J i A TENNIS ROMANCE. Frances Itobinson bad fallen in Me. "So one besides himself suspected it, not ven liitt mother, who knew totter than anyone else bow much her sun as ca llable of feeling. No one, you Be thought of love in connection with Francis. He was "nice,' of course. How he. wished sometimes be wasn't Tben at least people would bare some definite fceliug about him. He wasn't stupid at a!l. Indeed, he had always learned easily and been near the top of His classes both in schools and at his university. AH bis comrades liked him well enough no one ever thought of detesting biin. He had a very cW r mind, approaching brilliancy, and he could talk fairly well as well as most of the men he knew ! He was just or dinarily well looking, but who cures if a man is handsome or not? And of all things deliver us from a pretty man! Hut Francis I'.obinsou wasn't naturally a person von would '"take to.,' as the phrase goes. He couldn't help it, and you certainly couldn't either. He bad fallen in love, I said, lie had shown Sfd taste in bi3 choice- far more taste than sense, most jcopk would have said For who wants to ) nourish or encourage a boneless affec tion ? The girl was pretty and s'.ie was : bright, very attractive in everyway. Why shouldn't be fall in love with her if he wnntedto.pray? Hut why should he? Do you think be could hope fur a : return of his regard? He sat down determinedly one day in the privacy of his own room to decide the matter. He put it before himself :as impartially as lie could, lie was used to communing with and consult ing himself, for ie had never had a friend dear enough to open bin heart :to. This is the way he put the case :he was studying for the bar, so the ex pression lits: "I am youngf I nm not handsome, "but I don't thing that need count. 1 liave money enough now to support a wifttonell and hope to earn more soon. I am In sound health, mentally as well as physically. J am not dull 1 can and will make a mark in the world. I love Alice Stair. Why should 1 not make her care for me? 1 am certain he cares for no one else. Very well, I am not worthy of her, but no man is or t-ver will be, and if she will marry mo I y.'IU make my life such that si c need never be asliareed of any' act in it. How r.m'1 to convince her of this? If J should tell her now she would think j?o mad, and justly. First I must do rxnuething worthy of notice, that is sure. I can't write. I never could excell that way. It will be some time yet before I can hope to distinguish myself in court. Wat can I da 'tore bo hid to leave the problem, ami far some time it remained unsolved. "What uld he do ? He asked himself again nnl. again. This thought of the law court most naturally recurred to him, since that was his avocation in life. Suddenly, one day, as he was riding soli .larily aloiB a by stret-t in Harwinton, his nalivcKown, be saw something that ;avo him his great idea. He reined in bis lwrse so quickly that that peaceful i.nimal was profoundly surprised, and doubtless pondered, with equine gravity, tto why and wherefore of it in bis stable afterward. "ily Jove!" thought and almost said Frnncia Robinson, "I have it. I'll win iny laurels in one kind of a court, any way. She is just devoted to tennis, and if 1 can't get to be champion of this town in that, with such an aim, I am more of an idiot than 1 think 1 am." "Which shows that at least ho had some self confidence. He went to work immediately. He played tennis a little, . of course, but had never devoted much rlimc or thought to it Perhaps this . was partly due lately to the fact that he was not a member of Alice Starr's club. "Alice Starr's club" I say advisedly, for iSbe was the leading spirit as well as the .best player in it. Francis knew be could get into the club, otherwise known as the 'Special' if he tried, but first be rnii"t play well. For over a month he devoted hours each day to practice with . Jds racket and ball, at lirst in a tete-a-tete with the side of the house and then with any one he could lure into his toils. He had a ilne court made on his own Jawn, the better to entice people to practice. With his determination he succeeded jlncly, and when be applied for admit tance to the Sjiecial he knew he was up to any memlier in H unless it were Alice Klnrr. lie might have waited a little, longer, but he was getting impatient, and people were getting tired of being - lieaten. He was admitted to the club easily enough. I have said that no one disliked him, and if members didn't want to play with him they needn't. It is a fact worthy of notice that every individual who had been practiced on and of late badly beaten bad forgotten to mention the fact It was just beast ly luck anyway, and on his own court, too. Ho there was no general impression of his good playing, asthere might have torn if his partners hnd been more generous in giving to the world their cores. ... A day or two after he had been en ' rolled h a member Francis walked into the grounds one afternoon just as play was at its height. The five court were all occupied just then, but soon, one being left, a man who thought it was rather asuame Itobinson shouldn'thave a gsrae til) first ay, you knttv, ask him to play. lUMtomt gltd'y tat' sent fed, though to knew rav.f did rM An much at it At any rriUi 2t ws a start, mid be beat his adversary' a straight set with provoking coolueis. Craves bad waked up a littie by this time, and calling to a passing friend he said: I say, Fairfield, don't you want to play ? I am no use today and Ilobiirsou s been knocking me all out" Fairfield assented: "Well, yes, he would Lave a try" with a smile that plainly said, "We'll see bow small fry like Itobinson will show up on my play ing," for he was one of the best men in the club. To lus surprise, however, he found himself unaccountably beaten at every game. He got aroused, then an gry, but it was only the worse for him. liobinsou simply played better than ever. At Kwt, after two sets, one Rob inson's straight and the other 0-2, he became disgusted and said: "WelL I'm down on mv luck, too.- I think I won't play any more. That serve of yours is very clever, Itobinson.'" 15y the time they Htopjied almost '. every one was getting tired, and a group in which Alice Starr was standing had been watching them for some time. Itobinson turned to her and said: "Won't you try one, Miss Starr? Itseemeapity to stop so soon. Single or double, us you prefer." Alice was by no means averse to dis playing her excellent work and she was never weary, so they chose a court. To the satisfaction of both, no one else c;ired to play. Every one watched them, as theirs was the only court occupied. To every one's surprise especially to Fairlield's - llobinson's good luck seemed to stand by him. How provok ing it was! Alice would get vantage so easily, llici. lose the game. She grew more and more astonished as time went on. If Mr. Itobinson had ouly seemed to try to play! llut he didn't, lie stood around as easily as possible and didn't even seem to exert himself nt all, but just reached out lazily and returned the most difficult balls. "Jupiter!" said Jamie Wright, whose chief occupation in life was to make supposedly witty" comments on other people's actions; "Jupiter! I never saw a fellow play like that. It looks as if he stood in one place and reached out in a'l directions regular octopu3, don't you know!" And that is. the way Fran cis pretty soon became known as Octo Itobinson. All the young people walked up town together. Francii felt to walk with Alice would seem rather triumphant to her, so he contented himself with talk ing to her dearest friend Janet Gray. At some complimentary remark of hers he answered: "You mustn't forgot, Miss Janet, that all my life almost I have practiced in bull nlavimr. There's nothing in the world bke that eMScially amateur with all its tricks to make a man's wrist as limber as an col forgive the compari son. Miss Starr has not h U the advan tage of Unit practice, but slio plays magnificently totter than I should have ever thought possible without early training." When Janet, ns in duty bound, re peated this conversation to her friend Alice laughhed and said: "Mr. Itobinson is sluewder than I thought. Little bo knows of the hours and hours (Jeorge and 1 have practiced curves in the back yard If it hadn't been for that I never could have played so well." All the rest of tho summer Francis had chances for games with his star. Harwinton Was in the transition state from borough to city, and was not yet so large that every one left it in the pleasantest sen son of the year. There were lovely drives around it, too, and the young pcojiie of the Special often took them together. Of course, when Alice saw Francis so much at the courts she thought of him, naturally as her narticnlar escort on such occa sions, to carry fill) untl lippit, RloYr Mid Unwl. And yet she did not think of love. One always stands up for one's heroes, however unpretending they may be, but surely I am justified in saying that mine showed mat self restraint and wisdom in keeping so long from telling Alice, even by a look, bis secret See ing her almost every day, and often be ing alone with her, it was hard indeed to keep silent respecting his love for her. I!ut be was succeeding in gaining at least her unconscious assent to his constant attention, and that seemed to him a long stride toward bis goal He had convinced her of his physical ability, but how to do so of his mental? The chance came w4th the October .vmrla The tennis courts must be abandoned, but must the pleasant in tercourse of the Swcial be dropped too? Certainly not! The club had a verv nretty house on the grounds, and this could easily be made suitable for winter. It was soon in order. Alice Starr was interested: "When AlissStarr !. lake hold of a thing it's got to go! Once a week tho rooms were to be opened in the evening aud twice for reading and billtards-they had a par- i ii iilarlv irood table In the afternoon A club of older people was started for the benefit of the chaperons and one norinr uss clven uo to them. One was km for daneinir for the younger ones, t.(i nn stairs, besides the billiard room, two dressing rooms were utilized Mr r rria ot br gUfcrs. I H e ottn. lk-n witbffcis, at Alio Starr's upfi tion,, detaih g club wig formed. .Uiy menhir ef tl club Was entitle4to ineiatordp, and two of the lirst names on the list vw those of Alice Starr and Janet dray. This ojened the way for other girls, and pretty soon it was discovered that the list IM an almost equal number of men's and girl's names. The debates took place once in two weeks aud each time the speakers were apjiointed for the next. Francis Itobinson waited eagerly for his chance. A man and a girl supported each side, and after this an informal discussion by all the members fol lowed, anil from Octo Robinson's swift, brillii'iit little speeches then, much was expected w hen he should take a lead ing part The night came at last when he heard his name. He was to lead the negative with Mary Graves against Alice Starr and Henry Fairfield. The subject of debate was the following: KwoItmI, That womn should beaUo-winl equal !)rmli'g witb inuu at the polls aud in public Francis bad one great advantage in this a sincere conviction against it; that counts for a deal everywhere aud most of all when one is unused to mak ing any given point of view one's own. Francis put his whole heart in the work. iVll the first week be thought about it, racking bis brains for novel and con vincing argument, and at the beginning of the second commenced to write. It was perfectly' allowable and very gen eral to have a written stiecch, but be i ad no such idea as that How could he impress everyone by his brilliancy if he constantly referred to an inglori ous copy? Just as if he weren't sure what lie did think! Alice Starr worked hard, too. She had never given much thought to the subject before, not thinking it practical, but as she studied it she warmed to it more and more, and by the fatal Wednesday night wa3 at a white beat- She herself had taken a different phase of the idea than she had thought her opponents likely to choose and given the more usual view of it to Fairfield He, partly through devotion to her and partly through dislike of Octo Itobin son, had done bis best There was an unusually full meeting on that Wednesday evening, and even Francis felt a little shy. Fairlield ojiencd the debate with a really bright speech, and the applause was warm at his eloquent peroration. Then Mary Graves. She was very quick, and, catching at one or two defective points in Fairlield's argument, turned the tide in her favor. After a pause Alice rose. She, too, had decided to speak without notes, and her eloquence and lire fairly carried away her little audience. Fran cis was naturally quick himself, but she fairly dazzled him tonight, and when she snt down he feit that he had noth ing to say in answer to her unique brilliancy. Hut tben, the great oration that he had 'prepared with so much care! Surely that, with its'flash of con viction, would eclipse the fire of Alice Starr's words. So he arose and, with an earnestness that surprised every one, began. His lirst few sentences impressed everybody, but suddenly he looked at Alice Starr, Her eyes were fixed on him with a look almost of fear fear lest ho should snatch away the laurel she so longed for. At that look he stopped. After a hioment's silence he went on for a sen tence or two, but it seemed that every idea had fled from him. He looked at Alico Starr again, paused a moment and then said slowly: "I hope every one will pardon me. The unexpected turn of my opponent's argument has just put me all out 1 leave the field with the hope that some one here may fill the place I cannot." He turned and left the room, and for a moment dead silence reigned. Then a murmur Of comment arose and half a dozen sprang up at once to give their support to the negative, Francis Itobinson walked slowly out of the bui'ding, mechanically putting on his coat and hat as he went through the hall, and went on to tho broad veranda. He stopped a moment, and then bethinking himself of a peculiar corner o' the veranda, where he would lie secure from intrusion, he went there and sat down on one of the benches He took off his hat and let the cool air strike his forehead and sat gazing blankly at the courts. He tried to think, hut it seemed almost impossible. His last chance was gone, Alice would even despise him now. How long he sat there he did not know, but at length he heard the applause that he knew must be for the announcement of the judges' decision, and he wondered if Alice were happy now. He sat with his face In his hands and did not hear a step approaching. Another person had thought of this retired spot and had come here to think. Hut she stopped as she turned the comer and looked in silence at the dejected figure a moment. Then she said softly: "1 hope I do not disturb you, Mr. Robinson." Ifo started to his feet and his face showed still more the pain he was suf fering. I tog your pardon," he said, "I did not hear you. Certainly not you do not disturb me, 1 mean." An awkward pause ensued. She broke it1 "You must not feel like that 1 don't know what to tay, but It wasn't ytrar t&uit Xo one thinks of it a ;a:nrt you" "Can't you see it Isn't that? lie an swered almost fiercely. "It was my great chance. I though if I could make you see I really wasn't stupid, common--place, I might win your love. And now now you despise me, or at least you think nie a fooL What do I care what others think ? It was you I worked for." There was another pause, and then she said slowly in an almost inaudible tone: "15ut how do you know till you ask me, Francis ?" He seized her hands and his happi ness. Jlis defeat bad done what Ins success jierhaps iitver would have, A moment later she added, with a happy little laugh: "And you needn't feel so badly There were lots ready to help you, and it didn't take the judges long to decide in favor of the negative. So you see you won your point and your fiancee, too." Isabel Dyrol in Springfield Homestead. Tricks in All Trades. "Oh, yes, we all have our faults," said a wealthy retirea grocer or tins city, as he sat with a groupe of old friends on the veranda of his west side home. "I'll admit even that the par agraphed have some foundation for the sandy-sugar, cocoanut-pepper and clay-coffee bean jokes they keep Hing ing at grocers with almanac regularity. 15ut we can console our selves with the true, if not exactly mor-d, reflection that there are lots of folks worse than i. "Out of the fullness of my half cen tury's experience I should say that the servant girl trade or buisncss or whatever you like to call it has more sharp and tricky members than any other one I know of. For example, twenty-live years ago I had a splendid customer in a high class boarding house near my store. I always gave the servant who attended the purchases, the waitress' and the head cook their 'little dividend' every week. Mess you yes, we had to do it then and we have to do it now. If we didn't well you'll see as I get along with the story). And every thing went as merrily as a mar riage bell for three years. Then my rival in the neighborhood, a crusty old bachlor, concocted a fine scheme to get that boarding house trade from my store to his. ITo went to the landlady and offered to take an expensive room of her if she would agree to buy her supplies from him in the future. The landlady liked me, and w3 well satisfied with the goods 1 furished her, but the room had been unlet for some time, and 'business is buisness' anyway, so she agreed to his proposal. "Old Smith' that wasn't his name, but it will do for the story grinned from ear to ear every time he passed my place for the next few days and told every tradesman in the place of his feat But ho made one big mistake in his own course of action. He re fused to tip the servants when Saturday came around, saying that they would have to buy from him any how, and he was unnecessarily gruff and rash in telling them so. The. girls said nothing but thought a heap, and when Sunday's supplys came home that evening they divined a plan to (ix the new boarder, as he broke the shell of his eggs, was assailed by an oder that was simply terrific. Everybody knew that Smith had furnished tho eggs, and the glance cast at him by the breakfastcrs, from the landhidy to the attic boarder, were the nearest things to basilisk stares imaginable. "Another batch of eggs was cooked, but they were opened with the same result, and although poor Smith pro tested that the eggs he had sent around were only a day old nobody believed him, and he went up stain feeling like a social outcast. At dinner the toma toes plainly tasted of tin, the potatoes were hard and specked, the cheese burned a hole in one's tongue' and the butter--well, I don't care to repeat what the star boarder said about the butter. The boarders held an indigna tion meeting in the parlor that after noon, and at its close the landlady went up stairs and told Mr. Smith that he had better move Monday morning and shut down. at once on the grocery sup plies also. Smith vowed the goods he had sent in were of the very best, but it was no use, tha next day I had my old customer back again. "Where do I suppose the girls got that stock of bad eatables ? Well, I can't say exactly, but 1 know that there was less rubbish carted away from my cellar that week than usual. The girls may have formed a combina tion with my porter in the matter, but there is no use casting suspicions on peoplo who may have been innocent As the landlady remarked, 'business is business,' and as 1 said before, servants are tricky. Let's have a fresh cigar." New York Times. Types and I'oetry. Managing Editor What was it that young fellow wanted? Oflice lloy lie says that he wrote a sonnet entitled "Dolly's Dimples," and it got into the paper headed "Dolly's Pimples," and that he wants it ex plained, as it got him into trouble with something he called his feeansay. Unoinnati Commercial Gazette, FLAX CLEANERS AND TESTER3, MILL AND ELEVATOR MACHINERY. REPAIRS, SUPPLIES, Steam Outfits, Horse Powers, Belting, Pulleys, Shafting, eta. YORK FOUNDRY & ENGINE CO, YORK, NEB. ACADEMY AND SELECT SCHOOL OF THE Holy - Child - Jbsus, Tilnooln, BTobraalLa. This institution is conducted by the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesi horn Sharon Hill, Philadelphia, Pa., will open as a Boarding and Select Day School for young ladies, Monday, September Otlx, 1QOO. P&renU will find in thie Academy all the feBturwe of a secluded and refined borne fur tbeir daoirhtere. A Utoruugi useful and accompliehed education in imparted, and particular care is beeUiwed on the moral improvement of tne pupila. Difference of religion no obstacle to the bdmirteinn of pupils. For particulars addreaa, Itev. MOTHKU SLPEIUOlt, LINCOLN, NEB. Convent of the Holy Child Jesui. Ifoiling; Lakci. About one hundred miles north of Oroville, at the foot of old Lassen, there is a boiling lake covering several acres. The depth of the lake is unknown, but its entire surface constantly boils like a huge kettle. The degree of beat we do not know, but we were there about ten years ago, and remember distinctly that it would scald the skin from the fingers in a very few seconds. Our party agreed that it would boil an egg in four seconds. The smell of sulphur pervaded the atmosphere about the lake, and around its borders somet hing like sulphur could to scrajied up in handfuls. This lake is near Hot Spring Valley, at the base of Mount l.ausen. lletween it and the mountain there are, ierhaps, a thousand boiling, bubbling hot springs, and in tramping about these springs the soles of persons' shoes become uncomfortably warm. The Jsorth Feather river, at the base of I assen, in its trickling flows and springs, and in a clear, cold and beautiful stream, flows through this community of hot springs. Some of these springs bubble up boil ing water within a span of the river. Standing in the midst of these springs a peculiar sensation is experienced. At a thousand places the earth emits a vapor smoke, while under the surface there is a jarring, roaring noise, as if hundreds of steam engines were i operation, and the ominous trembling of the earth produces a feeling of un certainly. Ited UluH (Cai.) Cause. How the Sly Crawfish Catches Flies. A correspondent writes that he re cently observed a very cunning and in genious trick of a crawfish (or crayfish) for catching flies. "Sitting on the bank of a muddy pond, or 'borrow pit,' over the surface of which many small Hies were swarming about, I observed that the crawfish came lo the surface near the water's edge, and, turning over on the side, the tail probably touching bottom, with claws and legs 'spindling' about in the water, he assumed the ex act semblance of dead creatures float ing on the water. In a few seconds flies would alight on the apparently dead crawfish, and as soon as one got into the proper position there was a sudden and instantaneous Hip, when fish and fly would disappear together under the water. In a few seconds more he would appear on the surfaoc and go through the same maneuver, with the same result. There were, per haps, two or throe dozen of them in sight at the same time, and all indus triously engaged in the fly catching game." Forest and Stream. - Better Than Gold. It was in Essex street the other day that a gamin of twelve found a young ster of six or seven crying on the curb stone, and when he asked what was the matter the latter replied, Says the New York Sun: "I I lost a cent!" "Lost a cent, eh! Well that's bad. Hev ye hunted all over?" "Y-yes." "I'd give you a cent If I had one, but I'm broke. I hain't got no gum, fish hooks, marbles, or string, either." The youngster began weeping afresh. "Say, I'll promise to take ye to tho museum next year " The tears increased. "I'll conte around here with an apple tomorrow." Louder howls. "Say, I've got it! If ye'll stop crying I'll let ye lick me." "You are too big," sobbed the other. "Xo, I hain't I'm bigger'n you, but 1 hain't got no grit. Any boy kiu lick me. Come now." "May I lick you?" "Yes. Now 111 get down on my stomach, and you jist pile onto me aud hammer till I holler." lie took position, the little one piled on and pounced him about the shoul ders till he cried "enough!" And when they got up the small boy was radiant and excited and exclaimed : "Didnt I make you holler, though! Now I'll go home and lick my two sis ters!" . Ups and Downs in the Yeast Market. Yeast ia naturally a most unstable sort of commodity, but its main char acteristic la that upon the very slightest Good Farms in Virginia FOB RATjK CHEAP FROM 8Q to Q30, PEUACBE. Good soil, healthy, good market, mild climato. Bend for circulars. Address A. T. STEWART & Co., KKAMS (STATION, Dinwiddle County, Virginia. Y. N. U. York, Nkb. provocation it will rise. During the past week, however, it contradicted ita usual methods and shrunk in a most amazing way. Saturday last it sold for 20 cents a pound. Monday it was selling for 5 cents a pound, and yester day the price rose again to 20 cents. Investigation into the causes of this extraordinary fluctuation in price re veals the existence of a hide bound, eopier bottomed, double riveted trust which absolutely controls the price of yeast, and holds it at a figure which pays the members of the trust a hand some profit. A pound of yeast cut into squares and wrapped in tin foil will make forty cakes, which are sold by the manufact urers at 1 cent each, and retailed for 2. The consumer of this yeast then pays SO cents per pound. The profit is 68 cents, of which the retailer makes 40 and the manufacturer 28 cents. Com pressed yeast is made from whiskies, vinegars, and "low wines," and could be retailed at 15 cents a pound, with a fair margin of profit for manufacturer and retailer. Chicago Inter Ocean. A Good Hot Weather Diet. Here is a good hot wheather diet pre scribed by a $25 a visit doctor of Sara toga: Fish, clear soups, sea food, eggs, brown bread a day old, fresh milk, green peas, lettuce and tomatoes in pref erence to all other vegetables, ripe mel ons and fresh berries, rice pudding!:, lemonade and iced tea in preference to ice cups, and half the usual quantity of coffee. 1 le advises contempt for butte'-, dumplings, pie, roasts, cabbage, pota toes, hot bread and animal foods as tor, heating for the blood. Heaisoprescrilxii a two hour siesta after dining, as littl exposure to the sun as possible and glass of ale or porter at night for peoplu who do not rest well. Hot baths he con siders better than the cold plunge for cooling purposes, to be taken an ho:i; before eating or three hours after. Violence is done to perfect health by indiscriminate use of mineral water, es pecially mixing them, and prolonged stay in the surf. ' Only an ignoramus will drink from two different mineral springs and only the foolishly athletic overexert themselves. The lounger and summer tourist will get the best rest on his back either in a hammock, steamer chair or bed. Unless tbe system is regu lated nothing will improve it, and then) is no better way to keep the portals open and stimulate perspiration than by frequent use of water applied in ternally and externally. ' It is hardly possible to drink too much good, clean cool water, and habitual sponging will remove the excretions from the body which facilitate the growth of germs that are fidgety and numerous as the dust particles in the air we breathe. New York World. Saved by a Bullfrog. There are at least four newspaper re porters in New York who are stanch friends of the bullfrog family. They are engaged on morning papers, aud they were plowing their way at a trc mendoua pace through the sand mid wire gross of the meadows skirting Newark bay back of Greenville, N. J., to investigate a story of a yacht that had been missing, with eleven men on' board, for several days. The hour was late, the story promised to to a long one and much valuable time had toon wasted in discovering the name of the place from which the boat had sailed, so the young men were pushing on in the dark toward the shore with out stopping to search for footpaths. All at once, from just beneath their feet, a voice that was almost human croaked "H'loukkout," and as the trav elers stopped short to take advice a big frog jumped with a plunk into the canal. One more step would havo taken the young men into ita muddy depths, where they would have certain ly received a most unpleasant ducking, and possibly have last their Uvea, as it would have been no easy matter to have climbed up the yielding clay wall of the waterway. Philadelphia Ledger,