foXAL TREASURE.
|AU REPORT of the U. 8.
treasurer.
I,„, Public Debt the Total Be
: P..t veer Were .7*4,005.
„,l tl.e Expenditure. »608,908,
The cold Reserve. Bond Ii.u#
iilver Dl.ru.sed Worn and Muttl
Note**
fnele Sam’* Cash Box.
InsflToN. Nov. 24.-The treas
1 f ,|K. l uited States. Uon. H.
;ran has submitted to Secre
I ,riisie the annual report on the
ods and condition of the treas
I The net ordinary revenues for
csi rear ending June .10, cents
i were g2U7.722.019. a decrease
,;u:| as compared with the
,,j.e The net ordinary ex
I !.res were *307,525,279. a de
I of si:., 1102,074. Including the
ItiebC the total receipts on all
were 8724,006.538 and the
x'mres 8<il>8,908,552. — —
ftrousurer remarks. V,fb''Tmpair
L ,he (fol.V reserve, rendering1
|,.v the issuing of bonds in
Iaw was caused chiefly by the
of the treasury, resulting
In-uflicient revenues.
I nvo important events of the
BitVecting the condition of the
j :t.t,t were the issue of *50,000,
] ,,.T cent bonds to replenish
?„! reserve and the stoppage of
in-chase of silver bullion by the
f treasury notes.
... to .Inly, 1893, the gold reserve
little affected by withdrawals
I. there never having been any
”,„wble demand for the re
| of notes, liven when gold
x were heavy the metal was
;U,J by bankers from their
,-,r was obtained from the
;rv for gold certificates, of
r without iinnairment to the re
ihiring the last two years,
the treasury lias been called
: - furnish nearly the whole of
jiiirements for export* and
are lately been considerable
raivals for other uses. To the
,; September the total redemp
>f 1'uiteil States notes in gold
me resumption of specie pay
. were 8181,300,000 and the total
action of the treasury notes in
i:u men ursii issue neie «jpuo,
It reference to the retirement of
,v.ry notes, the treasurer says
j>r:or to August, 1893, the treas
;nl been nble to provide for the
:plion of treasury notes in silver
r- out of the holdings of free sil
>o that there had not been, up
■at time, any impairment of
"t.il amount of the silver fund
•minted under the act. On
i-t 3, however, silver dol
and bullion in the treasury
become reduced to the amount
red by law to be retained for the
ent of outstanding treasury
and certificates, and the de
thc redemption of notes
m’tur in consequence of the
nreitv of the small denomina
' f currency, it became neccs
■ draw upon the dollars coined,
ally for that purpose. The
hind being thus impaired, the
MJ redeemed were cancelled in
preserve the required equal*
■‘.’•veen the silver in the treasurv
nv notes outstanding- The total
r,t the notes retired in this
>P to October 111 was $4,790,434.
amount of the new issues of
'1 States paper currency put
• reulation during the year was
' i-ll'b. having been exceeded
cc, in ISO:;. The amount of
mo mutilated notes redeemed
This also lias been ex
• but once, in 1893. The total
' .reulation reached its highest
m May last, when it stood at
_!!li;1, it'nce then there has been
nt contraction, caused chiefly
gradual redemption and re
nt of gold certificates, the
■- winch was suspended, as the
■mures, when the gold reserve
. , .wUr-V,*‘‘11 bulow 8100,000, 000.
; bstandmg a change in the
, ns, ere by senders of, na
ian., mites for redemption
; tv-ued to bear the charges for
1 ie redemptions were
• est since 1830, amounting- to
^i), or more than half of tho
'HYMEN CONVENTION.
Hotter Makers Call for Trotoc
-"Ulcers or tiio Association.
f 'A. Kan., x°v. 24. -The State
cution last night adopted
"wUrfln? na.tional and state
'a'ion r e"lslation- especially
crated ,1>.revent the sale of
;He . d,u.ry products and
f ici. re dail7 te"ms itt the
' uasl and sale of any
butter
his end » . Jer5ey prints,” etc.
i rinciples'oftl '“p /‘nbody infT
bill is jpm, ,tlw ladd°<* pure
n ' fficer to bedkn l° be enforcc<l
-mniss oner ’o°'>n asdairYand
H-opie T,; ' \° bo elected by
dairy school a.lso.,rec°inmcnded
r -dates ? s>milar to those in
-»S„rabl,shed by
1«t e c1°lfOrl 11h^°11 °'V ‘n " offlcers
. 4ur tne ensuing _
c. ■“•'-■uu uie ii
elected for ~n
‘•'‘nt, \ r r?i eawin* ye
’ *■ <'• Evth of Dickins
becretaru ^.vtb of Sfckf
1,randt of McV treasurer,
a« sec«ta? he,rS°,” °°UQtYi
,c'"n county.’ The^ olrt °rney
"H ri,... ‘ An© old comr
“'si-lation iUC 010 coma
s.PjS . tion, consisting of A,
, lT„«ed 0f .Sha'Vl
01 Sha'v
* w»® Uoffman of Har
_^_ucxt place of meuti
■'■arr of a S( .
. c:riT
ir..’ |'J ''e Uabilitie
, t* sit.r, ouo m°U^ S13a.00o
''-•'-as an \vkSt f the la
___ ‘"‘(‘ •Nebraska land.
' 1 ,,i’»icianncr„~vr
■ * IIm Tv l,ero Dead.
,‘S’ Tenn-, Nov. *4 n
“l1 achievHrt '4—Dr
ingthr^, Wo.rld 'Vic
C ! “ring the vol, 'V°rld wi
a‘.t,iis eity, dtid'V fAj®r e
ll a?edcUye^d suddenl
WHOLESALE FORGERIES.
A Booth Dakota Operator Oata Awaj
With I Hobo Sana
Yankton, 8. D. Not. 24.—The nom
inal firm of Pierce, Wright & Co,, the
biggest financial concern in this sec
tion, has collapsed as the result of
wholesale forgeries of school bond
and tax sale certificates and other
securities which were disposed of
through the London branch of the
house. Although Pierce had $200,000
worth of property here it has all been
transferred by mortgages or trust
deeds, and a careful search failed to
reveal a dollars' worth in his own
name.
The frauds perpetrated will prob
ably aggregate $1,000,000.
■ The nominal firm was really only
J. T. M. Pierce, Wright having with
drawn from it several years ^go, and
there being no company. The "firm”
had branch offices in London, Eng
land, Spokane, Wash., and at Hol
yoke, Col., and had done business in
all these places, but the principal of
fice has been at Yankton, which has
also been Pierce's place of residence.
The London office was the place
where the issues of fraudulent papers
■^yere-lwned-iLw^wsSw-„
Pierce dealt largely in school Jii#.
trict bonds and tax certificates, gen
erally of a fictitious character, manu
factured by the wholesale with forged
signatures attached with seals, veri
fications, etc. He found a ready mar
ket for his bogus paper through the
good standing of his London house.
Who is responsible for the whole
sale forgeries is only a matter of con
jecture as yet 'In the school bond
issues the South Dakoka counties of
Yankton. Bonhomme, Hutchinson,
Turner, Clay and Union were covered.
The business has been going on
many years. The last school bond to
come to light is dated December 1,
1893. It purported to be of independ
ent school district No. 2 of Bonhomme
county, for $23,000, payable to
J. P. Crennan, who died sev
eral years before it was issued.
W. H. Brown of Yankton is
the alleged notary who attested
the document. An opinion as to its
legality is attached, signed “Gamble
Bros., per H. S. Gamble.” The firm
was not in existence at that time, and
H. S. Gamble was never a member.
The signatures are forged. It is
guaranteed by Pierce’s London house.
ouiu iu uu^'uau par
ties and was recently made the sub
ject of investigation by T. Mallinson
of Texas, an Englishman.
Numerous fraudulent mortgages
have also been palmed off upon un
suspectihg Englishmen. What Pierce
bus done with the money secured by
him cannot be learned. He has built
extensively in Yankton, some of the
most substantial improvements in the
city being the result of his invest
ments. He has lived expensively,
maintaining an establishment here
and one in London. He has
put $175,000 into the grade and
right of way of the Yankton and
Norfolk railroad, though there is a
belief that the money for the railroad
work was not a portion of his income
from the school bond tax certificate
factory, there being good authority
for the statement that the sum was
subscribed and paid by Englishmen.
Pierce left England October 5 for
America and. it is said, is now in
Mexico or Central America.
A SWEEPING REFORM.
Internal Revenae llurena Under Civil
Service Lawn.
Washington, Nov. 24.—Administra
tion officials are preparing the way for
the proclamation of the order placing
the internal revenue service under
the operation of the civil service laws.
There is a doubt as to whether dep
uty collectors will be brought under
the civil service law. It is argued
that their duties and responsibilities
are so closely linked with those of
the collectors themselves that th6 in
cumbents of the offices should be
at liberty to appoint those dep
uties. No conclusion on this head
has as yet been reached, but the
president may determine to exempt
the subordinates named. All bthers,
clerks, storekeepers, guagers and the
like, will find lull protection in the
order of extension. Lists of all the
employes in the service in all the dis
tricts throughout the United States
are being prepared and will be turned
over to the civil service commission in
a few days. This will be done to
prevent collectors from making
wholesale dismissals of those Repub
lican _ employes remaining and ap
pointing Democrats to the positions
in anticipation of the order.
There are in the neighborhood of
5,0d0 places in the internal reveuuo
service, ranging in salaries from
$1,000 to $4,000 per year. In conse
quence, the expected order of the
president, if it covers the entire ser
vice, will be the most important and
far reaching of any issued during the
present administration.
A NEW TREATY WITH JAPAN
Secretary Gretliam end Minister Kurino
Quietly Sign the State Document.
Washington, Nov. 24.—Secretary of
State Gresham, in behalf of the
United States, and Minister Kurino
of Japan, in behalf of his country,
have affixed their signatures to a new
treaty of amity and commerce be
tween this country and Japan.
Coming at the present time, the
signing of the treaty is considered of
much significance beyond its actual
terms, as it establishes cordiality be
tween the countries when foreign
powers are endeavoring to show that
rejection of offers of war mediation
was a snub to the United States. The
signing of the treaty concludes a la
bor which has been in progress for
fifteen years, through the administra
tions of several Japanese ministers.
Murdered and Robbed.
Moxf.tt, Mo., Nov. 24.—Jesse Dor
sen, who claimed his home in Rogers,
Ark., was killed here yesterday and
robbed of 825. His assailant was a
tramp, who was captured and part of
the money recovered. He refuses to
give his name. He was sent to jail.
Masked Ulghwajmen In Atchleon.
Atchison, Kan., Nov. 24.—Masked
robbers entered Heinz’s lunch house
last night and compelled the proprie
tor to hand over 892. Similar cases
ire or nightly occurrence of late and
the police are powerless to prevent it.
MOUNT TACOMA ERUPTION,
MM Ort»t Monarch of the Cascade*
r Strangely Transformed.
Saw Framcisco, Not. 23.—Great ex
citement has been ceased throughout
the Puget sound country by what Is
looked upon by many as an eruption
of Mount Taooma, or Ranter, 14,444
feet high, and one of the loftiest
peaks in the United States.
The mountain has lately been
strangely transformed. The crest of
the great monarch of the Cascades
has changed, the cone having fallen
in, and steam can be seen rising from
the crater. There is no eruption, it
is believed by those most competent
to judge, but great masses of
rock seem to have fallen.
The snow - capped cone has dis
appeared and a sharp-pointed peak
has risen in its place to the east of
the crater. The changed appearance
of the mountain is evident from the
streets of Seattle, ninety miles dis
tant, and thousands of people have
watched the great peak ail the after
noon. But very few people have ever
ascended the mountain, and at this
season of the year the ascension is an
absolute impossibility. .There is no
way of making a thorough investiga
tion of the phenomenon.
cou I^re'r'kEWntS'In
Features of the Report of Chief Haseu
of the Secret Service.
Washington, Nov. 23.—William P.
Hazen, chief of the secret service of
the treasury, in his annual report
shows that during the year the total
number of arrests made was 047,near
ly all of which were for violations of
the statutes relating to coun
terfeiting United States money. Of
those arrested about 300 were either
convicted or pleaded guilty, and 139
are now awaiting the action of the
grand juries. The fines collected
amounted to 85,007. The amount of
altered or counterfeit notes captured
during the year was $23,150; coins,$751.
There was also captured thirty-one
plates from which counterfeit notes
had been printed, thirty-three dies,
150. molds, and a large quantity of
miscellaneous matter, consisting of
tools, melting pots, etc.
The experience of last year fur
nished evidence of great activity
among counterfeiters, the number of
arrests largely exceeding that of any
previous year in the history of the
service.
DEFICIT STILL CROWING.
government Over Twenty* two Million!
Behind Since July 1.
Wasaijtgton, Nov. S3.—The receipts
from customs so far during the pres
ent montlf are $7,480,603; internal
revenue, $3,169,040; miscellaneous
sources, $913,339, making a total of
$13,563,072.
The expenditures amount to $33,
160,000, making the deficit so far this
month $8,597,938, and for the period
sipce July 1, 1884, $33,951,790.
An Original Republican at Beat.
Trot, N. Y., Nov. 33.—Judge James
T. Robinson died yesterday afternoon
*n North Adams, Mass., after a linger
ing illness at the age of 72 years. He
was editor of the North Adams Trans
script and an able writer. He was
also judge of probate, and was one of
the organizers of the Republican
party in Massachusetts and a delegate
at'large to the convention which re
nominated Abraham Lincoln.
Basts at Vice Presidents Placed.
Washington, Nov. 23. — Busts of
Vice Presidents Stevenson, George M.
Dallas and Elbridge Gerry have been
placed in the vice presidential niches
in the senate gallery. The Aaron
Burr statue has been placed in one of
the gallery corridors preparatory to
transferring it to its permanent
quarters inside the senate chamber.
LIVE STOCK AMD PRODUCE MARKETS
Quotations from New York, Chicago, St.
Louis, Omaha and Klsewhere.
OMAHA
Butter—Creamery print. 10
Butter—Fair to good country. 11
Eggs—Fresh . 15
Pi
©
'<!£
Honey—i er lb. 18
1'oultry-Old liens, per lb. 3
Chickens—Spring, per tt>. 44@
Turkeys—Per lb. 5 @
Got sc—Per lb. 5
Ducks—Per lb. 5 ©
Cheese-Nob. & la. full cream. 11
Lemons—Choice Messinos. 4 00 fra 4
Oranges—Messlnos.per box.... 3 50 @4
Potatoes. 62
Sweet potatoes, pe»‘ bbl. 2 50 @3
Beans—Navy, hand-picked, bu 2 00 to 2
Hay-Upland, per ton. 8 0.) <&10
Hay—Midland and lowland... 7 50 ^ 8
Onions—Per bu . 65 fro
Beets—Per bu. 50 @
Turnips—1 er bu. 45
Carrots—Per bu. 50 <&
Parsnips-Per bu . 50 @
Cranberrries—Cape Cod . 9 00 9
Apples-Per bbl. 2 50 "a 2
Hogs—Mixed packing. 4 30 @4
Hogs—Heavy weights. 4 35 (4 4
Beeves—Prime steers. 4 65 <<£ 5
Beeves-Stockers and feeders. 2 00 ® 2
Bulls..... 1 &*> 2
Calves. 1:0 @4
Steers—Fair to good. 3 25 w 5
Cows. 1 25 & 2
Heifers . 13'> © 2
Sheep—Lambs. 2 50 4
Sheep-Fair to good natives... 2 25 <& 2
NEW YORK.
Wheat, No. 2, red winter. 58?X@
Corn—No. 2. (8 (&
Oats—No. 2.
Pork.13 50 . 14
Lard.-7 02 & 7
CHICAGO.
Wheat—No. 2, spring. 56 &
Corn—Per bu... 5i frft
Oats—» er bu. 29 ®
Pork.12 15 (ttl2
Lard. 6 87 6
Hogs—Packers and'mlxed. 4 40 4
Cattle-Com. steers to extra... 2 00 <*t 4
Sheep—Lambs. 1 76 3
Sheep—Inferior to choice. 125 ©3
ST. LOUIS.
Wheat—No 2 red, cash. 51^
Corn—Per bu. 451*
Oats—Per bu . 30 &
Hogs—Mixed packing. 4 30 *<<. 4
Cattle—Native steers. 2 50 fri 4
Sheep—Mixed natives.2 OJ & 2
TO
13
17
19
4
5
6
54
5 4
114
50
00
65
00
25
00
00
70
60
50
60
60
50
75
50
55
00
65
(X)
50
00
25
00
00
90
60
58«
3 4
50
02 4
56 4
53?*
29 4
20
85
9)
00
90
23
524
454
304
50
:»
30
New York, Nov. 23.—The Lexow
committee will resume its investiga
tion into the affairs of the police de
partment Monday, December 3. It is
understood that the committee will
start off with evidence as to the con
duct of some high officials.
Pelxoto May Visit This Country.
Rio De Janeiro, Nov. 23. — The
United States will soon be visited by
ex-President Peixoto. lie is ia bad
health, the result of overwork in
cident to the revolution in this coun
try, and on the advise of his physici
1 sdi he contemplates a tour.
HER FIRST CAKE.
Sk> measured out the butter with a wry
solemn atr
Tha mUk and sugar also and ahe took the
greatest earn
To count the ejgs correotly and to add a little
bit
Of baking powder, which, you know, beginners
oft omit
Then she stirred it altogether and she baked
It full an hour—
But she never quite forgave herself for leav
ing out the dour!
—Springfield Republican.
A Passive Crime.
BY mTBB DUCHESS.”
CHAPTER VIII—Continued.
••What is it, my lamb?” aha says,
bending down to her with deep oon
cern. "What distresses you? All
day long you have been fretting,
and now, even as evening falls upon
us, I find you weeping again! Why
is this, my preoioua? What has
happened?”
"it is nothing,” says Maud,evasive*
ly. “A foolish fancy; and, besides,
my head aches. ”
"Or your heart, perohanoe. Yet
why? He has come back to you,
that young Penruddook, safe and
sound. Your conscience, therefore,
, must be free of olTense. Saumarez
hah' eeo^ true to his word,‘and has
spared hImr7bi.iin,.,®P!t®(°f ®H this,
you are openly unhappy. The
is alive. It. is 1 should weep for
that, not you."
"Esther,” says tho girl, suddenly,
sitting up, and confronting her with
flushed cheeks and angry eyes, "you
must not speak thus—you shall not;
and if you persist in hating him, 1
shall learn to bate you!”
“Ay, that will be my reward, no
doubt!” mutters Esther, bitterly.
Her tono smites her listener to tho
heart.
“I was wrong,” she says, with
contrition. "How could I speak to
you like that?” She slips a warm,
soft arm round tho woman’s nock as
she speaks, and Esther, turning,
kisses her little hand with passion
ate love. "How could I hate one
who has taken care of me ull my
life, and even saved me from death
uuuu, as you nave tom me? Hut of
what kind you have not said. Death
from starvation, was it?”
‘•No; from sudden death.”
“Why have you never told me
about that?”
“What?”
“You know what I mean—that
rescue?"
“I shall some day. ”
.“Why not now?”
"I shall wait till you are more
sensible.”
“I do not understand you.”
“I mean till you have learned to
forget Penruddock, and to love
another.”
“Then I think I Bhall never hear
that story,” says the girl, very
simply.
“Tut! Does love, think you, last
forever? Time will teach you more
than that.”
“It would take a vory long time
indeed to teach mo to forget Dick.”
“So you think now; but \yhen a
year has gone by, and he has for
gotten you, and found a fresh idol,
then you will come to believe in ray
words, and then you shall hear the
story of your deliverance from
death.’”
“I don’t want to hear it,” says
Maud, wilfully, drawing back from
Esther.
She was silent for a few moments,
and then asked, in an anxious tone,
“Are men realiy so fickle as you say,
nurse? ’
“Fickle, and worse. Cold and
eruol.”
“But not Dick, I am very sure,” j
says Maud, with tears in her eyes
and voice. ' !
“He is his father’s sou, and will no I
doubt follow in. his father’s foot- I
steps. notwithstanding that his
moiiior was, rcauy ana truly, a saint
upon earth.''
“Was she?” eagerly. “Then 1
think he must be like his mother.”
After which she falls to weeping'
again bitterly, with the little crum
pled note, so precious to her, hid
den in her small, feverish hand. Her
tears seem to drop like molten leud
upon the woman’s heart. She gets
up impatiently, and paces the room
in a restless fashion, stopping at last
close to the chair where her darling
sits lamenting. ,
“Do not cry,” sho says, tapping
the back of the chair with nervous
fingers. “Why will you spoil your
eyes and wear away your heart
strings? What is it that kils you
now? Tell your old Esther.”
“It is a hopeless wish,” says the I
girl, mournfully; “but I want to be
as other girls ure—1 want to have a
father and a mother of whom I need
not be ashamed. I want to be born
in the same society as—as Dick's,
and to be his equal. I don't want
money; I only want to bo raised
above the finger of scorn. Oh.
Esther, come near to me! I must
tell it all to you. I never knew
until to day, when ho seemed given
back to mo from the grave, how
foqdly, how truly I love him!”
“Alas—alas! that things should
have gone so far!” mutters Esther,
regretfully.
“When I saw him again, and felt
his hands in mine, a great well of
joy sprang up within my heart. It
was as though he belonged to me,
was mine forever—as if nothing
could ever part us again; yet it is
all in vain.”
“All is vanity!” repeats the
woman, dreamily.
Her thoughts seem far away, lost
in dreams that belong to a curious
past.
“To-morrow,” goos on Maud, sad
ly, smoothing out the crushed note
with tender fingers, “he is coming
again to ask me to bo his wife, and
for the last time 1 shall say no. Af
ter that we aha 1 be strangers for- .
ever, and how ahull I bear It? Oh,
how bear It. and live?"
•‘Then marry him, If your heart la
ao aet upon it," aaya Gather, sullenly.
“Do you thtnk I would do him
auoh an injustice P And beaidea, I
would not marry him against hla
father's will. I have still”—sooro
fully—“some pride loft"
How ean you possibly know that
Fenruddock would seriously objsot?"
“By this letter, though the thought
la well disguised, and by many other
things."
"So still proud 1” says the woman,
scornfully. “Yot the day Is fast ap
proaching when ho wil. bo compelled
to lower hla tono!”
••What do you say, Esther?’’ hast
ily cried Maiid, wondering at those
words.
“Nothing. Never mind me. Yot
It kills me to see you unhappy, whon
I could help you.”
••Help me! Oh, nurse, if you only
could!" says tho girl in deop agita
tion, kneeling down before Esther,
and leaning hor arms on her knees
while gazing with intense earnest
ness into the dark visage above her.
“Sometimes your munner is bo
strange it makes me believe you are
suppressing something. Dear nurse
—dearest Esther, help me in this
matter If you can! Mr. Fenruddock
is coming here to-morrow with Dick.
Help me to meet them. Oh. do,
no* endure to
800 me miserable. 1 fcnow'S^jS ^
then, dear Esther, if only lo^-^^0
sake of your own peace, help mo!’’'**’
There is a whole world of entreaty
in tho largo bluo oyes, that gazo up
ward through a veil of tears. Esther,
after a moment's hesitation and fear
ful struggle with herself, makes a
gesture as though resigning some
thing that for years had been sweot
to her, and, stooping, presses hor
lips fondly to Muud’s whlto brow, is
she not us hor own child.—dearer to
hor than anything tho world can of
fer? Shall she not, for her dueling,
relinquish hor pot schoine?
“Forhaps tho time is come, she
savs, slowly. “Tell mo, child, is
Gilbert ^aunmrez in townP”
“1 don’t know; Jjut you could And
out. Why do >’ou wunt that dread
ful man, nuiyo?”—with a blush and
a shudder, as she remombors that
last mooting with him, in which
Ksthor had borne a part.
“Now lie down again, and try to. '
sleep, or you will be In a high state
of fever to morrow, and unlit to en
counter any one,” says Esther, with
authority, not answering her ques
tion. “And"—meaningly—“there is
much before you—more than, you
form any idea of.”
CHAPTER IX.
All Known.
Next morning, sitting in hot* own
room, discussing the post and her'
chocolate, Mrs. Neville grows sud
denly serious over a letter just
opened, and which not only disturbs,
but very groatly -icrplexes her. It
is from Mr. Penruddock, demanding
an interview, and begging her to
name an hour in which he may
speak to her upon a subject of much
importance, both to him and her.
'Ihcro is no mention of Maud in the
letter; yet it so unmistakably moans
business in every lino, that Mimi
feels uneasy, and. ringing the bell,
summons Esther to her aid—the wo
man having proved hcrsolf of sound
judgment upon several occasions,
when Mrs. Nevillo found hersoH in
want of good advice, and knew not
where else to look for it.
For two long hours she and Esther
remain closeted together, at tho end
of which timo Mrs. Noville, opening
the door, comes out into tho corri
dor with an air of open triumph and
gladness in her whole demeanor,
that contrasts rather oddly with tho
pink lids and heavy oye3 that betray
the fact of her having been crying
bitterly. In her hand she bears a
letter, which is addressed to George
Penruddock. Esther, going to
Maud's room, after some persuasion,
inducos her to send a note to Dick,
desiring him to come to South Aud
loy street at a particular hour—that
is to say, at nino o’clock that even
ing.
The lamps are carefully lowered,
the curtains druwn. There is suf
ficient light to discern objects, but
hardly enough to read tho features
o; Maud Neville, who, reclining in a
low chair at the upper end of tho
room, sits idly gazing into vacancy,
whilst swinging slowly to and fro a
huge black fan. Upon a table under
neath Mrs. Penruddock’s picture two
lamps are burning dimly. Mrs.
Neville i|Jounging on a solemn arm
chair ad'MW to all appearance enjoy
ing life' in its greatest intensity,
which, to speak more plainly, means
that she is slowly but surely falling
into the arms of Morpheus.
The sound of a bell rings through 1
the houst, there is a pause, and the j
door opens slowly, and Mr. Ponrud
dock comes in with the heavy, do- j
termined step of one who has a!
righteous cause to be adjusted, and
with his countenance stern and
white. It is at all times a forbid
ding countenance, no one has ever
thought otherwise, though strangely !
handsome, but to-night it is very 1
nearly repulsive. :
He advances to where Mrs. Neville j
(who has suddenly aroused from
slumber to a full sonso of the situa- :
tion) is sitting, but pauses on his i
way, and shudders, porccptibly, as, j
looking up by chance, he sees that
ho is before tho portrait of his dead
sister-in-law. Mrs. Penruddock’s !
large, pathetic blue eyes are gazing I
down upon him, as so often they !
gazed in life, sweet and earnest, and j
just now. as it seems to his distorted ']
fancy, something more than ull this, i
Is it that ho has grown superstitious !
within the last fow' moments, or do j
they wear a reproachful look that
thrills his whole being? Is tho beau- !
tiful face eager and expectant, as
though she would demand at hla
hands the little one left to him In
trust? Recovering himself by a
great effort, he goes up to Mrs.
Neville, and says something formal
to her about his gratitude for the in
terview thus granted.
He is perhaps going to explain
why the meeting was solicited, when
the abrupt entrance of his son cheeks
him for the time being. A quick
shade of anger crosses the voung
man’s brow as he sees his father. In
stinctively his glance turns to where
Maud is hitting, so tar apart from the
rest; but she Is so enveloped by the
shadows falling from the lowered
lamps, that he cannot distinguish
hor features with any clearness He
would have gone over to her at
once, but Mrs Neville, by a sharp
gesture of command, stays him and
brings him to her own side.
“Stay, Dick," she says, quietly.
’■Your plaoe is here—as yet!”
So ho stays by her, as in duty
bound, though sorely troubled at
heart
“After all that I have urged, you
have come,'' ho says, coldly turning
to his father.
“Yes; to say that whioh I told you
yesterday I.intended to say!” retorts
Penruddook, stubbornly- Then, ad
dressing Mrs. Novillo, he adds, in a
labored tone, “It would make mat
ters much oasler it I night speak to
you alone, without the presence of
—Miss Neville!”
There is a covert insolenoe in the
hesitation that he shows boforo pro
V|Mcing Maud’s name that makes
rs.
Mrs
j,riMo angry and Indignant.
.Ti« have coiuo horo to
,Wha y^fcvillo. It is both
y refers to MIss
her wish anVmTneAtho?^*r-.-:®h.™.1ar
bo a listener to it,” sho says, slowly.
“Therefore, do not hesitate, but com
mence at onco, and let us hear, it
yon please, that which you havo
oomo hither to spoak.
“That is asyou doBire, of course,”
Penruddock returns, calmly; “and,
indeed, it is but little of your time I
shall require. I would merely re
mark that I shall never, under any
circumstances, give my consent to
an alliauco between my son and
your adopted daughter.”
At this, Maud, who until now has
Bat silent and almost motionless,
starts into life. She rises to her
feet, and, though still keeping well
In the shadow, turns to confront
Penruddock.
“Keserve your disapprobation,
sir,” she says, In a voice low but dis
tinct; “there is no occasion -for it,
still loss for your consent to my
marriage with your son. As he will’
himself inform you, I have already
told him, and very distinctly, that
such a union Is utterly Impossible.”
Dick makes a movement as though
he would go to her, but Penruddock
detains him.
“You hear what she says!”1 ho ex
claims. eagerly. “She has refused
you. Let it rest there. It is all at
an end. Surely you would not press
the matter? Have you no self
esteem? Have you no pride?"
“In this case, none,” says the
young man, sadly. “It is my happi
ness. my life, for which I plead."
“But she tolls me plainly that
with her own lips she has rejected
you. ”
“If," says Dick, earnestly, going
up to Maud, and taking both her
hands in his, “if she will also tell
you. not only with her own lips, but
honestly and from ber heart, that
she does not love me, I shall then
resign all hope of over gaining her.
I shall cease to weary her with ray
presence and my sincere protesta
tions of affection, and leave her free
to wed a happier man; but never
until she has told me that. You may
therefore spare yourself all further
trouble on ray account."
He pauses, as if overcome by emo
Lion, and then goes on again in a
voice that trembles slightly. “I
iwait my sentence. Maud, speak!"
TO BE CONTINUED.
CALLED DOWN.
_
rhe Woman Trlo-4 to Haro Her. Dau|h>
ter'a kngagemant King Appraised.
A salesman in a Philadelphia jew
Blry store was approached by a
woman of the fashionable world and
her daughter, a few days ago. * Tho
latter looked somewhat embarrassed.
“I desire to get a ring for my daugh
ter,” said tho woman. The salesman
looked at tho young lady. "Not
„his one—another daughter. It is
to bo a surprise.” She was showu
Base after case of diamoud rings,
but none seemed to suit her. Finally
she said to her daughter: "Show
him yours, dear.” Blushingly the
girl took off her glove .and
slipped a sparkling ring from her
sngagomont Anger. "I want to get
one exactly like that. How much
will it cost?” The salesman looked
it tho ring, and tho girl watched
him as bravely as she could. Ho
recognized it as one he had sold to
Vlr. Blank a few days be'fore. So ho
banded the ring back to the daugh
ter and said: “Tho cost of this ring,
madam. was a confidential matter
between Mr. Blank and mvself. Wo
haven’t another like it in tho house.
1 understood from his remarks that
he thought the ring would not ho
valued at its intrinsic worth. How
ever, if you wish to know its value,
take it to some pawn shop, and
multiply what they will offer you by
three and you will get pretty nsarly
the correct price.” Tho mother
llounced out of tho stora in groat
wrath. Her daughter followed, al
most in tears.
Nothing stingy About Her.
“Mrs. lfobinson has the reputation
of being very stingy.”
"I should say report belies her,
then. ”
"You think so?”
••Think sol Why, she presented
her husband with twins tho other
day. ”
