THE COUNTRY LANE.
Sstween steep banks it wiods along,
O'erhauf with h-fy haw thorn Irwi,
ktYom which io aprmg the th rush's song
floats softly oa the soft south breese.
There in the earliest prim rune found,
Aiid modest purple rioiet grow.
And trembling wild Sower il&r the
ground,
A ad hum hie ragged robins blow.
There, too, on golden summer ere.
The old folks like to nr. .11 and talk;
Or slowly under whispering leaves
The self-absorbed young lovers walk.
While, fresh aa youthful hope, unfurl
New growth. about their lingering feet,
JUkd tender fronds of fern uncurl
And ail the balmy air ia sweet.
With mingled went of thyme and musk,
Aod wilding rosea, passion pale,
Aa tremble through the dewy dunk
The music of the nightingale.
And, stealing from some hidden nook,
Adown the lane and o'er the lea,
By pleasant ways, a silver brook
Kuns. singing, to the silver sea.
Chamben!' Journal.
f"" - If S J
was a slight tap on the
Xdoor and Mis Hardaway entered
tha llhpapv with n IIt!A nlut.
looked anxiously round, and then made
step towards me. I dropped my
Xinglake on my knee and looked at
her; evidently she had come on some
pressing business. She looked rather
excited, also a trifle nervous. "Mr.
Tyson T said she. "Miss Hardaway?"
aid I. "I I want to have a talk with
"you about about something which "
abe hesitated. "Certainly," I respond
d, amiably, "won't you sit down?"
She sank Into a chair opposite me and
regarded me with dubious eyes. "I
hope you won't think It extraordinary
of me," she said, In a sort of stammer,
""but I wanted your assistance." "If I
-could do anything," I observed, to re
Assure her, "command me." She avert
ed her eyes and fidgeted with a book on
the table. "You see," she explained,
""it's rather delicate." I nodded. "Ex---acfly,"
I assented. "And and I don't
r L-ikiw, but I'm sure it's it's rather
- dreadful." "Good," said I, things are
so flat as a rule." "You will probably
say no at one-," she went on, "and I'm
: sure I don't blame you." "I should like
tx have the oportunlty, at any rate," I
Mid. with a smile. She started and
sialf rose In her chair. "I'm afraid I've
interrupted you In your reading." she
w.Mimru, i i oniy came in on the
Impulse. It's really nothing." "Now,"
aaid I, lying back in my chair benignly,
' "5ou positively fire my curiosity."
"No." she said, shaking her head, "it
was nothing. I only " I leaned
forward and touched her arm. "Miss
' Hardaway," I said, earnestly, "what!
;you would rob a poor old fogy of his j
l-THERE
SHALL I TAKE HIM AWAY A51 LROWX HIM?"
only consolation that of advising oth
ers? Fie! I think you owe me some
thing for the studious way In which
.you have avoided me lately."
It seemed to me that I couldn't have
ald anything more to the point, though
Jieaven knows I had no idea what the
dear girl wanted. "Avoided you!" she
aaid; "no, indeed. If you only knew!
'That's what-t " Here she came to an
abrupt pause. "I should very much
like to know what that is," I said,
after waiting for a moment. I suppose
I looked at her ktndly; perhaps I beam
ed benevolentiy old fogies do. At any
rate, she seemed to take courage, and
ank once more into the depths of the
arm-chair. "I have been very much
worried lately," she exclaimed, with a
"Jigh. I nodded comprehensively. "It
it was tha t that made me come rushing
In here," she went on. "I I was deter-
a or me lp rxcuxo bather
FOOLISH."
at to stand It any longer " I
politely. "It's that young Mr.
Osaka," she said, with an appeal tag
CZaM at dm, a If I s hooka mw under
r a. I sadat-stood awthtng, bat I
t :1 mt irttnwE "BsaJlyr I pone
' aha rammed, taking
V C fcSwwa m abwat every
V tl fXMa. aaa aa I sssmed
I re
marked that It was very Impertinent,
aod that h ought to know better. "You
see," aid Ml Hardaway, "my aunt
wants 1l" I really did not compre
hend what her aunt wanted but I did
not say so. I only pinched my expres
sion Into greater lntellgenee and syin
pathy. "And now that we are down
here, he takes the opportunity of of
pestering me, and and, well Aunt
Catherine encourages him." "An!"
said I. pulling my mustache, "that
makes a difficult situation, doesn't It?"
"And I thought you might help me,"
she ended, with a plaintive shot from
her eye.
"I, my child?" I asked. In wonder.
"But how? I should be delighted, If
I knew." Miss Hardaway said noth
ing; she apeared to have exhausted ber
confidence, and sat tremulously in the
arm-chair, as If she would like to leave
It "Tell me bow you thought I could
help you," I said. "Shall 1 take him
away and drown him?" "Oh. no!" she
exclaimed, eagerly. "I didn't mean
that." Of course. I did not suppose
that she did mean that "Well, what
was your Idea?" I asked. "You see,"
began Miss Hardaway, " It is difficult
for me, with Auut Catherine as my
chaperon. And she likes Mr. I'rqu-
hart" "Of course it is," I assented.
"Well, do you want me to chaperon
you? Is that It?" Now I examined
her, she was really a very pretty girl,
and particularly so when she blushed.
She blushed now, as she said, "You
see, Mr. Tyson, I thought it was very
Impertinent of me but you know I
was driven out of my senses by the
stupid by things. And I thought per
haps," she hesitated "You are a great
deal older than I am, aren't you?"
"Bless you, yes," I answered. "Twen
ty years, at least I might be your
'ITinXK, MR. TYKOX, WE HAD BETTER
STOP THE fTISS SOW."
father." All the same It was not nice
to feel that, somehow. But Miss Hard
away was relieved easy over her diffi
culty, perhaps, I should say. "Yes, I
thought so, and that was what made
me so rude as to think that you that
I that we might pretend, you know,"
she stammered. ."I will pretend any
thing you like," I declared. "Will you
really?" she asked eagerly. "Certain-
ly." I answered. "That we are engag
ed?" she asked, hanging on my words.
I will confess that I was somewhat
staggered, but in a second I chuckled
to myself. "Most certainly," I 8aid.
Miss Hardaway 'a eyes looked grati
tude. "I knew you would be kind,"
she remarked. "Then that will get rid
of him, you see," she added. "Yes, I
suppose It will," I assented. "Then
that's all settled," said she, rising sud
denly to her feet, "and now I must go.
It Is so good of you, Mr. - ." "But
sray," I interrupted, rising also. "Let
us understand what our program is to
be. You will tell Aunt Catherine?"
"I am going tn tell her now," she said,
firmly. "Andand what are we how
are we " "Oh. yon must walk about
with me a good di al." she said. "Hut
won't that rather tiore you." I asked,
deprecatingly. "Oh. uo," said Mis
Hardaway, frankly, "I like you; be
sides, it s better than Mr. rnjuliart."
The compliment was not strained. "And
I am to call you T I queried. "O,
you mnstcall me Hetty," she returned.
promptly. "And you must; call me ?"
I began. "Oh, I think I'll Just call you
just Mr. Tyson," she observed, after a
pause. "But do yon think dm't you
think V Miss Hardaway consider
ed, frowning. "I don't think I can call
you what Is your name, Mr. Tyson?"
she asked. "Paul," said I. meekly, "I
know it's not a nice name." "O, it's
not so bad," she said, reassuringly,
"only-all right. I ll call you that, and
now " "Hut is there nothing else?"
I asked. "Are you sure we mustn't do
anything else?" "O, no," said MUis
Hardaway. confidently; "we're Just
engaged, yon know." and with the
flutter of her gown she was gone.
The bargain was plain enough, hut
I waa not quite sure how It would turn
out In practice. Yet It seemed to an
swer well enough, aa far as she was
concerned. My services were In requi
sition tha very neit aajr. "We most
keep op appearances," she explained.
It was very pleasant on the din's, and
there wt mat Mr. L'rqahart walking. I
hastily seised her band, but ska draw
It away fro m with dsclaaoa. "Daa'tr
she said. "I thought I had to do was-
thing." I observed, humbly. "Ob. no,"
she said, la a veied voice. "Don't you
see, there's no need nowT" I didn't see,
but I took her word for it All the
same, I regretted that here was no
need; I had had no Idea that she was
such an attractive girt It appears that
Aunt Catherine and Mr. I'rqubart were
"WOSf'T SAT ASYTHIXQ
CaTBEBIXE ."'
TO ACXT
supposed to know, but I was sure the
whole hotel was In the secret I came
to this conclusion from the persistent
way In which we were left together.
If we were seen In each other's com
pany we were conscientiously avoided,
and people Indignantly left the room In
order that we might exchange confi
dences. Miss Hardaway noticed this
at last; she did not seem to have antici
pated It
What do they do that for' she a.k-
ed, pettishly. "O, they suppose we want
to be alone," I answered, cheerfully.
How foolish!" said Miss Hardaway.
frowning. "Don't you want to go to
your books?" she said suddenly. I did
not but I took my dismissal and went.
Later that day Miss Hardaway sought
me. "I think, Mr. Tyson," said she,
"that we had better stop this pretense
now. It has served its turn." "Well,"
said I, "if you are quite sure that Mr.
Crquhart and Aunt Catherine will not
resume " She shook ber head. "I
am not afraid of that" she said, boldly.
"Very well," said I; "then we had bet
ter think out a way. Of course, the en
gagement must be broken. But who Is
to do itr "I, of course," said Miss
Hardaway, In surprise. I passed the
paper knife between my fingers, re
flectively. "That Is, of course, the
proper way," I answered, "but It may
leave you open to a difficulty. You !
see, if you break with me, people will
believe that you never really cared for
me, and that will encourage Mr. I'rqu
hart and Aunt Catherine." he bit her
lips. "I never thought of that," she
said. "Then you must break It." "Yes,
I must break it, but upon what
grounds?" I asked. "Couldn't you say
that you had made a mistake and real
ly cared for some one else?" she inquir
ed. "But I don't I mean, would that
be quite fair to you, you see?" Miss
Hardaway puckered ber brow. "Put
it on the ground that I interfere with
your work," she suggested, "and that
you are wedded to that" "But you
don't," I objected; "and, besides, I don't
care if you do; and, goodness knows, I
don't want to be wedded to that al
ways." This, apparently, was a new
idea, for she regarded me earnestly
for some moments, and I !e!ieve she
was examining the lines ou my face.
"I am not so very old," I murmured.
Miss Hardaway made no reply, but
glanced out of the window; then, "I
shall fell Aunt Catherine that it wa
broken off because of your work," she
said, pensively. "I shall deny It," I
protested; "I don't see why It should ba .
broken off at all." After a minute's si
lence she said In a lower voice, "It's
such a nuisance to you." "It Isn't," I
declared; "I don't mind. I let It go on.
I'm not so very old, and It's the on!y
time I shall be engaged. Iet me enjoy
It while I can." Miss Hardaway was
silent "Come," said I, taking her
hand, "you wouldn't grudge me a little
pleasure, would you?" Miss Harda
way laughed, a self-embarrassed little
laugh, "Pleasure?" she echoed. "Or.
tninly," said I. promptly; "a pleasure, w,nlMl.lat shortly, and cante'red on'io
whlch, alas! can never be more than a . ward the bungalow.
shadow for an old fogy like me." She
looked at me timorously, "I don't think
you're an old fogy," she said. I made
to draw her nearer, but she disengaged
herself and slipped gently to the door.
On the threshold she paused. "I I
won't say anything to Aunt Catherine," ,
she said, with a pretty little laugh.
The New Budget
Novel Qualifications lor the Bench
In Germany and France the view
gains ground that all Judges, before en
tering on their functions, should bu
compelled to visit and examine Jails,
prisons and penitentiaries, so as to
fully understand the nature of the
punishment which they thereafter Iu
filet It Is also held that Judges should
be more competent to distinguish be
tween mental soundness and unsound
ness. Comietent German physicians
assert that a large percentage of the
pet sons sent from penal Institutions
to lunatic asylums must have been In
sane at the time when they committed
the deed for which they were sent to
prison, and should therefore at once
have been treated as lunatics Instead of
criminals.
Ohio the Champion Divorce Mtste.
Statistics completed for the annual
report of the Secretary of Wtate show
that 6,546 suit for divorce were
brought during the year In Ohio. Of
these petitions 970 were refused and
2,497 divorces were granted, the addi
tional number of cases still being la
tha sourts. New Yotfc Ban.
It occasionally cofaaa over a
with a shock that tbis Is the year when
ha protalsad last yaar tfeat ha
sars
CHAPTER XV.
Colonel Prinsep was paying one of bi
usual visits round the regimental luetitu
tions oa the following morning when
looking in at the library, he saw a man
stretched on one of the benches fast
asleep.
Stepping forward, be saw, as be shook
him somewhat roughly by the ann, the
triple chevron upon his sleeve; and us
the man thus suddenly roused stumbled
clumsily on to bis feet, the Colonel identi
fied him as Sergeant Lynn. His wboli
appearance showed without doubt that he
was recovering from a fit of drunkenuess,
perhaps of some duration.
The Colonel gazed at hira sternly, as,
having recognized his commanding otii
cer, he saluted, and stood shamefacedly
before him.
"Sergeant Lynn, it seems that the re
ports of your intemperance which reached
me were not unfounded. Had you been
wanted for duty last night you would
have been found Incapable."
The Sergeant's head dropiwd still lower.
"Yes, sir, I did take more than I ought.
I can't help it Things have been agaiust
me lately, snd I am driven to drink at
times."
"What do you mean? lp to now I
have promoted yon as far as was in my
power."
"Promotion!" repeated Lynn, with nn
Imbecile laugh. "What gooil is promotion
to me unless you could give me a com
mission? And even then I dare say she
would not have me.
I should say not, if she saw you in
your present condition. You don't mean
to say that a woman is the cause of your
drinking?" asked the Colonel, contemp
tuously.
"Cause enough," he answered, dogged
ly. "Only three days ago she repeat.nl
her promise to marry me; and last night
at the sergeants' mess it was common
Ih that the Adjutant was always nt her
house, end was anid to be engaged to
her."
"You talk like a fool, Sergeant Lynn.
I would advise you to follow a steadier,
more manly course, and not offer such
childish reasons as a cause for ruining
your whole career, snd for the present.
Sergeant Lynn, I withhold my ts-rmissioii
for you to marry, he added, sharply.
Ah, sir, I thought it would come to
that when you knew whom 1 was asking
for!" said the Sergeant, with a rebellious
look.
"I don't know whom you want to marry,
nor do I care.
And the Colonel, now seriously dis
pleased, turned to leave the library.
"I beg jour pardon, sir. It is the tjuar
termaster's daughter."
"What Quartermaster's daughter?"
cried the (Jolonel, in a voice of thunder.
".lane Knox, sir."
At this familiar mention of the mime
borne by the girl he loved, Stephen J'rin
sep only refrained by an effort from re
venging the insult with a blow. The
recollection that he was Colonel and this
braggart a sergeant iu his regiment kept
the impulse in subjection.
He was close to his own gates now;
end liefore he turned into the carriagiv
drive he heard a noise behind him, and
turning mechanically, he saw it was the
Quartermaster riding after him.
"I wanted to speak to you, sir," he
aunounced a little breathlessly, as he
trotted op.
The Colonel started. Could it be that
he was to bear the solution of this mys
tery now? Not urgent not on a mili
tary matter, or what should prevent its
being discussed in the orderly-room?
Only one conclusion remained it twist be
on some private affair, and just then all
private affairs seemed to the Colonel to
point to June.
After a hasty draught of iced water,
Colonel Pruist p had thrown himself hark
in an easy chair, and snt waiting for the
Quartermaster to speak again. He want
ed to hear what lie had to say, yet, afraid
of apiieariiig incomiiiteut. hesitated to
at; outright.
"What is this affair of which you wish
ed to speak to me, Knox'" the Colonel
nuked abruptly
"It is nothing of act us I imitortanee,
kir, yet I think you ought to hear it hist
from us. Jenny thought so "
"Miss Knox thought I ought to know?"
"Yes; she said you would have reason
to In- offended if Sergeant Lynn sjsike
to you on the subject first."
" Mit with it. man. What is this mighty
matter?" cried the Colonel, sharply, as he
leaned forward iu his chair as thougn
to fotestull the answer. This suspense
wii horrible. Yet the denouement might
be worse.
"You see s., is engaged to him." "
"Then it is true?"
"Yes. it is true."
"Good heavens, it is sacrilege!" ejac
u!atnl Colonel Prinsep, fiercely.
The Quartermaster passed his fingers
through his hair in soiiih bewilderment,
His eyes followed the Colonel nn he
impatiently paced the room, and he was
still pondering a reply when his coui
mnmling o Hirer sMke agin.
"You must slop It Knox; you must stop
It on any pies." he declared, earnestly.
., new diacorvj broke suddenly upon
Hie Qnnrtermsr. This agitation of the
Colonel, coupled with the Indisposition
lie had pleaded a short time before, could
only point to the one conclusion, and be
would not have been human had he not
felt gratified at the knowledge that his
daughter bsd won the love of each a man
aa Stephen Prinsep, Independent of bis
rank and station. For a moment he even
regretted that she bsd already bound her
self, and then felt a little shams at the
worldllness of bis ideas, which gars s
certain stiffness ta his reply.
"I hare already gives aft eoaseat, sad
HKRT
I honor my daughter for her faithful
ness.
And," continued the Colonel, "is Ser
geant Lynn mind. I say uothing against
turn; you are probably a better judge of
his character than I but, I repeat, is be
the sort of husband you would have
chosen for your daughter?"
i nave promised," stammered the
Quartermaster, after a few moments' re-
u. in.
The Colonel then shook hands with hii
visitor as he started to go. and even ac
eompauied him to the door of the bunga
low; but he heaved ao audible sigh of re-
nei aa ue nas lost to sight
He went back into his sitting-room, and
laying his arms upon the table, rested his
head tix,n them. All his plans for the
future were frustrated all his ho.c
uucnciieo, and in such a manner that
f..i;.. . i
"Tll "o uoudi as to tne issue a keener
pang was added to his sufferings.
CHAPTEK XVI. i
The Quartermaster went borne at
smart trot, full of the discovery that he
nno in n ue.
Directly lie entered the room where
Mrs. Knox was seated, as usual, before
her sewing machine, she divined that he
had something to tell her, and attacked
him at once with a question as to where
he had been.
He hesitated for a moment, feeling the
full Importance of the revelatiou he bad
to make.
"I have been to see the Colonel," he
answered, slowly.
"What about?"
"I went," continued her husband, in
the same slow, impressive tones "I went
to tell the Colonel of Jane's engagement
to Jacob Lynn."
"What ou earth possessed you, John,
to take such a senseless step?" she ex
claimed. In her astonishment, forgetting
to be angry. And then, as he remained
silent, she went on: "Besides, I am by
no means certain that that engagement
still holds good. Jane has never even
mentioned his name since her return
from CawniKire, and I think there is
every reason to hope she repents her first
thoughtless promise.''
"No, no, w ife, you are quite mistaken."
he answered, kindly, feeling sorry for h.-r
disappointment, nd understanding how
it would vex her the more when she heard
all the truth. "Jenny has wen the Ser
geant again and renewed her promise; it
was by her request I went and told the
Colonel."
"Without consulting me?" she gasped
out, when she had recovered herself sulli
ciently to speak.
But when the Quartermaster once as
serted himself he hb not easily put
down, even by his wife.
"I had made up my mind to do as the
child wished tue, wife, and so it would
have been a useless discussion. You
would have contested the point, of course,
but I had made tip my mind."
"And now the whole affair will become
public," she complained, bitterly.
"Not necessarily. The Colonel himself
advised that we should keep it quiet s
long as possible."
"Was he against it?" she asked onick-
ly, in a voire that agitation hud uiii.le
more than unusually sharp.
"Yes, he was decidedly against it."
"Why tell me why, John'
"1 don't think you will believe me when
I do tell yon."
"Why why ?' she repeated.
"Because he is himself in love with our
Jane."
Had a thunderbolt fallen at her feet
she could not have been more surprised.
"Hoes she know?" was her first ques
tion. "I don't supiKMe she does," unswercd
the simple-minded Quartermaster, "for I
think, if he had anything to say lo her,
he would have told me vvheu we' were on
the subject."
"You ought to insist upon her being seU.
sible iu so important a matter," said Mrs,
Knox, eagerly.
"If you can't manage her, Man', how
should 1?" smiling. "Besides, I think she
is right to bold to her word, though 1
know she might do better."
-"Better! Why, it would be a brilliant
match, John."
"You go tst fast, wife too fust. If is
Hot to be supjiosed that, bcfUUso the Col
onel is in love with Jane, he is therefore
prepared to axk her hand In marriage.
No. no; he'll go away for a few Mouths.
and when he comes back will have for
gotten all alsmt it, Kveti had she been
free I don't suppose he would have con
templated such an act. A man like our
Colonel is juhtilied in looking high for his
Wife.
"He would never get a lovelier wife
than Jane, nor one truer or sweeter."
How inconsistent women are! Jnt
now you were complaining of her truth.
and now yon praise her for it."
It is possible to tarry a thing to ex
cess; then truth becomes olisliimcv " r...
turned Mrs, Knox.
When, a little after five o'clock, she saw
Colonel Prinsep coming up the drive, she
resolved to do her best to persuade him to
range himself actively iiikiii her side.
My husband was with lou this mom-
lug." she began.
Yes. he came to see me, and talked
over some affair."
And I wish to siienk to you also. Col.
ouel Prinsep."
"I shall be very glad to hear what you
have to say, and to help yon If I can."
"You can help if you will," meaningly,
"I would rather you doubted my power
than my anxiety to oblige," be returned,
toiling.
"It is about my daughter, Colonel."
"About Miss Knox?" he repented, as
she hesitated.
Then she went on, with emotion.
"You know all I said to you the other
day about Sergeant Lynn. Well, I say
It all still, but with greater warmth and
with more hope of a favorable reply, for
now I can confess what you already
know that 1 am pleading fur my daugh
ter." 1 wonder I did not guess It then," he
remarked, gravely.
"Bat yon know H now, and yon will
listen to nioi her's .rajer; yon will
her from this horrible fate'"
"I save her I T
"Who else? It is only you who have
the (siwer. Iu the regiuieut you are a
king, and uo one will question what you
command. You hare only to send him
to Kuglaud any where out of Jane's
way."
"You give me credit for a despotic
away, and that 1 do uut hold. She would
answer, with justu. that I had uo right
to interfere. However," be added, quick
ly, as Mrs. Knox's countenance fell, "I
will do what I cau. Shall I go to her
now?"
She led the way to the house and into
the drawing-room, where, in the center of
the room, Jane stisxl, as though exiiect
ing his arrival. Her head was erect; but
the little hands were tightly clenched;
and there was an expression of defiance
la her whole attitude that augured badly
for the success of bis mission.
"Jane, Colonel Prinsep has come to
seak to you, at my express wish and
with my permission. I hoe you will give,
every attention to what he has to say,"
said Mrs. Knox in her most didactic man
ner, and left the two together.
He looked at ber sadly, gravely; and for
awhile she returned his gaze with one of
equal power then jgradually an over
whelming sense of shame caused her to
turn away her face, blushing.
"What is it you wish me to do?" she
asked.
"I wish you to break that unconsidered
promise," he replied, firmly.
She turned on him fiercely, her pretty
figure drawn to Its full height, and the
golden light in her ha set eyes, which al
ways came there from excitement.
"And that is your advice? I wonder
women are ever honorable and true, for
everything seems to combine to make
them neither. A woman's promise is
made to lie broken. A man's honor is in
violable. "Granted all granted," he returned,
his quietness contrasting strangely with
the force of her indignation. "Yet I re
peat my request. It is easier to regret a
broken promise than a ruined life."
"And if his Jacob Lynn's life should
be ruined, his trust in all things shaken
by my unfaithfulness, is it nothing?"
"We. your friends, naturally think first
of you."
"The greater reason that I should think
of him. to whom I owe loyalty and
truth," she said, with dignity.
"And you will not think of us of your
father of your mother, who is distressed
at your decision; of of me?"
"Pardon me," she returned, proudly.
"In this case only two are concerned,
myself and my betrothed. There is only
one point under discussion: whether I
keep my word or break it."
He leaned forward eagerly, and would
have taken her hands, only she held them
stilfiy beyond his reach.
"And and ?" he questioned, his usually
sweet tones sharpened by suspense.
"I will keep it," she decided, firmly.
Moving a little further away at once,
he ari-cpted her decision.
(To be continued.)
He Uut If.
A graphic incident In the life of a
spoiled child Is well told by a writer In
an exchange:
Among the passengers on Die St.
Louis train recently was a woman ac
companied by a nurse girl and a boy
of about 3 years.
The boy aroused the Indignation of
the passengers by his continued shriek
and kicks and screams and vlclousness
toward the patlcut nurse.
Whenever the nurse manifested any
sharpness the mother chlded her sharp
ly. Finally the mother compoKed herself
'or a nap. and about ihe, time the boy
had slapped the nurse for the fiftieth
time a wasp came sailing and flew on
tho M'ulnw of the nurse's seat. The
buy at once tried to catch It.
The nurse caught his hand and suld,
coaxlngly, "Harry inusn't touch. Bug
will bite Harry."
Hurry screamed savagely, and began
to kick and pound the nurse.
The mother, without opening hor eyes
or lifting her head, cried out sharply:
"Why will you tease that child so,
Mary? Let him have what ho wants
at once."
"Bui, nia'arn, It's a "
"Let him have It, I say."
Thus encouraged. Harry clutched at
the wasp and caught It. The yell that
followed brought 'tears of joy lo the
passengers.
The mother awoke again.
"Mary!" she cried, "let him have It!"
Mary turned in her sent and said di
murely, "He's got It. ma'am!"
Accustomed to Snakes.
"A curious thing about snake stories,"
said a geiitleiiuui who had just return
ed from his vacation, "is that people
with whom the reptiles are a common
sight take very little stock in them."
"I have just returned from Massa
chusetts, when? I put In it week on a
farm situated near the Berkshire hills.
The next farm to us was right on a
mountain side, where there were do
ens of huge' riittlcsnakes Hint had a
habit of sunning theniselvf In uie
roadway big fellows, too, they were.
"The old fellow that owned that farm
would rend snake storli-s about mar
velous reptiles In Ueorglu mid Peim.
sylvunlfl. and say 'Gosh! them Was
hummers! Then he would go out to
mow on the mountain Kide nm kill
two or three big ratth siiiikes before
he hud-gotten half way over the field.
I saw him kill one on one occasion that
bud six rattles and a button, and be
had a very narrow escape from In-lng
bitten. I congratulated him on bis es
cape, and he answered: 'Mister, 1 have
been killing rattlers ever since I was
a boy, but this Is a poor place for
snakes. They never do the tricks hero
they do in Texas and out West
"He didn't mind the snakes, he said,
but 1 did, and I cut my vlalt abort on
their aii'oiint I prefer to see my snakes
nt the 7,oo." Philadelphia Call.
Has K ported the Guillotine.
Trance baa exported the guillotine.
In the French settlement of Chander
nagore In India an execution has been
performed with a guillotine sent from
Paris. The east has traditional horrors
of Ita own, but the guillotine la a for
midable rival.