V
HBN WB GROW OLD.
Wkea wt grow old, dear lore, and
from my y.
TJe light and brilliance of my hot
youth die..
And all tho fairness you are praising
now
Casta but Ito wraith o'er Up and cheek
and brow.
While one by one your golden visions
I aak you will you love me faithfully
When we grow old?
When time shall turn theae aunny
locks to gray.
From my trim form all beauty take
away.
When grace and ease and elegance are
gone
And naught la left Love's fires to feed
upon,
Ton, whom I chose my king among
ail men.
Still your heart's queen, shall I be
reigning then
When we grow cidT
3od keep you ever happy by my side!
Though age may stem this fevered
passion tide,
When worn and weary down life's
vale we stray,
Be my heart's anchor aa you are to
day; Be my true love that shall the closer
cling
Through all the changes coming years
may bring;
Our faith upheld count this our last
ing gain
That we so live that Love undimmed
remain
When we grow old!
LOVE'S FANCY.
There's Hester walking beside Ma
jor Amott's chair again 1 Really, Per
cy, she's awfully good natured!"
Percy Be vis dropped his eyes to the
lower terraces, took off his hat to the
woman, nodded to the man, then turn
ad and smiled in Mrs. Vincent's face.
"Heater's a dear girl, aunt; I'm very
fond of her; but she has a mania for
the Diseased which is almost unwhole
some." His aunt laughed.
"That cripple fellow, now, he'd be
bound to appeal to her. Her heart la
regular 'Hospital for Incurables.'
"Well, come, now, It's a sad case"
Mrs. incent spoke indulgently. "Par
alysis at thirty-seven; such a bright
career) Ha did gieat things In India,
I'm told."
"He was an able officer, certainly.
But there" lightly "malaria's the
deuce! You never know what after
math of disease It may leave behind It."
It was at Eastbourne. The band was
playing. They talked or listened in
turn, pacing up and down.
Said Mrs. Vincent, presently, with a
downward nod, which, gentle though
It was, set the blrd-of-paradise plumes
In her bonnet waving bravely:
"When Is It to be, Percy? Have you
spoken to her yet? 'Oh, come, now"
her nephew feigning Innocence
"there's been some sort of understand
ing between you for the last eight
years, isn't It time you came to some
thing definite?"
"To be definite,"
safd Mr. Bevls, In
his airy, complacent way, -is 10 peioictuiinutuvw "
dull. It Is the incomprehensible that ed her over, a doubtful expression on
attracts attention and holds it. As a the strong, attractive face. "That s
. .... v.. i.. ih.nl kr vou I sha lose my money, but 1
L, i L ui It MB t 1 11 " ' - 1 ' VI " " ' ' , ....... .
laughed-"I don't mind confessing that j
only Hester's Inaccessibility has kept
me faithful all these years."
' faiimuir rs. vinccun uppci iv .
I iu..i t h wnrrt
"Well? It's a good, old-fashioned vlr- ,
tue."
"My dear boy! Do you suppose I
haven't heard ot your numerous flirta
tions? with the pretty widow In Cey
lon; that horrid Barker girt at Gib
raltar; then with the woman with the
red hair and equally ruddy reputation;;
"Rh sh "her neohew softly chid- would never do at my time of life. No
Ing beMndlscretlon m Uius discussing 1 1 must have a becoming r background
him struggled feebly, with the smug I for my middle-aged freaks; soft . moon
mile of complacence A lady passed light, rippling water, stars-lf they are
3m Her0kn? whltperlng, "Fine I ocurable-llghts In the dl.nce and
" ' .. I ships on the horizon. Im rather line
MVincent turned her head. "She the elderly fairies In the .back row of
ought to be," dryly. "I know her well the ballet, Major A.11-9 "Xb'?
Slight. Gets her figure and her gowns j as the best of 'em, and 'look all right
fmm mv own tal or. Well, tnere s
truth in what you say. Men are drawn
to the mysterious, aa Inevitably as a
child's eyea are attracted by a farthing
rushlight!"
Mrs. Vlncent'e worldly little laugh
rang out. ,,
, 1 1 v. - .inH.a it mir vnutn mis-
lead us! The sex of the Bluebeards ,
should hare been reversed; Jt is ne
who would have gone picking the lock
. . , w..i Km Ho - I
or . mm wuea .
Vmm. some. now. aunt; one, Mt,
,,unrfn iiown other traditions."
' - - . . . . ,
"Eve! Eve is out of date, hopelessly
old-fashioned, like our gnu-dmothers.
Wf maw"" kPreAndneaknee.!l I
L..'. I.. hii.inn' to nurse. Besides. I
over to her husband to nurse. Besides, l
r :
for her vocation, Time has not been
tending still with either." I
"Good gracious, aunt!"-hla tone -
pressed anxlety-"do I look decrepit?
I have all my teeth left. I assure you' ;
InVea S;th-E.
.UhCfor'af ;
world to do."
wk. her aae." aald Mr.
TUvIa presently. "It's certainly through
,SH?s,"!ris
""After a twelve-hours' frost exact-
t Don't trust to appearances; the ice
toVery thin."
Mrs. Vincent glanced about. Her ne-
.. mrmm irm iu Interested.
.W;V7brdTtVr;cUm..In
lte another tone, "There's a delight.
l aort of enjoyment skating over the
,
quite
ful
rlakv places.
"You'll go through.'
"A cold bath Is always Invigorating.
Uum!" Bhe shot a shrewd glance at
the obstinate face beside her. Take
care you don't And eddies and under
currents you little dream of. Sh!
kU niavina- Chonln. Hester not
mt"and II. ten." .;
On the lower parade Ml.. Wol.ten-,
croft waa walking, her hand on the ;
irm of the paralytic's chair. m
1 could do It In half the time," she
. . . m A a nhiir l vhi ill
was assuring him with insistence. i
The answer came In a dry tone; "You
noasure with a woman's eye. Ml.. Wol-,
etencroft, and they are all afflicted With
a geometrical squint."
wryvM
m... tv.in.'a imnosalhl. I tell you.
The thing"" '"P0"' 1 I:H
The pier Is twice the length you esti
mate. I couldn't run It myself tn tin-
. . ... .
..r h. in Vsort ol T helpless fu-(
rr then gave the order to "turn" In
nr. men gave
( the man obeyed. Mlea Woletencroft
round to the windward aide of
s
the chair, rinding a euahlon displaced
by the restless, Impatlcat head, aha
patted and smoothed It, apparently ob
livious to any awkwardness la tha air
arising from his slip.
"It Is really marked, the way In which
we thin women are slighted. Major
Arnott," she went on brightly. "Just
aa If ieah meant strength It doesn't
It buries It! Now. I am very strong. 1
have a pasty face. I know; but that
arisen from a nasty, carping disposi
tion. I'm slight because I gristle. There
excuse the slang but I could run
the length of that pier In thirty sec
onds, and, at my time of life, I consider
that a very fair record."
She smiled down on him her "kind,
cci Ing smile." as Bevla called it. Its
effect on Arnott, looking up, waa rath
er the reverse.
"Strength, speed! What's the use of
'em, pray?" he growled out, savagely.
"Pride of strength is about as foolish
as envying the flight of a butterfly. A
rough hand makes a dab at it, and the
airy flutterlngs are stopped, the pretty
gay wings reduced to a pulpy film,
sticking to the hand of a schoolboy."
He laughed, then brought his fist
down suddenly on the arm of his in
valid chair.
"Look at me. Miss Wolstencroft. I
was strong a year ago. ... I could
run and leap and dance with the best.
. . . And now, what am I? A poor
shell of a man, lying here like-the hulk
of a disused ship pulled high and dry
upon the sands. . . No more work
for me, no more ambition, no more fun.
Onlya wreck for the rats to play in,
for the birds to come and build among
the rotten planks. God! when I think
of it! I who only a year ago was a
man to lie helpless for the rest of my
days most likely, a useless lump, a
hopeless Incumbrance, gibbering pres
ently, perhaps, over past strength and
bygone valors. . . . I'm not a bad
chap, Miss Wolstencroft. I've had my
flleaS, It's true, taken my fun when It
came along, bought my experience, like
the rest, but I've never done a mean or
dirty action in my life; yet here I
am. In the prime of life and strength,
cut off. disabled "
The sea waa sparkling in the sun
shine. Miss Wolstencroft blinked her
eyes, aa if the strong light hurt them,
before turning them on him.
With an inarticulate murmur poor
man! It sounded like a curse he turn
ed his head aside.
"I am looking at you. Major Arnott,"
he said brightly.
"Then don't," he groaned, "for it
can't be a pleasurable sight."
"I am looking." she went on.
it ne
naa noi .pui... . . -
llttt nn nra alriA 1 ind trvlnflT to meaB-
uxe your shoulders with my lncompe
tent womai's eye. They obscure the;
view," plaintively; "I wish you'd turn ,
them round." I
The broad back waa motionless, how-
ever. I
I II stake my purse to a penny post-1
. -. " -V. . AnMtnl,Al4 fHflfilllV I
"they're twenty-two across if they're
an inch. Plenty of room for the birds
to nest In, eh, Major Arnott?" I
He turned; a deep sigh strangled in
a laugh. I
"Don't try to flatter ma Into tran- j
aullltv and nice behavior. Miss Wol-,
stencroft; I'm not to be cajoled.
T HI, Vu homor palpably
, ' palpably
lignteneu.
' Andso." he went on presently you
- -
shall have bought you a esson In hu
mility. .Now. when sha 1 it be, en?
She accepted the challenge promptly,
i "Tonight, by moonllfht, when the pier
Is deserted, as tor your raraicj, jv
snau see.
The smile of victory was on her Hps.
The words came trippingly. Major Ar
nott demurred In favor of the present.
"I feel 'fey' she told him; "but I'm
not going to make an exhibition of my-
sell in oroaa uaj iik'"-, "'. -""
Frisking along the pier, kicking up my
r . V t o. r . v.- ,i,u,(io 1
Iieeis lor me ueneui ui i ,
At Tllhf '
You re the youngest woman vi my
. . i. nk,f,i i, . '
terdlng her wK.tn sooer a-v,., ......
under pent-house brows,
"I'm fairly hale and active,
was the
reply.
"Vnn'r vounrer in thought and
mind" continuing "than
many
When one
wara ran. ui K":""'.
first meets you you ,e
vn while It interpfta
you're reserve cn.ns
uut apy py
.- " , " : B , indifference, prlue ..
one i.;o - - --- ... .
. nfn h n put nv leai. iim
nature unioiatng ieai iy "",""""
. ,,. ml- a
sunflower " va"hin sud-
the sun " fa.h J0W"eedk0rwf'"uB he
youger Tou become I coufd almost ;
swear that I could count the yea' 8
swear that I cou.a coun. e " .
iransu: UMtSc.
lac
I am curiuuB.y -
I ejP- Um.A t0 swaddling
"SiAmy
clothes, and wave you a ta ta J
bib In one h.fJ"A .olZkn.
in the other ; Ma ,.r A , rnoit
aThlm
, oire ........... - , . .n.
one iuiiicu " -
- a look that enaea m a mug.. m
sides. ,,, .,
ssrifi5.-'
"Ye; you," mimicking her tone.
Then, voice snd face softening, your
heart Is so tender, so full of woman y
gympathy; and whe none tries to ex-
PpY the" back of some wl.d elfish
fnnt.y. and go clattering -d
round our heels till we take to them
t lust, dropping our gratitude In tne
press a pari oi one
a tn vmi in ride over. ... I
sometimes feel." he added, when she
failed to answer him, "that It would
be a pleasant and Invigorating thing
. a heaat ot the same Kfiiur
and go riding with you. Cloudland
must be a pleassnt place If you ex-
mount "one of the broomstick, of my
youth, and go flying through the air
hln Mrch of Tomfoolery La nd
"Is there room for me? A o
Volce It was. but with a queer little
ni.. ir in cnmiinnii . . v.,
thrill in it, ini P"'"'" .1
M( take me up In front of you. My beast i
(g hard1 to hold In sometimes. You looK .
l0 safe. I'd like to try your oroom. i
"Would you comer wmm.i.
haven't ridedn It for years.
"I shouldn't be afraid of mounting
li...t.
"I might fly higher than yo bar-
gained for" his sombre eyes were kin-
Sn...n4 whan vou saw us rlslna
higher and higher above the housetop, j
you might cry and beg to
i be put down,
"AttA than vou'd droo me T '
"Nof The word ehot out, charged
with stubborn meaning; "U row once
acquaintance, ' e "'""'""1" ""',"; "111 attitude-a doaced squaring of the
mounted, I stool mi ywe aa ttgfel"
"I believe you would," laughing 4 tri
lls nervously. "You'd aalah your raca,
though you might drop at tha post."
."Will you enter on with met" Hla
eyea war on Are mow. "A raca with
phantoms and nothing at tha end of
It; a wooden broomstick to carry us,
and a helpless cripple astride It to steer
you to Tomfoolery Land?"
Hester, shaking with some strong
emotion, tried to answer lightly:
"Your broomstick is almost as un
controllable aa my horse. We mustn't
soar too high. Perhap's Earth's the saf
est place for us poor mortals, after
all."
"The safest, yes! but tha sweetest?"
Major Arnott's face waa flushed. "Hea
ter" In a whisper "dear one, don't
you see? I'e mounted the broom, and
am head and shoulders Into Cloudland
already. Don't turn away. ....
Hester. . . . Why"
Midway up to her eyes, where they
were creeping coertly, hand and hand
kercihef were arrested suddenly.
"You are crying! Crying! You! Stop
It, Hester! Stop it, I tell you, or I shall
forget this" his glance swept down the
nereless limbs outlined beneath the
rug "and remember only that I'm a
man who loves you."
The aged man trundling the bath
chair ambled along with bent back
and deaf ears apparently. It was half
past one. The "Front" was well-nigh
deserted. Above them, on the upper
terrace, a woman's high-pitched oice
was heard distinctly.
"No, she's still marching that tire
some cripple up and down. Call to her.
Percy. The girl's good nature will in
duce her to forego her lunch."
A complacent olce ivplled. "What's
lunch to Hester when there's a new
monstrosity to add to the collection?
Let's leae them, auntie. They're hap
pier as they are. He's half way through
his symptoms and Hester's morbid
mind Is reeling In the Unhealthy.
They moved away. The sentences
came dlsjolntedly.
"You're Jealous. Percy" In Mrs. Vin
cent's tones. Kind. . . . Kind, be
cause she pities the poor thing. That's
all."
Their olces died in the distance.
Down below, the man and woman who
were left turned their eyes from each
other's twitching faces. She motioned
to the chairman. He dropped the han
dles slowly, and seating himself on a
distant bench, gazed placidly out to sea.
Hester s eyea turned to Arnott a
Shame and suffering were looking out
of them, and aboe these things a stem,
dogged questioning. She answered it.
Und t u of tne waging
; ....
terrace she leaned down,
"It Isn't true" she whlSDered. her
face transfigured with the passion of I
pity she denied. "That s not the rea
son. It's Just because I love you love
you, dear." Then bending low, she kiss
ed him on the Hps.
And the bath-chair man sat blinking
m lne Bun'
Bevls had had his answer, and he
didn't like it. (They were back In town
now, Bevls and his aunt and Hester.)
So Percy's visits ceased, and his aunt
was very wroth.
Major Arnott and
his man were in-
' stalled In "furnished rooms." Bare
unlovely ag th(?y were the tlme Bhe
; ,nrit t horn tho rn trnrfr hnur fltoten
. . t t f trang.
formed that "first-floor front" Into
something like a paradise for two
pairs of eyes, at least. (Perhaps Pe
ters, assigned an attic with a sloping
roof, might, of the bumps upon his
head, tell quite a different tale; but
Peters' opinion waa not asked.)
It was this said Peters whom Hester,
encountering upon the stairs on even
ing, stopped to question.
"You've returned?" she said rather
needlessly, of corse.
He admitted so much, with caution.
When she would have questioned him
he rushed Into a description of the Pri
- it. Inmate and
; ;-;" ","' i ; nn thel' d-
tne inciaenia auenaani
. ri fh lnt spvpii davs.
Her face sharpened with anxiety.
What was the doctor's verdict, Pe
ters? I would rather know."
Peters avoided her eye and a direct
answer.
"My master's expecting you," was all
he said, and she passed on up stairs
with a sinking heart.
On the couch by the window Arnott
was lying, the Invalid chair wheeled ln-
lij u. tui uri uui ji aiKiti. u'jiiiviiiini,
a )nrtefina,l!e rebe,iion-
struck her at once, and the pathos of
it, the Incongruity between the man
and his fate, gripped her by the heurt
Her lirs stiffened a little. She moist
enfd ti.em, then went and knelt be
side him.
"Never mind," she said, unsteadily,
"It -it can't be helped."
But, as his arms went round her. she
turned her face to his breast, and the
Fnrtnows uu uik rouiiu iiikiii bukihu
n,, ,hm . RO thp.r tear.
were hidden, even from each other
"It Is quite hopeless, then?" she
;WP4 "hen the re was growing
' T mAV w.,k nn
crutches In a year or two, but I shall
v. , vun man nrnin."
ti- i 1,,1 r.ntlv nd hrriWe
God s will. Hester? That It s done for
ome wise purpose, and we must bow
t tne decrePS of Fftte? Your tongue's
not ready with these cut-and-dricd con-
T
shoulders and his cheek was laid on!
"Do you know what It means? The;
end of everything the 'Finis' to a book .
concluded In Its second chapter. . .
And we only write once with the pen'
dipped In our heart's blood; after that
we counterfeit the copy with flourishes
and red Ink. . . - Oh, Hester!
his voice was husky now "our dreams
our hopes and dreams. . . .
they're like a band of little children
drowning before our eyes, and we must
watch 'em sink because our hands are
tld."
e leaned his forehead on nis elenen-
fists, and sobs shonK his name
hen Hester, Kneeiing oesiue mm,
lirnke Into a bitter cry.
Ood Isn't Just! He Isn t Just!" she
a.,jurt
dear! You're too good. It's
we who are exaaciing . . , we ex
pect Him to stop the earth revolving,
because or a little neanacne.
Hester was crying. He stroked her
roughened hair.
"Dreamers, dreamers both. Two fan
tastic fools astride a broomstock. . .
A bump! and we're on earth sgaln,
with nothing but loneliness before us
all nur days."
And the shadows lengthened until
.ncircled those quiet flgurps, and
. , d ( embers flickered- :
nckerelj an(j died out and th. room ,
was left In darkness. j
Tn Hester, speaking passionately, ,
broke a long silence. '
..,.. .... .
drown? Murray, our hands are free
if we will help each other. Love Is so
!.... anil nr. an hard! Unless we take
our e'unehlne when It cornea we ahall ;
ehlver In cold and darkne.e all our
lives. Ah. I know!" She sprang to her
feet and began pacing up and down. J
- you're looking prudence at ma-pru.
wrtflgfcaMguftllai wl
ana sweetness et af Ufa. We're poor
you're stricken; I'm weakly; so we're
no right to lave; common sense cries
'I forbid it I' Well, I've only one an
swer We do lave. God put It In oui
heart Yoru doctor's verdict can't root
It out again. If you're helpless, the
mere need of me. You were lonely, at
God set me at your side, and I won')
leave It, Murray I swear I won't til
you stop loving me or drive me awaj
with blows." She was down on hei
knees agala, her arms thrown around
him.
"And no one could ever love you bet
ter, or take such care of you, as )
would. Peters, of course, is kind; hi
likes you, and so he tries to under
stand, but I know! I know everythini
you think and feel and suffer yes, anc
while I suffered with you, I would mak
you laugh "
"Hester! For God's sake''
"Because he only likes, and I love
you! that's the difference."
And then she broke down, and la)
sobbing in his arms. And Arnott kissed
her, without speaking, his wet cheek
laid on hers.
You've tortured me, Hester" the
quiet voice came presently out of the
shadows "but I've won the fight. 'Sh
dear heart, don't cry! What did yot
think of me? I was a man, Hester, be
fore I waa a cripple. I couldn't be lesi
than one, even to gain you."
The postman was going on his even
ing rounds. In his deep suffering and
great renunciation, Arnott yet found
his ears straining to catch the monoto
nous "rat-tat. He bent down and
stroked the stricken head.
"My poor girl! . . . Life may hav
held few prizes for you, but you'n
not reduced to drawing a hopelesi
blank tike me."
She lifted her face presently, and gol
upon her feet.
"I would rather have married you
helpless as you are "
Her voice broke. She walked over tc
the fireplace. In the glass their blank
eyes met.
"Hester."
Ehe noded dto the blurred reflection
"I wrote by today's mall reslgnlni
the post which has been kept open foi
me out yonder." His voice waa verj
gentle. "Deprived of It, my Income
would pay Peter's wages and keep mt
in tobacco. You are a delicate, refined
woman, with the Instinct to enjoy and
revel in the sunshine. . . Well, int
the sunshine you shall go, if I have tc
take you by the shoulders and drlvi
you from my side."
She made a final effort. "If you drive
me from you, you drive me, most like
ly Into the arras of another man."
"What's that?"
"Mr. Bevls is hopeful of wlnnins
what you don't care to keep."
"Hester!"
"What? Didn't you know it? Havi
you never understood?" She spoke
recklessly, excitedly, walking up and
down. "Why, it's been the one golden
prospect dangled before my eyea Te
escape my brilliant future, I practiced
for a nurse. My health broke down. )
j tried and failed again. And I wanted
I bu lime x wftBii i srieeuy, hllct uu. juai
. to earn my own living:, to keep my self-
respect. But I've tried, and failed, and
1 acknowIedge my defeat. oh x know
I in jiacc;: one imew iwca iici ucau
.. 1 ,. 1 1 1 L ' V. . I . V. .. n 1- 1
ana laughed, not mithiuuy. "wner.
Pprev han BAn-n hla wllH natm find 1l
growing doubtful about the crop, h
will come to me again and offer tc
'settle down.' " She paused. Her man-
ner changed. She turned dimmed eye
upon him. "Murray" passionately-
"In loving you I've found my woman'!
birthright. If you throw me back upon
myself, you cheat me show me God'!
best gift, bathe me In the glory of It,
t.,v, .v,. iii. m.... an,i the
4ese aa4
dons ivory
shut me out in the darkness and th!ls very poor, reminding me of my
cold. . . . Murray" his chin wai i promise. And this,' concluded General
Grant, 'was the sole reason I wanted
dear
The doro was pushed open by a gri
my hand.
"The lamp," said Lena, the slavey,
who stood upon the threshold.
It smelled of paraffin. So did hei
hands; she wiped them on her apron.
"Will the lady etay to supper?" wits
a bland and heavy smile.
There was a pause. Then "No," said
Arnott, speaking brusquely in his suf
f ei ing, "the lady's going. , . . Hes
ter, my dear, good-bye."
Hester picked up hat and gloves and
walked toward the door. There sh
stopped, fumbling with the hatpins.
The sympathetic maid went to hei
assistance.
"Let me find the 'eads, Miss. Yei
'ands is trernblin'."
"You'll let me come and see you
sometimes?" turning at the door.
"No."
"You will be lonely. I should be sc
glad to cornel"
"Better not."
"Then, surely, I may write to you 3
Letters might bring comfort."
"Cold comfort Hester. I should only
want more."
There was silence In the room, bro
ken only by Hester's sobs.
"God bless you, then," she muttered,
and, sobbing, stumbled out
"God bless you," repeated Arnott
but only the shadows heard.
Nine months later, Arnott, sitting
In his choir before the window, beard
the bells ring out from the church in
the neighboring square.
A knock. Peters entered. He carried
some deep-red roses. The the cere
mony must be over sir. They passed
some time ago.
it was out! Uneasiness seized him
I Ills master raised his eyes.
a pause, then, "Todays curry wai
atrocious, Peters. Give Lena another
.'lesson."
ljig voice, coldly courteous, sent Pe
iVT. through the door. "And, Peters,"
t rectt(;d him, "the curry Is the only
matter 1 need trouble you to supcrln
tcnc
Arnott, left alone, kepi his eyes upon
h(g bed. The minutes pas. ed, ticked
(,ff uy the hideous gilt clock upon the
mantelpiece. . . . Hand and eyei
went wandering. They settled on the
rotes
"The last," he muttered, sighing, and
ua tncm on his Knee
A sound of wheels disturbed the quiet
square. He ralpcd his head and Us
tened, then looked out.
A smart brougham this! White flow.
prse filled the carlrage lamps, were on
the coachman's breast and whip. But
,h! Incongruous circumstance, a coal
cart barred the way.
I The woman, leaning forward, glanced
upward at the house. Their eye. mel
In .tendy, earnest scrutiny.
A crimson rose went spinning thro'
the window. -It fell In the bride's white
lap. "Well thrown!" The man beside
her, smiling, complacent .applauded
hor,
wlth
k.u
gloved hands, and then the
brougham rolled away.
"Oh, God," he groaned, "be good to
me and put me out of It-soon!"
rjt God didn't anawer him Just then.
Only the shadows, lying in wait, leaped
,hMr corners, flndtn him alone
'snd. as they clustered over his bent
bead, an organ grinder In the street
below struck up a lively tun.. Twelve
month, later, more rose, came to the
houi. In the dreary square, but they
wer
wnuv rut inia un, ntner isiq
the
herself Inside the quiet hands.
Th4 Sketch.
SHORT STORIES.
A STORY OF GRANT..
Moat stories and reminiscences of
General Grant are of the military or
political ort. A little tale (and a pret
ty one) told by Assistant Attorney Gen
eral James N. Tyner, shows a new aide
f tha great general's character.
"The president waa passing through
the department of dead letters," said
Mr. Tyner, "and Jokingly commented
on the unattractive appearance of the
clerks, and quizzically Inquired if 1
could not raise the standard of female
beauty.
"Naturally I regarded the matter as
a Jest, and replied that I would be glad
to do so, and was open to suggestions.
" 'Why, employ one handsome wom
an, and perhaps she will leaven the
whole loaf,' be answered, and when I
assented he Inquired seriously:
" 'Would you give a pretty girl an
appointment If I sent her to you?'
" "Of course I would,' I replied, never
dreaming, however, that he waa in
earnest.
"But the next day a lovely young
girl came into my office with a note
from President Grant, simply asking
me to fulfill my promise, without re
ferring, however, to its character. I
questioned her closely and found her
as Innocent and unsophisticated as she
was pretty. She waa a southerner and
lived on a plantation all ber life, but
wanted a government position, and,
being backed by the president, I set
her at work in the dead letter office.
"While Grant was on his trip around
the world I spent a couple of months
with him in Paris, and one evening as
we sat talking of the past I asked him
it he remembered this young lady.
" 'Certainly I do, for I have good
cause to remember her.'
"I intimated that I waa satisfied
there must be a story back of his ap
pointment and he was In one of his
rare reminiscent moods he related the
following extraordinary experience:
" 'It waa Just before the battle of the
Wilderness that I mounted my horse
and went for a ride. I was full of anx
iety, and in my preoccupation went
outside of our lines and found to my
dismay that I was being chased.
" 'My horse was a good one and I
rode hard until I came to a little half
concealed cabin, where I dismounted
and said to the man who came to the
door:
" ' "Arc you a confederate or a union
man?"
I am a confederate," he an
swered proudly.
" ' "Well, sir, I am General Grant
Can you hide me for a little while, as I
am being pursued?"
" ' "How do you know that I won't
betray you?" he inquired curiously.
" ' "Because I can trust your face," I
replied, and without more ado he seized
my horse by the bridle and we went
Into a deep ravine back of his home,
where a moment later he left me, after
bidding me to keep perfectly still.
" 'It was a glorious moonlight night,
and I could see every object distinctly.
About 11 o'clock I heard the bushes
crackle, and for a moment my heart
leaped for fear as my host came cau
tlosly up behind me.
" ' "Have you betrayed me?" I In
quired sharply.
" ' "No, sir," he replied, almost harsh
ly; "the pursuing party has passed, the
I coast Is clear and you can return
to
your army.
" 'He put me on the right road, and
! as I Jumped Into the saddle I grasped
his hand and tried to thank him. 1
! told him that if I could Berve him or
j his to let me know.
" 'I never saw him again, but the day
you spoae to me nis aaunr wmi w
me with a letter from her father, who
to raise the standard of female beauty
lp the dead letter office."
UNDER FIRE.
Previous to the assault on Manila,
the Astor batetry was stationed behind
an old ruined convent, which was sub
sequently used as an emergency hos
pital. At 8:05 o'clock General MacAr
thur arrived at this convent, having
traversed a narrow mud road for a dis
tance of half a mile or more, while the
road was swept by the fire from the
Spanish infantry. In personally trans
mitting his orders to the battery com
mander. General MacArthur stood by
the roadside In earnest conversation,
apparently oblivious to the fact that
the bullets were flying all around him,
shipping the leaves from the trees and
breaking the bamboo stalks which lined
both sides of the road. The general's
face was calm and as tranquil in ex
pression as though he was passing the
time of day instead of ordering a bat
tery into action.
"Captain March, do you understand
those orders?" said the general.
"I do, sir."
"Well, go ahead; but you must not
lose your guns," was the parting order
of General MacArthur, as he turned
and mounted his little brown and white
pony and rode to the firing line a hun
dred yards ahead.
When the advance was made on the
right of the line the troops were com
pelled to pass burning Spanish block
house . 13, and the exploding ammuni
tion was filling the air with whistling
shells, which resembled greatly the
Dina-swlz of a Mauser. As the troops
approached the zone covered by the
flight of these whistling shells their
first Impression was that a force of
the enemy must have been concealed
bevond the blockhouse, and It Is an
actual fact that one company of In
fantry dropped Into the ditch beside
the road and fired two volleys into the
burning blockhouse. A- number of
stragglers at each side of the road were
hugging the bushes as closely as pos
sible, believing, no doubt, that they
were being fired upon by the Spanish
;nfantry. It was at this stage that Gen
eral MacArthur came up the road,
sitting perfectly upright on hid mud
besoattered pony and seemingly un
mindful of the shells which filled the j
air on all sides. Turning to me men
huddled by the roadside, he said,
"Come on, boys, they'll need you at the
front." and that was more than suffi
cient to start tne men pasi me oum-
Ing ruins. Through the mud the little ,
nonv floundered on. catching the head ,
of the column Just before reaching the
cnurcn ai r,i rtu.
When the Astor battery reached the
crossroads In front of El Paco church
two shots were fired from their 3-Inch
guns,
and then General MacArthur
rode out and sat on his horse In the
open roadway In front of the guns.
Three hundred feet ahead a breastwork
was thrown across the road, and on the
left side of the road a blockhouse was
warming with Infantry on the first
and second floors. Through the woods
on the right the sharpshooters In the
were pouring spiteful little
chunks of lead, which splashed the
mud al laround and went rlchochetlng
through the Jungle to the left and rear.
The American Infantry had marched
by the right and left flanks and were
safely ensconced behind the church and
tone wall, against which the Mausers
were tattooing with a diaagreeaDie
pang. During all this time oen. Mac-,
Arthur sat like a statue In the centre 1
tc the croes roads directing the move-
meat of the troops toward the rlghl
and left flank. Finally he moved to
ward the road leading westward In the
direction of the bay, and, aa he did so,
two more I-inch shells flew down the
road toward the fringe of flame which
marked the position of the Spanish
breastworka Again, riding In front of
the guns, in a voice as calm as though
ordering a change of movement at aa
exhibition, the general said:
"Cease firing. Captain; I am going to
storm these works!"
Turning and measuring the distance
with his eye from his position to the
line of trecbes ahead, be drew his
horse to the left of the road and in a
clear, firm tone said, "What officer will
lead a charge down this road?"
It was to these words, spoken without
a tremor, when the bullets fairly
flew by in clouds, that a response was
given by the Astor battery in a pistol
charge. When the general was ex
posed In the center of the crossroads
the men, forgetting discipline and their
own danger, were shouting at the gen
eral, "Look out; you'll be killed!" "Get
off the horse!" and similar solicitous
expressions, all of which made as little
impression upon the General as the
Spanish bullets which sung around
him like a thousand hornets and failed
the mark so bravely exposed to them.
There care be no doubt of his miracu
lous escape from seeming certain
death, as a hundred pair of eyes saw
him then and a number of times after
ward seated on the back of that brown
and white pony, facing almost certain
death, with an expression as calm and
collected as though it was only a
sham battle with lots of noise and no
danger An Astor Battery Man, In the
New York Sun.
MIGHT SMELL HIS BREATH.
"Jove, old man. I haven't seen you
for thre years. How are you, any
way?" asked Cllpperdown when h
ran across Featherbee in the lobby of
the Russell house the other day, says
the Detroit Free Press.
"I'm not the man I was when we
were at college," waa the reply, as the
hands clasped.
"Been sick?"
"Nope."
"Were you In the armyt"
"I should say not."
"Business reverses?"
"Not one."
"Well, what' the matter thenr
"Nothing much."
"Yes there Is. You look as though
some one had been telling you an old
story."
"Nothing of the kind."
"Oh, say, speaking of stories. I've
got a new one. Brown's mother-ln-Iaw
"
"Stop right there!" exclaimed Feath
erbee with a haunted look In hlseyes.
"Cllpperdown, there waa a time when
I looked upon mother-in-law Jokes as
canards, as delusions, as libels on a
worthy class of human beings, but I
don't any more."
"Why not."
"I've been married since I aaw you
last."
"So, that's wat'e the matter with
you. is it?"
"Uh huh!"
"Poor old chap! Come In and have
something."
"Can't do it."
"Why not?"
"She's visiting us now, and might
smell my breath. If she did she'd call
out the fire department and alienate
my wife's affections before night."
"It's awful, ain't it?"
"Awful."
And the hands were clasped again,
this time In sympathy.
POUND BY SAUL.
In 1864, says an exchange, a regi
ment of confederates from South Car
olina were marching north to Join Lee,
While In North Carolina they camped
one day on two opposite hills, between
which a road ran. It happened that
an old Methodist preacher, a strong
unionist, lived in that vicinity. Early
the next mornlg the preacher mounted
his mule and trotted down the road,
meaning to pass through the camp to
show his contempt for the "rebels." He
was a very old man, with a stern face
and long, white beard, which, taken
with his white hair, gave him an ap
pearance decidedly patriarchal.
"Hullo, fellows, here comes Father
Abraham!" called one soldier to a com
rade on the opposite hill, as the old
man rode between them.
"No, he isn't," shouted back the
other; "he's Father Jacob."
The old parson stopped and shook
the finger of scorn at the laughing sol
diers. "I am neither Father Abraham
nor Father Jacob!" he cried. A knot
of soldiers gathered about him.
"Well, who are you, then?" persisted
his tormentor. "It's no use for you to
deny you are out of the Old Testa
ment somewhere."
The old man rose In his stirrups and
waved his hand toward the camp In
comprehensive contempt.
"Yes, I am out of the Old Testa
ment, sure enough," he roared. "I'm
Saul, the son of Klsh, looking for his
father's asses, and I've found them."
A RECONDITE PROBLEM.
The lawyer was sitting before his
desk with one foot on the armrest A
bright appearing fellow entered the of
fice. 'What can I do for you?" asked the
lawyer, removing the rampant foot.
"I Just dropped In to get your idea
on a point of definition," began the
young man. "You see, it Is to settle a
bet."
"Yes," continued the lawyer; "go on."
"Well," continued the young man,
"when a fellow's wife leaves him, and
there is no divorce he Is a grass-widower,
isn't he?"
"Yes; that's what he ll generally
called."
"Well, tjien, here's the point," added
the youth .emphasizing his words by
tapping the palm of his left hand with
the flreflnger of his right.
"Dan Hopper's wife left him, and
4tiAtA was. win r1IVAta TVriAsm hot malr
hlm a (fragahopper?"
u aaa m in tin. tn mi nnm.
lng , contact wlth tne !nk wen.
WHY HE DECLINED.
The Man with the Freckles on his
Nose glanced carelessly over the morn-
Ing paper which the Man with the
Barbed Wire Beard had thoughtfully
subscribed for.
"Will you"
The landlady spoke his name with In
finite sweetness, for she fondly hoped
he would pay his board after supper.
"have some oyster stew?"
The man with the Freckles on hla
Nose tilted back his chair In defiance
of the laws of etiquette and gravita
tion. "No, thank you"
A far-away lok came Into his eyea.
"I'm not thirsty."
It Is a matter of conjecture whether
It was emotion or stage fright that
caused the Man witn tne lenow
Whiskers to meeae so violently thai
he upset the aalt cellar.