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About The Sioux County journal. (Harrison, Nebraska) 1888-1899 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 16, 1896)
.s i -ss. c.4E)fe.-s. . sr f irM 5?K CHAPTER XXVII. (Continued.) They were not in the veranda when he went out, and he strolled further away to where he knew ome seat hail been placed. Even then be did not see them: it was Jane'a voice which Strayed their presence at the other aide of a tent, near which he was standing. "How can you aoy such cruel things, and so untrue."" she was saying, in ex cited Indignation. "I fancy the cruelty lies in the truth f the accusation," answered Jack Blouut, ruttingly; and the listener could no longer doubt that Diana Knollys had been correct in her estimate of the man and his power of beiirg disagreeable. "They said you were a fiirt. Only a few months ago you jilted Colonel I'rinsep the fellows told me that at mess to-night and Dow " He stopped suddeul) us Colonel I'rinsep himself stood before them. "Perhaps I am the lest p rson to refute that calumny." he said, onietly, but with a repressed passion in his tones, lliat Jane, knowing him so well, easily de tected. "That Miss Knox gave we up wag my own fault; I have never had I lie slightest reason to reproach her." "Of course if you say ." began Mr. Blount, ungracious!). "I do say so, and must beg t hat here at least you will uot refer again to the subject on which yon have received sinn Inaccurate in format ion." With a malicious scowl darkening Mount's face he turned upon his heel and left. The witchery of the time and place had csKi its imwcrfiil spell over Stephen I'rin sep. (irudnully ss she spokp he forgot everything except that she had been his love. The moonbeam fell upon her un covered head and upon her lovely up turned fa.-o u:i she pleaded her rxtelillll- fior. "Is it your fault you are o fair'.' Fven hut dolt could not be blind to your sweet beauty;" lie exclaimed, passionately, and would have said more only that she hniiik from him trembling. 1 As she turned away, bashful, yet so glad, so rapturously glad to know he loved her still, she encountered the stony ga.e of Jacob l.ynn. He was hidden be hind some trees dose by, and must lime heard what they had said. A sudden fear assailed her lest, in his jealously, he should come forward and do some des perate deed that would ruin him forever. Kven if the Colonel knew of his presence there it might be serious for him. Colonel I'rinsep then led her back to the ball room in grave silence, angry with himself that he had kept true to what wish her had evidently been only an evanescent feeling, yet unable to steel liis heart against her. I!arry Ijirron sauntered up to them as they stood together in th ball-room. "They are waiting for you. Colonel, to lead the way in to supper. Miss Knox, I think you promised to go with me." (startled at his voice .lane withdrew her face from the grateful coolness of the flowers and wondered w hy, as she did so. he looked at her so strangely. Colonel I'ritisep bowed and left her. Then Major I.arron spoke his thoughts. "You cannot think how it has pleased roe that you have deigned to wear my flowers," tu said. "Yonr liowcrs! Was it you who sent them ?" "Who else? I hope you did not i house them ander n false impression." "I oh, no! 1 never thought " Disregarding her confusion, as he hail disregarded the quick movement which she had made to cast the (towers from her when he claimed to be the sender, Barry Larron had remained silent. W hen he spoke again it was as though impelled by a feeling stronger than his judgment. "Miss Knox. I w ish I were your brother, or some one that you could trust to ad vise yon well." "I)o you think that I am in need of ad vice'," "I do. Will you promise not to be of fended if I speak?" "Yes, I will promise, though I cannot guess what it inn be that you are going to say." The ball-room was deserted now. and they stood alone in the center of it. Jane with her hand lifted proudly, as though defying him to sh.t anything that could affect her, and holding- her bouquet as far away from her as possible.' The (lowers that had delighted her had lecome hate ful in her eyes now that she knew the giver, and had actually caressed them in his sight. Major Larron looked down at her sadly. "I wonder whether it is worth w hile to risk the loss of your friendship for the sake of the problematical gesid that I might do if I spoke; I wonder if if is even worth while to do a disinterested act of kindness'" "Tell me, and let me decide." "I will, aim you wish it. llo you know what has been the general talk since yon entered the room' You do not of course not. You are too young and inexperienced to lielicve in malice or idle tongues, and I dare say yon fancy it is profound secret only known to yonr heart that you love the Colonel and wish to win him hack." Hhe turned deathly pale, and win ton taken by aurprise to attempt a contradic tiom. Looking up ah saw his fare avert 4, mm! was touched by his delicacy, knowing nothing of the swift glance by which he had assured himself that hia haft had gone hoae. "Da act be angry with me that I re peat what every one else has aaid. I thought It right that you ahoald know, and ae b able to pat an end to the go at, which la year parity of alad yon titM Mt fee, in are an proad, I know bow H weold gall yoa war it to ba rU that Coleael f'riaae aarried yoa ftp Htr" "Pa ytm thmk I wawM mrrr any mm . -5-t 'A v ,tv frs r3 rx ." i"i "iS. on sueh terms?" she cried, indiirnantlv. "No, I do not; but then every one baa I not studied your character so carefully as I. 1 know that you are too noble to ' allow any mercenary or interested tin.. tivea to intliieiii-e your actions, and I know, also, that you could with a word win back Colonel I'riusep to the allegi ance be nattered himself that he had thrown off. Ihni't be offended that I speak so. Consider the circumstances from an outsider's point of view, and you will see that it is natural he should 1 glad to have ewaed what the world would call a mesalliance, notwithstand ing your grace and beauty. Before he loved you so entirely so unthinkingly, that had you married him then, neither he nor you might have had reason to re pent; but now he has had reason to weigh the proa and cons, even for he la very proud to congratulate himself that something occurred to part you. When he came back to Altpore, It was in the confidence that to meet you was no longer a danger that he had. In fait, conquered his unwise love. In these circumstances, you would not care to draw him back to you. as you so easily could, against bis better judgment." She w as very pule, hut the pride which he had rightly surmised that she sis sessed prevented her from betraying hat she suffered. "Io you think it could be a pleasure to me to see you pained?" he continued. "It is only that I wanted to spare you a keener pang hereafter. I am a mnu of the world, Miss Knox; but what is the use of my worldly wisdom If I may only use it for rny own good, and never for another's? I have overstcpicd the bound ary of conventionalism, I know; but it was for jour sake your sake only." "Yet 1 w ish you had not sioken." "I might," he went on, as if the words were being forced from him "I might have told you of another love less calcu lating, perhaps because so utterly with out hope- a love that only desired to see you happy. But I would not speak of myself; all my thoughts are of you. ( nly let me wat.h over you. shield you from the dangers you are too inexperienced to suspect. mhI I shall he content." "I am very glad of your friendship, very promt of it." she said, gently. "Thou I am more tliau repaid." he an swered, gravely. As they went toward the supMT-room. they u.i t several persons returning iIh'ih, among them Diana Knollys, who was leaning mi Colonel I'rinsep's arm. She smiled kindly at Jane, who returned the glance, carefully avoiding to look at the same time into her companion's face. If scandal were si, easily set admit, it was scarcely sufficient to show indifference only, she must prove to him that his presence was positively distasteful to her. "I wonder where Jack Hlount is; 1 have not seen him for some time," said Harry I.arron, abruptly, us they passed on. "I think he has left," faltered Jane, trying to look unconscious, but failing be neath the keen gaze that was directed on her. "Ah. is that it?" was the softly sis.ken remark. "Child, how many lovers you have, yet not one worthy to be success ful! Or is it that I ain too jealous for you? At any rale I am glad that he has failed." "Yon are drawing your own conclu sions." said Jane, hastily. '"1 never said anything to make you think that he has gone because of me." "lo you think that we are all blind? His devotion was too apparent for any mistake--;raiiiie has lost his money: he thought you would accept him, and betted on it, though he should have known you liotter now than to siipjKise tlmt you would be tempted by the advantage of wealth or position." "Hid Mr. Craeinebet nlsiiil me?" asked June, angrily. "Well, yes; tint I ought not to have mentioned it. The fact is, that I have been speaking so freely that I forgot there must be a limit to my frankness. Besides, it has vexed you I call see it has, and he will never forgive me for rny indiscretion if you resent it." "What would be the good? It seems that people sny very much what they like, regardless of any one's feelings; yet I should not have thought that he who always seemed to 1 my friend would have made me the subject of a bet." "He is young, and I dan say did not think. Yon must not take it so. or I shall blame myself more than I already do for my own thoughtlessness in having re peated it. And now sit dow n here w hile I get you some supper. You are looking quite tired and faint." Having accomplished what he desired, Major Larrou reverted no more to dis agreeable subjects; when he chose no one could be more brilliant 'uid enter taining and he exerted himself so suc cessfully now that he won back the color to Jane's pale face and a smile to her lips. She wns surprised to find the time had passed so quickly when her father came in search of her. to sny that it was late and they were going home. Major Larron saw her to the carriage, and took the onus upon himself, when Mrs. Knox remonstrated with her daugh ter on her long absence from her aide. Valentine irueme bad also gone to see them off, hut Jane was very stiff with him, and pointedly turned to Barry Ijir ron to wrap her aha wis about her and help her to hrr scat In the high dog cart. The adjutant looked decidedly crest fallen as (hey drove away. CHATTKK XXVIII. " ' "Ixive thirty: love forty; game and set. It la most discouraging," declared Diana Knollys, giving a vicious hit at the V II remaining in her band, and aending it high into the air. "Mlaa Knot Improve every time aba play i," aaid Barry Irron. "And I grow worae. Jane, yon are on of those provoking creator that do ev erything better than any one la." Ian aailled and abook her bead. "That k) aUaatataoMDt which I aball ot b vain enoagh to contradict; tboagh I might aak, what aboot painting, draw ing, maaia " "Oh. those are mere matters of educa tion!" replied I liana, carelessly. Mie had meant no invidioua compari son, but Jane, who was unduly aenaitive. flushed criuisou, "I-t os have another match, said Major Ijtrrou. gayly. to cover her em barrassment. "Education and all the c-complisf.meiita- w hii h is you. Miss fcnol !;. and ,rey again! skill and natural talent, which m.dety forbids ine to more tl.au hint is represented by my partner and myself." I-augtiing at his saliy. Jane forgot that she had been hurt by Miss Knoll) a' thoughtless remark. It was now tictriy a week since the th llcssars' dance, and each day Major Larrou had made himself more ueeessary to her. n-aking good his cliiim to her friendship. Though very gentle with her. he never seeuud to consider her a subject for pity- n hieh would have galled her more but always when she needed help, however trivial, she found him ready at her side. They had played two sets. Jane aid Major Ijirron against Mss Knollys and Colonel (irey. "Quite a regimental game. I feel an outsider." Miss Knollys had observed. "You need not lie so longer than you like," answered Colonel (irey, impres aively. "You are very persevering," smiled Diana. "What I want is worth trying hard for," he returned, atolidly, missing a casual ball, which struck him smartly in the face. They changed court now, and began the third set. Jane was only a beginner at the game, but she picked it up very quickly, and like all graceful women, looked well with a tennis bat in her band. She was playing better than usual that afternoon, until turning, with hand up raised to catch a ball that was thrown to her, she espied Colonel Prinsep on a eat behind her. watching the progress of the game. After that she scarcely put one over the net, and when Colonel (irey and Miss Knolly scored an easy victory, professed herself ired and would play no more. Just as they stopped playing, Valentine Graeme drove up in his high cart and called out to Major Ijirron. The Major obeyed the summons, and Jane was left standing alone until Colonel I'riusep joined her. "Won't you sit down?" he asked. "Thank you. I am not tired." Sometime ( 'oloiiel I'riusep lost his tem per, as was the case now. "You mean that you will not admit to me that you are tired." "I mean that I do not w ish to sit down," she returned, ci.nisisedlr, ignoring his innuendo. Major Larron came b.n k. looking rather glum. j "There's (inienie hurt his foot at i cricket ball hit his ankle. This will stop i our thcatrienis, I nm afraid." j 'l'oor M r. ( irio me I'm so som !" said Jane. ! "lie wants to talk to you about tln.se same theatricals," went on Barry I.arron. , "Will Voll collie?" She wi ut at once, both gentlemen fol lowing. I "Does it hurt you very much?" sin-; asked .of Valentine liraeuie, as lie leni,c i down from the -art to hold the proffered hand. "Not much, only when I move it; but the doctor says I shall feel it for the next three weeks. What bothers me is our play. I did so want to net with yon. and 1 can't possibly limp about the stage." "Can you not get some one to take your part ?" asked Larron. "Why won't yon?" said Jane, quickly, fearful lest another substitute should offer himself. "Because it is not at till my style. I should only make you ridiculous and my self. It was just suited to Mr. (Jraeme, and to him only in the regiment, I should suppose." "The Colonel was Al when he re hearsed it with Mrs. Dene last year. Col onel. I w ish you -" The Adjutant stopped short, romeuibcr ing the reason why his chief could senrce ly share the title role of "Sweeth'-nrts" with the untirtermasicr's daughter. I'nr a moment there was an awkward pans,. "1 shall be very happy to take the part if Jlw Knox has no objection," the Col- one! said, maliciously. i "It's a matter of perfect indifference to me w ith w hom I act," replied Jane. I coldly. j The Colonel's attempt at retaliation re-1 coiled uis.ii himself. Thinking she would certainly refuse him as a coadjutor, he hud proposed to help them out of their dilliculty merely to annoy her in return for the many annoyances she had heaped iisn him. He was not prepared for her assent, and foreseeing the tunny awk wardnesses that might ensue, ami the trial it would be to himself to play at making love to the woman who was to have been his wife, he tried to retract his words. (To be continued. 1 A Itcmarkable Will. The leading newspaper in Vienna prints the unitizing lawt will anil testa ment of a wealthy old eccentric who died lately at Iladersdorf am Knuip. "I lMMtieHrli the whole of my property, movable and Immovable." says he, "to my six nephews and lx nelcea, but under the sole condition that every one of my nephews marries a woman nam ed Autonle, and that every one of tnj nieces marries a man named Anton." The twelve are furthiT required lo give the Christian name Autonle or Anton to each first loru child, according as it turns out to be a jrlr) or boy. The marriage of each nephew and niece Is also to be celebrated on one of tlie 8t. Anthony's days, either January 1", May 10 or June 13. Each Is further required to Iks married before the end of July, IStsTI. Any nephew or niece remaining unmarried to an Antonle or to an An ton after that date forfeits half of his or her share of the property. Fire Companies of Women. Wasso, Sweden, baa a feminine fire department. Its dutlea consist of fill ing four great tuba which constitute the water supply In case of fire. They stand In two continuous lines from the tuba to the lake, about three blocks way, one line passing the full bucket and th other aending tbem back. Whenever the Are alarm sounds they are obliged to come out, no matter what th weather may be, the daughter of the boas as wl as th awing maid, and often their aklrt fre Ilk bark from th water and th cold. If th dm ar a war hey not only carry rb watar, bat bring oat th bow sad ladder and work tb pamps. nOOOCCevSXOOCXXXXXXX)000000030000 THEIR PUNISHMENT... otxooooooocooocx Nl'iH 1' was falling; ou the val ley between the snow-capiK-d , peaks. The mountain Vis. however, were still barbed lu the siileu did rosy light with which the Alps are 1 colored by the rays of the setting suu. These brilliant jieaks made the shad jows, which crowded over the little town timidly hanging over the rocks, appear blacker and more alleut. The augelus bell rang frnu the tower of the old abliey. Within the slow chant of vespers rose from the cuotr benches of blackened bolm oak, over which the sanctuary lamp cast Its flickering light. Away down the broad nave, quite dark and deserted, a woman was pray ing. Was she praying, or was Bhe merely lost In the Intense melancholy of the hour anil place? Kneeling on the stone, she had fallen, her arum lower ed, her hands crossed, in an Inert and wearied attitude. The darkness of the place and the black veil that covered her head con cealed the expression of her face. How ever, whether she was praying or whether she was wi-aplied In reverie, she was so absorbed that she did not perceive that the evening a!ig was over, nor did she hear the soft steps of the monks who were leaving. Suddenly the stillni'SH was broken by the tinkling of a bunch of keys which echoed through the church, while a voice cried out: "We close!" Hearing this the lady rose hastily and withdrew, gathering about her waist as she went the long black clunk which covered her tall and slender figure. She left the church, and a.t she passed along the narrow streets of the village the few passers-by turned to look nt her with a certain curiosity, but yet without actual wonder. Kvery day ut the same hour for eigh teen years hud thai lady been seen pass ing by. wrapped In her black cloak, her face covered by her thick, black veil. Fur eighteen years her mysterious pres ence in that I'ai-olT valley ls.nl furnish ed a subject to the liiiiigiuaf'oii and go sip of the Inhabitants. And yet, little by little, before that Impenetrable mys tery. Imaginations had ceased to work and tongues were now reduced to si lence. Aceoinpanlixl by her husband, she had arrived one evening, us already stated, atsuit eighteen years previous to the time we are describing. They had come alone, without servants and with but little baggage. They had alighted at the hotel, where tliey lived for several months while- the house they had bought on the outskirts of the town was being repaired. It was a pretty cottage, surioundiil by a full garden of roses. From the day they had settled lu that very modest abode they had led a quiet life. They were know n as Sigtior and Signora Mcolini. but on their silver plate there was a monogram beating a crown. What could be their motive for con caling their name? How had tliey come to that remote corner of the world? Why did they not wish to see anyone, either relatives or friends? Why did they live alone, as If tliey hid come from some other planet? They were, indeed, kind to all and charitable to the poor. Hut their kind ness kept people at a distance, and when they opened their purse it was apparently without feeling. The husband, a tall, strong man. with an almost athletic physique, ap peared, at the time of their arrival, to be about .VI years of age, his wife not more than 2.1. Tliey were never seen together. He went hunting, or took long walks, al ways alone. She wandered among the roses of her garden, and every day. morning and evening, she went to the abbey and came back, walking with the same slow and mechanical step. Tliey received papers, magazines, books, but never a letter. Hoth seemed sad. of a gloomy and desolate sort of sadness, which those who approached them felt themselves. Many a servant. Indeed, had goue away unable to endure that Icy atmosphere. It Is certain that they neither wrangled nor spoke harshly; on the contrary, there was always between them a dead silence. Interrupted only by those short phrases which dally contact made nec essary. Reaching the garden gate, as If fight ing on Inward repugnance, the lady stopped and passed by. Then she turned back and again passed the gate. At last she entered. In the hall she found a servant, w ho on tbe mute question of her look an swered: "Still In the same condition, signora." She put her cloak and bonnet on a chair and went upstairs. There she stopiied, hesitating again, before one of th doors on the first floor. Opening It rudely, she entered a large, dismal room. Here on an Iron bed. a bed be fitting a soldier, lay ber husband. Noiselessly she drew near, listened to the sick msn'a heavy and painful breathing, and, bending over him, she tried to see his face. Little by little, ber eyea growing ac customed to th darkneoa, ahe could perceive hia convulsed and livid fea tures, hia cheeks farrowed with red reins. His heavy eyelid wore half ckMed, his noae, drawn and emaciated, stood oat above hi blue, half-opened llpa, from which cam a abort, whis tling breath. He was dying! A woman who had been watching at tb bedside had left the room aa soon as the slgiiora hud (nine In. And now the latter was alone with the dying man. gazing on that human face that held her lu subjection so many years, and thai was now fading away. This hour, looked forward to for eighteen years, this hour longed for, prayitl for 111 the silent revolt of her downtrodden heart, the hour of her liberty, had come at last. The lady seated herself and let her mind turn once more to the past. It was the old, old story. She met a young man. Their souls blended. At first it was IniiiM-etit friendship; then the storm of passion. One day her hus band, returning home, hud found them together, their hand clasped! Oh. the terrible recollection! The thought of it made Uie blood rush to her heart, and she again felt the same shame, the same terror, which had wholly overpowered her before her Judge's revolver and stern face. Kverythlug had suddenly assumed a strange rapidity. She had faced her husband, crying: "Mercy! mercy! I promise to never see him again!" Her husband had hesitated a mo ment; had liMiked at them, crushing them under the weight of his contempt; then, without lowering his revolver, had dictated these conditions: "Promise on the gospel, on your eter nal life, that you will never si-c this crea'ure again; that you will obey me in all; and that you will accept the pun ishment which I may please to Inflict." Ill the anguish of her fear and lov she had promised, word for word, what he had insisted upon. On a sign of her husband the young man, humiliated nm! vilified, had de parted and her expiation had begun. Her husband had resigned his com mand In the army and had gone to live on that mountain slope, assuming a false name, hiding his secret from all. Like two stones that full to the bottom of the sea. they had disappeared from society without leaving any tnu-e. Twice a year she w rote to her mother. Her hiwlmtnl read her letters, would mail thein'bimself In some fhi'-ofT place. Finally her mother had died, and from that day no letters were sent. In that terrible Isolation she had gone through all the stages of despair. For several days she declined to eat, wish ing to starve; but her inexorable Judge had said to her: "Yon are a l 'lirlstiaii: you have prom ised to obey; therefore eat." And she obeyed, because even In )or excess of despair and revolt, even amidst her thotigtiis of suicide, the Idea of falling In her promise had never crossed her mind. That promise was, in a certain sense, the supremo inher itance of her love, the painful tie that bound her to the past. As she had lived, hope alone remain ed. She had hoped that her husband, after he had noticed her sweetness, do cility and patience, would relent; and for many years she had observed his pensive forehead day by day. hoping to see on It a sign of forgiveness. He never treated her rudely, he never allowed himself to be wanting In re spect toward her, nor to speak to her a harsh or sharp word, (inly once, having found her sobbing lu a lit of despair, he had said to her: "My life Is no bctler 1han yours, yet 1 have betrayed no one." He had. In fact, sacrificed everything -his ambition, career, family, pleas uresto bury himself with her. In the same atonement. She had hoped, but In vain. Days, weeks, years had gilded on In an in flexible monotony; self-control vanish ed, she liocame the ssirt of inisids, ae. cording to the time and humor-now weary of life, now tormented by re morse, now Intated and full of hatred. How many a time she had said to her self: "He Is old and 1 nm young; he will die and I shall lie free! When shall I lie free?" And now he was dying. At thl thought she felt a strange spirit like feeling, which startled her. At last she was about lo be free, her own mistress, her actions free, her thoughts free, free to love and lie loved! Ah! the Joy of escaping from her pris on, of seeking other horizons, of grasp ing friendly hands! She felt a kind of Intoxication In her brain, and rose, feeling the need to walk or move; stillness was death, and she had enough of death, silence, cold ness, solitude. And as the moon, which was high aliove the horizon, sent Its pale rays through the window she went to lean against the mantelpiece, seized by a kind of uncaaliicas. She turned her face to the mirror, and stixxl there, looking at herself, She was still IwHtitlful. Then her lips parted with a smile. Those who had know n ber would know her still. Hut w ho would still remem ber her? And what bad liecotne of her friends, of ber acquaintance? And what bad become of him? At this question she felt herself seised upon by fesr; not that she would apear to him less handsome, or that she bad been forgotten. Kbe feared that she night And hi in unlike the Image h had left In her heart; that she might find him changed phyalcally and mor ally and not recognise him; that he would be a atranger to ber. While ahe heaped euch thoughts ahe aaw before herself In tb mirror, feebly Dlamlnated by th reflection of the moon, two dilated eyea gaalng tm ber like coals. Being affrighted by that gsze of the dying man, who seemed a If he wanted to follow her in ber (CUilty reverie, she turned with an Irresistible: .....!.,, ... I , . .. ... I II... I.c.l OIS'V- UC'ifoii nu, em i"n iiei lug. lu spile of herself, a kind of Im perious and magnetic call. Then It seemed to lo r as If a deep and desperate v.d.-e came from that face, w hich was grow ing stone like: "I have loved you, I have worship! you all my life. a:nl you have lietrsyed me. For years and years I have waited with a painful desire a word that would put balm on my bleeding wound, but you have let me suffer. I was inno cent and shared your expiation. I took on me half of your punishment, hoping that at least repentance would would come to your heart, and l! with a murdering wlsli you would like to hasten my death, and as you find It too slow your thoughts Him against your marriage vows. Foolish and faithless that you are! My death eanuot free you! Did you not say 'Never?" She understiH.il all this as plainly a If he had really sis.ken, and suddenly she felt the horror of the evil she bad done. Yes, he bad loved her. he had adored her always, before and after her guilt, and she had placed the cold ness of her passive obedience over against the man's passion. Then, liefore the terrible Impotence of that conscious agony, she felt that pity, together with remorse, was en treating her heart, and, tielng moved by an Irresistible power, she bent over the dying man, stretched her arm to the cross that hung over his pillow, and with a low but distinct voice she re pealed her promise: "I promise that I will never see hint again." The contracted face of the dying man beamed with serenity, bis eyelid lowered over his dim eyes, while the only two tears which she had ever seen flowing from these severe eyes came down his checks, already cold. Those two tours were to her like bap t'sm of pardon which washed her guilt away, and a great peace diwended upon her In-art. She opened the window, saw the slurry heavens along the snowy peaks, over which the moon shed Its pule, and serene smile; then, lowering her eyes to the deep valley, she saluted, as if she saw it for the first time, that prison where her life would be spent. Wio well knew that, to keep her promise, so that fate should not bring the lovers of former days together. It was neces sary that she should remain exiled from all. unknown, forgotten, forever. The tomb, which had opened for an Instant, had closed forever, and closi-i! In peace.-- Boston Transcript. "- Adelaide Ncllson's Tenrs. There never was an actress who could comm. mil her lachrymal gland as Adelaide .Wilson could. Several of her leading men found on: her peculiar faculty to their cost, due of tlniu was ".lack" Hurtles. At the time the Kugllsli tu tor was young and slender, and rath er fancied himself In such parts ns Koineo, going to considerable expense lu the matter of dressing. For Itomco he had some lovely eostuiiHti, all silk, satin and luce. A delicate pale blue jacket was his favorite In one of tlm scones between Romeo and Juliet, but he was hw fully sorry he had It before the season was over. After a few per forma uccN Barnes noticed that thrt beautiful pale blue silk ou the front of the Jacket was stained in some way. There w ere long streak In It. w hich he could not account for. That night Miss .Wilson and he were In one f their pa thetic love scenes. Her head rested on bis breast. She looki-d up, turned her face to the audience a moment, which nt once burst Into most tumultuous ap plause. When she turned her face to ward Barnes again he saw the tears streaming down her cheeks. He glanced at his costume, and saw the cause of the stains. There were several fresh wet streaks n the handsome pale blue llk made by Juliet's tears. Barnes tried to hold her head away from liiui, bur. the costume bad to he sacrificed to art. and w hen the season was over his costume whs a striped Instead of a plain blue silk .the change having been caused by Juliet's too realistic weeps n.'Oph Kd mu mis. in Footlights. Children's Birthdays. A treat which has not yet become 'et eral. but which is strongly recom mended to parents as something new mid surprising, Is to let the hero or heroine of a birthday order tils or her dinner. The result will, as a rule, be much less extravagant nm) less Indi gestible than might lie supKised. One little girl always orders mince-veal and plum pudding; another's hobby jH fow ami rice and apple-fritters, and she was recently heard to declare that she would never, as long as she lived, In vent anything nicer for her birthday. Ferluips with Im.js the experiment might Is- more dangerous. They are liable to overeat themselves, and then the glories of the birthday would turn to dust In their mouth. Still, as an ad ditional morsel of enjoyment, aa an other proof of how entirely the birth day child Is master of the situation on that one day, a trial should lie made Days of unalloyed pleasure arc few Indeed, and, as year roll on, they be come fewer. Ko let the children have theirs, at least on their birthdays aa long a they can. ' Htaadtng Alone. . Thank heaven. I can euwd alone! Can you? Ar you yet at the end of your life Journey? Have you yet stood over the dead body of wlf or CU)M anatched from you when life was at the flood tide of happiness? Did you ever close your weary eye to the bright dawn of a new day, and pray that you might never II t to look at another? If a woman, did you ever tu poverty where luxury had been, aDd ,, . hither and thither for tb nmZ frind l bat you would never as ante till larder aad cffr were repUsun Ar you aura, wboa yM how, tk4,'' can ".Ud alooe," that yea kg!! learned ab bow to fall alea ,
