A. DY Ixird God of Years, thy contrHe people stand To render now thy talent to thy hnnd; Forgive the meager lncrnno, Lord, wo plead, Forglvn thn wasting of thy presnant seed. Whoro wldo, white noons of harvnst un us burn, Amid tho sweat of struggle wo would turh And (link tlioo for thono honest, toll-worn days, In song of work we give tlieo truest praiun. Somo of thy servants kIvq thco back tan fold,- Tho Kln In thine, no part would wo with hold; And wo who bring thee naught, In silent pain, uk return to glonn tho fields nguln. Iord Ood of years, thy Brnteful pcoplo stand To render now thy talent to thy hand: Judgo thou our scrvlco In Its thought and deed; Grant us tho heart of Joy, thy workers' mccd. Strategy. DY P. H. LANCASTER. (Copyright, 1001, by Dally Btory Pub, Co.) 1 could scarcely icallzo Umt It wua lndocd Dexter Boyton who camo back to tna after that summor out ot town. Ho had been such 'a blithe, light hoartod fellow before ho went away. Whistling over hln work, singing unatches of operas on tho stairs, smok ing; ono cigar in two weeks and always ready with a chorry word. Now ho went about grave, pro-occu-p.od, Tho sama utrnlght, steady look out of hla eyes, but behind It somo tiling It hurt my heart to boo. I pondered much over tho chaugo. Why had his clear, flexible whlutlo bcoorno a monotonous doad level of sound? Why had ho conactl sluglng and takon to smoking lncossnntly? Why, In short, had my caro-frco, llght hoartcd boy leaped In ono brief sum mer Into stern, unyielding manhood? Was It lovo or money? I assurod my wife that It wnB money, I did It bocauao I wntod to savo tho boy. Let even tho boat ot women suspect a wound of tho heart and sho will drop Uio proho of her curloalty Into tho ugly holo until tho belplcaa sulforcr uwoata with agony. Tlioro la this difference between men nnd women us regards tho past. A man will bury tho doad lovo, tramp tho earth down Hard In tho now-mndo gravo and go on his way. But a woman can never quite say "It la doad." For tho rest of no- life alio must spond precious hours trying to galvanize a corpse. It may bo Hint lovo never really llos In a woman's heart. I don't know. Dut I was glad that I had put Molly ou a faluo sccut nbout Doxtor, Sho waa so pleasant In her own bright, easy way; talking politics and lltoraturo whenever I dragged Boyton homo with mo for a social evening, that by degrees tho boy began drop ping In ot hla awn accord an ho had been wont to do boforo ho went away for that summer out of town. Only ouco in tho six months that followed "Lcavo tawnl" I cried. did Molly make a stnglo bad break. 1 had hooii urging hor to decide upon lior summer trip, when sho turned to Dexter. "Whoro did cu summor last year, lir. Boyton?" I saw tho boy wlnco, ' 'it Molly was looking at the lire and turning hor EMER.Y POTTLE 1 wedding ring around and around In n preoccupied way. "At Drayton," Doxtor replied hrlolly. "Drnyton? That sounds cool nnd comfortnblo. What sort of placo Is It?" "Oh, n llttlo country place." "Without telophono bells or milk cart3 or cobblestones? I seo. By tho way, Edwurd, you will havo to seo tho man nbout our telophono. It la shock ingly out ot ordor." "What's wrong?" I asked, as rolloved as I fancied Dextor was at this turn of tho conversation. "Why, I don't know. But when you called mo up today I heard my best friend around tho comer telling my best friend across tho atrcot that I was tho stupldlst woman in town and couldn't see a thing when It was right under my nose. Such things aro cal culated to akuko olio's faith In frlond chip and I really think tho telcphono man ought to boo to It." Wo both laughed nnd Doxtor arose to go. 'By my word, Morton," ho said when I followed htm Into tho hall, "that wlfo of youis Is tho swcotcst-soulcd wom an that ovor lived," and ho laughed again In his old happy way. I did not daro to object les. I should ralso hor suspicions, so Molly went away to summor nt Drayton, leaving n terribly empty place In our big busy city. Sho wua to bo gono only a month, but. yo gods, what a long ono It was. I left Doxtor In chargo ot tho ofllco nnd went to meet hor train a full hour Dororo it was duo. I hoped sho had not run upon anything that had best bo forgotten, Howovor, It was tho noxt morning at broukfnat boforo I romotu- bcrcd to ask her nbout It, "Mr. Boyton? I don't remember that I heard his niuno mentioned. It novor occurred to mo to say that I was a frlond of his. Possibly that was tho reason. But oh, Edward. I did meet such a doar girl qulto out ot tho or dinary. Bhu Is coming to Now Orleans to nttond loctures nt Tulano nnd i mndo hor promlso to spond at least part of her tlmo with mo. You will llko hor I know." "Ot courso," I nBsonted. "Your tnsto whoro women nro concerned is por foct." "I flnttor myself," alio rotortod mis- r.hlovously, "that my tasto Is equally good whoro mon nro concornod. Didn't 1 select you for a husband?" I tried to stop hor, but boforo I loft for tho olllco I was so badly hacked that I forgot to mnka further Inquiries concerning tho expected guoat. Of coui'Bo Doxtor enmo homo with me that ovonlng nnd I loft him to find hla way into tho parlor until I ran upstairs to toll Molly, "By tho way," I snid aftor a llttlo, "Doxtor 1b down stairs." "Ia ho? Doar mo, I think Hclon lu In tho parlor. I hopo thoy haven't found It awkward." I stoppod and Btnrod with ono sloovo ot my coat ou. "Ilolon?" "Yes, tho young lndy I told you ot, Do put on your coat, dear, Thoy may bo having an uncomfortablo tuno." Thoy woro to all appearances having a very comfortable tlmo nnd whon Molly introduced them, Bhook hands llko old frlonds, "Wo wcro really getting on vory nicely," Doxtor said In reply to Molly's apology, "Miss Alnsworth tolls me that sho Intends to attend lectures at Tulano." "Why yos," replied Molly, aimless ly. "It will bo very pleasant I think. Edward, you will tako Helen Into din ner." Sho was not pretty, but straight and strong looking, with deep, deep eyes and that perfect reposo that goes with perfect strength and Innoconcc. I caught mysolf thinking several times during dinner what a veritable angel of rest sho would bo In a pain-stricken room. I wondered as I watched her talking to Doxtor if they had ever mot before. When I questioned Molly about it later on sho laughed merrily. It was on a raw, bleak day In March that tho boy came Into my prlvato of llco with n queer drawn look on his fncc. "Mr. Morton," ho began qulotly enough, "I am leaving town for n long tlmo, perhaps forever. Wo had bcttci ttrlko my name from tho firm."- "Leavo town?" I exclaimed aghast. "I seo what you aro thinking of." Ho moved to tho window and looked out mechanically. Standing thero with his back to mo tho poor fellow told mo all about It. It was nolthor lovo nor money. Until last summer ho had bo llcvcil himself an orphan. But ho was not. Out In ono ot tho western staten waa a gray-hatred man sorvlng a long sentence. Ho was his father. Ho had seen htm for tho first tlmo nlno months ago. Tho question enmo stern. and abrupt. "You will agrco with me, Blr, that I havo no right to offer my stained name to that superb woman. No lovo on oarth could atono for or excuso tho Insult." "No, ho was right," I agreed. Bitter and bad as it had all seemed thoro was nothing for It but to fill up tho gravo as best wo could and go on. It wns at this Juncture that Molly camo in to see about a chock I had forgotten to Indorse. "Drnclous, what solemn face3," sho laughed. "Is tho world coming to an end?" "Yes, my world Is," Dexter answered her. And then to ray astonishment ho told her tho story. "Well upon my soul," Molly broke out Indignantly. "I think you might at least let hor havo somo say so In tho matter. Horo you havo beon mak ing lovo to Helen for six monthB nnd you proposo to wnlk oft without n word I You mon may call it honorablo, but I call it dastnrdly. Tako your hat, young man, and go straight up to the houso. Don't you daro to break that grand girl's heart unless sho gives yoi) leavo to. Not if you havo n hundred fathors in tho ponltentlary. Upon mj soul, Edward," alio continued as Dox tor caught up his hat nnd went out "Hero I havo been breaking my neck for a year to keep you from talking forgeries nnd ponltontlnrlcs In that boy's jircscnco and now when ho It fairly safo from being embittered foi llfo you must go to work nnd upsel everything with your tomfool honor ablo Ideas." "Molly," I said with n gasp of hu mility, "I didn't know, I do you think sho will marry him?" "Sho can't very well unless ho asks her to do It." "Oh, ho wllf nsk her. I saw It in hl3 oyes." "I'm glad you havo scon Bomothlng." "Thoro now, dear. I'vo boon a blun dering donkey. But do you think she will overlook that forgery business?'1 "Sho has known nbout that forgory business all along. For my part I don't boo anything so torrlblo about It I suppose tho old gentleman needed tho money or ho would't havo takon It." "Do straight to tho houso." Then with BUddon softening. "Don't worry, doar. A llttlo common Bonse will savo any situation. Sho will mar ry him boforo tho 7oar Is out." And sho did, Tho Futlilonnble Vruwnor. ' Even In theso days ot ultrn-modern-ncss tho subject ot wrlnkleB la ono ot vast Importance nnd a now provontlvo has been cvolvod. It Is called by tho auggoatlvo nnmo of "frownor," nnd consists simply of n rathor stiff bit ot white pnpor about tho size and shnpo ot a postngo stamp, and having on Its back a similar coating ot gum. Es pecially It Is designed as a provontlvo of tho wrinkles between tho brows or at tho cornors ot tho eyes; nnd In theso placos, after being moistened, theso should bo pasted whouovor ono Is nbout to ongngo in somo occupation that ji:nuB08 tho habit of "wrinkling." At . no fnshlonublo shops ot largo cities "frownora" nro now na regularly on bp.Io ns almost any other accessories ot tho toilet. Many, however, prefer to mnko thorn nt homo, n process simple and inexpensive. It has also boon found by thoso who nro ingenious that it Is best to cut thorn circular In shapo Instead ot square, as thoy leavo less of n traco when removed. Heavy writing papor from which to faBhlon thcra Is avnllablo to all, and a llttlo dissolved gum arable will stick them on good nnd tight. Montreal Herald nnd Star, 8 JOURNEYS MISS BLANCHE WALSH. .Visa Blnuchu Walsh, tho accom plished actress, who has passed through tho singular experlcnco of los ing tho ashes ot her mother and then regaining the beloved treasure after having given up nil hopo of Its re covery, has, as may bo Imagined, many of tho eccentricities of genius. Among them Is tho odd conceit of carrying with her tho rcmnlns of hor matcrnnl ancestor, preserved In n neat llttlo hag. It was at a way station between KIDNAP THEIR WIVES. Tlmo has wrought but tow chances In tho manners nnd customs of tho pc'oplo of tho Caucasus, and modern wnys aro making but slow progiess. Ono of tho rollc3 of tho good old times to which the Caucaaians especially cling Is tho custom of kidnaping tho women whom thoy deslro to make tholr wives. Rccontly a caso of this kind resulted .In a tragic end. A prom inent inhabitant of tho llttlo Caucasian town of Kntuhagan, named Ismail Ogli Okl tried to kidnap tho sister of his best frlond's wlfo whtlo his frlond was absont from homo.' Tho girl resisted his attompt to enrry hor off, aided by hor married sister. Tho baffled lover drew his sword nnd Inflicted dangeious wounds on both tho ladles. At this moment his frlond returned and, en raged at finding what had occurred, killed Ismail on tho spot. Then ho cut off Ismail's head and carrloa It round to show tho neighbors what a fearful rovengo ho had taken. In tho samo district a young nobloman de sired to marry tho daughter of a neighboring land owner, nnd invited tho girl with hor parents to a grand ball given nt his castlo. During tho ovcnlng ho found nn opportunity of decoying tho girl Into a secluded part' of tho houso. whoro sho was seized by his men nnd plnccd in a carriage. Tho princo Joined her and In spite of tho girl's entreaties Btartcd out to drlvo to n placo whoro they could bo mar ried without much delay. Tho girl's father, on finding that his host hud disappeared with his daughter, gave MAY RIVAL P AD ERE W SKI I go WITH MOTHER'S ASHES . Dcs Moines and Burlington that sho uubouu mo iruasurcu rccepiacic. one had lunched In n station restaurant nnd had forgotten tho llttlo bag, which sho had placed besldo her plato at table. On discovery of her loss tho train wns stopped and her maid was sent back for tho bag. Before tho curtain wns rung up nt Burlington tho tragedienne wob onco more In pos session of hor mother's remains, nnd henco quite nblo to nppear. chnso and, being on horseback, over took tho carriage. Ho shot tho noblo man without ado and took his daugh ter home. Tho nobleman, however, had won her heart during tho drlvo and the girl waa now roluctnnt to mar ry tho man of whom hor father ap proved, but tho stern parent Insisted on tho wedding taking placo at onco. The brldo appeared In the church palo, but cool and collected. During tho ceremony sho drew a dagger nnd stab bod tho bridegroom to tho heart. Af terward sho committed suicide. Chi cago Chronicle. STRATFORD'S MOP FAIR. Tho old town of Stratford-on-Avon, says tho London Mall, doea not for got Its boast that It has tho only Dtat uto fair which carries on its rites ex actly as thoy havo been obsorved through many centuries. Therefore, It takes caro each year that tho Mop Fair shall loso nono of Its wonted tra ditions. Flvo oxen and twelve pig woro slaughtered for this year's "mop." Each ono was roasted In tho street boforo a hugo Ilro burning in a temporary brick oven. Each ono ns It was cooked was cut up into slices and sold for Cd. nnd 8d. n plato. The slices woro sold as quickly ns cut and all savo tho carcass was demolished beforo 2 o'clock on Saturday had struck. A pig was roasted outsldo tho houso of William Shakespeare," but otherwise his Btrcot was nlmost do sorted. It Is too far from tho center of tho fair. Special tralri3 from all parts of tho country poured in hun- drcds of visitors Into tho quiet old market town, nnd hundreds more drovo In in market enrts, wagons, cost ermongors' carts and oven in victorias and landaus. Up to a few years ago men stood in rows in tho Btrcot wait ing to bo hired. Laborers with whip cord in tholr buttonholes waited for hours till thoy found nn employer. Now few como for tho purpose. The daj-B of tho "hiring" aro over. PROHIBITION WINS IN CANADA. Tho legal fight which liquor moi havo fought for tho past three yean against Manitoba's prohibition lawi has ended In n victory for prohibition Thrco years ago tho Manitoba lcglsla turo pnsscd a prohibitory law whlcl forbado tho sale or gift of liquor frorr ono party to another. Tho liquor mor held that this was ultra vires, as suet laws should only bo passed by tho do minion parliament. Pending tho lega fight nil tcmpernnco legislation hni beon nt n standstill. Tho domlnan party In every provlnco nnd tcrrltorj except Quebec nnd British Columbia ii pledged to prohibition if tho Manltobt nets woro sustained. Tho other dnj tho ununimous decision of tho privy council ns cabled from Loudon 1? tha' a provlnco has ubsoluto control In pro hibiting the use ot Intoxicating liquors CEASES TO BIND HER FEET. Much interest hns been caused by tho statement of Miss Wu Chon Chlng, tho adopted daughter of Mlntstor Wu Ting-fang, tho Chlncso minister to America, who Is now In Washington, thnt sho Intends to cease binding her feet Into "golden lilies" as Is tho cus tom and thnt when sho takes hor placo again at tho head of society In Pokln sho will do all that may bo dono to cause hor sisters to do tho same. Tho . - . . f ... . MISS WU CHON CHINO. (Adopted daughter of Minister Wu Ting-fang, Who is Adopting Reform Ideas.) reform Ideas aro rapidly spreading In China, but thero Ib still a strong fool ing against tholr entlro adoption. Josef Hofmann, tho young pinnlst who has lately beon attracting unusual attontion from tho musical critics, It now in his early twontles and nt the critical point in his career. Thirtecr years ago, Josef, then a llttlo boy of wondorfully sweot disposition, whe could not speak n word of English set tho music loving public of America on flro with his marvelous gonlus foi playing on tho plnnofortc. Ho wns prodigy with tho promlso of becomlnj n Rubensteln, nnd his tqur througt tho United States was something o a succession of triumphs. Emotlona men and women who heard him per form wept with tho Joy of It, nn great things were predicted for hit future. Mr. Hofmann slnco that tlnn has learned many things besldo music Ho now speaks fluently In half a dozer languages, among them English Fronch, German and Polish. Ho hat developed a rich, deep volco, with t touch of tho bass in it. His hobbj Is mechanical Invention, and not un naturally his favorlto novelist it Jules Verne. President Thwing of Western Ito servo Unlvorslty recently asked Pro feasor Goldwin Smith to fill a lecturo ship In American history in Weston Roservo University this year. Profea sor Smith, in a brief noto, replied "My lecturing days aro ovor." Minister Conger will soon bo thi only foreign minister In Pekin whe passed through tho siege, and will then become tho doyen of tho diplomatic corps. All tho other ministers hav beon rolloved or expect to leavo Pokln ma