THE BED CLOUD CHIEF.
r
r - l - M - - M - - t - - - M
PHANTOM
-OR
The Flying
H I -H"H"H"H"t-H"Hf-f M--M--H
CHAPTER XXXI. (Continued.)
"Holy Vlrglnl" exclaimed tho ca",i
taln, breathless; "I liavo known ships
to go down, but never to come up be
fore." "Tho Phantom Ship tho 'Plying
Dutchman,'" shrieked Schrlftcn; "I
told you so, Philip Vanderdecken:
thero Is your father He, hoi"
Philip's eyes had remained fixed on
tho vessel; ho perceived that they wore
lowering down a boat from her quar
ter. ' "It Is possible," thought ho. "I
ehnll now bo permitted!" and Philip
put his hand into his bosom and
grasped tho relic.
Shortly afterward the splash of oars
was heard alongside, and a volco call
ing out: "I sny, my good people, glvo
us a1ropo from forward."
No ono answered or compiled with
tho request. Schrlftcn only went up
' to the captain and told him that if
they offered to send letters they must
not bo received or tho vessel would bo
doomed nnd all would perish.
A man now mado his appearance
from over tho gunwale, at tho gang
way. "You might m well havo let me
had a side rope, my hearties," said he,
as he stepped on deck; "where Is tho
captain?"
"Here." replied tho captain, trem
bling from head to foot. Tho man who
t accosted him appeared a weather-beaten
seaman, dressed In a fur cap and
canvas petticoats.
"What do you want?" at last scream
ed tho captain.
"Yes what do you want?" continued
Schrlftcn. "He! he!"
"What, you here, pilot?" observed
tho man; "well, I thought you had
gone to Davy's locker long enough
ago."
"He, he," replied Schrlften, turning
away.
"Why, tho fact is, captain, wo have
had very foul weather, and wo wish
to send letters home; I do bellovo that
we shall never get round this Cape."
"I can't take them!" cried tho captain.
"Can't tako them! Well, It's very
odd; but every ship refuses to tako our
letters. It's very unkind; seamen
should have a feeling for brother sea
men, especially In distress. God knows
we wish to seo our wives and families
again; and It would bo a matter of com
fort to them If they only could hear
from us."
"I can not tako your letters the
aalnts preservo us!" replied tho cap
tain. "Wo have been a long whllo out,"
aid tho seaman, shaking his head.
"How long?" Inquired tho captain.
"Wo can't tell; our almanac was
blown overboard, and wo havo lost our
reckoning. Wo never bad our latitude
exact now, for we cannot toll tho sun'a
declination for the right day.
"Let mo see your lottera," said Phil
ip, advancing and taking them out of
tho seaman's hands.
"They must not be touched!" scream
ed Schrlftcn.
"Out, monster!" replied Philip; "who
dare Interfere with me?"
"Doomed! doomed! doomed!" shriek
ed Schrlftcn, running up and down
tho deck, and then breaking Into a wild
fit of laughter.
"Touch not tho letters," said tho
captain, trembling as It In an ague fit.
Philip mado no reply, but held his
hand out for tho letters.
"Hero Is ono from our second mato
to his wife at Amsterdam, who lives on
Waser Quay."
"Waser Quay has long been gone,
my good friend; thero is now a largo
dock for ships whero It once was," re
plied Philip.
"Impossible!" replied tho man; "here
is another from the boatswain to his
father, who lives in tho old market
4 place."
"The old market place has long been
pulled down, and thero now stands a
church upon tho spot."
"Impossible!" replied tho seaman;
"hero Is another from inysolf to my
sweetheart, Vrow Ketser with monoy
to buy her a now brooch."
Philip shook his head. "I remember
seeing an old lady of that namo buried
somo thirty years "ago."
"Impossible! I left her young and
blooming. Herc'B one for tho house of
Slutz & Co., to whom tho ship bo
? longs."
"There's no such hoiiso now," re
plied Philip;, "but I havo heard that
many years ago there was a firm of
that name."
"Imposslblo! you mu3t bo laughing
at me. Hero la a letter from our cap
talnjto his son "
"Glvo It mo," cried Philip, seizing
tho letter. Ho was about to break tho
seal, whon Schrlftcn snatched It oii
of his hand, and threw It over tho lea,
gunwalp,
- m "That's a scurvy trick for an old
ehlpmate," observed tho seaman,
flcbrlften made no reply, but catching
up tho othor letters which Phillip had
laid down on tho capstan, ho hurled
them after tho flrst.v
Tho straugo seaman shed tears, and
walked again to the side. "It is very
taard very unkind," observed ho, as
' 'he descended; "tho time may come
when you may wish that your family
should know your situation." So say
ping, he disappeared. In a fow seconds
was heard the sound of the oars ro
treating from tho ship.
"Holy St Antonio!" exclaimed toe
- f lfr-frM--?--------
SHIP
Dutchman.
-BY CArTAN MARXYAT.
captain. "I am lost In wonder and
fright. Steward, bring me up tho nr
rack." Tho steward ran down for the bot
tle; being ns much alarmed as his cap
tain, he hclpod himself beforo he
brought It up to his commander.
"Now," Bald tho captain, after keeping
his mouth for two minutes to tho bot
tle, nnd draining It to tho bottom,
"what Is to bo done next?"
"I'll tell you," said Schrlften, going
up to him; "that man thero has n
charm hung round his neck; tako It
from him and throw it overboard, and
your ship will bo saved; If not, It will
bo lost, with every soul on board."
"Yes, yes, It's nil right, depend up
on It," cried tho sailors.
"Fools," ropllcd Philip; "do you be-
llevo that wretch? Did you not hear
tho man who camo on board recognize
him and call him shipmnto? Ho Is tho
party whoso prcsenco on board will
prove so unfortunate."
"Yes, jes," cried tho sailors; "it's
all right; the man did call blm ship
mate." "I tell rou It's all wrong!" cried
Schrlftcn; "that Is tho man; let him
glvo up the charm."
"Yes, yc3; let him glvo up tho
charm," cried tho sailors, and they
rushed upon Philip.
Philip started back to whero tho cap
tain stood. "Madmen, know yo what
you nro about? It Is tho holy cross
that I wear round my neck. Throw It
overboard U you dare, nnd your souls
aro lost forever," and Philip took the
relic from his bosom and showed It to
the captain.
"No, no, men!" exclaimed tho cap
tain, who was now moro settled In his
nerves: "that won't do tho saints pro
tect us."
The seamen, however, became clnm
orous; ono portion wero for throwing
Schrlftcn overboard, tho other for
throwing Philip; at last tho point was
decided by the captain, who directed
tho small skiff hanging astern to be
lowered down, and ordered both Philip
and Schrlften to get Into it. Tho sea
men approved of tho arrangement, as
It satisfied both parties. Philip made
no objection; Schrlftcn screamed and
fought, but ho was tossed Into the
boat There he remained trembling in
tho stcrn-shcots, whllo Philip, who had
seized tho sculls, pulled away from the I
vessel In the direction of tho Phantom
Ship.
CHAPTER XXXII.
fn n few minutes tho vessel which
Philip and Schrlftcn had left was no
longer to bo discerned through the
thick hazo; tho Phantom Ship was still
in sight, but at a much greater dis
tance from them than sho was bofore.
Philip pulled hard toward her, but, al
though hovc-to, sho appeared to In
crease her distance from tho boat. For
a short tlmo ho paused on his oars to
regain his breath, when Schrlften rose
up and took his seat In tho stern-sheets
of tho boat. "You may pull nnd pull,
Philip Vanderdecken," observed Schrlf
tcn, "but you will not gain that ship
no, no, that cannot be wo may havo a
long cruise together, but you will bo as
far away from your object at the end
of It as you are now at tho commence
ment Why don't you throw mo over
board again? You would bo all the
lighter. He! he!"
"I threw you overboard in a stato of
frenzy," replied Philip, "when you at
tempted to force from mo my relic."
"Aud havo I not endeavored to mako
others take It from you this very day?
Havo I not? He! he!"
"You have," rejoined Philip; "but I
am now convinced that you aro as un
happy as myself, and that In what you
aro doing you nro only following your
destiny, as I am mine. Why and where
foro I cannot tell, but wo are'hoth en
gaged In tho enmo mystery; If the suc
cess of my endeavors depend! upon
guarding tho relic, the success of yours
deponds upon your obtaining It, and de
feating ray purpose by so doing. In
this matter wo nro both agents, and
you havo been, as far as my mission Is
concerned, my most active enemy. But,
Schrlften, I havo not forgotten, and
never will, that you kindly did advlso
my poor Amine; that you prophesied
to her what would bo her fate If sho
'aid not listen to your counsel; that
you were no enemy of hers, although
my enemy; for her sako I forglvo you,
and will not attempt to harm you."
"You do then forglvo your enemy,
Philip Vanderdecken," replied Schrlf
ten, mournfully, "for such I acknowl
edge myself to he."
"I do, with all my heart, with all my
soul," replied Philip.
"Then you havo conquered me, Phil
,lp Vanderdecken; you havo made me
your friend, and your wishes aro about
to bo accomplished. You would know
who I am. Listen. When your father,
defying tho Almighty's will, In his
rage, took my life, ho was vouchsafed u
choice of his doom being canceled
through tho merits of his son. I had
also my appeal, which wns for venge
ance; It was granted that I should
remain on earth and thwart your will.
That as long ns we wero enemies you
should not succeed, but thnt when you
had conformed to thoiilghest attribute
of Christianity, proved on tho holy
cross, that of forgiving your enemy,
your task should be fulfilled. Philip,
Vanderdecken, you havo forgiven your
enemy, and both our destinies aro now
accomplished."
As Schrlftcn spoko Philip's eyes wora
fixed upon him. Ho extended tits hand
to Philip It was takon; and as It was
pressed, tho form of tho pilot wasted
as It wero Into tho air, and Philip
found'-hlhisclf atone.
Philip then pulled toward the Phan
tom Ship, and found that sho no long
er appeared to leave; on tho contrary,
every nilnuto ho was nenrcr and nenr-
cr, nnd at last ho throw In his oars and
climbed up hor sides, and gainod her
decks."
Tho crew of tho vessel crowded
around him.
"Your cnptaln," said Philip; "I must
speak with your captain."
"Who shall I sny, sir?" domanded
one, who appeared to be tho first matt.
"Who?" replied Philip. "Tell him his
son would spoAk to him his son, Phil
ip Vnndcrdccken."
Shouts of laughter from tho crew fol
lowed this answer of Philip, nnd tho
mate, as soon as they had ceased, ob
served, with n smllo:
"You forget, sir; perhaps you would
say his father."
"Tell him his son, If you please," re
plied Philip; "take no noto of gray
hairs."
"Well, sir, hero ho Is coming for
ward," replied tho mate, stepping
aside, and pointing to tho captain.
"What Is all this?" Inquired tho cap
tain. "Aro you Philip Vnndordeckcn, tho
captain of this vessel?"
"I am, sir," replied tho other.
"You nppear not to know me! But
how can you? You saw mo when I
was only throe years old; yet may you
remember a letter which you gavo to
your wife."
"Ha!" replied tho captain. "And
who, then, aro you?"
"Tlmo has stopped with you, bul
with thoso who llvo In tho world ho
stops not; and for those who pass a
llfo of misery ho hurries on still faster.
In mo behold your son, Philip Vandor-
decken, who has obeyed your wishes;
and, nftcr a llfo of such peril and mis
cry as few havo passed, has at last
fulfilled his vow, and now offers to his
father tho precious relic that ho re
quired to kiss."
"My son, my son!" exclaimed ho, ris
ing and throwing himself into Philip's
arms; "my eyes aro opened the Al
mighty knows how long they have
bocn obscured." Embracing each other,
thoy walked aft, awayfrom the men,
who wero still crowded at tho gang
way. Tho elder Vanderdecken knelt down;
Philip did the same, still embracing
each other with ono arm, whllo they
raised on high the other and prayed.
For the last tlmo the relic was takon
from tho bosom of Philip and handed
to his father and his father ralsod his
eyes to heaven and kissed it. And, as
ho kissed It, tho long, tapering upper
spars of tho phantom vessel, tho yards
and satis that were set, fell Into dust,
fluttered in tho wind, and sank upon
tho wave. Tho mainmast, foremast,
bowsprit, everything abovo tho deck
crumbled into atoms and disappeared.
Onco more did ho put tho sacred em
blem to his lips, and tho beams and
timbers separated, tho deckj of tho
vessel slowly sank, and tho remnants
of the hull iloatod upon tho water; and
as tho father and son tho ono young
and vigorous, tho other old and de
crepit still kneeling, still embracing
with their hnnds raised to heaven, sank
slowly under tho deep bluo wavo, tho
lurid sky was for a moment Illuminated
by a lightning cross.
Then did tho clouds which obscured
the heavens roll away swift as thought
tho sun again burst out In all Its
splendor the rippling waves appeared
to dance with Joy. Tho scroamlng sea
gull ngaln whirled In the air, and tho
ecared albatross onco moro slumbered
on tho wing; tho porpolso tumbled and
tossed In their sportive play, tho albl
corc and dolphin leaped from tho
sparkling sea. All nature smiled as
It It rejoiced that tho charm was dis
solved forover, and that tho Phantom
Ship was no more.
THE END.
"Karthijunke Krliors."
Mr. John Milne gives this namo to
certain vibrations, which his delicate
Instruments havo revealed, running
through the crust of the earth after
the occurrence of dlstnnt earthquakes.
Tho apparent symmetry of theso puls
ations, resembling tho rhythm of mu
sical sounds, leads him to suggest that
an earthquako may bo "a blow or
blows, which come to an ond with
musical vibrations Inside the world."
Tho blows probably come from tho
slipping or falling of rock within tho
earth. Mr. Milne, at his observatory
on tho Isle of Wight, photographo
vibrations of his selsmographlc pendu
lums, Induced by earthquakes many
thousands of miles away, and In a re
cont letter he speaks of "a magnificent
set of waves which arrived from Mex
ico on the night of Jan. 4th."
Hot Much of the Augel, After All.
Prison chaplain Ah, you have a pot,
I ECO.
Convict Yes, this rat. I feods him
every day. I think more o that 'ore
rat than any other llvln' creature.
Prison chaplain Ah, In every man
there's something of tho angel left, it
ono can only find it. How camo you to
tako ouch a fancy to that rat?
Convict Ho bit th' warder. Tld
Bits.
Mot Iluppy.
"It's a very happy little family, Isn't
It?"
"Oh, dear, no! Her husband Is jeal
ous of her poodle, and her poodto la
Jealous ot her baby, and the baby cries
for its father nil th? time." Tit-Blta.
HTnBi"? if in naffer Wirll - mvAm wfK&fxtI s
CHAPTER I.
"Hand8omo? Yes. Ho has (ho most
Innocent blue eyes fn tho world, nnd
tho smllo of nn nngol; but ha broke
his mother's henrt, spent hor fortuno
nnd his own, nnd committed every
wickedness under tho nun beforo ho
wna ono-nud-twonty. Yob, It Is very
and very! And now poor old Col
onel Brnnscomb la dying tho ac
counts this morning wcio qulto hope
less nnd Charllo Ih his next holr. An
other fortuno for him to squander, us
ho hnB nlrendy squandered everything
ho could lay his hands on."
"But I thought tho estntu was not
entnllcd," remarked the lady to whom,
tho foregoing was addressed.
"No, It Is not entnlled. but tho Col
onel has very strong Ideas on the
subject of hereditary right. Ho nov
or would mako u will; ho has nlwnyo
believed that Charllo ultimately
would pull himself together poor old
man; ho must dlo In that belief. Char
llo will nmko ducks nnd il rakes of
beautiful Forest tan In no time. Oh,
It Is n sorrowful pity!"
Tho speaker, n linudsomo well pre
served woman of fifty or thereabouts,
with tho cxcluslvo stamp of tho
"county" about hor, Btghcd profound
ly n-j sho concluded.
"But there Ib tho niece tho Colonel
was dovotcd to her. I understood," ro
tnarked tho second voice.
"Yes, absolutely dovotcd. Poor dear
child sho will mlsB him terribly In
every way! I bollovo tho Colonel
pleased himself nt ono tlmo with tho
Idea of a nuirrlngo between Nona and
Charllo, and throw them very much
togothor too much, when you consid
er what a fascinating uenpogrnco ho is.
Shu la n very sweet gill."
"I hopo her uncle haa provided for
hor. Sho was qulto dependont on
him, was sho not?"
"Yes. It Is Imposslblo to sny what
ho haB done something, I hope. But
without n will which ho cortnlnly
has not made I should bo afraid "
Hero I, Sidney Fort, tho Involuntary
listener to n conversation which, con
sidering tho plnco and clrcumstnnccfl,
wna certainly Indiscreet, Btlrrcd,
coughed, nnd othorwlso mado tho fact
of my waking prcsenco known. Tho
voices, which had been somewhat
raised, dropped at onco to a lower
tono.
I was tho third pasBongcr In n first-
WW
"OH! IT IS A SORROWFUL PITY."
class railway carriage traveling from
London towards a country station In
tho midland counties. I had at start
ing withdrawn into tho fartherest cor
ner of tho carrlago, and, bolng sleepy
from the previous night's burning of I
tho midnight oil, had disposed myself
to utilize the enforced idleness ot tho
journoy In recouping exhausted na
ture. I bollovo that tho two ladles,
in thp interest ot their subject, had
quite forgotten that thoy wero not
alono. With my newspaper spread ov
er my face I looked, as to all Intents
and purposes I was, up to a certain
point, a dummy. Tho soft murmur of
the feminine voices had had at first a
soporific effect; but tho Journoy was
somewhat long, and, tho demands of
nature satisfied, I awoko to hear tho
fag-end of a conversation which,
strange to say, had a particular inter
est for mo.
I was tho Junior partner, lately ad
mitted, ot a firm ot London solicitors.
Ono of my seniors was on tho Conti
nent, tho othor was laid up with ono
of tho serious bouts .of bronchitis
which had been tho primary cnuso ot
my initiation Into tho secrets of a
large and Important clientele, An Im
perative BUmmons had como early that
morning for our Mr. Rowton to tako
instructions for tho will of a country
client Tho terms of tho telegram
mltted of no delay, and within an
hour of Its rdcclpt I was on my way
to Euston Station, wheuco I wired to
"Colonel Branscombo, Forest Lea,
Midshlro," that "Sldnoy Fort, of
Messrs. Rawton & Fort," had "left by
tho 11:45 train," and would- "bo with
him not later than 0 p. m."
In tho absonco of my principal and
tho pressuro at starting, I had no fur
ther knowlodgo of my client than the
fow data furnished by tho head clerk
WffiNfk IJV&I&
nt tho olllce "Old family; cstato
worth fifteen thousand n year; biml
ncsa In tho hnnds of thn firm slnro
1825. Mr. ltowton thoiiKht u great
deal of tho Colonel; rather cccontrln
and arbitrary, but a gentleman down
to tho ground; qulto or tlio old sciiooy
novor married; had nophowH and
nieces;" he Fisher had Been n
young gentloman nt tho ollke, a neph
ew of the Colonel's.
Tho ndltlonnl information ronvpyod
by my fellow-passengers Imparted to
my expedition tho Inloicat It hnd hith
erto lackml. 1 wna nn doubt about to
Havo Forest Lea from tho hands of tho
spundhrlft Charlie, nnd possibly to en
dow n young and lovoly girl with tho
fortuno ho hnd forfeited. Tho mutter
wn lifted nil nt onco from n dry do
tall of business Into n chapter of io
mnnce. I am, notwithstanding my
profession, somowhnt Imaginative,
nnd by tho tlmo tho train Rtoppod nt
Wcstford, tho stntlon for which I wns
hound, I had drawn a BUllleluntly fun
ellful sketch of tho position.
Llttlo, however, did I guoss how tho
events nnd experiences of the ensuing
week wero to color nnd Influcnco my
own futuro llfo.
My truvollng companions nlao
alighted nt Westford. 1 buw them, nt
tcndcdby a mnld nnd a footmnn, nnd
obsequiously escorted by tho station
miiBter nnd porters, drlvo off In n
wngonetto with a pair of woll-groomod
roans, nnd then I was nccostod by an
oldorly groom with n cockndo In his
hat.
"Mr. Fort, for Colonel BranBcombo'B,
Forest Lea. Blr?"
"Yes," 1 ropllcd. "How Is tho Col
onol?" "Very bad, air," nnswored tho man,
shnklng lilt head, nnd with tho man
ner of n good Borvnnt who fools tho
Ions of n good innBtor.
My luggage, which consisted of n
small portmanteau aud n black bag,
wna put Into tho dog-cart In waiting
nnd In n fow minutou I was being driv
en nt an oxhllarntlng paco through
something llko six miles of n country
which, in Its summer beauty of rich
foliage nnd delicious green pnsturo was
"A good maBtcr served by faithful
servants," I aollloqulzcd. "Thoy nro
dreading tho chnngo which spendthrift
Charlie's rolgn will bring. It romnlns
to bo seen wlicthor thut rclgu Is to bo,
' or whether a fair young chutelalno Is
like tho good St. Elizabeth of gra
cious memory to dlspenso hor smiles
and hor charities In tho placo of tho
bolovcd Colonol.
CHAPTER II.
Tho great oak 'doors opened noise
lessly as I mounted tho wldo shallow
steps. Evidently somo ono was on tho
watch to savo tho clangor of tho loud
boll through tho silent olek-houso. I
stepped from tho portico Into n largo
wldo hall hung with untlcrod heads
and other trophies, telling of tho Colo
nel's lovo for sport, nnd carpeted with
tlgor and othor skins spread on tho
polished oak floor. It was altogether
an Imposing nnd appropriate ontranco
to tho fluo old mansion.
Hero, amongst tho distinctly mascu
line elements, was not long In de
tecting tho subtle signs of tho prea
enco which hail Just pervaded my
wnklng dreams ot Forest Lea. Sot on
tho amplo old-fashioned window-lodge
wero old china bowls heaped with rich
crimson and golden roses, and tho
wldo flrcplaco was filled with grace
fully grouped ferns. A shady hat
wreathed with green loaves lay on a
Utlo splral-lcggod table, cIobq to a
largo old-fashioned screen which shut
off the staircase; and near tho hat had
ad-Juccu lhrw a Pal,r ot "? snuntlot
glovcB, which could novor havo fitted
poor Colony's hands. A llttlo black-
and-tnn terrier, nestled In ono of tho
fur rugs, roused Itself nnd camo up to
me, nestling Its cold noso in my of
fered palm, and looking up luto my
faco with the wistful nppoal of Its so
clablo nature Evidently It was a
lady's pot, neglected or forgotten In
tho prcsonco ot sad and overwhelming
caros.
A gravo mlddlo-nged man-servant
Interrupted my observations with
rrspeotftul greeting.
"Dinner will " Korvod at 7 o'clock,
air," ho Bald. "Will you tako nny re
freshments now brandy or soda, or
sherry nnd bltterfl, Blr? Thero Is tea
In tho drawing-room still." Then, ns
1 declined nil his luspltahlo sugges
tions, ho ndded, "I will show you to,,
your room, then, It you please, sir.
Tho Colonel Is sleeping; tho doctors
nro mosl anxious ho should not bo
disturbed. We. had Sir Alfred Cox
down from London this morning. I
was to say that tho Colonel might not
ho nbio to see you for soma lltlio'ttmo,
Ho has had no sleep boforo this for
clght-nnd-foriy houis ho haa had
such violent pains nnd now that tho
sleeping-draught has taken effect tho
medical gentlemen mako n great point
of "
"Oh, certainly I qulle understand!
Wo iniiHt hopo thnt this sleep will bn
n turning point In tho Illness." 1 said
cheerfully- "Of courso It Is of vital
tmportnnro thnt thn Colonel should
not bo aroused. Sleep is ofton tho
best modiclno.''
"Tho Colonel has been counting tho
hours until you could bo hero, Blr," tho
man went on, ns hu unpacked my
portmanteau nnd laid out my apparoi.
Ho sent for tho BrndBhnw ns Boon ns
your telegram camo, nnd ordered tho
dog-curt himself. Ho only dropped off
ns you turned Into tho avenue. Is that
all I can do for you, slr7 You will find
tho morning pairars lit tho library,"
There wan a suppressed Intgrest and
excitement In tho manner of tlio man,
who was evidently nn old and confi
dential retainer. My arrival and mis
sion were, as I could sec, matters ot
supremo Importance nnd curiosity to
thnt anxious household.
Tho butler was waiting for mo again
In tho hall ns I descended tho stairs.
Ho throw open tho door ot tho room
on tho right, and ushered mo In with
tho announcement:
"Mr. Fort."
It was with n momentary nnd un
comfortablo thought of my morning
dross that I found myself In tho prcs
enco of a lady n fair Bllm girl whoso
white gown made her nt onco a con
spicuous point In tho Bombrc, heavily
furnished room. Sho was seated In o
lurgo leather chair at tho tnhlo In th
center of the apartment, her handj
folded over tho closed volumo In hoi
lap, nnd her eyes llxcd upon tho door,
Lnrgo limpid bluo-gray eyes thoy wore,
I Haw as I camo nearer, searching mlno
with an anxious questioning gazo.
This then wns tho "Nona" 'of whom
my fellow passengers had spoken the
Idenl about which I had woven bo many
Imaginings. A very fair maiden, tin
fairest, Bweotcst I decided on tho In
stant whom it had over been my M
to meet, altnougli tho lovely eyes wor
ringed with dark shadows as from
watching and weeping, and tho whlt
gown had been put on without tho ad
dition of a single (lower or ornament
She rose as I advanced towards hot
and bowed gruvely. Once, I thought
her hand stole out with n hesitating
gesture as If slj would havo offorcd
It to me. But 15. was withdrawn almost
Instnntly, and rested on tho table be
side her, as she stood, a graceful droop
ing figure, with that ludescrlbablo and
exquisite graco of dellcato refinement
which is inherited novor ncqulrcd. A
very gracious chatolalnc, I thought, II
tho sleeping colonel upstairs should so
will. Aud with tho thought thero cam
a EtUngo dumb thrill of pain, as II
tho fair vision wero floating away
from mo Into tho dim shndowy dis
tance. Somo conventional rcmnrk as to th
weather was tho only thing which oc
curred to me, nnd searacd for its com
monplaccneas torrlbC out of harmony
with tho spirit of tho occasion, es
pecially" as It was met by another long,
troubled, almost trembling look lnta
tnnrt
wj mv-v. Ui-'l
(To bo continued.) I
MARRIED TO ORDER.
How Atoxnniler tho firoat Celebrated
HU Vlftorjr (Iver Uurliu.
Tho newspaper reporters of tho tlmo
cf Alexander tho Great, had thero been
any, would havo had the heaviest
day's work of thlr Uvc3 in covering
tho Interesting events that marked the
day Alexander was married. On that
day, ays the Now York Journal, au
thenticated nccounta tell us, no loss
than 20,202 men and women woro mado
husbands and wives. Alexander had
conquered Darius of Persia, anil folt
thnt this great achievement was im
portant enough to bo signalized In a
conspicuous manner. Imaglno tho
prldo of a conqueror who decides that
It can bo mcasurod proporly only by a
wholesale giving and taking In mar
riage the Mko ot v...ch tho world has
novor 6cen. Alexander hlmsolf mar
ried Statlra, tho daughter of tho con
quered k'i3, nnd decreed that one
hundred of -his chief officers should bo
united to ono hundred ladles from tho
noblest Persian and Mcdean families.
In addition to this, ho stipulated that
10,000 of his Crook so.u.era should
marry 10,000 Asiatic women. When
everything was settled a vast pavilion
was erected, tho pillars of which wora
six feet high. Ono hundred gorgeous
chambers adjoined 'this for tho hun
dred noble bridegrooms, whllo for tho
10,000 nn outer court was lnclosed.out
ddo of which tables wero spread for
tno multitude. Each pair had seats
and ranged themselves in semi-circles
around tho royal throno. Of course
f tho y'iests could not marry this vast
number c couples in tho ordinary
way, so Alexander the Oreat devised a
very simple ceromony. Ho gavo his
hand to Statlra and kissed hor an ox
ample that all tho bridegrooms fol
lowed. This ended tho ceromony.
Then followed the festival, which lit
ed flro days, tho grandeur of which
has novor been equaled since.
V?V
