i
r
An Old'Fashioned Woman
No clever, brilliant thinker, she.
With college record and degree;
She has not known the paths of fama.
The world has never heard her name.
She walks lri old, long-trodden ways.
The valleys of the yesterdays.
Home Is her kingdom, love Is her dower—
She seeks no other wand of power
To make home sweet, bring heaven near,
To win a smile and wipe a tear,
And do her duty day by day
In her own quiet place and way.
Around her childish hearts are twined,
As round some reverend saint enshrined,
And following hers the childish feet
Are led to Ideals true and sweet.
And find all purity and good
In her divinest motherhood.
She keeps her faith unshadowed Still
God rules the world In good and ill;
Men In her creed are brave and true,
And women pure as pearls of dew.
And life for her Is high and grand,
By work and glad endeavor spanned.
This sad old earth's a brighter placo
All for the sunshine of her face:
Her very smile a blessing throws
And hearts are happier where she gees,
A gentle, clear-eyed messenger,
To whisper love—thank God for her!
At the Last Moment.
BY FRANK H. SWEET.
(Copyright, 1902. by Dally Story 1’ub. Co.)
This day had finished the loading of
the vessel for her trip across the
ocean, and now, as the sun was sink
ing behind the shrouds of the ship to
the west, the stevedores filed in front
of the officer who was checking off
and paying for the hours they had
worked.
As they received their money the
stevedores passed across to the wharf
or stopped for a few minutes' con
versation with each other, or with
some of the sailors who chanced to be
near. Ono of them dropped unnoticed
through a hatchway and slipped back
into the hold, where the freight had
been stowed. Then he made his way
among the boxes and bales until he
came to a narrow space which had
evidently been left by design, for it
was long enough for a man to stretch
at full length in it and contained wa
ter and crackers enough to keep off
starvation for a week or ten days.
After the young stevedore had crowd
ed into it, he drew a case in front of
the opening to prevent discovery by
a possible prowler or inspector of the
freight.
Then he made himself as comfort
able as he could in the narrow space
and chuckled at the prospect of
reaching the other side without cost.
He thought exultantly of what he
would do when he got there, and of
the other strange lands he would visit
before returning home. There was no
sense in people spending money to
travel when a little shrewdness and a
bold face would answer just as well.
He had $3 in his pocket, the sum
paid him on deck a half hour before,
but that was as much as he usually
had ahead these days. He had given
up work, except in case of necessity;
and even the $3 would not have been
earned had not this trip across the
ocean been planned as part of the
gain.
For an hour he remained awake list
ening to the sounds on deck and exult
ing in his own shrewdness; then,
weary with the day’s labor, his head
leaned forward and he sank into a
sound sleep.
Late the next evening the vessel
was to begin her voyage, and during
the early part of the day his attention
was occupied by the sounds of pas
sengers coming on board and of bag
• • Slipped back into the hold,
gage and the last consignments ot
freight being stowed away. But at
length, listening became monotonous,
and even his own thoughts, exultant
though they were, grow wearisome.
He was not accustomed to being alone
or to self-communion. During the past
few years, when not asleep, he had
generally been with boon companions
i on a street corner, or with them he
f had been in some mischief. He tried
toifceep up his Interest In the sounds
on deck, and think of the fun ahead
of him, rather tfcan of the past. But
he could not; It all kept surging over
him, again and again, and when he
would thrust it away, it returned only
more strongly and persistently. Yet
he was not leaving much, after all, he
told himself, grimly; he had not had a
home for three years; he had no po
sition, no friends, no prospects; even
the boon companions would scarcely
inquire after or regret him. Of all
the world there was only just one
wiio believed In and trusted him, and
he had not seen her for three years.
There had been months when he had
not even thought of her or of the lit
I ... —-rrri. -rT
Drew himself up onto one of the
wharves.
tie rocky farm which he had left be
cause it was too slow.
She had never doubted him for a
moment, or ceased to think of the
time when he was to provide lovingly
for her old age. When some of his
worst escapades had been reported
she had smiled wistfully, but hopeful
ly. "Sammy’s young,” she had said,
"an’ doesn’t realize. He’s a good boy
an’ will do better when he's older.
Him an’ me’s goin’ to live together
ag in some time; he'll be layin’ by for
it pretty soon.”
Something swelled in the young
man’s throat as he remembered how
many times he had heard her say that
and how many times he had declared,
in moments of boyish repentance, that
he was going to take care of her when
he was a man. Even after he left ho
had once written home that he was
"goin’ to git some money laid by pret
ty soon.” All through these three
years she had written regularly and
lovingly, and though he had answered
only briefly and at long lnterva's, her
faith in him had not for an instant
wavered. Even now he had a letter
in his pocket, received three days be
fore, and not yet opened.
Down here in the depth of the hold,
alone, with everything ho had known
about to be left behind, his heart had
suddenly grown tender and sore. it
might be years before he would see
the gentle old face again, and at the
thought his Angers reached for the
letter and drew it out softly and ten
derly. But it was already dark in the
hold and he could not see.
For a moment he stroked it re
morsefully, then he pushed the case
aside and groped his way out among
the boxes and bales. He would seek
the hatchway or some place where
there wa3 light enough to read the
letter. He must find out what the old
mother had to say; and he would re
turn—he would—and do everything
that he had promised. He would go
back to the little farm and take caro
of the mother in her old ago. He
could make a living there, and that
was more than he was sure of in a
city.
For an hour there had been the
final sounds of departure overhead,
but ho had not noticed this. As he
went forward, however, he was con
scious of a peculiar sensation of ris
ing and falling, which told him that
the ship was under way.
j The hatchway was not closed, but
j even there it would have been too
dark but for a light somewhere above,
which sent a dull shaft into the hold.
In this he opened the letter and read:
“Dear Sammy: “I'm down with the
rheumatics, an’ the doctor says ’t will
be a long time ’fore I’m out. Tho
nabors are good, but they can’t leave
their own work an' do mine. I'm
'feared. Sammy, if you don't come, tho
farm will have to be sold. ’Tain't
wuth much, but l can’t look out for it
any more. But don’t feel bad, dear
boy, if you can't come. It’s only
rheumatics I’ve got.
“Ever your loving mother.”
The young man choked; there was
an unmistakable sob. In a moment
he had clambered up the hatchway. A
few passengers were standing near
the rail or lounging about; but no of
ficers were in sight. It was nearly
dark.
Slipping back to the stern of tho
vessel, which was almost deserted, the
young man glanced about wearily.
The wharves were a mile away and
were shadowy outlines; but he did not
mind that, for he was a strong swim
mer and a bold one. What he feared
was the frustration of a plan which
had suddenly formed in his mind.
No one was watching him, howrever,
and presently grasping a rope, ho
swung himself over the side and from
the end of the rope he dropped into
the water.
Two hours later he drew himself
up on one of the wharves, nearly ex
hausted, but with a look on his faco
that had not been there for years.
“Now for home, ’ he said aloud;
“straight for home.” Then he disap
peared in tho shadow of the great
warehouses.
AFTER BUGS, NOT MEN.
Drug Clerk Unnecessarily Alarmed
Over Demand for Poison.
He entered the drug store with hia
lips set, and a look in his eye that
denoted a determination that was des
perate.
“I want some paris green," he said
hoarsely, “right away! I can’t wait.
They shall die this very day!"
The drug clerk sparred for time as
ho worked his way to the telephone
to call up the police department. “All
right, sir,” he said, “but it will take
a little while to prepare It.”
"Nonsense!" said the man, “I will
prepare it. They are ready to end
their existence. Give me the poi
son!”
The drug clerk paled and pressed
the button for the porter.
"Yes, yes,” he said, “how many
do you intend to kill?”
“About a million!” The clerk paled
again. "Heavens,” he exclaimed to
himself, "the man is not only a would
be murderer, but a maniac as well!”
Then he added aloud: “Are you go
ing to annihilate children and women
as well?”
"Children and women?” said the
desperate man. “Who said anything
about children and women? I’m after
the bugs on my rose3. Is that stuff
ready yet?”
SECRETARY SHAW ENERGETIC.
New Head of Treasury Department
Sets a Hot Pace.
Secretary Shaw is the most indus
trious member of the President’s cabi
net, says the Washington correspond
ent of the Brooklyn Eagle. Shortly
after he succeeded Lyman J. Gage, Mr.
Shaw startled the treasury watchman
by appearing at, the department one
morning promptly at 8 o’clock. The
doors were unlocked by the wonder
ing attendant, who thought that the
secretary’s home clock had slipped a
cog or two.
The next day Secretary Shaw turned
up at the same hour, and he has kept
up the practice ever since. Few treas
ury officials are able to maintain the
pace set by their chief. The latter's
private secretary, Robert B. Arm
strong, comes nearer doing this than
any of the others, and he manages to
get at his desk somewhere near 8
o’clock each morning. Only once he
reported ahead of the secretary, how
ever. The latter gets an early start.
He rises at 6 o’clock every day, eats
his breakfast at 7, and by the time the
hands of the clock point to 8 he is at
the department.
It is safe to say that this is some
thing that no other cabinet officer has
done for more than a few days at a
time.
A MOUNTAINEER’S COMMENT.
Constituent Thought Senator Carlisle
“Read Better Than He Looked."
At the time when John G. Carlisle
was senator from Kentucky his
speeches were widely printed and
attracted a great deal of attention.
One day when the senate was in ses
sion a mountaineer from the wildest
wilds of Kentucky presented himself
at the door and asked to see Senator
Carlisle. The visitor wore homespun
and leather boots and was travel
stained and dusty. He explained that
he had read Mr. Carlisle’s speeches
and considered them great, and had
walked more than a hundred miles
in order to see the senator from his
state. Mr. Carlisle was busy at the
time and the clerk informed the vis
itor that he could not be disturbed.
The farmer looked disappointed and
seemed reluctant to depart. Finally
he asked if he might be taken where
he could Just catch a glimpse of the
great man he had walked so far to
see. The request was granted and
Mr. Carlisle was pointed out to him.
After a brief scrutiny the farmer
turned to the attendant:
“Reads a heap better’n he looks,"
he remarked sententlously, and pre
pared to walk back to Kentucky.—
New York Times.
Occasion’s everything, but the rub
is to know an occasion when you see
It,—“The Lady Paramount"
A WARRIOR BOLD.
By ST. GEO RUE *M Til BOUSE,
Av'horof -fettle Mm Million*," 'The S:>id4*t
Web,' • Dr. Jatk't Widow'," "Mm Caprice," etc.
Cap/ Ifbi 19C1. Street »n>l .Smith. New York.
CHAPTER XIV.
A Battle of Giants.
Some of the most frantic hovered
at the windows, as though ready to
plunge through space if the worst
came.
They were crazed for the time be
ing and could not be blamed.
Many a precious life went out that
fatal day, that might have been saved
by the exercise of a little judgment
and coolness; for of all the attributes
which mortal man inherits or ac
quires these prove the richest legacy
in such a time of actual panic.
Having taken his bearings, and
discovered which way the numbers
ran, Charlie started upon what he be
lieved was the last leg of his course.
Now he must speedily realize the
worst; if he came upon Arline’s rooms
and found them empty, he would
know she was somewhere about the
intricate passages, lost and facing
death, as when ne first found her.
What a travesty of fate such a
thing would be.
Tragedies were being enacted with
in those walls, that had many times
echoed with the sounds of gayety,
and now rang with shrieks; already
the greedy fire fiend liad cut off many
from escape, and yearned to encom
pass their destruction.
Some doors were closed, but the
majority stood gaping wide open,
whence the terrified occupants had
fled just as they were.
in passing one of these Charlie hail
a glimpse of a lady, richly attired,
bending over an open trunk, evidently
seeking to lay hold of her precious
iewel boxes ere Ovine.
Mayhap they cost her what all the
Jewels from Cleopatra’s day to this
could not replace—life.
Once a woman had seized upon him
—crazed by four, she clutched him as
a drowning man might a straw.
Charlie could not have bis mission
jeopardized by such detention—he
was compelled to break away, shout
ing at the same time for her to go to
the stairs and descend while the
chance remained. God only knew
how long this golden opportunity
might be held out to them, for the
greedy flames were making hideous
headway and presently the entire
building would be a charnal house.
All obstacles had thus far been
overcome by his iron will—determin
ed to reach and save Arline, he had
swept them aside as the March wind
whirls the dust out of its path.
But the end was not.
One barrier remained.
Charlie suspected It not until the
thing burst upon him, sudden and un
expected as lightning from the clear
sky ovsrhead.
Again a detaining hand.
This time it brought his forward
movement to a complete stop, and
ho realized there was something more
serious in the detention than when
the poor groveling chambermaid had
clutched his knees.
It was a man; through the haze he
had seen his presence without pay
ing the least attention to him, and
now the fellow, probably as terrified
as the women, frantically clung to
him.
"To the stairs or the fire escape!
—let go!” shouted Charlie, and when
the other laughed with devilish glee
in his ear Stuart turned his head to
see close to his own the face of the
bogus Capt. Brand, transformed by
passion into the countenance of a
fiend.
was it accident or deep design mat
brolight Macauley to this floor of the
hotel at such a tragical moment?
When Charlie felt that grip on his
irm and looked into the maddened
jrbs of the ogre, be seemed to realize
:hat a great crisis in his life had
irrived.
The stake was Arline’s love.
This man might be innocent or
guilty of murderous design, but ap
pearances were mightily against him.
His manner indicated as plainly as
words: “This far shall you come and
no farther.”
Instinct warned Charlie to prepare
for the worst, to throw himself into a
jxisition that was aggressive even
while defensive.
It was a wise precaution, for the
other, even while he continued to
glare malevolently into his face, sud
denly threw himself upon Stuart.
As he expected, Charlie found Ma
cauley a man gifted with tremendous
muscular power. Like trained ath
letes, the two men whirled around,
each seeking the downfall of the
other.
To Charlie each second meant a
closer approach of doom, while with
the other the passage of time brought
ravage satisfaction, as his base plans
grew nearer realization.
Charlie retracted a step mustering
every atom of power in his muscular
frame for the storm which ho meant
to spring upon the already gloating
enemy.
Macauley was drunk with the sue
■jess that had seemed to be already
within his grasp.
He thus could be taken c,“ his
guard, and once in retreat, complete
•out must follow.
So sudden was the attack, so over
whelming in Its resistless energy that
the ogre fell back in confusion, liar l
:y knowing just how to meet so
strange a rally.
And Stuart followed It up—he knew
full well that what was worth doing
at all was worth doing well.
lie was b>*nf on ending the struggle
then and there—in order to do so
most effectively he let out still an
other kink, and surprised his enemy
with a succession of tricks that com
pleted Ills utter demoralization.
It was the work of a gladiator. Char
lie. having stunned the ogre with a
multiplicity of short-arra blows, hurl
ed him in a shuddering heap aside,
and found himself once more free to
go forward.
CHAPTER XV.
When Charlie Kissed Her.
The flames had been making hid
eous progress while this mad en
counter took place, and already their
red tongues leaped into view at the
further end of the corridor.
Charlie was panting like a hunted
stag, hardly able to catch his breath
in that smoke-burdened atmosphere—
yet. no sooner had lie hurled his en
emy to the floor, ami found the coast
clear, than he started along the hall
way.
The numbers on the doors now
stood out plainly enough, thanks to
the illumination afforded by the
flames, and he knew he was close to
where Arline might be found.
He saw the door was closed.
It gave him a shock—then she had
not escaped with the first—she must
still be within her room.
He pounced upon the knob and
turned it.
Horrors! There was no response
—the door utterly refused to give
way, being locked within.
Charlie pounded with his fist upon
the panel.
“Open the door, Arline! Open, for
God's sake! The hotel is on fire!”
Apparently lie shouted loud enough
to arouse the dead, yet no answer
came from beyond.
Stuart knew of but one resource
left—it was a desperate case, and re
quired a desperate remedy.
He raised his foot.
One mighty blow shivered the lock
as completely as though a battering
ram had been brought to bear against
it.
The door flew open
Nothing barred his progress now,
and with a bound the Briton was in
the room.
Arline lay upon a Turkish lounge
—the crash of the door had done what
all else had failed to accomplish, for
she had just raised her head and was
staring at him with eyes dilating in
horror as they discovered the whirl
ing clouds of smoke that curled in
after him.
Charlie ran to assist the girl to
her feet, at the same time calling:
"The hotel is on fire, but be brave,
and I will save you, if possible!”
His manner calmed her more than
all else.
She looked into his face, and al
though her voice trembled, she kept
a brave front as she said:
"I trust you with my life, Charlie!
Tell me what to do, and Ood help us
both!”
Brave little woman! That was what
he thought her then and there—ho
had believed it on that former oc
casion, when she wandered in the
dark Steen dungeons and passages,
and now it. was made doubly sure.
It would have been worth something
to Stuart at this critical Juncture,
could he have become possessed of the
valuable information which the fallen
ogre had held regarding the ways and
means of reaching a Are escape.
As it was, he found himself cast
upon his own resources and compelled
to make a virtue of necessity.
One thing was absolutely certain—
he could not count on assistance, and
if they escaped it must be through his
persistent and determined work.
Then, again, he kept before his
mind the fact that escape must be
downward—that flight to the roof
would only render their immolation
the more certain.
fiiaeri story mey cornu uesceuu
would take them nearer the street
and Increase their chances of being
assisted through the medium of the
fire ladders.
Charlie had taken his bearings—
he knew the Are had not as yet spread
over the entire building, though the
smoke must have done so ere now.
The stairs he had ascended were
still free from flames, though this
I could not long be said, as they were
in Jeopardy.
Snatching up a cloak which ha
found, he pressed It about Arllne.
Some craze must have been running
riot in his veins at the time, for as
her sweet face came close to his own
he deliberately kissed her; nor did
she by look or word protest—there
was something almost holy m the act
—it was as though the man wished
her to know the great love that was
in his heart before they faced the
dreadful ordeal which might be their
destruction. As though he might thus
seal his claim upon the woman he
adored, even though together they
were doomed to journey toward an
other world.
“Come! Have courage, my darling,”
he said.
Probably few men on earth have
been given so strange an opportunity
to declare their love, and under such
conditions who could envy Charlie
Stuart the brief spasm of delight
which he experienced, for the first
time he passed his arm about Arline’s
waist with a sense of proprietorship.
Love is a strong factor in the race
—the girl might have been rendered
frantic with fear had she found her
self alone face to face with the
threatening destruction, but with his
strong arm to lean upon, and the
knowledge of his declared passion to
sustain her, she could meet the dread
issue with courage.
And it required all the nerve she
possessed to keep from screaming
when once in the hall she saw the
avalanche of roaring Are at the farth
er end.
Charlie led her directly toward It,
yet she trusted him implicitly—it was
a glorious symbol of the power ho
v.as to exercise in all time to coma,
it so be they escaped with their lives.
The stairs at last.
Another minute and It might have
been too hazardous to attempt a de
scent—but that small space of time
has won kingdoms ere now.
Down one flight—that much was
saved them at any rate, even should
the worst happen.
When they started upon the second
descent, it was like running the
gauntlet; fingers of fire stretched out
yearningly toward them, and one even
came so close that Arline involuntar
ily uttered a scream, thinking Char
lie, who had thrust his body on that
side, was doomed.
This narrow escape told him that
it would be utterly impossible to make
any furthor use of the stairway in
advancing their cause, since below' it
was wreathed in flames.
Their only course wras to retreat
from the fire as far as possible, and
there await rescue or provide for it
through their own ingenuity.
Still they heard the shrieks of fear
distracted women, cowering in cor
ners or rushing wildly through the
corridors calling for the help that
could never reach them.
Such a scene of horror must haunt
one while life lasts, so fraught with ’
human suffering and the utter ina
bility to render aid.
He had not calculated wrongly:
while the smoke remained more dense
than ever, the danger of immediate
fire was not so great, although he saw
it pushing toward them from three
separate and distinct quarters, as
though closing in upon its victims.
An open window at the end of the
hall was Charlie's objective point.
Ho had hopes of discovering there
the iron ladder that would enable
those who had the nerve to grasp its
rounds to drop to safety below.
Alas! disappointment awaited him,
keen and cutting, since there was no
such avenue of escape provided in
this quarter.
jt was a uizzy distance down to tne
street, and only a maddened brain
could conceive the idea of leaping out
Into space.
Charlie leaned out to survey the
situation.
Immediately a roar of warning arose
from thousands of throats below,
while arms waved him back, doubtless
under the belief that he meant to
take the mad plunge.
He was not quite i educed tK> such
an insane policy—his resources had
not yet been exhausted.
Charlie had his bearings now—he
remembered the lay of the land—
surely there must be a better chance
of escape in the rear.
Turning into another corridor,which
led in the desired quarter, he pushed
on. Arline clung to his arm with
whitened face and eyes that reflected
the horror of her soul, but, thank
Heaven! as yet her steps did not fal
ter, nor did she give any signs of
collapse, while his great courage re
mained to buoy her soul up.
The situation grew more Intense
with every passing second, and Char
lie knew all too well that unless for
tune speedily gave them an opening
it would be too late, since the fire wus
now sweeping with remorseless fury
over the main portion of the doomed
structure.
Charlie Stuart knew he had to solve
the proble mof his existence, as well
as that of the gentle being who clung
so eagerly to his arm.
No man was ever better equipped
for the fray.
He had everything to urge him on
to superhuman efforts — abounding
life, with all that means to a healthy
young man, and, besides, the knowl
edge that he was beloved by the girl
to whom his heart had gone out.
Yes, if ever a man had reason to
strive with might and main for vic
tory, it was Charlie Stuart.
Manfully he met the requisition.
(To be continued.)
--
HOW 8LEEP MAY BE WOOED
Position in Which a Person Should
Lie to Induce Somnolence.
Few persons in an ordinary assem
blage can tell offhand what positions
they assume to induce sleep and yet
there is not an individual in the
world who has not some trick of dis
tributing limbs and trunk to insure
slumber's blissful spell which ho
practices unconsciously. This is a
night habit as perpetual and immuta
ble under normal conditions as the
succession of the seasons. No sooner
are we really off to the land of nod
I than the night habit asserts itself.
Our hands and arms seek the same
parts of the bed or the same portions
of our bodies upon which they have
nightly rested since infancy; our feet
and legs stretch at the same angles
or loosely entwine in comfortable re
laxation as commanded by unconscious
will.
It is seldom of our own deliberate
volition that we place our bodies in
position for sleep, hs you will find
to-night on going to bed if you re
member these words. In truth, if you
do not seek to combat the instincts
you will be surprised at the disposi
tions of the various members involun
tarily made. If you end to 50
to sleep by a new arrangemeat oi tixi
body you will also be surprised by
the revolt against slumber which will
surely ensue, but even before the
struggle is well begun you will prol>
ably surrender and permit the all
masterful night habit to reinstate
those little details of position which
long practice has made necessary to
your comfcrt
