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About The Sioux County journal. (Harrison, Nebraska) 1888-1899 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 1895)
x V . f CHAPTER XL-Continued.) "It i curious." said Mr. L'Estrange as if t.. herself. "! never thought Clifton! Marsden would tie himself to any woman, onles for a '.aTge money bribe, lie know exactly how you an- situated, and I tnmK the better of him! He must love you very much!" , -He says he does. I believe he doe. aid Nora, sitting down on her fw.utool again and clasping her hands round ber knee io a thoughtful (we. "lu fact, I am half frightened at the idea of hi curing so much about uie, though this i weak ami illy. I never thought the squire could be ao intensely in earnest about anything 1 feel somehow to biauie. for. Helen, la in not one bit in love with him. I told hira ao, and Le said he knew it." , "My dear child, you do not know whetu cr vou are or not! Clifford Marsden is a man who might teach any woman to love him; and why should he not win you .' He hows that he is siueerely, disinterestedly attached to you. I must say I am entirely on bis side." "Are you?" said Nora, dreamily. I impose so." She sighed. "It is a marriage that would have given jour father the keenest pleasure." Nora tan gilent. "Did you, then, reject him?" asked Mrs. L'Estrange. -"He would not accept rejection," said Nora, with a grave smile. "He said I meat hear him; that I must marry him; he aeenied rather angry aud excited, but we parted good friends. I promised to think f all he bad said, and to speak to you, who would be his friend he was sure. I am astonished he should care for uic so much! He has seen such quantities of charming, beautiful people but he does! Oh Helen. lie is wonderfully fond of ne! I could hear it in his voice. I am wry ungrateful, I wish he was not. I am .afraid -even if I were to marry him he would be disappointed to find I could not love bias awugh. It is I mean it must be so wretched, not to receive as much as one gives. "My f'oar. you cannot fail to love him heartily! You are perfectly heart whole, and jours is a kindly nature, not likely to harden Itself against the tenderness of a true lover." ' ""No; perhaps not. I wish I did love ihim. How happy and light-hearted 1 sbonW !! Now I am uncertain and mis erable. I am so impatient, Helen! I can not real if I am unhappy. I must get light and freedom, or 1 should beat myself to pieces against my prison bars! Vou are ever so much braver and nobler." t "You have never come in contact with . rnl ne.-essitv. Nora. You can not con ceive how inexorably submission is forced upon one soniet:me." ' TThei k a short pause. "I u "(id be glad, I confess," resumed Mrs L'Estrange, "to see you well and happily warned. You would, I am sure, be alwavs a kind sister to my poor little Bea as' w myself, it is not imiosible that'l cia? h stopiK-d. ""Certuiiif" wt; wny suouto. you u ; put in Nora,' eagerly. "You are youug and .fair 'iwougb to marry some good, delight - iul ix-rsoti! ' . , - "My dear Nora!" interrupting iu her tarn nVbat can have suggested so ab surd nn Men? I was about to touch on a very different topic but 1 will not now. Tell w. (lid Mr. Marsden say he woulc come again?" , , . , "Yesno I am not sure what he said. But 1 think he will most probably." "Well; we can say no more at present. I will go and change my dress. I trust you will be wise, and not reject such an offer fur a whim." "J only waut to do what is right, cne--Nora, Mantling up, ami letting her clasped hands fall to the length of her arms. "I do 'wish I loved Clifford, as he deserves me to love him; but it is very odd 1 don't think I like him as well as I did yesterdav. I used to be quite glad to se him and now I rather dread his coming. "That is natural enough, Nora. There will be a little awkwardness in meeting him at first. I do not quite understand joor indifference to so very attractive a nan as Clifford Marsden! Tell me you know 1 would not intrude on your confi dence: I only ask because yon are dear to m as my own sister have yon any preference for some one else to steel your heart?" "Why! vrho has ever made love to me?" ried Nwra. indignantly, coloring crimson as she spoke; "and am I the sort of girt to hcalow my heart or fancy when neither are s..i.ahir "Pardon me," said Mrs. L'Estrange, amilBCi. "the heart, even in the strongest minded yung ladies, is strangely illogi cal and unaccountable." "Well. 1 really am not very silly. Now f have kept you too long, perhaps your dress is damp, and yon know you must not Iw imprudent." "1 know it, but I have been under cover all day." Site took up her cloak and was leaving the room, when Nora exclaimed: "How selfish I am! I quite forgot to tell yon I had a few lines from Lady Dorrington. She says Mrs. Kuthven is seriously ill, with fever, nervous fever, ad they are quite uneasy about her." "Ia6Wd! I aui sorry, very sorry. 1 tm liked Mrs. Buthven aa well as you 4o, but I think she looked dreadfully wor ried of late." "Did too, do yon think she was very mwk takes with the squire?" X)h, I don't imagine she cares aerionsly for any one, she like the most distin- itliihul MB present," returned Mrs. ' L'Batramaf. ... "I boaM he so sorry to interfere with Iter. U must be dreadful to be cut out if jm an really fond of nay one." "Do not distress yourself on that score; JUmer Mr. Mamdea't nirtation with Mrs. -;fcti was of the very lightest order. l.J yea answer Lady Dorrinjrton's ict- - -tm a asuw. and heamd her to let na j . vp low the nauent was going on' yDitraags was lasetnated by the t' Esea's awrlam with Marsdea. T-5 ,K ! . t :.t ) U-4 aad livkag oat r: r i i rS in rt it..' rs C3 the world, had never heard the various reports reseting his wild f itravagani-e, his geueraliy reckless life, liveu if she had, she would, like a simple, g' O.1 w.-man, have fully U-lievt-d in the power of a pure atiachment to elevate and reform the most determined rake. Besides, th ugh truly and warnify attached to her stei daughter, she was keenly alive to the fact that her own precious child was utterly dependent on her half-sister. She never doubted that Nora, if left ti fcervlf, would be both just and generous, but if Nora married before attaining her ma jority, Beatrice would be really dependent on nirne mere stranger, and men re o strange and hard about money matters. Then a husband's power and influence are so great; the poor lonely widow, though she blushed for herself, earnestly hoped Nora would not marry until she was 21. If Nora married Marsden, she felt snre he would be kind and generous. He was peculiarly sympathetic. It was this that give him more than half his attraction, lie always conveyed the idea that he was really glad to help any ot.p. His detesta- I tion of everything unpleasant or painful I gave him an air of kindness that imposed even on himself. Yes, if Nora would catisent, Bea's fu ture was secure, and why should she not? A bt tier, or indeed a happier, marriage could not be found. Why Nora was not already In love with her suitor, Mrs. L'Ks t range could not understand, and set it down to one of the Inscrutable mysteries of a young undevelojied nature. Nora, too, was thoughtful, and the even ing passed almost in silence; occasionally each xpuke a few words, and then fell into a fit of musing. The spell, however, was broken by the entrance of the ser vant with a note for Mrs. I.'ICstratige. "The messenger waits, 'm." "I will ring in a uiimite or two," said Mrs. L' Estrange, 0x n;i!g the env.-loe. "It. is from Mr. M.irsden. Nora," she exclaimed. "He wants to see me alone to-morrow morning." "Indeed!" "I suppost" smiling "lie wants to se Mire your vote and interest." "They are his already." A pause. "What shall 1 say, Nora?" "Whatever you choose." "Then I shall Fee him." She rose, went to the writing table, nnd penned a few lines, and sent them to Marsden's messenger. "I imagine that Mr. Marsden will not be easily turned from his purpose. And I hope, Nora, you will not t.K thoughtlessly refuse so sincere and disinterested a lover." "Ob! I know all that can be urged in bis favor," said Nora, rather impatiently; "and he is very nice only I thing I should like to lie Nora L'Estrange for some time longer. I have seen so little. How could I manage a great establish ment like Evesleigb House? I am half afraid of that awful housekeeper. Atid the squire himself likes everything to be so perfect so elegant he might regret "lis own haste in wanting to marry soefa a half-Hedged creature as I am." "Nora, dear Nora! this humility is a new development!" "I know w hat I am fit for, and I am not humble, hut 1 do not want to attempt what is likely to tie too much for me. There, don't let us talk about Clifford nuy More at least till you have seen him to- ' morrow." "Promise me not to refuse him without due reflection." "No. I am too undecided to do that. But it rather awful to think that, having ouce said 'yes,' one cannot unsay it." Mrs. L'Estrange need scarcely have rec ommended Nora to reflect on Marsden's offer. She was haunted by the recollec tion of bis words, his voice, his eyes. It is true that he kept himself well in hand, and kept back many-a passionate expres sion that rushed to his lips. Neverthe less, be had impressed-Nora very deeply with the conviction tttat she was very es sential to him. It rather weighed her down with a vague sense of alarm. YVba; was she to do with this tremendous gift of love? so strong that bis voice trembled in spite of his efforts to be steady, when ie described it, and his heart throbbed fast and hard when be pressed her Band for a moment against it. Ought she con demn one who was so tenderly attached to her to suffer the pangs of disappoint ment and rejection, because she had a morbid fancy for another who did not care for her? And with the thought came a suggestion that Bent thrills of pain quiv ering through her veins. Had the same words and tones and looks been Walton's how differently she. would have responded! Perhaps, by eultivatinz gratitnde to Mars den, and giving herself up to his efforts to please and win her, she would succeed in loving him; and then she would make him happy and be happy herself. What a si lutiou of all diHiculties that would bo! Perhaps it would be the right thing to do. How hard it was to know what was right Finally, the tears welled up. as she thought with regretful compassion of the strong emotion Marsden had displayed surely such affection constituted a claim upon any kindly heart, let she ardently wished he had not taken sucn a lancy to her. So, after struggling with contra dictory thoughts for half the night, she fell asleep toward morning, witn a nalt- uttered prayer to be directed aright uism her lips. Mrs. L Estrange received Jlarstien cor dially and cheerfully. She did Jiot doubt for a moment that Nora, having recovered her first startled surprise at his unexpect ed proposal, would marry him willingly, as it was natural she stioniu; ana sn was anxious he should see how very heartily she w as on his side. "I feel sure I have a friend In you, were almost his first words, after he bad shaken hands with her warmly, "wo were always allies since your first appearance at Brookdale." "Yes, Mr, Marsden, you were always welcome to my husband and to me." "Nora has told you of the start I gave her," interrupted Marsden, who was ab sorbed in hia own projects. "I feel 1 have been too abrupt In short, having been pretty far gone about ber nearly ever aince we met last spring, 1 fancied she must set It, and to be candid, her blindness mgfests that she may be preoccupied by some luckier fallow than myself. Am I rightr "To mgfct ta aafc bar, Mr. Manias." "And stt-m a "onceltef! jackuiapr by Implying that only a previous attai hiueat wii ild have prevented her fall.ug iu love with ine?" Mr. L'Kai range smiled. "I do not think Nora is disssed to faH iu loie very readily. Then there iu ui one for her io fail in love with." ' Some vuiwi might fancy Wiuton." ' I do Hot think Nora dio la.letd, they never sf-.-mwl to take much ,o each other, especiniltr of late." "Well, Mrs. L'Estrange, yon will back ni n i? 1 may depend on you?" "You may. How did you and Nora part?" "Oh, she was anxious to get rid of me; I could see that, bm I to!d her I would not take her first 'No,' nor her second either! Mrs. L'Lstrauge, I am determined that Nora shall be my wife." "Not against ber will?" "No; that would be too ungsllant," re turning to his usual light tone; "but with her will." "Take my advice; wait a few days be fore repeating jour offer. I-et me tell her you wiil give her time to think, and, mean while, that she must let you come as a friend and kinsman." "Very well. 1 shall be guided by you. but I cau't stand this uncertainty long. Why does she not like me? for she doesn't." "It is imjNissihle to say; she is not a commonplace girl." "Thank you for the implied compli ment." "You have caught me up too soon. Will you write tuft I have suggested, flr shall I speak to Nora?" "I will write," he said, and speedily traced a few lines, "iuere,'' he contin ued, haudlug the note to Mrs. L'Kstrange. "I urn very grateful for your help, and believe me, if I become your step-son-in-law, I mill care for yonr interests nnd those of my little friend, Bea, as if they were my own." "You are very good," said Mrs. L'Es trange, softly. "Now," continued Marsden, "what shall we do? It is an awful time in Ioudon; 1 almost wish I !iad not come up. There is shooting, or hunting, or something to be done in the country. Have you been to Windsor? It is a tolerably line day. Jet us g down and lunch there, and walk about after. Just settle it with Nora." "Very well," said Mrs. L'Kstrange. and left the room. She was some little time absent, during which Marsden walked to and fro, picked up and put down books and papers which lay about, and occasionally looked at the clock. He was Impatient, but not tin easy; he did not doubt bis ultimate sue. I cess, anil wag not altogether displeased with Nora's hesitation. It was the sense of difficulty which was her crowning charm. j He had seen many lovelier nnd more fascinating women; but none had ever charmed and vanquished him as this un worldly, natural young cousin. What fair round arms she bad! What j a sweet mouth, half sad, half haughty! Would she ever press it fondly to his?) What would he not dare, what villainy ! would be not commit, to secure her for himself away from every one? And would the day ever come when she would be to him as other women, graceful and pleas-, ant enough, but nothing remarkable? it..o .... . Fi,,!, t'l,.,. .,-t.i.i "HI, UUl OH B .on ,oor. M,I be a spell of heaven first. Here be threw himself into on armchair nnd took up book of photographs; it opened at tbe jtor-! trait of Mrs. Uiithvan.- Was that an evil omen? He hated her; yet. when they had ! met early mat year in i nns, neiore ne had seen Norn, he was rather taken with 1 her. Her veiled admiration for himself t fluttered and amused him. He even thought of appropriating her wealth In exchange fo? his name. . Now? Pah, lio he wished she wouid die and take herself out of his world, where she was not want ed! The telegram that morning was about as bad as it could be; perhaps luck would still be on his side, for he had a vague, uncomfortable impression Mrs. Kuthven would work him evil. that Here Mrs. L'Estrange returned and handed a little twitHl note, which he m1 .....nfi.t and ri.ail- "Vo, i p.. ,.tn. kind and considerate; I accept your sag'- gestion." This was simply signed "Nora." "I think you ought to be content," said Mrs. L'Estrange, smiling. 'lam and our expedition to-day?" "We will be ready to accompany you in an hour. Nora made no objection," The meeting, under such trying circunv stances, was less aywara tnan .wj ex- mp aml du the enA of h(,r j,arag()1 lllt0 pected. She could not help admiring u tl, Marsden's tact and cool self-possession. ' ,,,,. . . If anything, he was more attentive to Mrs. " y oU w"uW 1 P". "that at, L'Estrange than to herself. The weather cred as those memories were-preeloua was fine, the conversation light and ani- ! they were you would not lie ftatia mated. Marsden spoke of Mrs. Kuthven - fled in giving your whole life to them, with much good feeling, and the day was' And, at last It may be that another far more agreeable than Nora anticipated, would come, who " nor did Marsden leave them without mak- j ..ohi 1 cfln har(Jy Imaglne that) Mr itie some t) ans tor me morrow would bring them together. (To be coutinued.) As to Hypnotism. No les a jMrtnas: than Dr. Park- hurst ho taken The trouble to jiolti! out anew that nolwdy ever heard of anybody's ImMiij: hypnotized to mnke him do something good. Hypnotism. the doctor thinks, from the evidence, if always exerted to promote evil ami for j that reason tie is lliciiniti to fonuciiin iter. For hoyour second husband The fart commented otf by the doctor , mlglt well 1m one who ar)prp,,la,p ha-s ofien been iokin of, but It really Ule depthVof your nature, who would constitutes no fault of hypnotism. It i)f, n(.r,im when you were " is simply the fault of lium.m nature, "instead of always making Jokes? Man gravitates toward the bad. When ye.t.Si jir. Vansittart." hypnotimti in exerted In the same direo S(.rlotis. and yet able to enter Into t'.on with thin natural gravitation it in rour jKhtor moods-always good-tera-efieeflve. When It is exerted Iu the op- !perej posit direction It is simply trying to ..He woul(1 be a woderful husband, pull the load uphill and it falls. There t)(,nt are no doubt plwiiy of imtsoiw. esi)- (;PUePonf, n,ty( lavish In giving you daily lad I en. who go about weaving !,vlmt(,vpr subtle hypnotic cliarum around twn oancy!" for the noble purpose of leading them j ,.VulI ",!,., for; unsparing In hi aright. Just n the bad people whom laortn t0 please you " we hear of through the Kllce nM.ri vii:it after marriage?" go about hypnotizing for 111. But Ute I ..U(,v(J,'wj absolutely to you. Why, good hypnotists work at a tremendous t-g a 0V(,y picrnre." disadvantage. It is upgrade for them j uyi, t -go;;nd nce he COD. and downgratle for the bad hypnotists. ! m(M, lllKt:lnK wlth tne mrM0i. As between a 8vengalle frieud trying j ,.Conl() ot HU(,,) 0M i continued, tohypnotiKeamantostayotitandplay ,., f,.,,,P,t h- ..h nir-v..int piaer au uy.ua ... uMH.n him to come bourn the odds are with the friend. Perhaps hypnotism will develop to a point where It can overcome this na tural disadvantage. Or perhaps man kind will get over the brow of the hill so that the way to good will be a down tna.-43UQ Newt, DELIVERANCE. Sweet peace spreads her wings on the orient shore; Japan will be kiuder for cash. "Twixt his legs is the tail which with liel licse roar The dragon was 'customed to lush. Front those wild, wooxyr words We are rescued st last; Air? they led us a merciless dance! And Sjb relief that the ordeal is past And English once more gets a chance. We left our vernacular's mus'x-al flow To struggle with "Ta-Lieu-Wau." We affected to know all about "Hai-Yank-To," And likewise about "Sha-IIwo-Y'uan." "WM-llei-Wei" was a theme that embit tered one's dream, Put au fsit were expressions like these, So we ta.-kM "New t'hwang" and we umrmiired "Ping Yang" With pathetic assumptions of ease. But no more are our courses reluctantly bent Where syllabic monstrosities wait; The sunshine has dawned where 'twas chill discontent, And we join in thanksgiving to Fate. No longer our wandering intellects go Through the gazetteer's mazy expanse, 'Mid the dipt hongs that uow by Uiti fer tile Hoang-Ho, For English once more gets a ebanc. Washington Star. I MET her on the shores of the lake. There were- real tars in lier eyen. "Oh. Mr. Vansittart," she cried. "What shall I do? My husband' out In a boat, ever so far away, and the wind's rising, and the boatman says that it's awfully dangerous when there's a storm, and " 1 tilted my hat forward and scratciicd my bead. I don't we what you can do." Raid I. com passionately. I had sat next tier (three nlghta at table d'hote, and liked j npr extremely. v ' ..fMlk ()t those tnH; ohi lmw (t .... . ,..t "The wind is certainly getting up," I - , . . , .M.,l,, ""6 uou on a "io'-u "h. Mr. Vansittart, uupixmc he should be drowned!" "Suppose he 7" I paused. The Idea was a new one to me. I turned it over in my mind. "Well, suppose he should?" I said at last, Iu au luijuirlug tone. "And we've only been married a year!" "Yes, yes," ald I thoughtfully. "Your love U still fresh?" "As fresh as the day when " "Your romance has not worn off. the day of dlsallnskm lias not couie. Your I husband's memory would be the swect- ett of consolation to you." "But, Mr. Vansft ' ''Th1,'re W"l"d ally 5,1 " !oIlwt,)ns- (,u are 'oun' J"our Iif wou!(l not be spoiled, but It would be, ! aa it were, hallowed by sweet and Dot i too poignant regret. In the course ' of time the violence of grM would wear 1 0f," j f,'he sat down on the bench beside Vansittart" "Try," said I, encouragingly. "One who, though not perhaps the equal In ill reflects of him you had lost, could 5-ct sheller you from the world" "I should want some one, shouldn't IT' "And give you an honest, enduring, unwavering affection." "It wouldn't be the same thing," said 'lie. , "Depend ujxin it," I returned, ear- .u,u. .. it wom i, t .om wnv. ,.., Jn(1 llinumt (,tforlH, (be conrw of time heal the wound caused by your ;rnel calamity?" "I don't know. Yes I suppose so- well, perhaps, In time, Mr. Vansittart, ie might." , ' "Ha would," sob! I, positively. "I tan Imagine tnylf " 1 beg jour pardon, Mr. Vansittart !" "I say, I can imagine myself making it t!. work the whole pre.jccupailon the worthy task of my life thitit to restore happiness to one from whom it wemcd to have departed forever." "it would be a rpleudid thing for a man to do, w.u'ldn t It?" There was a f auv. Then she wild: "But, Mr.Vauritta.'t, wouid you who are so young anc so ami t ami t-1 tmau, who are 4. yjug be content with a heart that nan sjH'iit its first lave on another. Iu which tii. fr.sbuess of youthful " 'I somelltii, think,' I interrupted, iu low, but urgent tones, "that affectiou of that kind is nobler, better tliau the rujsh impulsiveness of an ignorant girl. It would be a Mympathetlc: commuiiiou of miiids, of souls, Mra. Im wrence." "Yes, I see. Yes, It would, Mr. Van sittart." "My sympathy for you." I pursued, "would softeu and inspire my nature. I should be elevated to your level. And, perhaps, at last, when long years hud obliterated" "Well, bad blurred, Mr. VansiUart." "Ye, bad blurred the pain of mem "' 'o come to see to under standhow what once seemed ao dls trcMMlng was really, in spite of its sad nes, the necessary condition for the perfect development of two humuu lives." For a moment we sat in thought. Then Mrs. Lawrence observed: "Good m o -u comes out of suffer ing, doesn't Ii "It Indeed mu to be Uie way of the world." "A woman placed as you describe, Mr. Vansittart, would feel, I am sure, so deep, so strong a gratitude for the mau who bad nobly dedicated his life to her that, as lime wore on, she would give to him an affection, different iu kind. iierfiapH, but uot luferl- in in tensity, to that which she had felt for the man who first won her lie'irt." "That would be the only reward I should hope for," said I. "So that, In the end, I should feel-it would 1h- borne In upon me that this man was real, my true, my only " At this point Mrs. Ijuwreuce stopped abruptly, for a shadow fell between us, and, on looking up. we Haw a stout, elderly man. wearing a blue Jersey, standing just In front of us. "Beg pardon, mum." Mid lie. "but are you the lady what aabed Jim Dob! about Uie gentleman what's out In the boat?" "AlHittt the what? Oh. yen, I sup pw" oh. yes. I am." "Well, you've no cause to be put out alwitit 'Im, mi;m. He's just rounding the ixiiiit, aud he'll be ashore iu two minutes' time." "Bui Dobbs said it was very dan gerous." I protested. "Dobbs don't kuow everything, sir. beggln your pardon. Anyways, the gentleman's safe enough. (Had of It for your sake, mum." "Thank you thank yon so much." said Mrs. Lawrence, The elderly man stood looking at mc in such a manner that I took sixpence out of my pocket and gave it to him. To be frank, I have seldom grudged a sixpence more. Then Uie elderly man p!tvud on. There was a long silence. Mrs. Ijiw retice had made quite a little pit In the gravel walk. Once he looked at me, and, finding me regarding her trather gloomily, I believe), hsixtlly turned away again with a blush. At last the silence became Intolerable almont Im proper, iu fact "What were we talking about when that man Interrupted uV" asked Mrs. Itwreiice with a desperate assumption of ease. It Is a rule of mine to give a plain answer to a plain question. "We were talking," Bald I, " of what would have happened If Dobbs had known everything." And, having thus said, I suddenly began to laugh. Women are strange creatures, Mrs. Lawrence leaped up from her neat and stood over me. Her eyes flushed with Indignation, aud she positively brun dished her parasol at me, "You horrid, horrid boy!" she cried, "My dear Mrs. Iwrence ," I pro- teted. "You have made me talk as if I " "It was a mere hypothesis," I plead ed. "As if 11 Anyhow, If my husband were drowned a thousand times over, I'd never seak to you." "So you ssiy now," wild I, composedly. "But J'ou know you were quite taken with the prospi-ct a litUe while ago." "Mr. Vansittart, you're wicked! Hsw can I go and tell my poor, dear Bob bie ?" "I don't Insist on your telling him," said 1, In a conciliatory tone. "Perhaps you think I dou't care for him?" she cried, defiantly, "The hypothesis wan that you did," wild I. "That's what made It so Inter esting." "I shall sit somewhere else at dinner u-n)ght," Mrs. Lawrence announced, haughtily. "If you go on like this," I observed, warulngly, "I shall end by being " "You can be Just what you like." "By being glad," I concluded. "Glad! Wad of what?" "(Had," said I. ''that I sec your hus band walking toward u in perfect health." As 1 spoke he came within speaking distance. "Hullo. Oeorgle!" be cried to bis wife. "Hero I am had' a bit of a blow, though." ' Mrs. I-awreiice ran a few steps to ward him. 1 took the liberty of follow ing. , "Vansittart been looking after you?" asked Lawrence with a smile, "Oh, my darling Hobble," cried Mrs. Lawrence, "I've been Imagining all sorts of things about you." "Foolish child!" said he, fondly. "Did you think I was going to be drowned r "We dldu'i eit.-tly think it," I brokt iu. -aUiiifti it by way of "Please, Ui-bbie, will you taae X into the Uou .'" sal.i Mrs. I,arei-e. hastily. Mr. Lawr-:i' did fit elsewhere at dinner. 1 ut Lawr.-uY said to me, its wt pi;iye.l billiard afterward; . "i'e'l you w -V.it. o' l ci.sp. i." a fellow warts h'.t vslfv- t W extra plt-4-.im. tc hi ii. be can't il-j Ie iter tbr.n risk bU life i.u this l.e-isily lake," ami he smlle! lu-iht contentedly. It wa.-f ni'-re penitence, o course But I let him alone. Caught a Khark with a Salmon Hod. Al Cumming had an encounter wilt a huge shark at Sauta Cruz Sunday, says the Sau Francisco Examiner. Cum uilug had engaged a boat and was out for saluiou. Suddenly there was a jerk at his line that almsst capsized tb boat. The fish came to the surface aud his (ins showed Uiat be was a big shark. Cumming toyed with him for a while, aud as the shark felt the sharp prong of the hooks forced Into his mouth h made a plunge, going down fully ltsj feet and reeling out about 500 feet ol line. Cumming had only 100 feet mort on his reel, and if the shark had accom plished that distance he would have e capetl. But he was exhausted aud came to tha surface again. Then, with the skill of an experienced angler, Cum ming played the line carefully, and after great effort got the shark along side of his boat Both the shark an! his captor wore wlnd.jd. The boatman killed the shark with one blow of hli boathook. Mr. Cumming caught the shark with a twelve-ounce wilmoti rod and a linen, salmon Hue. The fish wan more tliac fire feet in length and, welshed fully 150 pounds. It is the largest nhark ever landed there with a book and line and Its capture was due to tin: perfect knowledge of fishing that Mr. Cum mlng possesses. The contest lasted just an hour, and exmtiiig as It was foi Mr. Cumming It was ulso a much kc for the onlookers. Fully twenty imtt were In the vicinity. Portugal's Denioci-nttiJ King. Senor de Segulra Tbinlieu, the new minister from Portugal, who nas Jnsl presented his credentials to the Stat Department, talks luterestiliidv of af fairs In bis country. "Our legislative body," Haiti be to an Interviewer, "wa dissolved last December and we are t have an election before, it reassemble Iu January. Before the dissolution oc curred the ministry was hurassed by the obstructive luetics of the minority. The ministry-, which Is conservative, stands for tiionarchlal Institutions, and has had a large majority of tbe,housf of deputies to mjpport It., Hut the tur moil of the minority was such Uie ills solution was welcome. The king move freely about the public plnces and streets. Every day he may be seen on the boulevards, -sometime on horse back, sometimes walking or driving. H gf.es unattended by military escort or guards. He mingles with the people, finds companions among them, and talk with them. He goes to the thea ter ami to public entertainments, and there Is an entire nbseuce of thai ex cluslveness which in popularly suppos ed to lc characteristic of royalty. He Is fond of athletics, la a perfect horse man, a capable yachtsman, und enjoys tenuis." Buffalo Express. Dictionary of Discontent, Science, ditir Lady Betty, ban dimin ished hope, knowledge destroyed out Illusions aud experience has deprived us of Interest. Here, then. Is the au thorized dictionary of discontent:' ; What is creation ? A failure. What is life? A bore. What Is man? A fraud. What Is woman? Both a fraud and a In.re. What is beauty ? A deception. What is love? A disease. What is marriage? A mistake. . What Is a wife? A trial. What Is a child? A nuisance. What Is the devil? A fable. What is good? Hypocrisy.' What in evil? Detection. Wbat is wisdom? Selfishness, What Is happiness? A delusion. What Is friendship? Humbug. What is gen. iimity ? Imbecility. What Is money? Everything,' , And what is everything? Nothing Labouehere. Disliked Innocent Amusement. Mine. De Ixmgueville. a beauty of Ixmis XlV.'s time, was tired to death of being In Normandy, where her hus bantl was. Those who were about ber said: "Mon Dleii, madnme, you are eaten up with ennui. Will you not take some amusement ? There are dogs and a beautiful forest. Will you hunt?" "No," she replied. "I don't like hunt ing." "Will you work?" "No; I don't like work," "Will you take a walk or play at some game?" "No; I like neither the one nor the other." "What will you do, then?" they asked. "Wbat can I do?" she replied. "I hate Innocent pleasures." An Kven Divide. The champion stingy man of the sea son has been unearthed at Downs, Kan. At a dinner the other day a lady asked her husband to pass the tooUiplcks. He picked one out of the holder, broke It In half, handed one piece to her and used the other himself, remarking that economy was necessary these hard tlms. Future Yachts Will ls Htrel. Mr. Charles 11. Cramp says the yacht of the future will bo of steel, and that its motive power will be electricity. He has an order for a yacht bigger and faster than the 1,000 tm Olralda, the fastest yacht afloat, and says that this order will be filled.