NO SLEEPING BAG FOR THEM Laplanders Preferred the Snow and the Open Air, and So Had a Comfortable Night. Sir Henry Lucy tells In the Corn hill Magazine a good story that he had from Nansen, the explorer. It amusingly illustrates the hardy health of the Laplanders. Part of Nansen’s equipment for his trip across Greenland consisted of two sleeping-bags made of undressed skins. On the first night of the jour ney Nansen and his two Norwegian companions got into one of the bags, pulled the mouth tight across their necks, and so slept in the snow with only their heads out. Before retiring for rest, Nansen saw the three Laplanders he had engaged for the expedition cozily tucked Into the other sleeping-bag. When he awoke in the morning, almost numb with cold, he observed that the bag In which he had tied up the Lapland ers was empty, and that they were no where in sight. He was afraid they had deserted him, and scrambling out of the bag, went in search of them. He found the three men fast asleep behind a hillock of snow that they had scraped together as a pro tection against the wind. “Ah, master,” they said, when ask ed to explain this extraordinary con duct, "we couldn't sleep in that thing. It was too hot, so we got out and have had a comfortable night here.” DREW THE LINE. I Mrs. Wood B. Swelle—Do you care for pate de foie gras? Old Man Newriche—No, ma’am, I draw the line on grass. Baled-hay breakfast foods are my limit! Truth About Old Age. George F. Baer, the famous Phila delphia railroad man, said on hiB seventieth birthday: “I agree with Professor Metchnikoff about the wisdom of the old. Profes sor Osier made it fashionable to de cry gray hairs, but my experience has been that the old not only possess wisdom, but they seek it also.” With a smile Mr. Baer added: “The only people who think they are too old to learn are those who really are too young.” English Stump Speech. A correspondent, “Old. Briney,” sends us the following specimen of frenzied stump oratory: “Feller blokes! Thanks ter th’ guv’ment, yer got yer d’minishin’ wage, and yer lit tle loaf, an’ all that. Wotcher got ter do now is ter go fer devil-ootion and local anatomy, an’ go it blind!” (Loud cheers.)—London Globe. At 2 A. M. Mrs. Klatter—What is it a sign of when a man stumbles going up stairs? 1 Mrs. Klubmann—I know very well what it's a sign of when my husband does it. If a newly wedded man has no se crets from his wife It is rather hard on the other women he might have married, but didn’t. Political arguments lose us more friends than they gain votes. SYNOPSIS. In the time of Queen Anne. Lady Prue denee Brook, widowed at 16 and still a widow at two and twenty, while journey ing In a coach to London with her cousin Peggy, is accosted by a highwayman who, however, takes nothing from her except a kins. The two girls live with their grand mother, Lady Drumloch, who, despite her reduced circumstances, maintains a gay social position in the court circle. Prue Is small, gay, delightful, daring, extravagant, and always In debt. CHAPTER VIH—(Continued.) Sir Geoffrey made no further pro test, but considering that the benefit to himself was so undenia ble, gave in gracefully, and pledged himself to his lady’s service with many courtly vows. Indeed, the tempt ing prospect of Prue, divested of her debts and free In three days to bestow herself upon him, rose before him In such glowing colors, that even Lord Beachombe’s wager was cast Into the shade, and only served to add luster to the vision of his fickle and In consequent mistress, reduced to sweet reasonableness and proper wifely sub mission by the judicious use of her discreditable secret. He, therefore, took his leave, hav ing to content himself for the nonce with the tips of Prue’s fingers to kiss, and leaving the cousins to the delight ful occupation of turning over their recovered wardrobes, and devising the means of malting a resplendent ap pearance at court with their present possessions and the thrifty outlay of Lady Drumloch’s 60 guineas. CHAPTER IX. THE WEDDING. "My mind misgives me,” said Mar garet, when the two girls were at their toilet the next morning. " 'Tis not too late, Prue, for reflection, and if ill betide thee, dear, I shall feel as if I had brought it on thee.” Prue turned from her mirror with a petulant gesture. "Tell me, Peggie, truly,” she said, with an air of deep concern, "do you not think the hair dresser has trussed my hair too high on top? Would not a curl or two more on the neck be an improvement? Prithee, unpin this lock and ’ let it fall intelligently behind my ear. Ah, that’s better.” She turned back to the mirror, and regarded her reflection critically. "Am I too pale, Peggie? Do you think a touch of rouge—the least touch—would be becoming?” “For the wedding, do you mean? Faith, I always thought a pale, pensive bride more interesting. Not that you are either. A shade more color would spoil you. I think you are even a little flushed.” "You are pale, Peggie,” said Prue, looking fixedly at her. "What’s the matter?” “Oh, I dreamed all night of troubled water, Prue. You know that’s ill luck. ’Tis not too late to give up this foolish marriage—■” "Foolish marriage! Why, Peggie, ’tis the first wise one I have ever contem plated. And as for a dream, why I dreamed three times running of a black cat, and if anything bodes good luck that does." “But suppose after all the object of the marriage should fail?" urged Mar garet. "Fail! How can it fail?” cried Prue pettishly. “Besides, you know the motto of the Wynnes: ‘Cowards fayle. I winne.’ Well, I have failed often enough, yet not from cowardice, God wot! And still I am always hoping to win, I scarce know what.” “Your new motto will suit you Just as well,” said Peggie, ” 'Nil timeo.’ ” “Ha ha, the motto of the De Cliffes. Was ever such audacity as this Rob in’s? I’ve a mind to ask him, when the deed is done, if he has any direc tions to give about his hatchment, or if I shall refer the matter to the head of the house.” yjll, rruc, cue yuu uiicny uctu ucbb ; I declare, since I have seen the poor young man I am sorry for him and I wish I had not helped to turn his ex ecution into a Jest.” "Would you have me weep?” said Prue, almost sternly. “There is always time enough for that when there is nothing else to be done. Ah, I hear Sir Geoffrey’s voice. You are dressed, Peggie, prithee go down to him and bring me word whether he has done his part and is ready—and willing—to give away the bride.” She turned for a last look in the mirror as Peggie hurried away, and the half-scornful smile with which she surveyed her own charming reflec tion had none of the levity with which she had so easily deceived her cousin. Yet it certainly was not a picture to provoke disdain. Never had the wil ful beauty looked to greater advan tage. The restless brilliancy of her sparkling eyes, the changeful color that flushed and paled her cheek with each quick-drawn breath, the name less but irresistible charm that ani mated every feature, might have ex cused a more complacent glance. But Prue, though by no means prone to deal severely with herself, was a good deal more ashamed of her scheme than she would have cared to own, even to herself, and perhaps secretly longed for some Insurmountable obstacle to stop her in spite of herself. She was determined, however, that ■he would not be the one to raise a difficulty. She was so unspeakably mortified by the new light yesterday’s events had thrown on Sir Goelfrey’s wooing that the idea of placing a bar rier between herself and him. gave her keen satisfaction. That the possibility of her inheriting a fortune from her grandmother should have influenced his pursuit of her ever so slightly, wounded her vanity, that nerve-cen ter of her being; and that he should have lent his countenance and help to a scheme that would give her, even nominally, to another man, no matter how brief or indefinite the tenure, dealt it an almost mortal blow. "He has yet a chance," she mur mured. “He may have found on reflection that he can not bring himself to sacrifice me for the sake of a couple of thousand pounds’ worth of debts, and he may implore me to refrain for his sake. I might not be persuaded—one can never answer for oneself—but he would come out of it without dishonor." She mechanically smoothed a ribbon here and adjusted a flounce there and, half turning, tried to obtain a full view of her back in a glass two feet square. ’’’Tis provok ing to be obliged to dress by guess work,” she commented. "If I were to marry old Aarons I could have three or four tire-women and a dressing room with the walls all covered with mirrors, so that I could see every side of myself at once. Pahl what Is com ing over we that I could even think of such a creature? What with mar rying criminals and receiving offers from usurers the Viscountess Brooke must be coming to a pretty pass." With which she made a deep curtsey to as much as she could see of the Vis countess Brooke in the little looking glass, and running out of the room met Miss Moffat coming up stairs. "Hasten, Prue,” she whispered breathlessly. "All Is arranged. Sir Geoffrey has the ring and license In his pocket and a parson In the car riage. If the bride Is ready—” She had entirely recovered from her brief spasm of reluctance and was as merry as a child and as reckless of conse quences. "The bride Is quite ready,” cried Prue. “Nothing la lacking except—” “Except what?" Inquired Peggie, as she broke oft abruptly. "Oh! a trifle or two; nothing worth mentioning,” laughed Prue, snatching up her cloak and hood and running lightly down stairs, where Sir Geof frey awaited them, not altogether at ease about his own part in the affair, and palpably relieved that Prue was In the best of sp'lrlts and Inclined to treat the whole adventure as a frolic. "’Tls all your own fault—and Peg gie’s," she laughed In her sauciest way. "If I were not the most good natured person in the world I should scold you both soundly and refuse to make a fool of myself for your amuse ment.” "Will you change places with me and let me take your chance?" cried Peggie. “It can not make much dif ference to Robin.” "What, when I am all dressed up In ribbons and laces for the wedding? No difference, forsoothl What do you say to that, Sir Geoffrey?” ”1 was just going to suggest that you were altogether too fine a bride for the occasion,” said Sir Geoffrey, rather glumly. "A less resplendent toilet would be less likely to attract attention.” _AS_ . 1 ... --*•- ***'■• mvu UUUC4 UUD Uig cloak," she replied, giving it to him. "Do you think, you foolish man, that I am dressed up like this to wed a footpad? I am on my way to Marl borough House to dine with the duch ess, and must hasten or I shall be late and may chance to get a box o’ the ear for my first course.” Robin Freemantle sat at the rough table in his cell, writing busily. Sev eral closely written sheets were spread out before him, and when he finished the last and signed his name to it he threw the pen down and sat drumming on the table with his fingers. It was an idle action but by no means idly performed, for the frown on his fore head and the movements of his long, sinewy hands were full of purpose, and angry purpose, too. Presently the frown died away and a look of wistful sadness replaced if. He took up the written sheets and turned them in his fingers as though half-disposed to tear them u» smiling bitterly as he glanced from page to page. “What good will it do me," he mut tered, “when my bones are rotting in an unmarked grave, to bequeath a feud to perhaps unborn generations? Shall I fling down my mother's repu tation for the lawyers to fight over, like dogs over a bone, when I am not there to protect it, and when the out come of the struggle will Interest me as little as it will her?” A dim vision, more imagination than memory, rose before him of the fair, young mother who had faded from his life twenty-three years ago, and be side it another face radiant with life and laughter, a pair of blue eyes sparkling through curled lashes, a pair of round, white arms gleaming in the darkness, a scarlet mouth—every nerve tingled at the thought that his own had touched it, and might again. But no! she had been merely playing with him. How could he have been fooled by the ruse of a spoiled beauty to feed her own vanity and punish his auda city? She want to marry him! It was fantastic, absurd, and what could be more improbable than the reason for such a folly? She had a wager on it, perhaps, or merely wished to amuse herself at the expense of the daring highwayman who had robbed her of a kiss. Well, she had had her way. He had shown that she had but to beckon and he was ready to follow, and that had doubtless ended her whim. "She will not come!” he said, aloud, in a tone of poignant disappointment, that plainly showed how he clung to the promise he feigned to discredit. The jailer opened the door noisily. “Visitors for the highwayman,” he announced. “More fine ladies and srentlemen.” Robin sprang to his feet, looking eagerly from one to another. What ever his expectations were, the first glance disappointed them. A pimply faced. watery-eyed little man, in rusty black, entered first, conducting Mar garet Moffat by the hand in a ceremo nious fashion, that had something in it reminiscent of the time when he did not need filling up with gin to make him remember that he was a student and a Doctor of Divinity. And close behind him, followed Sir Geoffrey Beaudesert—tall, handsome, dressed with the sober elegance that became the budding statesman, supporting on his arm a lady, enveloped from head to foot in a hooded cloak, that complete ly concealed her. “May I inquire—’’ Robin began. Then his glance fell upon Mar garet, whose air of coquettish sim plicity would not have misbecome my lady's confidential maid, and recognizing her, his hopes rose again, and he burst into a hearty laugh. “Ha. my fair friend; have you come to enliven my solitude once more? What! Sir Geoffrey Beaude sert? I can not say I anticipated the honor of a visit from you. X fancied you had already seen more of me than you approved.” i ..