That Mysterious Major... ...BY... ETHEL A. SOl’TDAM CHAPTEK IX.—(Continued.) "Is anything the matter?” she ask ed. glancing anxiously in the direc tion of her munt. "Nothing whatever,"was the brusque reply; "it is merely a shawl which Eady Howard wished for. Bjt yon did not hear her call, I suppose; you were tao much taken up with that fellow Brown.” Evelyn raised her eyebrows, and gave hirn a swift utterly disdainful look. "It is strange what you see in that man,” he went on, folding his arms; "and, whilst you persistently avoid mv society, you-seem everlastingly ready to enter into conversation with liim. It is not fancy. Miss Euttrell—It is perfectly true. Three times to-day have I attempted to speak to you; i three times have you made some trif ling excuse and turned to leave me.” "And why have I," exclaimed Eve lyn, her eyes flashing Are—"why? Sim ply because you persist in discussing the most ridiculous of subjects!” "I have certainly made half a dozen attempts during the last few days to i toll you that I love you, to ask you , to be my wife; but perhaps that is a topic of conversation which you care to discuss only with your friend Brown, since you appear to find him j so very interesting.” ^)r rather perhaps it is that, whilst i you talk such utter nonsense, he talks sense!” was the cutting reply. “You call a declaration of love, a proposal of marriage, nonsense, then." "Yes; I call anything nonsense that is so contrary to all reason,” return ed Evelyn, her voice trembling. “And, since you know how much 1 hate it, 1 wonder you pester me as you do." “Oh, very well! If that is the case, I will not attempt to renew the sub ject again—in that way, at any rate; my attentions shall nnnoy you no long er, and-” "Thank you,” interrupted Evelyn In j did write them, I know." answered Evelyn, with a vindictive little nod towards Gilbert Falkland. “Oh, indeed! But, even if that is so, there are twenty other ways in which a clever forger could gci hold of your signature. You have not writ ten to anybody staying in the hotel, I suppose. Miss l.uttrelI ?“ “Written to anybody? No certain ly not!" “Nor lent any books in whir h j our name is luecrlbed?" “No,” returned Evelyn, with the same decision, i have net lent any thing.” “Then, as far as your recollec tion goes, you can give- us no clue to iht mystery? You have no remem brance, for instance, of writing n let ter ami tearing it up, or of signing your name in anv ebnnce way which (ould possibly be turned against you?" Again Evelyn answered "No,” out this time there was less assurance in her tones, landing with her arms folded on tfir* back of tier aunt's chair, sin had started slightly at Falkland’s question, and now, as she raised her head, a strangely perplexed look came sr.ddenij into her eyes. “I—I cannot re rue in tic i anything," she added hurriedly. "Not anything at all?" persisted Falkland suspiciously, quick to notice her evident hesitation. "No"—abruptly -"nothing." “Well, ttie only thing is to take cure of that check." observed Falkland, watching her narrowly. “You see, it I.-, really all that we have to go upon. If you would give it to me, though. I might lie able to do something for you in the matter." "Thank you, but I shall have no need to trouble you. I"—the words wire spoken in the same hesitating, almost faltering tones—" have given it to Major Brown." “You have given it to Major ; Brown?" AGAIN EVELYN ANSWERED "NO!" low angry tones—"that is all 1 rare about;” and. without another word or look, she turned to the open window »nd disappeared, leaving Falkland with milled brows and lips set in angry determination gazing drearily into va cancy. CHAPTER X. It was certainly true. Mias I-uttrell had not been mistaken in declaring that the forged check was not one of those which she had lost some months before; and a careful Investigation quickly revealed the fact that the check In question had been dexterous ly extracted from the book In such a manner as to leuve no blank coun terfoil to raise the suspicions of its owner. “It la clear that the forgery has been effected quite recently, and, no doubt, during our atay here," declar ed I july Howard, looking towards Eve lyn and Mr. Eatkland for ronRrimt lion of her words, the latter hating, despite her niece's protestation*, been ailed in for consultation upon the weighty matter “Hut the thing i* who can have dune It? There are half a dttaeit men In the hotel who may he really professional forgers for all «re know, hut I do not *up|Miae that •ae of them even know* Evelyn* hr 1stntn name, much tew* her sign* lur* "I hoi your pardon UAir Hn*«r>l ntU fufful I ha visitor* booh," IU| gmstrd h’alhUnl promixi* "th* vialtur* UMib* Ah >#* bar D*m* li lh*r». rtrUHili1 Hut »hu to«M to mi* It waa tor writing* Who would d*»«* to furga n than h With »«■ b fc.wbtfwl naaiainni r' And. nuw that I tbinb uf It" IA wall Ym --- - - Had a thunderbolt fallen at Falk 1: nd’s feet, greater dismay could not have bieu depicted on Ilia counte nance. "Yes; he suggested it ought to he put In the hands of an expert at once; and so he is taking it up to Iatndon In the morning," site added, giving the necessary explanation as tersely as possible, and thpn turning away quickly, as though she could not trust herself to utter another syl lable, * "He is taking It’ fJreat heavens. Miss l.uttrell. you cannot mean it! Surely you have never been so foolish as to allow such a thing?" gus;s <| Falkland, starting forward, his face livid, an expression of absolute in ciedullty in his eyes A faint met .« very different otic from that with which *he had favuit-t | him a moment before was Kvelyn » only reply. Oh. Miss l.uttrell, this l» worse than madness' Falkland passed hi* hand acros Ids forehead with a ges lure of despali of dated uric*, ribalde I bewilderment In.I uot Instinct, yoor own common wuse tell you the 1 truth? If nothing else the very I fa*t of hi* anxiety t„ msure that | *l**s'h *hould have aroused your *im- ! plctona loo might have goes-wd • whuae handiwork H !«' Ones«ed*" repeated |^,|> Howard •*(hvo.1 grariott*. Mr Falkland you do | iH»t mean to »a> that you have found i a clue to this affair already * Yea I-ad* How aid 1 believe he gave a tr>umph«'it „ nee towards, f.relyp * ©Ur suspii titxs With a Vet V 1 decided empltx.i* op the plu'al pro i aaua* are turret That fellow Hmwti 1 l« the forger' * That fellow Hiown r* the forger’ Falkland • »oi«e MMtaded mitee an.| mitaa away yet how the word* raver berated in Kveiyp'p eara with what clear iHstth*taeu* thev «»ael to ring through the silent air, to echo round the dusky lawn! A momnut before a horrible fear had possessed her, a fear which had sent all the blood cours ing wildly through her veins; and then— Oh, impossible! Major Brown a forger! It was impossible! Mr. Falkland always had disliked him. From the very first he had been prejudiced about him, and had done liis utmost to make both I^ady How ard and herself share in his suspic ions. it was too terrible! In that one moment It seemed as though she lived through all the past fortnight again. One after another the various events of the well remembered days passed in rapid succession through her mind, whilst above all, as a climax, a crown ing point to the whole, a certain af ternoon, scarcely thirty-six hours be fore. stood out clear and defined from the confusion of the various occur rences. Every syllable which had been spoken, every subject which had been broached, came back to her as vividly as though once more she was sitting in the forsaken library, pen in hand, with Major Brown standing attentive ly by her side. Oh, why had she been so dense, so blind as to see neither through his evident manoeuvers nor the strange yet palpable eagerness of his manner? If nothing else had roused her suspicions, .-he*ought at least to have realized that Major Brown was not at all the kind of man to waste his energies up on a simple birthday book. A birthday hook' How could she hove allowed herself to be so easily taken In? She had certainly expressed some astonish ment upon the occ asion - she was un doubtedly somewhat dubious at first— but how quickly he bad overruled her! Without appearing the least perturb ed. lie had explained away everything -yes. everything! He had even been able to find au excuse for the blank ness of the pages, and she had act ually believed him, had believed the whole of his fabrications, though in reality that horrible book had been purchased simply as a means for secur ing her signature! "You hear what Mr. Falkland is saying, Eve?" How far her thoughts had carried her, or how long she had been stand ing with her hands clasped tightly to gether, gazing out straight before her at the shadows growing deeper aud deeper, Evelyn had no idea. Did she hear what Mr. Falkland was saying? No. she had not heard a word, and, what was morp, she was utterly indifferent as to what it might tie; yet it was with a gesture sugges tive rather of acquiescence that she sat down on the low bamboo chair and waited resignedly for anything further that hnd to come. "You see. Miss Luttrell"—it was Falkland himself who claimed her at tention this time—"we can do nothing without the check; we have no proofs whatever as to the forgery. Brown is safe as if he had never put pen to paper at all.” “Is he?" observed Evelyn calmly. His words seemed to imbue her with a sense of strunge undetinable relief. "Ah, yes—I suppose that would have been the only evidence against him! But of course it does not matter. It is really not of much importance," she added in a voice particularly free from any suspicion of regret. "It does not matter! Why, Miss I.uttrell, I have just been pointing out to you the greatest importance of this affair, and have been saying how eas ily the whole thing can be managed! ' But no time must be lost. You ought to ask the Major for the check this evening without fail." (To be continued.) Tli« C'etiMim of Ormniiv. 'I ho Times pubUshos a careful analy sis of the German census, taken on •Inne 14, 1895, from which it appears that the population amounted on that day to 51,770,000, of whom 24,400,000 were males and 26,360,000 female*, the excess of females being, theiefore, nearly a million. This population in creases at the rate of a little more than a million a year, for which new means of maintfnance, education and housing must be provided. The rush is, of course, to the towns, the general urban population having increased since 1832 by 36 per cent, while the population of towns with more than 100,000 persons had more than doubled. Of the total, 8.292.000 are occupied in ag b ulture, 8.281.000 in industry, 2,238,000 in trade, 794.000 in the professions, 631.000 ns soldiers or sailors, and 1.399,000 ns ■servants. The proportion of servants Is the lowest in the ccnsus-tHking world, not half the proportion in Great | Krltnin The Catholic* are about a 1 third of the population, while of the who*e < ommercial < lass 5 71 per cent ur» Jews Umikm Hpectatoi Ik Martel'* Home. I to na M U Mitchell, known far 'tnd aide Ik Marvel, live* on a Jtxi acre farm upon a hill near S«’» Haven, ►'roll' the road the hotl*e Is Invn lot '. k high evergreen hedge (..mealing It, lint front th* pur* h a Ane view of Near Haven I* afforded. For mam Venn Mr Mil. hell ha* lived there. Indulging in hi* love for nature and agriculture It la all Ideal place the home i« cov ered tv) Fngtiah Ivy, and evergreen tree* •urrooml It The Acid* are level a* Ao«>r» ami the atone wall* have heen limit with m-atweaa and a< on > \ little house on the farm U hutlt from •tone* gathered from the mid* and out only a triAe over tl.UOo |fr Mitch* e*| i« 7? *»*r* old. loti h-* walk* tn ih* , • it .11.j ..f walkavg and think* to It h« owe* hi* life, for when .ouua ne »r« t« 4 he had • omuwptiwn For two y. na h* tiampad over Kurope walking MO mi e* m F.bg and alone He »ure**e fut.y staved off the du r * but k«* a • i>* bent up h a «nlk* CISSY'S BUSINESS VEN TURE. Th* tall young man at the desk by the big window looked up with a start. There was something strangely fa miliar about the little figure in the doorway. He arose hurriedly from hi3 chair. "Why, it’s Cissy,” he cried, and stepped forward. The child's figure swayed toward him and he caught it in his arms. "George Henderson,” a tired little voice panted, “why don't you livo up to heaven and be done with it?” “What is it, Cissy?" cried the young man, as he placed the child in the great padded cb many hooka now," laughed the young man 'You'd better take them " said the child. "I’ve got something to any to you about Mister Ethel " The young man tinned "I'll tell you what I'll do. t'taay," he •aid. "I ll take them on approval." ' Whal e that*" "It meerie that I'll lake them and ! took th»m oyer." replied the young j man and if I like them I II keep theta ! and pay you fur them If I don’t like | them I’ll return them to yuu " "If that freight George*** "Certainly. Besides. Cissy, you know the elevator boy can’t keep you out if you haven't the books with you. "All right, George. I’ll trust you.” "And now, Cissy, what have you to say to me about Ethel?” But the child had perched herself on the broad window sill, looking down on the public square, and was softly humming, "Hullo, My Baby.” She paid no attention to George’s inquiry. George looked at her curiously. "Cissy,” he said, "how would you like a heaping plate of ice cream?” The child nodded, but did not cease her tune. George smiled and glanced at his watch. "Cissy,” he said, "what do you say to getting the heaping plate of ice cream and then going over to the ma tinee of ‘Jack and the Beanstock?' ” Cissy looked around quickly. "Honest?” she cried, George nod ded. She sprang from the window sill. "You're a darling,” she murmured, and snatched up her hat. "Plenty of time,” said George. "You were going to tell me something, you know.' •‘Yes.” assented Cissy, "1 know. It’s about Ethel.” "It’s about Ethel,” softly repeated George. "Well,” said Cissy, "she ain’t been happy a minute since you quarreled with her.” “I didn’t quarrel with her,” protested George. "Well, I heard some of it,” said Cissy, "and even If Ethel is my sister I don’t think you ought to put all the blame on her. She felt awful bad about it. I slept with her that night, ’cause Aunt Laura came to see us, and I heard her crying. An' yesterday— well, you know there’s a basket of photographs on the piano, and ma ex pects me to keep the piano dusted, an’ sometimes I forget it, and 1 sneaked In the parlor and there was Ethel look ing at your photograph, an’ when she saw me she shoved it in the pile and walked away, an’ 1 looked on the top of the piano an’ there was four big tear drops in the dust. Say, what was it you quarreled about—Annie Pleasant on?” “I believe her name was mentioned,” said George. "Somebody told Ethel that they saw you and Annie riding to gether in the park, didn’t they?” "I believe so,” admitted George. "Yes,” said Cissy calmly, "that was me.” "You told her that?" cried George. "Yes," said Cissy, sweetly, "I told her. She wouldn't let mo wear her second best hat.” George looked black for a moment, then his face cleared. He turned abruptly and stepped to the 'phone. "E. 7301 L," he called. “Knows it by heart," murmured Cissy. "Is Miss Ethel there?" inquired George. "Yes, I wish to speak to her." “George," cried Cissy, “don’t you for get that the girl at the exchange is lis tenin’ to every word you say.” “Is that you, Ethel?” inquired George at the ’phone. "Yes, it's George. I wanted to tell you that Cissy is here with me.-Yes, she's all right, and I hope you didn’t worry much.-• Yes. She came on business. She had a little confession to make." “George Henderson!" cried Cissy. “I will explain it all to you when I come up. Yes, I’m coming to dinner if you will let me. Cissy is going with me to a matinee and then we ll come up together. What’s that? Cissy isn't dressed to go anywhere? Why, I fancy she’s got on her best clothes." “Much you know about it,” snorted Cissy. “Anyway, she is looking charming." “Ring off!" cried Cissy. "I—I think that's all until we meet —good-by,” and George reluctantly rang off. “If I hadn't been here," said Cissy, "you’d have most likely melted that wire." "All ready?” queried the smiling George as he took up his hat. “All ready," said Cissy, with great alacrity. "And my stock—the books, you know?" “I’ll take care of them." said George. “Two more excuses for coming up." giggled Cissy. “Come along," cried George.—W. R. Rose in Cleveland Plain Dealer. With I ni|irov«inPnta. From the Washington Post: A dele gation of representative citizens of Washington called at the white house one day lust week, as many delegations do, to lay before the president the mer its and claims of a certain aspirant for office, and to urge upon the chief exec utive the desirability of his appoint ment. As the several gentlemen in the party were introduced, the president greeted them cordially, and had some thing pleasant to say to all. Some of them he had met before and remem bered, while others were strangers to him. Several in the line had been pre sented, when a certain merchant, well known and highly esteemed, was reached. The president immediately recognised him, and said, as he grasped his hand warmly: "Yes. I remember you very distinctly, Mr. X. I recall when I was a member of o rig res* I purchased a number of sulta of cloth ing at your establishment. And 1 also recollect," continued the president, . smilingly, "that It was necessary for ms to climb three or four flights of ' stairs to reach your tailoring depart ment." "Ah, Mr. president,'* ex claimed the merchaut. quick to make the nisi of the situation "you should come tu see us again Sow «« haw ciw . t . tbs I'mleMa Usama. A schoolmaster recently lafotmed an auaimis mother that her sons were so thoroughly discipitned that they were as quiet and orderly as the ye. < hails in the sehusiiiuum it was probably | b». ituse tbs* w« re )ueer people |u this town t'lllien As odd a lot as you'd And In a year's travel They are a •pieer set, the whole of 'em, outside my family And my wife la almost as bad *» the lUBtlj W than, you know, she wasn't originally of my fsmly. Itoelim Transcript, Ths heir to the Russian thruae la said to be a good shot, but this will sot be as useful in his future business 1 si l« ba a poor target.