Hemingford herald. (Hemingford, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1895-190?, January 31, 1896, Image 4
IS Tlio Brido of Amo Sttiidstrom. nr r. h. cvrimnwoon. Prom Hnrpor'a Dtunr. "Bit Swedo wedding over tlioro tills evening," said onu Amoricnn to an otlior by tils sido. "l'oter Lund's "iUatightor." 'Is filio marrying a Swede?" inquired tlio second Amoricnn. "Yos; follow by tlio name of Amo Bandstrom." "I should think old Potor, wol! off as ho is, would 'nave stood up for an American son-in-law yon or mo, for instance," observed the second youth, with a laugh. "Tlio pill's pretty as a pink, and linn had every advantaso. It is a pity to see her thrown away; but old l'oter has a loc of younger ones com hid on." "That ninkcs it less an object. I thought she wn his only. Tho Swedos nro clannish ain't they?" "Peter Lund's is headquarters for them, too. Here's o no now, hunting up tho wedding. I'll hot sho's just ar rived from tho old country." So near tho truth was this surmiso that Elsa had been oil tho train only twenty minutes, and in that timo had repeated tho namcof Arno Sandstrom interrogatively to overy person sho met. Shewasdased bv long ruling and partial fasting, and tlio dumb tenor of finding ho ono to receivo her at tho end of horrent journey. Tho lottor created with much brain work to nnuouncohor comingought to havo been in his hands weeks ago. The in nocont and friendless soul did not know alio had omitted all dates and exactness in hor general caro for spoil ing and inky loops. So, stopping ofl tho train into tlio American small town nt dusk, sho sawsti olios of Hiininior prairio to tho westward, porky archi tecture, crossing railroad tracks, hur rying citizens and lazy loungors oven tho now electric light on its spider work iron tower beginning to make a ghastly powerful star far abovo her head. Sho saw baggago and piles of express matter, hotel runners and Otnor women starting toward tlioir as aured homed tucked laughing and chatting under thoir husbands' arms; but sho saw not ono face or ono kind hand ready to bid her welcome, who had ventured thousands of miles nlono across ocean, across continent to marry hor bothrothod lover, Arno Sandstrom. Hearing his nanio spoken, shostood till upon the sidewalk, Bluinking and timid, but directly in front of tlio young mon, and inquired, using hands and oyes as well as anxious inflection of voice, "Arno Sandstrom?" "Sho wants to know whoro ho is," explained ono American to tlio other. "Right over thero; that big house," ho returned, talking also with gestures, "whoro you see it lighted up. Sho doesn't understand. Arno Sandstrom over thoro. Getting married! Yes, yes. -Arno Sandstrom. Here, Hilly, you tiot out a littlo Swedo gibborish, can't you? You'vo been among thorn more than I havo." "Arno Sandstrom derovcr," ex claimed the other, pointing to Poter Lund's house, with a lino assumption of handling t ho language well. "Arno Sandstrom jifta to-night, you know." "Yifta!" said Klsa, shrinking down in stature. "She's got hold of it. That's all right. You'll bo in time for tlio wed ding." "Sho didn't understand; and bIic thought wo wero making fun of her," Baid ono of tlio lads as thoy sauntered on. "Sho did understand, and thoro Bho goes straight across tho street. Brush up in tho languages, young man, and make yourself ns useful to tho public as I am." When Elsa had entered tho Land promises, however, she did not ling tho boll, but wavered around tho liouso, looking up at tlio lighted windows, nnd shifting her littlo bundlo from ono .arm to tho other. Sho had othorhag Ciigo at tho station, but it seemed no lontor worth while. Thoro was a west ern veranda, on tho lowest stop of which she sat down in i quiot stupor to collect herself for some determined movement. Anguish and disappointment must bo the natural lot in this .vorld, only Bha had not lived enough years to find it out boforo. Though summer dark mess had come, tho after glow was still so bright in tho west that it hall quarreled with tho abundant lamp Jight. Klsa could hear tho front gato, tho crunch of coming footsteps and frequent peals of tho door boll, as sho fiat drawn together, and tho eternal minutes traveled on. Peter Lund's house was full of joy ful stir. China and silver tinkled in tho opon dining room, where soveral women wero putting last touches to tho tables. Girls flow up and down tho back stairway, calling to ono an other in Swedish. "Ono thing is sure, Yennio Yonsen," called a voieo in tlio homo tongue, "there will not boenough married wom en to tako tho brido from us cirls in .the wedding dance; so now what will Arno Sandstrom do?" Three of them conspired together by tho western dining-room door, bobbing thoir flaxen heads, nil laughing and talking at oncoin their light happiness, iar abovo tho unseen stranger on tho etep. "Who told mo Arno Sandstrom left ft betrothed girl ." Svndia?" said ono, lowering hor voice to grave colloquy! "Oh, well, sho married herself, of course. . -....I!-,! l ... ' .-.-mru juiuwilt; -ana anv man who could get Lena Lund would tako her." "Lena's so pretty ." "Lena's rich." "Lena can sing and play better than omo Ameriknnns." "Lena has ten new dresses. Arno will not havo to put his hand in his pocket for many a day." "She is not spoiled therewith. I al ways liked her." "Ah, ray mother said if this wedding was going to bo in Svadia this St. John's Eve, what a night we would make of it!" They ran away, while Elsa repeated to herself that this was the Eve St. I Johnnight of nruors nnd rejoicing at nome, nielli wnen inoBiin scarcely went down, nnd everybody feasted and vis itod under green-leaf touts. Of what uso was St. John's live, or any other portion of tlme.to a girl put to shamo nnd despair as sho was? Why had Arno Sandstrom sent hor money to como o ver with if ho meant to jilt her on her arrival? Or had ho picked anoth er betrothed for hor n8 well as himself? Sho would not believe her Arnocould bo so evil: she would knock and ask for him. Ho was eo kind! he loved her. Ynr. not. nil It. flip A tiinrlL-nnna !nf those laughing girls, had said plainly this was Arno Sandstrom's wedding; any man would tako Lena Lund who could get her; Lena was so protty: Lona was rich; Lena could sing and play hotter than Bonio Amcrikanns: 1 ven a had ten new dresses', and sho was not spoiled. Elsa bruised hor cheok against tho edge of tho second stop abovo her. Sho did not know where to go, and her money was all spent except tho littlo sho saved by going without food during part of bar railway journoy, and she had saved that to buy some littlo ornament for her new homo with Ame. Sho might try to hire hor self out, but how c.iuld sho over writo back homo where such happy news was expeetol from her, or how could sho put uiiftidurablo anxiety upon those best friends by not writing at all? Svadia was so pleasant, especial ly in tlio long flightless summers. Good nnd kind thoy were to strangers there; her mother always baked waf fles and carried them with cofleo to tho morning bedside of a guest. Sho could seo her native meadows stretch ing away in the blue Northern air, and tho iron whip, as her inothor call ed tho scythe, beating up an appetito in those who wielded it, while she hcr polf, a careless littlo maid, caino bear ing tho second breakfast to tlio mowers. A quavering but hearts; voice, which mip' havo como from tho mouth of her T" n grandmother if it had not bo longed to Peter Lund's mother, sung out Lapp-Finn nurso song by an up per window, nnd Klsa know pist what syllables the dancing baby was iimdo to emphasize. "DotlHIl lupon, Jlopsom tup nn, Limtl Urn, HopHotn mini: Bprovtl lupon, lupon, llopHom tup an, tup un, Luntl lira, Urn, llopnoui ntlni, stlra." Dnnre nnd Jump, Hop likou ronnter, Hop like the iikutnn. Perhaps this very instant for Klsa made no calculations in longitudoand time Vader's mutter danced tho baby under her homo roof; and none of her people know how faint, how outcast, how bewildered the oldest child felt sitting on steps in a strange Anieri kansk town. In Klsa's box of clothing was tho finest sheepskin blanket hor mother over made, so whito in flceco, nnd cured by buttering and scraping until tho skin yielded soft like chamois leather. It was lined with scarlet flannel. Sho could see tho store-room of her father's farm-house hung thick ly with such fleeces, and hear hor mother say bIio wished Elsa could tako more, Binco they had sq littio money to send hor. But Arno Sand Btroni had Bent tho money to pay her way, because ho loved her so. They wero children together, and ho was held as dear as a Bon in hor own family. Klsa's mother novor distrust ed him. How could it therefore bo possible that Arno Sandstrom, after bending for his botrothed, could bo marrying a Swedo Amerikann tho very evening of her arrival? In her intensely quiet fashion tho poor girl was wiping away tears as fast as thoy dropped down her cheeks, and now bIio lifted her head from tho step, coning to a decision. Sho walked up on the veranda, hor feet sounding hoavy and uncertain, and stood at the door ready to knock. Her piteousgreat oyes moved from wall to wall of tho amplo dining room, recognizing Svensk wooden spoons and beautifully painted and J.U..OUIU jviioaiuii iH-ttia hi various sizes on tho sideboard. Hard-baked Sveii9k bread, so loved bv the whito and firm Scandinavian teeth, and all known luxuries, with unheard of Amorikann things, smilod nt hor from tho glittor ing tables. This Lena Lund would bo called a mamzello in Svadia; sho was very much abovo a poor yungf ran liko Klsa. Any man might beglnd to mar ry her. Still Klsa would not beliovo Arno Sandstrom had forgotten his botrothed. Sho could seo him from whero sho stood, in nn inner room with a back ground of fine furnituie. How beau tiful ho looked, all in Amerikann clothes, and with soft dark gloves on his hands, liko a very rich man! His cheek was ruddy, his forehead whito, nnd tho very round of his ear how woll Elan -remembered it! Arno Sand strom was happy, and laughing aloud with other people. Sho heard his voice while she stood just without, bo wretched hor whole bouI seonied numb. In perfect silence she waited, and still saw him laugh and extend his hand to havo it shaken by ono anoth er, until a liguro camoout of the room whero he was, to pass trhough the dining-room, and sho knew in nn in stant Otto Jutberg, who came to America with Ame. Elsa put her foot across tho threshold and said, to call his attention, "Otto." Otto approached tho door nnd looked curiously nt her. Ono rope other flaxen hair hung down on her breast, and she looked travel worn. "Otto Jutberg, I want to see Arno Sandstrom." "Arno is going to bo married in a fow minutes," said Otto. "I know he is. But I want to eeo Ame Sandstrom. Tell him to come hero." "Who is it?" pressed Otto, coming nearor to hor, and knitting his brows inquiringly. "Don't you know mo, Otto, when you have been to my father's nearly every St. John's Eve of our lives?" Elsa felt that she needed only one more drop to her cup. and that was for some voice to raise the derisive rjong with which her countrymen mocked Seownoy's, or inhabitants of a region tho butt of all Svadia. "A Scowon, n Seoiren" - ,1"!' l r0U8 8U(lden But instead of "A Scowon, a Scow en" rising around Elsa's cars this on chanted night such a din of outcriej plo ran to look in the dining-room, i"V ""LZr " Vi."" ft.. i" Peaces-spiritual and civil; to under- unu iiii'ii iu Hwnrm arounu nor. Arno Sandstrom leaped two chairs nnd seriously jarred ono table, to re ceive Klsa in his nrms, when ho kissed her openly. "Bring 1110 ono of tho cjjairs I kicked over." ho exclaimed, "and let mo sot tho tired darling in it. I havo been looking for tlio letter which would tell mo the timo you intended to start. Yes, this is my Klsa," ho said, dis playing her; "and how did sho find her way in hero alone? MrB. Lund, iiiisa nas cornel" "Yes, and Bhe has been crying," said tho plump wife of Peter Lund, pressing her hand. "It was enough to break any child's heart to reach such a journey's end homesick and unwelcomcd." At this Elsa leaned ngainst tho ma tron's sido nnd shook with sudden Bobs, feeling hor forehead and hair petted by a good mother's palms, Klsa was taken up tho back Btair way by both Mrs. Lund and Arno, who talked rapidly across her. She was put in a beautiful room, and young girls canio in to get acquainted with her and giggle. Arno asked her for that pieco of metal which would redeem her bnggage, and ho handed it over to Otto at tho door. Btioro sho understood her position, or was quite nblo to lilt her eyes and look at all who wanted to talk to her, tlio box which had borno her company from Svadia was brought in, and Arno told her tho other wedding would bo put off half an hour while sho got ready. Then ho drovo tlio merry company out of tho room, and stood with his back to tlio door to keep at bay that moment all volunteering brido attend ants. "Can you bo ready in hair an hour, nfter your long journoy, my darling?'1 eaid he. "I can soon wash off tho diifct and ch a n liu niv drnss " until FJnn.. Tin. Arne, I do not know anything. Who Akiui T .1 .wi- l.i.. .. .....1. 1ITI. is going to marry Lena Lund?" "Arno Sandstrom. And you will be married at the same timo." "I thought that was what you and nua mini, yuu unu But who is going to .mrs. Jjuim saiu inarrv mo?" "Who! I am; Arno Saudetrom." "1 will not do it," said Klsa. "They never havo two wives in Svadia." Arne Sandstrom gazed silently at hor, puffed nnd exploded his cheeks nnd bent over, striking his knees with thoso delicately-gloved hands Klsa had first noted with such nwo. He 1 oared Jin tho fervor of his laughter. This American country had in noway abated Arno Sandstrom as a Norse man. "Oh, Elsa, my snowbird, if I should tell this on thee they would laugh at theo from ono end of town to tho other. Lena Lund's bridegroom is my cousin Arne, that came over with Otto Jutuerg and mo." "That was Arne Petersson," affirm ed Elsa. "But thero aro so many Peterssens and Yonsens who take their names from their fathers' Christian names that Arno changed his to Sandstrom. It is a very common thing to do hero." Elsa laughed also. It was so simple and clear and Swedish sho wondered that the news of Arno Sandstrom's weding had caused her oven a mis giving. Sho left her chair to swing Artie's hands while they both finished laughing. "Dut you ought to bo ready," he cried, "and not keep tho others wait ing. I got' tho papers for the wedding when Arno got his papers, so there would bo no mistake of names on the record, and so I could marry you as soon as you came." Within the hour, therefore, Klsa was the brido of Arno Sandstrom, arrayed in hor dark blue weddingdressof wool, and not shaming by her stntuo-like pro portions and fairness tho lighter pret tiness and silken rainment of Arne Sandstrom's Amerienn-Sweodish bride Happiness and lovo were, after all, the natural lot in this world, thought Klsa, sitting by her husband in the place oi honor at tho wedding supper, and tasting the first courso of such a feiifet the Swedish soup of rice, prunes, rn isins, and molasses. Rinjriiitf Description of tho Ficlrt of "Waterloo. On nn eminence lookinsdown on tho duel of nntions, astride his war horse, surrounded by his staff, sits Welling ton, fiold mnr.sh.il of Kngland. In his hand a glass, with which he scans the distant horizon. Now nnd ngain he looks along tho carnage -wrecked plain, but again turns to tlio far distance. Hark! n bugle! then a peal; then ringing over nil tlin finld tlu tnt..o nt u "Advance," quickening to the charge. Then, with n shout that fills the air, with clash of sabre nnd thunder of norses nooi, comes sweeping the im perial legion. Napoleon's inviucibles held in reserve by that marvelous genius till this hour. Seo how all melts before their onslaught. Tho allied forcosare hurled back as from a resistless storm of rushingdenth. The eagles again sweep the field. All seems lost. Still tho Iron Duke sits there and sweeps the distance. Couriers como dashing with dispatches; only a word for answer wait! Then the glass sweeps tho horizon again nnd then Wellington throws it over his head, throws his hat after it, leaps from his horse and begins to write dis patches. What is it? Why that cloud yonder, pufling now with fire and smoke; that dark mass, defiling into the plain at double quick, is the Prus sian reserve. Blucher has kept his promise. Waterloo is decided, and Napoleon's eaglesgo down lorever. A broken car wheel on a copper train on the Duluth, South Shoro it Atlantic rail road tore up the ties on the Hock river briilue, hurled seven cum Into the Ice be low, nnd completely wrecked the bridge. "ST. I13TI3ltSCIIUKCir. An Amerlcin Trftreler'i I'lrit Imnrnnlnni. 1 1 f-verport, loirn, Democrat writes . rom Romo! ftl' vo1' coming to Rome If you f como to seo it nil, to compass its pal stand its antiquities, to know tlio length and breath of Homo in timo and figures, como early, como to Btny. Como well braced for disappointment for when you havo spent your dear, short lifo of twenty, thirty, forty years, you will know so littlo, lack so much that you will shirk to look your neighbor in tho face. I envy, quite, tho man who has been in Koine three days and tolls you ho I lias seen it nlll I liko him for his ob- durato, blissful ignorance; that Btato of hopeless mental vacancy that out bids responsibility, nnd wish he would writo a book on Koine, for ho could only mnko n failure, as all havo dono before. You como to Homo. First thing a hotel. You take a bit to eat, order a vehicle. You aro going out to do tho city to tako it in. Whero will I you drive? Nino times out of ten tho pilgrim says "St. Peter's church." j "A San Peatro" speaks of yourpor- ter to tho whip, and off you go. Oil through clo8o narrow streets, well hemmed in with tall, tawny, Btuccoed , houses tho houses nro stores and shops nnd dwellings, all combined in one you cross tlio Bridgo of Angels in a trance, you pass tho castlo An-, gelo in a daze, you squeeze in through thoi Borco in an anxious state, and facing great Saint Peter's you aro I crushed. You hunt your Btock of words. They are mishts. You try to toll your thoughts. They aro too in significant; you alight, stare at tho ' collonndes, tho great ambitious fount ains; tho hieroglyphic obelisk; then 1 turn and go inside. Ifyouarowiseyou'll say no foolish thing, for you'll keep VOlir motlttl nhtlh. Ynilpnnnnt-.nnrlni. stand a thingyou see; tho distances are ' ereat and overcome von: tlio hplfrhf.R . fl tA l1ftt- rAnm S.i n.. nH.-.n 4 ,..! away your villngo church and never miss tho space it takes; tho floor a j wido spread of colored marbles; tho " ...v iumimo, muiiua, buhhus, ' cherubs everything so out of all pro- I nnrh'nnq tlinf imu im.m .... ., that you cannot take it in or scarcely find your tongue. You will join tho crowd, maybe, and you will go to tho great bronzo canopy and look upon tho many lighted lamps; gaze up abovo the clouds and find tho heavens very high and overwrought with rows of saints tier on tier, with Christ and Maty whero thesun Bhould be. You hear church music some Whero round intoned service some where hero but not a congregation in sight tho great floor space is freo of croivus, tnougn 3omo minureus ol peo ple wander about just as you do; you wonder where tho singing is, and go to find it go to hunt among tho piers, j about the aisles and chapels find it nt last way off ono sida mero chapel service scarcely any people there. But look you look about that little chapel yon see herois larger than any chinch, perhaps, you have over ' worshipped in; its domo mounts up two hundred feet or more; its floor is t costly marble work; its alter golden bronzo and p;ecious stones; its pic tures masters' works. Small! les; but put all the people into it that you find in your averago church at homo, and they will yet leave room for quite ns ninny more. Nothing is small hero. t Stay hero weoks and como hero for an hour each day, and it will grow tako form and shape, and you will got ac customed. It hardly seems the work of man; more like a vast majestic cavo arranged by supernatural hands cathedral of the gods. The work of man could be described so man can understand this passes all descrip tion passeth understanding. You may pace it off go around its outer wall, and those of its annexes, and ad joined rooms of the Vatican, and the walk is longer than that which com passes tho walls of the city of Jerusa lem! You trudge up to tho top and wnlK about the streets of houses there the great paved roof looks like a vil lage street and public square homes for tho workingmen, a liboral force to keep tilings in repair. Tho lofty chap el domes that spring up through tho roof aro so many small temples kiosks. Tho grand old central dome that mounts up there beyond this ti- ly villngo, is the August cathedral round, as wnscathedral shapoin later pagan early Christian times. You wander here at leisure, look up along tho eighteen feet back of tho Saviour and tho saints that from your roof village wall look down into tho sixty aero open square that fronts the great Saint Peter's; stray round tlio sturdy parapets, climb on far ther up and up towards the sun. Prom down below you saw a little ball an ornament on tho spire just ,b(11 nn ol,mi J,elo,w the top. l!;ad ftn( cc It's bigger than your comma: nearer, it izrows bigger and bigger "yet; and when you get up to it, it's big enough to let you in you nnd your wife nnd children uncles, nuntw, and visitors. If all are good sized, sixteen can get in and nioro of big and littlo. Prom tlifi limtpfn i-nilintr inah linlnev you may sit and seo the world! Men, below, aro mites, and palaces are children's playhouse toys? From hero you look straight down into the Tiber down into streots and public squares of Rome as you look upon a map as you iook irom a oauooti. You may count from here the other Roman churches one hundred, two, three three hundred and Bixty-fivo all in full blast their doors stand open every day. Pull many of these are costly miracles of marble, fresco, bronze and painted scene; mosaics rare and precious stones, and gild and glint of jewelry. In olden times, those times of pagan dom, the temples were the banks in which men of menns could keep thoir bank account the priests the safe cashiers, who had not heard of Mont real. These present fanes you may do- posit in, as many a one has treely done, but no checks aro honored here. Theso churches here havo much of in terest onch has its private, curious history oacli picture, saint and chap el hns its talo to toll, and some are curious to find them out; but lifo is too short wo seo within a church or two, and leave the rest bohind. O Tlio Lovers of the Queen, Tlio splendid pageant of tlio opening of Parliament nnd tho passing of tlio Queen in Btato from Buckingham 1 Palaco to tho liouso of Lords, recalls tho day, as men look on her, in her Mary Stuart mourning, when sho traveled that Bamo route as a happy young brido. Victoria, like nil other girls, had some lovers before tho lucky ono came. Her first was the lato Lord Elphinstone, a tall, singularly hand sonio young peer, who was sent to Madras as Governor to get him out of tlio way. Her next was Lord Fitz allan, another six-footer, a splendid young officer of the First Lifo Guards, grandson of tho then Duko of Norfolk, nnd nftorwnrds Duko of Norfolk him self; but he was a Roman Catholic a fatal objection. Fitzallan fell passion ately in love with a pretty barmaid, who administered beer at a tap opposite tlio Horse Guards, and wished to marry her. His family sent him abroad to get over his young passion, and, falling ill at Athens, ho married the daughter of Admiral Lyons, British Minister there, and sister of Lord Lyons, remembered as Minister at Washington, who hnd attended him through his sickness, and who is still living as Dowager Duchess. Her third lover was Lord Alfred Paget, one of tho Marquis of Anglesey's splendid sons, nn officer of "tho Blues," standing nbout six feet two, who is tho father of Cnptain Pa get, mnrried to our Miss Minnio Ste vens, and who was then her cquerry-in-chief, and has continued as equerry over since, This lovo affair was regarded as so dangerous that King Leopold of Hel - gium, tho Queen's uncle, brother of her mother, tho Duchess of Kent, was sent lor. Tho result was that Prince Al bert was sent for next. Albert was at that time a courteous, elmst', quiet, mild, bland, accomplished prince, but hero nnd thero a keen observer might have detected on his round, full face a flush, and in his manner a fluttor which bespoke tho agitation that bwelled tho heart beneath. Over the chimney piece, too, of his student chamber, there hung ono of Clinton's exquisite drawings of Victoria which, though too flatteringly graceful and niry even then, still when surrounded with tho interest 'which of itself lent beauty to a young girl placed in such a position gave a fairer idea of her than would bo imagined in her present grosser figure and highly colored face, as presented in the most correct nnd delightful pictures of court life, by Adam Badeau. Albert, though little noticed, had been present at Vic toria's coronation scene, a silent, but not, wo fancy, nn uninterested specta tor. When Victoria was seated on Princo Edward's throne and the shout which proclaimed the girl he was edu cated to look on as his wife, queen of thoempire on which the sun never sets ran along tlie roof ot tho good old Ah boy, and was borno on tho boom of guns down to tiic City Tower, he must have felt Bonio emotion; and when she tripped over, with ngilogracoto lift up old Lord Rolle, who had tumbled, may wo not fancy that emotion grow into sonio softer feeling. That ueuing,too, when on hor return, the woman wept, as Grovillo tells us, because M10 feared to bo a queen, Albert niny havo been near. A woman's tears nro nt all time's touching. At such moments a lifo of happiness or unhappiness, as tho case may be, is often built. Bo this as it may, queens aro not allowed to possess or at 1 ast indulge in the feelings of other folk, and the nows men for onco did not, a few days after.con vcrt a yawn into a sigh or gild a smile with sentiment. Well, at all events, when Leopold cent for Albert, quick and with luggage light ns a young American starting for Arkansas, tho appointed youth booked himself in the small steamer which staggers between Ostend nnd Dover. Tho nffair was very quietly managed by Leopold. In the Court Circle column tho Prince's nnmefound rather a mean and minioncd place, and as tho Princo and Queen went out tho evening after his arrival for a Baunter in the woods, their Btroll was unobserved except by tho select fow who were in tho secret. But Victoria's maid, Rosalie, a kind, mischievous, merry littleelf from Longenschwnlbach and who was moro excited that even ing than Victoria herself prattled, for a littlo guilden, to tho court news man of how Albert's meek eyes, when they returned, wero radiant with jov, and Victoria looked slightly flushed, nnd woroin hergirdlo n small flower tho flower ot a dove which, through all tho darkness of widowhood, has never lost its freshness and herstraw cottage hat was chrushed back in front. Perchance she caught n branch perchnucp some sweeter pressure about which I think there nro sonio lovely young brides in Now York could tell. Bo this as it may, theclub man calling, tho next morning, for his tea and toast and Times was startled by the announcement that "Her Maj- cblj-was auouc to leau to tho hyme neal alter his Royal Highness Prince Albert of Gotha and Snxe-Coburg" nnd thus Victoria was wooed and won. W. Stuart, in Town Topics. The Ants and the Cyclone. It is stated that about a century flince thero appeared on tho island of Grenada numberless colonies of nuts. No one know whence they came, but they so multiplied that they became fatal to the sugar cane, jf as that was theprincinal industry the cravest I results wero apprehended. All expe- &L$ fc. 7. and th? ! bw vciium-uk, in j., 10 ouereu urewaru of 100,000 for any invention to de- stroy them. In 1780 nature came to their relief in. the , way of a terrific ' cyclono and rainfal which b ew down what cane was standing, drowned out thennts, and new prosperity followed. -Toledo Blade. A Good Ucnr Story. PnrkeraburR Cor. Chicago Tribun. Rev. Dr. Webb, a minister of tho Baptist faith, who is well known in tho interior counties, had a rough timo of it not very long ago while trav oling through tho woods. Tho section of country to which his duties call hinv is sparsely settled, and is full of gnmo and bears, wildcats and panthers. Tho preacher had ropeatcdly been ad vised to enrry a rovolver or gun, but nev" went ftrnied with anything moro formidable than a pocket-knife until after his resent encounter, On a recent trip over tho mountains tho preacher was quietly walking along the top of n ridge which was thickly covered with heavy tiinbor, when he wns rudely interrupted by a pig-like gruntdirectly in front of him. Raising his eyes, expecting to see a Btny hog, ho found himself face to face with a largo bear, whoso snapp ing little eyes bntrayed an intention to discuss tho right of tho way with tho reverend gentleman. Mr. Webb threw up his hands and shouted at Brum and advanced in a threatening manner, expecting to seo tho bear am ble away in fright. But tho unortho dox bruto didn't run. on thecontrary, he reared np on his hind legs nnd ad vanced toward tho minister m a threatening manner, with mouth open and his black paws stretched out ready to embrace his opponent in a warm, if not affectionate, manner. The preacher dodged behind a large oak tree and drow his pocket-knifo. Just as tho bear reached the tree the doctor dodged around to tho other er side but was quickly followed by tho bear. The subsequent proceed ing interested tho doctor to such an extent that he forgot tho text for tho next Sundav's sermon nn which lis had been ruminating. Round j and round they scurried; sometimes 1 tho bear would get closo enough to reach the doctor's coat sleeve or skirl-.. on which occasion he would eliminato a portion of the doctor's apparol, and the doctor would return the compli mont by plunging the knife-blndo into tlio bear s paw, neck or nose. In a Bhort timo tno doctor was most com pletely stripped of coat sleeves and skirt, and had a number of severe scratches on his nrms and body, while tho bear had received a dozen or bo of cuts nnd stabs from the preacher's khife. It didn't tako many minutes of this exercise to convince the preacher that ho was not an ndept in killing bears, and ho concluded to climb a tree. By a lucky stroke ho struck his knife into tho eye of the brute, which lay dowh nnd whined pitifully. Taking ndyantage ot the opportunity, WebU ran to the nearest treo with low-lying branches and scrambled up, but not too soon, for tho benr was on his feet and after him before ho reached a safo limb. A. bear is an excellent climber, and in a trico was in the tree with Webb, who began to crawl further out on the limb. The bear followed him up until he was within four of fivo feet of Webb, when the limb began to settle towards the ground. Bruin hesitated a mo ment, and then carofully advanced until ho was within reach of Webb's arm, when the latter plunged for tho bear's sound oyo and succeeded in plunging his knife in tho brute's head. The bear lost his balance and fell ta tho ground. Tlio limb, which had been thus bent at on angle of forty degrees by tho combined weight of preacher and the bear, suddenly flew back to its natural position, throw inn the preacher into tho nir. His do scent was moro rapid than graceful, nnd ho landed almost on top of tne bear, which was by this tiino getting upon his feet. Webb was not hurt by the fall, and before tho bear could got his sound eye in proper bearing Webb stabbed him in tlio neck and severed the jugular vein. In another moment Bruin was dead at the preacher's feet. Old Southern Homes Decay Ing. Savannah Nows. A great many of tho plantations in different parts of tho South, which wero onco well-known for their size, the magnificence of the residences upon them, the hospitality of their owners, or on account of the promi nence of tho families which possessed them, aro now falling into ruins. The reason of this is perhaps that the land has been worked so long without being fertlized that it has become poor, or it may be that those to whose possession it has passed lack tho energy and skill which aro requir ed to mako it pay under the present system of labor. One of these famous old places in Liberty County, in this state, was lately sold to a color ed man for $2,500, only part of tho r'un.-ijiiHu money ueing required at once. It is known as Laurel view, and is within two miles of tho historic town of Sunbury. It was onco tho home of the giited John Elliott, and a very beautiful homo it was. John . iott represented Georgia in tho United States Senate from 3 820 to 1820. The plantation contains 2,300 acres. It was purchased during tho war of secession by Linton Stevens, nnd woa sold to tho present ownerby his heirs.. The district in wii'ch tho plantation is. situated was noted from the first Bettle nient of the state until the emancipa tion of the slaves for the wealth and intelligence of its citizens. Ir. in nn- To thcolor d ? op '8 pi .-mo i. 1. . i !..., Jr.eatpl however, almost wholly abandoned an- fftrniF T Vml A, a " . bn,au kernes of meT notXfT 3 mall and riiHnrn nml nt . ... beau tv and S.h, ,1 f P"8 ? 3ecvandbeSr S i,?.8 nBlnt 1 &v mud Ml innrnlni,, m BtlCKS, a"a marvelous chJl tM 5.a4nWOrd8i -h.e ?" JX'E tieJI?lwl',fL1 prosperous district. A -- --- w-w IVM 11114 A