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.
