THE NORFOLK NEWS : FRIDAY , MARCH 1' ! , 1902 ,
MILES'
GIFT
By Fritz Korsmcycr
Copyright , 1001 , bjrF. Kontnejrer
When the ma.Ul opened tlio door , n
'fiist ' of December wind , carrying with
It n few ( lakes of snow , followed the
tall , stiff form of Crnnccr through the
Vestibule nml Into the hall. As the tnnld
hod spent yenrs Ju the service of the
Garrisons , she ventured n restrained
,
"Good evening , " but Crancer calmly
T
stalked by her over to the hall tree.
\ , When he had put nsldo his things and
turned to her again , she said :
"Mr. Itobert Is In his room , sir. Shall
I tolHilm you are here , or will you"
"I'll go up. IIo's expecting inc. "
At the head of the stairs ho knocked
at his friend's room and entered.
"Sorry to keep you waiting , old man ;
ready in a few minutes. Sit down and
tnako yourself comfortable , won't
you ? "
Crancer took the proffered cigar and
smoked In silence a few minutes while
bis friend worked at his cravat.
"I had a rather peculiar talk with
Miles today , " began Crancer In a tone
that led Garrison to stop whistling and
"mumble " an encouraging monosyllable )
"happened to moot him on the street ,
you know , Just as I was going Into
IIppo's to look nt a few Christmas
-things. lie had such n long face on
that I thought he needed jollying up a
bit. Not like him to need cheering , Is
It ? "
' 'Scarcely , " assented Garrison , with
tin uneasy laugh. ' 'But ' of course you
know that Charlie has had some occa
sion to look glum lately. "
"Oh , yes ; I've heard the family for
tunes have been rather going to pot.
IX 'Well , ns I said , I started in to chaff
him about Christmas gifts. I bought
a few trifles , but most of the time I
I was showing Miles things that I said
'
a man with a' fiancee ought to be in
terested In , and he was. Several times
I thought he was on the point of buyIng -
Ing something worth giving , but he
finally said he couldn't decide. We
walked up the street together , and
Miles fell to speculating in a general
way as to what girls expected of their
fiances at Christmas time. lie seemed
to want my opinion. Queer of him to
come to me with that sort of talk ,
wasn't it , Bob ? "
"Yes , but I suppose he thought you
didn't know enough about his affairs
to suspect that Mo was talking of his
own case. Men who arc in love always
talk glittering generalities , while they
haven't n thing in mind but their own
particular affair , supposing other people -
plo won't know it. What did you tell
him ? "
"Well , Isaid It depended largely
upon what girls had been taught to ex
pect. From that we drifted into a dis
cussion as to what u man should do
when his prospects changed during ills
engagement. Miles said that to the
eort of girl a man would really care
for It would make no difference. Good
Lord 'the sort of girl a man would
really care for ! ' I told him a man never
knows what kind of girl he is likely
to care for or what kind he Is caring
for , so far as that goes , and I said tha <
If I were engaged to a girl I wouldn't
take any chances at Christmas. He
responded rather weakly that most
girls of our acquaintance already hail
everything they wanted , "
"Which is quite true , " put in Card'
eon.
' "Oh , yes , true as far as it goes , but
you know very well that the average
girl likes to think her lover has search
ed the town over for something out of
the ordinary. Now , we men know that
nothing remains to be bought as a
Christmas gift that we wouldn't Just
ns soon be without , but women don't
know it and never will , and so they
go on , expecting joyous astonishment
every year. "
"Still , I don't believe Martha's Just
like other girls In that respect. "
"Oh , I don't mean that she cares
particularly for what Miles m'ay give
her , if I' may touch on such matters.
But wouldnlt any g'Irl 'of the proper
upirlt expect By the way , " Cruncer
broke off , Interrupting himself and
glancing toward the half open door ,
"I saw a light across the hall when I
came up. ta that" u
"Yes , that's Martha's room , but I
think Bhe'B fldwn sTalrs. " 'Garrison
went to the'door and called his sister's
name. Receiving no response , he re
turned.
" " "Her door was open , but she didn't
answer , so she Isn't up stairs. Shall wo
go now ? "
At the foot of the stairs they en
countered Miles , who had just come * in.
The three men chatted a moment. Then
young Garrison and Crauccr went out.
Miles thought Martha looked at him
more serlonply than usual as she gave
him her hand , but her 'eyes were
bright , and when she spoke there was
B touch of gayety in her voice.
"Sit by the lire , won't you ? " she urg-
'ed. "You must bo nearly frozen. I
like snow for Christmas , but without
" tills freezing temperature. " She push-
"cd1 a chair nearer the fire and then
crossed to a stand wh6re huge roses
"were nodding over the cdgo of a cut
glass jar and gathered them in her
urnis.
"How do "you always manage to find
the most perfect blossoms for me ,
Charles ? " tho. girl asked Indistinctly ,
I IT face hidden in the roses. She rais
ed her head for an answer , but the
man was looking into the lire. Rhe
moved the stand nearer him.
"I want these close to us tills oven-
Why don't yon reprove mo for being
sentimental , as you ahvayH do ? Or
ire you already under the Inllwncc
if tomorrow and kindly disposed to
ward every one , even inu ? "
" 13von you. Now , Martha"
"Oil , well , I'll toke It back if you
don't like It , " she hastened to say ,
laughing , then In a tnno of almost
bantering tenderness : "My dear , I
wanted to tell you about some plans
for tomorrow , but how can I talk
Christmas when you arc In such a
olemn state ? You'd dishearten Santa
Claim himself. "
"I've been thinking , " answered Miles
slowly , "that perhaps yon may have
thought the roses may have taken
them In a way may perhaps have mis
understood them a little. " Ho rose ,
took a few steps around the room and
then began again with better courage.
"It occurred to me after I had sent
them that as they would arrive this
evening yon might not take thorn as
as my gift. 1 must tell you something
that has been troubling me for a long
time. Things tire not quite the same
with father and me us they wcro when
I first met you. Perhaps you knew
It. "
There was a questioning Inflection
In his last words. The girl's face had
paled a little , but Just the faintest
smile curved her lips. She was gazing
steadfastly at the rose Jar , on which
her hand rested , and she made no an
swer.
"Until Christmas came I did not
realize the change in our prospects , "
he wont jyj steadily. ' 'Perhaps 1 did
not want to think of that , but If It
docs make a difference , why , then"
Martha was looking straight Into his
eyes , with an expression of infinite
tenderness.
"It lins made a difference , Charles ,
all the difference in the world. I have
been wondering for weeks what you
would like for n Christmas gift , and
what you have said tonight solves the
problem. " There was a queer little
catch In her voice , but she went on
bravely , "And I've decided , sweet
heart , to give you thatwhlch _ I think
you need most of aU" lierlmnd crept
tremulously Into his "myself. "
Miles stared at her In a dazed fashion ,
and she smiled at him gently.
"I realize now , dear , how selfish I
was to insist on being a June bride
Just because my mother and Nell had
been married In June. The family will
all be here tomorrow , even Aunt Helen
from Toronto. Of course it would be
such a quiet wedding , no llnery , no
gifts , but I thought that now , when
| you were In trouble , you might need
me and"
The matter of fact Miles was alive
to the whole glorious meaning of her
words now , and , drawing her to him ,
he murmured brokenly :
"If I need you ! Oh , you can't under
stand how much ! "
* * * * * * *
The Christmas chimes were ringing
as Miles left the house. A few mo
ments later Martha stood before the
gas log In her own room. A half rue
ful smile settled about her lips.
"And I haven't even a new white
frock that will pass for a wedding
dress ! " she murmured.
Then she crossed to a quaint chest
of drawers and drew forth a bulky
package tied with blue ribbons. From
a nest of tissue paper she unwrapped
a man's traveling set in richest silver.
Piece by piece'she laid It forth on her
dressing table , breathing un occasional
sigh.
"In the morning early I shall have
Nell exchange it for two scarfplns ,
Just alike , for Bob and Cruucer. Real
ly , Crancer ought to be best man , If
there was such a personage , tomor
row. " .
Comfort In Affliction.
Director I culled on Ledgerman , our
old bookkeeper , this morning and
found the poor fellow In a very bad
way indeed. lie has been ill a long
while , so I learned from his wife , and
is now in a state of extreme financial
as well as physical distress. There
was evidence on all sides that both he
and his family are In u condition of
pitiful noed.x.w
President Poor fellow ! He 'has ' been
In the employ o our bank for a score
of years or more and has Tperformed
his duties with unusual hotteety and
fidelity.
Director We can all bdar 'testimony '
to that , I'm sure , and I have Ho doubt
you -will Join me In the -opinion that
we ought to do something' for him.
President Most assuredly. I will
have a meeting of the board of di
rectors called at an early day , and we
will have u set of appropriate resolu
tions passed and presented to him as a
token of our sympathy. Boston Cou
rier.
How a driake Shed * lu Skin.
The'human-skin is shed in such mi
nute pieces'that it ordinarily comes
away 'unnoticed. But the skin of a
snake comes away whole two or three
times a year and is drawn off Inside
out from the head backward as the
creature creeps through some bush , to
which It irt left attached. "Before it Is
shed the skin loses its color and the
eyes become dim , because their outer
skin is cast with the rest , The snake
emerges very brightly colored from its
old skin , and its markings arc then
most distinct.
Tr Hnc
Southern children have a very pretty
way of "telling fortunes" with the dod
der vine , or love vine , as they call It. A
piece la broken off and twisted around
the head three times , then dropped on
a bank behind them. If the sweetheart
Is true , It grows. If it dies , ho or she la
false.
Tin- mullen stalk Is also used to learn
the constancy or the fickleness of the
lover , The stalk is broken , but not de-
tachetl-n nil If It OQU
HEALTH VERSUS STRENG'T'H
A flood Stomnrh In Wordi More Than
Mtinuiilnr I'iMier.
TTio strong man was doing Rome of
lfl most Hoiimitlonnl "stunts. " Evi
dently his performance WIIM free from
trickery. The imiHcleH spoke for that ,
and there wuru case and enjoyment in
all his movements. *
"What n splendid fellow ! " exclaimed
n college student In n front row to his
older companion. "I'd give all I ex
pect ever to know of the classics In ex
change for that phynlque. .lust think
what it meana unlimited endurance
and strength. With that and n fair
share of brains , there Isn't anything n
man couldn't accomplish. "
The older man smiled at the young
ster's enthusiasm.
"You're doing very well as It is , " he
said. "The battle may generally be to
the strong and skillful , but It Isn't just
muscular strength that countN. To tell
you the truth , you've inherited some
thing that Is worth more to you than
all the mere muscle you could put on in
a lifetime. I mean your Htomach. "
"Yes , of course ; that's Important ,
but"
"It's everything , my boy. Notv. sup
pose I should tell you that that big fel
low up there is in greater danger of col
lapse than you are likely to bo if you
take fair care of yourself and exercise
in moderation. "
"How is that possible ? He is the pic
ture of health and strength. "
"And what do you Bay to this fel
low ? " asked the physician , drawing a
photograph from his pocket. It wan
the likeness of an nthlcto not much the
physical inferior of the strong man.
"This chap , " continued the medical
expert , "came to me for treatment re
cently. He needed It. The flesh was
literally fulling off him. lie was losing
n pound a day. You see , he had sud
denly collapsed. "
"What was the trouble ? "
"Stomach. I'm not telling you any
thing new , but It's astonishing how
much an elemental truth is overlooked.
A man Is no stronger than his stoui-
"
ach.
"If your stomach isn't far better than
th'nt of most Americans , look outl This
patient of mine had changed bis food ,
and it came 'near costing him his life.
So don't be too quick to envy the strong
man , and go ahead with your classics ,
not forgetting twenty minutes or BO a
day of well directed exercise. " New
York Herald.
ORCHARD AND GARDEN.
Onions may be readily transplanted
If growing too thick. *
Weeds should not bo allowed to grower
or crusts to form around young fruit
trees.
Do not buy any kind of fruit trees
or plants simply because they are
cheap.
With all transplanting it is important
to see that the soil is well filled in
around the roots.
Prune spurs to one developed bud ,
for the nearer the old wood the higher
flavored the fruit.
A weak solution of poultry droppings
is a M'onderful stimulant of plant
growth. It may be used weekly with
good effect.
Only well rotted manure should bo
applied around the grapevines. Fresh
manure excites the growth , but does
not mature it.
Quince trees should be mulched as a
protection against extreme heat and
cold , as the roots are small and usually
near the surface.
In selecting trees to grow as a wind
break it is quite an item to have them
of a close growing habit and of as near
ly ncrnctual foliage us possible. Plant
a double row.
TnrkJih Dellnbt.
The oriental sweet called "Turkish
delight" that travelers in the east are
sure to taste is not difficult to make.
Have ready an ounce of gelatin , pref
erably the clear Imported sheet varle- ,
ty , which has been soakc4 for t\v < 5
hours In a very little cold water. Bring
to a boll in a porcelain pot a pound of
granulated sugar and half a cupful of
cold water , adding the gelatin ; and boll
till the mixture 'dropped ' In cold water
can be held in the finger. After It has
boiled steadily for fifteen minutes add
the Juice of one lemon and a tablespoonful -
spoonful of brandy. Pour to cool in a
clean tin -which has been wet in cold
water , cutting the mixture as it stiffens
into squares like caramels. Each piece
Is dusted with powdered sugar or roll
ed In waxed paper. New York Post
No Proof Ncce inrr.
Colonel 0. Lr. Colquccn of Louisiana
was halted on the street one day by a
gentleman who evidently did not know
him.
"Can tell " asked the
you me , un
known , "who is the beat lawyer in
town ? "
"I am , sir , " replied the colonel with
out hesitation.
The man looked surprised.
"Excuse me , " he Bald ; "I should like
to have you prove It"
"Don't have to prove It , sir , " thun
dercd the colonel ; " 1 admit It" New
York Times.
Deceived.
She I'd never have rriarried you If
you hnd not deceived mo about your
self.
self.He
He Rather you never -would have
married mo had I not deceived myself
about you. Boston Transcript.
It Is well enough to make hay while
the sun uhlnes , but If there wcro no
rainy weather there would bo no hay
'to make. Saturday Evening Post.
Every 'man ' barked at by a dog Is not
a thltif. Every man talked about by a
ltt < r tlrClllnitt IiiMplrnllon ,
That the proverbial ulwentmlnded
prufoHHnr Is mimetlmert ably abetted by
Ills wife la Illustrated by u nlory told
of I'rofeBHor ItuiiHcn , One evening
about the URtial hour for retiring ho
took It Into hlH head to run over to the
club JiiMt as he and madam were re
turning from an evening cull.
"But , " Huld the lady , "I must have
the front door locked before I retire"
Thin emergency staggered the pro-
Connor , and an he. looked bewildered at
his wife the lady , nolzed with an In-
hplratlon , continued :
"I'll tfo In and ioek the door and
hrow you the key from the window. "
1'hlH programme was carried out , and
when he reached the club the profoHHor
related the Incident to n friend an cvl-
lenee of hla wife's unusual Huguclty.
The friend greeted the Htory with a
roar of laughter.
'And why , my dear profeHRor , " hi
said , "did you not nlinply admit your
wife , lock the door from the outHldo
and come away ? "
"True , " ejaculated the learned man
of Hclcnce ; "wo never thought of that. "
The climax of the incident was reach
ed an hour later when , returning home ,
the profesHor discovered that the lady
n her excitement had thrown out the
wrong key.
Skipped Ui Hnrtl Word * .
"While I was In practice , " said Judge
Gates of Kanwas City , "I wan before
thu miprcmo court on one occasion.
While waiting for my case to bo called
I listened to a lawyer from the south
eastern purl of thti Hlato aiguing his
en HO. He was at IcoRt 0 feet 7 inches
tall and had a voice HO deep that whun
he npokc It seemed lllto the rumbling
of Niagara. 'I will read , ' he said ,
from a work with which your honors
are no doubt familiar Blnckntonc. '
"Tho Judges did not smile , although
there was a decided twinkle In their
eyen as they glanced at each other.
The man read a few lines and then
uuld : 'There is reference hero , your
honors , to a footnote by Lord Gran-
vllle. I would have your honors pay
particular attention to this noti bo-
cuuso it is by Lord Granvlllo. '
"Tho Judges waited expectantly. The
lawyer held the book In front of him ,
glanced at It two or three times and
then coughed as many tlmca In rather
an embarrassed manner. Everybody
waited for several seconds. Finally
ho said : 'Your honor ? , I see on closer
Inspection that this footnote Is In Lat
in , so 1 reckon I'd better skip that. ' "
llrr Chef Krom PnrU.
"An American woman , " says the Bos
ton Journal , "who lived In Paris was
famous for her cook. Her dinners were
popular and celebrated , and the conver
sation WUH largely u tribute to the chef.
The day came when she should return
to the United States. Could the cook
be persuaded to go with her ? 'What !
Leave Paris ? Never ! ' But she offered
him n salary that was Incredibly , pre
posterously high , and he went with
her.
her."She
"She had hardly settled her house
when she gave a dinner party that she
hoped would be sensational. Not one.
dish was fit to be eaten. The hostess ,
almost hysterical , after the gloomy
meal was over rushed to the kitchen
to find out whether the cook's art was a
matter of Parisian atmosphere , and
then , and only then , she discovered
that her famous chef had never cooked
a dinner for her In Paris ; that he had
got it all from a world famous boule
vard restaurant. "
Ill Clnil Stntnei.
Wo sympathize with the tailors of
Berlin. They may well be indignant
at the way sculptors libel tailoring.
If they have a Bismarck clothed In bad
fitting garments , we , too , have a John
Bright and a W. E. Forster portrayed
in garments that would bring the blush
to any tailor's check. Sculptors de
light In folds and looseness , and what
cure they that the coat buttons on the
left Bide or the pocket flaps on one side
are half as large again as on the other.
Buttons and seams are often beneath
their motlcci and so they perpetuate
monstrosities such as no man would or
could wear , let alone any tailor make.
London Tailor and Cutter.
Studied Indifference ,
"Why did we arrive late and leave
before the opera was over ? " asked
the youngest daughter. "It : waa very
enjoyable. "
"Ot course It was , " answered Mrs.
Oumrox ; "but , my dear , wo had to
sho-W people that wo didn't care
whether we got our money's worth or
not" Exchange.
. \
Satisfactorily Explained.
"John , when you came homo last
night you talked and acted very queer
ly. You were lifting your feet endeav
oring to step over imaginary obstacles. "
"Oh , yes , my dear. AH the evening
felt as if I were walking on clouds.
You remember wo had angel cake for
supper. " Chelsea Gazette.
A Peep Into tlie Future.
John B. Clark expresses his belief
In The Atlantic Monthly that a hun
dred years uenco Manhattan Island
will have streets In several stories and
that rifles , cannon , -warships and the
wasteful burning of coal to make
steam will be things of the pant
A'I'ecnnlnrr '
"Don't forget , " Bald the willing
worker , "that money talka. "
"Yes , " answered Senator Sorghum
n llttlo glumly , "but I can't help wish
ing that you boya would select anoth
er phonograph occasionally. " Ex
change. _
HU I.n t Venture.
"What la our old friend Ilardup doing
nowadays ? "
"Oh , he'a gone Into real estate. "
That's the very last thing I should
have supposed ho'd do. "
- u _ T
> " . . . . . > i""i .ir.in.nn , iri\i wllli Hiu fucKiry , ( id our lowintvliiilinntn rnlra Our nntni.i i
' .
, '
ncllliiK illri'd In nmlinuorn In cuvliiK tliouniiulii utilnllnm . . WITV'i'nri , .
In nrrl.L-f
( lmyi.ro In
roiuilry Wonuiitu Ilionninn ruli „ to ) on tl.ul . wn wuiil.l . Blln , | } , * t wl l ( . ! il.7jo "r p Bnfl ±
tiller j mi mi nimirlini til til I-IIIKWO Inilii nn < li nn no i.thi. ilrnl < r run ntinw. Wl li .ivrry m rri , .
w < "iut" " < i"r " " " " " " " - MvA
" ' 011 " " "
iiir -
to iiinmlnu\\1II f , , ,
Save two
f r Jon nn linrniwn MM ) ullicr liorno | .iiilimipniH. |
\\rllii for ( Mir frtu llliiMrnlulnilnli
> Kiinlii which \MI i
( linrrllio Ilm lni'Kl' ' , Hiirrrjn , iihn tnim , rli- , Unit Imvit I
iniiiln our fiwlory fiiniciiiH ( iir tin Ir Mull r < U' . linn't
J U Itiilll ynur incil Is morn | irn iliit ! wrlln to iluy nml
luiviitliunitHlnKiiiiliyjuu lor fiilutv imo.
THE COLUMOUS CAnillAOC & IIAIINCSS CO. ,
No. IKKM HllKKjr , rrlrcf.TD.il ) Columbus , 0. , P.O. Ilo 772. >
wlllilrnllirr ijimrtir ( op. St. Louis , Mo. , P.O. lloi C1. . Nn
ColumN * .
YOU MUST NOT FORGET
That wo nvo constantly growing in the art of
making Kino Photos , and our products will al
ways bo found to omhraco the
and Newest Styles in Cards and Finish , Wo also
carry a fine line of Moldings suitable for all
hinds of framing.
I. 3MC-
Improvements Come High
but if you intend to do any improving this spring ,
wo pledge ourselves to furnish you the hardware
at a figure that will be highly satisfactory to you.
G. B. MOORB ,
THROUGH
SLEEPING CAR.
SERVICE
KANSAS CITY
TO
JACKSONVILLE
FLORIDA
, TRY THE ,
j i
Daily News Job Department
. .FOR. .
FINE COMMERCIAL
PRINTING.
1 J
'DEAF ? ?
A ALL GASPS OF
DEAFNESS OR HARD HEARING
ARE NOW CURABLE
by our-new invention. Only those bom.d < ? if are incurable.
HEAD NOISES CEASE IMMEDIATELY.
F.A.'wERM NOFB.t 0 . Yfd.
< 77m . Delnc entirely cured of deal'nets , thanki to your treatment , I vyill now give you
' K J l"0K5r.Sr T "L .VSS Sr ? .r.anf0rC ? and thU kept on EettioB worse , until I lost
eartily nnJ tx-R to remain Very tn.1 ° RMANi „ „ s. Droadway , Baltimore , Md.
Onr treatment does not interfere with your v ual occupation
. , M.or . , p AT HOME