THE NORFOLK NUWS : FRIDAY , MARCH 28 , 1002 ,
ANNIE'S
| BIRTHDAY GIFT f
A Story of Blackmail
and Its Results.
The village clock was striking tlio
Iiour of 5 one afternoon as Annie Gru-
liam stepped out of her trim and com
fortable cottage to meet her husband
at the gate.
She made a pleasant picture for the
'eye to rest upon. Her year of married
life had been a very happy one , and
never did maiden look more eagerly
for her lover than did she for her hus
band's return from the distant city ,
whither he had gone a week ago on
business for his employers.
Among the few ornaments she wore
was a beautifully chased gold bracelet
which encircled her left wrist. As her
eye caught Its gleam a peaceful smile
lit up her sweet face , for It was her
husband's gift to her on her last birth
day.
day.She
She stood at the gate and looked
down the road In the direction of the
small mining village through which
her husband must pass on ills way
from the station. A man's form came
into view on the quiet road , but a sin
gle glance Biifllced to show her that It
was not the familiar figure she looked
for. She scarcely observed the man
further , her eyes traveling beyond him
to scan the road , till he halted almost
at her side.
"Can't you spare a copper for a poor
fellow who has walked all the way
from" he began , with the usual plea
and whine of the professional tramp ,
but stopped abruptly and gave vent tea
a low whistle.
"So it's you ! ' he exclaimed sneeringly -
ly , recovering from his surprise.
"Aren't you glad to see an old pal ? "
She looked at him for a moment ,
then drew back in fear.
"I suppose you've got too high and
mighty for the likes of me , " lie con
tinued , observing her action. "I hoard
you had got spliced to the gaffer of a
mine somewhere about this quarter ,
liut had no Idea of such a slice of luck
as this happy meeting with you. So
this Is where you hang out , eh ? It
does look rather comfortable inside. "
He drew nearer the gate and made
as if to enter.
"No , no , you cannot come In , " she
cried in alarm. "See , here is some
money. Take it nnd go away. "
He examined the contents of the
purse which she handed to him. They
amounted to only half a dollar , and he
, was dissatisfied.
"I'm as dry as a dusty road in June ,
, nnd tills will hardly wet my throat.
Let's see that bauble on your wrist. It
should be worth something , " he said ,
looking greedily at the bracelet.
"No , Indeed , I will not. I have al
ready given you more than enough , so
please go. "
"Not If I know n thing or two , " ho
Bald , with a cunning leer. "Did you
tell your adorable husband that you
got the swop from Watson's for nab
bing a trinket like that ? No , I guess
not. "
"You know how false that charge
was , " she cried indignantly , but with
fear In her eyes at the mention of her
-
husband.
r "Oh , of course you say so , but who
would believe you ? " ho returned.
"Hand over that bit of Jewelry , and
inum's the word. "
"It's my husband's gift to me , " she
pleaded , "and I cannot part with It. I
will give you its value In money , but
do not ask tills. "
She turned to enter the house for the
money , but he was too quick for her.
"Not so fast , my pretty. 'A bird in
the hand Is worth two in the bush1 any
day. 1 can make as good terms with
your husband , so It must be that gilt
thing or nothing. "
She eagerly scanned the road again.
Yonder at last was the well known
Btalwart figure of her husband. Should
Blie tell him all and trust to his bellev-
"ing in her innocence ? What if ho
Bhould believe this man's story ?
Tljese thoughts passed quickly
throtigh her mind. The risk of losing
his love and respect seemed too great
to face. She slipped the bracelet from
her wrist and handed It to the man.
"There , take It nnd go quickly , " she
uald , with white , drawn face.
He snatched It from her and walked
nway , humming n lively air and look-
lug the virtuous man he claimed to be
as he passed her husband a short dis
tance from the gate.
John Graham greeted his young wife
affectionately , and together they enter
ed the house. He observed her pallor
for the first time as she turned up the
light of the dining room lamp.
"What's the matter , Annie ? " he In
quired anxiously. "You look as if you
had got a fright. Have you been mopIng -
Ing in my absence ? I meant to be back
a couple of days sooner , but I could
not get my business finished In time. "
"It is nothing , John. I did weary for
your coming , nnd I am glad to see you
home again , " she said , with an effort
to keep the tremor out of her voice.
"I have news for you , dear , " lie said
when they were seated at the tenta-
Lie. " 1 met some of my people in the
city and was invited home. As they
appeared to be holding out the olive
I , * *
branch of peace of course 1 went , and
the upshot was that matters were
Binootlfed over. They have most gra
ciously condescended to forgive us for
marrying , , and my mother and sisters
arc coming on the 2Sth to spend a few
days with us.
"See what I have brought you from
the city. I remembered that the 28th Is
your birthday and thought you would
like this. You might wear It when
they come , along with the one I gave
you last year. I want you to bo nt
your best before my people. "
As he spoke be drew a small parcel
from his pocket and unfolded It , re
vealing n bracelet of exquisite design
upon a bed of velvet , lie handed the
gift to her with a tender smile.
"I am not worthy of this , John , " she
said faintly , while a mist rose before
her eyes. She was already paying
dearly for her error In her transaction
with the trump.
"Nonsense , my dear. Bring out the
other one and let mo see how they look
together. "
"Not tonight , John. Plcaso don't ask
mo , " she said so earnestly that he look
ed up In surprise.
"I'm afraid you are not yourself to
night , Annie. You do look rather ghost
like. But don't trouble about the
bracelets , as I can see them both on
the UStli. "
When the guests arrived , It struck
him that his wife had never appeared
to greater disadvantage. She looked
pale and anxious nnd seemed to avoid
meeting his eyes , llo was annoyed to
see the proud lips of his mother and
Bisters curl at his wife's awkwardness ,
and he felt that she had not done her
self Justice. Once he whispered :
"You are not wearing both bracelets
tonight ? "
"No , " she answered In a low voice
and with averted eyes. He turned
away , with a look of disappointment.
When the visitors retired for the
night , he took both her hands In his.
"There Is something wrong , Annie.
What Is It ? "
Could she tell him , or must Bho go on
deceiving him and enduring the misery
of the past few days ? He was a man
who was upright In all his actions and
hated deceit In any form. Yet she
would only be doing him a further In
justice by concealing the truth. In a
low voice she began and recounted the
whole story. When she had finished ,
ho remained silent. She lifted her tear
stained face to him.
"You do not believe me , and there
fore you cannot forgive me ? " she ask
ed wistfully.
"I both believe and forgive you , " he
said gently. "But what you have told
me Is not quite new to me. I knew
about the charge against you when I
asked you to marry mo , but I believed
In you. And within the last twenty-
four hours 1 have heard the rest of the
story. Do you recognize this ? "
She was astonished to see him hold
up the bracelet which she had parted
with so unwillingly to the tramp.
"Your friend the tramp got the worse
of drink with the money you gave
him and was locked up at the police
station , " he resumed. "This was found
in Ills possession , and he could give no
proper account of It. Lieutenant Stir
ling happened to mention the matter
to mo. I had my on reasons for be
ing interested , and , along with Stirling ,
I interviewed the man. I knew him nt
once to be the man who was the Wat
sons' groom when you wore with them.
We wormed the matter out of him , and
now It appears that it was one of the
servants whom he was courting at the
time who was the real thief. "
"Then I am cleared at last ? " she
cried"Joyfully. .
"Yes. I could have told you all this a
few hours ago , but I wanted you to
learn to trust your husband more fully.
I am glad that you have told me every
thing frankly. Now let us forget the
past. "
"The best birthday gift you have giv
en mo Is your forgiveness , " she said
gratefully. Penny Pictorial Magazine.
A Kindred Son ] .
They had just been Introduced , nnd ,
as she looked Into his thoughtful blue
eyes , the young girl felt that she had
at hist met n man of high Ideals.
"Are you interested In the elevation
of the masses , Mr. McSmudge ? " she
asked , after she had worked up to the
subject by easy conversational stages.
"Intensely , Miss Gushlngton , " he an
swered. "I have dedicated my life to
this great work. I am just now inter
esting myself In circulating a pamphlet
on the subject , which 1 shall be pleas
ed to send you. "
"How lovely ! " she murmured. She
knew that she had at lust found a
kindred soul.
But this world Is full of bitter disap
pointments , and it was a hard Jolt to
Ethel Gushington's liner sensibilities
when a few days later she received ,
with the compliments of John Wesley
McSmudge , a catalogue of passenger
elevators for which he was agent.
Salt Lake Herald.
Silk In EtiKland.
King James I. was very anxious to
naturalize the silkworm in England
and' to establish a native manufacture
of the product. To this end a great
many mulberry trees were imported
from North America , and a fine plan
tation of them was made near St.
James" palace on ground where Buck
ingham palace now stands. This plan
tation was known as the Mulberry
Gardens and became n kind of recrea
tion ground. Both Evelyn and I'enys
record their visits here , nnd Dryden
is said to have brought a lady friend
here to enjoy the "mulberry tarts. "
Close by were the necessary houses
and appliances for rearing the silk-
woims and the manufacture of the
Bilk. But the king's experiment failed.
A Cine of n\i > lrutlon Anyway.
Some years ago a battery of artillery
was at big gun practice at Bermuda.
One of the guns a thirty-eight ton-
was found to have a serious flaw. The
olllcer In charge , not caring to risk half
n dozen valuable lives , Inquired :
"Sergeant , have you any time ex
pired men here ? "
"Yes. sir , " answered the sergeant.
"Paddy Jackson has Just completed
his tlme '
"Well , then , " replied the thoughtful
ofllcer. "Paddy Jackson will fire the
gun. "
And Paddy Jackson did fire the gun ,
happily with no fatal result. Edin
burgh Scotsman.
HUE AD AM WllmS.
THE PARTS VIANDS PLAY IN MAR-
( UAGE CEREMONIES.
Sivcctlicnrl Cnkrn tit n Dtilcli Dain-
el lOirrittlnn llrlilcKriiiniiN Mtmt
Work Kor Tlu-lr SIIIUHT Wliiu Iti
Clilnn Mnrrlril li > - Cnitily.
Tlio Important pnrt wlilcli ( LTforont
viands play In marriage ceremonies
makes rather an IntcroHtliiK utory.
Kor example , tlio S\veillnh lirlilo nils
licr pocket with bread , which oho tils-
lieuscs to every one oho meets on her
way to church , every pleco HIU KlveH
away averting , as nho believes , a mis-
fortune.
On the threshold of her new homo a
bride in Sen In Is presented with ti
plate of bonbons , one of which she and
iho bridegroom share between them ,
[ lie divided bonbon signifying that no
bitterness Bhnll divide them. A sieve
of wheat corn Is also given to the bride.
Of this she takes three handfnls ,
throws It over her hend , emptying the
sieve upon the ground , The scattered
corn denotes that the bride brings Joy
and prosperity Into her new homo. The
bride Is still outside the door , nor cun
Blie enter until she has placed two
loaves of bread beneath her arms and
taken a bottle of wine Into her hands.
With these emblems she at length
crosses the threshold of her future
home. At the first meal of the newly
married pair bread and wine must lie
taken by both to denote that thence
forward all they have shall be equally
divided between them and that their
married life shall be passed in unity
Hid fidelity.
A Russian wooing culminates In the
betrothal feast , at which the bride elect
in return for a long tress of hair which
she has given to the bridegroom re
ceives bread and salt and an almond
cake.
In Holland if a young man is in love
with a girl and wishes to ask her hand
lu marriage lie buys a small sweet
cake and , wrapping it up In soft paper ,
proceeds to the house of his inamorata.
He Is ushered into the midst of the
family circle. Without n word ho
walks up to the young lady and lays
the cake on the table before her. The
rest of the family affect not to notice
anything unusual and continue their
work or their reading. The young man
turns aside and talks to the father or
mother on some very ordinary subject ,
keeping his eyes eagerly fixed on the
girl while he is conversing. If she ac
cepts his offer , she takes up the cake
and eats it. If she is a coquettish
tlnuisclt she tortures the young man by
turning it over and playing with it be
fore she decides to taste it and then en
raptures him by eating it to the last
crumb. If , on the other hand , she
wishes to have nothing more to do
with her admirer , she puts it back on
the table. The young man takes up
the cake and , with a "Vaarvoal byza-
men , " leaves the house. The matter la
then kept a profound secret by both
families , and the outer world never
hears of It. In place of a wedding cake
in Holland wedding candles arc given
"bruld zulkcrs" they are called.
They are passed around by children
and arc served in flower trimmed bas
kets.
Bride pudding Is the name of the
piece de resistance served at a Norse
peasant wedding. This is not brought
on the table until the last day of the
festivities , three or flve days being
given up to feasting and merrymaking.
The appearance of the bride pudding
is the signal of dismissal , and at tfoe
close of the feast the guests say fare
well , presenting at the same time their
gifts , which consist of cash. This the
bride receives , the bridegroom presentIng -
Ing each donor with a glass of wine.
Partaking of two tiny glasses of wine
Is all the ceremony necessary to make
a marriage in some Chinese provinces ,
provided a quantity of fireworks are
Bet off. These are to wake the "great
Joss" from his sleep that he may wit
ness the ceremony.
At a Ilebrew wedding man and wife
sip from one cup of wine , symbolizing
participation in the Joys and pain of
earthly life. The emptied goblet is
placed on the floor and crushed into a
thousand pieces by the bridegroom ,
who thus shows that he will put his
foot on all evils that may enter the
family circle.
At an Egyptian wedding feast meat
is not eaten because of the belief that
it would lead to future bickerings be
tween them. Eggs , fruits and sweets
are served. The first meal in the new
bouse cannot be touched until , after
every device known to the bridegroom ,
the bride has been at last induced to
speak. Once she utters a word , he claps
his hands , and supper is brought to
them.
Married by candy Is the plan in Bur
ma. Of all marriage rites this takes
the palm for conciseness and sweet
simplicity. Llero the dusky lady takes
the initiative. Seeing a youth who
pleases her , she offers him a sweet. If
ho accepts her proposal , lie promptly
cats the token of affection , and they
arc thereby made man and wife. In
the act of eating alone this most prim
itive rlto consists. If the youth be not
favorably disposed , ho remarks with
all gallantry that that particular candy
is not to his taste , and the matter is
ended. In Mandalay three weeks after
l marriage kinsmen bring the bride
groom a bowl of rice , a vessel of wine
and n fowl , much of which collation IB
sacrificed to the spirits of ancestors.
A Bagoda bride in tlio Philippines
If she bo good locking and the daughter
of a warrior , is sold by bcr father for
about $30 , which sum is not given in
money , but in vegetables and chickens
One way of estimating such things is
at the price of a brass gong. Such a
gong Is worth thirty silver dollars , am
It Is a valuable maiden Indeed who wll
bring two brass gongB. What to Eat
Common SiMinr In I.IMT.
When we are told that every law !
mist he enfiiroed to the letter though
he heaveiiH fall , It IIIIH a brave sound ,
nit a wise regard for the public good
lemiuulH that the lawn he HO executed
that the heavens may not fall. Thn
naxlm that "the extreme of the law
nay he the extreme of Injustice"
'minimum Jus , minium injurln" IH of
venerable age and IIIIH had the npprov-
il of the best Jurisprudence JIH well
as the best statesmanship of many
centuries. It Is not mure "sophistry" -
as somewhat hastily , I mipposo , It ban
noon called but It may well bo quoted
In support of the application of simple
common sense to complicated and per
plexing exigencies. 1 think there ) H not
\ government In the world , not oven
the most conscientious , that does not
refrain from rigidly enforcing to the
letter Home laws standing on its statute
iiooks , either because they are nntl-
Hinted or because such enforcement in
practically Impossible or , If beneficial ,
would result In evils greater than those
which those laws are to prevent or re
press. Carl Schurz.
Dntrn.
The preparation of dried datou IB car
ried on largely at Awabl , and as the
season had now commenced I took the
opportunity to observe the process and
was taken round the factories by the
Bhelk. The dates selected are picked
before they are quite ripe. The fac
tory had a chimney about fifteen feet
lilgh and contained several open , cir
cular , copper boilers , capable of hold
ing live gallons each and nearly full of
water. Into those vessels the dates are
put and allowed to simmer over a Blow
lire. As the water In the copper de
creased from evaporation It was tilled
up again , but It gradually became
Inspissated by the extraction of the
Juice of the date. The fruit Is left In
the water about half an hour and Is
then taken out and spread on mats or
cloths In the sun to dry , after which it
becomes hard and of a pale rod color.
It is exported In largo quantities from
Muskat to India. Geographical Jour
nal.
A RuiMlvnt of ( he Primitive.
A Philadelphia philosopher thus ex
plains the general preference for a wall
table In a restaurant : "Primitive man
ate In peril. The cave bear , the unber
looth tiger , even some warrior of his
own kind , was apt at any moment to
leap upon him and to devour his food
and perhaps himself. Therefore ho
took his meals with his back against a
cliff or In the corner of two adjoining
cliffs , If possible , and with the open
country before him. That , you see ,
was tl'o K.'ifoHt way for him to cat. He
could not then be surprised.
"And we still have In us that memory
of the primitive man , and we still un
consciously , when we sit down to our
repasts , choose places that give us a
wall for our protection. That and not
a desire to see things Is what causes us
to pick out walls and corners. You can
eee as well from the middle of a roomer
or from any other place , you know. "
itf n. I'eimlon.
When Thomas SnodgrasH , ex-collect
or of Oanjam , Madras , was expelled
from the service of the East India
company owing to his extravagance ,
he applied for a pension , but the com
pany turned a deaf car to him. Ac
cordingly lie arrayed himself in tattered
clothes and , armed with a broom , Bet
to work sweeping a crossing in Loiul-
cnlmll street in front of the East India
house. Immediately all London was
agog with the Intelligence that an old
and distinguished olllccr of the East
India company who had ruled over
100,000 people and reveled In a palace
was now reduced In the evening of Ills
life to the nccesBlty of earning his
bread by sweeping the streets. The
king was thunderstruck and implored
Mr. Snodgrass to take himself and his
broom away. This he did when the
company ga\e him his pension.
The Celt * nnd firreii.
The early CcltH worshiped the dawn
and the sunrise. It Is more than proba
ble , therefore , that their liking for the
color green which wo see In their flogs ,
sashes , etc. , arose from a mistake
among those who had lost a thorough
knowledge of the Irish language. The
sun in Celtic Is called by a word pro
nounced exactly like our word "green , "
and it is likely that the Irish fondness
for that color arose through the strik
ing similarity of the two words. In
the same way , when we talk about a
greenhouse we think they ore so called
because plants are kept green in them
during the winter ; yet it Is far more
probable that the word is derived from
the old Celtic word for sun , because
greenhouses are so built ns to catch the
rays and heat of the sun and store
them for future use.
Kilned Coimdencc * .
A well known English dean recently
had the misfortune to lose his umbrel
la , and he rather suspected that its ap
propriation by another had not been
altogether accidental. lie therefore
used the story to point a moral in a
bcrmon in the cathedral , adding that If
its present possessor would drop it
over the wall of the deanery garden
during that night he would say no
more about it. Next morning ho re
paired to the spot and found his own
umbrella and forty-five others.
Lifted Up Forever.
Mazzlni , whoso name is associated
with the liberation of Italy , was once
asked what ho would have taught In
Bchool.
"One thing , at any rate , In all , " re
plied Mazzlni , "and tjiat is BOIHO knowl
edge of astronomy. A man learns
nothing if ho has not learned to won
der , and astronomy , better than any
science , teaches him something of the
mystery nnd grandeur of the universe.
"Now , a man who feels this will soon
feel something of his own greatness
and mystery , and. then for the first
time be IB a man. "
WITH
DEAL
THE
mamr B
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WW W
M'lsi'ijj'iiV'iMiiBi'A ' ' ' ' Ji'i ' ij-ih - v r i ir01" ' ) OH ti" " " ' M vte
Saa/e five Profits
for \nu on linriinw unit nllii-r liorm I-III | | | > IMI IIR |
\\rlli ; for our frio llltintrnliHl rnliilUKiinlii nhlclivn
illw-rlUi tin-liiiKKlifi.Mirri n.iitiii-loim , I'llUnit Imvi
niiiiliiiiur fm'Kiry fiiiiidiH riirtlirlr liluli vrmln , Dnri'f
wiill until jour m-cil In morn ( in-mlim ; wrllii lo-ilny unit
liiiMiiinil | lijuoliy ( ) ou for liiliinimo. .
1IIC COLUMI1US CAIIRIAnc A IIAIINESS CO. ,
Columbus , . , . . .
NO.MII iitiKKr rrlmfwiw 0. P.O. Doi 772. v
wllli Imlln r < iunii < r IIMI. St.Louis , Mo. , P.O. lto 04. No. ; il Slnitlc Rlrun
HlilIIIIHnl Mom Cohtniliiii. Willo In nmri-nt oniiii. My llurini.i. 1'rlool
YOU MUST NOT FORGET
That , wo nro constantly ij ; rowing in tlio art of
making Kino Photos , and our product will al
ways bo found to embrace the
and Newest Styles in Cards and Finish. Wo also
carry a line line of Moldings suitable for all
hinds of framing.
I3MC. .
Improvements Come High
but if you intend lo do any improving this spring ,
wo pledge ourselves to furnish you the hardware
at a figure that will be highly satisfactory to you
G. E. MOORB ,
THROUGH
SLEEPING CAR.
SERVICE
KANSAS CITY
TO
JACKSONVILLE
FLORIDA
. .TRY THE ,
Daily News Job Department
FOR ,
FINE COMMERCIAL
PRINTING
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HEAD NOISES CEASE IMMEDIATELY. ;
F. A. WERMAN , OF BALTIMORE , SAYS : - \
BALTIMORE , Md. , March 3
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RMAN s Droadwa )
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