THE BED CLOUD CHIEF.
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CHAPTER XL (Continued.)
"Possession is nine points of the
few," I nnswered. "I am afrnld It will
be a difficult matter to eject Mr. Brans
combo unless wc can produce the col
onel's will."
"Which wo cannot?" "Which we
cannot at present?"
"Then nothing can he done?"
"I fear nothing, excepting to apprise
the heir-at-law of the possible exist
ence of the will made In Miss Brans
combo's favor, and to warn him that It
may any day bo brought forward."
"Humph!" growled tho rector. "And
If It should never turn up If, as I be
gin to suspect, there- has been some
deep-laid plot some rascality of which
Master Charlie is, as usual, the head
and front, what then?"
"Then," I replied, "Master Charlie
will remain In possession."
"And Nona will be n beggar," said
Ml, Hcathcote sadly. "Poor child, poor
child!"
Ms Miss Branscombe at Forest
Lea?" I ventured to Inquire presently.
"No; she and Miss Ehnslto aro with
us. Mr, Charlie's bachelor establish
ment was hardly a fitting homo for
her, and wo thought It advisable that
Bhc should leave the neighborhood at
present at all events until wo had
heard your opinion."
"In the circumstances I should ad
vise MIsj Branscombo to retire," I said
gravely.
"Yes, yes, exactly," assented tho rec
tor. "In the circumstances as I now
understand them she must of course
leave the neighborhood."
We drove on for some time after this
In silence. I was occupied with rose
colored dreams of a future for the dis
possessed heiress a future which had
evidently not entered Into the rector's
calculations, from the same point of
view at all eventB.
"If tho fellow were not what ho Is,
the poor colonel's original plan would
have settled tho difficulty," muttered
Mr. Hcathcote, as he touched up his
'stout cob. "But he was right he was
right; It would be a sacrifice not to be
thought of not to bo thought of."
As he spoko wo were passing the
Forest Lea woods, which here swept
"FORQIVE ME," I CRIED.
down to tho edge of green turf border
ing tho road. From ono of tho gladc
llko openings two figures emerged In
lront of our carriage, sauntering slow
ly along on tho grass, too deeply ab
eorbed In conversation apparently to
be awaro of our approach. One a Bllm
girlish figure, dressed In black gar
ments, with graceful, fair head bowed
like a Illy on Its stalk was, a3 I know
at once, Nona's; and it needed not the
rector's impatient exclamation and
sudden, quick Jerk of the reins to tell
mo that tho slight, almost boyish figure
by her sldo was that of her cousin,
Charllo Branscombo.
In an instant the half-scotched sor
pent of Jealousy was roused again and
stung mo to tho hoart. All my old
doubts and suspicious rushed back like
a flood. Fool that I had been over to
dream of hopo In tho face of what I
had seen and know.
Thcro was something of mockery In
the elaborato bow, returned by a curt
nod, with which Mr. Charles Brans
combe greoted the rector; and, as I
read it, a gleam of triumph on tho
handsome fair face in which I recog
nized tho fatal beaute de d table I had
heard described.
A passing glimpse of Miss Brans
combo showed me a half-startled, sur
prised glance of recognition a swift,
shy blush, In return for the grave bow
with which I acknowledged hers. The
meeting had upset tho rector's equan
imity as much as It hnd mine. Ho
spoke no moro unUJ we turned in nt
the rectory gate.
CHAPTER XII.
Nona was not In tho drawing room
teforo dinner. Mls3 Elmsllo was, and
received me with tearful cordiality,
"It's a sad change," sho whispered,
"especially for the dear girl. But she
doesn't seem to feat It. I really bolleve
WNpyiovms.
she Is glad that Charlie is at Forest
Lea." And then she asked tho Inevi
table question, which had come to bo
almost nn exasperating one to mo
"Any news of the will, Mr. Fort?"
"None," I answered; "Its loss Is as
great a mystery ns ever."
It was not until wo were seated at
the dinner table that Nona slipped
quietly In, and took a place by Miss
Elmslle opposlto to mine. There was
a consciousness In her manner, n de
precating timidity, as she met my eyes,
which confirmed my fears. She was
lost to me, and the Gordlnn khot of
the Forest Lea difficulty was cut by her
hand, In a way for which I at loast
ought not to have been wholly unpre
pared, The rector was called away on some
parochial business after dinner, and I,
not caring to Join the ladles In my per
turbed condition of mind, slipped out
through the open dining room window
and wandered about tho old-fashioned
rectory garden, and presently out Into
the green lanes, sweet with the per
fume of lato-bloomlng honeysuckle
and silent In the hush of evening's
rest from toll and lubor.
Love and courtship were certainly In
the air of that corner of Mldshlre, and
I was always condemned by some ma
licious fate to be, not an actor In the
sweet drama, but a listener and an In
truder. For tho third time since my
Introduction to the neighborhood I en
countered a pair of lovers.
They were leaning against a gale,
looking Into a meadow, hidden from
me until I was close upon them by a
great tangle of traveler's Joy, wreath
ing a Jutting bush of wlldbrlar rose at
tho corner of tho hedge. It was too
late for me to retire when I came upon
tho couple, so tho.e was nothing for it
but a discreet cough, which I had the
presence of mind to set up for the
emergency. The woman turned has
tily at the sound, and to my surprise
I saw that It was Woodward, Nona's
maid.
To my surprise, I say, for there was
something In the staid settled plain
ness of tho maid's appearance which
was Incongruous, to my fancy, with
lovers and love-making. Decidedly I
S fl&nb
"MISS BRANSCOMBE-NORA."
Bhould not have given Woodward
credit for having a sweotheart. Yet
there she was, keeping a twilight tryst
amongst the clematis and the honey
suckle, like any maid of eighteen. And
if anything could have added to my
astonishment It was the discovery that
tho awaln whose arm was about hor
waist, whose head was bent down over
hers, was the rector's smart, new
groom! There must, I decided.be some
thing moro in the mlddlo-aged maid
than met the eye, since she had car
ried off tho prize from all her young
and pretty rivals. Possibly, I thought,
with a little contempt for the passion
which had passed bless the groom and
tho Indy's maid possibly Plutus had
as much to say In the matter as Cupid.
Miss Woodward might have savings
which the shrowd Londoner hnd scent
ed. The man overtook me presently,
as, loit In the Intricacies of stable-yard
and back entrance, I was trying to find
my way back to tho garden and lawn.
"I beg your pardon, sir," ho said,
civilly. "That path leads to the
kitchen, this" opening a gate "will
tako you to tho side entrance Into the
hall."
"Thank you," I answered. "Good
night."
"Good night, Mr. Fort."
I looked up, surprised at the sudden
change of tone and manner. Tho man's
eyes met mine.
"Widdrington!" I had almost ex
claimed, but that his hand touched
mjne on the gate latch and checked tho
word.
"You left this In the dog cart this
afternoon, sir," he said, handing me a
letter. "I picked It up wfton I cleaned
the trap."
I took the paper from him nnd
passed on with another good night.
My mind was In a wild state of alarm;
Widdrington was on the track of the
secret nay, with Woodward under hts
Influence, tho secret was probably al
ready his. How could I waru Nona
how avn her?
Tho opportunity was not far to seek.
When I entered the drawlng-rooM Mlsa
Hrnnscombe waj there alone, savo for
Mrs. Heathcotc's sleeping presence.
The Rector's wife lay back In her com
fortable arm chair by the Are, blltstully
asleep. Nona sat by the tea-table In
the opposite corner, her Eoft-shaded
lamp the one spot of light in the room.
Her elbow rested on tho tablo, her
cheek on her hand, her pale, sweet faco
grave and sad. The eyes she raised at
my entrance fell almost Immediately,
and a deep flush, painful In its intcn
sltj. spread over cheek, neck and brow.
"You will have some tea?" sho said,
beginning to nrranqo her cups with
hands which trembled so much Unit
she was forced to desist. Then she
folded them tosolutely In her lap and
looked up nt me, making, as I could
see, a strong effort at composure. "Mr.
Fort," she went on, In almost a whis
per, "you aro angry with me; nnd you
have been so kind, I am sorry that you
cannot forgive me now that every
thing has come right. And I do want
to tell you how thoroughly I under
stand and thank you for all your kind
thought for me, although I am afraid
I must have seemed ungrateful in op
posing you, and nnd all."
I bowed. I was afraid to trust my
self to speak Just then. And yot the
precious moments were flying! Mrs.
Heathcoto stirred In her chair.
"I wish you would believe that this
U3 things are now, I mean Is thn voiy
happiest thing for me, as well as
right," she added, bending towards mo
In her enrnestness.
"I hope you will be very happy," I
said, conquered by tho sweet humility
of her appeal, whilst the words Feem'd
to scorch my heart.
"Im am very happy," she answered
gently. "Why do you speak In the fu
ture? I shall never regret never. I
could never grow to be so sordid, and
I should like to be sure that you aro
not vexed about It. We all owo bo
much to your kindness In thoso sad
days." The rosy color flamed In her
cheeks again. "I should like to feel
thnt we are friends."
"Why not?" I responded, with un
controlled blttcrner.s. "It Is not for
mo to prescrlbo to Miss Branscombo
what Is for her hnpplnc-s. It Is to he
presumed that she Is herself tho best
In this ca$e, perhaps, the only Judge."
The blushes faded nnd left her whito
as a illy. Something in her look made
mo feel as if I had struck her a blow.
"Forgive me," I cried. "Miss Brans
combe Nona" as she rateed her shak
ing hands and covered her face "what
have I done what have I said?"
And then 1 do not know how It hap
pened; I have never been able to re
duce the next supremo moments to any
coherent memory but nor dear head
was on my rhculder, my arms wero
round her as I dropped upon my knees
by her side, and without a spoken word
I knew that neither Charllo Brans
combe nor any other barrier stood be
tween me and my darling, Sho was
mine, and mine only, and the gates of
Paradife had opened to mo ut test
(To be continued.)
Safe suit-.
The unexpected humor which often
tints the grave speech of tho Quakor
Is well illustrated In a little story told
of an eminent young physician of
Pennsylvania ut the time of the civil
war. He had determined to servo his
country and leave his prnctlco at homo,
but met with grieved remonstrance
from his mother, a sweet-faced Qua
keress. "I beseech of thee not to go
to this war, my son!" she pleaded, her
soft eyes full of tears. "But I do not
go to fight, mother," said tho doctor,
cheerfully. "I am going as a medical
man. Surely there Is no harm In that"
"Well, well," bald the llttlo mother,
doubtfully, "go then, If it must be so."
Then suddenly n gleam of loyalty
shone through her tears, and she
straightened hcrsolf and looked brave
ly up Into hor tall son's face. "If thee
finds thee kills more than thee cures,"
she said, demurely, "I advise thee to
go straightway over to tho other side,
my son!"
Dlckeii' Ilent Novel,
It la well known among literary peo
ple that Charles Dickens considered
"David Copperfleld" tho best of his
novels, but occasions when ho actually
expressed that opinion are bo rare that
It is worth while to recall an Incident
which happened while he was In Phila
delphia. Mr. Chapln, father of Dr.
John I). Chapln, the well-known expert
on Insanity, was at that time at tiio
head of the blind asylum here. Raised
typo for the blind was Just coming
Into vogue, and, desiring to have one
of Dickens' books printed in that way,
Mr. Chapln took advantage of an in
troduction to tho great novelist to ask
him which of his works he considered
tho best, and mentioned the reason
why he wanted to know. Dickens un
hesitatingly answered, "David, Copper
field. Philadelphia Record.
Cnndor of it Dublin Surgeon.
Dr. Calles, an eminent surgeon at
Dublin, nrho died In 1843, was remark
able for his plain dealing with himself.
In hla foe book he had many such
candid entries as tho following: "For
giving Ineffectual advice for deafnosi,
1 guinea." "For telling hlra ho was
no more 111 than I was, 1 guinea." '.'For
nothing that I know of except that he
probably thought he did not pay me
enough last time, 1 guinea."
Of the world's annual yield of petro
leum, 6,000,000,000 gallons, the Unltad
States produces ono-nalf.
WHEN HE CAME HOME
Unconscious of the picture sho made,
sho stood In tho doorway of n HI tin
reception room that led Into tho n raw
ing room, her eyes lived thoughtfully
on a man's facu In tho crowded room
beyond,
Melane had been watching her fo:
somo time; In the past two years ho
had heard much of her social triumphs
and charms.
"Glvo mo n welcome home," ho
pleaded, crossing tho room to where
sho stood.
"Of cour.o I will." Sho lifted her
eyes to lilt. They wero very beautiful
eyes a fresh, unsullied nobility of
character shone in them.
"It Is a surprise to see you to-night.
I thought you were on the other side."
"So It seems tho home folk think,"
ho answered, ruefully. "I've had n
beastly cold welcome, (lot homo an
hour ago to find every soul gone. Not
a handshake but from one old negro
left to keep the plnco from walking off,
I suppose. The lights nnd tho music
wero so cheery over here, I ventured
without an Invite, nnd In this garb,"
looking down at his traveling suit;
"but Mrs. Brown Is nn old friend."
"I Bee," tho girl laughed; "your
mother doesn't expect you home until
next week."
"You were perfectly oblivious to tho
fact that I have been watching you
for ten minutes nnd wondering why
you were alono nnd so quiet."
"I was Indulging In a llttlo retro
spection. I'm hardly responsible,"
with n shrug of the fair hhoulders;
"U'b n fault of the ago this picking
to pieces of emotions, laying one's
heart on n dissecting tablo and ana
lyzing tho why and wherefore of each
beat."
"And was the tnll young fellow In
there," glancing toward the drawing
room, "responsible for It all?"
Sho laughed outright. "Isn't It de
licious to have you for my mentor
again! I might as well confess. All
winter he has paid mo marked atten
tion. Flowers, candles and all the rest,
you know, and I have liked him. Two
weeks ago the tall, dark girl In thcro
with him camo here to visit Lena
Wells and I havo been coolly dropped.
I was trying to find out If I cared, or
If It was only wounded pride."
"Which Is It?" ho questioned, the
eagerness in his voice unmistakable.
"I am not sure yet," sho answered,
thoughtfully, "nnd I could have made
such an ndmlrslon to no other man In
the room. Now tell mo what you have
been doing with yourself these three
years."
"I can't; I am thinking of tho fellow
In thero. Why don't you lo perfectly
Indifferent to him and flirt with some
one else?"
"I don't flirt!" Indlgnantlv.
"I do; outrageously sometimes. You
see," apologetically, "a fellow can't
help It in Italy. It Is as natural aa
breathing. I'm dying for a flirtation
now. I havo not mado lovo to a girl
Blnco I left tho dark-eyed senorltns."
"If It would make you feel more at
home you may mako lovo to me," she
cald, with sweet graclousness.
"May I?" eagerly.
"But I don't promise to respond."
"That's all right. I'll do it all."
He drow her Into s, llttlo curtained
cozy corner, beyond the door.
"Now brace yourself. I'm going to
begin."
She sank among the cushlpns and
lifted her laughing eyes. "It feels llko
childhood and pylB hide-and-seek,"
sho said.
"It is better than childhood." Ho
gave her a look that splashed her
checks with color.
"Once upon a time," ho began,
"there was a llttlo lover who brought
his sweotheart tho biggest plums and
ripest peaches, and always carried
homo her books and slate. Did you
ever hear of him, Caro?" He leaned
toward her.
But, bho wns turning the rlng3 on her
slim Angers, the faintest suggestion of
smile at tho corners of her lips.
"On dy In claw he missed a, word
(not that It was so unusual) nnd sho
refused to go nbovc, because she lisped
I love you," Then ho gavo her o
pansy, w' h some boyish words of af
fection, and she flushed and asked, 'Am
I your llttlo heartsease?' Can), don't
you remember?"
"I don't remember to havo given you
any right to ask such questions."
"Hut you remember," lio persisted.
She laughed softly. "How they hated
me, those other llttlo girls. They called
mn n mean, 8tuc-up, Buub-nosed
thing."
A little gleam or triumph shone in
his eyes. She leinoinbered.
"Then the mountain party years
afterward. You were 1. I was lead
ing your horse, the saddle turned nnd
you fell right Into my arms, Cnro, and
I kissed you."
The long lashcb hnd em tallied hor
eyes.
"Have you forgotten?" ho whls
percd.
"However did you make such lovo to
tho Henorltas?" sho asked, demurely.
"You had no reminiscences and youth
ful follies In common,"
"Don't Interrupt, plenro. I prom
ised to do It nil. Then the night I left.
I can feel your little fingers soft nnd
warm In mine yet and see mo wil
fulness in your eyes. You cared then.
Vim rnn't ilnnv It. Your trembling lips
nnd fiweet wet eyes kept mo straight
over thcro among so mnny wild fol
lows. You told mo to make a mnn
of myeolf and I havo worked thrco
hard, honest years for you, dear. I
have never loved nny other woman."
She sat still, the color coming nnd
going in her cheeks.
Ho lenned toward her, lits heart in
IiIh fare. They worn quite hidden by
tho drapery. A volco cut softly across
tho low humming thnt filled tho rooms.
A woman's volco ns Rho passod with
hor attendant to tho refreshment room.
"Tho pretty blonde who stood against
theso curtnlns sho was looking ntyou
with her heart In her eyes," tho volco
said. "She Is young, la petite; she
will learn to shrug her shoulders and
Inugh as tho years go on."
The girl leaned forward to catch tho
reply. Her blue eyes black, her cheeks
white, tho llttlo teeth set relentlessly
In the soft redness of her under Up.
The u"swcr came lightly, after a mo
ment. "A mnn will pass a sweet wild roso
If a lily glows and dazzles Just bo
yond." The voices wero lo3t In tho hum.
Sho leaned back, the small hands
clinched. He wntchod her anrlously.
Then Ecnsuoii3, softly swolling waltz
melody throbbed In his brain.
Would sho never speak? Ho dared
not.
Then with a long breath of relief
she moved toward 111 in. Tho delicate
beauty of her face shone like a flower
In tho shadowed nook.
"Rob," she said, softly, "I'm bo glad
I know."
"Know what, dear?" Ho covered
the little fingers as if she had been a
child.
Sho lifted her eyes In astonishment.
."Know that It was wounded pride,
of course. What did you think I
meant? I would havo got over It No
woman with any spirit would have
cared for a man after that But it Is.
such a relief not to enre." And she!
laughed a little light-hearted, childish
laugh.
"Caro, aro you sure?" His voice
was full of entreaty, "Will you let me
teach you to caro for mo?"
"It would bo useless" tho words
had no sting; tho voice wns soft and
low "perfectly useless, for I havo dis
covered unsuspected territory in my
being to-night. Rob, you dear stupid,
don't you understand?" Sho slipped
her fingers Into his, Just as In tho old
childish days. 'Tvo loved you straight
through, hut you wero gono so long."
There was nn ecstatic movement of
tho curtain, then silence; becauso tin
derstandlng Is enough when pcoplo are
In love.
WliUtllug In Iceland.
Whistling In said to be regarded as a
1 violation of dlvhie law by Icelanders,
SHE SANK AMONG THE CUSHIONS. I
HANDLING BULLION IN MEXICO
ttnbber Who Attacked thn Train 114
rnplraniMit Hnrirl.
The story was told by a mining man
who had a good deal of experience In
old Mexico, snyB tho New Orleans
Times-Democrat. "In the foothills' of
tho Sierra Madron, about sixty miles
west of Chihuahua," he said, "la tho
Bantn Rosa gold mine, which was
worked very profitably In tho arlr
'80s. The only trouble wns In golfing
the bullion to Chihuahua, for the coun
try wns Infested with nil mannor of
thieves and desperndocs nnd the trail
was n splendid plnco for a hold up. On
one occasion Just boforo a regular ship
ment of a couple of brlckB Worth about
$.10,000 tho Ruporlntcndanl got a tip
thnt the pack train would bo attacked,
and took the precaution of sending
along an extra guard, consisting of six
men heavily armed with Winchesters
nnd revolvers. A prospector named
Dixon wns at tho mlno and had Intend
ed going In with the party, but when,
ho heard the rumor of tho trouble ho
HOtiBlbly concluded thnt ho would bo
snfer alone and set off on an old south
trail, driving a wrotclicd burro loaded
with his camping outfit. His sagacity
was applauded when the news cams
back that tho pack train had been am
buscaded In a rocky pass by a lnrg
party of Mexican brigands. Ono of tho
escorts wns wounded at tho first volley,
and, seeing themselves hopelessly out
numbered, the guards abandoned tho
treasure mule nnd fled for thelMlvca.
Dixon reached Chihuahua nil right and
chuckled greatly when ho henrd th
Rtory, fur he had been chaffed a good
denl at the mlno for refusing to go
with what wad considered a perfectly
Rofe escort. T met him sovcral months
later and complimented him on his
ncrvu In tailing rhnnccs, 'Tho chnncea
woro considerably bigger than you sup
pose,' ho replied with a grin. 'That
puck mule was loaded with sawdust.
Tho gold bricks wero on my burro, un
tier the camp truck.' '
HOBBIES OF ROYALTV.
Qucon Victoria's hobby la gardening,
and she Is pnsslonatoly fond of dogs
and ponies, her eflpeclal favorlto bolng
her old black pony .Tesslo. Her ma
jesty Is also a great lover of bullfinches
nnd hnfl several of them, whoso pretty
trlckH nnd chnrmlng piping glvo her
Immense pleasure. To Insure the safe
ty of the feathered pets It Is forbidden
for any ono In the royal household to
havo a cat at least, any ono whoso
apartment l at nil near tho queen's.
Tho prlnccbs of WbIob has a great
liking for lace. Her collection, which
hnfl somo wonderful specimens, is
worth $250,000. Tho duchess of York
hns ono of tho most Interesting collec
tions of postcards on record. It has
been contributed to by the sovereigns
of every land where postcards are
used, the German relations of her
royal highness supplying by far tho
greater number.
Tho duke of Edinburgh is nn ardent
stamp collector, and possesses one of
tho finest collections In tho world. His
daughter, the crown prlnccas of Rou
mania, delights In perfumery bottles,
nB did her grandmother, tho Into em
press of Russia, who had a unlquo col
lection of elaborate and beautiful bot
tles, which wns valued at $35,000, and
was bequeathed to her grandmother.
The queen of Italy has n peculiar
nobby a collection of gloves, boots
and shoes which have been worn at dif
ferent periods by royal and Imperial
personages. She has a pair of white
slippers and a fan which belonged to
Mary, Queen of Scots; also shoes worn
by Queen Anno and tho empress Jose
phine. King Humbert takes great
pleasure In amateur cooking, at whlcb
art he is an adept.
Tho empress of Germany Is a cham
pion knitter, and uses Urge wooden
needles for the work she does. Tha
queen of Greece spends a good deal of
her time In fancy needlework, and Is
said to he tho finest needlewoman
among European royalties. Tho dowa
ger queen of Portugal is fond of shoot
ing and spends much time at her
country placo on tho seaboard at Cat
das, where she amuses herself by firing
from a high window at bottles placed
In the sea for the purpose. She la Bald
to bo an excellent mnrkawoman. Tha
empress of Japan is distinguished for
her clever manipulation of the koto, a
Japanese Instrument resembling tho
zither.
Natural midge, of Agate.
The most valuable natural bridge in
the world is to be found in Arizona,
lying across a deep chasm forty feet In
width. It is a petrified tree about
four feet in diameter and about 100
fet In length. lt Is pure agate all
Urrough and therefore is much mora
'yajuablo as regards material than any
bridge of marble or granite could be.
But tho most expensive material of
which a bridge has ever been built Is
probably telegraph wire. One was
built over tho Jhelum river at Kohala,
In tho Punjab, in the placo of a brldg
which was swept away in the floods
in 1892. A similar bridge was con
structed during the first Soudan cam
paign over tho Kohora river for mili
tary purposes.
HI Iliiiulrvd Minute
What do you think of stamping COD
iettere a mlnutfl? They nro trying a
new machine in tho Chicago postafflce.
and that Is its record bo far. The ex
act time Is stampod on each letter, to
gether with the canceling stamp, and It
there la any delay In dispatching tha
letter the blame can be easily located)
Tho machine only requires on oparti
tor.
4
'j.p-1
Ute4u,-'