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I iTJLl UWUIUO & Ulillt3;
OR..
A SOLDIER. OF
$ By ST. GEORGE
., i-j IXiiijrlcbt, by Stiibet &
VllAPir.K Will.
Conclusion.
When tin. little martinet tlnu an
nounced Ms decision It created some
thing of an excitement.
Wldogardo's face lout Its pallor, and
Paul smiled grimly, at the Hanio time
ho kept an eye on Almee.
.lust as ho expected, the battled
countess aimed to carry out a desper
te plan.
"It Jh a lie, a baeo forgery, a trick
to deceive fools; but It cannot hood
wink inc. What Is this you way that
thu man shall go free, he, caiiRlit red
handed In tho act, a spy, 11 hated Ocr
man spy, lit only for the hulter? And
you daro to Hay that, you who Hvoro
un bended knees that my word should
'm law?"
Tho poor major, victim of cross
purposes, could only shrug bis shoul
Jom. "There Is a previous oath, nia'niKclle,
my vow to my country to obey my
Biiperlors. Tbnt Is above life to mc,
"dneo my honored namo is Involved.
Kvon for you 1 dare not order my
men to arrest one who Is under thu
protection of such a sacred document,
'written by Marshal ll.i7.alnu hlin
kelf.' "
The countess, apparently cheated
uut of her prey, and deserted by an
ally whom she had belle.vcd could lie
depended upon throiiRh thick and
Uiln, looked about her sullenly. Des
peration had made her temporarily
mad, and she would risk even her own
destruction In order to Rain revenge.
From flguro to flRiire tills Rlanco
went- -ami then he saw a llerco joy
Hash over her face.
It was as thouRh she had discov
ered that all was not yet quite lost.
Ah! It was Karl!
Remembering as he did that tho
other had candidly confessed he was
In Metz ns a secret agent of tho Ger
man forces, no wonder Paul felt a
sudden fall of bis spirits when he
recollected that the maRle document
of hl3 British friend would not cover
two companions, and that the' dread
ful fata of death at tho bands of the
mob, from which he had just escaped
by a mero scratch, would probably bo
tho doom of bin friend and brother,
poor Karl.
Still keeping her eyes glued upon
Karl, tho countess once more ad
dressed the major, resolved to test tho
last remainder of her power over that
worthy.
"Ono has escaped us, you say, but
do not forget, my friend, there are
two. Yonder man, his comrade, Is
tho spy wo seek. You prate of your
sacred duty as a soldier let us see
some of It now arrest that man and
search him for positive evidence of
his RUilt."
Tho innjor woke up. He was onco
more the warrior bold, eager to faith
fully nerve tho woman ho adored.
Heaven holp tho poor devil upon
whom his concentrated wrnth now
fell, for, lmvIiiR boon held In the leash
no long tho flRhting major was apt to
be exceedingly ferocious.
Howovcr, If tho bellicose soldier an
ticipated uny quailliiR on tho part of
Karl Von Stettin, be made tho most
griovouB mistake of his life.
Tho young Heidelberg philosophor
even smiled as brightly as one could
wish.
In fact, ho oven appeared pleased to
bavo nil oyes concentrated in bis di
rection. This was not braggadocio.
What could It mean?
Beatrix crept up beside Karl, and
caught hold of his arm.
Her action could not lie mistaken
It meant as plainly as thoso words of
old which Ruth spoke to Naomi:
"Whither thou goest 1 shall ro, thy
country shall bo my country, thy God
God my God."
Karl put nn arm around the gltl
and strained her to his heart.
And Into Hildegardo's cheeks, hith
erto as white as marble, the color
surged, as tho light of a great revela
tion began to forco Us way.
Paul, thou, was not lost he had not
been unfaithful ho was all her most
fervid fancy bad over painted him
and deep down In her heart she knew
Jic loved her.
No wonder, then, sbo glowed with
sudden hopo and tho wifrld took on a
now brightness after nil, It Is our
condition of mind that makes or mars
tho scene. To tho happy soul even a
dreary day of rain affords seasons of
rejoicing.
Thus ono good thing had come about
through this concentration of atten
tion upon Karl.
Utterly helpless himself, In so far
as assisting his comrade was con
corned, Paul could only turn to watch
tho progress of events, praying that
Sir Noel could seo tho way to lend a
hand, or that Karl himself might
liavo a card concealed up his sleovo
that would Bweep tho board.
"Your name?" demanded the major,
RBly, as ho frowned upon the smil
ing younR student-soldier, who stood
with ono arm thrown reassuringly
around tho elrl.
"Karl Von Stettin," came tho
prompt reply.
"Natlvo ot Germany?"
"It Is true."
X
THE RHINE.
:
RATHDORNF. J
.Smith, New VorL.
"You belong to tin
Crown Prince?'
army of the
"Yes."
"Have you been a prisoner on pa
role, the same an thU Gentleman''"
Karl shook his bead In the negative,
whllo the others bunR upon his words
eagerly, waiting for tho light that was
so slow In coming Karl seemed so
positive, en utterly reckless of conse
quences that ono could almost believe
ho expected a corps of the Foldwnohe
with their spiked helmets to apear
upon the scene whenever he chose to
turn wizard and utter the magical
words Unit insured their coming.
"1 have not. Monsieur le Major." be
said, tirmly.
"Ah! Then you freely admit tltal
you, a Gorman soldier of the line, have
entered Metz for some purpose other
than slght-seeiiiRV" eagerly.
Karl did not hesitate an instant In
replying.
"Kvon that Is true," be i-ald, calmly.
Whereat Paul mentally groaned, and
tho Hritlsher elevated bis eyebrows In
surprise, for both of them believed
the frank soldier of the llbiue was
giving himself bodily into the hands
of tho enemy.
"Since you have confessed that your
mission is that of a spy, tberr is no
other course open for me but to con
vey you to a dungeon and put your
case before a drumhead couit. Resist
ance, you realize, Is utterly us-eless. I
shall proceed to have you searched on
tho spot, so that you may not get rid
of any Incriminating evidence."
"Ah, do," said Karl, romposedly.
"sinco It will save me very much
trouble In explaining certain facts
which had better been whispered in
your private ear facts that your com
mander most particularly desired
should be kept secret."
His words, of course, aroused the
major's curiosity. Since bcelng the
magic paper carried by the Engllsh
man, ho was fearfully afraid of ex
ploding some other hidden mine.
"Come, monsieur." said the accom
modating major, "you are concealing
something from me- something I
should know."
"Something you shall know." de
clared the other, placidly, nodding and
smiling, "it is for your ear alone,
Monsieur le Major."
Tho soldier waddled forward, while
tho countess hissed and showed her
utter disgust by crying:
"Fool! coward! you would lo.se all!"
Karl spoke a fow sentences in 11 low
tone.
Whatever their import, they startled
tho French major, who looked at hlni
in amazement.
"Can you show mi
demanded, hoarsely.
Apparently it was
produco papers, for
the proof?" he
the fashion to
Karl took fine
from some concealed jKicket.
Paul had a glimpse of It, and felt
r.uro the peculiar chlrograpby was ex
actly the samo as tbnt which char
acterized the Hazaine letter or pass
port Sir Noel carried.
At any rate, tho effect upon the ma
jor was iiulto as startling bis band
trembled as It bold the magical docu
ment, and his little eyes glowed like
sparks of lite.
"Enough," he cried, bunding It back
to Karl hastily. "I have come upon
a fool's errand. There are no spies
In Metz there will bo no need of nny
nfter to-morrow, the J7th. for Metz
will no longer bo ours. Sergeant, take
your men 01T. (Jo ami tie erepo upon
your loft arms, soldiers ot Trance; for
wo are undone."
Evidently tho gallant lighter hud
road that which chilled his heart.
Tho order was given.
Tramp, tramp, tramp, the tall guards
marched out of the mom tramp,
tramp, tramp, they went down tho
stairs until all had disappeared.
Thoso who were left stood and
f tared.
"Gentlemen Indies I congratulate
you on the very happy outcome of this
adventure for you. Pardon my un
warranted Intrusion, and, bon solr."
With this tho stout, discomfited ma
jor betook himself off, accompanied by
tho countess, whose angry voice could
bo heard far down tho stairs as she be
rated him for not taking drastic meas
ures to accomplish their desired end
In spite of tho commandant and his
passports.
Already Healrlx was clasped In her
lover's arms, and the sight must have
Inspired Paul, for bo Immediately
strode over to where the blushing
nurse, stood.
"Hlldegardc, onco I told you that a
Rblnelnuder never loved twice. I
failed then to explain my meaning
kopt back by a dreadful fear of a fam
ily secret. 1 hnvo found a mother nud
a sister, and you must hear tho sad
story connected with tho past of thin
parent It Is now my duty to lovo and
cherish. Aftor that, it you do not look
tlown on mo becauso fit' tho shame upon
my name, I want to tell you of my lovo
for you, which will live to tho end of
my life, whether I win your consent to
bo my wife or not.
And Hlldcgardo put her hand In ?ils,
Hko tho noble, truo-beurted girl she
was, saying:
"My heart has been yours this long
I time. Herr Paul take my hand and
all I have with It. I do not tflsh to I
hoar the story now at some other
time, pet haps. Stop, do not Insist. I
may have an Idra as to the truth, but
It If enough for me to know you are
Innocent 1 am only too happy to
trust my whole future In your bunds."
What could he s.ty'.'
lie scaled the compart as any bold
lover would have done, ami the liar
pain made while Gorman shells still
exploded In the streets of Met, was
founded upon such mutual respect anil
perfect faith that neither could ever
regret It.
The sturdy Hrlton appealed to bo
especially tickled over tho fact that
Karl had seen his lead and gouo him
ono better In the way of legerdemain.
"You tamo very near ending our
friend for good 1 declare, tho major
was to staggered his life hung by a
thread." ho laughed.
Perhaps there was a tinge of curios
ity In his tone.
"You heard enough to rIvo you an
Inkling of the truth, gentlemen, and
now I feel In fluty bound to toll all. 1
am not in Metz us 11 spy, though I
thought It my fluty to allow even Paul
here tt) believe It foi u time, ns my
mission was supposed to be a dead
secret. On the contrary, 1 have come
here at the written solicitation of Mar
shal Razalne, who desires to discover
tho best terms be could secure for his
brave army of tho Rhine.
"At llrst he demanded that there bo
Htiine allowance nuul.j for their emi
gration to Algiers, which tho Crown
Prince devllned, and matters have be
come so bad that the French com
mander hns ngrced to un unconditional
surrender. At midnight I shall ro out
of Met, bearing bis acceptance, and
after tltal time, when this document Is
in the hands of the Crown Prince, not
another bomb will fall within theso
walls, for Mot, will have fallen."
Paul looked delighted, and oven the
non-partisan Uritou seemed plensed to
know the era of bloodshed in this par
ticular region was lit an end.
"Thank God!" lie said, reverently,
"then peace will follow when Paris
also falls."
"Yes, we have much to bo thankful
for." said Paul, glancing toward 1111
I'.eganto. As for tho doctor, spying a bottle ot
wine with three glasses upon u side
board, be porred some Into the crystnl
receptaele.q.
"Gentlemen. Join with me in this
loast- here's to tho gallant major!"
"And mny be escape tho almost uni
versal fate of thoso who worship at
Almce's shrine," added the Rhine
lander, earnestly.
And so they drank it down.
Little did they guess that at tho
very moment Countess Almee was be
ing carried into the hospital, a victim
oT an exploding Prussian shell, and
tint if she lived through tho drendful
shock It would bo ns a helpless wreck
of her past beautiful self.
The Judgment had come at last, find
In tills hour her niyrlnd victims wero
avenged.
What more need be said?
Paul and Karl served until Paris fell
and peace came upon the stricken fields
of France.
There is no necessity to toll how
they married, and what, joys or sor
rows came their way, for this world
holds Its share of both for all who
lovo and who aie chosen.
Paul tenderly cared for his mother
tho reft of her years, and at her re
quest dually laid her nway in tho
American cemetery, whore rested tho
husband who had been so fearfully
wronged, yet who, with bis last dying
breath, hail pardoned all In tho great
ness of his love, believing that to thoso
who have sinned much, if they truly
repent, everything shall be forRlven.
THK END.
Illfforont blent.
The following story was onco told by
Dr. John Marshall, dean of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania, during u lec
ture: "There lived in n small English vil
lage a curate whoso custom It was to
drive bis horses tandem. His parish
loners evidently thought such a Htyla
was unbecoming for a minister and
spoke to him on tho subject. Their
words had no effect, ami they com
plulned to the bishop. Tho bishop sent
for tlu curate und advised him to drlvo
his horses sldo by side.
"'Hut,' said tho curate, 'what dif
ference does It make whether I drlvo
my horses side by side or tandem? Tho
horses are the same, and there is only
a difference fit position.'
" 'That's just it, my good man,' said
the bishop-'the position. Now, when
1 extend my hands this way,' nnd ho
stretched them over tho curate's head,
'It's a sign of a blessing, but when I
put them this way,' und tho bishop
pluced one hand in front of the other
before his nose, 'It Is a sign of deri
sion.' "
Humid Hnvo Katl(ltt Hint.
President Tucker of Dartmouth Col
lego, with his family, has spent r
number ot summers on a farm In Now
Hampshire. During tho past year,
however, tho pedagogue was greatly
annoyed by two things tho proxim
ity of tho pig-pon and tho manners ot
the "hired girl." Therefore when the
owner of tho fnnn wrote to him recent
ly, asking whether ho would aaaln
hnvo the president of Dartmouth us
his bourder, the latter sent back u do
cided noRatlvo, stating his reasons for
not wishing to return. In a fow days
ho received tho following reply:
"Dear Sir: Thoro ain't linen no hoes
since you left, nnd Hannah has went"
New York Times.
0YESF HPHR0DITE,
Y. F. II. LANCASTER.
(Copyright, n- b Dully Stoty I'uli Co.)
"And hecatomb .if doves were slain
upon the altars of Aphrodite, for tho
Greeks admired this goddess of lovo
greatly and made dally sacrifices to
her."
The student leaned back nnd closed
her book unwillingly, her lingers ca
ressing Its covers while her eyes wan
dered to tho sunset beginning to glow
nninuR tho pines. As she gazed an
odd smllo twisted her lips.
"In these later days we sacrifice
not only doves, but curios,"' she mur
mured dreamily. Then with sudden
pnsslon: "Oh. lovo, what monstrous
murders nro committed dally In your
name murder of mind and moral!
Life nfter llfo broken and bruised at
your breast." Her brows knitted r.lowly
and again that odd smile crept to her
lips.
Two years ago Helen Nord had
found herself alone in tho world. That
she was penniless hud not troubled
her. She know of 11 lilaco where she
could live tin ten dnllnrn a tuauth and
save money. Moreover she fancied
that sbo could go to that place nnd
mnko the ten dollars. It was In tho
Pino Darrens of south Mississippi.
There wero 11 couple tif small public
schools there, lying a lew miles apart,
ono of which was taught In summer
nnd ono In winter, each having n term
of four months and paying about a
hundred dollars per term. When sbo
applied to the county superintendent
for Information, be gave her besides a
bit of advice three bits "Teach tho
schools honestly: keep your mouth
shut; don't flirt with tho girls' sweet
hearts." Sho thanked him. feeling tho
ndvlco to bo sound, and went away to
follow It.
As teachers go. she had been suc
cessful Sho held hor schools against
all rivals und bad a hundred dollars
in bank; nud her pupils, without the
aid of chart, diagram, fir blackboard,
wero steadily acquiring n sound Kug- 1
llsh education.
For two years she had boarded at
six dollars per month, dressed plain,
worked hard, and studied. She had
gratlllcd her hoatl's desire and was n
happy woman. Rooks banked up steadi
ly in her little room, books that she had
yearned all her life to possess, and she
read them over and over In tho long,
delicious hours after her day's work
was done.
Two years of Eden and. In, the ser
pent. Sho had paid sni;ll attention when
ho first entered her garden. Only by
degrees had it dawned upon her that
ho was, llko young David, strong of
body nnd with a ruddy counteuanco
good to look upon. Later on shs not
ed that ho neither drank nor aworc;
that he kept his nnlls In order and
was nlwnys neat. Ho lived at tho
house where she boarded, and brought
hor mnll from tho fnr-away post of
fice. Ho was always polite, was this
Cajan-born Donlclnn, yet his presence
troubled the fair young teacher. Vague
ly ho Interfered with her studies, and
sho resented tho Interference.
But tho sunset glow was fading
while she dreamed of Aphrodite nnd
her doves. What was Aphrodite to
her? Or the doves? Dreadful, melan
choly birds that made even tho glnd
pine woods mournful with their plaint
ivo cooing. Helen laughed u little us
site put away her much-loved books
and went out Into the bold fresh nir
lor that delightful half hour between
the lights.
Sho threw back her tired shouldors
nnd drank In deep breaths of vigor.
Glorying in the reckless prldo of
youth. Standing between tno fading
sunset glow nnd tho brightening
glcnni of tho rising moon. Appropriat
ing tho grandeur and understanding
nothing. Seeing In tho light-tipped
pines only glorified pride. Ullnd to
tho serenity that Is born or suffering;
deaf to the nolo or sadness that thrilled
through their melodious chanting to
her only a burst of deep-throated tri
umph. Oddly enough, In the midst of thoso
shaken vibrations of her soul came the
practical reflection:
"I can live on ten dollars a month
ami save money; ami I can make the
"Tho student leaned buck and closed
her book unwillingly."
ten dollars." She dropped her eyes
from tho plno crests and saw Doniclnu
beforo hor.
"1 fin' somo mail for you at tho of
llco, Miss Helen." He spoko with n
Blight accent in a voice deep toned
ind musical.
Helen stnrted and hor nerves qulv
sred. "Ohi thnnk you so much," sbo took
the mnll nnd their bands touched. Tho
young follow colored slowly, but sho
trlod not to see.
"Thank you so much," she ropented,
with tenso civility.
"Not 'tall," ho returned, lifting his
tint and moving away. II "vwy
Inch 11 man was M. Donlclnn, In splto
of his predilection for blushing.
Helen stared down at tho little pack
et of mnll and saw liiRteud 11 mnnll
cottago furnished cosily with Hint
hundred dollars In bank. It wan un
lortunnte, that hundred dollars, in
that It formed n solid foundation for n
temptation that must have othcrwlso
bavo remained chimerical. For nn
hour nlie struggled with It, sluing in
tho dark In her little ton by ten room.
Then she laughed, an echo of that
slighting laugh with which sho had
put away her books, and struck n
light. Sho had forgotten her mall!
Presently u crisp bit of paper.
"I lovo you, Miss Helen. 'TIs right
you should know "
cracked between her llnRers. Her first
check. Ambition leaped up wildly.
Poor Dtinlclun! Alas, for the doves ot
Aphrodite.
Poor DoniciauV He sat on a saw
log in the moonlight wrapped In 11
dream as wai 111 us heaven. Ills breath
t-nmo unsteadily, deep chested, nud
quivering. Ills lingers still felt tho
touch of hers. Ills ears still throbbed
to that' unconsciously finessing "thank
you.'' Ho had forgotten Its civil repe
tition. Poor Donlclnn' Ho knew noth
ing of that strong-seated ambition
that had ridden unceremoniously over
tho pleasant things or her life. Noth
ing of that bit of crisp paper with n
lew figures In one corner. Had bo
seen It. he would not hnvo under
stood; yet It was tho death wnrrunt,
signed nud sealed, for bis happiness.
Why should ho suspect the existence
of such things? To him tho fair-raced
young teacher was as n dainty wild
flower, half upon in tho early dow.
Ho sat tin lu bis warm d renin of henv-
en-born happiness, joying In tho re
sistless might or his strong-hearted
love.
Helen Nord was tight. In theso la
ter days eagles 1110 frequently sacri
ficed upon the ulturs of Aphrodite.
Tho next evening when sho carried
her ambition out In the forest that It
might sour bold und unrestrained ns
I lie breath or the. plneu, Helen saw him
coming toward her over this soundless
needles. Strong nnd huppy-bearted bo
swung, along, bearing tho beauty of 11
Greek god upon bis brow. A strange,
tooling fear selzetl upon tho woman's
heart. She sat flown wenk, Inert, upon n
fallen trunk und stared miserably at
tho dead straws.
Donlclnn eamo on swiftly. He bared
his head us ho sat flown bcsldo her.
"Any mall for mo today?" sho ques
tioned, falling dismally in her effort
tt appear unconcerned.
"No," ho said softly. Had ho kissed
her tho caress could scarcely hnvo
boon mora endearing.
Helen Hung up her bend desperate
ly. Her choice had come to hor In
narrow lines, love or ambition. Aphro
dite demanded n snerlliio. Should it
bo dove or eugle? Alas, for tho dove.
Tho ambition that had ridden rough
shod over nil the pleasant things of
llfo was not to be unseated by Its poor,
plaintive pleading.
Donlclnn spoke with manly sim
plicity. "I lovo you, Mies Helen. 'TIs right
you should know."
"Thank you," sho muttered In
coherently. Sho was plunging wildly
against tho strain of stern asceticism
in her blood. It seemed such a sense
less sacrifice two spotless doves for
ono wild eagle. Then the old glamor
camo ugnln upon hor eyes. Sho saw
herself as she would bo a proud,
freo woman, working her way up Into
tho high white light.
Sho tried to make It easy for him.
; "Wo should not talk of such things,
1 you and I, M. Doulclan," sho said,
I looking beyond him lest sho should
I sco that In his wonderful eyes that
I would haunt nil her after days. It was
an unnecessary caution. He was not
tho man to hum his wounds.
"I love you," ho said, with quiet in
sistence. "I enn makti you happy."
"Yes," sho returned, suddouly con
scious of extreme weariness. "Yes, 1
know. Hut it must not be. I I liavo
other worlc to do."
Donlclnn hesitated 11 moment ns
though unwilling to believe that bis
glad dream was shattered.
"When two people lovo ono nnothor
they belong to each other for all time."
Is It not so?" ho asked tenderly, nnd
his oyes compelled hers to meet them
In ono brief, truth-tolling glance.
"No, it is not so, not always," she
Htummorcd, hurriedly. "It must not
bo!" sho Marted to her feet, but his
hand checked her flight.
"Walt," bo said, "1 will ro,"
Sho watched him inovo away. Far
ther nud further his upright, swift
moving flguro glancing at rare nnd
rarer Intenals between tho tree-
trunks. Suddenly sho turned and flotl,
goaded by Intolerable pain.
Anil tho pities wero left nlono in
their elcrnnl serenity, chanting tho
lequlem ocr tho fair whlto doves ot
Aphrodite.
WONDERFULGROWTH OF OKLAHOMA
In Tlint irrtlliiry Urn Itlrli Hull It At
(rurtliiK 'llioumuult of Settler.
That portion of the west, comprised
In Oklahoma und Indian Territory Is
tho center of Interest for tho ovcr
prcHcnt emigration movement that
marks American civilization. The
stntes to the north and south liavo
been drained of their surplus popu
Intiou for 11 do.'nde to build up theso
virgin lands, but the process Id not
complete. The land oftlces ot Okla
homa, outside of tho newly opened
reservations, hnvo done during the
lust summer, tho largest business In
years.
Western Oklahoma lands that wore
considered lit only for tho herder are
being taken for small ranches, and
tho cattlemen arc nervously watching
tho destruction of their bnrbed-wlro
fences by the advent of the man with
tho plow. Indeed, thin Is tho only por
tion of western land outside tho Irri
gated areas that can be secured for
new settlement. While vast tracts nro
yet open to honiestendlng lu othor
pints of tho west, they nro the rofUBC,
tho arid, rough or worthless claims
uiulcslrod ny the settlers of tho last
three decades.
Little wonder, then, that thu virgin
lauds or tho Indlnn Territory, cnpnblo
of producing a halo nud a half ot cot
ton, seventy bushels of corn or forty
flvo bushels of wheat per acre, should
be In demand; or that Oklahoma
farms, with almost equal fertility, and
which nro to bo subdivided nnd rear
ranged to suit the development of tho
country nnd the Increasing population,
should attract both settlers- and Invest
ors. Peopled to n larger extent tbnn nl
itinst nny other part of tho union by
nntlvo American stock, says a writer
In tho Review of Reviews, with tho
advantages of examplo In tho organi
zation nud development of othor com
munities, Riililed by the knowledgo of
to-day and following modern business
mrthtids, there should he 11 niarvoloiw
future for this legion.
NATURE PROVIDES ICE HOUSE.
I'ooil for ItlnU Tlint Ik rroinrvert In
dm Arctic KrRlonn.
The number or birds that go to tho
arctic teglons to breed Is vnst beyond
concept Ion. They ro not by thou
snmbi, but by tens nnd hundreds of
thousands, und becauso nnwhero clsu
lu tho world does nature provldo at
the samo time nnd in tho samo place
such 11 lavish prodigality ot food.
Tho vegetation consists ot cran
berry, cloudberry nnd crowberry
bushes, und these, forced by tho por
petu.U sunshine of the arctic summer,
hear enormous crops of fruit. But tho
tho crop Ik not ripe until tho middle
and end of tho arctic summer, nnd if
tho fruit-eating birds had to wait until
It was rlpo they would starvo in tho
meantime, as they arrive on tho very
day of tho molting or the snow.
Hut ench year tho snow descends
on an Immense crop fir rlpo fruit be
fore the birds have time 10 gather It.
It Is tluiB preserved perreclly fresh
and pure, iintl tho melting or tho snow
discloses the bushes, with thu uncon
numed last year's crop hanging on
thorn or lying, ready to ..c eaten, on
tho ground.
The rrozen meal stretches across
the breadth or northern Asia. It novor
decays and Is accessible tho moment
tho snow melts. Tho samo heat which
thaws tho fruit brings Into being the
most prolific Insect life in tho world
tho mosquito swain 3 on the tundra.
No European can live there without a
veil after tho snow melts. Tho gun
barrels nro black with them and clodu
or them often obscure tho sight
Thus tho insect eating birds liavo
only to open their mouths to fill them
with mosquitoes, and thus tho pro
enco of swarms of cliff chaffs, plpW
and the wagtails In this arctic region
Is accounted for.
No .Siilvullon Army Dltorcci.
In theso latter days, when tho di
vorce courts are crowded with mis
mated pairs, the claim of the Salvation
Army that In its ranks dlvorco Is un
known where the weddings were per
formed by tho hallelujah eoromony pro
scribed In their ritual, comes 03 a
bright spot In tho view of tho domes
tic life fir America, which hns been
painted In most pessimistic colors by
social students
Tho Salvation Army is tho first ro
UgloiiH society to lay claim to tho
honor of being unstained In its record
by an examplo of broken vows which
wero taken with Its sanction. Forthlr-ty-flvo
years the army has been marry
ing Us people with its characteristic
ceremony which binds tho persons not
only to each other, but to work In tho
army long us both shall live.
Knmarkable Cork OntpuL
Tho production of cork In tho world,
estimated at 1,000 metric tons (a me
tric ton equals 2,204 pounds avoirdu
pois), is confined to Portugal, Spain,
France, Italy nnd North Atrlca (Tunis,
Algeria and Morocco). Tho urea ot
trench forests, Including thoso lu
North Africa, really producing cork Is,
moro than one-half of tho total extent
of cork forests. These forests aro com
posed mainly of cork trees, Intermixed
with pines and nvorgreon oaks. Tho
demand for cork Increases from day to
day, anil It is added that Franco, tho.
United Kingdom, Germany, Russia and
tho United States absorb 85 per cont
or tho total production of cork.
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