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7. r5rfb3v
(Old Favorite Series.)
By Nebo's lonely mountain.
On this Bids Jordan'! wave,
In a vale In the land of Moab
There liei a lonely grave;
But no man built that gepulcher,
And no man saw It e'er;
For the angels of God
Upturned the sod
And laid the dt-ad man there.
That waa the grandest funeral
That ever passed on earth;
Yet no man heard the trampling,
Or saw the train go forth;
Noiselessly as the daylight
Comes when the night Is done.
And the crimson btreak
On ocean's cheek
Grows Into the great sun.
Noiselessly as the syrlnsMme
Her crown of verdure weaves.
Unfold their thousand leaves;
And all the trees on all the hills
80, without sound of music.
Or voice of them that wept.
Silently down
From the mountain's crown
The great procession swept.
Perchance the bald old facia
On gray Bethpt-or's height.
Out of his rocky eyry
looked on the wondrous sight;
Perchance the lion stalking
Still shuns that hallowed spot;
For beast and bird
Have seen and heard
That which man knoweth not.
P.ut when the warrior dieth.
His comrades of the war.
With arms reversed and muffled drums.
Follow the funeral car;
They show the banners taken.
They tell his battles won,
And after him lead
His rrastorles steed,
V.'hile ideals the minute-gun.
Amid the noblest of the land
Men lay the ss?e to rest.
And pive the bard an honored place,
W ith costlv marbles drest.
In the great minister transept
Where ilehts like glorias fall.
And the sweet choir sings,
Anil the organ rings
Along the emblazoned bail.
This was the bravest warrior
That ever buckled sword;
This the most gifted poet
That ever breathed a word;
And never earth philosopher
Traced with his golden pen
On the deathless page
Truths half to sai;e
As he wrote down for men.
And had he not high honor?
The hillside for his pall!
To lie In state while angels wait.
With stars for tapers tall!
And the dark rock-pines, like tossing
plumes
Over his bier to wave.
And God's own nand.
In that lonely land.
To lay him in his grave!
In that deep grave, without a name,
Whence his uncofflned clay
Shall break again. O wondrous thought!
Before the judgment day.
And stand, with glory wrapped around.
On the hills he never trod.
And speak of the strife
That won our life
With the Incarnate Son of God.
O lonely tomb in Moab's land!
O dark Bethpeor's hill!
Speak to these curious hearts of ours.
And teach them to be still;
God hath his mysteries of grace.
Ways that we cannot tell;
He hides them deep.
Like the secret sleep
Of him he loved so welL
The Stairway.
BY LEIGH NORTH.
(Copyrleht, 1901, by Daily Story TMb. Co 1
"That picture holds a tragedy," said
my friend Benson, thoughtfully, and
bia eyes had the retrospective look
which tells that other scenes than the
present are before them. "Literally I
mean," he added.
I looked lncreduously at the faded
photograph In my hand. It was a
grand old stairway in some Venetian
or Genoese palace whose fine curving
lines and the sweep of Its magnificent
balustrade were a delight to the eye.
Two crouching lions in marble ktpt
watch at the foot.
I tried to brush away a little mist
or dust In the center.
"You can't do It," be said. "I owe
my life, or rather, my liberty to that"
"What's the story?" T asked.
Evidently it was rather a painful
memory, for be answered with some
reluctance.
"That picture holds a tragedy.'
There waa a murder committed
there wall I was taking the photo
graph."
"Iaioas1ble!" 1 exclaimed.
ft hi difficult to credit, I grant yon
tat tree aeverthlese."
Em drew mv Ma tall figure tad
mi at Mllor came over hla face. "I
an nw feraet It!"
"Let It CO. oU ft! lew!" I cried, aee-
fcj C LM ooa Him, tat I eoafeee
lT rtT ;"7 1W KrOBg MM ewiMa.
?. -rrJwOic5crt.
lltn V7tt Mat It
So we turned to the fire, relit our
cigars, and, picture in hand, he be
gan.
"It was many years ago, on my first
trip to Italy, and I had, with some
difficulty, obtained permission to look
at the inside of one of theoid Genoese
palaces, seldom visited, and to take
photograph of the stairway, wftlch
you see Is an exceedingly beautiful
one. I had a special fancy for archi
tectural 'bits' then.
On my way to the palace, passing
through the tortuous thoroughfares
with their quaint little box-shops, I
stopped here and there, as all new
comers will, to gaze in the windows at
the varied show.
It chanced that the street was that
called 'the Goldsmiths,' and each
tradesman Tied with the other in bis
display of trinkets in gold and silver
Cligree.
In the corner of one lay an object
which caught my eye. It was a stilet
to, evidently not a new one, in a case
of the finest workmanship. With no
very definite Intention of buying, I en
tered, pointed it out, and, in my brok
en vocabulary, demanded the price.
The figures were so enormous that I
shook my head and turned to leave.
The Italian, seeing that I was in earn
est, immediately lowered his terms.
and, finally, seizing me by the coat
persuaded me Into making the pur
chase, which I thrust into my pocket
and hurried on to my destination.
The quick walk seemed to beat my
blood to the boiling point, and after I
bad showed my permit to the custod
Ian and selected the point from which
I could get the best view, I threw my
light outer coat on an old carved seat
and hastened out again. Oct some
thing I must to assuage the torment
Ing thirst which had suddenly seized
upon me. Of the bad effects of water
In these region, I felt some fear, but
anything was better than my present
discomfort
"Returning, after a brief absence, 1
readjusted my camera and the corner
In which I had to stand being rather
dark, ft long exposure of the plate waa
necessary to secure the photograph. I
believed the house to be empty, save
for the custodian and one servant, and
I had an eerie, creepy feeling aa 1
stood at my work aa If ghosts were
around, and tome presentment of evil
haunted me.
"Suddenly, there was a helf-amotn
tred ebrlek and a young and pretty
It into ber body, seized her la hf
arms, rushed to the bottom of thi
steps and laid her on the floor, kneel
ing beside her. It all seemed the work
of an instant, and ere I could realiz
anything was over,
"Mechanically I closed the elide ol
my apparatus, uttered a loud cry and
ran forward. The thrust had been
deadly sure, and the girl had ceased j
to breathe. The horror of It cam '
over me so strongly that I bad a faint J
feeling and could hardly articulate
but my cry had attracted attention,
and in a few moments the hall waa
full of people, talking and gesticulat
ing violently, telling some story. Hs
was much excited, but seemed calm be
side the others aa bis soft, voluble
Italian flowed on.
"My knowledge of the language was
very slight, but the scowling faces
soon turned upon me made ms realize
that the wretch was laying the guilt
of the murder at my door. I was
young and Inexperienced, a stranger
In the place, and I even remembered
that the official from whom I had got
ten my permit was temporarily .absent
my sensations were far from pleas
ant, as the officers of the law arrived
on the scene and took us both Into
custody. To add to my misfortune I
was bound to admit that the stiletto
used exactly resembled the one I had
so recently purchased, as a curiosity,
which was now mles'.ng from the
pocket of the overcoat where I had
put It
"The other man when questioned
made a plausible story, saying that we
both were admirers of tho unfortu
nate girl, but pledging faith to me, for
the purpose of extorting money from
the rich foreigner, her affections were
really his. A connection of the cus
todian of the palace, she succeeded in
obtaining entrance and made an ap
pointment to meet him, he having
formerly been an employe. That I had
obtained knowledge of the proposed
interview, purchased a stiletto (the
shopman was produced, who swore to
having sold the dagger) and followed.
Further, that on some false pretext I
also had obtained admission, and, com
ing behind them as they were pass-
ng through the hall, had fatally In
jured my victim. Corroborated In oi e
or two points hy other witnesses, the
story seemed credible, the case looked
ill for me. and, repeated assurances
that I had never seen either of the
parties before were not understood or
credited. The purchase of the stiletto
I could not deny, and that seemed the
clearest circumstantial evidence.
A night spent In confinement did
not seem to raise my spirits, every
thing looked very black to me, and I
was almost in despair, when, sudden
ly, a ray of light broke in on my dark
ness, and for the first time since the
trouble began I bethought me of my
camera. II only it naa not oeen sioien
and I couid again secure it possibly It
might bear silent testimony in my
favor.
"By entreaties and bribes, I suc
ceeded in getting hold of someone who
spoke English nnd in interesting him
sufficiently to make diligent search for
my apparatus, which was secured and
brought to me. With trembling fingers
I went through the necessary pro
cesses of developing my picture, and
there, ghostly, but still visible, wai
the evidence I sought.
In the center of the stairway
through which it could be plainly seen
was a mere film of a group which the
sensitive plate had caught the girl
as she ran, the man behind her with
(ho uplifted stiletto In his hand un
mistakable, damnatory! It has faded
now and you are near-sighted, but it
was clear enough then to be recog
nized and to save me.
The girl had made an appointment
with her lover, whose Jealousy nan
been wildly, and It seemed not un
foundedly. excited by her acceptance
of the attentions of another man.
Coming to meet her, the first lover
had chanced to pass where my coat
was lying, and, finding the stiletto, had
possessed himself of it His intention
had nor. been to murder her. as was
evident from his not bringing his own
weapon, but talk with her had excited
Pictorial Rumor
He raised something In his band,
his passions, and with a dangeroui
instrument In band when angry he htt
used It with only too fatal effect
'The consul to whom I appealed ar.4
mr new Knglisn-speeaina mem
united their efforts in my behalf, ant
I waa soon released, very thankful U
be free once more. I have never gow
back to Genoa; the memory la toe
vivid and painful"
"And the other man!" I naked.
HIS MSWER.
3TAV ll'l
Merchant (catching the office-boy kissing the typewriter) See here,
young man. I don't pay you to kiss my typewriter.
Office Boy I know you don't, but I'm willing to do it for noining.
HIS VIKW or IT.
"In these old plays." fhe said, "the
characters are always saying 'Marry,
but Til do this' or "Marry, but I'll do
that' "
"What of it?" be asked.
"It seems such a funny word to use."
"Not at all," Jie aabwered. "You
see In the old days 'marry' was a
swear word," he added thoughtfully,
"I sometimes think that It still ought
to be."
Later he apologized. He had to do
it or eat In a rfB aurant. It is Mild
that the road to a man's heart lice
through his stomach, but the resource
ful woman knows that that Is not the
only goal that can be reached by that
route.
Change for the Iletter.
"Now that you have inherited half
a million you'll reform, of course," said
the good man.
"Well, I certainly shall never bo a
thief again," rrpllod tbo hardened
criminal.
"Ah! but the old habit! Do you
think your good fortune will change
that?
"Sure. It will make it kleptoman
ia." Philadelphia Press.
W1IK1CK HE SLEEPS.
It was a discouraging answer that
was made to the doting parents of a
country boy who hid gone to New
York under the patronage of a pros
perous grocer.
After be had bsen away for a fort
night the mother wro'.e to the boy's
employer, saying that her son was "no
hand to write letters," and she was
anxious to know how he was getting
on, "And do tell me where he sleeps
nights," she p!eaded earnestly at the
end of the letter.
To this the grocer made answer
within a few days:
"Your son sleeps in tho store in the
daytime. I don't know where he
sleeps nights."
Peculiar to the Climate.
"In the clear atmosphere of the
west," the immigration agent was say
ing, "the distances are remarkably de
ceptive." "But the atmosphere hasn't
an absolute monopoly in that line,"
replied the man in the dilapidated
bicycle suit ' "Whenever a western
Nebraska or Colorado farmer tells me
it's four miles to the next town I al
ways have to ride about fourteen to
get there." Chicago Tribune.
THEIR FIRST TAKDEM,
Mrs. Seed Just look how th(-m two people is a keepin' st?p.
Mr. Seed And law, how they do keep In step tew!
TP
Inexplicable,
"How do you like this weather?"
"I like It, but I can't understand It
"What is there about it you can't
understand?" "Well, I know of two
ramp-meetings, three or four country
fairs, half a dozen picnics, and an old
settlers' reunion." "What of that?"
"Then there's a yacht race and a golf
tournament." "Yes. What of that?"
"It doesn't rain!" Chicago Tribune.
Discovered,
"They had been married a year be
fore anybody knew it, and even tuna
their secret was discovered only by
accident." "Indeed?" "Yes, one
evening at a card party, they thought
leefily played partners, and the way
they quarreled let the whole thing
out" Detroit Free Press.
'Does bbe know that he has a past?"
"No; she Is only looking at the present."
Inexcusable.
'What Impressed you most during
your western visit?" they asked him
after be bad returned to Boston. "Tne
Ignorance of the people," promptly
and decidedly answered tne college
professor. "I bsw a man named
Chandler, 8-1 years old, who had never
teamed the meaning and derivation of
his name." Chicago Tribune.
Conditions (iraUiisIJr Improving,
Easterner (on bis vacation) "I be
lieve there is less of vice and crime
among the Indians out here than there
usd to be. Is there not?" Com
anche Pete "You're right, pard. Th
hain't ez many Injuns ez they used to
be." Chicago Tribune.
Thar don't bug or electrocute
girt ran lightly down the atalr, dose- Italy, you know, and I suppose he U
r. n-i k. - ... . mhrwt iM,k. eaasdna hla Ufa In solitary confine
eat fellow, with dark clustering locks, meat Ughl" he aald, puUlng hU
Che bmM have teased lavotaatartly. 1 mm over aw eyee; -
C. rMt eeC3 2ZrZmw9r
-'"ir::r-iltttrtywwaf.
Crest lui.ertnlntf.
But bow are we going to leave
town?" anxiously inquired the trage
dian, after he bad learned that there
were no railroads.
"Well, that depends on the show,"
responded Amber Pete. "If the boys
get their money's worth you'll ride on
the coach; If they don't, you'll ride on
a rail."
"Whv a It" lnaulred the man who
was nosing around the docks, "that
yeu English call It 'lifting' the cup?"
"Because, air, saw me aigninea pei
ton with the mutton chop whiskers,
"1 I nar mra Into nur hands It will
have a better position In society."
Chicago Tribune.
OIVIHO HEB ENCOUaAGEMKIIT.
"Do you know," eald the gushing
Balden, "I ahould Just love to write
for the papers, and I be'.leve that I
eould do It. too."
"My dear young woman," replied the
sympathetic editor, "there's no reason
la the world why you ahouldn't"
"Really!" eke cried delightedly.
-Noae at all," be asserted. "Any
one can write for the papers; It's no
trick at all. Why, that waatebaaket
la half tan of ataff that waa written
far the rpera.'
ice: HfiiiR:-
fRori Sun-Set'
writ DAYBREAK.
Dr. Owl What can 1 do for you?
Mosquito I want to be vaccinated so that coal oil won't touch me.
Uu and Off.
Asklt I understand that that healer
who treated by the laying on of hands
Is not so prosperous as be used to be,
and has discharged most of bis assist
ants, Tellt Yea, he's laying off bis bands
now. Baltimore American.
A afcafcaaaearlaa.
"Who was the founder of Rome?"
asked the teacher of ancient history.
"Romeo!" piped the small boy In the
rear seat Philadelphia Record.
Heavy Ulnrjt.
"I toll you, tho British officers have
heavy weights resting on their shoul
ders," observed the man with tba
South African dispatches,
"You mean on tbelr bosoms," aaltf
the cheerful cynic. "They don't wear
tbelr medals on their shoulders."
Ceaatry i
"Well, Haiton, did you like the
place where you were boarding?"
"No. The only well-fed ulnga Ui '
there were tho moaqultoee." f
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