v. ..... r", tv," 1
('HAI'TKii I.
"I.-iiny !"
"Ve. Screen nl I.ynn."
Ilia line !i:wi' drawn to in full height,
aa r i; i i i :i though 'he eye of the in1
jiil:io' hit" Uhiii li iii). yel iippnrcntly
uriitiine every nerve tu appear lllicuilmr
russeil runi lit IllK "Use. Sergeant I. till
waa n in"l it It wl'otn any woman might
lie .uitied Ha .1 sweetheart. Hi fen
turvi were e oil. if not te iued. and the
weaLneoa of hi inoiilli wn bidden by it
iiiuaiiiihe a nuu'tiilieeiii in thn! of any
i-avnlry coionel in the aervire.
It iion!.v pretty .l ine Knox, the hit
Ueant inn j ir'a ila lighter, hn eemed
iuipervim; l.i hi nlfr:irtiuii niiil innde
him appear :i v. itl" tun! iiiieunth aa the
lalent trooper who had joined the awk
ward npiad. Hitherto, Hudem bad been
mi eiiay to Ihe ilaahin" aerteant. It could
lily bf aaiil of hi uvi r cnenie tu
pleitae thai thi lime he l.iule fair to fail.
She did not even dinlike him. lie told biiu
.elf with nnjfry snri'tite; it wa merely in
difference that he fell -indifference ag-i-aviitiiie
u it waa iiunpiete.
".lane, don't be o provokin. You
I. now I mean "
"That it would be heal for me to marry
a acrireiint. Well. I dare av it would"
ihouhtfullv-"if if I could only make !
up my mind."
"Try only try, Jane Ixive alwny
-linen after uinrrinKe." b" htkuiiI, en"i r-
ly
"Why don't you prove it by your own
cv.iiuple?" ahe aiiKwered. iiecliKeiitly.
"Marry nome one you deleat. and if - - "
"Von -you don't detest me!" blankly.
"Oh, no; but I don't love you, and
there' no middle coiirae in innrriiiire, 1
think."
He wim silenced for the time, and con
tented hiuiM-lf with wutchintt her a ahe
i!,m.hI h In, ii I the room, arriiiiciiu: the lul
of holly, witli lu re and there a twin of i
the white berrie internum:!
d.
Mr. Knox, Mi June' mother, had
bi-u the daiiKliicr of a veterinary aur
Keon. and beiiiu left uliuoal peiilille lit
her father'a death, hud become a teacher
In the village mi hool. It had been M quiet,
liltle freqiieiitcd Hpot, anil until the nci1
of Iweiily-nitie ahe had not even the aua
pu ioii of n love affair to briehtcn the tno-
uoliuiv of her exintence. J lieu the cl
Kymnn of their villnRe came into a ainall i
fortune. Niilhcieiit to allow him lo retire j
from In labor and nut n curate, in hi
plait
The mail chosen waa a bneln lur, but
that mitiht well have been coiiHidi r.'d the
only (mint in hi favor. He wn plain,
elderly, and hitlf-xtarved. a indeed hu
inicbt well be, i-i i iih uti-ri i if the luiai-nible
liH iid he received. Hut to Jane' mother
hi charm wan that he wa n pentleman.
Hi inn liner had eenied lo her the per
fection of courtly breeding, mid bad he
akiil her nhe would have gladly become
hi wife, in Hpite of all the petty troubles
which were attendant on genteel poverty.
Hut. either because hi own heart wa
not sullicienily interested, or that, from i
mistaken unselfishness, be lu-sitnted lo let '
IcT share hi lot, he never did; and after
three year of alternate hope and fear
on her aide, another lover uppeared upon
the H.eiie, and by his brisk wooing auc-ceedi-d
ill winning her for his wife.
"A terrible mutch for her." people said
-fhe, the educated woman, to bind her
M'lf to the rough if dashing hussar, who
. oiild offer her only the barest iieccasaries,
,iud at whose aide she might have to en
counter endless hardship; but equalized
-urely by the fact that he wa faded and
mm, and that he was 8 man in the prime
.f life, loving her passionately, oblivious
..f her vanished youth and indifference to
him.
"Hold It a little higher, Jenny darling,"
nhiapered the Sergeant, audaciously,
n ud coming chrne behind her, he attempted
tu encircle her waist.
Hut he wrenched herelf away, and
confronted him crimson with wrath and
kliame.
"Mow dare you! How dare you!" she
exclaimed, and in her anger ahe could say
mi more.
Hut thn momentary madnea over, Ser
geant I.ynn looked an penitent and abash
ed a she could hare wished, or any num
ber of reproarhea could hare made. him.
Falling back to hia old position of "at
tention," he could only murmur iliame
lacedly. "I'm very Horry, Jenny, upon my aoul,
I adi!"
"You of all people yon who pretend to
like ma to Insult mi no!"
"It wn Jnt becaime of the liking," an
swered the Sergeant, with n twinkle in
hi eye, which fortunately Jane did not
detect. "Hesides," he added, hastily, "I
didn't kis you."
"I should think not, indeed!" tossing
her dainty bead.
"And I'll never do It Again-until yon
glv ute leare."
"Anil that will be never."
The Sergeant, noting ruefully her com
pressed lip and Hashing: eye, decided
i lint he wa sincere In her Intention, and
that he had lost rather Minn gained by
thn boldne of hi wooing, lie looked ao
woe begun that the situation became
ridicirlon in Jane t eye, and the hastened
tobringback the auhject to a more matter-of-fact
footing.
"You never told me where you got It
nil," ahe obaerved. nodding vaguely at
the evergreen! that were the innocent
iau of her admirer' first ofTenee.
"Hut you never aaked me," waa hia
prompt reply, only too eager to anatch
at the proffered olive branch. "It waa
quite by chance aa it happened. I waa
up at the Colonel'! with aome letters when
a big hamper arrived from Blnola, 1
tblok, be eakJ-eod I helped to open It aa
If 1 woold like a Mt I thonght of yon
directly for be gave anch aa I
.... n.-t
f . l, nr. ivt i-a r? fVxA ft )tN
could curry, and told me tu give t to my
sweetheart and so I brought it to j-ou."
"1 ndeed," remarked Jane, frigidly.
"I brought it in a basket for fear any
one should ak mi- for a bit. ami I wanted
it all fur you. I lnt suppose there's
mmther in Alijiore, bcsidca tin Colonel
11 )! yourself, that linn a piece of real iniit
tlclue or hnl!y."
"Did you uiy it Mint for uie?"
"1 mentioned no iianii'ii, lint I expect h"
guessed. I don't think tin re's much mis
take itliut my feelings uny way."
Jinn' rcimiiucd frowning)' silent.
While she iviib mill wilfiil, the outer
door was thrown violently open, and Mr.
Knox caine in hurriedly and sunk upon
u ehnir
"Have you heard the Hewn?" she nuked,
turning n while, excited filer Hrt to one
iiimI then to the other.
"We have hi'iird nothing." replied the
Sergeant.
"What in it, mother?" anked June.
"The quartermaster he in "
"Not ill, is he? 1 aavv him out this
morning." Hiiir) the Sergeant.
"Not married? There has) hardly been
j time for that," smiled Jane.
"He in dead," wim the aoleiiin answer,
I and when the first shock of their aurprisc
I wan over, Mm. Knox begun tu tell her
j alory.
i It had been no sudden, ao terribly sud
j den. lie had been at "orderly hour" that
I morning. Then he hail returned home to
j breakfast, and afterward had ((one into
I a hi i i n 1 1 room lie used as an olliee. and
1 where lie never permitted hlmaelf to be
dilurlied except on urgent buaineaH.
It
whm the Colonel himaelf who, wishing to
apeak to him, had aent in a aalnin. Th
terrified bearer came back with the news
that hi mauler waa dying or dead. And
dead he hud proved to be. While sitting
quietly writing in hia chair a Hiidden at
tack of heart disease had seized li i in. and
life had been extinct for several hours
when at hint they found him.
"Don't you see what thia nieana for your
father?" Mrs. Knox aaid, eagerly, when
her auditor hail both expressed their
aympiitliy and aiirpriae. "He will be
quartermaster In hia atend. The Colonel
mild n much juat now, when he naked him
to take over the work until permanent ar
raiisrciiieiitM isc.ild be made. He will be a
coinniiaaiolied otlicer at laat, mid we ahall
mix with centlefolk; and yon, Jane
kiti't yuu aee what a K'"I thing it will be
fur you ?"
"Mia Jan will marry a gentleman
now. She rniint forifi-t all that I have
Kiiid." remarked the SiTKeiint, aadly. look
iiur ao lm niUiiini' and tioble n he re-
nouuceil all hi hope that Jane' heart
"urined toward him, and ahe atretched
t he.- tmnda liupulaively.
Hut Mrs. Knox rose hastily from her
seat, and answered for her daughter.
"Of course she will forget. She i en
tering into a new life, and will make new
friend. Yon ee yourself how impossible
it U that there could be anything between
you now!"
"Why not ?" asked Jane, sharply.
"Neither of us has altered; it i only the
circiiniKtances that have changed."
"You menn " began tint young fel
low eagerly.
"I mean that I should be ashamed to let
till mnke any difference; iind-and I
will marry you If yon like
I.ynn."
Sergeant i
Hut when the Sergeant, radiant with
delight, came forward quickly to take
her in hi arm, the mother threw herself
between the two lover.
"She ia mad; she does not ktlow what
ahe i miying. If you
have a spark of'
manly feeling, Jacob, you will go away at
once. Jane, I forbid you to say another
word."
Talking still for fear of either of them
disobeying, he pushed him from the
room, ao that he could only turn hi head
and gaze regretfully at hi sweetheart,
whom he had o unexpectedly won. She
wa standing with both hands clasped
tightly on her breaat, her face white and
frightened, aa she realized to what ahe
had pledged herself. Hut her eyes met
his bravely, and spoke eloquently of her
intended fidelity and truth.
CHATTER II.
The new year brought many change to
Jane Knox. Her father'a appointment
to the quarterniaterhip had been rati
fied from headquarter, and they had Im
mediately taken a bungalow in the offi
cer' line.
Jane wa pretty enough, however, to
prosper without any adventitioua aid.
Though very amall, even delicately funn
ed, she wa neither thin nor insignificant
in appearance. Her figure waa slim yet
svelte, graceful without effort, and a
pliant aa a reed; but in her face wa her
hief charm the lingnt, glowing iieauty
that sis.ke of uch perfect health, with-
out degenerating Into anything approach
ing conrseness. The aim-touched nut
brown hair fell into the softest curln on
her low brow; the darker eyelashes shad
ed two lovely hazel eye and deepened
their dreamy, laughing light.
"If only ahe would full in love!" thought
the anxious mother, "she would
thing In a more reasonable, light then;
and once ahe began to compare a gentle
man with him, it would b all up with
Jacob Lynn."
They had been nearly a month In their
house w heu aome regiinpntal sport were
announced to take place, and Mr. Knox
determined to take her daughter to aee
them.
Tbo first atep niust be made, and All
porn society had had time enough to de
cide whether they were to lie admitted
within 11 sacred precinct or not. She
would at least show that she considered
herself worthy of the honor. Hut, boldly
as she bad looked the question in the face,
her courage failed her when they had
been on the ground aome minutes, and
not one bad come forward to welcome
them on their Urst appearance.
Formerly they had always remained at
the farther aide of the band-stand, with
the other Kergeante' wires, among the sol
eUers and tradeapeopla of the station, but
now Mm, Knox placed bernWf ouly
little way apart from where the ataff and
llicem of thu regiment were nested. Jane
wa crimson wilh nun iihcaihui. mid
aoiild have giveu much to find licrseK
aafe hack iu her own home, away trout !
those alighting nidcloiij; glances of ihe
women present, and the 'Holder, aili:i;riiv
gaze of uieit.
She hud turned tier back mi isitb. aud
trovB to appear dee;i!y interested in tl e
p,ilo-iMny ra that u it'oiiigf on, v. !i n
presently a gentle, drawling voice sound
ed in her ear.
"How do you do. Mis Knox? Have
you decided which is In be the winner?"
It was Colonel I'riusep. the culuiic! uf
her father's regiment, tL,e - -th llus;ir.
"I was Hot thinking uUiut the luce."
she coiift-ttsed, blus'iiug;.
He did nut press the subject but stood
lieside her, making a remark now aud
then, uiul listening courteously to the tim
idly hazarded replies. Hut when Mis.
Kliox Joined nervously in the con .frui
tion, he found hi interest ting, and alter
a few desultory remarks moved uuuy Iu
wurd a group of three H-ople. nueiii,"
whom uus a young lady, who were stand
ing several yard away.
Ilei eye were lixed iihhi the suies
that were la-ing walked up and dou u pre
paratory lo 11 race, bill she saw iih little
of wbnl she looked at us .lane Kliox iuul
seen sume twenty minute before. I'er
hups it was hci-niise all her iIihiil-IiI-were
with the "what might have bei u"
that she could pot si-e what actually w.is
The must casual observer liiiulit have
guessed she whs ii woman with a stury
a story in which lulli her companion bail
pin veil a part.
Norn Dene was not yet twenty-tun. hoi
looked older on accnunt of the gravity of
her expression, which seldom relaxed into
a smile. Her month bad a little pathetic
droop which seemed to compel pity in
spite of the pride which would not stoop
, to ask it. Her eyes were sad with the
j Hiidness of those which seldom or never
I weep, and are the "saddest eyes of all."
Her face lightened when Colonel I'rin
; scp joined them, and she miule a move
I Incut tuwiird him, which he furstnlled by
. quickening his puce. They were as good
friends a It wa possible for luaii and
i woman to be without protestation and
i with no thought of anything beyond.
I "You are looking tired," he began.
"Won't you come over to the seals?"
! "Thank you; I think we huve a better
; view from here, and I am interested in
1 this race," she answered, only now be-
ginning to ee the ionics as they can
! tend up and down.
A, she spoke one of the men her hus
band came und placed a chair beside her
which he hud brought over from the
tent.
"Why did you not ay you were tired,
Nora?" he reproached her gently.
"Hecause. I did not feel so lit least,
not with standing. There ia alway a
eertuin nuioiint of fatigue in watching
things like this. Idm't yon think ao?"
turning to the Colonel.
"I dare any at least uf course there
1. Hegiiiieiitul simrt are alway mi in
fliction. They are one uf the sacrifice
we feel obliged to make for the men, and
fur which we get no thanks." Then, us
her husband fell back and resumed con
versation with hi ciiinpuiiioii, he added,
In a lower Voice, "Mr. Hcne, I want to
Interest you in some one if I can."
"Am 1 so dillicnlt to interest In any
thing, that you take such mi humble
tune?" aim asked, looking up at. him in
some amusement from the low seat uf
which, in spile of her deniul of fatigue,
she had availed herself.
"I am distrusting myself rather than
you I don't know whether I ought to
ask It, in fact. She hcciii very quiet and
refined, but I shnuhl never forgive my
self if any unpleasant ness caine to yuu
through grunting my request."
"Are you apeaking of the new quarter
master's daughter?"
"The very person but you must be a
witch to have fuiiinl it out."
"Not a very wonderfully discovery, con
sidering yuu have been talking to her ex
clusively for the hiHt half hour."
"Ten minutes, 1 assure yuu" smiling
good-huuioredly.
"I dure say it seemed no longer," dry
ly. "She is a very pretty girl."
"Is she? I scarcely noticed. I whs
sorry to see her and her mother standing
tt" a1"1"'- Mml j"''"1'' ""'"' "" of purest
pny.
"And you want me to emulate Ihe no
bility of your conduct ?"
"I should like yuu to be good to them
if you can. Theirs is uch an awkward
position. You see they cannot associate
with their old friends, and gain no new
one in place of those they lose."
"Of course I will be aminhle if yon
wish; but, honestly, don't you think it a
mistake don't you think they will only
be uncomfortable out of their proper
aphere?"
"It is only the 'first atep' that will Vot'
them anything. Women adapt themselves
ao readily to altered circumstance; and
Mr. Knox I considerably above her pres
ent position, I have benrd."
She ahrugged her shoulders, but did
not attempt a verbal contradiction.
"You are not thinking of going home
juat yet, are you, Gerald?" she aaked,
turning to her husband.
"Not unless you wish it. I am at your
service."
(To be continued. I
A Kuie TotioKK'in Slide.
The Malaya have the Uiiest toboggan
allile In the world. In Perak then? is a
i '"'' Knuilte aiope In the cntirse of a
moil ii t u i ii river, down which the water
trickles illaiut two Inches deep, thn
main atretuii hnviiiK carved out n lied
by the aide- of the boulder. This rock,
the face of which 1ms been rendered it
mouth u k1h by tint constant How
of water during the hundred of years,
llio Malftj'H men, women and children
have turned luto h aliiie. Climbing
to the top of the rock, they alt In the
shallow waler with Ibcir feet trnlht
out, and a hand on ench aide for Peer
ing, and then alldo atralght down the
sixty feet Into a ionl of water. This
ia a favorite sport m sunny inoniliiK.
as ninny as two hundred folk being en
gaged l It nt a time, and sliding down
so quickly oue after another, or forming
rows of two, four and even eight per
sons, that they tumble Into a pool a
confused mass of scrambling creatures.
It seems to be a highly amusing game,
and there Is little danger In It
Logwood la the marrow of a peculiar
tree. In the West Indies. It la shipped
In long, thick pieces of firm, heavy,
dark red wood. It U split up and moist
nad by water or acid for nis.
DRIVING FROM THE BACK SEAT. !
i
DKIVI.MJ a horse Is oue of those,
simple processes, like Bulling a
boat, which anyone can niabter
without previous experience. Every
body knows that there Is nothing diffi
cult about It, aud those that have never
done It are perfectly aware of their
ability to do It, If they chooae.
Hut "driving from the back seat" Is
quite a different thing; that Is a grave
and serious affair, an undertaking of
tragic lntenit. There Is not oue mo
ment of calm, peaceful enjoyment for
thoae so employed. Kvery circumstance
and incident to tbin ia vital and mo
mentous; each turn In the road bids fair
to be a certain pathway to destruction;
every signboard is a false, deceitful
snare set to mislead them, while each
movement of the horse Is but an Index
of vicious propensities about to be re
vealed. In fact, thia method of drtv- '
Ing la not only physically exhausting,
but meoully depressing and spiritu
ally demoralizing, and not alone does
the driver suffer, but also all who are
unfortunate enough to find themselves
In the same vehicle with such a one.
I'crhaps a brief description of my
own will beat serve to Illustrate my
theme.
I had run down to spend a couple of
days with my friends the Crailers, who
were occupying a charming country
place for the summer. On the after
noon of my arrival my hostess sug
gested that possibly I might enjoy a
drive over to Pine Knoll, which they
deemed a most desirable point from
which to view the country round about
I, of course, expressed myself delighted
with the idea of a quiet country drive
after the rush and turmoil of the city,
from which I had Just escaped.
Immediately after luncheon a llffht
two-seated wagon drawn by a pair of
spirited bays appeared at the door.
Mrs. Crazier and I took our seats be
hind and Mr. Crazier, springing Into
the seat In front, took the reins and
we were whirled away down the long,
smooth driveway, beneath rows of tine
old elms. I glanced admiringly at them
as we passed along and turned to my
hostess enthusiastically, "What magni
ficent trees these are," I ejaculated.
She, however, failed to respond, and
I noticed that her li) were tightly ,
compressed. "He careful, Willanl, i
when you turn Into the road," she said .
waruingly, and I perceived that we 1
were approaching the picturesque
stone gateway, over which much su
perb English Ivy was gracefully twin
ing.
"We're very proud of that Ivy," Mr. i
(Jraslor remarked, eyeing It with satis- j
faction, as the bays turned smoothly j
out Into the road.
"It Is beautiful," I murmurml, trans-1
ferrlng my attention to his wife, who
waa holding her breath and firmly
grasping her side of the wagon.
"Are you timid about driving?" I ask
ed, sympathetically.
"Oh, no," she returned, "only my hus
band absolutely disregarda every sug
gestion of mine," and she sighed deep
ly. "Ini1efl M I Mfllri lowering mv fiinu I
so that It might reach her ears alone,
while I eyed the bays uneasily, "and
Isn't Mr. Crazier used to driving?"
"He ought to be," she responded,
"for he has driven luce he was a lsi.v."
I felt relieved, though still puzzled.
"Hut you are a great horsewoman your
self, then," I persisted.
She shrugged her shoulders. "Not
In the least. I never touch the reins tf
I can help It," she concluded.
At this point I became convinced that
Mr. Craaler had very sharp ears, for,
as I continued to regard her quenlion
Ingly, he remarked lightly, "Mrs. Gra
zier drives from the back seat"
I laughed with all the fervor of oue
who does not see the Joke, wondering
meanwhile what he could mean. Be
fore the afternoon was over, however,
I understood his meaning perfectly.
"Willard, here comes one of those
dreadful coaches." bis mentor began
utmost Immediately. "Be sure that you
turn out more than you did the other
afternoon. I never saw a man take
such risks."
In a few minute one of the horses
whisked his tail over one of the reins,
which was promptly freed by Mr. Ura
tler; this gave his better half a chance
to suggest that a tighter rein would
have prevented the catastrophe. "Some
one was telling me the other day, Wil
lard," she went on, "that when a horse
gets bis tall over the reins no one knows
what he may do; In fact, be Is Just as
likely to run away ai not"
A little later we reached tb abort
of a beautiful laka and I riclataaad
with rmtrt orar tk iHIbmm of tu
verent hill rising majesrically upon
the other side.
"This Is Indeed an Ideal n;ot," I
burst forth, tut Mr. Cnizier had no
eyes for the beauties of the landscape
just then.
"Willanl. wha: is the matter with the
horse on th! a.ile? He looks very
strange."
"He's all rl-ht. my dear; only the file
bother Mm a little." and Mr. Crazier
waved his whip lightly over the offend
ing animal's head.
"Willanl. bow can you do that, when
you know he Is so nervous, unless,"
she added plaintively, "you really want
him to run away and smash us up."
"That's my Idea, precisely," he an
swered pleasantly, as we left the lake
drive and began to climb a neighboring
hill. During our ascent Mrs. Crazier
filp1 n'r attention upon the check reins,
It seeius to me. Willanl, that these
horses are checked up unnecessarily
tight; It Is nothing but that, I am sure,
that makes them act so."
"Hut they haven't acted so," her hus
band remonstrated.
"Well, they will -I'm perfectly posi
tive they will when they come to go
down this steep hill; I can tell by the
' way thai I hey prick up their ears."
At the summit we drew rein. "Not a
bad view here." my host announced,
pointing with his whip to the glorious
picture spread out beneath us.
"Now. Willard, you watch the horses
and let us admire the view," Mrs.
(irazler earnestly admonished, without
eliciting any response from the occu
pant of the front seat, who continued
to point out to me special features In
the surrounding landscape, despite her
protest
We shortly began to descend the hill,
which process 1 foresaw would permit
my hostess ample opportunity to lend
her ever ready assistance from the back
seat, and I was quite right in my sur
mises. It was "Willard, what a loose rein you
have! Can't yuu realize that they're
likely to stumble at any moment?" Or,
"Willard, we're coming to one of those
dangerous 'thank you-ma'ams,' do be
careful."
I sat by wondering at Mr. Grazier's
unruffled composure under the contin
ual fire, but reflected that doubtless he
was used to it
Next, we reached the crossroads, and
Mr. Grazier turned the horses to the
right, remarking: "Here we leave the
main road for a drive through the
woods."
"Oh, no, Willard. I'm sure you're mis
taken," his wife declared, "we ought
to keep to the main road for at least
a mile more. I remember perfectly Just
how every inch of the road looked the
last time I drove over It"
"My dear, I am absolutely sure that
this is the road," he replied, whipping
up the horses.
Mrs. Grazier leaned back In her seat
1 with an expression of Intense resigns
! tion depicted upon her face. "Very
well; take us anywhere you please, pro-
vlded that you got us home finally, t
shall not aay another word; I have of
fered all the advice that 1 Intend to this
afternoon."
I heard this statement with much sat
isfaction, feeling that advice was not,
after all the necessary accompaniment
i of a thoroughly charming country
drive.
"This woody road Is lovely, at all
events, and so shady and cool," I put
In timidly.
"Yen, I tis very pretty here," Mrs
Crazier assented; then she added: "Wll
lard. I seen fanner coming and I wav
you just to ask him if this is the rigr'
road."
"But I know It la the road."
"No matter, I should think you mlghi
ask him. If only to set my mind at rest."
"I suppose It would rest It very much
tf he had said it was the wrong road."
"There, that's why you won't Inquire:
you know he'll say it's the wron
road." Just then the farmer came alongside,
and Mr. Orazler, who was apparently
determined not to stop, suddenly drew
rein, more abruptly, I fancied, than
was wholly necessary, and my com
panion on the back seat, after exclaim
ing, 'How could you, Willard T eagerly
addressed the farmer:
"Is this the road to Tine Knoll?"
"To Pine wnatr be questioned,
blankly.
"Pine Knoll, a blU with trees on HT"
she explained.
"Wall, I can't say," fee responded. "I
ain't much acquainted up thia way,
bat I reckon you'll And ptaes aU about
Thank yoa," hia latartocvaw aaid
ad ws r ava
atop and aK hi tim
next
Hvillurd.' my nosta
announ
quail)!''
"But
the knoll
very faring
iey cenaioij -
L nc!shlrhood."
- . ! . 1 u r, fl C-
,L
Ird. when I know that
mile from this
Ho you ii.
lie. Wtllard, but I think
d;
3;ffereu;ly. jre comes another man.
aiid I am goit to speak to him.
Man number two, however, did not
w ait to be spoken to, but accosted ns
with a broad' smile.
"Good day. Mr. Grazier, goln' Op to
the Knoll again?" ,'
Mr. Grazier nodded. "Is this tb
shortest road?" Mrs. Grazier tnqulrai
promptly. '
"I reckon It's about the only 'one,
he rejoined, grinning, as if be found the
idea uf a possible second road hugely v
amusing.
We drove on in silence for some few
minutes before Mrs. Grazier spoke
a;-ain; then she said. "Anyway. It's a
relief to know that this is the road."
I answered fervently, but Mr. Gra
zier vouchsafed no reply.
t'lne Knoll proved to be a truly love
ly spot, but my memory of the way
t !' ' :!)! and back !s clouded by my too
vivid recollection of my hostess' par
ticipation in the management of the
bn.vs.
If we crossed a bridge W'llard was
reminded of the s:j;n which directed ns
to "walk the horses." If we pass-'d a
wasoncr in a narrow part of the roart
he was conjured' not to tip up down
the steep embankment. If the horses
quickened their pace. It was cruel to
drive so fast, and if they slowed up
they were overheated, or had. doubt
less, stones in their feet.
At every 'water-trough Mrs. (irazler
felt sure that they were dyln;j of thirst,
until at last we stopped, and after much
delay and a struggle to unhitch their
checkreins we ascertained that neither
of them could be induced to touch a
drop.
The most trying time of all was prob
ably when we turned around in a very
limited space-on top of I'ine Knoll, but
upon that I will not enlarge.
When we reached home I felt llred
and exhausted, well nigh sick, while
my hostess sighed deeply ns she alight
ed, declaring that she couldn't under
stand why driving. fatigued her so.
Even Mr. Grazier, despite his ada
mantine nerves, appeared somewhat
weary, as he replied: "It's not driving
that tires yon. but driving from the
back seat Mrs. (Irazler."
Since my country drive I have often
observed people endowed with those
charac-terisli;-.; so prominent In Mrs.
Grazier. In every club, society or so
cial gathering I have found mem pres
ent; In fact, wherever human beings
strive or struggle, wherever they con.
gregate for work or for amusement,
some are nresent who ever stand one
side, their mission being to advise, di
rect and criticise. They make them
selves generally useful by telling others
what they ought to do and how to do it.
And as, often as it Is my misfortune
to run across them, and their nam la
legion, I regret to say, my painful coun
try drive rises before me, and I mur
mur: "1 know you well, my friends;
therefore I shun you, as I do all of your
kind, who, like you, are driving from
the back seat." Boston Transcript.
Solving a Problem.
Italian workmen are, as a rule, not
fond of strikes; they usualy resort to
other means to get what they want. A
company of Italian navvies, engaged
lu the construction of a railway In Ger
many, had their wages reduced. They
said nothing, but during the night each
of the men cut an inch off the end of his
shovel. In reply to the engineer who
took them to task about it, one of them
said: "Not so much pay, not lift ao
much earth. So much longer last work.
Italian no fool like German. Italian
no strike."
Thomas Cat Shows Gunning.
A Cincinnati torn cat has won fame
by Its habit of spreading bread crumbs
for sparrows and then gobbling th
birds.
Ctrcos Klcptiunt bbows Humor.
One of the Arabs of the street had an
experience with an elephant at the
circus grounds the other day, sayR the
Boston Record, which he Is not likely to
forget in a hurry. He was feeding the
animal with peanuts and other Indi
gestible things, when his elephanshlp
thought he would do something to
amuse the urchin. So he gently wound
bis proboscis about the boy's waist and
lifted him up in the air above his head.
The urchin was fairly livid with terror,
but the elephant was lu the best o;'
humor, ami slowly lowered the boy to
his feel, much as a man would lower a
1 iu by he bad been dandling on his
shoulders.
Not that Kind of a Dog.
I ' io you see lum jupuuese pug wm.ii-
ing for us In the road." Inquired an
l low wheelman of his companion, .as
they spun along the road the other
I night. "Yes; what about him?" "Well,
i if he don't get out of the way I'm going
over him. A few kinks In bis back will
teach him to stay at home. HI, yl! get
out of there!" The dog did not run, bu(
walked deliberately to the center of the
road and stood In the moonlight Biff!
"Whew!" Half an hour later two
wheelmen made a bonfire of two bi
cycle suits. The Japanes pug proved
to be a small spotted skunk. '
Up to Hia Business,
Mr. Magnet I want to get a steward
for my yacht Have you had any ex
perience? Aplltcant Tea, sir. I have been a bar
keepsr for three years. Detroit Fres
Press.
MataaU
Bbs rvs had no use for yen alaoe you
lost your Bostuka
Ho A ad I'ra had no uaa for tfco aaas-
I kwt ytfc-atoiHry 0a
.Ml