A GREAT BURPRISB,
.A great Tallow sunflower grew bo tall
It looked right over the garden wail.
"Bless me,' crttd b, "what a, marver-
ou sight!
Wonderful meadowe to left and rlrht;
And a hill that reaches up to the skjr.
ad a lone, straight road where the
folks go by.
Twaa luckjr for me that I crew so tall
As to see the lands that He over the
walL
I hadn't the faintest Idea," said be,
"How much of a place the world
might be!" Youth's Companion.
DR. DAWSON'S WARD
Dr. Arthur Dawson rose from his
easy chair, and welcomed to his com
fortably furnished consulting: room the
well dressed young man whose card
his servant had Just handed to him.
"Always glad to see you, George. I
think I can guess what your visit
means. Tou wish to ask me to consent
to your engagement to Laura?"
George Abbot felt far more nervous
than on the well-remembered occasion
of making his first speech to a Jury,
and stammered out, "T-e-s, sir. But
how did you know? Has Laura"
"Laura has said nothing to me. Hut
It U said, you know, that 'lookers-on
ae most of the game,' and your atten
tions were such as no honorable man
would offer without serious Inten
tions."
"Then you consent!" the young man
broke In.
"If. after you have heard the story I
am about to relate to you, you still per
slst In your request for my ward's
hand "
"Your ward!"
"Yes, Laura Is not my own child
She . Is my adopted daughter, and 1
love her as dearly as, twentyi-flve
years ago, I loved her poor, Ill-fated
mother. But listen to her father's
history.
"After passing through Guy's, and
being duly licensed to kill," said the
doctor," I proceeded to India, having
obtained a government appointment
In the land of cholera and chutnae.
was there fifteen years and was rest
dent surgeon at Berrl-Herri Barracks,
in. the Neilgherry Hills, when I first
met Captain Kerr. He was a tall, un
oenlably handsome man, probably 30
fears of age.
"The colonel of his regiment was
Walter White, whose fag I had been
at Winchester. I was a frequent vis
itor at his bungalow, and one of the
many victims to the charms of hla
lovely daughter. Even now I recall
her willowy figure, her merry laugh
her flaxen ringlets, and trustful, vlo-
ici eyes, uui 1 neeun t enter upon a
description of her; her daughter Is her
living Image.
"Laura her child bears her name-
had many suitors, and among them was
Rupert Kerr. The captain was gener
ally looked upon as the lucky man
ana, Dy oegrees, most or the young
lady's admirers withdrew from the un-
iqual contest.
"One day a startling rumor passed
round the camp. I heard of It as I
made my morning round, and, though
I pooh-poohed It, It still gained curren
sy. Men said that Captain Kerr had
been secretly married, more than a
rear ago, to a half-caste woman at
Bombay, and that she had appeared In
amp to claim her rights as his wife.
"After the mess, at which Colonel
White and the captain were both ab
sent. I was summoned to the Colonel's
bungalow, I went across at once, and
found that poor Laura was In a high
fever. Her father and mother were
endeavoring to calm her, but In vain,
and ever and anon she would shriek:
"My Rupert, my Rupert no, you're not
my mine! Not mine, oh dear!" and then
would follow a burst of tears. I then
learned that the sinister rumor was no
cantonment gossip, but the plain, un
rarnlshed truth.
"On returning to my quarters I was
astonished at finding Captain Kerr
awaiting me. 'Ha, doctor,' he ez
slalmed, as he saw me, 'I want you to
some over and see my my my wife.'
with a curiously hard Intonation of the
last word.
"I resumed my hat, which I had laid
Ulde, and followed him to his bunga
low. On my way I asked, 'What art
the symptoms?'
"Well, she Is sleeping, and has been
sleeping since noon, and I can't awak
M her,' was the anawer.
"On a couch In the veranda was
stretched an exceedingly fat mulatto
s-oman, with brown features and a
surioualy puckered skin. She was ly
ing an bar back and waa snoring like a
Itentor.
"I rraaped ber arm and felt her
pais. It beat fast and Irregularly,
The captain stood at the head of the
tofa and leant over her. Almoat at that
instant the woman awoke, and poured
forth auch a voluble string of
the most awful language (English and
Hindustani) that even I shrank back
appalled.
"The captain motioned me to the
loer. 'She's come around, doctor, ao
there's no necessity for your kind aer
rloes. I will only ask you not to de
Icrlbe Mrs. Kerr to the mess.' I gave
Ike required pledge and left him.
"For some week I attended Mrs.
Cerr la ber apparently cataleptic
janoea They came it Irregular In
tervale, and were always marked by
alalia symptom
"My other patient, Laura White, had
tjr this time recovered, but waa hardly
sore) than the shadow of her old
Many self. Naturally, Kerr wan cut
gf the regiment, and L for one, felt
uoeraly glad when It waa announced
that he had exchanged Into a home
jvglment and would shortly sail for
nflaad.
"aty affection for Laura waa only
etreagthened, and one day, after pay. J
an amy moralng visit, I naked her, la
bar fatkera presence to become any
wife..
"She buret Into tears, and when she
had recovered her compoaere, eke an
swered: 1 feel that I am honored by
the affection of a good and noble man,
and, though I cannot give you the love
I ought, I will try and make you a good
and faithful wife.
"On the' day that our engagement
was published, Kerr's wife died.
was present when she passed away In
a cataleptic fit, and gave my certificate
to that effect. As Is usual In hot ell
mates, she was buried within twenty
four hours.
"Forty-eight hours later my brief
cup of happiness was dashed to the
ground. Captain Kerr had left for Eng
land, and Laura White had fled with
him. They had been married In Bom
bay, and had sailed for England before
the colonel and I reached that port.
"I returned to England a few
month's later, to find that Kerr had
never entered upon his duties In hi
new regiment, but had sent In hi
papers Immediately after his arrival.
I sought for news of them, but could
learn nothing.
"About three years later I read I
the papers the announcement of Laura
Kerr's death. It had taken place a
Cheltenham, to which town I at once
proceeded. Here my Inquiries led to
my ascertaining that she had died I
lodgings In High street, and that
her husband had taken his departure
Immediately after the funeral, acconv
panled by his little daughter. The
landlady of the lodgings gave me the
address of the medical man who had
attended her, and on him I at once
called. He courteously answered my
Inquiries, and Informed me that the
cause of death was catalepsy.
"Catalepsy again! That was Indeed
singular. But my suspicions were not
as yet awakened. There was no trace
of Kerr or his child, and I could d
nothing.
"Another period of three years pass
ed, and I had set up my brass plate
here In Birmingham, and had built up
a prosperous and remunerative prac
tlce. One lovely summer afternoon
received a telgraphlc call to an accl
dent case at Dudley. The carriage came
and I started. But we had not passed
through Handsworth when It became
evident that one of the horses was dead
lame. I accordingly dismissed the car
riage and decided to complete the Jour
ney by cab. This was done, and It was
nearly nine o'clock when, after partak
Ing of some food, I left my patient's
house.
"There Is always a scarcity of cabs
In the outlying parks of the Black
country, and I had perforce to make
my return by train. At Handsworth
I changed onto a cable tram, and
mounted to the top of the vehicle to
enjoy a cigar In the pleasant night air.
"My nearest neighbor on the tram
was a tall, thin man, close-shaven and
with Bhort Iron-grey hair, and appar
ently fifty years of age, though he
might be younger. He had mounted
the vehicle at Its first stopping place,
bearing In his arms a little girl a wee
winsome maiden of four or five sum
mers, with long silken blonde hair and
lovely violet eyes. Surely I had seen
those eyes before! I could not see the
man's face; It was too dark a night
'Suddenly, from some failure of the
brake, our car collided roughly with
the preceding one, and was thrown
off the lines. The child was Jerked vio
lently from her father's knee onto the
back of the so-called garden seat In
front of us. and her face waa badly cut,
the blood streaming down.
'I had never seen such horror and
dismay as blazed forth In an Instant;
the silent, self-contained man snatched
up his child's senseless form, sprang to
his feet and almost screamed: 'My
child Is hurt! Run for a doctor; don't
lose a moment.' I put my hand on his
shoulder, and said quietly, 'I am a
medical man,' and as I saw those
steely gray eyes, I added, 'Captain
Rupert Kerr.'
'He turned angrily upon me, and I
thought he was about to strike me.
Then he remembered his little one, and
said: 'Dr. Dawson. I did you a great
wrong once. But be merciful and
save her child
"The child was carried downstairs
and Into a shop close by, I took out
my Instrument case, lint, etc., and
washed, stitched and bandaged the
wound In the baby's' forehead. Then
I asked, 'Where do you live? I wtu
see her safely to bed.' 'Thank you,''
waa the sullen response, "my address
la my own business:' and be carried
kla child out. got into a cab with her,
and said 'Birmingham' to the driver.
There waa no means of stopping" him.
but I had presence of mind enough to
Jot down that drivel's number on' my
shirt cuff.
"The neat day I employed' secret
Inquiry agent to find Rupert Kerr. He
had driven to New street, taken a
fresh cab, and doubled back to Hands
worth, where he directed the cabman
to take him to 17 Roman road. The
second cabby had been found through
the help of the police at New street
station.
"I now did what should have been
done before. While the first agent
waa Instructed to find out Kerr's pres
ent manner of life, a second detective
waa aent to Clendennln to Inquire Into
hla earlier proceedings.
"Kerr waa, aa I had always known,
an Inveterate gambler. It waa ascer
tained that he had brought to England
with him the greater portion of his
Drat wife's property, and had almost
dissipated this, when poor Laura's
death put him In possession of ber
fathers savings for poor Colonel White
died soon after his daughter'a
elopement, and bad bequeathed his po.
aeaalon to her. Moreover, both wives
had been heavily Insured. From the
Other detective I learnt that he fol
lowed no occupation, but frequented
betting clubs and hotel bars and seemed
to be rather deeply Involved, More
over, it waa popularly believed that he
would soon marry a lady of supposed
wealth, whose acquaintance be had
made at a local garden party. Fagg,
the Inquiry agent, had also ascertained
that his daughter Laura had recently
been insured for 500 pounds. Bhe had
hitherto enjoyed absolutely .good health
but since the assurance had been com
pleted she had suffered from cataleptic
fits.
"When this last development of tht
situation reached me. my smouldering
suspicions of the man blazed into Ram
at once. Remembering that Perclval
who had been staioned with the caralrj
brigade at the cantonment, was tken
In command at Lichfield, I wired bur
to come over at once 'on a matter of
life and death' as I really feared l
was.
"General Perclval arrived that right
and we sat up till dawn discussing th
state of affairs. He had remained j
India some years later than I had and
was able to give me a clew. It secrm
that previous to his marriage with th
half-caste woman who was his flnr
wife, Kerr had been on terms of friend
ship with several Brahmin magnate?
""His most usual associate was a ma
named Saga Nunl and this same fel
low had afterward been convicted r
poisoning his brother and had bee
hanged for the crime.
"We at last resolved to seek the fti"
vice and assistance of the local pallet
that little Laura's life might, at leas'
be preserved. A consultation with th
chief constable followed, and the doc
tor who attended little Laura arrange ,
to telephone the news of her next "at
tack. His summons came within I
week, and Kerr, alias Wren, was af
rested at his daughter's bedside. B
made a most frantic resistance, cryijv
out that he, and he alone, could rt;
store the child to consciousness, bui
was at last removed to the station an-'
searched. A hypodermic syringe. RWex.
with a dark, blood-colored fluid, t."
unknown properties, and a curloiisK
pungent odor, waa found upon him ani
a similar syringe was found In the roon?
where little Laura's apparently dea
body lay. This contained a sort of vtp
cid green matter, quite unknown tr
European medicine, and smelling Ilk
rotten bananas. Two peculiarly shap ;
ed vials, marked 'one' and 'two' In
Sanscrit characters, and containing de-'
coctlons that corresponded to the two.
syringes, were found In Kerr's bed
room, concealed In an old hat case.
"Laura remained unconscious, an'
at last even my hop-s of her recovery
faded away, and the corpse of the lit
tle one wag laid out to await a post
mortem examination.
"Swanston, the local practitioner, no
ticed that there were seven puncture?
made by the syringe on her left arm
and six on her right. On this slendpr
basis, and on Kerr's excited declaration
that he could save her, Swanston built
up a curious theory. It was that, a th
Insurance had not been In fores ri
months, foul, therpfrti-o hn1 not ' mo k
, -, v ......
iurea, ine man naa no present inten- t
tlon of slaying his daughter, butlwao
only preparing the way, and he poiited
out that this was her seventh atck
He, therefore, argued that an Injection
of the blood-colored fluid would restore
her to life and health.
"Accordingly, Swanston and I, ac
companied by the police doctor and thf
Inspector, returned to the chamber of
death. The Injection was made. Fo:
moment there was absolute qules
cence, then, by little an.J little, th.
Igns of returning animation were per
ceived. Gradually life and warmth of
color returned to the wan and pallid
corpse; faint pulsation became appar
ent; the eyelids quivered, and a deei
igh told us that for once the angel of
eath had yielded up his prey.
'As the police could not prove that
Kerr had caused the catalepsy the
prosecution broke down and he was
discharged. He was Immediately re-,
arrested, charged with murdering his
second wife, and remanded.
An order from the home secretary
having been obtained, Mrs. Kerr's body
waa exhumed. A most awful spec
tacle was revealed; the unhappy girl
he waa only In her 21st year had
been burled alive! or, rather, the influ
ence of thla horrible Invention, this
fiend-wrought catalepsy, had been ex
hausted after burial, and no, I can't
dwell upon any more of It.
"Kerr slew htmeetf in prison while
awaiting ma truu. how be procured
the drug I knew not, but he took ar
senic and saved the country the hang
man' espeasea He left a sort of con
feaaton,. sorwwled on the fly leaves of
thr bible In hla- cell. He averred thai
he Intended to take little Lauraa sup
posed body to Cheltenham to busied aa
soon1 aa the Insurance- came' In- force
and he would- have resuscitated1 her
on the' way.- Tre I- believe, for' his
love for the little maid marked the one
soft' spot In' the demon's heart:
"Laura came to my house and' has
been brought up aa my daughter. The
brain fever that followed that awful
trance a wept a way. all memory of het
real father, and I never Intend her to
be enlightened about him.
"Now, George," concluded the 'doc
tor, "that you know the stock that
Laura Kerr has sprung from, do you
still desire to make her your wife?"
George Abbot roee. "1 say what )
said before, doctor. A parent's crimes
cannot possibly affect a girl's charac
ter. I love Laura; Laura lovea me
and I would make her my wife If her
father had committed every crime In
the Newgate calendar."
The doctor opened the atudy door
and called "Laura!" In a moment or
two a young lady In evening dress,
and looking bewllderlngly pretty In her
confusion, tripped Into the room. She
had been awaiting the result of Georges
Interview with papa In considerable
trepidation of mind.
"George has something to tell you,"
said the doctor, escaping Into the hall
and shutting them In.
What George said may be surmised
from the fact that an unusually
"smart" wedding took place from the
Doctor's house some six months later,
Tit-Bits.
SHORT STORIES.
MILLIE'S BOY.
Marthy had heard the gossip. There
to always some one to repeat un
pleasant news. And the faded cheek
of the little sewing woman flushed a
dull red at the tidings that she was
being talked about in the village where
she had grown up.
"D'ye mean folks are talking about
me on account of my friendliness for
Joe Wllber?" she asked. "If they are,
you tell 'em to go right ahead an' talk.
Tell 'em that for me."
Her rough little hands trembled over
the dress lengths in her lap and Miss
Perkins saw her eyes flash with a new
dignity as she continued: "It's a pity
If a woman of my age can't be trusted
to conduct herself in a proper man
ner." "That's so, Marthy, an', of course,
everybody has got respect for you. But
this strange young feller, that don't ap
pear to be more'n a boy, comln' along
an' keepln' company with you does look
cur us, an' no mistake."
"Keepln' company with me!" Marthy
repeated the words and then laughed.
A ringing laugh of other days.
JfWh'y, Mary Ann Perkins! I'm old
enough to be his mother. I should have
been his mother. Don't you know who
be la?"
Miss Perkins lifted a head full of as
tonishment to reply:
"He ain't John Wilber-s "
"That's who It is, Mary Ann. I never
blamed John for going away from me
like the neighbors blamed him. It
would have been worse if he hadn't
when he found out that that he didn't
care as much for me as he thought he
did before Millie came home from
school. It would have been wicked If
be married me then.
"I used to think sometimes that they
would write to me. But they never did.
Likely they thought I'd be mad. But I
never was, and I never heard a word
about how they were getting along.
didn't know whether they were dead
or living, until one day last spring I
looked up to see Joe standing in that
very door. He was pale and sick look
lng, and he asked me for a drink of
water. I almost fainted, for he seemed
the living Image of John as he was
when he went away.
"I asked him his name and he told
me. Told me how his folks had died
when he was a little chap, and how he
had been drifting around without a
borne or friends. He didn't know me,
but the Lord remembered me, I guess.
Anyway, I said a prayer of thankful
ness to Him for sending the boy that
(Should have been mine to be. It
teemed Just what I'd been waiting for
all the time. I made him stay, and he
la good and loving as my own son could
be.
"And now that he has got steady
i work In the factory, he aays I must
,-lve up sewing and he will take care
- me. - Bo, you canetell Miss Johnson
' mii' t 'want to make her dress. Meh-
rt
I am foolish, and perhaps folks
have a right to laugh at me for a silly
old maid. But you can tell 'em that
Joe Wllber la my nephew more than
that, he Is the son of the man I loved
when I was a young girl, and love yet,
now that I am an old woman, and shall
love when I meet him In eternity, and
tell him that I have tried to be a
mother to his and Millie's boy." Chi
cago Journal.
AN OLD PHOTOGRAPH
The train left us at a bare little sta
tion, far beyond the town we were go
ing to, and we went back grumbling
on our tracks, a dusty, unshady mile,
to our boarding house. And then we
discovered It to be one we had picked
out for our choicest disregard as the
train passed by. But we were- sorry
only until the door opened. The hall
was large and cool and sweet, like Mrs,
Putney herself, who h-ild our hands and
brooded over us with sincere and copl
ous pity for our dustry plight
"My daughter, Alice," she said, pre.
aentlng a pretty girl who came for
ward to take ua to our room.
"My wife, Alice, will be charmed
with a name chum," Roger said merri
ly, and we were all at home together
at once, though we had known one
another no more than six minutes by
the clock.
. X should have been a cynic. Indeed,
to expect trouble of any kind to ap
pear, and for three whole days bliss
feigned. I did think at times that Alice
earned a trifle and or preoccupied. Bhe
amlled half-heartedly at Roger's Jolly
lag, and went about silently for the
Mat part, keeping much by herself. She
aid even lea attention to Roger than
say exacting pride required.
Aa I amid, I was not a cynic, and,
therefore, not prepared for woe, when
one day I saw among some treasures
Alloe was showing me In her room a
faded' old photograph of Roger In hla
schoolboy days. There was no chance
Of mistake. The "R. to A." at the bot
tom Of" the card I could have known
K by that alone. I almoat caught it
Out of her hands, I was so glad to see
H, f or I had lout It In our betrothal
days and never ceased to grieve about
It
But the picture was In Alice's hand
and ahe was looking earnestly and
sadly and wistfully at It. I turned away
with my heart full. I did not doubt
Alloe, and did not distrust Roger. I
went over every possible circumstance
and bask helplessly to the one simple
fact Alice had and evidently held aa
treasured possession a picture of
Roger, and yet appeared not to know
him when we met her.
All In the dim dawn one morning
Alice came out to help the milkman
pull the milk out of the well, and, aa
they moved about, I thought I noticed
something familiar about the man.
I couldn't hear what they said, and
was glad, because aa it waa I didn't
have to move, although they were evl
dently talking Intimately. But I did
hear a "Good-by Rufus." Rufus? Why,
of course. A bucolic sweetheart of my
own from the next town, where I had
spent some summer vacations with my
mother. Poor old Rufus! And I had
forgotten the dear good soul entirely!
My thoughts ran back to those days
and then and there I remembered that
It was at that house I had first missed
the picture of Roger.
I put two and two together in a mo
ment, and I was in Alice's room before
breakfast asking as easily as I could,
"Who's that pretty boy you showed me
the other day, Alice, in the military
Jacket?"
Alice looked up the picture aaln and
announced with true embarrassment
and great feeling: "It's a photograph,
that's all. I don't know who It Is.
Rufus gave It to me because It looked
like his brother I he cared for me,
and he was lost at sea and Rufus i,
and he likes me toa
Alice must have been surprised for
I kissed her In the middle of the little
story she was telling, and then I
rushed to find Roger, and cried into
his collar and said: "It's al right,
Roger, darling; she didn't even know
you, and you didn't, and I didn't and
he didn't Oh, R. to A. I'm so happy,
and I don't care one bit any more for
ever." Which Incoherent Btory I elab
orated to the dear boy's satisfaction
later. Boston Post.
HER FLIRTATION.
"And Is that all the news?" saucily
demanded Rupertlne Cllffgate. "Wid
ow Prickett married again and Alice
Brown gone to Colorado and young
Morris built a new house. That Isn't
much to happen In eight weeks. Dear,
dear, how stupid the country Is, after
New York.
"That's all," said Daisy, solemnly,
"Except,, Oh! I had almost forgotten to
mention him the new minister."
"A new minister?" echoed Rupertlne.
"Oh, I remember old Mr. Ward did
resign, Just before I went away. And
there's a new minister, eh? What sort
of a man Is he? Does he wear specta
cles and quote the Proverbs of Solomon
through his nose?J
"Oh, no!" said Daisy, half Indignant
ly. "Why, he's only twenty-five, and
has the finest dark eyes and"
"Unmarried?" Interrupted Rupertlne,
breathlessly.
"So they say and perfectly devoted
to his books and studies."
"Is he?" retorted Miss Rupertlne.
"Well, then, after all, I shall not be
obliged to let my sword of conquest
rust In Its sheath. I'll teach this young
dominie that the 'proper study of man
kind Is man' or rather woman. We'll
go to church tomorrow, Daisy."
"Rupertlne!"
Well, what are you opening your
round blue eyes so wide for? I've got
a white Swiss muslin dress trimmed
with white ruffles and pink ribbon,
which I think will about settle Mr.
Mr. "
"Ardham," put In Daisy, demurely.
"And a very pretty name, too well
It will settle Mr. Ardham's business for
him. Oh, I tell you what, Daisy, these
young ministers are no more Invulnera
ble than the rest of the world, with
their long faces and their solemn
ways."
Rupertlne kept her word and went
to church the net day. Mr. Ardham
saw her; he could scarcely have helped
that, for Dr. Cllffgate's pew was In
the Very front of the middle aisle and
Rupertlne smiled secretly to herself to
observe the momentary Inattention
which caused him almost to lose his
place In the hymn-book, whose leaves
he was turning over.
"I'll teach him to put St. Rupertlne
'among the list Ot canonized beings
yet,' " said the coquette to herself.
Rupertlne walked up to the pason
age the next day with Daisy. Old Mrs.
Kershaw, who kept house for Mr. Ard
ham, stared as If a' butterfly had flown
Into a dungeon.''
"I didn't Know you was one of the
workers. Miss Tiny;" said she!
"Oh, well, Mrs. Kershaw," said the
beauty, "I'm tired of fashion and friv
olity, and I want to work Just aa
Daisy, here, doea" , .
And when Mr. Ardham came down
to the old Cllffgate house one autumn
evening Rupertlne went down to tea
him, with a curious thrill at her heart,
as though it hungered for something
afar off.
"Miss Rupertlne,'.' frankly Vgan the
young minister, "I have long waited
to tell you something."
"Tea?" Rupertlne leaned graciously
toward him.
"Of course, It la a matter of some
importance to me, but whether It will
be to you or not"
Can you doubt that, Mr. Ardham T"
ahe aaked, raeltlngly.
"Well, then; I am thinking of being
married I"
"Tou will tell me to whomr
"That was my Intention In coming
here tonight Mlaa Cllffgate, I fear you
will think me presumptuous."
"Try me and see!" she smiled. '1
have no such fears."
"It Is a relief to hear you say that I
have engaged myself to marry your
slater, Daisy I"
Rupertlne started to her feet, every
drop of the scarlet blood In her veins
seeming to tingle.
"Mr. Ardham alnce when?"
"Since before you returned from
New Tork, Mlaa Rupertlne, and I have
only Just succeeded In Inducing her to
allow me to tell you."
Daisy) The rogue; the darting little
hypocrite," cried Rupertlne, hardly
knowing whether to be angry or
pleased. But Daisy's srms around her
neck changed the burst of of words.
"Tou are not angry, deary
"Angry," ahe whispered. "No; bwt asj
thla time I have been trying to wta
him for myself, and you know It,
Daisy."
"Tea, I know It, Rupertlne. But a
heart that could have been won away
from me thus would scarcely have
been worth acceptance, so I let you
try"
"Mr. Ardham," cried Rupertlne, In
her natural voice once more, "you have
choaen well. Daisy is the very one to
be a minister's wife."
"I think so, too," said Mr. Ardham,
In a tone of quiet self-gratulatlon.
And so Miss Rupertlne Cllffgate's
summer flirtation was all love's labor
lost"
ALL 13 FAIR IN LOVE.
Ethel Woodyet, the Darling Down
squatter's daughter, was slightly co
quettish, as pretty and spirited girls
generally are before they discover
their masters.
This waa until she had reached her
seventeenth year. Then she began to
grow softer and more sympathetic to
those whom she had formerly sent
away in such deejctlon. Jack Lefoy,
her father's gentlemanly but reckless
manager, she spoke gently to Instead
of with her former scorn of careless
girlhood. She knew he worshipped the
ground she walked over, and would let
no one else groom, feed or saddle her
horse. She honored his respect aa she
pitied his hopeless affection, but while.
she said "Poor Jack!" admired hi
handsome figure and strong, noble face
she sighed that he did not come up to'
her ideal, as her first fancy.
But by and by her hero came
along. Hon. John Brand waa certainly
a noble-looking man. Dark, pale
cheeked, thoughtful, exceedingly well
groomed, he was exactly the kind of,
man, only an inch shorter than Jack
Lefoy, who was 6 feet 2 in his stock
ings. He had a handsome, well-filled
out figure, not yet too fat, white and
even teeth, with thin, straight nose.
and the most silky of black mustache?
and beards.
Hon. John Brand bore the reputation
of a mighty hunter. He had brought to
England trophies of his skill and prow
ess from India, Africa and the Rocky
mountains.
Hon. John Brand rode easily and
gracefully as he did everything, and as
Ethel watched him furtively, she felt
satisfied, safe and happy. She was
taking him to a stalagmltlc cave In the
ranges, which was one of the few
sights of the district
"We are almost at the gully where
the cave is, Mr. Brand, and fifteen
miles from civilization.
"They have not seemed five, Miss'
Ethel. Do you often come here?"
"No, nor would I now unless I was.
with a brave man. Because the natives
are Btill sometimes troublesome la'
these parts."
"Indeed!" stammered Hon. John, :
growing a shade paler, while his lower.
Hp trembled. "Is that why you told
me to bring my gun and revolver?"
"Yes," answered Ethel, noticing his
agitation, and hastening to reassure'
him. "But don't be at all uneasy about
me. I am perfectly safe with you."
At this moment the most savage
and startling yells rose from every lde
fo them, while a shower of spears sped
from unseen haflds and rattled against
the rocks behind.
"Merciful heaven," shrieked Hon".'
John fifand, as he dropped on his face,
and rolled instantly Into the cave, In
an apparent paroxysm of mortal agony;
leaving poor Ethel outside.
What Is that? Shots In the gully?,
Aye some one Is coming to the rescue
and shooting as he speeds near.
The gunpowder smoke drives Into
the cave and at last leaves her vision
clear to what is occurring outside.
Here comes poor Jack Lefoy, empty-,
ing his revolver to right and left, in
heroic style, with the reins In his glis
tening teeth and his blue eyes blazing.1
"Ah, safe, little girl?" cried Jack
loudly. 1'
"I am, but I fear Mr. Brand is.'
killed."
"Let's find out, the danger Is past,"'
said Jack Lefoy as he strikes a match?
on his riding pants and holds It up.
Hon. John Brand was discerned in'
the act of getting up. He had heard the
magical words, "The danger ia past,"
and recovered his senses quickly. He)
was likewise unwounded.
"Oh," cried Ethel In disgust "Take
me home, Jack Lefoy."
The neert day Hon. John Brand went
forth with hia valet to pastures newv
Three months after thla, Bthst
changed her name from Woodyett to
Lefoy. Her Jack the real Jack, waa;
able to satisfy Squatter Woodyett aa
to hla future prospects, his father be
ing the earl of May blossom and him
self the eldest son.
He never told his wife, however,
even when ahe became Countess Mar-
bloaaom, and would thua have forgiv.
en her lord any trick for love a sweet
sake, that he had been at school with
Hon. John Brand, and, therefore, knew
his peculiarities. Nor did he tell her
that the natlvea were a friendly tribe
whom he had bribed to act this little
drama, so that he might win hla love.'
Buffalo NewB.
THE POLITE WAT.
"Tee, Algernon, I will be your wlfer
aha said almply.
The heart of the bronted soldier biat'
high with Joy.
"Then you have not forgotten me?"
he exclaimed.
"I may have forgotten you, but t
hope I haven't forgotten my manners r
ahe replied, with something of haa-
teur.
Of course, it la always tha
thing to comply with requests.