ho In quired, touching the marrows. "A matter o' nlnepence," said tho cap tain, boldly. "And t'others?" "The peas be better'n they're sellln' at sixpence in tho town," stated tho cap tain, proudly, "an' taters, too." "Lor' I" said crniy Tom; and off he ran, leaving tho captain waving his red hand kerchief wildly at tho marauding crows. Tom was a long lime gono nnd the cap tain found the senrecrowing rather warm work. Ho had an uncomfortablo feeling that tho occaslonnl pnsscrsby were laughing at him, and Mr3. Grummldgo told him frankly that he was "hnctlng like a born hljotl" He had muttered sev eral nautical prayers to himself before Tom returneO with nn empty basket. "You nln't let none on 'em settle?" he asked anxiously. Tom was an artist in his profession. "No, nol What did she say7" "Too dear," said Tom, briefly. "An so they all said; but"- "What!" roared tho captain. "Too dear. Did the best Ol could for 'ee. Two an' thruppence the lot; an' spent my tuppence; an' 'er's tho rest." Tho captain grabbed tho handful of cop pers and rushed Into his dwelling like a whirlwind. "Cap'n be cratler than Oil" ttA-ld Tom with ft chuckle. "An' If 'e knowed 01 got two-an'-slx, nnd kept tho rest! Ho, ho, hoi" That afternoon tho captain bought four half-ounces before ho completed his ex planation to the widow. She was so good tempered, about It that ho felt he must do something. Moreover, her hand touched his for nearly two seconds when he took the first halt-ounce. "Tho question," he reasoned with him self, "is wot docs a woman cxpeck a man to ..ay. If Jack 'adn't como back to Lunnon, I'd 'avo nrst Mm." Then ho had an Inspiration. Why not ask Mrs. drum tnldge? Mrs. Grummldgo was very tall, very angular, very plain, very deaf. "Hut," argued the captain, "she must 'avo 'nd experience In 'er time, and' I've 'card as fashions In these things doesn't niter much." So he strolled out Into the kitch en for a box of matches, when the widow Orummldgc wns washing up" tho tea things. Tho captain had been half an hour lato for tea, so tho good lady was not In the best of humors. On such oc casions her Infirmity of hearing was apt to Increase. "Hi!" he shouted In her ear, "Mrs. Grummldge!" "I halnt deaf," she replied, Irritably. "Of course you hnln't," ho agreed, with a view of propitiation. "You hain't 'art sharp, neither!" "Ivor', cap'nl" she suld with n smirk. "I'd Ike your opinion on somcthlnk on goln courtln'." "Caught wot?" "No, no; courtln'." "Caught Mm? Who?" "Courtln' a gnl," he roared. "Wen you was at sen?" "Not a gale; a gal a woman." She dropped a plate with a crash. "Moro fool you!" sho said, severely. "'Ow ought I to tell 'er?" ho Inquired, Ignoring tho protest. "Tell 'er wot?" "I want to marry" "12h?" tho cried, with sudden Interest "I want to marry," ho shouted. "Marry!" cried Mrs. Grummldgo, with n gasp. "Oh, enp'n! I never thought of such a thing! But ns It's you as hnrsks me!" She flung herself upon tho cap tain's manly brenst, with ono bony arm tight round his collar. Sho still held tho wet dishcloth In her hand, and In her ex citement she squeezed It so hnrd that n perfect torrent ran down tho back of his neck. The rest of the scene was too painful to dwell upon. Within twenty minutes Mrs. Grummldge was richer by a couplo of sovereigns nnd the captain was poorer by a housekeeper. "I'd wrlto an' harsk Jack," ruminated the good man, mournfully, "but I wasn't never no 'and nt wrltln'." Then he had another bright Idea. "Tho very thing!" he told himself, and off ho rushed to the widow's. "Good evening, Mrs. Blley," he said. "Good evening, captain." Sho com menced to get out tho half-ounce. "I 1 didn't como for 'baccy," ho said. "The fact Is, Mrs. Hlley, I camo for er advice." Sho laughed even more pleas antly than usual. "Fancy you comln' to me," she said, archly. "I s'poso It's about tobacco?' "No o," ho confessed, "er not exnckly. It er well, tho fact Is, it's nbotft court in'." "Courtln'l Lor', captain! As If I knew anything about It!" "It's like this 'ere," ho explained. "A friend of mine" He coughed deprecnt lngly. "A pertlkler friend o' mine wants to go courtln' a ludy." "Then," said tho widow, "why doesn't ho?" " 'E don't know exackly 'ow to glvo 'er a "int." A youthful customer appeared nt this Juncturo and was served with an ounce of acid drops. Then the widow returned to the tobacco end of the counter. "Are you sure sho doesn't know?" sho Inquired. ' 'E-cr 'asn't told 'cr." The captain mopped his brow with tho red handker chief which had put tho crowB to flight. "Sho might guess." sho suggested. "Docs 'o go an' see her often?" " 'Bout four times a day,' he confessed. "Wy doesn't 'e nrsk 'er right out?" " 'E don't know egzakly 'ow to do It," said tho captuln In a muflled voice. "Tlierc's lots of ways," said tho widow, leaning her elbows on tho counter and resting her chin upon her humls. "Can't you think of n way, captain?" There was a provoking gleam In her black eyes. "Wot," ho nsked doubtfully, "wud bo the usual thins?" "Lor', captain, I 'aven't been through It a 'undrcd times." She snrugged her plump shoulders. " 'K thinks a horful deal of 'er," he said, solemnly. " K might tell her that, mightn't 'e?" "Yes," she agreed. "Certainly 'e might." Mr. Brown, tho sexton, camo In and twaddled about the crops and the parson's now pony. After waiting live minutes tho captain bowed nnd took his departure. "I'll never 'avo the 'art to say It," ho muttered to himself. "I'll 'ave to glvo It up." All next day ho kopt away from the vil lage and tmoked from his store. "I'll never go there no more," ho vowed. "It nln't no manner of use." But In the afternoon he went. "Wy, captain!" said Mrs. Itlley, "I wondered wotever 'ad 'appened to you." "Did you, now?" ho said with delight, "did you?" "I was wantln' to nsk you for some think, too." "Marrers?" ho replied, promptly, "or peaB? Or" "No, no!" She laughed. "Advice." "Ay!" His knees trembled, and he looked round for tho shop chair. "It's gone to bo mended," sho told him, with a suppressed smile, "Won't you come Inside, captain? " "You're wcrry kind, ma'am," he said, nervously, Sho lifted tho counter flap, and he followed her into tho cosy little parlor. Ho felt, ho told Brother Jack afterward, as If he was riding on a leo in a gnle, with a weak bow anchor, "Anybody could be wcrry comfernble 'ere," he remarked, when ho had sat for a minute or two en the sofa, - "It they got on with me," suggested the widow. "Nobody couldn't 'elp that," stated the captain, with conviction. "I don't believe you wasn't never out of temper In your life." "Nonsense, cnptaln!" Sho sat down on the other end of the sofa. "I'm out of temper now." "Ah!" said her admirer, uneasily. "It's about a friend of mine, an' a ger-tleman." '"E ought to bo ashamed o Msself," said tho captain, ferociously. "Wot's 'e bin nn' done?" '"E don't do nothlnk." snid Mrs. Blley, "only 'nngs about. That's w'cro It Is," Tho captain dropped his cap suddenly nnd picked It up again. "Asn't 'c given 'er no Mnts7" ho de manded, "It depends on what you call Mnts.' "Sent her marrers, say, an' suchlike?" "Yo-cs," sho admitted. "I believe 'e o." "Como to sco 'cr reg'lnr?" "Sov'ral times a day, but still" She shook her head over unnamed deficien cies. "Maybe," sold the captain, tremulously. " 'e'd llko to make Msself a bit clearer, If 'o knowed 'or mind." " 'Ow,' said she, Innocently, "la 'o to know It 'e won't nrsk 'er7" "Couldn't she give Mm a Mnt7" "Not," tho widow sold, cnlmy, "unless sho was qulto certnln that 'o wanted ono." "Sho might reckon on that," assented tho captain, with uninlstnknblo emotion. Mrs.Itlley studied tho floorcloth Intently. Then her gaze wandered up tho opposite wall until It rested upon ft bright colored cnlcndar, with rt plcturo at tho top, pro fessing to represent tho balcony sccno from "Homeo nnd Juliet." As Ilomeo had only tho tip of ono too upon tho lad der, there were obvious reasons why ho should put his arms round the almanac Juliet's neck, "That Is a-vcry pretty picture," said tho widow, with a becoming blush. The captain dropped his cap again and edged along tho sofa. "Mrs. Wley," ho said, "If you was on a balcony, tin' I was on a ladder" "No, you wouldn't!" Tho captain edged qulto close. "Mrs. Itlley," ho whispered, "If you'll go an' look out o' tho top window I'll tako the liberty o' borrcrln' your steps!" -Tho King. IJURIED ALIVE. Fate of n Spaniard Who Kitte-re-el (he Filipino I.lllFN. John It. Howard of St. l'aul has rccnlvcd from Ilia son, Licet. 11. 1". Howard, Blxlli cnvnlry, who In on Ocn. Young's staff In the Philippine!!, n copy of the Mnnlla rreeJdm of May U, which contains nn account of tho burial nllvu of a Spaniard who went Into tho line of tho Insurgents whero Ids brothcr-ln-law wa In command, to try to Inllucncc the latter to submit to American occupation. Free dom says; "The expedition under Col. Hardin, consist ing of MaJ. Case's battalion of tho Twenty ninth Infantry, that left Manila on tho sotli of Inst April, effected a landing near tho town of Noac. Inland of Marlnduiiue. five days Inter. The news was brought to Mnnlla by n Spanish licmp Meamer that arrived In port yesterday, with several Kponlsh prisoners on board. "One of these prisoners, In an Interview with n representative of the Mnnlla Freedom, stated that the dlscmbaikatton of Hardin's, command was carried out at tho cost of the life of Kcnnr Jerez HurKO. the well known editor of the Hpanlsh newspuper El Filipino Libre, who ac companied the expedition as a sort of peace maker "It Is reported that when tho transport cat anchor llurgos went ashore In a ship's bout. Ho landed and proceeded up the beach. Ho was met by o deputation of olllccrs from the command of Col, Martin Ijirdliabal, llurgos' brother-in-law. When Umllsnbnl was In formed of the cnraclty In which llurgos made hl appearance on tho soli of Marlndutpje l.e Issued an order that his relation bo taken pris oner at the first oppoitunlty. In his rune. Lardltabal U reported to have said: "I will show him what It means to come .hero to his native land as a friend with our enemies. "llurgos Is reported to have entered the In surgent lines In a fearless mnnnsr, und exhib ited llttlo concern when he was placed under nrrert. He was taken before Lardlziuial and n Hormy Interview followed. llrother-ln-law chitted brother-in-law until both forgot the re lationship, and then sach healed Insults on the head of tho other. "In his rage Latdlzntal cried to his guards, Take tho traitor out and bury him alive.' IlurgoB turned pale nt the ghastly command nnd backed towaid the door. The soldiers headed him off and despite his protestations, Initially pushed, initially carried him out Into the plaza, where tin horrible older wob carried tntn l-tfeet "Lardlsabal, appreciating full well that Col., llardln would avenge ins uenin oi nis envoy, gave orders for tho evncvatlon of the town. With all possible dispatch the Insurrectos with drew toward tho mountains, while tho native residents, shocked nt tho horrible death of llurgos, nnd fearing that the vengeance of the Amsrlcans would fall on their heads, packed up their valuables utid left their homes. Tho Americans Innded to find n deserted town, with the exception nf one old leper, to tell the frightful stoiy of the death cf Uurgos. "After this version the reporter Htarted out to verify the report. He found the story In cir culation about the Ayuntamlentu nnd the pro vost marshal's building nnd tho details were practically the same. The fctory had also reached the ears of the friends of Ilutgos nnd his family who are, as well may be Imagined, very anxious to know the truth. This will not be ascertained to a certainty until the arrival of word from Col. Hardin, that may be ex pected at nny day now, "It will be remembered that the day before the departure of Benor llurgos for Mnrlmluqua he stated tn n Manila Fresdom reporter: 'I.ar ellzabal is a Rood and a brave man. I believe I ran Inllucncc him tn submit to American oc cupation If I can convince him of the hopeless ness of waging war against tho Americans. Ho has a hot temper, though. I hope that 1 may not arouse It.' " l'liint it Tree. Stephen fllrnrd, the founder of that noble In stitution In Philadelphia to which so many once poor boys, but now thrifty, successful men, are Indebted, made use of these words: thnt If he, knew he were going to die to-morrow, he would continue nt his work, ami ho would plant a tree, "not to-morrow, though, but to-day." In putting It this way he comnllmented tho riuullty of usefulness to our last moments, of prompt, punctual dealing, and he ntso picked out a very good kind of activity; he would plant a tree. l'lant a tree! That does not necessarily mean a tree, but It may Include a shrub, a flower-plant, anything that will grow and for which there Is a need In tho garden, field, somewhere. Will young people think about the porslblo good resulting? Look around the home, look along the road, and then look about your church, and see how desirable would be a piece of green, thrifty growth, Add Mowers, costing so little, and pearls and rubles will result. It may be a fruit tree set down In the almost empty garden, What delicious pears, plums, apples, will hang from those limbs! It It be a shade tree, what an umbrella It will be In the hot summer, giving comfort lo the weary, hot walker, and starting a psalm of praise In his heart. If It be an e.vcrtrreen tree, what a pretty picture It will make all through the year, and especially In the barren winter vrhen It carries a robe of ermine that the last snowstorm sifted down on the green branches. If one Itoy, one girl, and still better, a cluster of young people In a church society, will tako this hint about tree or shrub planting Into careful consideration, how different eventually will be the grounds at homo oi about tho church! Things with roots do grow. They grow whllo you ore sleeping, while you are off on a vaca tion, while you are doing anything rather than watching tho trees. Just glvo the llttlo root lets a chance tn bore llko gimlets Into the earth, and the feathery tips to shoot up and wave In the wind, and you will have good-ilzed roots grow nnd creditable banners above, An old man tnld me about some big maples In front of his windows, In a newspaper, he brought them, when young and tiny, from a neighboring town and set them out. Then he gave me a ride about his town and showed me a fine growth of pines that the winds love to coax all sorts of tunes out of, He himself planted the seed of those pine trees, Little need once lying In the earth; now, trees like plumes ilslng out of It. Things planted do grow. Now plant something this very spring, about your home, down In the garden, out In the street, and wake up among the young people an Interest tn beautifying the church grounds, the home yard, the public street. Edward A. Hand In Independent Forojter, What twubka liEUK are Indications that Mr. Broadway will be Involved In lawsuit, and nil on account of tho cat. Mr. Broadway likes cats. Mrs. Broadway docs not. Mr. Broadway has long been nwara of his wife's nntlpnthy to the fellno race, and for thnt reason he lies Itatcd to assent to the proposition that all the men In tho olllco should draw cuts to sco which should glvo a home to tho ofllco cat which was about to becomo a vagrant through tho prohibitive cat law recently enforced In n ccrlnln downtown building. Mr. Broadway wns. much at tached to this particular cat, which the elevator boy had euphoniously christened Miranda, but a dearth of convincing rea sons for Introducing her Into his house hold mndo him dubious about accepting her . n protege. "It wo had any mice," ho began, doubt fully. "Oh, rnts," put In one of tho men, impa tiently, nnd Mr. Brondwnv, being mndo to feel by this Inelegant ejnculntlon that ho was losing caste among his olllce asso ciates through undue subjection to tho prejudices of a wotnnn, quickly assumed a bold front, nnd said, recklessly. "Oh, well, I'm In for It. Let 'er go." Of course Mr. Broadway got the cat. J lo carried her home himself that very night In a bandbox which the Janitor had been saving for Just such nn cmcrgcnly. Mrs. Broadway looked up curiously when Mr. Broadway camo marching Into the bnck pnrlor with tho cylindrical paste board drum tucked up under his left nrm. "What have you there, Jasper?" she asked sharply, (Mr. Broadway answered by setting tho bandbox on tho floor and cautiously lift ing tho lid. Miranda's nerves had been worked up tn a high pitch by the Jarring and Jolting thnt marked her dark and Inglorious progress from Nassau street, and the Instant the door of her prison wns opened she sprang front her ernmped qunrters and began to cavort unre strainedly nbout tho room. Mrs. Broad way was visibly alarmed at these an tics and eicxtrously tucked her feet up under her body nnd slipped farther back In tho depths of her capacious chair. "A eat!" sho cried In nf right. "A cat, Mr. Broadway, n cat!" Mr. Broadway was watching Miranda's cap'crs with considerable trepidation. For a moment ho wished the physical charac teristics of her race were not so palpable In Miranda's build, and thnt ho could palm her off as some other species of tho nntmnl kingdom standing higher In Mrs. Broadway's estimation. This subterfuge being clearly Impracticable, ho sntd: "Yes, Kate, a cat." "And what on earth did you bring a cat hero for?" demanded Mrs. Brondway. Mr. Broadway picked up tho bandbox, and with thnt for a suit of armor ho Rqunrcd himself bravely before his wife, "I brought that cat here," he said, "bo cause wo need her. I've had tho llfo tor mented out of mo by mice for the last two months, nnd I'm getting tired of It. I'm not going to stand It any longer. I'm going to catch tho Infernal little pests. That'H what I brought Miranda homo for." Having delivered himself of theso ferocious sentiments, Mr. Broadway backed off a step. Mrs. Broadway touched tho tips of her toes to tho door and cast suspicious glances In Miranda's multitudinous directions. "Mice?" Bho echoed, nfter a llttlo. "Mice, did you say7 Why, thero Isn't o mouso In this flat. There Isn't one In tho wholo building." Mr. Broadway perked up his oozing courago again. "Oh, como now, Kate,' ho raid. "You needn't tell mo nny such stuff ns thnt. Just becuuso you don't want to keep tho cat, for I know better. Don't 1 hear 'em, night nfter night, racing through tho partition ns If the golf links, tho baseball grounds and tho lawn tenuis llelds of all mousedom were lo cated In our wnlls7 You may not hear 'cm because you sleep ro sound, but I do, Why, their racket's something awful. 1 didn't sleep moro than six winks last night, the llttlo beasts took on so. But you'll soon fix that, won't you Miranda? Como here, old girl. Just look, Kute, Isn't sho a beauty?" Miranda, having by this time relieved herself of her surplus energy, now can tered gracefully ncross tho floor and wiped her noso affectionately on Mr. Broadway's trousers. 1'caco and amity having been restored by this grnclous act, Miranda was conducted to her now quarters In tho storo room for her even lng meal. Polly, Mrs. Broadway's maid, arises every morning nt (1 o clock. At (li'-'O on morning succeeding Miranda's ndoptlon into the Broadway family, a screnm In dlcatlvo of tho pent-up emotions of mnny months, whs heard to Issue from tho Brondway kitchen. This scream penc trated to tho fnrthest corner of tho flat, nnd .In an Instant Mr. and Mrs. Broud way had bounded out Into tho hall and were making a beo-llno for the sccno of tho commotion. When they renched tho kitchen door they buw I'olly dunclng around on top of tho unllghted gas ruugv, whllo about ten feet from her, nt tho foot of tho sink, lay a medium-sized mouse, Mrs. Broadway cast ono flight cnud glanco at her recumbent foo and then vaulted lightly up besldo Polly on tho stove. But Mr. Broadway, being a man, stepped boldly over to tho sink. "Shnw," ho said, holding out tho mouse nt arm's length. "Tho poor little thing's dead ns a door nail. Miranda killed him hours ago. Didn't I tell you we'd soon see the effects of her presenco In tho house? Oh, I tell you, Miranda's a great mouscr, aren't you, Miranda?" And Miranda arched her tall at this compliment and sniffed at her prey In calm disdain. Mrs. Broadway mado but few com ments then on Mtdunda's prowess, but nt 10 o'clock thut morning when sho and tho woman across tho hall bumped their heads together when removing lco from the dumbwaiter, she wild: "Isn't It ter rible? how mnny mice thero arc In this building now?" Tho neighbor let her chunk of lco fall bnck with a littlu thud, "Good gracious," sho said. "I didn't know ubout It. I haven't seen any." "Well, you will see them," returned Mrs. Uro.adwny, reassuringly. "They nro as thick as hops in our (Int. They even keep us awako nights. We had to get a cat to clean them out. She's caught one alrciwy." Tho neighbor dlsapp'earcd Into her own rooms then, Ten minutes later tho Janl tor received an Imperative summons to the third floor, "Frank," said Mrs Hroadway'B neighbor, sternly, "why don't you do something to get rid of tho mtco? Tho plnco Is fairly overrun with them. They're eating up everything nbout the house. All tho tenants ara having to bring cats In to catch them." The Janitor opened his pnlc blue eyes to tho widest extent anil tumbled his yel low hair excitedly. "Ay tank you make mcestak," he said, tn positive tones. "Ay not lak tn, mans mnsclf, an' Ay watch out for him. Ay never see him."- "But they nro here," persisted tho neighbor, "and I want you to take every thing out of our storeroom tn the base ment this morning and sco If they have done much damage." By noontime tho news of Mlrandn's achievement hnd passed through the en tire building, and Inter In tho day when two women came to Investigate the merits and prices of vacant flats they obtained tv very discreditable report of that house from u tenant whom they chanced lo know, nnd they sought n home elsewhere out of tho renclt of tormenting vermin, During the next two weeks Miranda con tinued to catch her nightly mouse, nnd her popularity as n faithful guardian In creased. Thut of tho house waned In direct ratio. As a result of this plnguo of mice three prospective tenants fulled to sign lenses and two rcup.tnts moved out. ' Whllo this exodus wns nt Its height Mrs. Brondway received n caller one morning shortly nfter Mr. Broadway hnd gone to his olllce. Tho visitor was a boy with kinky hnlr and u sooty face. "Say," said tho urchin, "you tell Mr, Broadway that I've found n new den of mice, an' It ho wants mo to keep on sup- plyln' Mm with one reg'lnr ever' night, I'll let Mm hnvo 'cm nt n reduced price." Mrs. Broadway thanked the boy for this conceslon and dismissed him curtly. In tho evening sho repented the communica tion to Mr. Broadway. "Of course, Jas per," sho concluded, loftily, "you may avail yourself of tho discount, If you wish, but now that I hnvc found you out, 1 think you had better not. Our landlord Is a hot-tempered mnn. You have al ready cost him ?::tK) a month, nnd If ho finds out about this trick of yours In con nection with Mlrnndn, lic'll be npt to mnko thing pretty lively for you." Mr. Broadway stroked Miranda's fur softly. "I expect ho will," hu suld. "But Miranda's reputation Is established now, so 1 guess I'll let tho discount slide." New York Sun. Juiix nuit.xs or nisTTYsuimu. Have you heard tho story that gossips tell Of Hum, -of Gettysburg? No? Ah, well; nrier is mo glory that hero earns, llrlefer the story of ioor John Hums; He was the fellow who won renown Tho only man who didn't bnck down hen tho rebels rode through his native town; nut held his own In tho fight next day. When all his tnwnfolk ran away. That was in July, sixty-three Tho very day that General Lee, Mower or southern chivalry, iiaiuen nnu neaien, backward reeled From a stubborn Mcado and a baricn field. I might tell how, but the day before. John llurns stood at his cottage door, Looking down the village street, Where, In tho shade of his peaceful vino, Ho heard the low nt his gathered kino, ind felt their breath with Incense sweet; Or, I might say, when tho sunset burned The old farm gal le, he thought It turned The milk that fell like u babbling flood Into tho mllk-iiall, red as blood; Or, how l.e fancied the hum of bees Wero bullets turning among the tiees. Hut all such fal rlfut thoughts an these Were strungo to n practical man like Hums, Who minded only his own ceinrerns, Troubled no more by fancies fine Than one of his calm-eyed, long-tnlled kino (Julto otd-fushloned and matter-of-fact, Hlow to argue, but iUlck to act. That was the leason, ns some Mk say, Ho fought so well un that terrible day. And It was terrible. On the right Itaged for hours the heady fight. Thundered the battery's double bass Dllllcult music for men to fare: While on tho left where now tho graves Undulate llko the llvlna waves That ull the day unceasing swept Up to the Pits tho rebels kept Hound-shct plowed tho upland glades, Sown with bullets reaped with blades; Shattered fences here nnd there, Tasrcd their splinters In the air; The very trees were stripped nnd bare, The barns that once held yellow grain Wero heaped with harvests of the sluln; The cattle bellowed on tho Plain, The tut keys scicumed with might itnd main, And brooding barn-rowl Kit their rest, Wltn strange shells bursting In each next. Just where the tide of battle turns, Erect nnd lonely, stood old John llurns. How do you think tho man was dressed? Ho woio an ancient, long, buff est, Yellow as snffron but Tils best; And buttoned over his manly breast Was a bright blue coat with a lolling collar, And lame irllt buttons site of n dollar With, talis that tho country-folk called "ewnl Icr." Ho wore a broad-brimmed, bell-crowned hat, White ns the locks on which It sat. Never had such n sight been reen For forty years em tho village green, Hlnco old John llurns was n country beau, And went to the "qulltings" long ago. Close nt his elbows nil that day Veterans of tho Peninsula, Htinburnt and bearded, charged away; And striplings, downy of Up and chin-- Clerks thnt the Home Huaid mustered in (limited ns he pawed, at the hat he wore, Then at the rine his right hnnd bore; And hnlteil him, from out their youthful loie, With nrriitiH of slnnnv repertoire: "How nro you, White Hat?" 'Tut her tin ought" "Your bend's level!" and "Iltllly for you!" Called him "Diirdy." nnd begged he'd dlscloie The nnme cf the tailor who mane ins clonus, And what was the value he ret on those; While Hums, unmindful of Jeer nnd scoff, Htood thero picking the rebels off With his long brown rifle nnd bell-crown lint, And the swallow-tails they were laughing at. 'Tivan but a moment, for that respect Which clothes all courage their voices checked; And something the wildest cemld understand Hpake In the old man's strong right hand, And his corded thioat, and lurking frown Of his eyebrows under his old bell-criwn; Until, ns they Razed, there crept nn awe Through tho ranks In whispers, and some men saw. In the antique vestments nnd long white hair, The past of the nation In battle there; And some of the soldiers since declare Thnt the gleam of his old white hut afar, Like the' crested plume of the brave Navarre, That day was their orlflamb of war, Thus raged tho battle, You know the rest; Buw the rebels, beaten and backward piewsed limke at the nnai charge anu ran, At which John llurns a practical man Shouldered his rifle, unbent his brows, And then went back to his bees and cows. That Is the story of old John llurns; This Is the moral the reader learns; In fighting the battle, the question's whether You'll show u hat that's white, or a feather. Ilrct Hart. RITVct eif Clliiuite- em I'lnueia. Tbi first pianos known In America were Imported from London In 1784 by John Jacob As tor, but as they could not stand the rigors of this climate they soon became ruined. Tho fact led to tne attempt to build pianos In this country, and in tno cany part of tin present century uprights made their appear a nee. Olelrst eif VeKitiilleN, Onions and cucumbers nre two of tho very oiuesi Known vegeiauies. i.iho pens, wie j;gyp. tlans crew them at least thirty centuries aim. Indeed, to the onion belongs probably the honor of being tho first vegetable primeval man ever made trial of. Onions are not found growing will anywhere, but a kind o leek Is not uncommon In Southern Siberia which is very llko the Welsh national em blem. I'cniisylvnnlu'H Nutloiuil Iliwik. Tim n ri t 1 u a rila Vina tnttvai tinllnnnl . within her bordtra than any othfr Mate, Tho numter li 430, New York hai 827. AN AUTHORITY ON CHINA. Ito-ir Cent mil Ge-iicrnt Onodnow Wan 111 Itrptitatlon. "I hone thnt I'nclo Sam has some calla ble m"ti In China now, looking after American Interests," said the drummer as he glanced over some lato dispatches from 1'cklng. "There's one nt any rate." remarked an old railroad man. "Ills name is John Ooodnow, and ho halls from Minneapolis. uoounow is consul general to Shanghai, and the story of his appointment to tho position Is one of those good things that) sometimes fall to get Into the newspapers. At tho time that Ooodnow was named for tho place his friends and enemies nllkej were astounded by statements wired from Washington to tho effect that Ooodnow was a profound student of China nnd thai Chinese, the possessor of a vast fund of knowledge concerning the origin nnd de velopment or foreign trnde in China, ami generally speaking the best Informed man on Oriental affairs, past, present and pending, whoso name hnd been mentioned In connection with the consul general ship. "in Minneapolis, whero Mr. Ooodnow was best known, he had never been sus pected of more than casual Interest lit Oriental matters. Thnt ho might rectlvo tho appointment wns conceded on all sides, for Ooodnow was tho original Mc- Kiniey mnn In Minnesota, and ha did much to roll un In that state a big ma jority for the statesman from Canton, nnd so he wns entitled to recognition nt the hands of the administration. Senator Washburn went so far as to eleclaro that Ooodnow didn't even know tho boundaries of the country, let alone anything of Its Interior economy. However, tho present consul general Is declared by the admin istration to be a most competent official, wnich merely Illustrates the fact that good ofllclal timber Is often found in un expected plnces. "About tho tlmo of Mciciniey election Qoodnow's business affairs were In a bail way. He hod thought of a mission to Qcr- mnny, nnd had about mndc up his mind to apply for an appointment that would tako him there. In this ltnte of mind ho called ono day on Samuel Hill, son-in-law ot James J. Hill, tho president ot tho Great, Northern, Hnllroiul company. To Hill Ooodnow unburdened himself. Ho ex plained his financial collapse, voiced his ambition with regard to a German ap pointment, and nskrd Mr. Hill's advice. Bum Hill promptly urged his visitor to drop tho aermnn project llko a hot brick and tn turn his attention to China. 'Chlnn,' said Mr. Hill. 'Is to bo tho scene of a great commercial advanco with in tho next ten years, it will bo the bat tle ground of tho world's commercial en ergies. In (lermnny you would bo burled alive;. In China you may, If you are lucky and nltrt, achieve fame, honor and wealth.' 1 'But, my denr fellow," expos! ulated Mr. Ooodnow, 'I know next to luthlng nbout China or tho Chinese.' , " 'Very well,' said Hill, Imperturbablv. 'who does, for thnt matter? Why, thero are mighty few people In tho world out side who do know anything of the Chi nese thnt is anything worth printing. All renlly vnlunblo works dealing with tho China of to-day you could carry home In your cont-taii pocket. " 'Well,' remnrked Ooodnow, 'fitness for tho position would cut soma Ice, I'm afraid I couldn't land It,' " 'Now, .look here.' went on Mr. Hill. 'you're In luck. There Is ono mnn In tho United States who knows moro nbout China thnn was ever written In bookB. Ho Is a deep student of thnt country. Thero Isn't n map the Iltisslans havo mndo of which he hasn't a copy, nnd those portions of Chlnn that tho Iltis slans haven't mapped out aro not worth mapping. The commercial ftituro of Chi na Is, practically speaking, an open book to this man. Ho Is In need or such knowl edge to bo forehanded In tho gamo of trado that Is now being played. I refor to James J. Hill, my father-in-law.' ' "vcs.' sold cioodnov; 'lint s so. If I know what Jim Hill knows about China I could bo appointed minister to tho Impe rial court, but' "'Hold tin,' Interrupted Mr. Hill; "this evening Jnmcs J. Hill starts for New York, en routo for Isurnpe, I travel as far as New York with him. You get a ticket over tho Milwaukee und the New York Central, and present yourself to me on tho train. I'll tnlio you tn tho old gen tleman, and lend tho conversation up to China. Before midnight you'll know more about China than nnybody else, exempt the president uf tho Great Northern rail road,' " 'flood,' snid tho coal man, "I'll do It.' "That evening on tho Hill car John Ooodnow listened whllo tho elder Hill tnlkcd of China. Hill treated tho subject exhaustively, as he always docs treat ft subject, beginning nt tho beginning nnd going through to tho end. Tho disquisi tion wns from nn Amcrlcnn point of vlow, cssoutlnlly commcrclnl, which was pre cisely tho point of view Ooodnow wanted. Mr. Hill wns so impressed with tho car. nestness ot tho young politician that he offered to lend him n lot of Hussion maps and other Important documents. Ooodnow accepted the offor gratefully. Intcr ho got tho mnps and studied them, for they were dono In Ilusslnn, but John got a man who knew Itusslan to construct for him. Being tho fortunate possessor of a renlly marvelous memory, he recol lected tho greater part of Mr, Hill's dis sertation, and tho maps helped him greatly. In two weeks Mr. Ooodnow wns reatly. Ho went to Wnshlngton, saw the president, nnd tnlkcd China with such comprehensive ludlelty thnt Mc Klnlcy wns Impressed. Bo wero tho newspaper correspondents. Thoy snid Ooodnow knew his China backwards, and exploited somo of John's plans for tho expansion of American trado and Influ ence. A week or two Inter Mr. Ooodnow was appointed consul genernl to Shang hai, vice Jcmlgan, removed." Chicago Inter Ocean. i . , Aunty n n Me-rry-tlo-IttMintl. All olil colored uniitle, weighing fully !2.0 liOUIUlH, lllOllllIt'll OI1G (if till! llttlo wooden ionliH or the merry-go-round nt the Rtietn fair ycHterdny. Sho mid h'.iu was out for n rooI tlmo, but evidently did not enjoy herself 01 tills occtifloii. Imiiiedlcitely at the toot of the whistle the Kwlng Htnrted, nntl ninld the lieiitlug of driiiUM nnd the bltf pipe orgnn nltiiclunent ntnvty hectuno excited nnd netirly fell off the pony. She called finntlcnlly to the Lobs to "stop drt Infernal intichtnc!" The more Bile jelled "Wliott! whoa!" the fntcr the hwlng appeared to go, and the old aunty mndo the circuit twenty-five Omen, which, nlie said, "seemed al mighty long." When the KWlng stopped nlie piled off, drew a long breath, pnld her nickel, nnd Htarlotl for the mid way, declaring that she hnd had more than a plenty of "them kind of swing." '1'opeka Capital. The memory of Caesar, a Oreat Dane that belonged to Mrs, T, II. M, Cardoza ot German town, I'a., but which died recently, is to bo kept green by a monument costing 200. Cae sar was nine yeais old and three feet tall, and was a great pet among the Canlecas' large col lection of animals, The dog was burled tn a fine colli ti. with real silk lining and i-llver han dler On the monument, which Is now being constructed, will be Intcrlbed the following: "ICrcctcd to an old and faithful friend," Ile-r Instrument. "Docs MIsb Olddy play?" uaked Prof. DnlBcgno of Mr. Hunker. "Oh. yes. Sho's plnylug young Cal lowhlll now." Detroit Free Press.