.WHAT BECAME OF MR, LAKE
A Now Englnntl Story of I.ova nnil Mj-d.
Iprjr.
tIT CIIAS. O. ST1CKKBT.
nurTEU I.
It wns evening in WlHonvillo. Tho sun
nod gono down behind tho distant bluo
mountains, ami tho now moon now shed her
gcntlo light on tho cottnp,vs utHTfnrm Iioubos
and tipiKHl with n faint, silvery huo tho
October-tinted woods which skirted tho vit
iligo on tho south nnd east.
Although early in tho evening, tho coun
try store, In which tho post ofllco was kept,
yras already well filled with a promiscuous
company of tho mnscullno persuasion of
WHtonvlllo, comprlslug some of tho ollto of
tho place, with all tho vnrlod gradations of
IViltonvlllo society, down to Hill Wiggins,
who, by common consent, was nwarded tho
palm for being tho vilest denizen of this av-orog.'-cthlcal
Now England village.
Political discussion was usually an Im
portant feature of theso nightly assembl
ages, but on this particular evening, poll
tics, and In fact nil ordinary topics of con
vocation, wero wholly Ignored. Neverthe
less, thoro was a Babel of voices, all bolng
speakers as well as llstenors.forjustthon all
WHtonvlllo wns shaken from contro to clr
cumfcrcnco by n now nnd startling sensa
tion. Hut tho vocal clamor was suddonly hush
ed by tho cntnmco of tho strangor. Ho was
a tall man. nnd seemingly largo, though this
was uncertain, ho bolng buried In a long,
ohflgjy, buffalo coat, tho wldo collar of
which, turned up And buttoned over his
chin, togothor with a low and peculiar fur
cap, so covering his face that Httlo was vis
Ibjo but a pair of blnck, sonrchlng oyos. Ho
woro woollen gloves and rubbor boots, with
his pants lnsldo of them, nndbyhlscostumo
Indicated a traveler who was bound to bo
proof, nnd moro thnn proof,, ngalnst tho chil
ly night nlr of nild-antumn.
"Pino evening, gentlcmon," said ho,
blandly, approaching tho stovo.
"Very fine," said Squiro CrafU, Wilton
vlllo's trial justlco and loading citizen, ris
ing and proffering his low, basket-bottomed
chair.
"No, keep your silting, thank you; I'm
not going to stop," waving tho -wllto Justlco
to his sent. To tho postmustor: "Do you
keop Btout bedcords!"
"Yes, sir; soino vory nlco onos on hand.
Rlgh'b this way, sir."
"ATrlght. But I guess I'd bettor blanket
my horso. I'll bo right back In n moment,"
And so saying, ho stopped briskly outsldo.
Tho crowd thought tho strango gentle
man tpok unueeessnry pains to blanket his
horao lio was so long doing It Hill Wiggins
guessed it wns tho now Methodist minister
overtyBurr's Mill;" but this theory wns
immediately exploded by tho donoinlna
tlcnally woll-p stcd Deacon Brown.
"Now for thoss bedcords," said tho stran
gor, nsho re-entered tho storo.
Ho soon selected ono In tho back room,
whoro. house furnishing woro kept. At tho
nmo tlmo ho confidentially learned from
tho Jinder.in answer to a low-voiced request,
a description of a certain man in tho crowd
named Jfcnns Wells. On his return to tho
main store, ho looked tho company over,
and his sharp glaneo readily took in his
man,
"Wish somo ono would holp too n bit out
sldo " said he. "Would you, slrl" address
ing Mr. Wells.
"With plensuro;" nnd sliding down from
Ms favorito perch, Wells accompanied him
out of doors.
"Your namo If I mlstnko not, is Wells
Jouaa Wells 1" as soon ns thoy woro fairly
outsldo.
"It Is," in a tono of surprise. "But I con
fer you havo tho mh-nntngo of mo."
"No doubt But It's long time since I
Wis hist In tho place. Lot's soo, you're tho
soxton of tho village, If I rightly remem
berl" "I nm."
''Well, I'd llko to lmvo a Httlo talk with
you on business. Which way do you llvo
Iran hero!"
"To tho north about n mllo."
"Just tho direction I'm going; so pleaso
got luto tho buggy, uud wo can talk us wo
rldo along."
Wolls did as requested, und tho two woro
dlr.o:ly Joggling along.
"So you aro tho village sexton," observed
tho sunvo stranger. "How long havo you
hold tho oftlcol"
"Six years como December."
"And In that tkno, of course, havo burled
many people 1"
"Many. - Ono would hardly think It In u
small placo llko this, but It's surprising what
they 11 aggregate."
"Well, nslcumo Into tho placo I hoard
something about a recent death, of n some
what mystertous'imturo. You had chargo
of tho burial, oh!"
4 1 did. It was n sad occasion. Tho
chitvli was crowded to ovorilowlng. I've
go' pretty woll used to funoruls, but I must
say this ono took right hold of mo. Tho way
lils mother and Bister took on was enough
to melt n heart of stouo. Ho was n splendid
young mnn; ovory body liked him. And
then, too, thoro was such a painful mystory
connected with his death. It's raised u btg
excitement all about here."
"Yes; so I understand. Hut. Mr. Wells"
lowering his voice, und putting his lips
col3o to tho othor's oar. "I'm luollned to
think it dld'nt disturb you so very much,
aforull!"
Mr. Wells gavo u nervous start "Why,
sir," ho oxo'.nimed, "what do you menu!"
"Oh, nothing," said tho stranger, evasive
ly, "only ono gots used to death, when con
st ntly brought In coutact with it, you
know."
"True, qulto truo, sir."
"There was no post mortoml"
"No; his relatives wouldn't consent to It
Thoro wero no marks of violence whatever
on his person, and how ho camo to his death
is truly a mystory, though it seems to bo
tho goneral Impression ho mado way with
ldmself by poison."
"Why do thoy think so!"
"Well, there's qulto n history connected
with tho affair. You sec, tho way of It was"
hero Mr. Wells was on tho point, evident
ly, of Imparting somo interesting facts, but
was Interrupted by his coin-walon who said :
"Bog your pardon, but I think you'd bet
ter defer tho wholo particulars a while, till
wo havo more leisure,"
"Very well, Just as you say. It don't inat
or much, as I know or, at least to you and
me, how ho camo to his ond. Time, perhaps,
will tell tho story. It looks to mo, though,
llko foul-play. Somo folks mistrust a strag
gler who camo along tho day boforo, but as
ho didn't call at tho house, and being as tho
young man was known to havo Httlo, if any,
money by him, and had no cnomles, I really
don't know what to think."
"How Jong after his death was tho f uncr
all" "Not qulto throo days I think. Lot's soo ;
today Is Thursday ho was found dead
Tucsdny morning, nnd wns burled this after
noon." "Was ho usually hearty and robust!"
"Decidedly so. Never know him to bo
sick but onco, that wns nDout tho tlmo"
"All I want to know, Is about his general
health. Was tho body nit Into n gravo, or
Into n tomb!"
"In a tomb."
"And ls.lt intended to lot tho remains Ho
thoro permanently!"
"Yes, But, begging your pardon, sir, I
can't holp saying that, for a strangor, you
show a surprising intorost In tho matter."
"Ah I Woll, fact Is, I havo n Httlo Inter
est In that quarter, I confess, Furthermore,
I haven't much doubt that a handsomo pres
ent would Increaso oven your own Inter
est" "What moan you, Blr, by such talk!" do
mnndod Mr. Wolls.
"Nothing further than a moro business
consideration," said tho other, quietly, as ho
chocked his horso to a walk. "Look hero,
Mr. Wolls; It Is qulto evident thntyou doirt
rccognho ino, although wo had certain inter
esting dealings with each other on a partic
ularly interesting occasion, somo eight years
ngo. My buying tho bodcord was only a
Httlo ruso on my part to find you and got
you out of doors. Scol Perhaps, John
Wolls, you may not lmvo forgotten" hero
ho placed his head cloto to his companion's
and said somothlng In a low tone, which had
ltnmcdlnto nnd marked effect upon his listen
er, who boenmo greatly agitated.
"Good heavens I" hooxclalmod, ills It pos.
slblo 1 Llttlo did I dream I was riding with
Doctor"
"Hush, hush. Even tho winds havo cars
and tongues. 1 boliovo wo now understand
each other, so lot's at onco proceed to busi
ness. I now want of you Just such impor
tant aid as you avo mo In a Httlo caso eight
years ago."
Mr. Wells protested, beat about tho bush,
ploadod this and that excuse, "didn't want
to bo hauntod by anothor such memnrv."
etc., nnd yloldod to tho tempter.
"There, now, tho thing Is allsottled be
tween us," said tho doctor. "I shall rely on
you, ns I did boforo, and I know you won't
go back on mo. Whore's tho keys!"
"To tho tomb!"
"Yes."
,Kln my trunk, up In my chnmbor, Thcro's
my houso, right ahead; I'll got om In a
twinkling."
It was over a mllo to tho gravcyo'c.n-hlck
wns at tho fcot of a long, gcntlo descent,
down which tho doctor arovo rapidly. Ty
ing tho horso In n crazy old shed, ouco used
as a iwder houso in long-gono mllltla dnys,
tho doctor doffed his fur coat, and, taking n
big, convoy sack nnd a dark lantern, ho and
Wolls hastened Into tho cemetery,
Tho sky, so clear whon tho two loft tho
store, wns now lntorsporacd with fleecy,
White clouds, drifting slowly to tho cast
Ward, nnd, as If to favor their undertaking,
tho moon had gono down leaving naught but
patches of starlight to rcllovo tho deepening
gloom.
G roping ntnoug the graves and tombstones,
they presently reached a low tomb, nt about
tho centro of tho enclosure.
"Is this tho placo!" asked tho doctor, in a
low volco.
"YC3."
"Hush I I thought I heard something,"
said tho doctor.
Thoy listened a moment, but hoard no
sound.
"Only my Imagination. You havo
matches! Tory well, wo shall need them
We'll make a quick Job of It"
Wells unlocked tho tomb door, nnd thoy
descended sovoral stono stops to tho Inner
door. Hero tho doctor produced a match
and scratched It on tho masonry, but It wns
so damp down thoro, it did not Ignite.
A socond attempt with another match on
his coat slccvo was successful, and ho light
ed tho lantern nnd hold it to tho door, while
Wells withdrew tho rusty bolt Just then
tho doctor thought ho saw somothlng movo
on tho floor. Tlpplug tho lantom so ns to
throw its light there, thoy both looked down
nt tho samo instant, and saw a small ser
pent crawling briskly away. Wells sprang
towards tho loathsomo reptUe to crush It
with his hool, but it quickly glided Into a
hole, through a crack In tho stono work, and
disappeared. Itoturnlng, ho put his hund to
tho door nnd stood, hosltatlug.
"Why, Wells, what alls youl" asked tho
doctor. "Does tho sight of a snako, always
off oct you thus!"
"No, doctor, It ain't that Fact Is, I feel
mighty strango. To toll tho honest truth, I
do dread to enter that room."
"It's ouly tho nerve. Brnc up, and we'll
soon bo through with our llttlo Job. I'll lead
tho wuy. How high up Is ho!"
"Lower shelf. There's only ono other
his father on that sldo, and ho's on tho
sholf ubavo."
"All In our favor. It won't toko moro'n a
few minutes. Wo'll quickly unscrew tho
lid and put him Into tho sack, and In flvo
minutes moro wo'll bo In tho carriage So
como on."
Tho doctor pushed in tho masslvo door,
which swung, crooking on Its niBty hinges
and they both pas3od In. Then tho doctor
held up tho lantern so as to shed Its full
light luto tho forbidding vault, when great
heavens! there mot tholr vision u sight so
nppalllng, so utterly horrible that Jonas
Wolls, standing a inomont spellbound, his
ryos almost starting from their sockets,
priiug from his companions sldo, and, utter-
g a wllil sliriok of terror, fled from tho
aread churncl houso, up tho stono steps, out
through tho graveyard, where every shrub
and tombstouo was a mocking phantom, out
upon tho road, und away towards his homo
on on on llttlo kuowlng what ho did or
whoro ho was, only that ho Increased tho
distance between himself and that terrlblo
scene.
CHAlTElt it,
Tomako our narrative Intclllglblo, it Is
necessary, at this point, to go back a few
months pr!or to tho ovonts Just narrated.
A youug man namoi Herbert Lane, bo
longing In Wiltouvlllo, elerk In a hard
ware storo hi tho city of N , had camo homo
to spend his annual vacation. And tho
samo Mr. Herbert Lano had not long been
at his parental homo oro a sensational ru
mor concerning him was afloat on tho WH
tonvlllo air. Starting from tho upper end
of tho villago, where Miss Patlonco Grcon,
a gosslpp'.ng spinster, kopt a vocal tele
graph statlou, It flashed through tho main
village to tho extreme lower end, to vocal
station number two, in tho small, tlmo
stalnod cooper shop, whoroln Mr, Bill
Wiggins, shavod hoop poles, and, after
divers zlgzaglngs and gyrations, Anally
brought up nt grand station number throo,
tho post office, where all .local gossip
was pretty sure, llko Noah's dove,
to find a lodgment Yes, it was "a
positive fact," so Damo Rumor assorted,
that Herb Lano hod fallou desporately in
lovo with Miss Nclllo Barrett, tho
pretty school mistress from West Chester,
Who was teaching WHtonvlllo school; that
ho was spending most of his evenings at
Colonel Armstrong's, whero boo boardod;
that hf had vlsltoa her si hool thrao ttinot;
nnd "folly" said tho two woro ongaged.
And tho voracious Bill Wiggins added
what ho tcrmod "n clincher," to tho ofTcct
that last Sun Jay, whon pasting Colonel
Armstrong's on his way homo from tho
"corner," ho saw a light In tho pirlor nt
precisely twonty minutes of twelve. All
tho various ovidonee was duly weljrhcd, nnd
comparod by tho solf -constituted grand Jury
nt tholr customary session In tho pojt oftlc-o;
this and lh.it ui) put togothor; tho chain
Was considered complete; nnd accordingly
an lndlctmont wns found ngalnst tho said
Herbert Lano.
Howovor, in Justlco to tho WHtonvlllo
grand Jury, It must ba odmlt'od that Mr.
Lano wns decidedly attcntlvo to Miss Bar
rett And when, ofn certain afternoon, soon
after tho indictment by tho grand Jury, as
Mr. Lano ond Miss Barrett wero Been walk-
I iiik jumuiuiy lugciiicr umvn mo pnin irom
tho ma n roau to liornard Ushor's meadow,
tojudgo from thclrmanncr, tho stroll was no
wlso dlsagrccablo to either party. And our
duty as an Impartial historian compels us to
stato that whon tho young couplo reached
tho borders of tho meadow, thoy seated
themsolvos on a flat, mossy rock, beneath a
BUtolyold plno, which together with tho
surrounding tross nnd ahrubbory, formed a
charming sylvan retreat, such us Tltanla
herself might solcct for her favorito haunt.
Mr. Lano produced from his coat pee'eet n
llttlo volumo of poems, and boan Hstlo3sly
turning over Its leaves. It soon dropped
from his hand to tho ground. And very
soon ho held, instead, a little hand within
his own. Mr. Lano hod a Btory to toll; It
was an old, old story, but bo evidently had
an npproslatlvo Hstnor. And whon, nbout
half an hour later tho two wero relrniing
tholr stops to tho villago, they uppanrod to
havo an excellent unlorstandlng. Tho
pretty school mistress, though n trltlo moro
soborand ponslvo thun was wont, looked
prottlor nnd moro radiant than over; while,
as to Mr. Hurbcrt Lino, why ho was In
such posltlvo, comparative, supurlatlvo
good spirits, that ho donated a sllvor dollar
to tho first barefooted urchin ho mot, who
evinced his do'Ight by turning throo somer
saults, nnd then starting at u dead run for
tho nearest candy shop.
Tho WHtonvlllo grand jury was only a
Httlo prematura In tholr verdict Miss Bar
rctt had actual1) consented to chnngo
her namo in tho not-distant future to Mrs.
Lano.
But ono evening, when Lano was back at
his post of duty In tho city, ho rccolvol n
letter h bad lottcr In moro sonses thnn ono,
It bolng not poorly written ioorly
spoiled nnd of shocking grammar,
but bad in tho messago it contain
ed. It camo from Miss Patlcnca Green, ana
informed him that his "girl was a galantln
round With a good-looking strangor, who hod
Jest cum to town, and folly sod thoy was En
gaged." Tho result was, Mr. Lnno was dreadfully
Jealous. "Miss Green was a disinterested
party," ho reasoned, "nnd had no causo to
tell him other than tho truth."
With an aching head, and a sad, sad heart,
ho wont mochanically through tho day's
duties, llttlo hooding who camo or went,and
not Infrequently handing out n wrong nrtl
clo to a customer, In his absontmiudeduess.
Sometimes, ho would rcsolvo to think no
more nbout hor; then, with tho strango in
consistencies of a mind, racked by conflict
ing lovo and Jonlousy, would seek oxcuscs
for hor conduct, and dwell on her scorning
nrtlossnoss, and ovldont nffoctlou for him.
Tho upshot of all which was, ho solicited,
und obtained a few days' loavo of absence,
uud wont forthwith to Wiltonvillo.
As ho redo Into tho plnco from tho railway
station, whom should ho moot, but Miss
Barrett and a strango gentlemen, taking an
evening walk. Ho coolly bowed, which
Balutatlon sho, with crimson fnco, coolly re
turned. Lato that night ho paced back und forth
past Colonol Armstrong's. By nnd bye, ho
crept lightly to ono of tho still Illuminated
parlor windows, and peorod eagerly through
a narrow vertical spaco between tho curtains
nnd window frumo. What ho saw confirmed
his darkest suspicions. There, on tho sofa,
sat Miss Barrett, and besldo her tho hand
somo gontloman ho had met walking with
hor tho two engaged In low, but apparent
ly earnest conversation.
Mr. Lano and Miss Barrett had a private
conforenco noxt day. It was n stormy
mooting, and their lost Accusation, stub
born prtdo no unbending by cither party.
And so thoy parted.
At about six o'clock In tho morning on
tho day following this unhappy Interview,
good, motherly Mrs. Colonel Armstrong,
tapped at Miss Barrett's door, nnd was at
onco admitted. Miss Barrett was up and
dressed, but looking qulto ill.
"I havo called thus early," explained tho
good woman, on a matter of personal mo
ment to you. Bluntly and to tho point nt
onco, I wish you would toll mo, conlldeutial
ly, If you still lovo Herbert Lano!"
"Why, what a funny question."
"Yes ; but for your sake, I wish very much
to know. Tell mo, my dear, do you care
much for him i"
"Yes; I bellovo you are too houornblo u)
betray my secret, and so I will toll you that
I still lovo him aye, better than life lt3elf 1"
"I am so sorry. I did hope you hnd ceased
to care for him. But I wuntcd to know tho
truth ubout It, however."
"Why, what am I to understand by this!"
nsked Miss Barrett, in sudden alarm.
"Oh, my poor girl my poor, dear girl,"
oxelalmed tho oyo-bedlmmed mutron, put
ting hor arm around her waist "I am sorry
you lovo Mr. Lano, becauso liecause ho
can uovcr bo yours. My poor child 1 Heav
en knows I nlt.v vou from tho bottom nt mv
heart No, my dear friend, you can novor
meot your lovo again on tho shores of time.
May God glvo you strength to bear tho blow
for Herbert Lano is dead!"
It was only too true. A young man, a
neighbor and friond of Lano' stalling on him
vory early that morning, and. directed by
his mother to his bedroom, had made tho
dreadful discovery. Thoro was nothing to
indlcato that ho had been murdored ; nor, on
tho other hand, that ho had committed self
destruction. But ho was dead, and there
was consequently much talk und great ox
cltsment through ull that region.
To tho worthy "school mistress from West
Chester," tho shock wns for a time over
whelming. Imagining that sho herself had
somehow been tho indirect causo of his
death, remorso and grlof bo preyod upon hor
m.nd that sho becamo criticnUy III. And
whon, after weoks of suffering, alio rallied,
and at length regained hor wonted health
and strength, sho herself know that sho was
changed thoroughly, radically changed,
and that the beautiful world ubout could
never to hor bo tho samo bright world again.
And now wo pass to certain ovonU which
havo an Important bearing on our story.
ClUl'TEK in.
Flvo years havo rolled by, and wo aro
onco moro In WHtonvlllo. It is a Juno
morning. Tho sun shiuas dear nnd bright,
thelllac8 aro In bloom, the air is fragrant of
I nppio blossoms, and tho bees hum mo.lly,
ns uiey iiy irom iiower to Howor; while on
tho soft summer air comos tho unmelodlous
tones of tho cow bolls, and tho pleasantly
tinkling sheep boll of tho herds nnd flocks
grnlng on yondor green hillsido nnd pas
tures. It was a quarter of nine by Squiro Craft's
watch. There Is to-be a "horse-swopping"
trinl at "Meed City," of Rldlon w. Shaw, a
llttlo over a mllo from WHtonvlllo vlUage,
nnd tho squiro Is on his way there nfoot and
alone, to try tho caso.
Just u llttlo beyond tho ivy-covered domi
cile of tho Widow Green nnd her daughter
Patlonco, ho moots nuothor pedestrian, n
youngish man In n gray business suit, with
long black whlsiccrs, and curley block hair,
and a buff-colored travollug bag at his side.
Ho stops, and nccosts tho squiro with tho
question:
"You rcsldo In this place, do you not, sir!"
"I do," said tho squiro.
Tho stranger remarked that ho was a
visitor in WHtonvlllo somo years before, and
then inquired concerning things In general,
and certain of citizens, particularly of Jonas
Wolls.
"Ho's nllvo and woll," said tho voluble
trial Justice. "Used to bo aexton, but some
thing happened to nlmoncoortwlco, nobody
knows what, though folks soy ho got awful
ly scared, nnd ho wont out of tho business."
"Woll let's see wasn't there a school
ma'am about whom they had a great ado a
M'ss Burnett, or somo such immni
"Yes, Barrett, Miss Nellie Barrett Yes,
there was qulto a time about hor and her
fellow, who died so suddenly nnd mysteri
ously. You seo tho way it was, sho was en
gaged to this man, Herbert Lnno, when a
half-brother, Just homo from a long voyage,
camo to seo hor, ond Lano happened In town,
from tho city Just nt that time, and seeing
hor pretty budgo with this half-brother
Pnrkhurst was his namo and not knowing
their rolutlohship, and somo mischief maker
having written him that Miss Barrett, was
a-gallantln' round with another beau, why
ho got dreadfully Jealous, und tho result
was, he gavo hor a flrst-class blowtn' up,
nnd sho was too gritty to expluln tho whys
and wherefores, and thoy parted In a huff.
That very night Lano died, nobody knows
how, which brought her down sick; and
when sho Anally got well, sho wasn't much
bettor thnn lovo-cracked. Sho often goes to
his tomb, and places fresh flowers upon it;
and every fair day sho goos down the path
to Ushor's meadow, where tho two used to
stroll together. Just turnol In there as I
camo along. But excuse mo, sir, I've got to
tend to a luw caso over to Meed City, and I
must bo going, as 'tis most court time."
Tho strangor continued on, ami pretty
soon loft tho highway nnd turned down tho
Usher meadow road. Ho ovldently had a
curiosity to gota sight of tho "lovo-cracked"
school-mistress who was tho herolno of tho
WHtonvlllo drama of Avo years ago. Whan
part way to tho meadow, ho rested himself
on a flat rock, In tho shade of a tall pine, and
awaited her return. Ho did not havo to watt
long, for presently Miss Barrett was scon
approaching. As sho camo up, ho could seo
that sho was handsome, albolt having a sad,
care worn look.
Ho roso nnd walked toward her, and when
they met he uttered a pleasant "Good morn
ing." Evidently a Httlo startled, sho was
about to pass him without speaking, making,
however, tho slightest inclination of her
head.
"Pray, don't bo nlnrmcd, Miss Barrett,"
said ho, "wo have met before."
"Possibly, sir," sho answered; "but I
fall to recognize you."
Tho strangor thcrcuon produced n llttlo
gold lockot, which ho opened aud held It up,
with trembling hand, to her gaze. No
wonder Miss Barrett gavo an exciting start
nnd turned deadly pale, for tho lockot con
tained a plcuiro of herself, and there had
never been but ono Just llko that in exist
enconnd that had boon burled with her dead
lover flvo years boforo I
"Don'tbo alarmod," said ho, returning tho
lockot to Its accustomed place, "for I um
no ghost, but n returned wanderer." And so
saying, ho removed his hat, his fulso
whiskers, and us tho fainting girl foil
against his strong arm, thoro was disclosed
to her amazed sense tho unmlstukablo faco
and features of Herbert Lane.
Consclousnoss having returned, Miss Bar
rett was the oxclted listener to a strango
Btory. In brlof, hor lover had been a vic
tim of syncopo a porfojt resemblance of
death, of which exceedingly rarotliough
well-authonticated cases are recorded
"Aud uhl how can I describe that terrible
nwuking," ho continued, "how, with n
sense of suffocntion, I, in my agony, burst
tho weak coflln lid, only to fli d myself
doomed to a slow, horrible death, in that
bluek, sickening scpulchcrl Thon, how I
suddenly heard voices at tho door of my
prison houso, and almost held my breath,
least I should frighten them away prema
turely. How thoy entered, two of them,
with a lantern, and seeing mo there, In tho
habiliments of death, ono, with a scream,
took to his heols, while tho other, who
proved to bo a decor after my body for dis
section, bravely staod his ground, uud, And
ing I was u bolng of earth, holpad mo oat,
flrst carefully readjusting tho brokau
coflln lid, and then locking tho tomb door;
wrapiwd mo in a cloak and buffalo cant; und
nt my request drove mo to tho noarest city;
whero, under a falso name, I remained
awhile, till full) ro-ovorod; thon, wishing
to bo dead to homo and friends and all ttiat
have beeu dear to mo, I wont West by means
of money kindly lent mo by tho good old
doctor.
"Fortune favored mo, nnd I ncqulred a
comjKituneo. But tho yearning camo over
mo to see again my old home, ray
mother and slstor, aud to loom what
becamo of yon; so I started East, and hero I
am!"
"It Is Indeed a strange, strango story!"
commeivtod his half-dazed companion.
"Yes; my previous one, It is a strango
story. But, Nolllo, tho soqucl to my story
Is for you to tall. With you lies tho power
tomnko It sweet or bittor. Five yoars ago
this mouth, on this very same spot, you guve
yourself to me. Will you again cousant to
bo my wlfo!"
There was no coynos now, no looking
downward with blushlug faoe, for years of
sorrow had changed tho onoo merry-heart-od
girl to a subdued woman. Looking up
quietly, trustfully Into his face, sho calmly,
yet earnestly responded:
"I um still yours over yours, through
life, through death and eternity." Yaukeo
Blade.
A "Warning to Authors.
"No,11 sho sobbed, In tho sanctity of
her boudoir, "no, I can nover mnrry
a mnn whoso monogram la priuted in
groon und who writes with jmrplo Ink.
Oh, if ho had only asked mo to marry
him. Instead of writing to mo.' things
would havo been bo dllTorcntr'- Har
per's Bazar.
VOMEN SUFFRAQE.
Who Wants Fomalo Pollocomon
and Soldiers?
Let no mnn or woman bo mistaken as
to whnt Uiis movomont for women's
BUfTrngo ronlly means. Wo nono of us
want to turn tho world upsldo down or
convert women into men. Wo want
women, on tho contrary, nbovo all
things to continue womanly womanly
In tho highest and best sonso and to
bring tholr truo woman's influence on
behalf of whntsoover things uro true,
honest, just, pure, and of good report,
to bear upon tho couduet of public af
fairs. Somo peoplo attempt to meet
tho claim of women to representation
by tho absurdly irrolovant remark, for
1 cannot call it an argument, that wo
men householders ought not to vote for
roombors of parliament because thoy
cannot bo policemen and cannot bo
soldiers, fyho wants them to be either
policemen or soldiersP Thoro must nl
ways bo a certain division of labor bo
tweon tho sexes. Tho physical con
stitution of a woman fit3 her to per
form certain duties on which the wol
fnro of society in a high degree depends.
Tho physical condition of a man fits
him for eortuin duties, one of which is
that of external defense. And thoro aro
certain other duties which men and wo
men mustundertako jointly and in co
operation with ono another, and from
which tho total withdrawal of ono sex
or tho othor is fraught with danger and
mischief. Those who aro in favor of
woman's suffrage mantain that
tho duty of loving one's
country, of understanding her
Interests, of endeavoring to inflaonce
public affairs by tho choice of xmn. of
high character and true patriotism to
servo in parliament, is ono which is
incumbent on women as well ns on men.
There is nothing in the nature of a wo
man which fit3 hor to bo a policeman
or a soldier; and thero is nothing in tho
nature of woman which unfits her
to lovo hor country and to serve her
by helping to send good man to pro
mote sound legislation In parliament.
People sometimes talk as if fighting
for ono's country woro tho only way of
serving hor. Surely that is taking a
vory one-sided view of a nation's
interests. All work woll done, all
sorvice in lifting up the lives of others
to a higher level, "All wo havo wished
or hoped or dreamed of good," forms
tho real treasury of national greatness.
I havo no wish to disparage tho use
fulness, tho ; jcesslty; of tho army and
tho police force; but civilization owes
quite us much to that great host of
silent busy workers, of whom nt lenst
half aro woman, through whoao labors
alono thoro is anything worth pre
serving, as to tho army and tho police
force for preserving it. Woman's
World.
A New Fire-Quickener.
The servant girl who pours kerosene
oil on tho firo seems to havo disappear
ed pretty completely. Pot-haps who
has been to a considerable extent ex
terminated. At any rate, we don't of
ten read of cases of explosion and con
flagration, though tho vigilant house
keeper, if sho happens into tho kitchen,
may still dotect an odor which tolls hor
thnt tho girl must havo poured oil on
tho kindling either before or uftor it
was ignited. Hut tho listener has a
caso which may explain why kerosono
accidents nra not so frequent. Tho
servant girl has discovered a now liro
qulckener. It was in Boston, and not long ngo,
thnt the mistress of a house, not much
given to going in tho kitchen, entered
ono day unexpected just in time to
catch her kitchen maid in tho act of
emptying a spoonful of granulated
white sugar into tho fire. Sugar is ex
ceedingly inflammable, and its applica
tion made the firo Hash up In oxcollont
shaped. Tho head of tho house had
notice that ho was called upon to puy
for a groat may barrels of sugar, and
tho wlfo had wondered at tho family's
enormous consumption of that article,
but sho did not wonder any moro, es
pecially as tho girl under pressure,
confessed that sho hud roguurly boon
using tho sugar to quicken the firo.
"Sure, mum," sho said, "we must
havo tho firo, an' tho coal burns that
slow that mo heart Is broko waitln1 on
It." Boston Transcript.
Nothing but Limburger.
Occasionally harrowing accounts of
tho sufferings of tho survlvora of ship
wrecks arj published, and it makes
one's blood run cold to hoar of peoplo
out for days in an open boat with only
two crackers and a buckot of water to a
man, und as tho days pass by and no
friendly sail comes in sight tho ratious
aro reduced to ono cracker and two
buckets of water, and last lots aro
drawn to decide as to which of tho party
s in tho best condition, etc. But says
tho Portland Oregonian, all theso
stories pale into insignificance com
pared to tho sufferings of Captain Stott
und tho crow or the steamer Kowenn,
who got aground on Lako river lately
while after a raft of piling, Thoy woro
fast In tho mud for four days with noth
ing to oat but Limburger cheoso. What
their sufferings woro no pen can do-
6crlbo.
Evarts' Comparison.
Tho death of the older Muirm recalls
Senator Evarts' comparison of tho ad
ministrations of tho silent Grant and
tho teototalor Hayes. "In tho for
mer," ho snld,' "it wus 'Mumm's
cabinet," but ours is 'extra dry,'"
Philadelphia Tiraos.
FOR THE SULTAN'S PLEASURE.
An Elootrlo Dos: Cart Whloh Has
Seats for Four.
At tllo skating rink, Camdon Town, ft
private trial was mado of an olectrlo
dog cart, which has boon constructed
by Messrs. Immlsch & Co., of Kentish
Town,to tho order of tho Sultan of Tur
key. Tho vehicle presents tho apponr
unco of an ordinary four whoclcd dog
cart without shafts. It is mado of
walnut, and has seats for four porsonn
two in front and two in back. Bu
neath tho seats aro placed tho accumu
lators which supply tho electricity to
the motor. Tho accumulators twenty
four in number aro of especial typo
and contain a chargo sufficient to pro
pol tho vehiclo for flvo hours nt an
avorngo speed of ten miles per hour
over an ordinary track Tholr wolght
is about soven hundredweight, and tl
of tho carriugo, nil complete, a little
over eleven hundredweight. Tho
motor is ono of Messrs. Immlsch's ono
horso power typo, and in this caso uso3
a current of twonty amperes, with an
electric motive power of forty-eight
volts. The connection between tho
motor and tho enrringo is effected by a
chain running around tho off hind
wheol, tho revolutions of tho motor to
those of tho wheel bolng as olghteen to
ono. When the vehicle Is running at
a speed of ton miles an hour tho motor
m-ikes 1,440 revolutions per mintuo nnd
dovolopes a threo-quarter horje powor.
Tho steering is effected by means of an '
adaptation in the foro carriage. A
shaft surmounted by tho steering hand
le passes through tho footboard, and
terminates in a pinion which works in
a toothed rack fixed abovo tho foro
axlotroo. Tho driver thus possesses
perfect control over tho direction of
tho vehiclo and cau rogulato tho speed
by moans of a footbrako acting on both
hind whools. Immediately in front of
tho driver also is tho switch for com
pleting tho current, and in order to
obviuto any jar nt starting three resis
nnces nro provided. In its course
round and about tho skating rink tho
enrriugo traveled with remarkablo
smoothness, at a very good speed,
rounding tho corners with groat ease.
Liverpool Post.
A Voice from "Vassy A Hugue
not Call.
Tho London Nonconformist calls at
tention to the somowhat singulur cir
cumstance, which is seriously illustra
tive of tho revolutions and rovonges
worked by time in Its steady, onward
march. Headers of French history will
romembor that it va3 at Vassy, a vil
lago 'n Champagne, whero occurred
tho disaster which brought tho Catho
lics und Protestants into opon colli
sion. It was Sunday morning. Tho
Protestants of tho pi ico, Huguenots, us
thoy were called had mot for worship.
Tho Duko of Guise, tho head of tho
Catholics, and brother of tho famous
Cardinal Loraino unole3 both of
Scotland on his way back to Germany,
whero ho had property and relatives,
happened to puss through Vassy, dur
ing the hours of worship. Psalm sing
ing was heard as ho and his train
passed the mosting houso. It Was n
u do, rural barn. "What is this?"
said tho Duke. "It is tho Huguenots
of Va-syat worship." Ascowlpassod
over tho Duko's countenance. Tho
hint was taken; tho barn was invaded
by armod men; a violent scufllo ensued,
and as tho result somo sixty Hu
guenots perished. All this hap
pened in 15G2. In tho dreary
and dostructivo roliglon wars which
followed, all traces of tho Huguonota
of Vnssy disappeared, Tho massacro of
1502, howovor, novor ceased to bo a
living memory; and tho Huguenots who
contrived to remain in Franco in splto
of St. Bartholomew's Day, aud tho Re
vocation of tho Edict of Nutes, and tho
liugiionots of tho Disporsion as woll as
in England, in Holland, In Germany, in
America, havo all a common interest in
this historical opisode, and in the spot
which it had mado sacred. It now ap
pears that tho barn has survived tho
ravages and wreck of this long period
of two eonturios and a quarter. It
stands whoro it stood in 1502. But tho
mjst iuterojting part of tho story re
mains to bo told. Tho Huguonota or
Protestants In Vassy und neighborhood,
under wiser laws uud a moro humano
govorment, havo largely incroasod in
numbers; and it has boqn resolved by
them to buy tho barn, and build a
raodorn Christian church. Four thous
and dollars is needed to put thorn in
possession of tho old barn. Tho Prot
estants aro not rich; but thoy havo faith.
Ono is tempted to rlso tho question
whothor this is not an opportunity for
tho widely dispersed Huguenots, many
of whom nro rich. Why should not tho
cry go abroad, "Holp for Vassy?"
Why should not tho doscondants of tho
Huguonots unite and build a suitiblo
memorial at tho old and honored
place?
1 heater Properties.
Jersoyman "I seo you're goln' to
play a pleco called Midsummer Night's
Uream."1
Theater Manager "Yes. Would you
liko to soo it?"
"No. I s'poso it's mostly moonlight
and thunderstorms, and slch, I know
all about theaters; hut I thought mnybo
you might want to buy somo chickens."
"Wo havo no farm scono in it."
J'Oh! Woll, they're young an1 lively,
an1 their wings ain't clipped yet You
might use 'em for muHqultoc3."Now
York Weekly.
'M