Is I DICK RODNEY ;
Or , The Adventures of
m An Eton Boy , , . itMl
BY JA/WES GRANT.
V *
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Thunderbolt.
An emotion of mingled freedom and
Entlsfnctlon possessed I ho whole crow
on being rid of our tormentor , and
Lain bourne now look ehargo of the
brig , wjilch ho wan perfectly able to
handle and work , though Ignorant of
navigation as a science , and having
but a vague Idea of the course to Htcor
for the Capo of Good Hope.
She was hove In the wind , whllo In
the moonlight , about two hours after
the exciting gccno which closes the
last chapter , we committed to the deep
the body of Antonlo'H last victim , the
poor apprentice , whom the snllmaker
sewed up In his hammock , to which ,
bolng without shot or other suitable
weights , wo tied a sack of1 corfls to
sink the corpse. -yi'- jj
The head-yards were filled again ,
and , as If anxious to leavb Umt-rpor-
tlon of the sea as far as possible
astern , wo hauled up for the capo. Tom
LnmbourtiG ordered every stitch of
canvas that the spars would hold to
bo spread upon the Eugenie , that Hho
might , as ho said , "walk thrqugh the
wntor In her own stylo. "
All ho could do at first was to keep
her In the coursewo had been steering
on the night thcito dlsaHtcrs began , for
as yet we know not to what degree of
latitude , south or north , wo might
have been drifting ; however , wo cai-
ciliated that Hlslop , weak as he was ,
might bo ublo to take a solar observa-
tlon ami prick oK our place on Uio
chart , In the course of six or seven
days. ' '
Wo had the usually .wing llttlo cabin
cleansed .and cleared from the dubrls
created by 'the outrage JHB proceedings
of Antonio , who must huvo gene to the
bottom with all Weston's valuables
and money about him , as wo could
find neither ; and the sweet expression
of the poor widow's face , as It seemed
to smllo on us from the miniature
on the after-bulkhead , contrasted
strangely with nil the wild work Unit
had so lately 'taken place on board.
Hlslop , and I were restored to our
former berths , and then more than
once In my dreams the pnlo olive-green
visage and glaring oycs of the , Cu-
Imno came : before me , and again I
ncomcd to sco him clinging unpltled
and In desperation to the Blonder boom
which swung above the seething sea
for his death and all Its concomitant
horrors haunted mo and made mo un-
happy.
The Intensity of the heat In that
season suggested the Idea that wo
could not have drifted far south of the
line.
line.So
So great was It that the upper spars
of the Eugenic appeared to wrlgglo or
vibrato like serpents aloft In the sun
shine ; whllo so hot , so clear and so
rarefied was the atmosphere between
decks that It was suffocated , especially
In the lulling of the fnlflt breeze. A
white heat scorned 'to make sen and
sky grow palo , and the former cast
upward n reflection from Its glassy
surface and long smooth swells that
was hot hot beyond all description.
Though ever and anon the upper
deck Was drenched with salt water , It
dried immediately , emitting n strong
odor of wet wood , whllo the skids over
the side failed to keep the paint , tar
and rosin rising In largo burnt blisters.
About the time when wo hoped that
Hlslop would have been well enough
to make nn observation , ovoii by bolng
placed In a chair onujeck , the weather
became so rough that ho was unable
to leave his berth , and during all that
day the brig drove before a heavy
gale , with her courses hauled close
up , the fore and main topsail yards
lowered on the caps , and their canvas
close reefed.
After the heat wo had endured , the
reader may Imagine this gale would
bo refreshing and a relief. Not so.
The f.tinosphero , as It became dark
with gathering clouds , Increased In
density , closeness and heat , thus about
the time wo should have' had clear twi
light , the hour was gloomy as a north
ern midnight so dark that the men
In the -tbps , or thos'o lying out along
the foot-ropes nt the yard-arms , when
under close-reefed topsails , could not
be seen from the deck , whllo the breeze
that swept over the ocean was breath
less hot as the simoon of the dcsertj
and our men knew not whether they
wore drenched by perspiration or the
spoondrlft torn from the warm wave
tops by the Increasing blast.
The peculiar appearance of this black
gale alarmed and bewildered Tattooed
Tom , who could make nothing of It ,
whllo poor Marc Hlslop , whoso skill
would have been Invaluable to us ,
jyhen ho heard the singing out on dock ,
the thunder of the bellying courses
struggling with their brails , the roar
of the wind through the half-bared
masts and rigging , the clatter of blocks
and feet overhead , writhed In his bed ,
< tnd mourned his own Inactivity , or
rather Incapacity ; but he sent mo ton
tell Lnmbourne to cover up the an
chors with wetted canvas , ns It was
not Improbable , by the state of the
atmosphere , that It was full of elec
tricity and thus wo might bo In a
dangerous way.
"Tell Tom , " ho whispered , "It Is a
trade-wind gale I know It to bo so. "
"How ? . " I asked , "when you are lying
ing .here below ? "
"By the barometer , which remains
high , while the wind Is steady , " replied
plied HlBlop in n low voice , for rehe
TVBB still very weak ; "If the barometer
fall , bo Hiiro It will become u typhoon ,
and then , with a short-handed craft ,
heaven help us ! But assure Tom It IH
only ns yet a trado-wlnd gale 16 lake
MM much canvas off her as he > can , and
to make all snug aloft. We'll have
thunder directly , Dick such thunder
as you can only hear In the tropics. "
Ho sank back , exhausted even by
these few words , whllo 1 hurried on
deck with his orders.
1 had scarcely conveyed them to
Lambourno , who was keeping a look
out forward , when , nmld the ddsky
obscurity of sea and sky , there burst
n sudden gleam of wondrous light.
The men , who were spreading Home
old , wetted anils over the sheet and
working anchors ; the steersman nt
the , wheel , , the watch and all hands
who were crouching to leeward , or
holding on by ropes and belaying pins
to windward , seemed for a moment to
become whlto-vlsagcd specters amid a
sea of pulobluo Maine a sea whereon
the flying brig , with her brallcd courses
and reefed topsails , her half-nuked
masts and black cordage , wore all dis
tinctly visible as at noonday , while
the polished brass on funnel , binnacle
and skylight all flashed and shone , as
whip and crow , with all their details
of form and feature ,
"Wore Instant seen and Instant lost. "
For a broad and blinding sheet of
electric llamo burst upon the darkness
of the night and
, passed away as rapIdly -
Idly , when the livid brand burst In
the welkin or in the wave , wo knew
not which.
Then cnmo the roar ot thunder
the stunning and appalling thunder of
the tropics , every explosion of which
seemed to rend earth , sea and sky , as
they rolled like a palpable thing , or
llko the united nalvo of a thousand
echoes at the far horizon.
After a sound so mighty and bo-
wlldorlng , the hollowing of the wind
through the rigging , the hiss and roar
of , the sea as wave broke against wave ;
the flapping ot the brallcd courses ;
the creaking and straining of the tim
bers , Kcomed as nothing the very si
lence of death whllo the Eugenlo tore
on , through mist and spray , through
darkness and obscurity , with the foam
flying whlo { ns winter draft over her
bows and martingale.
Again there was a pale-green gleam
overhead , right above the truck of the
mainmast , where the chambers of the
Bky seemed to open. The clouds divid
ed In the darkness of heaven , and out
of that opening came the forked light
ning , x.lgzag , ijreun and ghastly.
There was a dreadful shock , which
knocked every man down , except Carlton -
ton , who at the
was wheel , and nn
exclamation ot terror escaped 113 all.
A thunderbolt had struck the Eu-
b'Ciilo ! ii
With nil Its wondrous
speed Instan
taneous as olectrlo light could bo iIt
glided down the main toU-gallant mast ,
rending the topmast-cap and t.i
the fram
ed grating of the io
top to pieces ; thence
It ran down the mainmast , burst
through the deck and spent Its fury
in the hold.
At that moment the main-topmast ,
with all Its yards , gear and canvas ,
fell about the deck In burning brands ,
and the brig was hove right In the
wind's eye , while the sea twitched the
helm out of the hands of Ned Carlton 1-
ton , who became bewildered on find
ing the compasses lose llr
all their polar
ity by the influence of the electric fluid ,
the north point of ono heading south-
cast and of the dther southwest.
Almost Immediately after this there
was a cry of "Flro ! " that cry so ter
rible , so appalling on board ship ; and
then thick white Binoko was seen to
Issue from the crevices of the ed
main-hatchway.
All hands rushed to this point. The
long-boat was unshipped from Its :
chocks and dragged aft ; some stood i y
with buckets of water , whllo rs
struck off the padlocks
and Iron barn ;
the tarpaulin was torn away the
hatch lifted and lo !
A column of Jlro ascended in n
straight line from the body of the
hold lurid , Veil and scorching , as the
casks of molasses and bales of cotton
burned and blazed together. A col
umn that rosq up between the masts ,
scorced through to ) ) mainstay , all the
braces of "the fore'ynrds , and filled the
whole vessel with light , announced
that all was over. cdm
"It Is a doomed shlpl" cried Tom
Lambourno ; "wo must leave her at
last. Clear away the longboat. Bo
cool , lads ; bo cool and steady ! Your
lives depend upon your conduct now > ,
and your obedience to orders ! "
CHAPTER XXV.
Cast Away.
Not a moment was lost in getting
the longboat over the side , and with
a heavy splash , by which It was nearly
swamped , wo got It afloat.
Nod Carlton and Probart , the car
penter , sprang In to fend off and keep
It from bolng steve or dashed to pieces
by the sea against the brig's side.
By the wild , weird glare that rose
In frightful columns from the
and fore hatchways wo had plenty of
light , as It shone far over the huge
billows of that dark and tempestuous
sea , to which wo wore about to com
mit our fortunes , and now a pnlo and
half-dressed figure approached us.
It was Marc Iltslop , whom the ter :
rible odor had roused from his berth
in the cabin , and ho now eamo for
ward , supporting his feeble stops orby
cltitclilng tlio Hhroud * and belaying'
plim ,
I rimhcd below and brought up n
blanket and great coat to wrap him
In , and ho was promptly swung over
Into the boat , where Carlton received
and mipportrd him.
Three bags of bread , with a tarpaulin
to cover them , two kegs of rum , four
casks of water , with oars , salts and
blankets , wore thrown pell-mell Into
the boat. A hatchet and n bundle of
spun-yard completed our stores.
The compasses Wore considered now
lo bo useless , or were omitted , I for
get which.
The wind still amounted to a gale ,
though less violent , and It fanned the
growing flames , so Unit th fnt > < l brig
burned fast. The lightning still Hash
ed , but nt the horizon , and the thun
der was heard to gruniblo above the
hlsfl of the sen ; yet we heeded tnom
not , though they added to the terror
and the grandeur of the scone ; and ,
most providentially for us , the fury of
the Htonn was past.
Tattooed Tom was the last man who
loft the brig , and the moment ho was
In the boat ho exclaimed , with a loud
voice , that rang above the roaring of
the flames , which now gushed through
every hatchway and aperture , above
the howling of the wind and the breakIng -
Ing of the frothy sea
"Shove off ! out oars , there , to star
board pull round her stern pull with
a will to windward keep the boat's
bow to the brcalt of the sea ! "
Wo pulled silently and vigorously ,
and soon got clear of the brig , through
the four stern windows of which four
lines of light glared redly on the ocean.
All our strength was required to
achieve this , for the brig , bolng the
larger body , attracted the boat toward
hor. However wo got safely to wind
ward , which was absolutely necessary ,
for to leeward there fell hissing Into
the sea a torrent of sparks and burn
ing brands from the rigging , which was
all In flames now.
Resting upon our oars , or only using
thorn to keep the boat's head to the
break of the sea , and to prevent her
bolng swamped an operation during
'
which they' were ns often flourished In
the air as In the ocean , when wo rose
on the crest of ono vast , heaving wave ,
or Bank Into the dark vnlo of water
between two resting thus , wo gazed
In silence and with aching hearts nt
the destruction of our homo upon the
sen.
sen.Wo
Wo could fcol the heat of the con
flagration oven to windward. In a quar
ter of , an hour she was enveloped from
stem to stern In n sheet of fire that
rose skyward In the form of a pyra
mid. By this time every vestlgo of
her spars , sails and rigging had dis
appeared.
The entire deck had been consumed ;
the bulwarks and molded plniik-sheor
rapidly followed , and through the
flames that roared fiercely from the
hollow of her hull wo could see the
black tlmberhcads standing upward
llko a row of fangs.
Rents appeared next In her sides ns
the flames burst through the Inner and
outer sheathing , and with n hissing
sound as they met the waves of the
briny sen. Then a salt steam rose ,
and Us strange odor , with that of
the burning wood , was wafted nt times
toward us.
At last she gave n sudden heel to
starboard , and with n sound unlike
anything I over heard before n deluge
of water extinguishing a mighty fire
the waves rushed tumultnously in on
all sides. She vanished from our sight
In mist and obscurity , and n heavy
darkness suddenly replaced the glare
that for a time- had lit up the heaving
sea , dazzling our eyes and sickening
our hearts.
( To bo continued. )
WESTERN NOMENCLATURE.
Movement to Chungo the Curious ,
NIIIIIOH of Oregon To\vns.
It Is dllllcnlt to shako
off the names
attached to streams and mountains isy
the pioneers of a now country. With
few exceptions Washington state has
fared well In nomenclature. In n ma
jority of Instances Indian names Imvo
been retained , and usuajly they are
easy and poetical. But In some cases
the Individuality of the first settlers
prompted them to an effort to Improve
on the native names of streams and
sections , and In some Instances they !
were not happy In their originality.
The word Hangman has clung to the
llttlo stream which
skirts Spokane on
Its western border , and repeated spasmodic
medic efforts to center the public minden
on the more melodious name Latali
have failed of their purpose. Now Sen
ator Plummer of this county has Intro
duced a bill at Olympla to make this
change , and na no objection can attach
to the measure It will probably pass ,
and may exert sufllclent force to bring
about the desired change. A few
years ago an esthetic movement swept
through the Oregon legislature , and J'ta
number of pioneer names were turned
down for moro pollto ones. The good
people of Alkali , In eastern Oregon ,
Imagined that the nnmo was not ono
to conjure eastern capital , and dropped
It for Arlington. A new name was de [
vised for Bully creek , and Ynller eeg
and Bake Oven were tabooed as primi
tive and unpootlc. Bake Oven has ad
hered , and is still the name of a post-
ofllco. Indeed , much room remains
for Improvement of the nomenclature
of Oregon , which includes In Us list
of postolllces the towns of Burnt
Ranch , Gooseberry , Haystack , Lobster ,
Long Tom , Mule , Shake , Shirk , Stnrvo-
out , and Sucker. A few names In Ida
ho could bo dropped for the bettor ,
among them Bayhorso , Corral , Gimlet ,
Gentle Valley , Sawtooth , and Yollo'w
Jacket. Spokane Spokesman-Review.
Italy has had 294 square miles ot
land added to its territory in the last
70 years by the advance of the delta
of the Ro into the Adriatic sea.
There was n Blight touch upon my
nrm , my wounded arm , as It chanced ,
that lay beneath the blanket , a touch
that sent n pang like the piercing of
a hot Iron through It , and a sweet
voice said :
"Can I do anything for you , my poor
man ? The surgeon will bo hero Im
mediately , and I thought It best to
waken you. " It added , as I opened my
eyes upon that neat , quiet llttlo figure
which I had long before scon.
The recognition was mutual.
"Captain Hale ! "
"Mrs. Dumarclel"
"I did not expect to see you here ! "
a mutual exclamation , and there was
time for no more , for the surgeon , fol
lowed by his assistant with a hideous
paraphernalia , had come.
Then followed an awful hour. I think
I received a full Idea of the meanIng -
Ing of the word torture during Its
passage. At last they left me , the ball
extracted and the nrm bandaged , hut
utterly exhausted by pain , long fasting
and want of sleep ,
I did not wake until the following
morning and then to an Intolerable
pain and smarting In my arm. The
bandage seemed like n ligature , and
there was a burning , as of hot Iron ,
from finger ends to shoulder. I was
writhing with the torture , and feeling
strangely weak and powerless when
she came to me. Her voice roused mo
from my trance of agony.
"Can I do anything for you , Captain
Halo ? " she said , In those quiet , even
tones that were a sedative In them
selves.
"Yes , thank you. Send some one to
loose my bandage my arm Is intoler
able. "
"I will do It myself. I know how
perfectly ; " and before I could utter an
expostulation she had my arm tenderly
In her llttlo hands , and was deftly re
moving the bandage and loosing the
folds. She hurt mo very badly , but
there was something soothing In her
touch that made mo bear It without
much shrinking.
"Your arm Is badly swollen , but I
.think that will bo bettor , " she said , at
.length . , as she gently disposed the
wounded limb above the blanket. "I
will go to the office and procure a lo
tion for you. "
And with the word she was gone. I
had been greatly relieved , and could
think of something besides my suffer
ings. And my thoughts went back as
I followed the quaint llttlo figure with
my eyes to the time I had seen It last ,
and In such different surroundings.
It was flvo years before at a grand
ball , at the house of ono of the diplo
matic corps , In Washington , that I saw
Helen Dumarcle , a bride. As a child
I had known her well , and had met her
once or twice as she grow to woman i-
hood , when she paid rare but welcome
visits to my sisters. Wo renewed our
acquaintance then , and she Introduced
me to her husband , a splendid-looking
young officer a South Carolinian of
French-Huguenot descent.
. I was
pleased with his grand , courtly man l-
ner , and Helen seemed equally proud
of him. Her father's reverses had made
her a governess In the South , and there
she met Paul Dumarclo. I heard that
the Dumarcles felt the marriage a mis
alliance , but I think Paul Dumarclo
did . not feel that ho had condescended (
In marrying the pretty llttlo creature
who hung upon his arm ,
She was splendid that night In
some rich dress from her trousseau
I am not a man milliner to describe it
with the soft gleam of pearls In her
golden hair and a necklace , with jra
great emerald blazing amid the lucent
pearls that surrounded It , upon her
bosom. She was too llttlo to bear
much bravery of dress , and with all
her splendor I thought I had seen her
look hotter In the pretty muslins that
Bulled our village gatherings afar In
the old Now England home.
I had scarcely heard from her slnco ,
HELEN WOULD OFTEN TAKE MY
THROBBING HAND IN HERS.
for my life had been ono of roaming
and excitement , afar from old associ
ations. But what a change ! I could
oven now scarcely roallzo It. Whore
was Dumnrclo ? Surely ho had gene
with the South In this war ! And yet
how came she here , a nurse In this
Union hospital ?
Still In the uiazo of thought , I saw
her coming back with the surgeon by
her aide. The poor follows on their
cots raised themselves to look nt her
as she passed hack , and fell back smil
ing If she but glanced at them kindly ,
or spoke a few words In that wonder >
fully calming voice.
The surgeon looked grave as ho saw
my arm. Ho gave his orders rapidly ,
and I could see a shade pass over Mrs.
nninnrdo'B face as she listened. She
followed him Jimt out of earshot , .as
he moved away , and spoke to him
earnestly. His parting words only
reached my car.
"As he Is a friend of yours , certain
ly. The room Is empty , and , r.s the
fever Is coming on , ho will , of cours ? ,
bo more comfortable where pure air
can be obtained. Give your .own or
ders , If you please , for I am too busy
Just now to attend to It. "
"Do yon think you could bear being
moved upstairs ? " Helen Dumarcle
said , coming back to me. "Ther.o is
nn empty room I shall have prepared
for you ; but first you must have your
breakfast. Do you feel hungry ? "
She spoke In a quiet , mattor-of-fact
way , as If she had been all her life a
nurse In a hospital , and then she went
away and presently brought mo a
dainty mess of something that shesaldi
I must eat , because she had cooked It
with her own hands. I had no appe
tite , but I tried to cat , because she bade
me , and something of the weary sense
of exhaustion left mo when I had fin
ished. About noon men came , and
with Helen to superintend , lifted my
cot and carried mo awny to the quiet ,
lone upper room that bed boon pre
pared for mo.
When they had gone Helen bustled
In , smilingly , and Introduced to my no
tice a big , shiny-looking contraband ,
who gave my tired senses n first Im
pression of mingled patent-leather
boots and piano keys , who , she said ,
would stay with me all the time , and
take care of mo when- she was obliged
to bo absent. Then she said some
thing to him apart about "pryslpelas"
and "giving the medicine regularly. "
I remember feeling an air of comfort
I WAS PLACED ON THE FATAL
TABLE.
In the clean , bare room and a delicious
sense of quiet , after the roar of battle
and the sounds of pain and anguish ,
that had been ringing In my ears ever
since I was wounded. Then followed ;
a blank , whether of sleep or delirium I
know not , with occasional Intervals of
waking , always to Intolerable pain and
burning In my arm , In my whole side ,
with a ringing in my ears and a
fevered restlessness entirely id
my control. Through my dreams flit
ted Helen , now In the sheen of pearls
1sb.
and satin , now in plain hospital garb.
b.i
Time passed In this strange , dream
like existence , that was peopled iy >
many another sight , scenes borrowed
from the fury of battle , the sudden ter
ror of attack , quiet mountain bivouacs
and picket stations under the stars , in
drear plains that seemed stretched to
mysterious , unending distances , In the
shadowy light.
Helen would often come in , sit be-
sldo my cot and take my throbbing
hand In hers. Sometimes she was ac
companied by a sweet-faced Sister cof
Charity one of those angels of mercy ,
whose presence In army hospitals Is
familiar to all wounded soldiers , and
whoso gentle ministrations have
soothed the agony of many a dying
horo.
I know that I was carefully tended ,
but nil care could not prevent what fol
lowed. One morning I was lifted from
my cot and placed upon the fatal table.
When they placed mo In my bed again
the arm was gone , and with It the
awful burning pain , and much of the
danger that had threatened my life.
It was not long , then , before I
emerged from the shadowy seml-do-
llrlum In which my days and nights oin
that quiet chamber had been passed.
I began to recognize and Identify Jem ,
the shiny contraband , as something
tangible ; to feel amused at his quaint
ways , and odd , Indistinct mode of
speech ; and to feel pleased when he
answered my dim smile by a hearty
guffaw and a fearful display of the
piano keys And I began to make
Helen's visits the events of my monotonous
onous life ; to watch for her at her ac
customed hours , and to sink back ,
every nerve soothed and muscle re
laxed , In the deeps of a measureless !
content when she came. I had lost my
arm , my gcod right nrm , a poor man's
emblem of power to do and dare , and
which was nil that stood between me
and the cold world's charities. And
yet I was strangely happy.
Gradually , with strength , my
thoughts came back to the Interest * of
life. I had many brief talks with
Helen , but they had been chiefly of our
old home ; she had never alluded to
herself , nor told me why she was there.
It had boon enough , In my Illness , teas
know that , however she came , she was
there , and I getting well In her care . M
and Jom'a ; for I will not be ungrateful
whatever eleo I am.
But nt last I came to wonder at this ,
though I dared nsk no question.
Thinking thus , I spoke aloud , aa ono
sometimes does In musing , quite un
aware that I bad done so , till Jem ,
crouching by the window In the full
rays of the sun , answered me.
"What can have become of Captain
DumaroloT"
"Master Paul's dead , " was Jem's un-
swer ; "killed down to Newborn last
year. "
"You know him , then ? " I cried ,
startled , being unaware , you sec , till he
spoke that I had uttered my thought
aloud.
"Ynh ! ynh ! " burst out Jem , "reckon
I did , marstcr ; used to "long to him ,
me an * all my folks. "
"You ! Paul Diiraarclo's slavft * And
Helen's now ? "
"No , sir. Miss Helen never would
own wedem , Tell its to go North , and
when she cum I stick to her close , you
bet. But I 'spcct I own myself , now , "
replied Jem with another laugh and a
mixtureof , negro patois and Yankee
slang In his speech.
"You do , of course , Jem , " for his last
remark wap half question ; "there are
no slaves hero. But was Captain Du
marcle in the army ? "
"Yes , sir. 'Long of the Confeder
ates. When he killed , Miss Helen
come North to get his body , and , oh ,
how she weep when she find ho been
burled many days ! She nobber go
back any more. She been here obbor
slnco , and Jem with' her. "
"Ah ! " I said. "But I am very
thirsty. Will you bring me a drink ,
Jem ? " I would not question a servant ,
but I had received Information enough
to think about for one day.
Helen was a widow , then ! How
lonely she wan , and what a hard , hard
life after the years of luxury she had
enjoyed In her southern home !
A few days afterward- when I wag
nearly well enough to discharged ,
Helen spoke to me of herself. She told
mo of the dreadful parting that was
final. Of her Journey northward when
tidings of her husband's death came ,
and finding only the grave where life
mutilated remains were laid days be
fore.
"My little Phillip died but a month
before , " she said , "and I had no longer
any tie to bind me. My dream of love
and home was past. Stern , sorrowful
realities presented themselves. Intel
ligent nurses wore wanted , and I re
solved to take my place among them.
My life Is dedicated to the work. "
"But , Helen , you need not sacrifice
your llfo. You are looking pale and
worn. When my mother comes to take
me home , go with us. You know how
welcome you will be. "
"I thank you , Charley , " she an
swered , as If something In my words
had recalled our youth , calling mo by
the old , familiar name , "but my work
Is hero ; I cannot leave It. After the
war Is over , perhaps , If I llvo till
then "
Her tone was very sad , but she
looked up as she paused , and a touch-
lug smile , full of resignation and hope ,
dawned over the marble pallor of her
face. She rose up and went away.
When my mother came she added
her entreaties to mine , and even some
thing of the authority which her ago
and tlong friendship Justified. But
Helen , with warm' thanks , put her
aside , as she had done me. Her work
was there , she said ; she could not' '
leave It. And so we left her to her
patient rounds and mournful duties.
I went homo a crippled man. No
more of outward striving life for me ,
no dreams and successes , no ambitions
to be realized. The future seemed a
drear blank. I fell Into a morbid state
thoughts Introverted self prominent ,
blttor , uncharitable , unreasoning , I
supposed I was grateful to Helen , but
I often found myself wishing she had
let mo die. And , as I could not yet
hold a pen In my left hand , I made
that an excuse for not writing to her ,
when either of my sisters would gladly
have written for mo , and often did
write on tholr own account , and
thanked her over and over again for
preserving to them the brother , who
had been'too sullen and bearish to
deserve such kindness ever since his
return. Helen answered briefly her
time was so occupied but she said
llttlo about herself.
It came upon us all with a great
shock , then , when , about two months
after my return homo , the papers
brought us tidings of her death.
Faithful to the end , she had never
left her post , even to die. When she
could no longer resist her weakness
and disease she lay down In the great ,
bare room , and upon the very cot I
had laid on to die. There poor , faith
ful Jem watched her , with all a wom
an's tenderness , to the last , and kind ,
u
"MASTER PAUL'S DEAD , " WAS
JEM'S ANSWER.
though stranger friends , of her own
sex , gathered round her. Her burden
had been too heavy for her , but she
had borne it well , and her monument la
In a hundred warm hearts that will
always beat quicker with love and
gratitude whenever her name la men
tioned or their thoughts revert to her.
Coilly Ulble.
The moat costly book In the Royal
library at Stockholm la a Bible. It
Is said that ICO asses' skins wore uaod
for its' parchment leaves. Thsro are
300 pages of writing , and each page
falls but one Inch short of being a yard
In length. The covers are eolid planks ,
four Inches thick ,