HIGH HYMENEAL HYMN.
The soft marriage bells have announced th
glad f net
That the bright golden tie lias been tied
And the lovers have entered a solemn com
.pact
In the same boat in future to ride.
The gleam of love's sunshine in brillianc ;
falls ,
And illumines each fond , loving heart ,
And together they'll feed off the same cod
fish balls
Until death or divorce do them part.
The solemn words of the minister fell
With a chill on each listening car ,
As if sounding in dear intonations the knel
Of their freedom , which lay on the bier
Of marital life ; and feeling of awe
Seemed to sink like a pall o'er the scene
And even the crack of the minister's Jaw
Was as dry as the hide of a bean.
The wild glad notes of the organpealed ,
And Hooded the church with sound ,
As the happy pair came * forward am
kneeled
And the bridesmaids circled around.
Then the preacher said what he had to say
The ring on her finger slid
And joined their hands in the usual way ,
And the heavenly deed was did.
*
May posies of the brightest hue
Their pathways ever cheer ,
And may their love , so warm and true ,
Ne'er Wobble out of gear.
May heaven's blessings crown the pair
And the life they've Just begun ,
And may their love-fire ever glare
Like u bald head in the sun.
[ Evansville Argus.
.
* -
TWO PLAYERS' LOVES.
A man is seated on a worm horsehai
sofa , head bent on his hands , sobbinj
as only strong men whose best am
dearest feelings have received a deat !
bio wean sob.
At his feet lies a crumpled letter
where he hud thrown it in the firs
pang of the " great agony it had inflictei
upon him" .
There is no need to enter minutel ;
into the details. It is the old , eli
story of man's love and woman's in
constancy.
Hardly two Fyears before lliclian
Hamilton had stood before the altar b ;
the side of the woman he loved so well
and she had vowed before heaven t <
"love , honor and obey" him , to b
faithful to him through evil and throug ]
good report until death , and now shi
had broken those vowo , and , ternpte <
by money , had left her husband , wh <
was only a struggling actor , and fle <
with a rich man who had been attractec
by her pretty face.
For hours Hamilton sat there in. hi :
great desolation ; then he arose andpu
his sorrows from him by a rnightv effort
No matter how great his grief , the
public must be amused his enga
ment fulfilled. He was what is callec
"utility man" in a touring company ,
and that night he had to play a rathei
good low comedy part. He remember
ed he had been pleased when he firsl
saw the cast , feeling that he was rising
at last in his profession ; but now what
did it matter P Let him rise or fall , who
would care ?
He played that night as if he were in
a dream. His senses seemed- dazed ,
but the dark phantom of his grief
seemed to overshadow him. He had
studied the part well , however , and he
never missed a cue , so the audience
were good humored , and remained
silent at what they certainly could not
applaud.
The other members of the troupe had
heard of his trouble , and rallied round
him with that unselfish kindness found
in the theatrical profession. He had
only to play the first scene of his part ,
- another gentleman insisted on playing
it for-him , which he did fairly well.
The "heavy.man" ( that is , the vil
lain of all the pieces ) , who was , by-the-
by , a thoroughly good fellow , walked
home with Hamilton that night.
"Don't grieve for her , " he said.
-"She's not worth it ; no woman is. "
_ Hamilton rested his aching head on
.his arm as he leaned against the door
post. He was completely crushed , and
made no reply.
"Of course you'll get a divorce , "
went on his friend , after a pause. "Look
here , old fellow ! Lawyers won't do the
.thing for nothing , you know. Cheap
justice is out of the question ; and so
_ you see , we the company , I mean
--will raise enough to begin with at any
-irate , and Wiggins is going to let you
. . 'have a benefit , and , of course , what
, ' little you owe us you" can pay out of
the damages you recover whenever you
"dike. "
"No , " said Hamilton , rousing him
self "I will get no divorce. Do you
think I know so little of the world as to
believe he would marry her if she were
free ? "
"Perhaps not ; but then , if divorced ,
you would be free yourself. "
Hamilton laughed bitterly.
"I would waste no money on my
self , " he replied. "I don't care wheth
er I am free or not. "
"But still she bears your name the
name of your family. * Don't let her
disgrace them further. Sever thelegal
tie that binds you , as she has severed
All others. "
"You are right , " said Hamilton.
* 'Yes , I will try for a divorce ' "
Hamilton had no difficulty in obtain-
aig a divorce indeed the case was un
defended , and he might have been
Awarded heavy'damages , but he would
not accept the monay , which seemed to
jhim the price of his wife's guilt.
Ten years had passed away , in which
Richard Hamilton had raised high in
his profession. He had studied inces
santly more to drown his regret than
from love of his art , but fame an
money had rewarded his efforts ; an
when we see him again he was tourin
with his own company , and playing t
large audiences.
All this time he had heard little o
nothing of his wife , and could enl
look back upon his short married life a
upon some brief , bright dream that ha
ended in a hideous nightmare.
Lately , however , the gloom that ha
become habitual to him had in som
measure vanished , and this vrns parties
larly the case when he was in the soci
ety of Muriel Marvyn , the leadin
lady.Muriel
Muriel was a beauty , tall , fair an
graceful , with curling , bright brow
hair , a sweet , firm mouth , and darii
violet-blu.ieyes ; and , better still , sh
was as fairy tails say p'f their prin
cesses as good as she wasbeautiful.
She lived with her mother , a some
what bad tempered old lady , if all ac
counts were true ; but Muriel kept he
home troubles to herself , and wer
about with a bright smile , giving a hel |
ing hand to all who needed it.
Sweet , courageous , gentle , unselfisl
all that is most pure and womanly , a
she was , who can wonder that Richar
Hamilton , weary of brooding over th
dead past , turned to her for comfort ?
She was a clever actress , too. Alwaj
graceful and ladylike , sympathetic an
tender , there were times when tb
sweet voice would be raised in pleadin
or in mortal agony , when the express
ive face would become changed , he
whole being absorbed in the characte
she was playing. It was at such time
as these that the depths of . her heai
were revealed , and the firmness an
passion that lay as yet dormant therei :
were disclosed.
The company was playing in a tow
in the North of Scotland , and the rai
was pouring down heavily , so Muri (
was forced to find occupation an
amusement in her somewhat "stuffy
lodgings.
In a cupboard in her sitting roomsh
found some old volumes of an illus
trated paper some nine or ten year
old , and as she sat idly turning th
leaves , her eyes fell on 1 he name c
Hamilton.
It was headed :
"Theatrical Divorce Suit Hamiltoi
vs. Hamilton and Disney. "
And then she read the story of .Rich
ard Hamilton's great trouble.
By the time self-made men risein th
world , the unpleasant stories of thei
early lives are forgotten , and Murie
had never heard of this "before. Sh
knew he had been married , but she al
ways believed his wife to be dead.
"With a white face she laid down thi
book and walked calmly to her owi
room. Once there * she locked the dee :
and fell on the bed with an exceedingly
bitter 'cry. Even while she had rea <
the lines the truth had dawned on her
and for the first time she realized tha
she loved Richard Hamilton.
When at last she left her room al
trace of emotion had disappeared. Shi
had locked the secret in the depths o :
her own heart , and vowed that nom
should ever know of her suffering
How often has the Spartan boy beer
quoted as a model of courage and en
durance by those who would seem tc
forget the heroes and heroines of even
day life ?
Muriel Mervyn had taken up hei
cross bravely and gone out to fill hei
accustomed place in the world , with a
smile on her lips that just before had
uttered such passionate prayers for
That night she avoided Hamilton ,
and certainly gave him no opportunity
af speaking to her alone ; but on the
following morning when she was out in
Lhe town , they met , and he took his
alace beside her.
For some time he talked of indiffer-
mt subjects ( things theatrical , of
jourse ; actors always talk "shop" ) ;
ind then he brought the conversation
round to himself told her that he
ioved her , and asked her to be his wife.
"Oh , stop ! " she said , in a low , star-
led voice. "Remember your wife ! "
"But the law has "
"Freed you , you would say. Mr.
lamilton , you both vowed once to re-
nain true to each other till death part-
id you. If she broke her promise it is
to reason why yon should. "
"In the eyes of the law , of society , I
.m a single man. "
"Yes ; but in the eyes of heaven you
annot be free. Leave me , Mr. Ham-
Iton ; you have my answer. "
"Is my life to be one long disap-
lointment ? " he asked sadly. "I loved
ay wife passionately , but not with the
trong , deep love I have given you ,
furiel. That was the romantic pas-
Ton of a boy ; this is the love of mv
lanhood. Oh , my darling , the world
as been so cold to me ; don't let your
and be against me , too ! Think of
ly lonely , wretched life ! Will you
ot come to cheer me , and help' me to
e a better man ? "
"Don't temp't me ? " cried Muriel ,
rith a break in her voice , which he was
uick 10 notice.
"Tell me , Muriel , will you not re-
snt ? " Perhaps I have bee"n too hasty.
'ake time , dear ; consider your an-
ver. "
"It would be useless , " she replied ,
ith gentle firmness , "for until you can
ome to me with proofs of your wife's
eath we must be strangers. "
"And then ? " he asked.
"It is ungenerous to ask me now. "
"You love me , Muriel you love me.
will arait , since you must have it so
ait for my freedom ? "
"Oh , no ! " she cried with a shudder ;
I could not bear to think that for
ly sake you were wishing for her
eath. "
"i cannot help it ; I must hope until
am assured that you do not love
te. "
"Such , then , is the case , " she said
quickly.
"What , Muriel ! are you mad ? Yoi
love me , do you not ? "
"No ! "she said.
And then , turning away with avertei
face'she fled hpmeward , leaving hin
stunned by her words and unable 't <
understand them.
It was a falsehood , and she knew it
but she had spoken for the best.
"I will go away from him , " sh
thought , "and then as he thinks I d <
not love him perhaps he will learn to
forget me. "
The next week the following para
graph appeared among the provincia
items of a theatrical paper :
"We understand that Miss Mervyi
has seceded from the Hamilton Shakes
pearean company , an amicable arrange
ment having been come to , and intend
resting for a short time to recover he
health , before accepting another en
gagement. "
Another year has passed. Hamiltoi
is still on his prolonged tour , an <
Muriel is playing at a London theatre
On a wet , cold night in early spring
as she was leaving the theatre , he
quick eye saw a woman's form leaning
as it were , against the door.
Thinking she might be the bearer o
some message , possibly for her , Murie
asked : .
"Are you waiting for any one ? "
The woman looked up helplessly
shook her head in reply , and attemptet
to move on ; but as she did so she stag
- and would most likely havefallei
feredand
ad not Muriel caught her.
"You are ill , " she said. "Can I d (
anything for you ? "
"No , " said the woman in a weak
hollow voice , "I am very ill I know , bu
I wanted to purchase so'rae things , so . '
had to come out to-night. "
"I hope you do not live farfrou
here. "
"No ; in John street. "
"That is my way , " said Muriel
"You will let me see you home ? "
The woman consented in fact , she
seemed too weak and ill to resist am
Muriel left her at what she said was th <
door of her home.
It was evidently a very poor place
in which she rented but one back room
but it seemed respectable , and Miss
Mervyn , whose pity was aroused , said
at parting , "Let me call to morrow tc
inquire if you are better. "
After this she often called , and was
soon very much interested in Mrs ,
Smith , as the woman called herself ,
She had only been in her present lodg
ings a few weeks , and-was evidently
miserably poor , very ill and quite alone.
She would never talk of the past , ex
cept that once she. told Muriel that she
had been an actress.
"Miss Mervyn , we may be sure , did
not go empty handed to that poor lodg
ing : , and she even persuaded Mrs. Smith
to have a doctor.
But all was of no avail ; and one day ,
in the middle of May , when Murie
called , she saw a terrible change in the
worn , pale face.
"Miss Mervyn , " she said , as Murie
entered , "the doctor has told me I shall
not see another day dawn. Do you be
lieve it ? "
"Yes ; I fear it is trne , " Muriel said ,
gently.
"Well , I am glad of it. I have taken
the doctor at his word , and sent for one
I should never daie to meet if I were
rot dying. He may , perhaps , be here
soon , for I telegraphed last night ; but
I feel my strength is ebbing last , and
before he comes ( I may have no time
afterward ) 1 should like to tell you the
story of my life. Will you listen ? "
' Certainly , " said Muriel , gently ;
"tell me anything if you think > it will
make you happier. "
'Mine is a tale of sin' too bad , per
haps , for your ears , " went on the
woman , "but I must tell it. I married ,
ivhen very young , a man who loved me
tar better than I deserved , for after we
liad been married two years I listened
: o the sophistries of a man who tempted
ne with his-wealth , and I fled with him.
There was the usual result. After a
ime he grew tired of me , and a year
ifter the divorce was decreed I found
nyself alone and penniless in London.
iVhatmy life has been since I must
eave you to guess ; and at last I found
nyself ill , dying with a small sum of
noney in my possession. I came here ,
ind by your kindness my path to the
jrave has been smoothed. Miss Mer-
7n , I have repented , but I cannot die
intil I have had niy husband's forgive-
icss. I have telegraphed for him , and
-Ah ! that it is his step on the stairs. "
The door opened and a man entered.
Muriel suddenly drew back into the
hadow.
"Alice , " he said , coming forward ,
'you see I have come ; but why did
ou send for me ? "
"I ask with my dying breath for
our forgiveness. " "
"Impossible ! " he said , shortly.
'You ' wrecked my life , Alice , betrayed
ly love , dishonored my name ! I can-
ot forgive ! "
"But with mydying breathlask it ! "
ried the women. "Oh , grant it to me ,
Lichard Hamilton , as you hope for
lercy ! } '
" 1 cannot , " he said , shortly.
Muriel came out from the shadow
nd knelt by the bed before him like a
r angel in that humble home.
"Muriel ! " he exclaimed , "you here ?
'his is no place for you ! "
"It is , " she said , still kneeling there.
Death makes us all equal , and Rich-
rd , for my'sake , forgive your wife. "
He hesitated for a moment , and then ,
rossing to the bed , took one of his
ife's wasted hands.
"I " he said .
forgive , , simply.
"Forgiven all forgiven ! "
And Alice Hamilton sank bank upon
IB pillow exhausted.
Presently she sank into a deep sleep
Other watchers joined those two , an
just as night began to fall she passe
away.
away.mth
mth a sigh , Hamilton went t
Muriel's side.
"Dearest " he said " told
, , "you m
once that when I could bring you th
proofs of my wife's death I migh
speak to you again. She lies ther
dead. What do you say ? "
Muriel rose and laid her hand in hi
with a look of unspeakable love. Thus
in that chamber of death , these two
so long parted , were united at last.
Richard Hamilton and Muriel Mervyi
were married and lived very happL ;
together. They have a theatre of thei
own , and are doing very well in ever
sense of th/5 term.
" dear " said Hamilton
"By-the-by , ,
one day , not long after their marriage
"do you know you once told me tha
you did not love me ? "
"That was the only falsehood I wil
ever tell you , " she rejoined. "I saids
to prevent you thinking too much o
me. "
"And all the time you liked me ? "
"You know I did. "
"So , then , Muriel , I suppose I mua
take this as another instance of th
worthlessness of 'A Woman's No. ' "
The Hose-Colored. Sunsets.
Manslll's Planetary Signal.
The rose-colored sunsets and sunrise ;
that have occurred during the last fev
tnonths have been caused by the rela
tive positions of our earth to that of thi
other planets. The effect produced ii
the earth's atmosphere has been jus
the same as that produced on th <
moon's atmosphere at times of thi
eclipse of the sun' , or when the moor
comes between the sun and earth thi
moon's atmosphere is made to shoo
out , or rather the absorption of thi
electricity by the moon's volatile at
mosphere from the sun and earth's col
umn of electricity when in this lineal
position between 'them , causes the
moon's atmosphere to dart or radiate
out from the edge of the moon. The
moon's volatile elements not being
able to withstand the flood of electrici
ty tha4 ; undulates between the sun and
earth , through which the moon passes
at times of eclipse , this column or shaft
of electricity causes the .naoon to exer
cise these darting and fantastic forms ,
from the side or edge these protuber
ances or such as the halo of corona ,
and other shapes these appear in col
ors varying from white , purple , crim
son or red. This is the kind of a posi
tion that the earth has been in during
the past months , or near to lineal or
transit lines with the other planets and
moon and on the occasion of the
earth's nearest positions to these par
tial lineal lines there has occurred the
maximum displays of these sets of sun
set and runrise glows. Those the most
prominent are those that commenced
about the 25th and reached their finest
brilliancy on the 28th of November ,
and fading somewhat by the 30fch of the
month these commenced and develop
ed until the earth passed near in line of
opposition with Saturn on the maximum
day of the glow , the 28th. The slow
ness of the earth through these near
transits gives more time for these fan
tastic displays than the moon does the
jarth moves over about thirteen degrees
) f space a day , and the earth over about
) ne degree in the same time.
"Would I Were a Boy Aagain. "
forristown Herald.
Old Mr. Wardles was watching the
) oys coasting on one of the streets , and
is the cutters were tearing down at the
ate of thirty miles an hour , his mem-
> ry traveled back forty years , and he
mpulsively remarked to a young man
hat he would "give 820,000 if he were
i boy again. " A juvenile with a red
led and a red nose heard the remark ,
tnd asked Mr. Wardles if he didn't
vaut to ride down. Wardles said he
> elievedwe would try one trip. He
veighs200 pounds , and when he got on
he clipper its joints creaked ominously
, nd his eyes sparkled with fun. The
toys gave him a good send-off , and
iretty soon the sled veered sideways ,
here was a crash , and Wardles went
nd over end for about twenty yards ,
, nd then a double clipper containing
ix boys struck him amidships and
arned him over some more in a most
idiculous and painful manner , and just
s he regained his feet another jumper
ashed into his legs , and he sat down
n his head so emphatically that the
ip of his bootlegs protruded above the
mrgin of his shirt collar. He re-
irned home with a broken rib , a
prained ankle , his coat split from Dan
) Beersheba , a handful of bark peeled
ff his head , and all the fun banished
om his eyes. He will be nearly as
oed as new in aboot six weeks , but he
lys he had rather be 2,000 years old
lan to be a boy again.
wilight Phenomena at the Equator.
Twilight phenomena of a similar
laracter to the appearances lately so
revalent were , according to letters
ist received , observed in the island of
ianritius. This is especially remark-
jle , as in that island , situated twenty
jgrees above the equator , night , as a
lie , follows the day without any no-
jeable transition. On several even-
gs of October , however , there was a
ilendid glow in the west quite half an
> ur after sunset , and when night had
irly set in this glow soon extended
rer the whole sky , being reflected on
e clouds and covering the island with
purple tint. The sea is described as
tparently on fire , the vessels and their
asts looking black and standing out
bold relief. The same phenomenon
is observed before sunrise.
They make paper barrels at Akron ,
lio.
The Folly ot Being Funny.
Now York Hoar.
The inclination to be funny should
bo repressed. Ridicule and humor
are easy and natural to many people ,
but if any ono hopes to have a high. 4
career he must so conduct himself that
the idea of seeing him in an elevated
position will not make people laugh.
A man had better be dishonest than
funny , so far as the attainment of high
position is concerned. It is the same in
private life. People who are funny
are not those whom we generally respect
most. We come to think of them with
contempt. They are likely to be sought '
for as diners-out or to make after-din
ner speeches. When they appear , or
when their names are mentioned , people
are wont to grin. Now , grins never
signify any great esteem or admiration.
Let every reader of the Hour think over
the list of after-dinner speakers who
generally talk at all the public banquets ,
ome of the same men are alwsys on
the list. That is because they do the
' funny business" and set the table in a
roar. There are always , or almost
always , speeches at those banquets
which make a lasting impression.
Actual contribution sare even sometimes
made to the fund of thought or general
information by addresses delivered on
state occasions ; but the accepted fun
ny man never makes one of these. He
never says anything worth remember
ing. The list of JOKCS soon grow stale
and tiresome. Yorick will never be
forgotten ; yet that will not be due to
any of the good things he said , but what
Hamlet said.
The truth is real and earnest , and he
will succeed best in it who recognizes
this'fact. Men of intelligence and
right sentiment appreciate it.
Tile great mindstof the world have
never been in the heads of the world's
jesters. There is enough in life to
make any one serious.
There is the problem of making an
honest living , of maintaining a- good
reputation , of establishing a pure char
acter and of leading a respectable life.
Jests do not help us on in any of these
things. It is serious thoughts which l
aid us and so gain our admiration , love
and esteem. There are times when any
thing amusing grates upon our nerves ,
and then the perpetrator of a joke is
hateful unto us. But even in our gayest
moods we do not score a thougnt or
sentiment of real worth , although we
may not heed it Its utterance , at least ,
never excites our scorn.
The moral of it is do not cultivate
any fatal facility of jesting which you
may have. Strike out in life with a
serious , purpose and make a serious
business of pursuing it. This does not
mean sanctimonious facial expression ;
bui it does mean intense earnestness ,
and where that exists there will be little
temptation to be funny. A young
man who has the gift of speaking
should be particularly careful. "Many
times when he rises to talk his impulse
will be to make his auditors" laugh.
Tt would be easy , and he would instant
ly catch their attention. But he should
be careful not to do it too often. Let
dim say somelhiug worth saying , or let
liim keep quiet. It Is better to be
respected as a stupid grave man even
; han to be laughed at as a clown. The
jesting lawyer , the punning judge ; the
tun making clergyman ; the writer of
lumorous books or paragraphs who
jver has any high regard for them ?
Serein lies one of the drawbacks which
ictors have to contend with , and one
> f the reasons why they so generally
> ccupy inferior social positions. Their
nain object is to amuse and entertain.
Anyone of their number , therefore ,
vho hopes to be recognized as a man
> f worth and prominence must have
ixtraordinary talents which will induce
nen to respect him and give him a
lace in their esteem , despite the fact
hat merely to amuse is his business.
3o hard is it for us to place a high
alue on people who only entertain
is ! But life is not a circus ; and
lowns and jesters will not succeed.
A Bullet in His Brain.
'ew Orleans Times Democrat.
An article in last Sunday's Times-
) emocrat gives an account of an un-
sual surgical operation performed in
Sellevue hospital , New York , upon a
pung German named Knorr , who shot
imself on Jan. 24. The bullet enter-
d the.forehead , and , passing .through
ie brain , lodged in the back of the
ead. A hole was cut in the back of
IB skull , and the bullet was taken out
i that way. A perforated rubber tube
ras passed through to drain the brain of
11 extraneous matter. On Thursday
ist the rubber tube was withdrawn ,
ad two strands of catgut were passed
irough the hole , and the operation was
nished. As the brain closes together
IB catgut will be gradually absorbed ,
ad the holes in the skull will be closed
7 a fibrous tissue. During the with-
rawal of the tube Knorr was perfectly
> nscious , laughing and talking with"
ie medical attendants , and evidently
, uch interested in the opening up of a
innel in his head. He says he doesn't
ant to die now ; he is too curious as to
ie result of the operation. He has be-
me quite a hero in the eyes of the
mng woman on whose account he at-
mpted suicide , and she visits him at
e hospital every day. The attendant
lysicians say there is no 'doubt that
aorr will recover , and tBat he will
ffer no evil effects from it other than
slight mental trouble , which will y
anifest itself in occasional eccentric
jaks. Dr. William F. Fluhrer , who
irformed the operation , will explain
before the New York Surgical So-
No principle can underlie a false
oposition.
< 1
