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1
TNE PHOFESSOIt.
I rang lor Jano to bring my tea up
Btairs, and hunted for the sal volatile
to composo my nerves. The now pro
fessor had arrived to deliver his iirst
lecture to the pupils ot lleliotropo Fo
malo academy. As the "accomplished
principal" so the newspaper express
ed it of this great institution, I con.
sider it my duty to havo a professor
ot scienco added to my corps of teach,
crs. It Hounded well in speaking to
say: "Prolessor East, of Wisteria
Academy." I must Bay it was the
aim of my life to havo overything ap
pear much better than it leally was.
At a teachers' meeting wo had discuss
ed tho matter. "I shall stipulato
for an unmarried man," I informed
the ladies, "middle-aged, learned and
companionable for intellectual wom
en like ourselves." Tho teachers all
agreed with me, but Col. Noel, my
wealthy patron, demurred at the pro
posed advance. Ho camo in just as
our meeting adjourned. Being a wid
ower, andas Eva had taken her histo
ry lesson in the study to learn, I beg
ged him to sit down and tell us how he
managed his dear motherless chil
dren. "I don't manage them, blessed if I
do. I've turned them over to you la
dies to manage. Keep that rascal
Jack Norris away from my Eva,
That's all I ask. Bless my heart, what
can I do with a parcel of girls on my
hands?"
"My dear Colonel," I said, in asym
pathetic tone, for he certainly glanced
at mo whilo speaking, "in my position
the care of tender, innocent girls has
become a lovely study. I doto upon
it. The only trouble to mo is that my
caro of them is too short."
"So it is, and a confounded shame,
too," and tho Colonel looked at mu
again, straight in tho eyes.
"In my position vigilance, wisdom
and foresight are required," I said
again in my most impressive manner.
"I may safely claim for myself these
requisites to a perfect manager of
young girls."
Tho colonel laughed good-naturedly
as ho added: "I wager she's safe
Eva is; she will have a fortuno of her
own, and that scoundrel Norris knows
it."
"In my position," I remarked, for
tho third time, "tho ultimate good of
my charges is the aim of my life, un
der my roof dearest Eva is secure.
Mr. Jack Noris will never try to out
wit me. Ho may be a bold rascal, but
Mr. Jack Norris won't venture to trifle
with me."
Col. Noel was emphatic in his assent
to this assertion. "He's a dare devil,
Nonsis, a wild, harum-scarum, worth
less scamp, but blessed if Ibeleivohn'd
have tho hardihood to defy you,"
laughed my chief patr.on, in that com
plinientaryway of his which showed
me in a quiet way his preference for
myself. Iliad numberless answers to
my advertisement for a professor, but
I tossed thpni all aside and en
gaged Prof. East. The moment my
eyes rested upon him I felt intuitively
that tho very person I desired had
presented himself. So handsome, so
very handsome, in spite of immense
green goggles; so gentle, and refined,
and so good, so innocently good, I
engaged him at onco on tiie easiest
term's. Indeed, Prof. East declared
himself so appreciative of tho great
advantage ot enjoying our society
that he almost forgot tho question of
salary. Ho was quite indifferent to
money. I found him willing to come
for a mere pittance which went far to
bias me in his favor, as it always
does seem hard to pay out so much
money to teachers. Tho flutter of
nerves mentioned above was occasion
ed by the arrival of tho professor.
He was actually in the house. All
tho teachers were struck by his ingen
uous manner and straight-forward,
beautiful candor
"He says he nover met a more
charming set ot ladies," observed Miss
Leonard, the English teacher.
"Ho says tho girls are not to liis
taste, he despises such young things;
he says m yeyes are lovely."
"Ma foil Your oyes, indeed!" ejacu
lated Mam'sello Adele, tho French
teacher. "Heyows myretroussonose
is piqunnte, charm ante, ah, monsieur
is one grand gentleman."
"I don't believe in flattery," inter
jected Miss Wenham. Nobody insults
me by compliments. Tho professor
thoucht I was one of thegirls. Indeed,
I never saw a man so amazed as when
I told him I was a teacher." Miss Wen
ham looked every day of forty-five
years.
"Ho is very near-sighted," I remind
ed her.
"Not at all," insisted Miss Wen
ham. "He only wearsglasses to shade
his eyes, and he always says just
what he thinks."
Putting on my glasses I drew out a
note. It was trom the professor. I
was determined to read it merely as
a check to their vanity and conceit.
"Let me see," I began, quite as if the
idea had that moment occurred to
me. "He says In this note: 'I am
coming early to have a hotter oppor
tunity of knowing a lady whom I have
long admired for her talents and
erudition.' " Without the smallest
notice of a decidedly envious laugh, I
folded the note and went to my room
to read up on tho mioceno period.
The professor was to lecture on tiie
mioceue period. After taking my seat
and leaving my classes on the table
they always made me look ten years
older I went down to see Prof. East.
To my amazement there sat Mam'sello
Adele'in her best black silk, with crim
son trimmings, talking in her excit
able foreign wayl There, on the other
side, was Miss Leonard in her best
plaid, smiling in her bland
amiability. Miss Wenham in her
Sunday cashinero ogled him in
front. To do tha professor
justice, ha Ecemcd restless ana in ovi
dent expectation of soma ono else.
As he turned nt onco to me, I folt cer
tain that I was tho person for whom
my hnudsomoyoung professor waited.
Wo discussed extinct pachyderms of
the mioceno period. I mndo some
strong points, to which ho yielded
without argument. Miss Wenham
whispered quite audibly that tho pro
fessor had not a chanco to put in a
word.
When wo were pnssing into tho lecture-room
I observed that ho looked
at Edith Sands, who contrived to bo
in tho way, and that oho laughed
rather pertly. Before I could speak
to her tho prolessor said in a low
tone: "What a great figuro you havo,
my dear lady, queenly, positively
queenly."
I heard that silly Eva titter so
rudely that common'decorum induced
mo to send her to a back seat. Sho
is considered beautiful by some peo
ple, but to my thinking her fnco is
weak; besides, sho lias a round, chubby
figure. I had it from tho professor
himselt that he ndmired a queenly fig
ure. The lecturo was rather obscure,
of course. I saw that the professor
was very dcop, but I am sure the girls
appreciated their privilege. Eva Noel
turned very red and almost choked
with laughter. If it had been any
bodyelse but Prof. East I might havo
imagined that ho becaiuo a trifle mix
ed and confusing on tho niocene
strata, but then ho was certainly n
handsome man. Uy tho merest acci
dent I happened to be in the hall when
the professor was putting on his over
coat, and found tho teachers around
him in an admiring circle. I must say
that my acumen and knowledge of hu
man nature never evinced itself so dis
tinctly as when I engaged Prof. East.
Ho turned at onco to mo nnd spoko in
tho most complimentary manner of
my observations of tho teritary epoch.
"Nothing ever interested mo so much.
We must tnlk it over thoroughly, it is
most absorbing," ho declared. "Be
sides, wo don't often havo the advan
tage of such an intellect as yours to
elucidate abstruse matters." Which
proved how very much interested ho
was in the subject.
Eva Noel came in from tho library
for a book just as theprofeesor closed
tho door behind him. I noticed that
sho wore a buttonhole bouquet with
a jacqueminot roso and smilax, which
I am positive tho professor wore de
livering his lecture. The artful miuje
must have picked it up somewhere.
"How did you come by thoso flow
ers. MNs Eva?" I demanded severely.
The girl turned very red. "Some
body gave them to me," she said, in
insolent defiance.
"You wicked girl," broko in Miss
Wenham; "do you remember Ananias
and Sapphira? Those are tho profes
sor's flowers. Vain creature, to sup
pose that he would give them to a
chit like you! It is shameful."
Evn reddened more and more, but 1
could seo that she was tittering and
laughing to herself while I sent her to
bed. "I will speak to Eva to-morrow.
She can't trifle with mo. I do beliovo
I can seo through a millstone. No ono
can blind me," I said in u tone of deep
meaning.
"Somo one ought to givo tho pro
fessor a hint of Eva's duplicity," sug
gested Miss Leonard.
"Perhaps it would bo just as wtll
to give him a hint of her shocking be
havior towards that dissolute wretch.
Jack Norris," supplemented Miss
Wonham.
"I shall certainly do so," I returned
in emphatic approval. "Prof. East
must be warned he is such a good
man such an innocent, unsuspecting
disposition wo must take care ol
him. I do flatter myself I am a judge
of men yes, lie must bo told about
Eva Noel."
The teachers agreed with me perfect
ly; indeed, 1 could not recollect when
we wero all so unanimous upon any
subject. I thought over all I had to
pay to tho professor, until I had nr
ringed quite a happy and affecting
way of putting it. Plainly it was my
duty to secure the professor against
the arts and wilts of this, weak, pretty
face agirl without the faintest claim
to a queenly figure.
Prof.East arrived much earlier than
was expect? d. However, the moment
I heard ol it I saw my opportunity to
give him a precautionary hint about
Eva's indecorus, artful ways. Tho
parlor door was partly open, and tho
professor's voice audible from within.
I had the curiosity to stop and listen.
My position demands watchfulness.
"Don't be alarmed," he was saying,
"my luck never wavers. That old
drngon is no match for me."
"But I'm dying with fright all tho
time. How can you do it."
Tho voice was ho other than Eva's.
Sho broke off into a laugh, lait turned
first red then palo when I walked in,
holding myselt very erect and assum
ing my most commanding aspect. It
evidently impressed the professor, for
he put on his immense green glasses
and at once began to talk to mo of the
fossils of tho tertiary epoch. I made
my points about extinct pachyderms
while I had a chance. They wero tell
ing and powerful, and, I must Bay, de
livered m an eloquent and scientific
Btyle. I had been awake until two in
the morning reading upon the Biibject.
Prof. Enst turned h:s head on ono
side, then the other, and looked med
itative. "I am lost in admiration; it is your
figure tho form of Juno euperb! in
spiring!" he suddenly declared, with
the delightful, ingenuous candor which
I discovered from the very first as a
beautiful trait of his disposition.
"Don't flatter me, you denr, n migh
ty man!" I exclaimed, as I shook my
head at him.
"Flattery?" he retorted: "I am an
unsophistocated fellow, always letting
Boiiii) truth slip out and givingoffence.
Ah, me, I know you are furious."
"Don't apologize, I know the truth
will slip out," 1 said very kindly; ho
did look so wonderfully hand
some, even with thoso hideous green
glasses on. "We quite understand
each other, and I may say are so con
genial that we are sometimes imposed
upon. I feel it my painful duty to
warn yes, really warn you against
a port, forward, insolent girl, as shal
low and vain as a peacock."
Tho professor camo a step nearer.
"I think I know who you mean," ho
whispered. I fairly lost my temper
not with tho professor not at ail, ho
was so good looking, but with that
abandoned girl trying to attract his
attention. It was scandalous.
"Sho is an unprincipled, designing
creature," I went on.
"And so desporately homoly," ho
added.
"I know you must think so," was
my triumphant reply; "but would
Sou believe it, somo peoplo call Eva
oel pretty?"
"Where havo 1 heard that namo?"
ho questioned thoughtfully. "Oh, I
havo it, tho littlo girl just now Iscarcn
ly noticed; very ordinary, is sho not?"
"Fearfully so," I ansm-ed him. "Sho
has been badly compromised by a
shocking affair with a dissolutescoun
drel. .lack Norris. I watch her very
cloBely. Tho miserable knavo can't
trifle with me. I beg you to remember
that this is a mark of my confidence,
purely confidential. I mean to out
wit that rascal Norris, and, of course,
can't allow you to bo taken in. Co mo
to mo if Eva speaks, or oven looks at
you, my dear professor. I will pro
tect yon."
Tho teachers interrupted mo by
coming in at that moment, hut tho
professor pressed my hand gratefully
and thanked mo in tho sweetest
way as ho went out to
the lecture-room. It quito startled
and kept me awako long after my
hour for retiring, and then, lato as it
was, I caught a glimpse through tho
window of Prof. East moving through
the shrubbery in the moonlight.gazing
up at tho windows,perhaps at mine.
Tho professor is so unsophisticated,
and so very good.
I beliovo I mentioned abovo how
perturbed and broken my rest was on
that eventful night. Several nights
havo passed since, but as far as I can
seo there is no prospoct oi anything
but wakeful nights for a long time. I
I slept rather lato in tho morning, aft
er tho night that unprincipled heart
less, wicked man delivered his last
shall I call it lecturo?
Miss Leonard mot mom tho sludy.a
Bubdued excitpment visible about her.
Eva Noel must havo gone home with
out leave; the servants havo seen
nothing of her; tho girls profess
ed equal ignorance. She had
not been seen suico retiring the
night before. It was mysterious. In
my position mystery was not to bo
borne. I sent a messenger to Eva's
home. The messenger returned with
tho appalling news that Eva had not
been at, home. Tho mystery deep
ened. I had the cellars and garrets
searched, tho cistern dragged, tho
clothes presses examined, and even
tho great soap kettle raised to see if
sho could bo underneath. To no pur
pose. Miss Leonard rushed suddenly
into tho study, and handed meanote.
It explained all:
"Denr Madam t liavo relieved you ol
tho care ol Kvu Noel. Wo woro ninrrloil
this inornltiz. I don't cliargo you a cent
for my two lectures. I'll oven finish tho
courno it yolt will post mo on oxtiuct
pnchydorniB. Jack Kaht Nonius."
Prof. East and Jack Norris was one
and tho Bame. The perfidious wretch!
Where is tho salvolatile? Family
Fiction.
The Future of Our Families.
What is our duty as regards provi
sion for the future for thoso who aro
or may be dependent upon us? There
aro two facts that point the path ol
duty too plainly to bo misunderstood.
Tho first is, that public opinion is dia
ly strengthening in the conviction
that, in view of uncertain business
ventures, unexpected reverses and un
fulfilled business plans, all ending m
early death or, at least, beloro lifo's
expectancy, that it is much tho duty
of tho head of the family to protect
the life which produces the bread,
clothing nnd homes of the family,
by sharing with a largo num
ber of persons the risks on a
certain amount of valuation on such
a life, ns it is to protect the house
which aheltors tho family by sharing
tho risk of its loss by fire with u large
number of owners of other houses.
This kind ol public opinion shows no
niercy to tho householder who fails to
insure his house, and tho time hastens
when the same public sentiment will
say of tho deceased protector, what
ever other good things ho may have
done, he failed in his duty to accept
tho propositions of thoso who offered
to share with him the risks of a por
tion, tit least, of tho valuation of his
life.
The second and btrongor motive re
sults from tho inwaid consciousness
which approves this public sentiment,
and which will be clear if we remember
that only one-fifth ol the deceased aro
solvent, that is, only one-fifth leave
anything for friends after the liabilties
of their estates aro paid. Two-fifths
have enough to pay their indebted
ness, and the other two-fifths do not
leavo anything. Every individual in
commencing life hopes to he of the
one-fifth, but four-fifths fnil of this
end. It would seem from this, that
failure is tho rule of life, and financial
success is tho exception. It is well
known in business ventures that a
small fraction only secure their aim.
A few succeed and the courage of the
struggling masses is kept up, as they
point to their success.
Now, friend, saying nothing of the
uncertainty of the life which would en
able you to secure what you desire lor
tho family, your chances aro too
small in the stern competition of the
age, for you to rely on business suc
cess alono for this result. Join our
Order and secure a certainty, and
then you will enter upon tho race of
business and all tha struggles of life
with the moro confidence and stronger
hopes. It will give peace to your pil
low and strength to tho day's battle.
The expenso is so small and the ad
vantage so great you cannot afford to
neglect this opportunity. Kemember
still further that now is tho only suro
time; sickness or death may be ap
proaching. Rainbow.
TigawgrTfTrTTT njirmyr i --y"if
SkesTK-s' Bound Girl.
"Now bo quick about it, and don't
Btand thero lookin' at mo that way.
Them oyes o' yourn is enough to givo
ono tho creeps, they air that ugly. I
wish they'd a sent ono a girl with bluo
eyes. 1 nover could abide black ones,
thero's BOinotliing so ovil in 'cm.
Crash. Well, jest look thero! if that
ain't tho second dish you'vo broko
this weok. I'll cuff you for that, I
will. You'll go without your dinner
now, too. o'll seo if you can't learn
to be moro careful. Sech a thing as
you air is enough to wear one's lifo
out."
Tho "thing" referred to turned to
her work. There was a Biiddon scowl
upon tho face a littlo dark, colorloss
face, lit up with great, black, wide-open
eyes, that woro just now shining with
a vindictive expression that was any
thing but pleasant. "How I do hato
her," she was saying to herself, as sho
clinched her small fists. "Sho is al
ways callin' mo ugly. As if I could help
it. Then sho fell to wondering if bv any
menus tho color of her oyes might bo
changed, bho had never Heard ot such
a thing, but if they only could, what
a great boon it would bo to her. Her
mother had thought hor oyes beauti
ful, but she was so different from any
body elso. If sho could havo them
changed to blue, justoxnetly the eolor
of tho sky, how pretty they would bo.
So engrossed was sho with tho idea
that sho forgot for a time nil about
her mistress and hor surrounding.
But that 1'isping voico again broko
tho silence. "Do dabblo away thoro
in tho wator, an bo all tho forenoon
wnshin' thorn dishes. 'Penrsns if you
tries to seo howaugrivatin'you kin bo.
You nover stop to think I reckon, that
you ought to do somothin' to pay for
the home, an1 clothes, andvitualsyou
git; but that's tho way with sech crco
tor3 as you thoy'ro always ongrate
ful. I don't know what ever put it
into my head to want a boun girl
anyway. If you don't do better I'll
jest turn you over to tho poor-house,
I will."
Tho "croeter" looked at hor mistress.
If sho only dared to speak what a re
lief it would bo. What ugly, hateful
words sho would spit forth. A home?
And what a homo! A baro room in
the garret, with a hard, scant bed. Sho
did not mind that, if they would only
speak to her kindly sometime, orgivo
hor now and thon a word of encour
agement or commendation. Clothes?
Look at thdm cast off garments of
her mistress, hastily cut down, ill fit
ting, faded, and worn. She did not
caro for tho IioIcb in them, or for tho
fit of them. If they had been put on
her by loving hands no queen in robes
of velvet would have been happier.
Food? Tho very coarsest. Sho. was
novor allowol anytid-bits. With what
hungry eyes Bho sometimes watched
Mrs. Skeggs caress her boy, Sammy,
and feed him sweetmeats hungering
not so much for tho sweetmeats as for
tho caresses. Would n ny body over lovo
hor again? bho wondered. Not Binco
tho day her mother, with an effort,
turned her white faco toward her, and
laying her thin hand upon hor bend
tenderly, had whispered, for her voico
was nearly gone: "Jnnio, bo a good
girl, and wo will meet again by and
by," had there been a loving word
spoken to her. That was only two
vears ago, but it seemed an ago to tho
littlo waif. Sho had looked in tearful
perplexity whilo they screwed down
tho lid of tho rough coffin in which her
mother lay, but no ono paid any at
tention to her. Sho remembered ono
neighbor woman had said to another:
"What nn uncanny littlo thing it is;
bIio'p all oyes." After they had carried
her mother away sho was sent to a
children's almshouse, and in a littlo
timo a homo was provided for her "out
west" in tho Skeggs family. Sho was
known ns Skeggs' bound girl. Tho
neighbors sometimes remarked that it
was very kind of Mrs. Skeggs to take
that girl to raise; thoy wouldn't want
such a responsibility.
"Well, what air you standin' thero
about? Why don't you scour your
knives now? You always havo to
wait to bo told. And do tako them
eyes off mo. If I had such ugly oyes
Id never look at ennyhody." So tho
day wore away. Tho days since bIio
camo to tho Skeggs family wero always
tedious, but this onn seemed unusual
ly long, perhaps because sho had to go
without her dinner. Sho had snatch
ed a crust unperceived, but toward
ovening she felt faint with hunger, and
oppressed with an unaccouutnblo
heaviness.
Sho was drawing a pail of water at
tho well when Sammy came in from
the field with his father. Ho was a
great, overgrown, Jreckled-fnced boy
of 12. His" hither went on to tho barn,
but Sammy, seeing that Jauo had just
about got her bucket to the tot) slip
ped up behind hor, grabbing her arms
so suddenly that in Iright sho let go
tho windlass, and away rolled tho
heavy bucket to tho bottom again.
Saminy, who thought it hu legitimate
right to tease tho "boun' girl" when
ever he chose to, burst into loud
laughter, but Jano had borne much
during the day, nnd this was the last
straw. Snatching up a stick that lay
convenient, with a voico full of pas
sion sho declared she'd "kill him!"
There was no doubt murder in hor
heart, but tho slendornessof tho stick,
and Sammy's overgrown bulk, woro
insurmountable difficulties in tho way.
Something unusual in her manner
convinced Saminy sho was terribly in
earnest. He ran into tho house cry
ing'Ma.Janesaysshe'llkillme." Mrs.
Skeggs sent Sammy for his father.
Consternation seized tho family.
What should be dono with
a creature that showed such
dangerous proclivities' "It's born
and bred in her," moaned Mrs.
Skeggs, "and however air we goin' to
break her?" It was decided that sho
must bo whipped, but Jano was liko
nn animal at bay, dumb, but full of
fight. So Mr. Skeggs was obliged to
give her a good beating before ho
could biibdue hor. Sho was then
dragged up stairs and thrust into her
little room. Sho sat down on the ono
rickety, wooden chair by tho window.
For a timo sho was conscious of only
one feeling, and that was anger; but
after a whilo other thoughts took
possession of hor. She went back to
hor parting from hor mother, and
wondered what sho meant by Baying
they would meet again. Bho had hoard
something about heaven. Her mother
had said sho was going to her homo
in tho Bky. Mrs. Skeggs had told hor
that only good people wont to heaven,
and if bIio didn't mend her ways she
would nover got thoro; God could nover
lovo such an ill-natured, ugly crcaturo
as sho. Still her ideas of heaven wero
very vague. Sholookcd up at tho broad
expatiBo of blue, whoro tho Btars wero
just beginning to twinkle, for twilight
wasiust disappearing into tho deeper
shades ot night. She thought tho sky
very beautiful, but how did peoplo get
thero? Tho ache in hor heart scorned
tho biggest part of her now. It filled
hor breast, and choked her breath.
Someone opened hor door nnd put a
plate ot bread and a mug of water on
tho floor. She wns not hungry now,
bo sho snt still, watching tho stars and
listening to tho frogs croaking in tho
meadow swale, and tho crickets chirp
ing under the window. Suddenly a
voico seemed to Bnenk to her: "Whv
don't you leavo them?" Sbosprang to
hor foot electrified. Why had bIio not
thought of that before? Yes sho
would go. Eagerly she nto of tho
bread and duank tho wator. Then sho
sat down to wait tor the family to re
tire. How tho stars sparkled and
laughed in her faco; tho very frogs
seemed croaking: "Come! Come!"
Sho clasped her hands together in cc
Htacy. Sho would go out into tho
beautiful, unknown world. What
might sho not find? Perhaps aye,
perhnps sho would find heaven. She
listened only an owl hooting mourn
fully in tho distance.
At 10 o'clock the houso was all
quiot. Jano got out of her window
upon tho roof of tho low porch, then
crept quietly to tho corner furthcrest
from the farmer's sleeping room and
onsily Blipped down tho post to the
ground, bho hurried to tho open high
way. Awe-stricken, sholookcd around.
Shu had nover been out at night afono
beforo, but sho would not go liack, not
tho worst of hobgoblins could equal
tho horrors sho was leaving behind.
So she walked on. After a timo tho
moon camo up and looked smilingly
down upon tho wanderor. "What
a kind faco it lias," sho thought; "may
bo that's Uod." and sho was no longer
afraid. Tho dark shadows of tho treos,
with bright patches of moonlight be
tween, charmed her. Tho bccho ro
minded her, some way, of tho fniry
tales her mother used to tell her. On,
and on sho went, but how tired sho
was growing, and what astrango, con
tused feeling in her head. Sho was now
in tho outskirts ot a village. Creeping
under a vine-clad porch sholaiddown.
"John, see, hIio is coming to. Why,
the poor littlopalothing! Whatbea'u
tiful eyes sho has, John."
"Oh," thought Jano, "this must bo
heaven." Sho looked up; a Bwect faco
was bonding ovor her.
"What do you Hiipposoover brought
her to our porch, John? How pitiful
and sorrowful she looks. I wondor if
she lay thero all night? Here, Maggie,
get tho tub ready, wo will givo her a
bath and put hor right to bod her
pulso seems foverish mako her somo
gruel."
Yes, it must bo heaven, for had thoy
not spoken kindly to her, and called
hoi eyes beautiful. Sho felt sho could
bo good hero. "It must not bo so
hnrd to bo good when peoplo are kind
to you," sho argued.
.lane lay in that soft bed sleeping
tho most ot the time, but when awake
only about half conscious until tho
afternoon of tho next day, when a
voice from the adjoiningroom reached
her ears.startlingher into tho full pos
session of hor faculties. "It's my
boun' girl, suro. Wo'vo been lookin'
everywhere for her. She's nn awful
piece, too. Whv, tho very day sho
left tho little wretch tried to kill lny
boy Sammy."
Jano got right out ot bed. Where
wero her clothes? Sho could not find
them. No matter, she must go in her
night-clothes anything to got away
from that woman. Sho tried to raise
tho window, but she had no strength.
Everything scorned growing dark.
When a tow minutes later tho good
lady of tho houso camo in to look
after her chargu sho found hor on tho
floor in a dead faint. They restored
her to consciousness, but sho soon be
camo delirious. "Don't let them tako
mo back," she raved. Ican'thogood
there. I want to stay horo where they
lovo mo." I a fnw days the fever had
done its work. Tho "little wretch"
lay quiot and peaceable enough, with
her hands crossed on hor bosom, and
eyelids closed over tho black eyes for
ever. Sho was well out of tho reach
of tho Skogs family tho bound girl
was freo.
Shattering Our Idols.
A Boston sea captain, who has been
afloat for moro than forty years,
says he nover yet heard a sailor use
such expressions as "shiver my tim
bers" or "bless my toplights." If this
bo indeed true, it demolishes a most
cherished acceptation in our boyish
readings and dreams of tho sea. Un
say those cruel words, oh, sea rover,
or a million grown-up boys will have
wrested from them tho most delight
ful of their memories of romance.
Think, too, of the dangerous prece
dent thus established. Other ruthless
ones may despoil us of the benevolent
bandit, his gorgeous trappings and
palatial cavern in the bowels of the
earth. It may even transpire that
such expressions as "odd fish,"
"zounds," "forsooth" and "now, by
my hnhdom," were nover employed
at all, and that in the old days men
went around saying "You can bet
your sweet life," "cheese the racket,"
I'whatareyou giving us," and "rats,"
just as they do now. Leave us, prith
ee, these sweet and hallowed memo
ries and tako something elso. Texas
Sittings.
"I tell you," exclaimed Fogg, dog
matically, "that woman is not equal
to man." "That's true,"remarked Mrs
F., who hitherto iiad taken no part
in tho discussion; "truv, Daniel; and
it is also true that $1 is not equal
to 50 cents." Boston Transcript.
After Thirty Years.
correspondent of tho Atlanta
Constitution has recently had tho
pleasure of Interviewing a Mr. James
II. Whiten, who has just returned
Irom a thirty-yearn' stay in tho wild
West. His experience in tho frontier
life, which is full of Indian skirmishes,
bear hunts, etc., is quite interesting,
but tho soparatlon from his wife for a
period of thirty-years, and what led
to their meeting, is tho most interest
Ing ieaturo of tho Btory.
In January, 1857, Mr. Whiten was
married to Miss Nancy Fowler, a
beautiful young lady who resided near
Westminster, S. C. Young Whiten
was very ambitious to prepare his
wife a commodious home, both being
very poor nt tho timo of their mar
riage. Homndoup his mind to try his
fortuno in tho West. Tho gold fover
waH spreading through tho West
at tho timo liko a contagion, nnd
Piko's Peak was tho objectlvo point.
So in tho following Bpring, when
winter winds had given place to tho
breezes of spring, and before tho
honey-moon liad fairly waned, vown
ot everlasting dovotion and fidelity
were exchanged and Mr. Whiten turn
his faco westward.
Attar roughing it fivo yeara among
desperadoes and Indians, and
having gathered consldcrablo mon
ey, hu decided to return to his
Nancy; but not bo to be. Tho civil
war was then in full blast, and whilo
passing through tho state of Texas
Mr. Whiten was called upon for his
services and had to respond. During
his term many letters wero written to
tho prcciousonc, but no answer ever
came. Through an acquaintance ho
was informed that his wifohad refuged
to parts unknown. In tho soldier's
camp, In tho state of Kansas, tho news
ot Lee's surrender reached him. Being
destitute of means on which to travel
and having learned through an effort
to establish a communication that'
tho ono was dead for whom it wnB his
pleasure to live, he returned to Colo
rado thoro to spend tho remainder ot
his days in the solitude of tho West.
"For twonty-two years," said Mr.
Whiten, "I wandered over tho plains
and prairies, my thoughts over carry
ing mo back to tho placo where
I kissed her good-hyo." It
seoms that his grief, instead of relax
ing, grew more poignant. In tho fall
Ot 1887 he met an old friend, Job
Steel, in Montana. Mr. Steel told him
that it; was very likely that his wifo
was stilla living; that lie had a faint
recollection of a murriago in an ad
joining county of a Mr. Southern to n
Mrs. Whiten, who had longsince given
up her former husband for dead, and
that Southern was dead, so he was in
formed, and that the widow's post
ofllco was Fort Madison, S. C. Elated
by these glad tidingH, Mr. Whiten di
rected three lettors to Fort Madison,
ono to Mrs. Southern, ono to Mrs.
Whiten, and ono to Mr. Whiten,
a supposed son of his. Eagerly did
ho wait for a reply, but none came.
Tho letters remained in tho ofllco till
ono day tho postmaster at tho placo
was fixing to make a legal disposition
of thorn, when a countryman Mr.
Latham, chanced to Btep in. Tho
postmaster casually asked Latham if
no knew ary one by the namo of
Nancy Southern or Nancy Whiten.
Latham iiappenedto bo well acquaint
ed with tho widow, ana, by the re
quest of the postmaster, carried tho
lettors to Mrs. Southern. Sho an
swered him at once, explaining her
second marriage; that she had heard
he was dead, and expressed great anx
iety to Beo him, Mr. Whiten at onco
took tho train for Westminster,' 8. C.,
having boeu, by her letter, informed
that siio lived at tho same old place.
Arriving at Westminster, he proceed
ed to tho old country homeBtend,
where tho parting took place. There
under tho willow treo in the yard,
where thoy parted thirty years be
fore, they met again. Timo and troub
le had, of course, left its impression
upon both. Said Mr. Whiten:
"Though tho black curls bIio onco
wore wero streaked with gray, and tho
sparkling eyo was dimmed, and tho
rose had left tho cheek, yet she was as
dear to me as ever. We aro now liv
ing together as happily as when we
parted in the spring of 1857. My son
came to seo me last Christmas the
llret timo I over saw him and wo all
had a jolly time."
Vulgar I mitatlon.
AdolpluiB Trollopo.
"Thero was an old gentleman who
had a very tolerable notion ol what
is vulgar and what is not, and who
characterized 'imitators' as a 'Bervile
herd,' and surely if, as wo are often
told, this is a vulgar age, tho fact is
due to the prevalence of this very
tap-root of vulgarity, imitation. Of
course I am not speaking of imitation
m any ot the various cases in which
thero is an end in view outside ot the
fact or the imitation. Tho child in
order to speak must imitate thoso
whom it hears speaking.
"If you would mako a pudding you
must imitate the cook; if a coat, tho
tailor. But the imitation which is
essentially vulgar, the very tap-root
as I have said, of vulgarity, is imita
tion for imitation's sake. And that
is why I think modern slang is essen
tially vulgar. If it is your real opin
ionright or wrong matters not
that any slang phrase expresses an
idea with peculiar accuracy, vividness
or humor, use it by all means, and ho
is a narrow blockhead who see3 any
vulgarity in your doing so. But for
heaven's sake, my dear Dick, don't
uso it merely because you heard Bob
use it."
Mrs. Finnigan: "Ho'a no better,
doctor. You towld me to givo him as
much of the powder as would lay on
six pince. I hadn't a sixpince, but I
gave him as much as would go on five
pinnies an' two haltplnnies, and it's
done him no good at all, at all."
Funny Folks.
