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Exeter Advocate, 1899-5-18, Page 2BETWEEN TWO LOVES By BER'nFIA. M. CLAY. (Continaedl. Tian wee net Amite the reply 'she ex - peeled. anti it street her as being stray -ere that be made uo respons.e to her kaelly words.. "I thilai," she relined, "that we make ninay et the mysteries, as we In:Me eater of tesmites• But, larntou. we will not diseuss either ruysteries or trounles." -Menem shall we diseuss?" he asned tream to affseet an easy carelessness,' Welch. hoe -ever, eat bent); on him. -There are two. guineas arted tor the: lovely moreiteg," she seld—"leve U•(l flowers." "Both might to be easily diecassed with yoo," he said; and agnia Lads afay raised her inuocent, wondering caw, to Lie faee. There was something forced and untratural in his conduct; ids Vo.ce hail mit the true ring, his sm-ne had not the suashine, his compliments eveu had somethieg unuatural and staff about therm "Cut." she ed, "1 Beyer Saw WV (eee rio eh3lIged as yea are; time Itnes Ixen cruel to you." -It etas not time," he 'said, dreamily; nit was yore, May." Her quiek„ -crimson blush seerued to brieg him Istea to ahusela en, het en ungeelerseas speteelet" he erled. "I ant ashemed of myeeit. I Area ti Minim aloud. Alas, you Inett feenihe wet. The theueht is tast as difficult to paseloa as the werds," nhe replied. 'Oh. Clinton, shall you never eeaee to think of ray ratiit.5? "I 414 not. Ineaa to mention It ire weid, like iateerupted him. "You are right. atter all. Clinton— tt is entirely my fault. You were happy enough, bright enough before you knew "Knowing you. bee made all the hep- piness of my life, IiIaea" 114 replied, She laid the books down and went over to hint. She placed cue white jeweled baud tetiou hie brow; she tnteeel the relies wlth one pretty firtger. "Did I do thie, and this?" she mid, 'is it 1 who hare changed you—who bare taken the light mid glednese from the Moe I leve eo well? Is it 1 who hare made you care -worn and auxioes? Inla ray love, forgive me—T will give lam life to make you happy again. I shall wateh the -3e lirms one by one appear; I ehall watch tbe Nght come buck to Four eyesthe finale to Four lies. I propheey that in three wean from now you are your old self again." But he said to biluself, with a groat): l"Neyer—never more "1 shall be quite patierit," she con- tinued, with a charraiug smile; "eat tient that you will say to yourself, Is =mot be Laily tinny,' 1 shall krent you just as I should one of those karorite flowers or mine; it 1 teen' it Leroopiug, I should tend it, tannish lt, ep all hurtetil influences aevoy frorn I shall tlo jest the same with you." I Ills face flushed with delight, rat he lvmuld have given the world to escape. Dn the previous evening he hid been Ito completeiy taken by surprise, that he bad not attempted even to evade her terresses; now she was bending over him, her flower-like farm near his, heir perfumed heir touching his cheek, hex v.tite, warm beads near to his clasp; am he did not dare to touch her. Ife eteid to himself that he was a coward mei a traitor but not traitor base element for that. He did not dare to touch with his lips the face so near his own. Tee girl felt surprised, then wondered, nt ..is coldness. She little knew the tortere he was •suffering. "Ma: are not so pieased to see me Ws morning, Clinton, as you were last bight," she said, at length. "I am more pleased, if possible," he rif ' d. "Every time I see you, May. the pl.. ai-e of seeing you grows greater --the ;min of parting from you more bit - tee." Melt! that is more like yourself," she raid—a-more like the Clinton who used to go into rages of jealousy and rap - o( love. I hardly know this seine cool, collected gentleman who sita here." "I hardly know myself," he replied. She laid her fair, soft cheek CB his hn ad. -nee:rase you ere so pleased," she said; "you hardly know youreelf be- cause yon are delighted to be with me amain. "Oh, my love, my love, I am aorry that you ever went away!" ' "So am I," he repeated, in a voice so tervent and earnest she said to he -I -self that sksis must have been mistaken in •tithe-ea:1w him cold or changed. Still he never touched her, never rimmed her hancl in his own, never laid Pais band on her golden hair. "He has grown shy," she said; "he is afraid of tne; he only remembers my , !whims and caprices; he does not think at my love." , SMe drew her chair nearer to his, thinking to herself with a smile, that It was her turn to be the wooer now, lend else began to talk to him, as sthe had sparkling nothings men like to ad been acmistorned to talk, the light, It.ear from the women they love best. ilShe amused him in spite of himself; he itorgot his troubles and his cares in lastening to her. She had a keen senee Of humor, and some of her stories were no droll it was impossible to refrain Itrom laughing. She had no imeen power , of ntimiery„ and some of her imitations tient Sir Clinton into hearty fits of atinghter. "ffhis is better," tboeght Lady May Ito herself, as she listened. Gradually ebe charmed him out of kis coldness, out ot his reserve; his !spirits seemed to rise with here. fie Ineg,hed, talked, jested in his old etyle; 1 &oily ever and anon she, who watched : bira so eloi3eln, saw a dark shadow ste il ;lever him, an expression of care anti !painful thought. What could be the ireason? Yet, so far, she was well pleas- , led with the tyrogeess she had made, Y "It is as though our positions wens reversed," she maid, "and I had to woo lend win instead of him." Atter a little the charm of her man - Seer, her exquisite beauty, her exquisite 'grace, reigned their mastery over him, land he was bilking to her as if time had knit parted them. The only difference , ieheF noticed we* that hie never attempted IV, netheasse helm no matter hew close the sweet white hand lay near him, his own never Mimed over it. She remembered when he used to plead for one •clasp of her wilite fingere. What had changed him so? The idea suddenly occurred to her that he adopted this line of conduct from a wish to please ber; that she had elways been so coy and reserve with him, he bad adopted the same line of belniviem thinking to 'pleese her. "I am charmed, too," he thought. "I wed to be so proud. see haughty; he thinks I am a goddess to be worehlpped, eot a woman to be loved." So, altheugh she lied won him back to sonietaing like thetr old standing point. Lady tfay was somewhat di:s- eamen-4MM She would have been hap- pier had he taken her once in bis arma mei kissed her, saying: *ntaa. will be Mends, and bury the east, deer." But he did =alien of the kind. Ile talked nett' enough while the caneer settee was only of general minters: bre the moment that it beeame pereonith was mime. He discussed perinea. Mere - lure, ate, the news of the nay, their different friends, hut neither hinimat eer her. She was roused be heanne, the bell ter lutieh; she Molted up at him playfuily. "Clinten, our happy wooing is all over; there is the bell for lunch, This moraine- has gene, never to return." "Never to return," he repeated to hireeelf; "with all its t,3•1,49 444 its ateaseree, never te retainer They wet into the dining -room for lumah, ard Mies lerekevotod met Wm Well a smiling face. In her own wind she thought that, by this time, they woeld hare settled the wee:Meg-el ty. Lode- May went te ber room to melee serae pretty addition to ber and Miss Loeltwooa followed her. "Is it ell right, soy dear?" she 45kei1 4nziously. Lady May weld net explain why she sighed, as she replied: "Yes, certainly—entite riga.' "And have you nothien to telt me?" coetenued the elder lady—"notbirig of any kind?" Arabi the ramie erase or diseepoint- meet cetne over Lady May. 44w113% news slamid I have?" elle :eel; td, with come slight artneyauce. "I thought perhape," sa:4 tssLest: eed, "that you lied arranged yew weddine-daF„" "There is plenty of time tor that; id Lady May, with b eareleee bomb yet the laugh had something el' pea,: le know yau will not shire any gees tiotre of mine imeertiramt. welt Miss Lockweed. "heiliose veer iitterme is mine, and your jays and ern re we err !Niue. "Eine Sir (Truett said nothing of the weddingvalaYr "Not yet," laughed ready May. "I do not think he Ines quite recovered Ervin the surprise of SCt`ilig me." She had laughed as she spolte, but even the owned to beetelf that it was peeesing :strange. She had been a whole morning with her lover, and he had rot vaid one word to her of Iove—he hnd not even mentioned marriage, he who had once never wearied of pettylug her to name the day. It wns more than strange. She tried o have reconrse to her old formula of bellef--that it was her own fault, that she herself had brouglat abut' the bringe with him; but It was In nin— th:it reflection had not half so much comfort in it as it had once. Tbey went down to 'lineal, and then sbe thought that surely she had been mistaken, He was nil kindness, ell de - maim; Le amused Miss Lockwood and hereelf by a bunared anecdotes, by his M scription of people whom he had mot. They lingered Iong, until Lady My turned to her companion, with a bright ie "Shall we ride tbis afternoon?" she asked. For a moment it flashed across him (het, if the announcement of his mer- riege had to be made, it would hardly do for him to be seen riding with her. It would be sure to excite comment and remark, therefore it would be better left alone, "I think not," be related; 9t ts very wenn,. I will read to you if you like." But the nnswer was given with such hetitatien that Lady May could not help remarldng it. "try dear," whispered Miss Lock- wood, as thy left the drawing-room— "my dear May, he is really more de- lightful than ever; but, do you know, I have a strange fancy." "What is it?" asked Lady May. "I thought he did not seem to ooze about riding out with you; is It so, do you think?" "He seemed to hesitate, but it is real- ly very warm, and he does not seem over strong. There could be no Meets Possible reason for his declining." "I suppose not," said Miss Lockwood; yet she did not seem quite satisfied. More than once she said to herself, dur- ing that day, that Sir Clinton Adair was quite unlike himself. CHAPTER XXXI. 2 A CHANGED MAN. When Sir Clinton entered entre House on that morning, he had fully intended that his secret should be told before night—he had not dreamed of keeping it after the day was over. It was one happy day snetched from life- long pain, yet it was not all happiness; every moment he passed !With her added to his pain; every charm of hers—aer fair face, her grace of movement. her grace of words, actions and thoughts— all increased his love for her. He thought to himself every moment what Might bave been, what a cruel differ- ence between what was and what might have been. But for that mad marriage —that foolish, mad marriage of his—he could now be asking Lady • May to hesten her wedding -day. He pictured to himself the radiant happinese that would have been his, the life they would have led together, now that Lady May had learned to love him so weal at last. Now it was all over—this nn - loved wife of his stood between him an.d his fair young love; she conld never now be his, and he should have to tell her so when the day was ended. They spent a long, happy, surmy afternoon together in tbe drawing -room. Lady May had said to •him; "Why, Clinton, we nave spent a whole day together, and yet you have not told me one single thing that you did while yon vrere away. All these months are gone out of your life, sad know nothing of them." "I will tell you all abott then: to- night," he had replied, but his manner was strange and confused, Suddenly it seemed to her that be had rio great wish to speak of this part of his life. Perhaps he had passed it in listless, idle dreaming ot her, and was ashamed to tell her so; perhaps he had spent it in going aimlessly front one place to another. and did not care to tell her how compietely tbe time had been wasted. She resolved that it ehould not happen again—that she would spell( to him more or the future, nevermore of the past—it should be a sealed book hetween them. She could trust him; in an those months she felt quite cite:alit bet he had never mice been untrue o her. So, when dinner was over ,aud the fair, dewy, fragrant eveniug drawing te a close. he knew the time had owe when he must break hoe beeri. It mast be done. Peoele would scon beein to talk about them—to associate them tegmler. It would not be fair to her to keep that marriage quiet even for awther day, A They had gone Into one of the pretty little balconies that led from the draw- infaroom windows, and then he said to hireeelf that he must tell her the plain, arnisben truth; he would maim so emmetes for Ithaself—indeed, he had ne to offer. The plain fact was be beiieved Lady May to be married, and , Ion; to him forever, and he Ivo married PreItY, attune Daisy, beeauee she had eleelared heeeelf that she sboeld die , whea be weut away, No dale notlid be , more simple or more cencise, Why should it be so diflienit to tell? He !coked at the face, deathly fair in the Inctielight. He saw before him 4 vision el shining silk and soft white Mee, of et hively face, and the sheen of golden heir; be stew the light of her jewels, and the light In her eyes; he saw deep, Pure, Vire hive for hirnseir S every lecture ot her face, and he turned away with despair wore bitter than death in his heart. Oh, pele;laitiless ranenlighlt that had no compassion for him; pale, pitiless stars, that had OA them no gleara of mercy! Be roust tell her—tell her that be was married, and could Dever be more to her while the world stood. -"Men" be began in 4 low, =steady voiee—olay, you asked ale this moru. log to tell you all thet I had done and busi seen—all that I had lived 'through etriee I had went away. I am ready to tell you cow, if you are ready te Veto)." She was quite set foe half * min- e, then elle aniti; "My dearest Clinton, I will not listen to tem word; I refuse absolutely to listen. I am quite sure of one thing; you may have wasted, idled, or even spent the the time during which you bare been away, but you have been quite true to me; nettling in the whole wide world au shake my faith in that, You bare kept your love for me free, and pure, and true; the rest does not con- cern me, and I refuse to listen to it." IIe made some faint protest; be began again, but she placed her white baud on his lips. "There," she said, triumphantly, "you cannot be so rude as to talk now, 1 will not listen. You eartuot receive A. greater compliment then for the NVOM114 yolt love to trust you. Instead of tattiest about this past, which 1 pronoutme to be dead and buried for both of Its, we will Mlle of the future—the future that shines before us, bright and clear 113 the summer heavens—that will have a thousand times more interest for us." Itut, to her eurruise, he renutined mute and dumb. "It has a charm for you, althengh just at this moment you are too timed to sny so. I live in it; there is no Ivan. of my life in wide') I do not Munk Hea- ven for it," elle added, quickly. "OM load my love! wbat wonld that future have been without you?" Then she had not time to say more. Miss Lockwood came ont to them, and ell chance of conversation was over for the evening, and he had not told her. He said "geod-night" te her, holding her bands in his, looking with wistful, haggard eyes into ber face, his lips trembling. Be looked at the sweet, white hands, but dare not kiss them; he looked at the lovely, flower-like face, but dare not toucb it; his hand clasped hers, but no warm pressure told her how deorly he lored her. "Good -night," she repeated, glancing with wonder into his face. Would he always be so cold, so reserved with her? Would he ever understnnd that the was changed, and that she would fain win him from his reserve? Then, with that a me strange, wistful look on his face, he went away, leaving her dissatisfied and ill at ease. "Not a very lover -like parting," said Miss Lockwood, with a smile; "your lover has peculiar notions. I should im- agine that he considers a kiss next door to a "There are worse faults then being - too reserved," said Lady May; "it is not the vice of the rt'em. Most of the men I know would be better for a little of Sir Clinton's reserve." But though she defended bint, and affected to admire his great discretion, In her own hemt she was ill at ease. When she stood that night in her room, she thought long and deeply. This was the man who had been so passionately in love of her; this was the man who had lived in the light of her eyes. She had spent a whole day with him, and be had never once spoken of love or of marriage to bee; he had not alluded to the past in which they were lovers, or to the future in which they were to be man and wife; he had never cla.spea her hand In his, he had not called her by any one of the loving epithets be had been AV011t to use toward her. What could it mean? Not want of love, if his eyes spoke truly; not want of derange to bee; it could not mean that there was any barrier between. them. What could there • be ? "I wonder," said Lady May to her- self, "if be would have sought me out? I wonder if it eves for my sake that he came back to Tenglan.d—if it was to woo me?" And then she half repented of the loving impulse that had led her to seek him. "I did wrong," she said to herself, a crimson flush mounting to her face. "Perhaps if I had not sought him he would not have sought me; yet how ean I think that of him, when he loves me so dearly, so well?" She 'repeated those words to herself as she laid leer head on the pillow, yet be; heart, IlYtta beany. She found. him again; but this was not the love whe had lost—thie was not the passionate, reeldees, jealous, ardent lover who seemed jealous even of the witul that teuebed her face. This was a cool, calm. self-disciplined man, "And, ah, me!" she sighed to hereelf-1, she liked the old lover best. 'Time would set it all right," yet her heart was heavy and sore within her. (To un ealleneuren.) WOMEN IN POKER. A Game That Changed Two Dear Ortends Into Deadly Enemies, Saida man of my acquaintance recently: "Do you know, I believe women would be tbe naost desperate g-arablers on earth if they dared I" "Nonsense!" was my remark. "It's not nonsense," he argued warmly. "I've watehed them, old and young, pret- ty and homely, light and dark, and even in the small games that their pocketbooks and their consciences allow them to play their excitement in winnieg, or losing is something terrific." Arid be caused me to do a little think- ing on his side, though not for the world would, I have admitted it to him. remembered a game of cards that caused the separation of two of the dear- est and sweetest women in the world three years ago. Of course it was poker, poker seems to he ployed everywhere, or was at diet time, :tad this diabolle.al cluster of "fulls," "straights," "two pars," "threes of a kind," "flushes" and "fours" has caused mere misery arid made more retechief emeug, the women of this city than will ever be exploited! There were Ave of them in a fasidoeable boarding house up town, and I, as a call- er, made six,. Rale had reined a reetireee propositiou, ithere was nothing to read, and dullness descended, "Let's play polter," mid hits. O. "Splendid!" WAS the general inscribe - non. Two of the ladies lied never played, but they were soon instructed. Then it was climovered that there were no "chips." But a descent upou the cook produoed 300 or 400 white beans, which Mrs. C. took charge of. "I'll be banner," she emit). as she couuted ut the heaas in lots of 100 each. "We'll plan 5 cent lirait aml you shall have $5 worth." The two amateurs gurgled. with amuse - anent. l'Bow awfully funny" they said, "Why, WO feel Into real gamblers." 1 deelined to join the game, believing that in the pot was worth $20 in the "jack pot." The gime proceeded amidmuch nerve ous excitement and many "Ohal" and "Abe!" aud "Dear /nest" and remarks of that sort. "Why, isn't that a flush?" "Why, your hand. wasn't as good as mine. I think you're real mean. The somebody asked; "What good are four queens?" Whereupon all laid down their hands toad the inquisitive ono gathered in all there was in sight, with the remark; "I didn't have four queens, but just wondered." At length there was a battle royal on between Mrs. 0, and one of the beginners. I happened te sit right behind the lat- ter and saw her hand. It consisted of three aces and a pair of kings. Nothing but "four of a kind" could beat it. Back and forth, back and forth, bet and "raise," more bets, more "raises," until the holder of the "full band" bad exhaust- ed all hes beans and clamored for more. The banker gave her 100 more and made a memorandum of it. The betting weut on as fiercely as be- fore. I felt like giving the "full hand" lady a hint that she was betting her hand too bight but of course could not do so. At last the banker "called" and threw her hand on the table. "Four sixeell" "Dear me I" sighed the loser. "I thought I'd surely win. What a lot I bet! Lucky It wasn't real money!" Mrs. C. started at her. "What do you mean?" "Why, it's lucky they were only beans." "You must be crazy, Mr. B. Tho beans represent money. You owe me $8." "Why, you're talking nonsense." Mrs. 0. 's lips grew very white. "Do you mean to say," she asked, "that you didn't understand that we were play- ing for money?" " Of course I didn't." Mrs. C. swept the beans Into a recepta- cle, dabbed the cards into the table drawer, cast a look of withering scorn upon ber late opponent and stalked out of the room. The two women have not spoken to each other since. Her Idea of Worth. A Canadian minister bad just married a couple. The registers were signed, and nothing remained but the giving and tak- ing of the fee. The bridegroom, a strap- ping young fellevv, asked, "How much is it?" ' The parson glanced at the smiling bride and slyly answered, "Whatever you think it's worth." Now, it should have been worth a good deakfor the girl was young and pretty. "I reckon it's worth about 50 cents," said the swain, holding out two quarters. The clergyman looked blankly at the coins, then turned to the fair one. "I'll leave it to you, nusdam," he said. "What do you think it's worth?" What did this young and blushing bride do? She reached out, took the coins, hand- ed one quarter to the minister and put the other into her pocket. "A thrifty wife," said the Canadian with a sigh, "is her husband's crown"— San Francisco Wave. Danger of Piano Practice. Dr. Waetzold, says Le Journal d'lly- glene, thinks that the chloroses and neu- roses from which so many young girls suffer may be largely attributed to the abuse of the piano. It is necessary, says the author, to abandon the deadly habit of compelling young girls to hammer on the keyboard before they are 15 or 16 years of age. Even at this age the exercise should be permitted only to those who are really talented and are possessed of a robust temperament. Dr. Waetzold shows that out of 1,000 young girls studying the piano before the age of 12 years 600 were afflicted with nervous troubles later on, while the num- ber having affections of this kind was only 200 for those who commenced the study of the piano at a later age, and only 100 were affected among those who had never touched this instrument. The study of the violin produces even more disastrous results than those attributed to the piano. THE MANURE HEAP. BOW to Increase It by Slaking Pie Swamp Deposio.,.. Those who study the reports of Frank T. Shutt, M.A., cbemist fortee I, la mennte• ion Experimental Farms," will best, noticed in former years' reports that many samples of swamp and river mud from Prince Edward Island have been analyzed by that gentleman, the swamp naud beam, reported very valuable Mr manare whet: properly prepared, its chief value being hmuns and as contained nitrogen. the latter elemeut being in a non -soluble form, which is oot iu that state :mailable for plant food. As these samples of mud aro from thielny polite shriving iiittricts, long distances apare, we have thought it advisable, says London Farir.er's .M1vocate, to gather a littIe informatioa aom those in that province who lume had practical experi enee in prepering those »MOS fOr use and have seen the in.:teased crops from the use of this natural fernlizee. There are many of oer subserthere whose soil requlrements need these Meill. ties for matinee use of swamp deponn for increasing their manure heap, wht• my Mid 601110 helpfilillitil,t; ill the follow Ing statements; '4'018 a eery early period in the farm ing operatieue of that provinee. the prae tice has been to lend Mtge gum -eine.; of swamp 'mud into the cattle yards, pie and sheep sheds, and all sl -ab ei where cattle or ether stock are lefe loom, bestlee an extra, thichnem ef the mud under the manure heap at the seable whitlows. 'The liquid drainage front the cattle menure has the offeet, in a few mend's, of tem verting the mud into a quietly -acting, rid% fertilizer. On many farms bundreds of loads of manure are mined to tbe emes supply in this way at a very email cost, the labor alone being an item, el expense, for tbe liquid portion of the stable manure would have otberwise beeia nudely lost. In Wee years other practleee hare bm adopted by some. One way is to get out number of loads of mune% ouol in the winter into a couvenient neld. On top of the mud stable immure is plecen, In the proportien of one Med of mailure to two loads of mud. Before the regular spring work of planting and sowing begins, the entire pile is turned over arid mixed, care being taken time a fair share et stable manure is covered by the mud, Ili a very few days active SerfBentatfolt sets In, and by the time it is wanted tbe entire pile Is one homogeneous snags of easily:handled manure, quite equal in its etTeei in producing crops with an equal quantity of the best from the stablest. Other farmers use freshly -burned lime for composting with the mud -pile. In this ease half a bushel of lime is found sufficient for each one-borse load of hard in the pile, the summer or fall being the mese suitable time for linatacompostIng. But the result from this class of compost Is very good; some badly -cropped farina so poor that renovating by keeplug live eteok was impossible, baae by Its use been restored to a high state of produce. tiveness. Wo are told that for more than 40 yeare farmers in that province have obtained almost magical results from applleatioto of lime, either as freshly -burned rook limestone or mild lime, as found in un- burnt oyste.r or mussel -shell mud. Some of the gentlemen from the Dominion Experimental Farms sharply criticise the practice. Ono of them, 'when addressing a public meeting, when speaking of the shell nauds, remarked, "Well called 'mussel naud'—more muscle than brains in using It." But the choinist, Frank T. Shutt, ALA,, did not talk or write tbat way, reserving his opinion till he had an opportunity to examine the Island soil. The analysis proved that ie was lacking to an extreme degree in limo, and Ms advice to the farmers in that province tallies exaotly with their constant prat- tle°. of BETTER RURAL MAIL SERVICE. Now the rrebletn Is Solved by the Travellic= PostelRee. This is the first "postoface on wheels" established in the world. The idea was originated by Edwin W. Shriver of 'West- minster, Md., last summer, was at once taken up by the postal authorities at Washington City, and this first tahvelling postoface began its service on Easter Monday, April 3, 1899, in charge of Mr. BRINGING THE rooromou TO THE FARM- ER'S DOOR. Sbriver. The picture shows the postoffiee stopping at a colonial farmhouse that is typical of the older settlements in Mary- land, and delivering the mail to the family. Any kind of mail matter will also be received by the postmaster for mailing, and he also sells postage stamps, money orders, stamped eavelopes and wrappers, and issues receipts for register- ed maiL The accompanying pictures make plain a new departure that will tend to equal- ize more nearly the benefits conferred by the postal service in city and country. This postal wagon, equipped with all the essentials of a postoffice and in charge of a bonded postal clerk, starts from West- minster (Md.) postale° at 7 o'clock each morning (Sundays and legal holidays ex- cepted), and follows it prescribed route. The service began April 3, 1899, and it takes eight hours for the wagon to cover its 30 -mile route. There are 858 families on this route, "of whom 200 will this day receive mail from the wagon," writes Edsv1n R. Shriver, the postal clerk and originator of the plan, on April 16. He adds: "I am already handling an average of 400 pieces of mail daily and expect the quantity will increase as peo- ple use the naafis more freely when the postoffice Is brought to their door. Letters are found In nearly every collection box on every trip."—Orange Judd Fanner. Nicholas Hoffman of White township, Indiana County, Pa., a few days ago obtained a verdict of $975 againsttthe township for injuries received by being thrown from his wagon a piece of bad road. The road was seven feet wide, but large rocks projected from either side short distance apart. In trying to avoid one of these, Hoffman drove ever the *Ow sad was throws hen Ws wagon. THE FLOWER GARDEN. A Plan tar on Artistic Flowar 1184-34ssa. Mats as to How Properly to Ulster this Garden. , Many believe that it does no good ? water the flower garden. .As usually dew, it is worse than useless, says S. E. Cad- wallader in Orange Judd Farmer, In watering, soak the ground. for a depth of s foot or do not attempt anything, for wetting only the tap results in drawing the fine feeding roots of the plants to the surface, where the bot wind and stto soon dry them out. Do not water until obliged to do so. but keep the surfe.c,e of the soil loose and mellow and thus pre- vent the moisture already in the sell from. evaporating. Of course. sweet peas and other raoisture-loving pleats must be watered long before the others, but a great many- times M. voted not be neow sarytto water at all if the soil were kept in the right condition. Never 'MOM, the seed bed before the young planes start unless you cover the bed with a cloth to keep the earth from forming a Lewd, crust, It Is unwise to sprinkle the seed bed every clay, as many do. If the soil be dust dry, water after sowing the seeds or before, then, spread a cloth over the ground, keeping it there until the young phone stark Uncover at higat at first or en a cloudy day. During a Protraeted drouth, one must water. Do it thoroughly. A good Ptah for those who have no windmill, force pump mid hose, but roust eetrry the water in pails, is to meke bolas two feet or more deep with a croWber, werk the bar lank and forth tont maim the hole* several !mime in diameter at the top. Make these holes all around among the flowere, In watering, till the holes, but do not pour any water on the eerier,* of the soil, geme filling up the holes uatil you aro sine thet the earth Arnaud, the roots of the plants le soaked, Or make little ditebee between the rows of planet nil run the water itt these, When Water is poured Oh the eerface it ratikes the ground bard awl the boo should lea used or the moisture 8004 evaporates, But the most sedate objeenon Is that water enough is not supplied. Otto vrbo has maw experimented, with watering plants during a revere dreads has 'very little lace low roach enoieture is (27 nes er.owen mire necessary to therometly wet the earth all around the plant. It is useless to Wet ono little spot. 'The atrrounding dry earth • Will seen absorb all tho moisture. The accompanyiug illustration is a plau of one of ray genitals. It la ao feet in diameter and the walks aro two feet; wide. In watering It during a drouth use a windmill as tho leower. Thera is a force pump at the well nod hose) enough to reach halfevay to the pedant bot bar- ing on hand several long, wooden spouts I devised a way of mining the water all the way to the ger:len. In each bed make little obannele for the water to run in and conduct it aroma over eaoh bed between the rows of flowers. The ebannels are near enough together so that the water seeps through the eon beneath the surface and soaks the whole bed. To water ono of the smaller beds thoroughly takes nearly an hour when the mill runs steadily. Tbe larger beds require a longer 'time, but to water tile wbole garden re- quires a full day. Then the flowere grow better Mum with a shower, for there is no hard rain to beet them down rind spoil the bloseonis. Another surprising thing is that they grow out et the dusk However dirty they num look when 1 begin watering, a few days after they look freah and green and scarcely show dust except on the lower leaves. I am frequently maced if I think well water good for NOV A. Yes, if they can get enough of it. That is the reason so many think- cold well water injurious to the flowers in the garden. They- do not give enough of it. The water in our well Is as cold as the averege well water and my plants thrive with my system of watering. Of course, I do not water this garden every day. Such a watering as I have described will last a week 'in the hottest, dryest time. The old notion that hard water is injurious to plants is not true, except for a very few plants such as azaleas. Just give enough when water- ing the garden without regard to its be- ing hard or soft. itulailo Zehrloo. A very remarkable and beautiful vari- ety of a gigantic Japanese grass, easy of culture rind which forms elegant clumps on the lawn or in the flower garden. As will be seen by the illustration, the nnla PITO) ZAt ie/,t1-44 ''414k PCLATIA JAPONICA ZElaltINA. variegation is formed by horizontal bands at regular intervals across the leaf, in- stead of lengthwise, as is usually the ease. 1( 19 a hardy perennial. Plowed Up k :it... coma. At Ilirkin, near Ferrybridge, England, the other day a plow came into contaot With a stone coffin covered with a stone lid and containing human bones. The coffin is seven feet.six inches long, three feet wide, and the sides four to the Welles thick. It weighs nearly two tow