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About Hemingford herald. (Hemingford, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1895-190? | View Entire Issue (July 10, 1896)
4JL- CARA'SBRAVERY. by ESTitnn enni.n jcnxximi. 'For wliom did you want tho house young lady?" "For niysfilf, sir." Dr. Leo Leighton stood amazed. The girl before him was so young not moro than eighteen, and so pretty golden-haired and blue-eyed as an angel. He had never dreamed that Bhe was making the application to rent Thistle Cottage herself. But Miss Caroline Clarke took no notice of his surprise. "The house is in good order, sir." "It requires a few repairs, only," said the young physician, rather stiff. Jy. He had begun to thing he was throw ing his time away. "And those you will make?" "If I lot the cottnee yes." The younu lady mused a moment. "I think I will like it," sho said then. "I beg your pardon, Miss Clarke?" "Yes." "Do you quite understand the sit uation?" "I think I do. The housvt.hought to be haunted, and the rent is merely nominal to anyone who will live there." "Yes. But How are you situated in regard to family, my dear young lady?" "I have the care o? two younger brothers twelve and fourteen years old. I have only a limited income, which I eke out by embroidery. I am anxious to got my brothers out of the city and there is a good academy here. 1 am not afraid of ghosts," with a faint smile. "We shall come." Hef wfOrds and manner were not at variance with her delicate beauty all was so petite and yeo so self-possessed and dignified. Dr. Leighton's experience in girls did not seem to servo him at all in this emergency. He recollected that his sisters, Maud and Bess, always regarded the outer walls of Thistle Cottage with an apprehen sive gaze, and could not be persuaded to pa3s it atone after dark, and here was this girl, no older than they, pro posing tollve there, with two children! "You have no parents?" "No." "Relatives?" "None to rely upon. I depend en myself entirely, Dr. Leightoiv; I am used to it. Would you like to let me have Thistle Cottage?" with a steady glance into ttie young man's counte nance. "I hesitate only on your account," he hastened to nay. "It is no fablo that a man was killed there. He was murdered by a son of unsound mind, after a quarrel about money. The estate was owned by my father. It is now mine. It long ago fell into ill repute on account of the murder, but it 13 o. very pretty place and has been kept in repair. I will walk over it with you again and make any changes you may find desirable,"" thus tacitly consenting to the young lady's pro posal. , What her words failed to dp, her clear blue eyes had succeeded in ac complishing. They had won the con fidence of the owner of the cottage. "She can but try since sho wishes," he said to himself. "I am close by at our house. If she gets frightened out sho can come to us." When they had gone over the house again, the girl a?ked, quite coolly: "What became of the mure'erer?" "He lied from justice is probably dead. He has never been heard from, and his ghost is said to haunt this spot. If you can prove that it does not. I will give you five years rent here free." The young cirl made no reply, only smiled brightly. "What a brave litt'e creature!" thought Dr. Leighton. A week later Caroline Clarke and her brothers were settled at the This tle Cottage. Dr. Leighton did not fancy the boys. Ho told his mother that they were "whelps that wanted licking in to shape." But when he saw the gen tleness and tact used by their sister in managing them, when he saw her patience, her charming smile in en couragement of their simplest well doing, ho was ashamed of his intoler ance. "My father," she hesitated, "did not set his boys a very good example. They were much away from home he fore he died. They will do much bet ter here away from harmful associa tions," sh suid. "That's a good cirl a rare good girl, Lee," sain old Mrs. Leighton. "I only wish Maud and Bess had half o.a much character." But Cara, as the boys called her, did not trouble her neighbors. She was an exquisite housekeeper; she had a piano an old one but of mellow tone; she did much work with crewels and flosses. In the evening sin as sisted her brothers with their studies. They were fond of her under their roughness and selfishness. They Bhoveled snow, when it came, took care of the poultry she encouraged them hi their ambition for prize chick ens and kept in wood and water. There was not a brighter little homo m the village. Cara had finished the rooms herself with pretty artistic touches. On the pale puff paper of the sitting room she hat. painted, here and there, u bunch of red Bergundy roses. She had gilded the cornices and hung be fore a doorway a crimson curtain. As for gupsts when people queried her, she simply answered: "No, I have not seen any." But perhaps the air of the mount ain village did not agree with Cara Clarke, for she grew pale. She was always sweet, but sometimes she had a little wearied air. Dr. Leighton asked her if she did not work too hard, "It is not that," she answered. He wondered sometimes, with a secret disquiet, it she had not somewhero a Bweatheai who did not write to her. But Ctu-a kept her own counsel. The fall and winter wore away with out any revelation to him of what troubled her. Jack and Willie, the boys, were jubilant over the pros pect of a vegetable garden with peas, potatoes and squashes of their own raising. But their sister looked so ill that the younj physician felt called upon to expostulate "Cara," ho said, "I want to speak tqyou. Yotimusthavoa change or jow will die." 40, no, I shall not sho replied, in cradtuoualy. ur countenance cives token of unmistakable exhaustion. You are doing too much labor or you have some trouble. Cara, why do you not confide in mel Do you nut believe I am your friend?" "Oil, yes. It is nothing, only I do not sleep very well." "Why?" She made no reply, and seeing that his inslstauce distressed her, he cs as- cd to urge her confidence at that time, though more certain than over that sho had a painful secret. He was sat isfied that sho had no organic disease; and her mind seemed to have no mor bid tendency. But the colorlesb cheek, the hollow temples, theair of languor, betrayed that something daily and hourly sapped the young girl's strength. One morning. Willie, the younger boy, rapped at Ins office door. "Something's the matter with my sisteiv" he said. "We can't wake hor up. Won't you come over?" Dr. Leighton found Cara in a stupor and delirious, with every symptom of brain fever. He lost no timo in get ting assistance. Mrs. Hodgdon, the village nurse, was at Cara's bedside when she awoke. Dr. Leighton had just left the room and was in the next apartment. He did not go in immediately, though he heard the girl talking. "Am I so very sick?" she asked. "No, dear. You was feverish and your mind wandered a little, and I was out of a place and told Dr. Leigh ton 1 could stay with you a day or two as well as not for my board. I hain't forgotten the jackets as Willie outgrew that you sent to my Bobbie; and I had feeling for a young girl with no mother's hand in the hour o' need." "Oh," moaned theyoung girl. "I'm not sick, I'm worn out! Oh, this dreadful house! I have not slept soundly all winter." "Why. dearie?" "Oh, Mrs. Hodgdcn, there is some body in this house beside ourselves. Beside me and the boys, I mean. Somebody creeps about and I am al ways listening lor that step. It is killing me! Oh, don't tell anyone! I did not mean to tsll you, but I am so weak. Don't, don't say a word to Dr. Leighton. I must bear it, because its all the home we have, and the boys never had such a piettv, nice home before, and they are doing so well, and are so good." I was not afraid at first. I am not afraid now, only for them. There may be some evil about, though ndthing has ever harmed us. But as soon asl fall asleep I start up and listen." Cara was begging the old woman not to betray her confidence, when Dr. Leighton came into the room. "You inns; tell me the whole story, Cara!" he said. "You shall not lose anything by it," he added. Hut Cara broke out, crying, in her weakness giving way to her emotions, and for a time the tumult would have its way. She was brought to listen to reaon at hist. "It was two months after we came here," she said, "that I first heard those creeping, creeping steps. I tried to think it was the trees, or the wind, or the cat, but I heard them wlien there was no wind at all, and the cat was asleep on the foot of my bed, and the things were moved from their places about the home, end lately I have missed food. That's since I would not allow myself to believe that a spirit haunted "the place. I have searched every spot and nook in tills house. There is only the space above the scuttle in the roof, and there are no stairs." "Oh, Dr. Leighton!" groaned Mrs. Hodgdon, "then, of course, it's spirits." "Nonsense." Dr. Leighton contented himself with prescribing for the sick and over wearied girl, and after a lew days of care arranged a drive for her in his new buggy, with her brother Jack as attendant. "You are to take a nice lone drive, and not be back under two hours," he raid, smiling. The kindness and care surrounding Cara was new and very pleasant to her. As the wheels rolled away from the door in the brightness of the spring day. her trouble fe.l away from her like a nightmare, and the color came bask to the prettv cheek. Five minutes after her departure from Tbistle Cottage two men were in the house with Dr. Leigh ton. They went rapidly through it, beginning with the cellar. Every wail wa-j tried, with the idea of discovering any unknown space or passage. Nothing unknown was developed." At length a short ladder was brought, and the men as cended to the attic. It was only a hollow space beneath tho center of the roof, quite ur.liglited. But enough light penetrated the place to show an unkempt figure rising Irom its liar of straw and rags in one cor ner. "What's this? Are you after me?" he said, in hollow tones. The men silently gazed on this object with astonishment, repuUion and pity. It was a man, but so thick the mask of dirt and grim, so ragged the beard and hair, grotesque the costume of tatters from which fell feathers anil straw, it seemed some unknown crea ture instead of a human being. "Great heavens! it h Simon Leland!" cried Dr. Leighton. This only added to the consterna tion of the other men. for Simon Leland was the half crazed boy who murdered his father at Thistle Cottage five years bPfore. But want and misery had given him the appearance of an old man. "I don't caro what you do with me!" cried tho hollow voice. "Only give me something to eat." "Conic with us and you shall have all you want," Baid Dr. Leighton, not unkindly. "Where? Down there, where tho fire and the light and the girl is?" ask ed tho wretched being, and when they nodded, ho caught up a rouah ladder of rope, quickly adjusted it and swung himself down beforo them. But ho was bo weak ho staggered, and they were obliged to help him down tho stairs to tho kitchen, where Mrs. Hodg don, shaking with excitement and consternation, placed food upon tho table from which he snatched it, with out any pretence of eating from n plate,devounng it like a half-famished animal. When he had filled himself, he would have laid down on the floor and gono to sleep, but that the unaccustomed plenty sickened him, and he began to groan and roll about. In a short time, the sheriff, who had been sent for, arrived, and ho was taken away. No one believed that the poor, underwitted, half-dying creature was a fit subject for punish ment, but tho county ail was a clean and comfortablo refuge for him in his destitution. Horo ho remained until consigned to the almshouse. No re liable account nf his career could be obtained from him, but it is probable that he had sought refuge at Thistle Cottago in its desertion, and existed miserably there a great while before discovered. Ho had prowled about at night searching for food, of which he found a scanty supply.stealingfrom corn bins, pigs and poultry, and rob bing hen roosts, eating the flesh of the fowls raw. It was the occasional dis covery of his miserable figure which had called into cxistenco the story of the place being haunted by his ghost. But so reduced had he become lie would probably have died in his lair but for Dr. Leighton's discovery of him. Dr. Leighton kindly saved Cara from witnessing so much misery. She nev er saw Simon Leland. Her nerves had already borne much, and that she had been willing still to sutler in secret for the sake of preserving a good homo for her young brothers was a fact which became known and en deared her to many hearts. Her friends multiplied, and, when Bhe ac cepted as a lilo companion, Dr. Leigh ton, tho oldest friend of all, hearty kindness surrounded her and warm wishers for her happiness danced merrily at the wedding. "PAYING ATTENTIONS." Tho Evils of Promaturo CobbIp About Lovo Affairs. Harper's Dazar. As it is obviously a young man'sdu ty to pay attentions to some young woman, considering that this is really the chicl motive of social intercourse, it is rather hard upon him that he no sooner begins to fulfill his mission, and calU, and drives, and dances moro or less boldly with one damsel, than nil the match-making women to whom a love affair, anybody's love affair, is precious and entertaining, interchange ideas upon tho subject and report that young Crayon is in lore with Miss Coupon; and although he may never have thought of love in relation to M133 Coupon, and although he may possibly have drifted into a genuine affection Booncror later if nobody had meddled since proximity is adanger ouu factor, and brings about more marriages than match-making the premature report has a very damag ing ellect; he begins to see that unless he is serious in paying attentions he is compromising not only himself, but the young woman, and keeping other suitors at a distance; and although he may not know whether ho has any positive designs or no. and his emo tions may be in a state of evolution, and he may not entirely understand his own designs, yet he is put upon hi-, guard, the cordial relation between the two cools, and he earns the name cf being a heartless trifler, or is forced into a hasty declaration betore he is ready to make it. Naturally the looker-on says that he ought to know his own mind; that he has no business to devote himself to a woman whom he does not love. But love is not an in stantaneous affair, like being struck by lightning; it is a growth. And now prithee, is a youri( man to know whether he loves or not if he may not live more or less in the companion ship of that "not impossible she?" if he may not have opportunity to observe and study her' To be sure Miss Coupon may object to being made a study of.to being placed under the microscope, and then by-and by turned aside as an inperfect specimen. But she has the Bame privilege herself, and would be sadly (shocked if any one supposed that she would accept a lover without some knowl edge of his qualifications. One might nsk if she, on her side, had serious and matured designs when she answer ed his notes, accepted his invitations, his bouquets and confectionery, if she were not also attempting to discover if he were her ideal. We do not dis pute the fact that there are men who llirt maliciously, so to 3penk who do not mean to fall in love who have themselves well in hand; but they need not be confounded with those who are Blmply trying to discover their heroine. Messrs. L. W. Ilabercoui, Louts Schade, Simon Wolf ami Nov. L. II. Shleder, ot Washington, ndilresstd tho House com mittee on the nlcohollc liquor trafllc In op position to tho 1)111.1 to uroviile tor a com midhion ot Inquiry on tlioli(uar tratllc nud for prohibition in the DistrictutColumbin. A general court martini nt Fort Mlmou la, Mont., sentenced Private Thomas M Kvily, Company li. Third Infantry, elmrg id nith desertion, to be dishonorably dis charged from tho service ot tho United States, forfeit all pay ami allowances due and be confined utliard labor for three .riirs. A COOLCUT-THROAT. Bandit Vasquoz InspootsHls Coffin With Much Intorost and Dlos Gamely. Snn Trundled Hxnmlner. I eaw Kernaghan's neck stretched one Friday, and It recalled another hanging of thirteen years back tlmt of Tiburcio Vosquoz. The little brizand, who had rotiM andslatighteied with his band through Santa Clara, San Benito, Fresno, Tu lare and tho wholo Southern country, until ho had achieved a notoriety as high as that of his great predecessor, Joaquin Murietta, was sitting absorb ed in a newspaper when tho reporters entered. Ho had been permitted to leave his cell and tako the freedom of the asphalt-paved corridor. His chair was fashioned fiom a dry goods box, and his lamp stood on the equally rough table, whero thero were also pens and ink. He had been writing his last letters. Vasnucr. rose and nodded pleasant ly to his curious visitors. There were half a dozen of them, and each pre sented him with a cigar or two, so that he had a handful. "I'm afraid," said he with a smile, "that I shan't have time to smoke all these." The fellow was a gentleman. Ho showed it not only in his politeness, but in tho cool courtesy with which he faced his dreadful end. "I would rather talk of something else, if it is agreeable to you, gentle men," ho said, when the reporters fell to business, and questioned him about the state of his mind. "I am to bo hanged to-morrow. Very well. I don't like it, but I have no choice, see?" Sheriff Adams appeared, and the. Mexican retired into tho shadow with him. They whisperod together and the officer retired with a deprecatory showing of his palms. Soon there was a ti-umninc of feet without, tho key turned, and the doors were thrown open, clanging. Two men bearing a collin, and follow ed by a black-coated undertaker with a pair of trestles in his hand, came in. The coffin a fino one, Btudded with silver-headed nails wa3 placed on tho trestles, and tho brigand, cigar in teeth, stepped up and inspected it with lively interest. He halfsquatted and ran his hand along the side. "It's too short," he said, with sur prise, looking at tho awed undertaker, who assured him it was all right that it should be measured at the top not near the bottom. "It's high," cried Vasquez, with a wave of his hand, nleased at the qual ity of the coffin, winch had been pro vided by his friends. The undertak er thought he referred to the lid, which was rounded, and said it was the fash ion to make them that way. He put his hand inside, felt the pad ding, pressed the little pillow, and with an upward flirt of his cigar ob served: "Well, I shall nleep thero very well forever." On the morrow he walked out into the sunlit jailyard, climbed the steps of tne scaffold and threw a wistful glance beyond the walls at the blue hills, on which ho had ridden on many a fray with his cut-throats. They sought to unbutton hie coat and collar. He waved them aside po litely and did it himself. Ho assisted the hangman in adjusting the straps and tope, glanced down to see that his feet were nresisoly on the crack, kissed the crucifix held out to him by the priest, and horo himself with pa tience and dignity while they drew over Pirn a white shroud and placed on his head and shoulders a great black hood. "I am ready," ho said Berenely, closing his eyes. And that was the last of Vasquez. He Had His Sphere. Te Rev. E. A. Dickinson, editor of the Rtligious Herald of Richmond, Va., was telling tho Philadelphia Baptist association recently how necessary It was to enlist the active services of every member of a congregation, when some one pertinently usked: "What are you going to do with a man that can't do anything?" "That's a mistake," returned the reverend journalist. "Every man is of some use. If he can't do one thing he can do another. The point is to find out just what he is fit for, and, having found it, put him at it. This recalls an actual experience I once had in a backwoods congregation in Vir ginia. It was my first visit among tho people and I was anxious to make it successful. It should be remember ed that church in tho backwoods means a gathering of all tho people and a good many dogs. After the opening hymn I called on old Deacon Blank to lead us in prayer. "'Taint no use askin' "me," he Baid, "I can't do it," "Suppose you start the next hymn, then? "Can't sing oither." "How about taking up tho collec tion? I guess you can manage that?" "Nop. I'm a bad hand at getting 'round. Better git some one else." Noticing that the old fellow carried a stout walking Btick, an idea was suggested. "Well, brother, do you think you are aole to keep out the dogs?" "You bet I air," he confidently re plied. Then taking a seat at the'door he battled with the brutes through out the meeting, and after it was over moro than one of the congregation were followed homo by yelping cms with bruibod limbs. Every man hae hii sphere of useful ness. Tho inscription on the Gombetta monument opposite tho Louvre, Paris, will be "Frenchmen, raise your souls and your resolutions to the height of the perils which weigh on the fatherland. It yet depends upon yon to show to the universe the spectacle of a great people that will not perish." He Supped With the Presi dent. Prom the Atlanta Journal, In tho early years of this century, when log houses were good enough for tho avcrago Georgian, acertaindoctor presided over Franklin College. The simple habits of their dignified sires did not prevent the boys of those days from having their fun indeed, they carried on an amount ot devil ment which the college bdys ot theBO times would consider respectable. Tho boya thought that anything was fair which would make ono of the faculty the victim of a joke, and on one occasion they laid a dark plot to rob tho doctors poultry yard and afterward celebrate theovent by a midnight banquet. Tho doctor's chickens were thoprido of his domestic establishment, and he had built for tholr accommodation a log house. The logs was "notched down" at tho corncra and held in place by their own weight and the roof. At a lato hour the boyB repaired to the hen hotiso, armed with a fence rail. It wa8 an easy matter to in sert the rail between two logs and pry up those above, bo as to mnko nn opening through which a man could crawl. t A dapper young fellow, who hnd visited the doctor'8 daugh ters, went in and began to pull the clnckon's off the rooBt and wring their necks. Whilu no did bo the boys out Bide kept Iheir weight on tho raih and so kopt tho crack open for his escape. Tho nice young man, whom we will call Bob, had dropped about a doz en chickens outside, nnd the wholo crowd wao in high glee over tho pro spective banquet. Juetthen a big old rooster crowed. "Look out, Bob; break that roost er s neck and stop his noise." "Sh! What'H tliat?" Thero was a low growl. "Boys, you have let these logs down too low lift them a little, bo I can get out. Be quick about it!" At that instant there was a loud bark and a big dog bounded into tho poultry yard. Tho boys on the out side for an instant stood their ground. They dropped tho rail and grabbed chance weapons to beat off the dog, but beforo they could disable him tho door of tho doctor's residenco opened and his tall figure appeared. The boys scattered, all but one. The logs had come together again and Bob was a prisioner. He crouch ed in a corner and held his breath, hoping that ho would be overlooked, but tho dog told where ho was. By this timo tho doctor had como up and other members of tho family came out, eager to see who waB caught in the man trap. "Why, it's Bob." "Who would have thought it?" The exclamations wero heard in the house and echoed by the young Indies. Then tho door of the log house was opened and tho young man was sent to tho dormitory. Ho waB called before tho faculty tho next morning. The poor fellow would have sold himself tor a song, and expected to be peremptorily expelled and perhaps prosecuted. Meantime the doctor had thousht the matter over. He was a man of great sagacity in the management of boys, and he recognized this frenk as a piece of wild mischief which might not be meanness. He resolved to givo the matter such disposition as would put a sober head on the young man. Ac cordingly, when Bob appeared, look ing like a criminal, tho doctor lectur ed him severely, but in a fatherly way and told him that such an o (It nee must not go without a severe punish ment. Bob expected the sentence of his ex pulsion. Witli measured tones, like a Judge pronouncing the death sen tence, tho doctor said: Mr. , I will expect you to take supper with mo to-night, and, as you show a fondness for chicken, the fowls you took off tho roost last night will be on the table." Bob would rather have been expell ed. But for the distress it would cause his parents he would have gone home. In spite of his larks thero was good stuff in Bob, and with a tremend ous effort ho resolved to lace the mu sic. It is impossible to describe the men tal agony Bob went through that evening when ho sat at the table where the doctor presided with courtly dig nity. His elegant wife could not haveheen more courteous to nn honored guest than ehe was to Bob, and her daugh ters treated the young man ae cor dially as over. Not a word was said about the affair of the night before, but the laio dish of chickens was like a mountain in the poor man's eyes. It was tho refinement of torture when tho doctor, with the utmost suavity, helped him to the choicest pieces." The situation, which tinder ordina ry circumstances would have been lu dicrous, under the doctor's compos ure and his wife's tact, was coiried almost to the pathetic. It was a lesson written on Bob's memory in burning letters, and he never forgot it. A Very Pathetic Thing. Two young women in a confidential mood wero overheard by an unsym pathetic man as they wero discussing some of tho topics dear to feminine analysis. Tho first speaker, who was evidently from the West, was enlarg ing upon the theme ot the surplus of the female population in Massachu setts, and described tho State as a barren region fit only for a starting point of female emigration. Her com panion f-vemed blightly disturbed at tho criticism of her State, and when the Western girl asked in a sweet manner, "Now, how many chances have you for marriage?"' replied with asperity, "I neveo had any and I haven't any now," The Western girl's countenance had a most pitying expression, and sheaaid sympathetic ally, "Now, that is the nioft pathetic thing I have heard in New England. " Boston Journal. TERRIBLE VENGEANCE. A Jonloue Husband Has tho Hand of His Wlfo Cut Off and Sont to Kor Lovor. From a London Kxclianjo. At tho restoration cf Louis Phil lippe to tho French throno many of Napoleon's soldiers wore left in comparative poverty. Ono of them.a famous general, had a beautiful daUgh ter whom tie wished to marry rich, but who tell in lovo with a poor young man an under secretary oc some thing of that kind. Sh married, at her father's request, a rich count, but refused at the wedding ceremony to allow tho ring to be placed upon-hor eft hand, upon which qho wore a ruby put there by her lover. Her joalous husband was not long in finding out what wan tho mattor.and intercepting a letter in which the ardent young lover claimod Matilda's hand an his, ho determined upon an awful rovengo. One night as the celebrated Burgeon, Lisfrnnc, was returning from a professional visit, he was captured by a party ot men, blindfolded and talc en to a distant palace, and led through a labyrinth of passages and rooms. At last he found himself in a small chamber furnished with remark able luxury, and half-lit by an alabas ter lamp hung from the ceiling. Tho windows wore hermetically sealed as well a's tho curtains ot an alcove at the end of the room. "Doctor," Bald the man with whom lie now found himself alone, in an ab rupt, loud voice, "prenaro for your work an amputation." "Whero Is the patient?" asked the doctor, turning toward tho alcove. The curtains moved slightly, and he heard a stilled sigh. "Prepare, Bir," said tho man, con vulsively. "But, Blr, I must see tho patient." "You will Heo only the hand you art to cut off." The doctor, folding his arms and looking firmly at the other said: "Sir, you brought me hero by force. If you need my professional assistance I Bliall do my duty without caring for or troubling myself about your sec rets, but if you wish to commit a crime you cannot force me to be your accomplice." "Be content, sir," repliod tho other. U-hore is no crime in this," and lead ing him to the alcove he drew from tho curtain a hand. "It is this you are to cut off." Tho doctor took the hand in his; his fingers trembled at the touch. It was a lady'8 hand small, beautifully modeled, and its pure whito set off by a magnificent ruby encircled with diamonds. "But," cried the doctor, "thero io no need of amputation, there is" "And I, eirl I say." thundered tuo other, "if you refuse I will do it my self," and, seizing a hatchet, ho drew tho hand toward a small tahlo and Beemed about to strike. The doctor arrested his arm. "Do your duty, then doctor." "0, but this is an atrocious act," said tho surgeon. "What is that to you? It miiHt ho done. I wish it; madam wishes it al so. If necessary Bhe will demand it herself. Come, madam; request the doctor to do you this service." The doctor, nonplussed and almost tainting under the torture of his feel ings, heard from the alcove in a half expiring voice and an inexpressible accent of despair and resiguation; "Sir, since you are a Burgeon yes I entereat you let it be you, and net oh, yes. you! yon! in mercy!" "Well, doctor," said the tnan,""you or I?" - The resolution of this man was so frightful, and the prayer of the poor lady bo full of entreaty and despair, that tho doctor felt that oven" hu mnnity commanded ot him compliance with tho appeal of the victim. Ho took his instruments with a last im. ploring look at the unknown, who onty pointed to the hand, and with a sinking heart bejan the operation. For the first time in his experience Pis hand trembled, but the knife was doing its work; thero was a cry from the alcove, and then nil was silent. Nothing was heard but the horrid sound of the oneration till the hand ) and the eaw fell together on tho floor. Lisfranc wore the ruby on his watch chain, where it was seen by the young lover on his return to Paiis, and out of it grew a duel that led, to a disclosure of the infamous crime. The morning after the lover't arrival at the capital he was presented by a man in livery with an ebony box Opening it he discovered a bleeding hand Matilda's and on it a paper with these words: "See how th countess of keeps her oath." DrolriQBo and Fruit Trees. The best way is to under-drain with tile laid irom two or three feet deep. Peep surface drains may carry off Burlace water, but low-land is" gener ally kept wet by ground water rising from below. It tile ate unattainable stories can be used, laid so as to leave a throat, the ditch partly filled with small stones, inverted sods over the stones, and then with soil. Where, neither nie accessible, three poles laid so as to leave a throat will sometimes answer tor a few years. Fruit trees should be planted a3 soon as the ground will do to work in spring. Di-j holes large enough to receive all the roots straightened out; cut off the ends of all broken roots smooth; trim the tops to correspond with lost roots; set the tree about the same depth it stood in the nursery; cover the rootn with fine, rich soil tree from stones or clods; when roots are well covered tread down the soil frmly, till the note and again tread or stump down. Daily ought wo to renew our pur poses, and to atir ourselves up to greater fervor, and to sav: "Help mo, my God, in this my good purpose and in Thy holy service, and grant that I may now this day bajin perfectly Thomas a Kempis.
