fcmwvkvmt.,- -'vAym,'
A Brave Coward
Dy Robert Louis Stevenson.
SiV&'Wl'Ti,,yAi1
CHA1TKR 11. --(Continued, i
My wife and I, a man and a woman,
nave often agreed to wonder how a per
son could !.: at the name time so hand
aome and so repulsive as Northiuour.
He had the appearance of a finished
.gentleman; his face bore every mark
of Intelligence nnd courage, but you on
ly had to look nt him. even In his most
nmlublo moment, to sec that he had
tlie temper of a slave captain.
I never knew a character that win
both explosive and revengeful to the
same degree; he. combined the vivacity
of the South with the sustained and
deadly hatreds of the North; and bolh
trails were plainly written on his -ace,
which was a sort of danger signal. In
person ho was tall, strong and active;
his hair and complexion very dark; his
features handsomely designed, but
spoiled by n menacing expression.
At that moment hl was somewhat
paler than by nature; he wore a heavy
frown; and his lips worked, and he
looked sharply round as he walked.llke
a man besieged with apprehensions.
And yet 1 thought he had a look of
triumph underlying all, as though he
had already done much, and was near
the end of an achievement.
Partly from a scruple of delicacy
which 1 dare say came too late- partly
from the pleasure of startling an ac
quaintance, I desired to make my pres
ence known to him without delay.
I got suddenly to my feet, and stop
ped forward.
"Nortlimour!" said I.
I have never had so shocklrg a sur
prise In all my day3. He leapt d on me
without a word; something shone In
Ills hand; and he struck for my heart
with a dagger. At the same moment
1 knocked him head over heels. Wheth
er it was my quickness, or his own un
certainty, I know not; but the !lud
only grazed my shoulder, while the
hilt and his list struck mo violently
on the mouth.
I lied, but not far. I had often and
often observed the capabilities of the
uand hills for protracted ambush on
stealthy advances nnd retreats; and.
not ten yards front the scene of the
scuflle, plumped down again upon the
Krass. The lantern had fallen nnd gone
out. Hut what was my astonishment
to see Nortlimour slip at a bound Into
the pavilion, and hear him bar the
door behind hint with a clang of Iron!
He had not pursued me. He had run
nway. Northiuour, whom I knew for
the most implacable and daring of
men, had run away!
As I thus stood transfixed with
wonder, I began to grow painfully con
scious of the Injuries I had received
in the scullle; I skulked around among
the sand hills; nnd, by a devious path,
regained the shelter of the wood. On
the way, tho old nurse passed again
within several ynrds of me, still car
rying her lantern, on the return Jour
ney to tho mansion house of Graden.
This made a seventh suspicious featuro
in the case. Northiuour and his guests,
it appeared, wore to cook and do tho
clennlng for themselves, while the old
woman continued to Inhabit the big
'mpty barrack nmong the policies.
There must surely bo great cause for
secrecy, when so many Inconveniences
were confronted to preserve It.
So thinking, I made my way to tho
den. For greater security, I trod out
tho embers of the lire, and lit my lan
tern to examine the wound upon my
shoulder. It was it trilling hurt,
though It bled freely, nnd I dressed It
as well as I could (for Its position made
it dllllcult to reach) with some rags
and cold water from tho spring. While
I was thus busied, 1 mentally declar
ed war against Northiuour nnd his
mystery.
CIIAPTKR II r.
For two days I skulked round the pa
vilion, prollting by tho uneven surface
of tho links. 1 became nil adept In tho
necessary tactics. TJic.se low hillocks
and shallow dolls, running ono into an
other, became a kind of cloak of dark
ness for my enthralling, but perhaps
dishonorable, pursuit. Yet, In aplto of
this advantage, I could learn but little
of Northiuour or his guests.
Sometimes I thought tho tall man
must bo confined to bed, for I romem
berv'd the feebleness of his gait; and
sometimes I thought ho must hnve
fiono clear nwny, and that Northiuour
and tho young Indy remained nlono to
gether In tho pavilion. Tho Idea, even
then, displeased me.
Whether or not this pair wore man
and wlfo I hnd seen nbundnnt reason
to doubt tho frlondliness of their re
lation. Although I could hear nothing
of what they said, and rarely so much
as glean n decided expression on ho
. faco of either, there was n distance, al
most a stiffness, In tholr bearing which
showed them to bo either unfamiliar
or nt enmity.
On tho morning of tho third day sho
wnlked alono for some time, and I per
ceived, to my great concern, that she
;was moro than once In tears. You
'' will seo that my heart was already In
terested moro than I supposed. Sho
had a firm yet nlry motion of tho body,
and carried her head with unlmngln
ablo grace; every stop was a thing to
look at, and sho seemed in my eyes
to breathe sweetness nnd distinction,
Tho dny was so agreeable, bolng
calm nnd sunshiny, with a tranquil
sea, and yet with a healthful piquancy
vigor la tho nlr, that, contrary to cus
tom, alio was tempted forth a second
time to walk. On this occasion she
was accompanied by Nortlimour, and
they had been but a short while on tho
beach when I saw hint take forcible
possession of her hand. She struu-
I l'lml Mill) tlHoe.Mt .. r..... , 1.,., ..,.., ,.l
CJ-.. ...... HlUllll t 1 I llltll 1, ,J .11-
most a scream. I sprang to my feet,
unmindful of my strange position; but,
ere I had taken n stop I saw Nortli
mour bare-headed and bowing very
low, r- if to apologize; nnd dropped
again at once Into my ambush. A few
words were Interchanged, nnd then,
with another bow. he left the bench
to return to the pavilion. He passed
not far from me, nnd I could see him.
flushed and lowering, and cutting sav
agely with his cane among the grass.
It was not without satisfaction that I
recognized my own handiwork In the
great cut under his right eye, and a
considerable discoloration around the
socket.
For some time the girl remained
where he had left her, looking out past
the Islet and over the bright sea. Then
with a start as one who throws off
preoccupation and puts energy again
upon Its metal, she broke Into a rapid
and decisive walls. She also was much
Incensed by what had passed. She had
forgotten where she was. And 1 be
held her walk straight Into the bor
ders of the quicksand where It Is most
abrupt and dangerous. Two or three
steps further and her life would have
been In serious Jeopardy, when I slid
down the face of the sand hill, which
Is there precipitous, and. running half
way forward, called to her to stop.
She did so, and turned round. There
was not a tremor of fear In her be
havior, and she marched directly up to
me like u queen.
"What does this mean?" she asked.
"You were walking." I told her. "di
rectly into Graden Floe."
"You do not belong to those parts."
alio said again. "You apjitk like nn
educated man. What do you mean -you,
a gentleman by skulking like a
spy about this desolate place? Tell
me," she said, "who Is It you hate?"
"I hate no ono," 1 answered, "and I
fear no one faco to face. My name is
Cassills Frank Cnssllls. I lead tho
life of a vagabond for my own good
pleasure. 1 am one of Nortlunour's
oldest friends, and three nights ago
when 1 addressed him on these links
ho stabbed me in tho shoulder with a
knife."
"It wns you!" she tald.
"Why he did so." 1 continued, dis
regarding the Interruption. "Is muro
than I can guess and more than I care
to know. I have not many friends,
nor am I very susceptible to friendship,
but no man shall drive me front a
place by terror. I had camped In Orn
den Sea-wood ere ho came; 1 camp In
it still. If you think I mean harm to
you or yours, nindam, the remedy Is In
your hand. Toll hint that my camp is
In the Hemlock Den, and to-night he
can stab me In safety while I sleep."
With this I doffed my cap to her and
scrambled up once more among the
sand hills. 1 do not know why. but I
felt a prodigious sense of Injustice and
folt liko a hero and a martyr; while,
as a matter of fnct, I had not a word
to say In my defense nor so much as
ono plausible reason to offer for my
conduct.
Next day she camo out about tho
same hour alone, and, ns soon ns tho
sand lulls concealed her from the pa
vilion, drew nearer to the edge, and
called me by name In guarded tones. I
was astonished to observe that she
was deadly pale, ami seemingly under
tho Influence of strong emotion."
"Mr. Cassills!" she cried; "Mr. Cas
sills!" 1 appeared at once, nnd leaped down
upon tho bench. A remarkable air of
relief overspread her countennnee as
soon us sho saw me.
"Oh!" she cried, with a hoarse
sound, like one whose bosom has been
lightened of weight. And then.
"Thnnk Clod, you are still safe!" she
adiled; "I know If you were you would
bo hero. Promise me that you will
sleep no longer In that wood. You'
do not think how I suffer: nil inat
night I could not sleep for thinking
of your peril."
"Peril?" I repented. "Peril from
whom? From Nortlimour?"
"Not so," sho said. "Did you think
I would toll him aftor what you said?"
"Not from Nortlimour?" I repented.
"Then how? From whom? I seo none
to be ufrald of."
"You must not ask me," wns her re
ply, "for I am not free to tell you. Only
bollovo me, and go hence believe me,
nnd go away quickly, quickly, for your
llfo!"
An appeal to his alarm Is never a
good plan to rid one's self of n spirit
ed young man. My obstinacy was but
Increased by what sho suld. and I
made it a point of honor to remain.
And her solicitude for my bafety otlll
moro confirmed mo In tho resolve.
"You must not think mo Inquisitive,
madam," I replied; "but If Graden is
so dangerous a plnco you yourself per
haps remain hero nt some risk."
Sho only looked at mo reproach
fully. "You nnd your father" but sho in
terrupted mo almost with a gnsp.
"My father! How do you know
that?" eho cried.
"I saw you together when you land
ed," wa8 my nnBwer; and I do not
know why, but it seomed satisfactory
to both of us, ns Indeed It was tho
truth. "Hut," 1 continued, "you need
havo no fear from mo. I see you have
somo reason to bo socrct, and, you may
bollovo mo, your necrct Is ns nafo with
mo ns if I wero In Graden Floe. I havo
scarco spoken to nny ono for years.
TILE EED CLOUD CHIEF.
My horse Is my only companion, antf
even he. poor beast, Is not beside mo
Yu see, then, you may count on m
for silence. So tell me the truth. .:
dear young lady, are vou not In dan
ger?"
"Mr. Nortlimour says yon are an
honorable man." she returned, "and I
believe It when I see you. 1 will tell
you so much, you nre right; we are In
dreadful, dreadful danger, nnd you
share It by remaining where you are."
"Ah!" said I; "you have heard of
me rrom Northiuour? And be give
me a good character?"
"I asked him about you last night."
was her reply. "I pretended." she hes
itated, "I pretended to have met you
long ago and spoken to you of him. It
was not true; but I could nol help my
self without betraying you and yr.i
had put me lit a dllllculty. He praised
you highly."
"And -you may permit me one que..
Hon- does this danger come from
Northiuour?" I asked.
"From Mr. Nortlimour?" she cried.
"Oh, no; he stays with us to share It."
"While you propose that 1 should
run away?" I said. "You do not rate,
mo very high.
"Why should you stay?" she asked.
"You are no friend of ours."
I know not what came over me. foi
I had not been conscious of a similar
weakness since I was a child, but 1
was so mortified by this retort that my
eyes pricked and filled with tears us I
continued to gaze upon her face.
"No. no." she said In a changed
voice; "I did not mean the words un
kindly." "It was I who offended." I said; and
1 held out my hand with it look of ap
peal that somehow touched her, for she
gave me hers at once and even eager
ly. 1 held It for awhile in mine unit
gazed Into her eyes. It wns she who
first tore her hand away and. forget
ting all about her request nnd the
promise she had sought to extort, ran
at tho top of her speed and without
turning till she was out of sight.
And then I knew that I loved her,
and thought In my glad heart that she
she herself was not Indifferent to
my suit. Mnny a time she has denied
It In after days, but It was with a smil
ing but not n serious denial. Tho fol
lowing day we again met.
The next, and that was the fourth
dny of our acquaintance, we met In the
same spot, but early In the morning,
with much familiarity, nnd yet much
timidity on either aide. When alio had
onco more spoken about my danger
and that, 1 understood, was her ex
cuse for coming I, who had prepar
ed a great deal of talk during the night
began to tell her how highly I valued
her said Interest, and how no one had
ever cared to hear about my life, nor
hud I ever cared to relate It. before
yesterday. Suddenly alio Interrupted
mo. saying with vehemence:
"And yet, if you knew who I was.
you would not so much as speak to
me!"
J told her such a though! wns mad
ness, and, little as we had met. I
counted her nlready a dear friend; but
my protestations seemed only to make
her more desperate.
"My father Is In hiding!" she cried.
"My dear." said, forgetting for the
first time to add "young lady." "what
do I care? If he wero in hiding twen
ty times over, would It make one
thought of change In you?"
"Ah. but the cuuse?" she cried, "tho
cause! It Is" sho faltered for a see.
ond "it Is disgraceful to us."
(To be continued.)
The D.iiixi'ioiin Ilium,
"I hnve sometimes wondered whether
a fever would afreet a man today as It
did in war time," said tho veteran.
"My experience isn't very extenalve.but
I wouldn't enro to bo a trained nurse
If nil typhoid convalescents resembled
Jim Holies. Our command was scout
ing In Southern Tennessee, covering a
good deal of ground on a basis of very
slim rations. Jim's ncqualntunco with
field hospitals had not been wlmiiv !.
llghtful, I Imagine, and he reported for
duty when ho hud hardly any symp
toms of recovery but un nppetlte. Rusty
ham and hardtack didn't seem to dc
Jim much good. Ho ate them, but they
left him looking thinner and hungrier
than ever. Two of the boys had cap
tured n chicken somewhere, nnd had
stolen away by themsedves for n quiet
feast. Wandering lonosomely around,
Jim discovered them. He stood nnd
looked nt tho chicken, spitted on n ram
rod nnd roasting over a fence rail (Ire.
Tho boys were hungry, too, nnd they
didn't say a word. 'Did you ever sec
two dogs quarreling over a bone, Dan?'
Jim asked at length. 'Yes,' 'Well,
pretty soon you may see a bone quar
reling over two dogs,' he added. 'And
I'll be tho bone.' They divided th
chicken."
AfrldH'H Ancient Men.
Itecent studies of tho animal life of
Lake Tanganyika has shown that that
lake differs from all other African
lakes In possessing Inhabitants that
belong to oceanic species. Still, there
singular denizens of Lake Tangan
yika are not exactly llko the marlno
organisms of tho present day, and the
oncluslon is drawn that a sea, con
nected with the open ocean, onco occu
pied tho part of Africa whero Tangan
yika now lies, nnd that tho lake Is the
last remnant of the ancient sea.
lln VFu Hiiiullrn)iil,
Mr. Westlako says ho didn't enjoy the
basket picnic you got up at all. What
was tho troublo?" "It war- all because
ho couldn't eat nny of the plo. Wo for
got to take knives along."
Hit Ailvimtucn,
Mrs. Hlnks "Does your husband
over complain when ho gets homo and
finds that the dinner Is cold?" Mrs.
Fuddy "f?o; he always gory to the
ball games."
A HAPPY AFTERNOON.
The obliging young man In the Iron
mongery shop had never done anytliin,:
to offend the schoolgirl of IT. who was
gazing meditatively Into the shop win
dow. Ho had never seen her even lie
fore. He hopes now that he will never nee
her again.
She out'Mcd, looking shyly mound
her, took the seat to which the obliging
voting man waved his hand, and sigh
ed: "1 should like." the said, "to see
come corkscrews."
This brought out nil the young man's
nrst qualities. He was siia e In hl
reply, deferential In his smile, anil
quick with his linger. As he un
wrapped parcels, and let loose different
breeds of corkscrews, one after another
he inquired If she had a perference for
nny special kind.
"Yes," he said, "the corkicrew:t I
want to see are patent corkscrews;
those with a dodge, or trick, or catch,
or lever, to make the coik come out
easily."
"Certainly, miss. Quito so." said
tho young man. Intelligently. "I have
several neat little Inventions of the
kind. This one, you will observe, Is
simplicity itself. No pulling, no vio
lence required. Screw Into the cork
so, turn the handle so, and the coil;
comes out. We sell a great many of
these."
"I can quite understand that." said
the girl, "It looks clever, la It dear.'"
"One and nine pence, miss. We
have the same thing In a better quality
at "
"Oh, thanks." said the girl. "I think
the quality of this Is beautiful. . May
I see another one?"
"Certainly, miss," said the young
mnn. "Now, thin Is a clever little
thing, on the lever principle; no pull
ing or violence requiied. You Just"
"May I try It?"
She was by no means a bad looking
girl, and, though It was stretching a
point, the assistant drove an old cork
into nn empty bottle, and allowed her
to draw It out again.
"Yes." the girl said, "that Is charm
ing. 1 like that much the best. What
price Is It?"
"This Is a little dearer. Two and
four. Weil say two and three, as I
see a slight speck of rust on tlie han
dle, which, however, will easily clean
off."
He began to wrap It up In paper
briskly.
The girl looked at him with aad, won
dering eyes.
"Why are you wrapping It up like
that?" she asked.
"Well, miss. I supposed that you'd
sooner carry It wrapped up. If you
llko to take It as It is. and Flip
Into your pocket, of course "
"I don't think I ought to do that."
said the girl. "You see. It's not my
corkscrew. I don't think you ought to
suggest that I should steal your cm-
t
lS'Ll I. f-V;7 Trap" "
. r i i i i
r TS.II M. u
cwjy-".. iTfr At t
:-.
e-- Z-"MT3..i ""
irn
M;
"I DON'T DRINK."
pToyer's goods. It's not hone.it. Is it !
Of course, I don't want to preach; I
havo several faults myself, but "
Hero tho young man broke In frigid
ly "I wns under tho Impression that you
were buying that corkscrew."
"Why?" asked the girl. "I never
said anything about buying. I dour
want to buy nny corkscrews. It's not
nlco of you to pretend that I do. What
does a girl of my ago want with cork
screws? I don't drink. I Just warned
to look nt the clever mechanism, and
so on. and I think you showed thorn off
nicely. I ought to havo thanked you
before. I'll do It now. Thank you."
"Hero," said tho young mail, with tllo
lntenKO calm of tho exasperated. "Yoi
may think it a funny thing to come in
here, turn over tho stock, spoil It by
handling, nnd wn3to my time; but let
mo toll you thnt people who don't
coino In hero ns customers como In hero
as trespassers, and by the law "
Sho did not look quite so frightened
es he had hoped.
"Yes," she said. "l know all about
the law, and It doesn't affect me, bn
cause, you see, I camo In as a customer.
It doesn't follow because I don't want
to buy corkscrews that I don't want to
buy anything else. You'ro so hasty.
That Is how you got wrong."
"Is thero," said tho young man, "any
thing which you want to buy? Not
want to seo, mind; want to buy?"
"Yes," said tho girl, "there is. Hut
must I buy It without seeing it? it
doesn't seem to mo to bo the usual way
of doing business, but I daresay you
know best."
Tho young mnn sighed.
"You can see any article which you
nro Intending to buy."
"Well, you should have snld that bo
foro. You contradict yourself, you
know. I want n packet of that blue
gray Sllurlnn note paper, with envel
opes to match, and somo chocolato
uougat."
"You't better get out of tho shop,"
eald the man, "You know perfectly
woll thnt this In nn ironmonger's, not n
stationer's,"
"You really nro much too hasty." paid
tho girl. "I'm only following your own
directions, nnd you can't buy chocolato
nougat at a stationer's. There's a card
la that window which says; 'If you
,! Ill , I , I lll'l
W -
'i
C1T
wv. i I 1 1 ' li, i
rrrriTr-s. ' I I
don't see whnt you want In tho window
kl.idly step Inside and ask for It.' J
.didn't see nny Silurian note paper In
that window, so I kindly stepped In
side, nnd "
"Will you go?" suld the young man,
lining his self-control.
"Not Immediately. If I've hetn mis
led, It's your fault, for putting notices
In the window which you don't mean.
Why do you do It? You shouldn't.
There nre other things I want as well.
I want a penny box of tin tacks."
"Will jou go?"
"Yes. Hut I think you ought to
serve me first, without being liupoll'o
about it."
She turned tumid to the proprietor,
who nt that moment appeared behind
the counter.
"Do you think." she said, "you could
persuade this young man to sell me a
penny box or tin tucks'.' I want them,
and I have got the penny. Whenever
I nsk for them he roars out: 'Will vou
go?' "
"She comes In here " the young
man began.
"Well, he can see that for himself,"
said the girl. "Hut don't want to
talk about It any more. If, In a big
ironmonger's shop like (Ms, two grown
men can't ne penny worth of tin
tacks,. I'd belter try somewhere else.
Good-morning."
So she spent a penny on a tram ride
Instead, and laughed the whole of the
way, to the amazement and disgust of
the conductor and fellow passengers.
Today.
GREAT NAVAL DISASTERS.
ApputllllK I.Ul nf l.n-ne nf Slllpi Vol
III Action.
A list or the greatest naval disasters
In whl'h war vessels figured would In
clude (he following:
Ki'gar, Kngllsh. blew up. 1711: all on
board perished.
Naniur. Kngllsh. jTI'.l; T.'IO lost.
liiuce George. Kngllsh sloop, burn
ed. IT.'.S; IDI) lost.
Royal Geoige. Fngllsh frigate. 178'J;
lives lost, over duo.
St. George and Defence. Kngllsh
frigates. 1S1I; nearly L'.(iOi) lives lost.
Mediise, French frigate, 1SH!; nearly
200 lost.
Illrkenhead. Kngllsh troopship. 18:;
4 I lost.
Albany. Hiitish sloop or war, 1 SS3 ;
"10 lost, all on board.
I.ady Nugent. Kngllsh tioopshlp,
ISM; 100 lives lost.
Kurydlce. Kngllsh training ship,
1S7S; ::oi) lost.
l S. S. Oneida, lS7fl; ih" persona
lost.
Captain. Kngllsh war vessel, '1870;
nearly every oho on board perished.
V. S. S. Huron, 1S77; 100 lives lost.
Grosser Kurfurst, German Ironclad.
1S7S; about IlOO lives lost.
Dotterel, Kngllsh sloop of war. ex
ploded 1SSI; 1 111 klled and drowned.
Victoria, Kngllsh battleship, 180.1;
i00 lost.
Relmi Regente. Spanish warship.
ISM; J'JO lost.
I'. S. S. Maine, blown up, 1S!)S; 2C,
lives IojI.
Kngland lias been the unfortunate
victim of the two greatest naval dis
asters on recoid. On Nov. HO, 17011, the
Stirling Castle, 70 guns; .Mary, 7tguns;
Northumberland. 70 guns; Vanguard.
70 guns; York. 70 guns; Resolution. HO
guns; Newcastle, t!0 guns, and Reserve.
CO guns, were all lost in the same storm
and man hundred. perished. Again,
in October. 170, tint Thunderer, 71
guns; Stirling, ill guns; Defiance, (U
guns; Phoenix, 41 guns; La Illiinchc.
.'W guii3; Laurel. US guns; Shark. 2H
guns; Andromeda. L'X guns; Deal Cas
tle, L'l guns; Pene'oie, 21 cutis; Scar
borough, 20 gu;.s; Kabadoos. 14 guns;
.Clnmelcon, II guns; Kndenvour, 11
guns, and Victor, 10 tiu3, were lost In
the WcBt Indies.
MILK IN THE COCOANUT.
There Are Tho Vhj of Celling nt It
When One 'Wmita in Drink II.
Kvery boy knows the three eyej to
be found In ono end or a cocoanut, and
many a boy has bored these small eyes
out, or one or two of them, with the
small inane or a pocket knlfo so as to
get at the milk In the cocoanut, which
he has then drained out Into cup or
drunk direct rrom the cocoanut ItsuR.
Jlut there Is a more fascinating way
still of getting nt the milk In the
cocoanut. Ily thh other method
the cocoanut is opened nt the
other end from the eyes. The
cocoanut Is struck all around gent
ly and repeatedly with a hammer, or a
atone will do, at a distance ol itbout
one-third of tho way down from tho
top. about whore tho Arctic circle
would bo on a globe. A continual gen
tle tapping will finally crack the shell
or the nut all around; not In a lino ex
actly on the circle opposite, but pretty
near to It. Sometimes It cracks shell
and meat of tho nut, too, so that both
can bo lifted off together; sometimes It
crncks out only a shell cap at the top,
which Is lifted ofT, and the enp of meat
underneath Is then cut out around with
n knlfo. And then there you aro with
tho white-lined cocoanut cup to drink
from.
Slerlt TelU, Orriulonnlly.
Charles Roono of Dayton, Ohio, who
has been appointed to Annapolis as a
cadet, was tho only ono of fifty nppll
cnntH who did not havo recommenda
tions from wealthy men. For years
ho supported himself and mother, and
at tho same time guined a good educa
tion by selling papors in his natlvo
city.
runner' Vnvr Hank
Fear of robbers induced a farmer In
MlBhnwuka, Ind to conceal 500 In
rold In u corncrlb. Some weoks after
ward the money was missing, Tho
farmer's cow hecamo ill and died, ami a
post-mortem examination revealed the
coin in tho cow's stomach.
8
nACCOON RITES.
Tholr limnnmlon f Infant V.ooun n4
Their VmhltiB. if I'-.i.mI llefnrH i:tlng.
From the Cincinnati Inquirer: You
have missed a couple of mighty singu
lar events If you txnor saw a coon
christening or com rood cleansing out
at the Zoo. The coon homo at the Zoo
consists simply of a plot of ground
about ns large ns a barn door or extra
generous size would cover. Thla li
surrounded by a wire fence four fer,
high, topped with a broad, up-curving
tin rail, which prevents the llttlu
cl'jwn-llko creatures rrom escaping. In
the i enter of this yard Is a tree twenty
reel high and having iiinr.y nnd heavy
limbs. Near the baFe or the tree Is n
several root square pool or water. This
pool marks two very exclusive, very
notable characteristics that distinguish
the coon rrom any other animal. The
pool Is the coon's christening and food
lieanslng place. When u coon gives
birth to young utmost the tlrat thing
she does Is to take her babies one by
one In her mouth and, accompanied by
the rather coon, proceeds slowly nnd
solemnly In the pool. Arriving nt Its
brink, nnd while the dad coon stands
thoughtfully by, the mother baptizes
the little one beneath the wavo with
all the decorum nnd solicitude that n
Raptlst clergyman Immerses it candi
date for church membership. ARcr
lowering It gently down beneath the
"nrfn mil lirtlng It up again. Mra.
Coon and her husband wend their way
back again to their family corner or
the yard. This service, solemn and
staid, la continued by Mr. nnd Mrs.
Coon until every mother's son of their
Just arrived offspring has been duly
christened. Viewed soberly. It la real
ly one of the most unique, Impressive,
processional performances imaginable.
Rut the Indescribable drollncss of Urn
picture made by the wee husband and
wire an I hey go through with the per
roiniunce la Illimitable, and smiles. R
not laughter, come to almost every one
who witnesses the seiio-comlc bit of
drama. Almost any hour any day In
the year you can find a group or people
tossing hits or goodies to the coons,
t'pon picking up one or these Mr. or
Mrs. Coon instantly, with the "goody"
held daintily In Its teeth, trots over
to the pool and swashes the morsel
back and rorth In the water two or
Ihieo times. Then returning to Ita fa
vorite corner, or up to Its favorlto
crotch In tlie tree, the little chap sets
to devouring It In a way so dainty and
sedate as to put rood-gulping human
to the blush. Rut or course you would
n't blush at Clown Conn's etiquette.
There Is so much original comedy In
every move he makes In thla rood
cleansing nnd eating process that you
laugh In spite or yourself. Ilia very
nppcarance. particularly lit motion, ltla
Jnilge-llke sedatencas, nnd his display
of extreme neatness, his exqulsltenes
In nil things, form a subtle and suru
tickler for anybody's Inugh spot. It
beats the runniest man tho stage can
show.
A t'ltinpliirent View.
From the Chicago News: Jennie,
aged 4, had been poking at the grate
fire and burned a hole In her dress.
"You must not do that. Jennie," said
her mother, "or you'll catch flro and
burn up, and there will be nothing
IcR or you but u little pile or ushes.
Then what would niaminn do?" "Oh."
replied Jennie, "I suppose you would
call Riidget and tell her to sweep up
the ashes."
Ilreil.
"Won't they let you atop nt out
boarding-house any more?" asked the
Circassian. "No," answered tho living
skeleton. "It Ibn't my rault, either.
The last time I was there ono or tho
boarders told the landlady I looked Ilk
he felt after one of her breakfasts,"
, J
HOUSEKEEPERS' ALPHABET.
Ants Scatter branches of sweet
fern where they congrognto.
Rrooms Hang In cellar-way to keep
pliant nnd soft.
Coffee Keep securoly covered, as its
odor affects other articles.
Dish Of hot water in oven pre
vents cako from scorching.
Flour Keep cool, dry and closely
covered.
Glass Clean with tablespoonful of
ammonia In quart of rainwater.
Herbs Gather on a dry day when
beginning to blossom. Keep in paper
sack.
Ink stains Immediately saturate
with milk; rub vigorously with a
cloth.
Jars To prevent, remember it takes
two to mnko a quarrel.
Keep An nccount or your expendl.
turos and Income
Lovo Lightens labor.
Money Count carerully when you
receive your change.
Nutmegs Alvvuya grato blossom ond
first.
Orunges Keep best wrapped In soft
paper.
Parsnips Aro best In March and
April. Keep In ground till spring.
Quicksilver And white of egg de
stroys bed-bugs.
Rico Should bo largo, plump and
white. Old rlco may havo insects.
Scalds And light burnt?: dress with
whlto of an egg to keep out tho air.
Tnblo napkins Should never be
starched.
Use A cement of ashes, salt and
water for cracks in stove.
Variety Is tho best culinary spice.
Watch Your back yard for dirt and
bones.
Xnntlppo Was a scold; don't lmi-t
tate her.
Youth Is beat preserved by cheer
fulness. Zluc Lined or Iron sinks aro better
than w;oden ones.
f:l
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