From
ORA'S ES' Da rU ness *
\ To Light g |
BY MARY CECIL HAY
li vxS , . V/S/V/'vXv/X' , s V * 'V * ' * ! ' ' KVN . ' iv v * ' _ XS/ * * V ; ? ' - * Jf
> > * < >
CriAl'TKU V.-i'Joiiiliiui'd. )
" 1 thin' ' * , " put ID MM. IVuniiiKinti. with
9 dcprceailiiK planco ul MI-MI rVter , us
it begslng pardon for continuing n rather
derogatory subject of dNn - nm. "tli.it ,
'
'In colouring Nora St. George's iinoouviu-
tloiwl < loincniior and bubaUor , wo luiwt
pinko a little allowance for her own Utter
Ignorance , both as to litr | m l nnd lior
probable future. "
'
"Mamma alwnys thinks there's some
mystery attai bed to Nora. " muili'il Oulin.
Clnnviiig tip at Mr. Poynz as ho came
to nsli her for H ( tons.
At last the tnunicaui ! the chnt censed.
5lio evening WHS over , neil cv < n the
vicar had closed his bedroom door upon
the outer world.
It was Celin's bedroom wblcli had nc > n
jlvcn up to Mr. Po > uz , yet Marls barely
jlaiiced at ita attractions. Slowly and
thoughtfully he pn.'ed backward and for-
.irnrd , seeing nothing of the rose-covered
4ruiK : < 't nt which he gazed , and hearing
Bothnia of his own measured steps. When
the moon Hlume from behind its veil of
drifting clouds , the light roiled him and
tool ; him to the window , to stand looking
cut upon the chill brown bos. with ilS
{ listening strips of water , and upon the
llvcred laurels In-low him ; but when the
Jealous clouds shut in the moon H light
Again , he turned and renewed his walk ,
ftill deep in harahftcd thought.
Presently he paused , llHtening in aston
ishment , for the silence ol the night was
broken by n Blep upon the gravel under
fcla window a light , running Htep.
Tlioroughly tiware thai the scene with-
nt was all in darkness. Mark oslin-
fultdicd hiu candlcB witli tlic cool prompt- !
tudo of n man of action , and then he
pulled aside lii.s curtains , and opened tin1
.window. The sound of the step ha l
ceased ; but just tlien the hall bell was
rung in a swift , unsteady manner.
"What i.s ItV" calluil Mark , without a
moment's hesitation. Hut , just as he
poke , a little rift in the passing < -loud-
tank gave thu full moon a moment' *
time to light the scone , and then he
needed no reply to hi * question.
lie knew the girlish form he saw lean-
lug against the door , bare-headed , ami
Diluting a little , ' he Knew the beautifm
face , raised eagerly and pitcously at the
sound of his voice ; and a minute after-
, .ward . ho hud opened the vicarage duor
upon Nora St. George.
CHAPTER VI.
"It Is help we Avaut , .Mr. I'oyns , " pant
ed Nora , her face full of fear , as she
. epoko fast and quietly , "at home , please.
The house baa fallen. Oh , Mr. 1'oyiiK.
It Is grandpa's room , and Do co.iie- ! '
. Mark smiled a litile on hearing how low
end wlstUil the pretty Irish voice could
be , even In all its alarm.
" 1 will h'arn.-Hs Mr. Pcunlngtou's pony. '
bo said } "and he or ! will drive you bark.
We shall be at Travci ro in n few min
utes. "
i "Yllllvlll nnmr > vmi it-Ill rnfillv Itnln
. * w.4 it ill i-uilll JUU 111 ll'.lll IIL'lll
us ? " she questioned , with one pllcoiin
glance into his face ; and reading there
his answer , without a word she turned
to rim back to Travee.ro , swiftly as a
frightened child.
Mark looked after her for n moment
und then looked up at the window , where
.tho vicar's head appeared , with n query
AS to what was the mutter.
"Something has happened at Travcere
Miss St. George has been hero for help
May 1 harness your pony and drivt
j after her ? or may I harness it for jou
" * Hr. ' "
. I'cnningtouV"
Thu vicar's prompt response was to
throw the stable keys at Mark's feet.
„ " 1 will dress at once , " lie said , "but
don't wait for mu. I will tell Will , if he
Is arouse. ] . Pray drive on as fast as you
can , and pick up Nora poor little irl
We will follow. "
There was little need to tell Mark
to d-lve fast , .lust as quickly as he had
drawn the phaeton from the little vouch-
house and just IIH quickly as he hud liir- :
Messed the stunt gray pony , he took him
now through the garden jate and out into
the bog-road. Murk , bending his head
against the wind as it came sweep.ug
down the bog , allowed no pause ; for he
know that at any moment the clouds
might once more Imprison the friendly
inoon. and hide Irom him ih.it slight , darlt
figure hurrying far in advance , lie call
ed to her again and again , loudly in .in-
lilglit silence , but she made no p.uit > an-
in in nor very suto .Marli drew up the
panting pony. Then hlio stopped , her
right hand pressed upon her hc.irt , an.I
her breath coming quickly and irregu
larly. She moved to the side of the ear-
Tiago and grasped it with one hand ; and
Mr. Poyns , without reminding her that
lie would .have lost no time by waning
for him to drive her. lifted her in , uua
left hur quietly to rest.
Once or twice Nora looked up into hvi
compnnion'B face , her lips purlin , ; as if
she would have spoken had her kre.itb
boea less hurried ; but she never did , urn :
Mark never turned at all to her uuti
they bad passed through the gate nt Tru-
W.'l1 h-ft wide open and entered Hit
short , neglected avenue. Then he turn
cd , and for an instant closed his hau ,
upon hers.
"Tho old house stands where It did , mj
child , " ho said. , letting the pony walk m
that rough , , grass-grown voad , ' "Tola
heart , and tell mo what has happened. "
"It was grandpa's room , " whisperei
Nora , breathlessly. "There was a terrible
crash ; and I ran to grandpa , and his
room was full of bricks and mortar am
dust. And the bed was beyond , and evet
nt the door 1 could scarcely breathe , am
oh. poor grandpa ! And then I wantci
Fume nne to help tin , and I came. "
The moult shone from behind a young
ash straight before them , and made a
wondrous picture of the moving leaves
nnd hongliH. .Mark's eyes were fixed upon
it , still with a great perplexity within
their depths.
"I didn't stop to think whether it wan
wrong to run -iway , " uhe went on pres
ently. "I felt nil in a moment how help
less we were ; and Kitty wns asleep , and
I knew you were all kind at the vlearngo ;
KO I run. I nerer stopped , never one * ,
till yo'j saw me ; nnd I should have run
tack , only you took me up. I winh 1
could have helped leaving grandpa. "
"You did the very wisest thlntr yon
could 1mvidoti' ' . " Hrtid Mnrk. "A man's
Btrcnjrth will be wanted perhaps th '
Ntren ih oc many men anil jou anil your
servant could have done nothing alone. "
"Alone ! " repeated Nora , nbscntly. "Wo
were not alone. Ur. Armstrong Is nt
Traviicro. "
"U ho ? " questioned Mnrk. "Hid you
forget that ulii-n jou ran to us ? "
"At iirsl-ut the very lirst I did. " she
answered , slowly. "lie does not often
may with us. nnd I h.id fow'rtt'H. I
soon remembered , though -quit'- noon
but 1 did tint turn hack ; I went -n. "
The disjointed ilonr stood open , and in
a further corner nt the dismal hall Druu
stool howling ircuiib. !
"Why did you xtnvt. Miss St. Oeoi'ReV"
nqulred Mark , at they entered the htnme.
'You surely un.let-Aland enough about
lo ; : to know that they make th.it hide-
> IIH Hound very often on n moonlight
night ? "
"No. " said the girl , gravely , her eyes
ised straight before her in the gloom ,
not that sound , Mr. POJUK ; 1 have never
leard Uraii wail IKe that. There , where
le stands , is g'-andpa's duor. "
It was , opened as she mpokc , and they
saw that a light burned within ; but Nuel
\nuHtrong , who had come from itt pulled
to the door behind him , and only the
uoonliglit showed them to each other.
"What does this mean ? " asked Dr.
Armstrong , roughly addressing Mark.
What right have you in this house at
this hour ? "
"I have come to offer help , " Mark an
swered , speaking \ery quietly as he
ooked down into Nora's white face. "I
think that gives me right to enter when )
.he help is needed. "
"Who told you help was neededV"
" 1 did , " said Nora , steadily. "I went
to the vicarage , Nuel. and asked Mr.
I'oynz to come and help us. Oh , Nuel ,
et me pass to grandpa I"
"You Khali go where you will when
his interloper has lelt the bouse , " return-
d Nuel , making a futile effort to rega.u
Ills usual tone and manner. "So it wiil
he wise of you to say good-night to him
and let him go. "
"Miss St. ( icnrgp has not attempted yet
to detain me , " observed Mark , coolly , "so
your advice to her is miperlluoua. I hope
-he will bill us both good-night , for } ou
.ind I can do all there is to do. Allow
me to pass. "
"Oh. it-rtainly ! " replied Dr. Armstrong.
hiHsing the words suavely. . , " 1 hhall be
.mint h.ippy. I only wait just to hear a
.Here fnnirila , of course , by what vi ht
. .ou intrude here. "
"Stand buck , sir , If you please , " fiul.1
Mark , with dangerous quietness. "I will
\vaste no minutes in words with you
even in Minn St. ( jcorsje's presence. I am
is near a connection of Col. St. George's
.is you are nearer and you shall keep
MO ono from that room where the old man
needs help. "
Perhaps because ho saw he had to deal
with a strong and resolute man. an.I per-
linps it was because Nora herselt seemed
shrinking from him while be stood in hur
way , Nuel Armstrong moved aside.
"You shall repent this unauthorized in
trusion , " he said to Mark ; and Mr. 1'o.jny.
answered that It was very possible , an I
pushed open the door with a gentle hau.I
to look into the ruined chamber.
liefore them where they stood a han'i
of bricks and mortar , and fragments of
wood and stone , was piled so high that
nothing but th bare , curtainless upper
frame of the bud beyond was visible.
Mark's keen , quick eyes tool ; in all the
bceno. The fragments of the chimney
were heaped so high against the wall
tpon the hearth that only the top of
Col. St. George's Iron safe was left to
nark his favorite corner ; and on the
hearth itself the mass reached nearly to
i bole in the ceiliug , which revealed an
) ther opening in the room above , and let
in the moonlight from the sky itself ,
"Does he live' . ' " asked Mark , in low ,
quick tones , as he turned to Dr. Arm
strong. "You have been in. Does be
liver
"Tho dust was suffocating , " was the
answer , uttered unwillingly. "H drove
me back whenever I tried to reOv'h ' ' 'm. "
"It is suffocating now , " Murk said , im
patiently. "Miss St. George , co quickly
to your own room and rest. We will sen I
to call you presently. Go it is stilling
here. "
lie spoke in n tone of authority which
seemeil nntum to mm ; tint < me only saw
that his glance was very kind an.I anx
ious , and that he WHS in haste to do
losnething which her presence hindered ;
so she turned at oacc , like a child , at
his bidding , and left the room.
Bran was still whining dismally in th"
shadow ; but when Nora went up to him ,
and , kneeling beside him , whispered to
him coaxing , ten ler , pitiful , wasted
words , he grew quiet ; catching his breath
just once , us if in a sob , : iud then stand
ing quite still , with punting breast , and
wide' , hollow eyes Dsed upon the moon
light through the open outer hall door.
Kitty iinally came and led Nora out
of the chill and gloom up to the freshly
lighted lire In the kitchen , and something
in its broad , frank blaze mudo the girl
shiver even In Its warmth.
"Oh. Kitty , " she cried , with a fright
ened deb , "is grandpa safe ? Will they
be In tinier
Kitty , standing beside the table to pour
out the cup of tea , glanced sideways at
her young mistress , startled by her cry.
Was it possible that Miss Nora could be
uti } thing but glad to be released troni
the hard and grinding tyranny which bad
given her such a childhood and girlhoo.l
as only her own bright , nns'ispiuious na
ture had rendered endurable ?
"It's about yer grandpa we'll bo secin'
afther n woe , " she said , soothingly.
"Now , it's the cup o1 tay yer to be drink-
in1. "
Only a few minutes patted after Kit
ty's departure , but Nora felt us If she
had been an hour alone , when Dr. Arm
strong came in to her.
"Nora , my dear , " he said , as he took
her hand and placed it on his arm. "I
felt you \\oiild be anxious , nnd I am
i-onie to relieve yon. We have carried
your grandfather to the empty room on
the other t > lde of the hall. lie is rescued
from all that wreck and dust ; but we
hm'wu comp.a..K'd of the labor. Will
you xo III ? "
She had taken her bund from his directly -
rectly , .in. ! now her tinners toiic'iod for n
moment the bead of the old dog , \\lio
was following her from the kltch. n.
Bran under-tood the sign , and walked
back to the hearth , with one low , lung
hortlhLb made Dr. Armstrong niuttur
an Inipre , ntion on bin head.
"Will he know me ? " asked Nora , turn.
Ing to address Nuel for the llrst time.
"Kmv.v you ! " echoed Dr. Armstrong.
astini hed. "Diiin t jon unucraimm mm
my love ? He was dead when I went ill
this morning nt the hiv-t alarm , llu
must have been Hmothered In a minute.
"Oh , grandpa ! " cried the girl , as she
fell on her knees bOMido the Improvised
bed on which he lay. "Oh. poor , poor
grand 11,1 ! "
It wan all that It seemed possible to
her la say , In her great awe and bewil
derment ; In this her first experience at
death-ami a death which brought no
anguish , oven no great dItress.
So Khc knelt , whispering in thi" strange
compassion , while Nuel Armstrong , with
low , endearing words , tried to tempt her
from the Knot. She took no heed at all of
hl.s presence. She was thinking of the
awful suddenness of her grandfathers
death , nnd wondering , wondering while
her eyes were dry and mim'rablc. and her
heart felt like a stone in her bosom.
"Oh. grandpa , not to have known that
this was coming. Onlv to feel It when It
wan too late to escape ! Oh , poor , pour
grandpa ! "
"Come away , my darling , " whispered
Nupl , taking her hand to lift her to her
feet. Hut she quietly drew her hand
away , ami laid it caressingly upon the
shriveled fingers before her.
"Grandpa , " she whispered , tenderly ,
"no one shall take mo away. "
"I shall feel it my duty to take you
away , Nora , " said Dr. Armstrong , in his
cold."smooth tones. "I will not have your
health injured through any fiilstsenti
ment. What did that old man ever defer
for you , that you shuiild forfeit even one
silicic hour's rest or happiness for hiinV
Those who really love you are left to you ;
and while I live you never shall be lonely
or sorrowful , my darling. "
lie saw thafuhe had her hands pressed
tightly to her ears while he spoke , and
an angry , passionate light came into Ids
eyes.
"Nora , " he said , lifting her to her feet ,
"if only as your physician and your
present guardian. I forbid thU motive
less conduct. Gome away with me. 1
want you safe away. I want you safe
In your own room , before they all come
to to disturb you. "
"You will leave me here. Nuel , please , "
she said , as she brought o broken chair
from one corner of the room and took
her seat on it beside the bed.
He saw that , gentle 113 the words were ,
they were firm , and that she was not to
be tempted. So , when he had lingered in
vnin for another word or a glance , he left
the room , that he might , if possible , pre
vent an.vone else entering.
Hut apparently ho could not do so ,
Both Mr. Penuiugton nnd Mr. Kost.-i
came in very soon , to urge Norn to gi
with them nt once to the \lcarage , as
Traveere was not a IU home for her just
then , they said.
"As long as grandpa stays , " she said ,
quite simply and quietly , "I shall stay
It is our home. "
-
1 uey iMcaMCU uui aim fuiiii-aiv , UDIU&
every argument they could think of , but
all to no purpose. She and Kitty would
keep on this side of the house. The
fallen chimney and broken roof were
quite far enough away. Kittj would not
go away , and she and Kitty were nsed
to being together.
The vicar acceded to Mark's suggestion
that he should send his daughter io Tra
veere with Will at once , ami the two
drove away. Nuel Armstrong had taken
up his own station in the room where
Nora sat , in that wondering regret of
hers , hardly comprehending what bewil
dered her. or for what she mourned.
lint Mark bail not started yet. Passing
through the kitchen , because he knew
that from the back of the house ho could
strike across the bog more directly for
K'mtonn , lie bethought him to question
Kitty and old Ureen , as they stood to
gether talking at the lire , turning their
backs upon the weak and chilly light of
dawn creeping into the house. It would
be wise for him , before he sought the
Kintnnu attorney , to be , if possible , quite
sure that he was the man who \\ould. if
anyone , understand the affairs of Col.
St. George.
Kitty could give Mr. I'oynz little in
formation bejon'l the fact that though
Mr. Doyle had i.mie occasionally to Tra
veere , he "ivei- nil'alwis refused the bit
and sup. " HH : Mreen remembered hear
ing "him an' tb' ould musther talkin' wnu
day bchlnt him an' Horak 'bout signiu' a
paper. "
That was enough for Mark to hear ; ami
after n little chut with the old servants
no went out into tno faint , gray uawn.
He need not have turned a corner of
the house at all ou his direct way to
Kintona , nnd at the moment it would
have piusled b' > -ive a motive for
doing so. Hut uU-rviirJ : be knew that ,
slight us the sound had been , bis quick
cars had detc'1 ' ' ion before he was
conscious of duiii , } so. The first window
round the corner of the house was that
of the room where Col. St. George had
slept , and to this window Mark went at
once. Half way up it was blocked by the
fallen bricks ; but it had been opened as
wide as it would go , and Mark saw that
a man conld , if he were very cautious ,
enter the room that way. But he saw
more. Kneeling ou the debris , and in-
grossed In hi * labor * , a young man
whose fljrure even thus Mark recognized
in a moment was clearing with his
hands , quickly and cautiouslj. the rub-
I'isb from before the iron safe ; and
though perhaps it wan done as quietly as
possible , it was still done with an Inevit
able clatter. Hetween his teeth Mark
saw that be held a key , as ho worked on
swiftly and eagerly.
It took Mr. Poyoz but a few seconds to
regain the hall and turn the key which
was In the outer lock ot the door of the
destroyed room : and then , before Shan
Corr had time to do more than look
round trom his height to recognize tot
English gentleman , that English gentle
man had his nug.-rs firm in the Irishman's
collar , and h id quietly swung him uroaiul
to find his feet , if ho could , upon u lowei
level.
The sound of Shan's raised voice
brought Dr. Armstrong out into the hall
nnd just then Murk found himself watch
lug the physician's face very curiously
Could it be that he wan so familiar wit !
this Irishman's rascality that no new
phas of it could surprise him ? Or was
In UK , Hclf-i ou.iued : : a null to betray any
ferilug at nil , t-M-rpt when Jefiloimy win
aroiixed ?
"Ai I'-mpora1' . ' ' guardian of Miss St.
si led jotirself so
fleorgeV lnerests--you : )
to me nn hour ago , Dr. Armstrong let
me recommend you to guard Col. St.
George's efTeets from thieves and vaga
bonds. Is this ( . 'ol. St. George's keyV
That grouudrel dropped it from his mouth
in his fear. "
"Yes , that is Col. St. George's key , "
replied Dr. Armstrong , without looking
beyond the key.
( To be continued. )
GOOD POPULAR SONGS SCARCE.
Great Illtn l-"cw Now iliiy , Although
v n ie iihll-hii'M Arc llu tllii ; ; .
"It Is Hlnguliir. but true , " < snlil n music
publisher. "Hint there tire very few blr ;
hits In popular mings nowmlays tlint Is ,
snugs ( hut reached ( be inllllmi murk la
sulee , Btich HO 'After the Hull , ' 'Annie
Ituoney , ' 'Dnlsy Hell. ' 'Down Went Me-
Glnty , ' 'Two Little Girls In I'.luo' uuil
'Comrack'H. ' Many sun- ; * pulilitiliud
since then hnve been very popular , to
bo sure , hut t' ey cannot bo compared
with the old-timers.
"Many denlcrs linvp asked me the
cause of this , but ( him far I have been
unable to explain It satisfactorily. It
Is all ( ho stranger when you lake into
consideration the fact that there are
more singers and better facilities for
pushing songs than in former yearn.
"Years ago a good song would force
itself upon the public. At present a
publisher has to humor the sluyera and
do a lot of hustling. Some of the lop-
liners require pay to sing songs. In the
old days they were only too glad to get
a good ballad. To cater to the whims
of the singers a publisher must have nt
least three pianos In his establishment ,
employ expert players ami vocalists to
teach the hongs ; print professional
cards ami do a thousand other tilings.
You see the competition is keen , and if
you should hurt the feelings of any
singer , especially n man or woman of
reputation , you will have considerable
trouble In making your son ; , popular.
"Publishers have to take a lot of
chances too. I'or instance , to popularize
a sung you must have slides made for
slereoptlcon views. This eohl.v quite a
sum. One publisher spent $ -luu to take
pictures for a set of glides for the song
Sing Again That Sweet Kefrain. ' He
hud to employ a troupe of colored min
strels , a band and a ball. Fortunately ,
the song made money and he did not
lose anything. There are oilier things
to contend with , too , such as lawsuits ,
ete. There was a dispute over the own
ership of one song , for Instance. After
lighting In the courts for some time one
of the lirms ci.iinectcd compromised by
paying the other &iOUO In cash and the
costs of the suit. " New York Sun.
Unjtlaml'.s Sea Gypsies.
A strange and almost unknown part
of the population ( if they can be cnlLci
that ) of the Hrllish isles are tin ; queer
semi-wild folk known as bea gypsies
Uoal gypsies they are , differing from
their fellow gypsies in the fact that
they always live on the sea ami that ,
never having mingled wlih landsmen ,
their type Is much purer and more
nearly resembles the original.
'lliere are about . " ( Jt ) sea gypsies In
Itritalu. They cruise along the coast ,
seldom touching the laud , but ahsays
close to It. In old and weatlierbeaten
craft that may have carried their grand
fathers.
\ \ hen the tide Is out the old craft
will often drop anchor by a sandbank
Island far out at sea. and her crew will
grub for cockles with their hands , till
ing a score of baskets , but saying noth
ing to each other , for they are almost
out of the habit of speech. They llud
fifty slu'lllish where the ordinary Hull-
erman finds one. but they rarely do
the same thing two days running , and
in the next hour they may be .snaring
rabbits oil a headland miles away.
The sea gypsies are wild-eyed and
thick set. Their hair is always either
jet black or golden. They are still of
almost pure Norse or Danish descent ,
never having used the laud and mixed
with the shore folk to any extent.
-Their bauds seems to be all thumbs In
stead of lingers , so powerful and stubby -
by are the digits , because they have
done nothing but haul ropes and dig iu
the wet HUH ! . New Yorl ; Press.
Know tils luilc.fi.
A young clerk In a wholesale house
lias been pending a large portion of his
salary for the last few days buying
cigars for friends who are "on" to a
joke that was perpetrated on him. Ills
employer engaged a new boy , and as
soon as the boy cnme to the establish'
ment he was instructed In his duties bj
our friend , who had been promoted to
the position of assistant bookkeeyei i
and given a small ollice by himself.
About nn hour after the boy started in ,
the boss came n round , and wclng him
working , asked : -
"Has the assistant bookkeeper told
you what to do ? "
"Yes , sir , " was the prompt reply , "he
told me to wnko up when I sn\v you
coming around. "
An \iicrionee I I I'nr in.
Groom How much do I owe you ?
Clergy ma 11 U m or w ha lever you
think your wife is worth.
Groom Oil , that's so many millions ,
I would have to go on owing It to
you.
Clergyman Well , call around again
In a few years. Perhaps the estimate
*
will thenbo within your reach. N
York Weekly.
The woman who has on a pair of low
shoes and pretty Bilk stockings nevet
gets the bottom edge of her skirt sidled.
All Is fair In love and war or , In oth
er words , during courtship and after
mairlagc.
Death Is the only thing coming to
that we all know we will get.
GiUNK HOTEL INVENTIONS ,
IViiliNrf-AfctnHn Mutineer IH I'ctitcrcd
by Krcnlc Devices uuil Sclictncn. ;
Mr. Holdt , of Hie Waldorf-Astoria. ,
Is t'.n-d of would-be Inventors. "It ,
makes me very tired , " said he the oth
er day , "to hear complaints about our
system of paging cards.
"Now , I have made Mils fiyMem of
paging cards Urst introduced , by tlio
vay. by mo n special study sluce 1
. nine here , as 1 appreciate llie fact
hat the highest recoiume mint loll a heel -
el can have is the elllcieii'-y of the
service , especially that of card dellv-
ry. Nothing Is calculated to Irritate
.1 guest more ihau llie discovery that
she has been called upon by a friend
when lie or she has been In the hotel
a' thu time ami has not known about
It.
"At n greatly lucrJased expenditure
I now employ young men as pages In
stead of boys as formerly , because
they are more Intelligent and diserim-
.tinting. I used to have the mimes call
ed out asveli as the numbers of the
moms , but this was often embarrass
ing or objectionable , mid so now 1
inly have the number of the room an
nounced , which Is a private matter
known only to the occupant.
"It is amusing , though , that men
sometimes become so engrossed In con
versation at n round table in the cafe
( hat they do not heed the calls under
their very noses. Of.c mrse , when the
pages Identify or know the persons
llie card or letter Is delivered without
the usual aiinouiicemeut. "
Mr. Holdt Is a shining mark for In
ventors. Scarcely a day passes thnt
he is not sought or rather besought
by some enthusiastic Inventor anxious
to have him adopt the new patent for
obviating or producing this or that iu
ills great hostelry.
One promoter has a scheme for sev
eral monstrous Kwitcliboards like those
in the stock exchange for the notifi
cation to guests of callers by the au
tomatic dropping of disks containing
the number of the room. This Mr.
Iloldt considers impracticable , because
bis guests do not wain to be bothered
lookiug at such things , ami will not
when they are engaged In the cafe.
Another has a turnstile system of
cheeking In their revolution Hie rota
tion storm doors , and thus preventing
a draught through the spacious and
gusty corridors. This Mr. I'.oldt finds
all right in theory , but decides It would
Inconvenience llie guest In the c.om-
partmeutal door
A third has an Idea that lie could
place n tally at the various doors of
those who entered , and It could be an
nounced odielnlly the next morning
that so many Hundred people had vis
ited the place the day before.
Probably the most Irritating crank
inventor , says the Now York Times , is
the one who wishes to record on a
switchboard conspicuously displayed
In the balls the vacancies at the ta
bles or rather the vacant tables iu the
.
"If , " ob > erves Mr. Boldt. "this sys
tem were adopted there would be a
riot every night among those awaiting
tables , as each would consider it Ids
turn next , regardless of the fact that
the tables bad been previously en
gaged. I never consider any expense
In improving my system , but I really
get very weary of these impracticable
suggestions , especially when advocated
by patrons. Hut you must give everyone
ono a hearing or you may miss some-
tiling good. "
SHE KNEW HER NAME.
KIIitlifill Cow Saves the Life of Her
lHtle Companion':1
It IH a kindly and affectionate custom
to give an individual name to each of
the animals we possess , an < l a story
told by the Humane Alliance shows
that at times it may also be a useful
custom. A Scotch farmer wns the hereof
of the adventure.
"I was a lad keeping Donald Mac-
Nauglitou'H cows. " he suys. "There
were three of them. The dun was Hell ,
the led one was Cowslip , and the black
was Meadow-Sweets.
"The cows knew their names like
three children , and would como right
across the leas when called.
"One day when I was not with them ,
but bad been given n holiday nnd gene
bilberry bunting up on the side of the
bill. I climbed until I was so high that
I got dazed , and lost my footing upon
H.i , i-iii.l.-u iii-.il i-iimo ii.tinnlilliiLf ilmvn
and snapped my ankle , so I could not
move.
"It was very lonesome there. II
seemed to me that it was hours that 1
lay there hitching nlong among the
bracken. I thought how night wouUl
como nnd nobody would know where I
was. I could not move I'or the nngulHli
In my foot , and It wtits of no use tc
halloo , for there was naught In sight
save the crows and daws a-sklrlinj !
against the .sky. My heart was tit tc
break , for 1 was but a lad. and moihei
looked to me for bread , and I thoughl
I would uovor see home again.
"After a while I spbnl a cow beneath
gracing on a slip of turf Just between
a rift and the hill. Slio was u gooi
long way below , but I knew her ; ll
was Cowslip.
"I Hhonted as loud as I could , 'Co\v
Klip ! Cowslip ! Cowslip1 !
"Cowslip , when she hoard her nuino
left off grazing and listened.
I called again and again. What dl (
she do ? She just cnme n tolling up am
up and up they are rare climbers
those hill cattle. She bllppcd and stum
bled , but up and up tdio canio till slit
reached me.
"Sho inado a great to-do over me
licked me with her rough , warn
luiigue , and was as pleased and as pltl
fill as though I was her own. Then
like n Christian , she not up a voice am
moaned-moaned so long and so loui
that they heard her In th vale below.
"To bear a cow moaning like that
tiej ! knew meant that she was In tron
lie. Me they would not have looked
f-'i1. < von If thv Ind heard me. So they
came a searching and seeking , nnd the/
could HOP tier red and white body ,
though Ibey could not see me ; and so
they found me and carried me down.
And It was Cowslip that saved tuf
life. "
"SHE BURNS GREEN I"
llo\v tlic Finder Announced Ills I ) in
covcry of llornx.
The greatest discovery of borax him
llie United States was made in the tor
rlbly hot region known as "Death Val
ley , " and In a most toaiiuitlc way. Th
Chicago Ilecord-llerald tells the story-i
In 1880 An ron Winters lived with bis
wife , llosle , in a gulch known as AHH
Meadows , not far Irom the mouth of
Death Valley , lie was so fond of bis
wife that he would not allow her to be
long absent from him , although theit
little but ou the side of the mountain.
was 1 < JO miles from the nearest neigh
bor , in a wild , rugged , forsaken conn-
try.
try.One
One day a desert tramp came along
and spent the night at the Winters
home. He told the hunter about tin
borax deposits of Nevada. When he
went away Winters thought that lit
bad seen deposits of the same kind on
bis explorations Into Death Valley.
Accordingly he and his wife went
together to make the search , having
previously provided themselves with
certain test chemicals , which , when
combined with borax and Ignited ,
would produce a green tlrme.
Having procured a piece of the sub
stance which be believed to be borax ,
Winters and bis wife waited for night
fall to make the test How would H
burn ?
For years they had lived like Plutca
on the desert , entirely without luxuries
and often wanting tor the very neces
sities of life. Would the match change
all that ?
Winters held the blax.e to the sub
stance will ) a trembling h\ud. then
.shunted at the top of bis voice : "Slit
burns green , Itosie ! We're rich ! \Ve'r
rich ! "
They bad found borax. The mln
wns sold for $ UO.X 0 , and Winters tooli
his Ittmie to a ranch in Nevada.
A Generous Itep int.
If it is true that a rose by any othra
name would smell us sweet , It should
also be true that what wo call an Karlj
Hose , when we speak of potatoes , bj
any other name would taste as gojd.
But all potatoes are not so poetically
named , as two women discovered jusi
after they had finished a farmhouse
luncheon.
They were out on a bicycle tour , and
became very hungry , as bicycle riders
often do. As there was no Inn any
where within easy reach , they applied
at a farmhouse for food. An old man
was working In the potato patch , and
they attempted to negotiate with him
for a luncheon.
Ho was very willing to do what ha
could , and reassured them by declaring
that although be was afraid there wa8
not much else to out in the house , bd
had plenty of potatoes , and he could
recommend them as the llnost In the
country.
The luncheon was entirely satisfac
tory , and after the guests had llnlshed
it , they spoke enthusiastically of theli
repast , and praised thejiotatoes In par
tlcular.
"Yes-s , " said the old fanner , slowly ,
"you might ha' done wuss. Yon linvi
eaten two Schoolmasters , two Hlack-
smiths four Kidneys and a couple o1
White Elephants.
Mutton as a Motor.
Grcon , the English historian , one daj
asked a friend niiU-h of all the inven
tions of their day had done the most
for the people , as a whole. Ills friend
guessed this and that , but the answerf
was :
"Heyond doubt , sixpenny photo-
rapks. "
A reply Involving quite as great an
absurdity as that was made by Cecil
Ilhodos in answer to a lady who , seek
ing to draw him out , suggested that In
owed Ids phenomenal rise to the Im
petus of noble sentiments.
"Madam , " returned .Mr. Rhodes , " 1
owe my fortune simply and solely te
cold mutton. "
"Cold mutton ! " gasped the lady. 0
Mr. Kbodes , wliut do you meanV"
"When I was young , " continued tht
South African millionaire. "I was s4
dosed with cold mutton , and I hated l |
so cordially , that I resolved to grow
rich in order to put it on one side for
the rest of my life. Yes , madam , cold
mutton was at the root of my successi
noble sentiments had nothing to do
with it. "
Man of Strict \oracMiy.
lie hud been oitt-slaughtering deei
and when he returned naturally hit
friends expected a good hunting story ,
especially so because he was known it
htue a masterly Imagination.
"Hello , Jones , " chorused tyvera )
when they met him on the street tin
night that ho returned ; "did you lmv
much luck this time ? "
"You bet , " he answered. Just as thej
expected.
"How many deer did you kill on yoin
trip ? " naked ono.
"Ninety-nine , " ho replied soberly.
"Ninetynine'queried another , to
credulously. "Why didn't you make H
a hundred ? "
"Sir ! " lie said in a voice that Hcared
them , "do you think 1 would tell i
blaiikety-blauk He about one dew ? "
Memphis Scimitar.
Continuous ItalnUow Slum * . . 4
In the coldest parts of Siberia n rnln
bow may sometimes be seen all da.T
long in a cloudless sky. It IH supposed
to lie due to line particles of mow ti
the air.