4
" MotW! "
sassssssBsask V dear Alice, will you come up to my room
Mfor a few minutes, as I wish to speak to
you," said Mrs. Maltland in a quiet though
determined tone of voice, one morning to her
iKmatmmmf second datiKlitcr.
elfTj Alice Maitland rose as she spoke, and
t.-.X'CJh her fair face BllKhtly (limbed. To be asked
to go to their mothers room generally
meant something serious to her young daughters, for
there they had met due punishment for their Juvenile of
fenses, am the recollections of their visits therefore were
not pleasant. Hut she, only hesitated a moment; Indeed,
Bhe knew she would Rain nothing by hesitating longer.
" Shut the door, my dear," continued Mrs. Maltland,
when they reached her room, and as Alice obeyed her, Bhe
went on: "My dear." she said, looking at her. " some
thing lias occurred this morning that has pleased me
much "
Alice made no answer, but she raised her large eyes to
her mother's face.
" This letter," went on Mrs. Maltland, laying a letter
which she held In her hand on the table beside her, " Is
from Col. Osborne, and contains an offer of marriage for
you."
Still Alice did not speak, but her lips quivered slightly.
" Hk says," proceeded Mrs. Maltland, " that he has
noticed you for some time, and he has come to the con
clusion that you will make him a most excellent wife."
" Mother!" exclaimed Alice, from her parted lips.
" I was prepared for a little surprise." Bald Mrs. Malt
land calmly, " but you see many middle aged men like .
young maids, and of course In all other respects it is a
most excellent match. Col. Osborne Is well oft. indeed
rich, and his house, family connections, everything, In
fact, are all that can be desired. My dear Alice, I con
gratulate you, sincerely congratulate you," and Mrs. Malt
land held out her hand, hut Alice did not take It
" But, mother " she began.
" Well, what, my dear?"
" I I could never feel towards Col. Osborne what a
wife ought to feel I I could never care for him."
" All that will come, my child; many things help to
make a happy marriage as well as a foolish feeling of love.
Money docs, for one thing, and he has that, and besides
you ought to consider your sisters."
" Hut, mother, there is something else," went on Alice
almost passionately. " I I care for some one else I care
for Oeorge Osborne."
" My dear, Oeorge Osborne, happily for himself and
every one else. Is quite out of the way. He Is about to
sail for Australia."
" Australia I" echoed Alice, with a sort of cry.
" Yes, so that stupid little affair Is over, and now
let us talk sensibly. CoL Osborne Is coming this after
noon, and I want you to put on your new blue muslin,
and make yourself look as pretty as you can for the lover
for men think so much of looks."
Alice made no answer; she clasped her hands together;
a thought had rushed Into her mind.
" When Is he coming?" she asked In faltering accents.
Mrs. Maltland looked at her watch.
" Why, my dear." she said sharply; ' he'll be here
directly; rush away and exchange your dress, and bathe
your face, and get your prettiest manners all ready. I'll
see him first, and then I'll call you down."
So Alice went away, and presently- while she was
changing her dress, she heard the house door bell ring,
and she bit her lips, and a determined look came Into her
eyes as she did so. But quite a quarter of an hour passed
before her mother called her down to the drawing room.
Then, when she heard her mother's voice, she proceeded
slowly downstairs and entered the room below.
As she did so, her mother, who was standing by the
window, turned Yound.
' Well, Mice, my dear," she said, addressing her
daughter with a smile, " here Is Col. Osborne come to Bee
you, and I think," she added gayly, " I had better now
go and look after my household duties, and leave you two
to have a little chat."
Alice did not speak; she opened ber Hps, but no
sound came forth, and the next moment a tall, gray haired
man, who was sitting In an easy chair by the Are, rose and
came forward towards her, and took her hand In his own,
"Well, my dear," he said, "and how are you?-'
Still Alice did not speak; then with a little friendly
nod Mrs. Maltland left the room, and as she did so, CoL
Osborne again addressed Alice.
S . j h mam
THROUGH DEBT.
THE STORY OF A CRIME.
HE following story of a terrible crime com
mitted by a Russian officer and Its strange
i sequel appears rrtore like a tale from Alex
1 entire Dumas than a simple statement of an
actual happening. As the principal person
concerned is still living, let him be called
Ilalkoff. He has Just been released from a
long term of Imprisonment in Sakhalin
Island.
Twenty years ago Lieut. Halkoff was one of the smart
est officers in St. 1'etersburg, and by fur the most popular.
Every house In the city was open to him, from the man
sions of the wealthy to the palace of the grand duke. Yet,
In spite of tols, Ilalkoff wus not happy. He was In debt.
Ruin stared him in the face. For a time he had been able
to stave off the peril by borrowing lurge sums from a
money lender. But the day of reckoning must come. The
money lender would not remain patient forever. To
Ilalkoff It seemed that only one loophole lay open to
him. He must marry and marry wealth.
Some weeks later it was whispered among the fashion
able that the lieutenant had become engaged to a wealthy
widow. Even this event brought little happiness to Hal
koff. Day and nigiit he was haunted by a terrible fear
lest the money lender should demand payment and thus
bring down his ruin before the marriage took place.
One morning, the third after his engagement bad been
announced in the newspapers, Halkoff received a letter. A
glance at the envelope told him from whom It came. He
tore it op. n, reading the curt contents with feverish hast.
What did It mean? Why did the moneylender congratu
late liiiu. and theVi, In words full of meaning, add t.iat
he had r. pared a great surprise for his client's wedding
da) 1 To Halkoff It soundi 4 as a threat. There was a
fiendish satire in the lines.
His wedding day! The thought drove him mad. He
snatched his sword from the table, and, half running,
burst into the money lender's office. The Shylock smiled
and ktirnjiu.il his shoulders. Then an ungovernable fury
came over the lieutenant. He drew his sword and lashed
blindly ut the bent figure of the old usurer.
Then he fled from the office, leaving the old man dead!
In u drawer In the money lender's office was found a
lettel addressed to Lieut. HaJkofT. When opened it re
vealed the " surprise " that the old man had Intended for
his client's wedding. It was not a demand for Instant
payment, but a full aciiuittu! of every penny that Halkoff
cwid Mm. Moreover, when the man's will was opened, it
was discovered that he had left all he possessed to Ihs
man that had taken his life. For the intended bride was
the money lender's godchild.
The feelings of Lieut. Halkoff when these facts were
discover.. ere indescribable. Ruge, disappointment, and
remorse all found a pluce in Ills heart but It was too late.
He had wi.vk .t '.u lift', and a cviivlct prison was all that
th future held f r him.
" Tour mother has told you, has she not," ha said,
" what-I wIshT"
" She has told me," faltered Alice, and then she
topped.
" t wish you to be my wife, my dear child," continued
Col. Osborne, and he still held Alice's hand tightly. " I
know I am much older than you, but a man should be
older than his wife and I will try to make you happy."
" You are good, kind." faltered Alice, and she lifted
her beautiful eyes to his face, but I could not feel to you
as I ought I could not"
" I suppose you mean love me?" said CoL Osborne
gravely. " Tou may not now, of course, you do not now,
but I believe It will come."
But, Col. Osborne I think you do not understand."
continued Alice, gaining courage. " I I Ilka I care for
some one else."
" I suppose you mean my nephew George," answered
Col. Osborne, yet more gravely; " my dear child, I have
heard all about that nonsense; for it is nonsense. Oeorge
Is In no position to marry; he can't keep himself, let alone
you. And besides I am much disappointed In him; he Is
not what he ought to be."
" Still "
" My dear child, young people do not understand things
fill
1 re 11
She la
told me!
rightly; they see the outward semblance, not the Inner
man. George Is well to look at, but there are many things
to consider, as well as looks."
" But If-if "
" You mean If you like a person you can forgive faults?
Bo you can but George's faults are not the mere boyish
escapades that most young fellows indulge In. I have
looked deeper; George has a profound respect for one per
sonbut that person is himself."
" O, Col. Osborne! "
" Little things tell a man's character to an observant
mind. I have watohed George. He likes to seem what he '
Is not; he colors up his virtues, and throws his faults Into
the shade." .
" But he always seems so kind?"
" My dear, you are a pretty young girl, who, he be
lieves, admires his young lordship amazingly. But have
you ever seen or heard of him making a small self-sacrifice?
No, George likes one person Immensely but that
person Is George Osborne."
" I think you are hard; that you are unjust to him."
" I may be hard, but believe me, I am not unjust, I do
not look always on the surface. Outwardly George makes
a good show."
" Then you think he has no good qualities?"
" I do not say that but they are all overshadowed,
to my mind, by one great fault a profound, overconsclous-
ness of self."
" Well, I do not agree with you."
" I daresay not, but will you try him? Will you write
to him and tell him that you have seen me and that I
told you that If you. married htm I would cut him off with
out a penny? Say you are ready to run the risk If he la.
Will you do this?" v
" Yes, Col. Osborne, I will."
" Well then, do it today. My little girl, I'll not cheat
you about .this, and I believe you, too, will act honestly."
" Col. Osborne, I will let you see my letter and his
answer. If he disappoints me "
" If he does not I have been mistaken In him."
" Then let me write my letter now."
" Well, will you write It here or go upstairs. If you'll
write it here. I'll sit down and read till you are finished."
" Very well."
Alice rose and went to her small desk, and then with
trembling hands began her letter to her lover.
" Dear George," she wrote, " your uncle has been here,
and he has told me that If we marry, he will cut you off
V
LOVE AS DEFINED 'BY
HAT Is love?
ATI Asked In all ages, by many eager ques
I tloners, this query never has been answered
Y V I satisfactorily. Like life and death, but even
more strange and Incomprehensible than
these tther mysteries, love knows no end,
no beginning, cannot be explained in any
reasonable, scientific manner. Wherefore
thinkers, dreamers, poets, students, have since the world's
Infancy puzzled and perplexed themselves as to Its nature
and meaning. Definitions of love have been thick as flow
ers in a springtime forest, yet have explained nothing.
Such definitions, however, continually are Increasing, and
to compare them Is interesting work. aa-
Somethlng, perhaps, may be learned about love by
considering the various attributes recognized In It by
various students. No two minds, It may be safely ad
mitted, look upon love alike.
Dictionary Idea of Love.
A dictionary definition of love one is sufficient, sine
all convey the same idea says that love Is " a feeling of
strong attachment induced by that which delights or
commands admiration; preeminent kindness or devotion to
another; affection; tenderness; especially, devoted attach
ment to, or tender or passionate affection for, one of the
opposite sex."
. St. Paul long ego declared lovs the greatest of the three
great virtues of which, faith and hope form the remainder
of the trio. He also expressed his belief in the enduring
character of love by declaring that " love never faileth."
The wise man, long before St. Paul's day, sang sweetly
of love, and was no less firm in his conviction that love Is
everlasting. "Love," as he expressed It, " Is strong as
death. . . . Many waters cannot quench love, neither
can the floods drown It; If a man would give all the sub
stance of his life for love, it would be utterly contemned."
Drummond gloriously defined love as " the greatest
thing In the world," while Bir John Lubbock, In " The
I'ses of Life," devotes an entire chapter to love as viewed
by the greatest thinkers and lovers of all ages. For love,
sport of the cynics, plaything of those who have missed
life's sweetest portion, has been deemed worthy of serious,
reverent attention by many whom the world holds In
highest honor. And Justly, since In one form or another
it has Inspired humanity's noblest deeds.
Potent for Evil or for Good.
The reverse side of the medal Is seen In the strange
vagaries that bear witness to the mighty, all compelling
power of mankind's strongest universal emotion. J-ovo
that has passed into the opposite passion Is almost as
deathltssly potent for evil as love for good.
" Heaven has no rage," says Congreve, " Ilk love to
hatred turned."
Shakspear also believed that love Is eternal, and
without a penny. Dear George, are you willing to run
the risk? I am. but it is for you to decide. I think money
is nothing to what we would have without It, but then you
may not think this, and I do not wish to Influence you.
But will you write a few lines to me when you get this, as
I am naturally anxious, and believe me always, yours
truly, Alice Maitland."
After Bhe had finished her short letter, she crossed the
room and placed It In Col. Osborne's hand without a word,
though her Hps were trembllpg and her face flushed.
He read Is slowly over; read It twice, and then looked
In the girl's face. ,
" Will you send this," he said, "send It Just as it is?"
"Yes." she answered'qulckly; "have I not said so?"
" WelL then, fasten It up." he answered quietly, " and
call one of the servants, and tell her to take it to George,
and wait for an answer. And I will wait here till It comes
and then let us talk about something else."
Alice obeyed him, and placed her letter with her
trembling hands in an envelope, fastened It down, and
then rang the room bell, and when the servant answered
U, she put the letter Into her hand.
" Take this," she said, " to Mr. Oeorge Osborne's
rooms, wait for an answer, and bring It here."
Col. Osborne did not speak until after the letter was
gone, then he began talking about something else.
But the girl's quivering Hps could scarcely answer him.
She clasped her hands together; she looked vaguely on his
face, and Col. Osborne's heart was full of pity.
Half an hour passed, a few minutes more, and then the
same servant, to whom she had given the letter, rapped
at the door and came Into the room.
" Mr. George Osborne sent this, please, miss," she
said, and placed a letter In Alice's shaking hands.
She grasped It, opened It, and then a little cry escaped
her pale Hps.
"Well?" Bald Col. Osborne, steadily regarding her.
Alice made no answer; again she looked at her letter;
then Bhe rose, and without a word placed It in Col. Os
borne's hand, who took It, read It tfirough with a half
smile, slightly shrugged his shoulders, and then looked In
Alice's face.
" Just what I expected," he said calmly.
Still Alice did not speak.
" My dear child." continued Col. Osborne kindly, tak
ing Alice's hand, " does not this letter tell you exactly
what George Is? He thinks of nothing but himself, or
rather he thinks most of himself, and all others are second
to that Important personage in his estimation."
Again Col. Osborne glanced at the letter In his hand.
" Dear Alice," he reread, " I got your letter, and as
the old boy won't listen to reason, well, the only thing
f2 C"
W " v 7 v
' Jurt What
I expected.
for us Is to give our little romance up. You see it is no use
talking of marrying nowadays without money. Love is
all very well, but love won't buy the necessities of life.
It won't pay for dinners, suppers, etc., and we can't do
without them. I am sorry for this, but I think it best to
write plainly, and I am sure you are sensible enough to
think so too. I am thinking of going to Australia, but I
should like to see you to say good-by before I go. But
It's no good talking about marrying without money. In
fact, it is Impossible.
" Hoping to hear from you, yours truly,
" George Osbornb."
" Well," sajd Col. Osborne, " tell me exactly what you
think."
" I think he Is contemptible," answered Alice In a low,
passionate tone.
" He Is selfish, thoroughly selfish, my dear, that Is the
true explanation of this letter, and. Indeed, of his whole
character. Now tell me what you will write back, and
do you wish to see hlmT"
" I do not wish to see him; the person I wish to tee,
fhat I believed in, is dead no, he never lived."
" Not In the mortal frame of poor George Osborne at
least," answered Col. Osborne with a little shrug; " and
now, will you write your letter."
Alice turned away and sat down before her little desk.
Then she drew out a note sheet and wrote a few plain
words.
9333333393333333353333333353339333333333383333353333339
changes not with changing clrcumstanoes or time.
' Love is not love
" Which alters when it alteration finds,
" Or bends with the remover to remove."
Later he declares love to be " an ever fixed mark."
Ella Wheeler Wilcox has much to say of the wonder
and the glory of that passion, to the. exploitation of which
she has given such ardent effort and attention.
" Love is the center and circumference.
The cause and aim of ull things 'tis th key
Of Joy and sorrow, and the recompense
For all the Ills that have been or may be.
" Love is as bitter as the dregs of sin,
As sweet as clover honey In Its cell;
Love Is the password whereby souls gt In
To beaven the gate that sometimes leads to helL
" Love Is the only thing that pays for birth
Or makes death welcome. O, dear God above
This beautiful buj sad, perplexing earth,
Pity the hearts that know or know not Love!"
J .
Poet's Reverence for love.
Bliss Carman is another poet who believes that " love
Is a greater province than dominion of sea or land," and
also that love Is absolutely necessary to the complete
rounding of character, masculine or feminine.
" The dauntless soul must wander to accomplish and attain
This balance of all her powers by the lead of love or re
main A stranger to peace forever In sorrow, defeat, or pain."
But Carman has not the faith of many lu the enduring
quality of the tender passion.
"O lovers, hear me! Be not lax In love.
Nor let the loved u'ne from you for a day,
For time that la the enemy of love,
And change that la the constant foe of man.
But wait the turn of opportunity
To fret the delicate fabric pf our llfo
With doubt and slow forgetfulness and grief,
Till he who was a lover once goes forth
A friendless soul to front the Joyless years,
A brooding, uncompanloned wanderer
Beneath the silent and majestic stars."
J J
Touches Note of Sadness.
Richard Le Galllenne, translating the " Divan " of
Hafli, the fourteenth century poet of lovs and wine, In
dulges in a modified sadness concerning the deeds and
effects of love. ,
"Hafls, take heart; love is a grievous lord;
But this will always be the lover's creed,
I'nder the very shadow of love's sword:
No gentle deed
And no sweet action fails -of its reward."
" I havs got your letter, and I do not wish to see you
or hear from you again. Alice Maitland."
" That is my answer," she said, placing her short let
ter In CoL Osborne's hand.
He read It and smiled.
" You will get another letter presently." he said.
V George Is one of those who ever pursue the unattaina
ble." " He will get no answer If he writes one."
" Well, we shall see. And now, don't distress yourself
about an Idle young fellow, who really is not worth wast
ing a sigh on. I want you to go with me and see a poor
woman who really Is In grent trouble. I want you to give
her a little money, I have It here ready for you, but a
woman can say and do kind things so mut-h easier than a
man. This poor woman's hiisb-ind has been killed In a
boiler explosion, and she has four little, fatherless bread
eaters. Will you come?"
" If you think it will do any good."
" I am sure It will do good. Come, let us go and help
them to have a good dinner."
" You are so good."
" No, I'm not; but these little bread eaters perhaps are
hungry, and we may as well satisfy them when we can.
Will you get on your hat?"
Alice went out of the room and got on. her hat, and
when Bhe returned she found Col. Osborne waiting ready
for her, and they went out together. He led her to one
jjjfil
if Kifl
WlllVCTI
of the worst parts of Oldcastle, and finally knocked at the
door of a broken down looking cottage.
" They heard a child crying within, and then a pale
faced, Bickly looking woman opened the door.
She curtsied when she saw Alice and Col. Osborne, and
looked at them Inquiringly.
" I I hear you have had great sorrow," said Alice
gently, " and we have come to try to give you a little
help."
The poor woman's eyes filled with tears.
" I've had such sorrow. Miss," she said, as as breaks
my heart, but but I must try to bear It."
" And and we must try to help you If we can," an
swered Alice, still more gently; " I hear you have some lit
tle children? Can we see them?"
" Yes, miss. U'p a poor place to ask you into, but If
you don't mind?"
She opened the door of the cottage a little wider as
she spoke, and Col. Osborne and Alice entered and looked
around. Poverty was written but too plainly there; was
written on the bare, discolored walls, on the scant and
shabby furniture, on a wasted looking, sickly child, lying
on tho floor.
" Is this little fellow one of yours?" asked Alice, look
ing at the child.
"Aye, miss, the youngest. He was a fine child, but
now "
Alice bent down over the child, and a moment later
put money into the little thin hand.
" I wonder what that will buy for you?" she said smil
ing. The child looked up as If he did not understand, but
the mother's eyes had caught sight of the coin.
" O. miss," she said, lifting her weary eyes, " ye don't
mean this ye don't mean to gie the poor bairn this?"
" But I do mean it,',' said Alice softly.
" O, miss, I cannot thank you enough," cries the poor
woman In a sob choked voice; " this will pay our last rent
and get the bairns something to eat."
" And you yourself?" asked Alice kindly, " what do
yon want most?"
" O, miss, it's no matter me; I'm an old woman but 'tis
hard to see the bairns."
" But I do mind you," said Alice; " you must take
care of yourself for the children's sake. What would they
do without you?"
Bhe made no answer to this. She looked at Alice's
sweet face; her pale lips trembled.
WK.ITER.S.
But Hafls also well defines love as " a sea that hath not
any shore, and help upon that shoreless sea Is none." And
be Is of opinion that while " love has a wisdom wisdom
cannot prove " It is useless to talk," of reason to a man In
love." Love, moreover, evidently was as hopeless a pas
sion in the long vanished days of ancient Persia as In
the twentieth century America.
" Unto the leech I took my bloody tears:
" 'What alls me. doctor?' bnto him said I. '
" ' 'TIs love,' said he, ' and it may last for years
Yea, some men die;
But, borne with patience, It sometimes disappears.' "
Could the most modern of pessimists say aught more
bitterly sad. For lighter ye.t no less meaningful definitions
Of the great passion, many recently have been uttered.
"Love Is the Inspiration of literature and of art; poli
tics and war are games of love, and if you trace even re
ligion back to Its early beginnings you are amazed to dis
cover how deeply It Is rooted In the mystery of sex," so
says Charles Frederick Gpss, a clergyman who believes
love potent for mighty good.
J
Foundation Stone Is Respect.
Louis Paul, In " The Happy Life versus the Simple
Life," expresses deepest veneration for love, but would
eliminate the more picturesque and romantic attitude of
the poets in favor of the plain, strong foundation of re
spect and liking.
" This is certain," he declares, " that true love de
pends first of till upon these two essentials: sympathy and
esteem (admiration). No matter how much our sympa
thies may be aroused, we can feel no genuine love for the
one we cannot esteem, and vice versa; love Is Impossible,
no matter how riuuji we may esteem (admire). If there is no
bund of sympathy existing."
An English society poet and art lover takes a more
lightsome view of the mighty puzzle:
" Love, let the critics say what they list.
Love la a grand Impressionist,
The picture's dnne In a single day
' No sooner finished than given away."
And so It goes. The list of definitions, supposedly exact
and Implied, might be multiplied Indefinitely, but to what
reason? Who can explain the unexpluinable, describe that
for which no true verbal equivalent may be managed?
Twentieth century students, scientifically Inclined, exceed
ing wise, and variously learned, can do little more than
their earliest forerunners when it comes to attempt to re
duce the world's greatest, sweetest mystery and puzzle to
accurate terms. Ixive, to us as to our long gone ancestors.
Is at once a great puzzle and a great blessing. Like the
women of the famous toast, It is sometimes difficult to
live with but impossible to live happily without. It means,
among other things, peace, solace, happiness, all that the
heart holds dear to the world and its children.
For love, now as always. Is the greatest thing in the
world.
TTc cleat
" -. if I might ask something?" she said with faltef
Ing Hps.
" Yes, Indeed; ask what you like."
" It Is. miss, that after I am gone ye would sometimes
look after them. The others are well enough, but Johnny's
a poor, weak bairn, and when he has no mother "
" But he Is not going to lose his mother, I hope," an
swered Alice gently, taking her wasted hand. " Johnnie
Is going to grow up and be a fine, tall boy, and live to help
his mother, and be a comfort to you all your life."
The poor woman's heart was too full to speak.
"And and," said Alice. " will you take this?" and she
put, as she spoke, tho other money which Col. Osborne
had given her into the woman's trembling hand. " No, no,
I want no thanks and sometimes I will come and see you.
And perhaps this gentleman"
They were gone before she rotild make sny reply, and
as Col. Osborne and Alice walked up the poor street. Col.
Osborne said quietly:
" You and I are not so badly off. Alice?"
" O, no." she answered with quick emotion.
"At least we can do a little good."
"And I will try to do It." said Alice.
" I thought you would," said Col. Osborne gently
" Well, we've not had a bad morning's work, my dear.
and now I am going to say good-by."
He shook hands with her, and left her, and Alice half
ran home, and when she got there Bhe sat down anit
thought once more of George Osborne's letter.
Then she reflected proudly: "I am glad he wrote it;
glad I have found out what he really Is."
And her heart felt lighter; little things came back to
her mind, the selfish words and actions which until now
she had half forgotten, and Georg Osborne's real char
acter grew clearer to her sight. It is difficult always to
act; sometimes the truth peeps out, however much we try
to hide It. Alice was herself, essentially honest, and the
purity of her own nature had blinded her to his. But now
this seemed changed, and she thought also she would try
to do a little good to the poor woman she had seen.
" I will look out for some things for her," she decided;
" and and how kind Col. Osborne is."
She spent a busy hour or so after this. Her small
miseries now seemed half forgotten in the great ones she
had seen. She remembered how much she had still to be
thankful for and how little many others seemed to possess.
" I can always help a little at least." she reflected,
and she once or twice also thought of Col. Osborne.
" At all events he Is a good man; he is not always
thinking of himself," Bhe decided, and she felt he would
be pleased to know she was trying to do a little good.
Thus her next two days were busy ones. Her mother
made no comments on her occupations; In fact Bhe had re
ceived a quiet hint from Col. Osborne not to do so.
"Let the child alone, my dear Mrs. Maltland," he said;
" let her have time to see things as thly really are."
Thus Alice was not Interfered with, and the boiler
maker's widow and her poor, sickly child had the benefit
of her busy hands. Then when she next saw Col. Osborne
he smiled kindly.
" So you have been trying to. do a little good, I hear?"
he said gently.
" It Is little, then. I am afraid," answered Alice, with
a blush and downcast eyes.
" Every little helps, you know; and it always seems to
me to be such a small, poor life to live only for oneself."
" Yet many do, I think."
" Not many, let us hope. But, at all events, the selfish
lose something."
"And what is that?"
"The love of others; If we give nothing, we don't get
much In return."
" I think that Is true."
"And now I am going to ask you something and I
don't want you to answer until you have thought over the
question seriously."
" You make me half nervous."
" I don't wish to do that; I wish you to feel to me
well a little friendship to begin with."
" Yes," answered Alice with a shy smile.
" And then do you think you could get over my gray
head?"
Again Alice smiled. Then she bent gently forward and
softly touched his brow.
The gray bead," she half whispered; " the dear gray
head.
033393333933 835539 5V?533
A PAIR & BOOTS
THE TALE OF A THEFT.
ERR ZEITLER, fat and pompous, cast his
little eyes over the goodly stock of boots,
shoes, and slippers that filled his shop.
" The best in the city," he informed the
world In large, black type upon a showy
placard.
Further survey was Interrupted by the
entrance of a customer. Herr Zeiiier saw
that he was smartly dressed, and lie chuckled to himself.
Doubtless the stranger had read the placard, and, doubt
less, It had induced him to test the unuqualed merits of the
establishment.
" I want a pair of shoes," said the young man.
"Certainly; take a seat," said Herr Zeitler, taking a
pair from a shelf.
His customer examined them critically.
" Don't look strong." he observed, slipping his foot
Into one and lacing it up.
" Strong," echoed the bootmaker, waxing enthusiastic,
"They are stronger than Samson. , . , Ah, that fits
splendidly. Try the other one, sir."
" A trifle tight," he complained, rising and stamping
his feet on the floor, " and more than a trifle thin."
"But they are good," Herr Zeitler assured him.
" What are those?" asked the young man. Indicating a
pair of patent leather shoes at the farther end of the
shop.
Always obliging. Herr Zeitler hastened to fetch the
shoes. Scarcely was his back turned than the customer
rushed to the door, and the little bootmaker had Just time
to catch a glimpse of the white soles of his unequulcd
boots as they vanished Into the street.
"Stop thief! Stop thief!" cried Herr Zeitler, indig
nantly, setting off in pursuit. But the thief would nut
stop.
" Stop him! Stop him! He has stolen a pairof my
best shoes," he panted, frantically, purple with heat and
luck of breath.
Suddenly, from the stolen boots came a sound of
bursting stitches. Herr Zeitler gasped, and gasped again,
as he saw the sole from one of his unrivaled boots dan
gling on the miscreant's foot. Then, with a flap, it tum
bled to the pavement before him. A gurgle of horror es
caped the little German. He picked up the piece of leather
and hastily smuggled It into his pocket. Had any one
seen? If so, his business was gone. A zealous policeman
took up the chase. At him Herr Zeitler shook his fist
and prayed with all his might that the thief would escape.
The papers that night announced that the police had
caught a man escaping with a new pair of boots, from on
of which the sole had parted. But search where they
would they could not find a slnglw bootmaker who had
been robbed of a pair of boots.
H