DV
Lord God of Years, thy contrite people
stand
To render now thy talent to thy hand;
Forgive the meager Increase, Lord, we
plead.
Forgive the wanting of thy pregnant
eed.
Where wide, white noons of harvest on
us bum,
Amid the sweat of struggle we would
turn
And thnk thee for theue honest, toil-worn
days,
In songs of work wa give thee truest
praise.
Some of tliv servants plve thee back ten
fold, The Bain Is thine, no part would we with
hold; And we who bring thee naught, In ullent
pain,
Let us return to glean the fields again.
Lord God of years, (hy grateful people
(stand
To render now thy talent to thy hand;
Judge thou our service In Its thought and
deed ;
Grant us the heart of joy, thy workers'
meed.
Strategy.
BY F. H. LANCASTER.
(Copyright, 1301. by Dally Story Pub. Co.)
I could scarcely realize that it was
Indeed Dexter Bojton who came back
to me after that summer out of town.
He had been such a blithe, light
hearted fellow before he went away.
Whistling over hlg work, singing
snatches of operas on the stairs, smok
ing one cigar in two weeks and always
ready with a cherry word.
Now he went about grave, pre-occu-pled.
The same straight, steady look
out of his eyes, but behind It some
thing it hurt my heart to see.
I pondered much over the change.
Why had his clear, flexible whistle
become a monotonous dead level of
sound? Why had he ceased singing
and taken to smoking incessently?
Why, In short, had my care-free, light
hearted boy leaped In one brief sum
mer into stern, unyielding manhood?
Was it love or money?
I assured my wife that it was money.
I did It because I wanted to save the
boy.
Let even the best of women suspect
a wound of the heart Bud she will drop
the probe of her curiosity into the
ugly hole until the helpless sufferer
sweats with agony.
There is this difference between men
and women as regards tiie pant. A
man will bury the dead love, tramp
the earth down hard in the new-made
grave and go on his way. But a
woman can never quite say "It Is
dead." For the rest of ne" life she
must spend precious hours trying to
galvanize a corpse. It may be that
love never really lies In a woman's
heart. I don't know. But I was glad
that I had put Molly on a false scent
about Dexter.
Sho was so plcaaant In her own
bright, easy way; talking politics and
literature whenever I dragged Boyton
home with mo for a social evening,
that by degrees the boy began drop
ping In of bis own accord as he had
been wont to do before ho went away
for that summer out of town. Only
once in tho six months that followed
"Leave town!" I cried,
did Molly make a single bad break.
I bad been urging her to decide upon
bar summer trip, when she turned to
Dexter.
"Whore did ytu summer last year,
JMr. Boy ton?"
I aaw the boy wince, ' Jt Molly was
looking at the fire and turning ber
EMERY POTTLE
9
wedding ring around and around in a
preoccupied way.
"At Grayton," Dexter replied briefly.
"Grayton? That sounds cool and
comfortable. What sort of place is
It?"
"Oh, a little country place."
"Without telephone bells or milk
carts or cobblestones? I see. By the
way, Edward, you will have to see the
man about our telephone. It is shock
ingly out of order."
"What's wrong?" I asked, as relieved
as I fancied Dexter was at this turn
of the conversation.
"Why, I don't know. But when you
called me. up today I heard my best
friend around the corner telling my
best friend across the street that I
was the stupldist woman in town and
couldn't see a thing when It was right
under my nose. Such things are cal
culated to :ihake one's faith in friend
ship and I really think tie telephone
man ought to see to It."
We both laughed and Dexter arose
to go.
"By my word, Morton," ho r.(d when
I followed him Into the hall, "that wife
of yours is the sweetest-souled wom
an that ever lived," and he laughed
again in his old happy way.
I did not dare to object lea- I should
raise her suspicions, so Molly went
away to summer at Grayton, leaving a
terribly empty place in our big busy
city. She was to bo gone only a month,
but, ye gouU. what a long one it was.
I left Dexter In charge of the office
and went to meet her train a full hour
before it was due. I hoped sho had
not run upon anything that had best
be forgotten. However, it was the next
morning at breakfast bafore I remem
bered to ask her about it.
"Mr, Boyton? I don't remember that
I heard his name mentioned. It never
occurred to me to say that I was a
friend of his. Possibly that was the
reason. But oh, Edward. I did meet
such a dear girl quite out of the or
dinary. She is coming to New Orleans
to attend lectures at Tulane and 1
made her promise to spend at least
part of her time with me. You will
like her I know," .
"Of course," I assented. "Your taste
where women are concerned is per
fect" "I flatter myself," she retorted mis
chievously, "that my taste is equally
good where men are concerned. Didn't
I select you for a husband?"
I tried to stop her, but before I loft
for the office 1 was so badly hacked
that I forgot to make further Inquiries
concerning the expected guest.
Of course Dexter came home with
me that evening and I loft him to find
his way Into the parlor until I ran
upstairs to tell Molly.
"Hy'the way," I bald arter a little,
"Dexter Is down stairs."
"Is he? Dear me, I think Helen is
In the parlor. I hope they haven't
found It awkward."
I stopped and stared with one sleeve
of my coat on.
"Helen?"
"Yes, the young lady I told you of.
Do put on your coat, dear. They may
bo having an uncomfortable time."
They were to all appearances having
very comfortable time and when
Molly Introduced them, shook hands
like old friends.
"We were really getting on very
nicely," Dexter said In reply to Molly'a
apology. "Miss Alnsworth tells me
that she Intends to attend lectures at
Tulane."
"Why ye," replied Molly, aimless
ly. "It will fce very pleasant I think,
Edward, you will take Helen into din
ner.
She was not pretty, but straight and
strong looking, with deep, deep eyes
and that perfect recS9 that goes with
perfect strength and innocence. I
caught myself thinking several times
during dinner what ' a veritable angel
of rest she would be in a pain-stricken
room. I wondered as I watched her
talking to Dexter if they had ever met
before. When I questioned Molly
about It later on she laughed merrily.
It was on a raw, bleak day in March
that the boy came into my private of
fice with a queer drawn look on nis
face.
"Mr. Morton." he began quietly
enough, "I am leaving town for a long
time, perhaps forever. We had bettei
strike my name from the firm."
"Leave town?" I exclaimed aghast.
"I see what you are thinking of." He
moved to the window and looked out
mechanically. Standing there with his
back to me the poor fellow told me
all about it. It was neither love nor
money. Until last summer he had be
lieved himself an orphan. But he was
not.' Out In one of the western states
was a gray-haired man serving a long
sentence. Ha was his father. He had
seen him for the first time nine months
ago. The question came stern and
abrupt.
"You will agree with me, sir, that
I have no right to offer my stained
name to that superb woman. No love
on earth could atone for or excuse the
Insult."
"No, he was right," I agreed. Bitter
and bad as it had all seemed there
was nothing for it but to fill up the
grave as best we could and go on.
It was at this juncture that Molly
came In to see about a check I had
forgotten to indorse.
"Gracious, what solemn faces," she
laughed. "13 the world coming to an
end?"
"Yes, my world is," Dexter answered
her. And then to my astonishment he
told her the story.
"Well upon my soul," Molly broke
out Indignantly. "I think you might
at least let her have some say so in
the matter. Here you have been mak
ing love to Helen for six months and
you propose to walk off without a
word! You men may call it honorable,
but I call it dastardly. Take your hat,
young man, and go straight up to the
house. Don't you dare to break that
grand girl's heart unless she gives you
leave to. Not if you haves a hundred
fathers in the penitentiary. Upon mj
soul, Edward," she continued as Dex
ter caught up his hat and went out
"Here I have been breaking my neck
for a year to keep you from talking
forgeries and penitentiaries In thai
boy's presence and now when he it
fairly safe from being embittered foi
life you must go to work and upset
everything with your tomfool honor
able ideas."
"Molly," I said with a gasp of hu
mility, "I didn't know, I do you think
she will marry him?"
"She can't very well unless he ask3
her to do It."
"Oh, ho will ask her. I saw it in
his eyes."
"I'm glad you have seen something."
"There now, dear. I've been a blun
dering donkey. But do you think she
will overlook that forgery business?''
"She has known about that forgery
business all along. For my part I don't
see anything so terrible about it 1
suppose the old gentleman needed the
money or he would't have taken it."
"Go straight to the house."
Then with sudden softening. "Don't
worry, dear. A little common sense
will stive any situation. She will nmr
ry him before the year la out."
And sho did.
The Fashionable Trowner.
Even In these days of ultra-modorn-ness
the subject of wrinkles is one of
vast importance and a now preventive
hns been evolved. It Ib called by the
suggcHtlve name of "frowner," and
consists simply of a rather stiff bit of
white paper about tho size and shape
of a postage Htnmp, and having on
Its back a similar coating of gum. Es
pecially It Is designed as a preventive
of the wrinkles between the brows or
at the corners of tho eyes; and in
these places, after being moistened,
those should be pasted whenever one
Is about to engage In some occupation
that causes tho habit of "wrinkling."
At the fashionable shops of large cltieg
"frowners" Bre now us regularly on
sale as almost any other accessories of
the toilet. Many, however, prefer to
make them at home, a process simple
and Inexpensive. It hasalso been found
by those who are ingenious that tt Is
best to cut them circular In shape
Instead of square, as they leave less of
n trace when removed. Heavy writing
paper from which to fashion them Is
available to all, and a little dissolved
gum arable will stick them on good
and tlgjit. Mjntrenl Herald and Star.
The Diamond Bracelet
By MRS. HENRY WOOD.
Author of Eul
CHAPTER IX (Continued.)
"The bracelet could not have gone
without hands to take it, Gerard," re
plied Lady Sarah. "How else do you
account for its disappearance?"
"I I believe there must be some
misapprehension, some great mistake
!u tho affair altogether, Lady Sarah. It
apears incomprehensible now, but It
will he unraveled."
"Ay, and in double-quick time,"
wratbJully exclaimed the Colonel.
"You must think you are talking to a
pack of idiots, Master Garard. Here
the bracelets was spread temptingly
out on a table, you went into the
room, being hard up for money, fin
gered it, wished for it, and both you
and the bracelet disappeared. Sir"
turning sharply to the officer "did a
clearer case ever go before a jury?"
Gerard Hope bit his lip. "Be more
just, Colonel," said he. "Your own
brother's son steal a bracelet!"
"And I am happy my brother is not
alive to know It," rejoined the Colonel
In an obstinate tone. "Take him in
hand, Mr. Officer; we'll go to Marl
borough street. I'll Just change my
coat, and "
"No, no, you will not!-" cried Lady
Sarah, laying hold of the dressing
gown and the Colonel in it; "you shall
not go nor Gerard either. Whether
he la guilty or not, It must not be
brought against him publicly. He
bears your name, Colonel, and so do I,
and It would reflect disgrace on us all."
"Perhaps you are made of money,
mv ladv. It so, you may put up with
the loss of a 250 bracelet. I don't
choose to do so."
"Then, Colonel, you will, and you
must. Sir," added Lady Sarah to the
detective, "we are obliged to you for
your attendance and advice, but It
turns out to be a family affair as you
perceive, and we must decline to
prosecute. Besides, Mr. Hope may not
be guilty."
Alice rose and stood before Colonel
Hope. "Sir, if this charge were pre
ferred against your nephew, if it came
to trial, I think it would kill me. You
know my unfortunate state of health;
the agitation, the excitement of ap
pearance to give evidence, would be
1 cannot continue; I cannot speak
of it without terror; I pray you, for
my sake, do not prosecute Mr. Hope."
The Colonel was about to storm
forth an answer, but her white face,
ner heaving throat, had some effect
even on him.
"He is so doggedly obstinate. Miss
Seaton. If he would but confess and
tell where it is, perhaps I'd let him
off."
Alice thought somebody else was ob
stinate. "I do not believe he has anything to
confess," she deliberately said; "I
truly believe that he has not. He could
not have taken it, unseen by me; and
when we quitted the room, I feel sure
the bracelet was left in it"
"It was left in it, so help me heav
en!" uttered Gerard.
"And now I've got to speak," added
Frances Viienevix. ouiuuci, n
were to press the charge against Ger
ard, I would go before the magistrates
and proclaim myself the thief. I vow
and protest I would, just to save him,
and you and Lady Sarah could not
prosecute me, you know."
"You do well to stand up for him!"
retorted the Colonel. "You would not
be quite so ready to do it, though, my
Lady Fanny, if you knew sometning
I could tell you."
"Oh, yes, I should," returned the
young lady with a vivid blush.
The Colonel, beset on all sides, had
no choice but to submit; but he did so
with an ill grace, and dashed out ol
the room with the officer, as fiercely
as if he had been charging an enemy
at full tilt.
"The sentimental apes these women
make of themselves!" cried he in his
polite way, when he had got him in
private. "Is It not a clear case of
guilt?"
"In my private opinion, it certainly
Is," was the reply; "though ho carries
It off with a high hand. I suppose.
Colonel, you still wish the bracelet to
be searched for?"
"Search In out and high and
low; search everywhere. The rascal!
to dare even to enter my house in
secret! "
"May I Inquire if the previous breach
with your nephew had to do with
money affairs?" '
"No," said the Colonel, turning more
enmty at the thoughts called up. "I
fixed up a wife for him and he would
n't have her; so I turned him out of
doors and stopped his allowance."
"Oh," was the only comment of the
police officer.
CHAPTER X.
It was In tho following week, and
Saturday night. Thomas, without hl3
hat, was standing at Colonel Hope's
door, chatting to nn acquaintance
when he perceived Gerard conio tear
ing up the street. Thomas' friend
backed against the rails and the
epikes, and Thomas himself stood
with the door in his hand, ready to
touch his hair to Mr. Gerard as he
passed. Instead of passing, however,
Ocrard cleared tho steps at a hound,
pulled Thomas with himself Inside,
hut the door and double locked It.
Thomas was surprised In all ways.
Not only at Mr. Hope coming in at
all, for the Colonel bad again harshly
forbidden the house to him, and the
Mr van U to admit him, but at the sud
Lynne, Etc
denness and strangeness of the action.
"Cleverly done," quoth Gerard, when
he could get his breath. "I saw a
shark after me, Thomas, and had to
make a bolt for it. Your having been
at the door saved me."
Thomas turued pale.
"Mr. Gerard, you have locked it, and
I'll put up the chain, if you order me,
but I'm afeared it's going agin the law
to keep out them detectives by force of
arms."
"What's the man's head running on
now?" returned Gerard. "There are
no detectives after me; it was only a
seedy sheriff's officer. Pshaw, Thom
as! there's no worse crime attached to
me than a slight suspicion of debt."
"I'm sure I trust not, sir; only mas
ter will have his own way."
"Is he at home?"
"He's gone to the opera with my
lady. The young ladies are upstairs
alone. Miss Seaton has been ill, sir,
ever since the bother, and Lady Fran
ces is staying at home with her."
"I'll go up and see them. If they
are at the opera, we shall be snug and
safe."
"Oh, Mr. Gerard, had you better go
up, do you think?" the man ventured
to remark. "If the Colonel should
come to hear of it "
"How can he? You are not going
to tell him, and I am sure they will
not. Besides, there's no help for it;
I can't go out again for hours. And,
Thomas, if any demon should knock
and ask for me, I am gone to to an
evening party up at Putney; went out
you know by the side door."
Thomas watched him run up the
stairs, and shook his head. "One can't
help liking him, with it all; though
where could the bracelet have gone
to if he did not take it?"
The drawing rooms were empty, and
Gerard made his way to a small room
that Lady Sarah called her "boudoir."
There they were Alice buried in the
pillows of an invalid's chair, and Lady
Frances careening about the room, ap
parently practicing some new dancing
step. She did not see him; Gerard
danced up to her, and took her hand,
and joined in it.
"When the cat's away the mice can
play," cried Gerard, treating them to a
step.
"Mr. Hope," remonstrated Alice, lift
ing her feeble voice, "how can you in
dulge these spirits while things are so
miserable?"
"Sighing and groaning won't make
them light," he answered, sitting down
on a sofa near to Alice. "Here's a seat
for you, Fanny, come along," he added,
nulling Frances to his side. "First
and foremost, has anything come to
light about that mysterious bracelet?"
"Not yet," sighed Alice. "But I
have no reBt; I am in hourly fear of
it."
"Fear!" uttered Gerard in astonish
ment. Alice winced and leaned her
head upon her hand; she spoke in a
low tone.
"You must understand what I mean,
Mr. Hope. The affair has been pro
ductive of so much pain and annoy
ance to me, that I wish it could be ig
nored forever."
"Though it left me under a cloud,"
said Gerard. "You must pardon me if
I cannot agree with you. My constant
hope is that it may all come to day
light; I assure you I have specially
mentioned it in my prayers."
"Pray don't, Mr. Hope," reproved
Alice.
"I'm sure I have cause to mention it,
for It is sending me into exile; that
and other things."
"It is guilty only who flee, not the
Innocent," said Frances. "You don't
mean what you say, Gerard."
"Don't I! There's a certain boat ad
vertised to steam from London bridge
wharf tomorrow, wind and weather
permitting, and it steams me with it.
I am compelled to fly my country."
"Be serious and say what you
mean."
"Seriously, thftn, I am over head and
cars in debt. You know my undo
stopped my allowance in the spring
and sent me metaphorically to the
dogs. I had a few liabilities, and they
have all come down upon me. But for
tnis confounded bracelet affair, there's
no doubt the Colonel would have set
tled them; rather than let the namo of
Hope bo dubiously bandied by the
public; ho would have expended his
Ire In growls and have gone and done
It. But that is over now, and 1 go to
take up' my abode in some renowned
colony for desolate English, beyond
the pale of English lock-ups. Bou
logne or Calais, or Dieppe or Brussels
I may see; and there I may be kept for
years."
Neither of the young ladles answered
Immediately; they saw the facts were
serious, and that Gerard was only
making light of It before them.
"How shall you live?" questioned
Alice. "You must live there as well
as here; you cannot starve."
"I shall just escape the starving. I
have got a trifle, enough to swear by,
and keep me on potatoes and salt
Don't you envy me my prospects?"
"When do you suppose you may re
turn?" inquired Lady Frances; "I ask
It seriously, Gerard."
"I know no more than you, Fanny.
I have no expectations but from the
Colonel. Should he never relent, I
am caged there for good."
"And go you ventured here to tell
us this, and bid us good-by?"
"No; I never thought ot venturing
Lire; how could I tell that the bashaw
would be at the opera? A shark set
on me In the street, and I had to run
for my lifo. Thomas happened to be
conveniently at the door, and I rushed
in, and saved myself."
"A shark!" uttered Alice, In dlsmty,
who in her Inexperience had taken
bis words literally "a shark in the
street!"
Lady Frances Chenevix laughed. -
"One with sharp eyes and a booked
nose, Alice, speeding after me on two
legs, with a polite invitation from one
of the law lords. He is watching, on
the opposite side now."
"How shall you get away?" ex
claimed Frances.
"If the bashaw comes home beirtre
12 Thomas must dispose of me some
where in the lower regions; Sunday Is
free for us, thank goodness. So please
make the most of me, both of you, for
it is the last time you will have the
privilege. By the way, Fanny, will
you do me a favor? There used to be
a little book of mine in the glass book
case in the library; my name in it
and a mottled cover; I wish you would
go and find it for me."
CHAPTER XI.
Lady Frances left the room with
alacrity. Gerard immediately bent
over Alice, and his tone changed.
"I have sent her away on purpose.
She'll be half an hour rummaging,
for I have not seen the book there for
ages. Alice, one word before we part.
You must know that It was for your
sake I refused the marriage proposed
to me by my uncle; you will not let
me go into banishment without a word
of hope, a promise of. your love to
lighten it."
"Oh, Gerard," she eagerly said, "I
am so glad you have spoken; I almost
think I should have spoken myself, If
you had not. Just look at me."
"I am looking at you," he fondly
answered.
"Then look at my hectic face, my
constantly tired limbs, my sickly
hands; do they not plainly tell you
that the topics you would speak of
must be barred topics to me?"
"Why should they be? You will get
stronger."
"Never. There is no hope of it
Many years ago, when the illness first
came on me, the doctors said I might
get better with time; but the time ha
come, and come, and come, and gone,
and only left me a more confirmed in
valid. To an old age I cannot live;
most probably but a few years; ask
yourself, Gerard, if I am one who
ought to marry and leave behind a
husband to regret me; perhaps chil
dren. No, no."
"You are cruel, Alice."
"The cruelty would be, if I selfishly
allowed you to talk of love to me; or,
still more selfish to let you cherish
hopes that I would marry. When you
hinted at this the other evening when
than wretched bracelet was lost, I re
proached myself with cowardice in
not answering more plainly than you
had spoken. I should have told you,
Gerard, as I tell you now, that nothing,
no persuasion from the dearest person
on earth shall ever induce me to
marry."
"You dislike me, I see that."
"I did not say so," answered Alice,
with a glowing cheek. "I think it
very possible that if I could ever al
low myself to dwell on such things I
should like you very much, perhaps
better than I could like any one."
"And why will you not?" her per
suasively uttered.
"Gerard, I have told you. I am too
weak and sickly to be other than ' I
am. It would only be deceiving myself
and you. No, Gerard, my love anS
hopes must lie elsewhere."
"Where?" he eagerly asked.
Alice pointed upwards.
"I am learning to look upon it as my
home," she whispered, "and I must not
suffer hindrances to obscure the way.
It will be a better home than even
your love, Gerard."
Gerard Hope smiled.
(To be continued.)
GIRL WHO GOT PRETTIER.
An Krabarrasslng: Misunderstanding
Caused by a Vocal Cockneylsm.
Mr. Charles Whymper, the well
known engraver and animal painter,
told the following anecdote a few
years ago; "I dined at Mr. So-and-So's
at Hlghgate last night, and as a
mark of honor his eldest daughter was
assigned to me to take down to din
ner. She's a bright girl, and I got
along Very nicely with her and Lady
Bletherington on the other side, until
the ladles were on the eve of retiring
to the drawing room. I was talking
about the beautiful scenery near the
house, the views from tho windows,
the fine air, when Miss suddenly
said; 'I think I get prettier every day
don't you?' What could she mean? I
did not dare to answer her, so I said:
'I beg your pardon what did you
say?' 'I said I think I get prettier
every day.' There was no mistaking
her wcrds, so I answered: 'Yes, in
deed, you get prettier; and no wonder,
in such fresh air, and' Just then she
caught her mother's eye, and with the
fther ladies she left the room. As she
went out she looked over her shoulder
with such a withering scorn In hor
ryos that I knew I had put my foot in
It Boms how. Then it flashed upon
me that I had misunderstood her; she
had d'opped an 'h.' What she had
said was not a silly compliment t
herself; the sentence really was: 'I
think Hlghgate prettier every day.'"
Mr. Whymper'a hair Is quite" gray now.
Chambers',
The friends of the Hon. Carter Har
rison should take him Into some quiet
nook and Inform him that "the man of
destiny" business has been fvtr
worked. Washington Pott ,
