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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExeter Times, 1898-3-3, Page 6A DESERT DREAM. Of the four who had steamed Past tee Neediesa and awaiy under the low ! wee of the Doreetshire coast six moutlie before, only two were left. Of these two I,ee-Careon was the worse ease. The fever mist was drawn like a silk - ea cobweb low ecroset the swamp, bid- ing the bleak eye -shaped, pools and. the variegated petreseereve of rotting veg- etation. The heavy air rang with Lite shrill pinioning of wildfowl changing their hatiets. and. the ceaseless " troat- troat " of the bull frogs in the quag- mires rotted. The two men were making a fire on a dark green ridge somewbet raised above the chilling level of the marsh. "The mist is risieg," said Lee -Car- son; "oh, for a sixth -story attic!" "£'d better go and shoot some- thing before it gets any higher," said the other man, "What was it you knocked over doe n there ?" nodding back at the swamp. "Only a long -beaked atrocity, spe- sies unknown. A brace of duck or a widgeon evould suit us better." " Give me flesh and not fowl—the Doze -bred mud -breasted progeny of this forsaken swamp! Give rae corned. beef or Germaa sausage, for Pon sick of feathers 1" " Three more clays should. do it," re- marked Grammel, cheerfully, with a broad optimistic glance westwards, where, however, there was no reassur- ing break in the dead sealike levet of the horizon, above which brooded a sul- len sunset, "Then go on aid leave me bere with food and ammunition. You can come back for me afterwards." "I'll get supper first," said Geam- mei ; keep the fire in." When his companion was gone, Lee - Carson ley down beside the smoulder- Lng blaze, aoad his eves wandered slow- ly over the unending vista of seething mist. Presently he began to talk out loud, "Grammel could reach the highlands if I were out of the way. I'm dying, anyhow., and it seems a pity— '. day less or more, at sea or ashore. We die—does it matter when?' "No, it doesn't matter. It's a re- lief. Gramme won't leave me, so I'll leave him." ale drew a shot -gun towards him. Loaded for se amp fowl," he said as he snapped it to andlaid it on his knee. "I'll not write a note to you, Gramnael, because you would. worry yourself, being a fool. No. Pll come to a nicely arranged natural end. It's waste to let two men die when death only puts in a claim: for one. Grarnmel will get through this, and lecture be- fore the Geographical Society about the swamps and the forests and our sci- entific researches, and then hell write a book with tee help of a female lit- erary cousin, and marry her after- wards, and then there'll be little Gram - mels, tend be forgotten.' Then he made arrangements with the gun. Id ha! a tbirty-two inch -bar- rel, and Lee -Carson's band was un- steady, for he was very weak. There- fore, when the charge sputtered into the mud and rush behind his shoulder, he sank down insensible. When Grammel returned he found the fire blackening, and his comrade with his feet tangled in a tuft of grass and the gun lyeng across his chest. Gramme examined him bastily. "So that was your little game, was It? As if I shouldn't have knoWn 1" he exclaimed. "It's all so like the young ase too." be aided gently. Within an bour the night had closed in, and Lee -Carson, wrapped up in a. blanket and a couple of empty pro- vision sacks, sat blinking over the fire made of dried reeds and the moulder- ing remnants of a forest, and shiver- ed, his head. humming with the twen- ty grains of quinine, which was to be his garrisoa against the now almost doe attaelt of seiam,p fever. Granarael, from: the other side of tbe fire, watehed him narrowly tbrough the smoke, and wondered how soon it would be saSe to make him comfortable with part of his own clothing. "I wish yon wouldn't sit there and stare like at night -owl, Grammel," Lee - Carson e as saying fretfully, "1 like being alone when I've a go of this suongrel malaria. If you woulci push on to the higher ground you might save us both." "I'll siert, when the, moon rises," re- plied Gramrael with ready untruthful - nese. "That's all right," said. the sick man drowsily; "pile up those reeds at my Qlbow and I'll keep the fire going, 111 Gramme] rose at once and began to arrange the heap of x.eeds to humor his companion's fame.. Lee -Carson leaned against them and. dozed, and Grammel, seizing the oppor- tunity, added his own blanket to the ether's coverings. eea-Carson opened his eyes with an offort "Once too often, friend. Grommet!" be said. ',Gramme' glanced confusedly at the offending blanket. "tem tot sleepy," he replied; " be - lades be starting presently." Take it off 1" eves' tbe peremptory rejoinder. "Let ine make int the fire ,first," said Gramme' teroporizing ; but he e as taverl further argument, for the fever was graining upon the sick man, What's thet ?" exclaimed Lee -Car- son nervouely, struggling to sit up, "They are corning 1 That's the trarap- ling ok the hoofs!" ' " Dare 33,y they a,re," said Granntiel, with a 'vague wish thee there was a hoof within 200 miles a them.. " You naight Cry to rest nos'." Leo -Carson, ramie no reply, but tank back obedleatty on bie blankets, weer° hc laa norm/ling' and eautteritig in an uneasy halarenseioustess. Thee tsa tight WOXIS on + • ^ IThen, because the desolation was so ntouse, Gramma began to grumble; his voice rang like a. minor undertone throueh tbe resonaut booming of the laterne and. the harsh cloorus of tae them..gsal the poi e and feae erouaul " Halt tele tobacco's soaked," lie retie, sniffing coetemptuously at the hollew of hie hand, " and the rest tastes like smoked. porridge steerbut I suppose it's better than breathing in thts fet- id fog ist ite native etestiness. Patel it's chilly too. I don't thinle—" Be stop- ped. Lee -Carson was singing, a broken line or two at first, the his voice rang out clearly: e "Thus as the spreading ocean Conquers a sandy coast, Each tide lies borne us further To znai e lonelier post " "It's only doggerelent on wi a weak laugh, "but i1 wars man's veins, and it's true; I tell you, IL's true l'' The big. man opposite at very still anti listened. Lee -Carson an on in the irascible monotone ol "Forclison, and Chester died, Yon know—wiped out with fe-ver. Fordieon died just at dawn, a wet, low dawn, onlY as high as the tops of the trees. That was in the forest, when we were making for higher ground. A.nd Gram- mel—good old Granarael—buried him gni' planted a rock on his chest" .A spurting Llaze flamed out a the reeds, and Lee -Carson beef rose. "3 ou. emelt do it to keep the eyentis off, you know," he proceeded solemnly. "Do :sou think we'll find it an ira- pediment on resurrectionelay? But I suppose it's no worse than a meta) evith tenpenny nails—is it, Gram?" " Of course not 1" answered Grarnmel. "Do shut up I" Bat Lee-Carsen wandered on. "And Chester—the hyenas have him —if the crocodiles left any. They're birds of a 'feather, crocs an hyenas. What's one artan's meat --one man's meat—how does it go ?—I carat remem- ber!" he sobbed petulantly. The red glow of the fire burned like a plague -spot upon the broad dark breast of the evaste as Grammel fed it silently. The wearying, hollow voice went on— "You're looking, very pretty this morning, Alice, with the sun shining in your hair. You knew I'd come back didn't you, clarling?" He looked across admiringly into Grammel's bearded face. "Let's set the rat -trap in the stable—where is it? I can't find it 1" Then from the far distances of the marshes came indescribable noises that sounded like Titans laughing, and balls of fen fire rolled, dimly seen, through the fog, while Lee -Carson got exceed- ingly afraid because he fancied that he was on board a steamer on a thick night, and that a collisiou was immin- ent, and the skipper not properly cer- tificated, - "I tell you, man, I see her lights! There!" be cried, strung like a beep with excitement, pointing a shaking hand into the darkness. "She's working round all right," said Grammel, soothingly. "Can't you hear the sailors singing ?". adding to himself, "If I can only get him on his songs, that will quiet him down, perhaps." Lee -Carson responded to this at once, his eyes blazing. "I ran bear them! Oh, Lord, it is good!" he exclaimed, amd seemed to lis- ten; then added, mysteriously, "But it's not the sailors—it's—dont you know their voices ?—why, it's Fordi- son and Chester—and—and. the rest." And the high trembling voice was once more raised to join in the song: "But northward, east, and westward, And under the tropic sky. The price that we paid to conquer Were the omen who were proud to diet" He chanted it over and over, till the taut sinews loosened, and. he fell haek exhausted, and lay still for many minutes. Presently Grarumel crept round and covered him up carefully. Lee -Carson's sleep was the sleep of exhaustion, but it was better than no sleep D,t After awaile Grammel too lay down and slept. When Lee -Carson woke, a huge red moon on the horizon seemed very close to his eyes, and he caned out wildly: "Gra,mmel ! Grammell Curse you, Grammel, you're dead!" And from the other side b1 the fire Gramme answered him, his dry lips bleeding as they parted: "Dead? Of eburse I'm not l'' " What's death?" began Lee -Carson again. "Don't let that moon dance and gleam isi my eyes, it gets into my brain! Gramme', what's death?" " ' A sleep ad a forgetting,'" quot- ed Gramme at hie wits' end. "No, it's not . that!" said the sick man more calmly. "Grommet., come here! Where are you ?" be groped about for the friendly hand that met his "Look I look 1—the other side of the fire!" When Gramme could get his heavy eyes open, he looked across and saw nothing, only the snake tongues of the flame leaping at intervals into the moonstruck gloom. "'There's nothing," he said shortly. Grammel had no imagination, hence he was at a loss, not knowing what he was expected to see. "Nothitig ?" repeated Lee -Carson, peering anxiously forward, "No, I see clothing now—perhaps I dreamed. think I'm going out. Most people die about the dawn," • " Rot I" said Grommet lamely. Lee-Carsores lips rarted in the old whimsical smile. Presently he said, "I've seen things, Grams:eel, and C'd like to tell you what I saw." Granarael was sitting close by, his hari1selasped round his knees. Being the man he was, he said nothing, only waited to hear. "Through the night I've seen them galloping past, squadrons and equad- rons of mounted men—our fellows, you know," Gramme shook his bead impercep- tibly. "I shouted to them—X sheeted wile W0. were, but they were riding fast eastwards." "No mast rides east," said Gramma looking up. " You don't utiderstand," saki the sick- man gently; eou don't know who they are. They are thee Frontier IVI.en of Englaucl and their recruiting ger- gearees Death Don't you remember ? " They ride for ever up and down, To guard the tend they wore' Don't you see them—don't you see them —how? They're ctelixtg me, arid leant go 1 Oe, the morning of life is sweet, but ibm is batten! The end is owning. Grarranet ; ire eenting fast!" Ile la& 4031.13, again moaning, ma Gramma mixed numh brandy with a little Mild and e ater and gave it to ' In a little while Lee-Carsen moved his faee distorted in the teal:blight of the fire, u he shouted htlekilY. "Fordison, Chester, stop 1 Ian com- ing! I sitan't be long, and. thee we'll ride together. Graeurtel will come too --some day. Hell never die between stelae, good ottl Grammel 1 I nervier if he'll ride sixteen stone as a ghost 1" He 'angered out etuldertly. and Grain - mei muttered in. Lis, booed; "He's got it bad—very bad." "We'!! ride past our graves together and scare the beasts! Well. gallop into the sunset! Who's with you? Celt -wood and Tommy 13rown, all of them!" and ir bis delirious transport he tore the olalekets from him, 'I have known many good things in life—sea-dawns and ships rushlng through the acteries of the world, but this is better than all 1" Gramma had started up and was Listening intently, 1„ Still the voice, strained to breaking pita, rang on. "They start with us on our expedi- tame they head our armies. Tbe Fron- tier Men of Engels:1d I Reinforced in ev- ery border-fizzle—by the bullet—by the stab—by the swamp -fever. You at home, you needut weep 1—" Be ceased to peer anxiously out into the gloom of tbe swamp. "Are you there, you felloteet I can't see you. That's tell right. 'No one dies atone in the e aste or the desert, you're always there to see him die, I wish l'a told Gratronel, he'd tell tbe rest. At every advance they're with us, aed when we die, no man if left to die alone. They are ays there—waiting." It alraost seem- ed. to Grommet that, he could bear the trampling hoofs of that shadowy squa- dron. A chill wind stirred the vapors of the marsh. "I smell the dawn." Lee -Carson rais- ed, his head, "I'm corning with the dawn. I know how it will rise, like the wet glistening side of a white bull over the sodden rim of the marshes, Oh, the glory of it 1" he shrieked. "All tbe men who have passed away into the un- known and died on the edge of the flood. All of theta! For ever riding up and down, To guard the land. they won,' Ana wheel Armageddon cranes, they'll be there, the glory of the ages! The men who were planted with a stone an tbeir chest to mark the frontiers of the world!" With ate unexpected strength be sprang up and tottered forward, his IrOiCe still calling, as he ran with a wild shembling run into the dimness of the daybreak. The light was filtering through the cold gray air as Grammel came up with him. Lee -Carson lay with his headam- ong the brown leaf -sockets of a water - plant, his hands full of Week ooze— dead. Graz:aunt raised him with strong ten- der bands. Fever breeds fancies—and visions, We know that. Yet," heglanced about him toddy into the mists, "the Fron- tier Men may be more by one," he said, "Who cast tell?" THE EARTH IS A PYGMY. Almoht Incredible itimensions of the Son as Compared' with This Sphere. A. dime, held a.t arm's length from the eye will much more then cover the entire dise of the sun. If it were placed at tbe exact point of coincidence and its diameter aaa distan e front the eye accurately measuxed, it might be used as a. means of determining the eun's diameter, hie distanee being known. The foaesm.cet pbilosophers of long ago would have 6zen appalled at the true statement of both the sun's distance and its size. The suse's diameter is about 866,000 miles. Perhaps a. faint conception of the, enormous bulk indicated by these figures raay be hati from the reflection: that the umbra o.f a dingle huge sun spect, obeerved. in January, 1897, was extenisive eneage to entertain sixteen earths greuped in a. solid square. • It is bewildering to be assured that it Would. take 1,30000 earths to equal the sun: in volume. If the interior of that truly gigantie globe ware hollow, and the earth were placed nt its center with the M.,‘Ola revolving about it at its usual roaaa illetanee of nearly 240,000 neles, there, would tili exist a vacuity be- tween. the )31.0,De and the euelesing shell of the sun of nearly 20e000 miles. This is perhaps the meet graphic and im- preseive possible of the sun's colossal busk. We, must nobs, however, that the density of the sun is only about une-quarber that of the earth, so that it, wou.ld "weigh" only as inuce as 839,000 earths, In, :very "round" numbers the sun's weiglit may bre stated at two metillione of tons, whaih, if expreezed in figures, would require as many ciphers as a news- paper lice can accommodate. A very comprehensive illustration of the pygratia.a dimensions of the earth as compared with the 'sun is to retire - scat tem latter by a globe two feet in diameter ane the earth by a dainty pea. And yet the little pea weighs more thaa six quintillion tons. As to the solar surface, it is seine 12,000 times that of our plaraet. Yet the sun, when calliperect with its true peers, the stars, is, not only of extraordinary size, but in all probability is only to be rankedweenie the medium self -lum- inous bodies which sparkle in "heaven's oboe vault.", And beceuse of its spot- tedevass it has a place, although a hum- ble one, among the "variable" stars. The "shaming shalt" as iss Clarke benne it, seen through a piece of wen smokes% gla.s.s, is termed the "photo- sphere." We thus perceive its actual diameter, although it sooeres Mud' smaller than our conoeptioe of it, be- cause the fierce glare has been nega- tived by the Slade glass. I We eon - eagle that the sun is gaseous, the pho- tosphere may be regarded. as a sore of skin, or crust, of incandeseent clouds, through which are constantly breaking the gteyeerlike uprushes af metellie vap- ors, which expend their energies Its fax above the son, earnetimes, its the moon Le distant from the earth. Environing thn photosphere, as the atroesphere surrounds the eaatb, but vastly deep- er, is the "chrooseephere." Sean in the spectroscope it resembles a, deli - cab& hue brilliant, isisn, about the solar globe; watt tbre melee inetruivent veak5 this "promitenees," wheiee earied Perms are so astatine leg, NOT AN EXPLODING DOILER. l'hts s atherett PriYak Onglecre 0014"IP 4.1oito et' the elites° vrreele, A deepatch ft'orn Washingto.n. ea'a:—The eeriest/ of meal in Waffle- ington from Key West on Wednesday afternoon, bringing several private let- ters from eteeal offieers lately attach - ad to the Milne, caused a wave of ex- citerneut to rite over the departments and the Capitol, for there were all sorts of re -Moues as to the ooutents a thee letters, very few of which rum- ours ia Valet et feet hasi any ectund basis. The only feature so far as eould be discovered of real importence as throwing auyhight on, the cause of the explosion contained in the letters was the statement that the teat after boil - ere in the after boiler space were itil of the eight boilers of the Maine thee were =ter steam et tbe tines of the exPlosion. This fact had a negative value, for it disposed of the theory that an exploding boiler had. caused the wreck. The experts ell &or that by no possibility could. the after boilers' explosetat bave wrecked the forepart of the Maixte, and id t the after part al- most unharmed. ...YELLOW are.RN. DENIED, Evidently the president of the court of enquiry is fearful of the effect upon the publics of ill-judged aetempts to ea - count for the destruction of the Maine, for he telegraphed Secretary Long, doubtless having in niind certain pule! lications oi this morning, as follows:— " Any reported interview with divers untrue. Every precaution hes been tak- en. Officer always present," The big double turreted. monitor Ter- ror remains under orders to stay in Hampton Roads until further notice. It is likely that she will be sent to take thcaplace of the Maine in the North Atlantic sqyadron if not needed else- where immediately. A WORLD STORY. A despatch to the New York World. from Havana says;—The situation in Havana is more grave than it was a week ago. Although the officers of the Naval Board of Enquiry preserve an inellenntrable reeerve, it is learned that some of the best 'Ravel experts now belixove that the explosion wee the re- mit of treaelaery. They do not believe that Spanish officials were part of the ecnspiracy. From evelence now in their possession they believe the Spanish Government, General Blanco, aed all ins military subordinates were guiltless alike of knowledge bf or participationin the (gime. It is believed to have been set off by a fanatic, SHADOWS OF TROUBLE. • Consul-Geaeral Lee, has infiormally advised Americans not -necessarily de- taieed here to leave for bome at once. This is an iadieation that those on the ground realize the possibility of trou- ble arising suddenly, a.nd their inabil- ity to protect women and ohildren if an outbreak eccurs. THE 'sQxgro AFFAIR. :Lord Salisbury Receives Int Assitraitre Front France 'That She Iles No froops In the Region. ard Editiola A. despatch from London says :—The Marquis of Salisbury, in the House of Lords on Tuesilayreled:—"My Lords -- Before moving. the ,adjournment per- haps it would be convenient tbat should read a telegram 'received from Sir Edneend Mennen, the British Am- bassador, at Paris, with refereace to matters which have excitett some at- tention. Sir Edmund says placed in the bands of M. Hanota,ux, the French Ministex for Foreign Affairs, as soon as I could. obtain an interview a mote drawing attention to the re- port publiehed this morning of a. French advance into Sokoto.I said that if the report was correct the ,news retest be. regarded as or a ,very seri- ous eharacter. M. Hanotaux replied that be. had no knewledge ot any euch proceedenge, and that If anything of the kind had occurred it must leave been done not only withoat the ,erders of the Fremoh Governmeet, but against their wishes and instructions, as they had no desire to approach Sokoto. He eaid he did not believe the news was true, and be has since comro.unicated to me the essura.nre that there are no French troops in that region." The reactive of tlae despatch was received with cheers. IN WEST AFRICA. lfacquIs or sat Mime:, ear. tee O'reccealue IMO f a Fide d x, Mitre. . A despateh from. Lon,don fees —The Mergain of Salisbury, replying cvn Wed .12,?s,2ay In a deputation -twee Lae Chann bees a Commerce regard:mg the Frencle Customs taaeffs in West Africa, assur- ed the deputation that the negotiations paogeedim:g were of a perfecobly Iriend- ly adding that be did not see any reaeon why they should not be end- ed amicably. FISH SCALES. , A. fish never renews its scales. A wound may heal up and be covered over with a thick protective skin, but nature provides the fish with only one suit of seale armor, and leaVeS InSt out of that are never restored. No Grine. When you take Iloode Tele, elle lee °leftists. toned, sugar-coated pins, which tear you ell to pieces, are not in it meth Roods, freey to take and easy to operate, Is true va to date In every raven. i i fti, of geode Plea, whice ere Safe, eertein and sloe. ell druggists. ente 0..3', mod gi et), Lowell, aitts The met Pilla to take Inas iloat's earstemelle FONNIGRAMS, Not So Itemerleable—De Sappie—I ba. neve my dog kaowe as =oh as I do. s;ur etee.sraxt.'etv szionthbthan y that, lflow Is seldoaa. Wily, how's that? Because see sits Whiled me on our tending! George, father hee fallee. That's justiike baron I told you all along, bdearg.7.114, tilaattokerp tivisasgoing ,Lionimatxho rylnga.11 Are you the boss of the house? ine (faired tile Man at the door. No; I'm only the boss' understudy, was the frau:I-married rattin's answer. Sbleewealushsehehaaa wished his shoes' n Bat siege that was impossible She stood uponles feet, did you know What was comiag ? La - Proposed last eight Daura—Whea Bob retia ---No; I didn't know papa was L vithin hearing ; neither dia. Boa, Poor My dear Mies Bunyan, said the im.- perounious youth, I love you more than Ircytentigufinic,leswrorde to tell— Well, then, Interrupted the heiress, why don't you Chollie—Er—av—I do believe a good deal in this aw—hewedity Miss Smart—Yoer ow,n, case shows it, Yoxi would never 'have been rioh if your father had not been so. Boarding House Keeper—How sorry I feel for those poor Klondike minere this cold weather! Boarder—Madene there is no need of going so far to polazus.youe sympathy, you seem to forget tbat I occupy one of your hall r Mr. Dukane—Do you mean to Say teat Mr. Jiggine is invariably truth- ful, under all circumstances? Mr, Gaswell—Well, perhaps he is a teifie prone to exaggerate the lowness of his thermometer in zero weather. Yes, sir, seed the promoter, who had entered into a bragging m.atoh with the other Promoter, we broke ground on tbe first of the moxitla and by the 15th of the next month—a You broke (hippe tliestdia. ockliolders, the tither Promoter ) You sball be queen, of my home, said young Mr. Northeide, enthusiastically, when Miss Perrysville had given her promise to marry him. I'd rather be the ohaneeller of the exchequer, George dean replied the practical maidexr. Miss Wearwell—Who is that hand- some gentleman across the room ? He has been looking steadily at nee almost all the evening? Miss De Cosh—Plitt is Mr. Fearsome. They say he is so near-sighted that he can't see three incbes beyoed bis nose. liabberjohn doeent seem to have a, very lovable nature. Well, no. If Ilithberjoh.n. were at a • banquet and. some -one should discover that there were thirteen at the table, all eyes would enstinetively turn toevara Rah. berjolea as the ane to go. I want you toenuke me a. newmarket coat, she said to the dressmaker. But Id isn't the prevailing fasbion toehave lenghty tvraps. I don't care. I era invited to a white party and the gen- tleman who is to be my partner told. me to he sure not to forget my long Young man this is the third time this week youehave come to take my daughter sleighriding. It you pay cash for the horses and sleigh it means either Illnacy or bankruptcy, and if you don't it means that you are a dead beat. I ow.n the tieery stable, sir. That's di ffereat Well, said the great importer, you . want a position as tea -taster, do you ? Have you ever had any experience- in this business? No; the applicent re- plied, but. I've boarded around and eat- en at rostaurants so long that I know led be a good one et it I could tell the genuine tea right off, becauee it would be so differentyou know. I shall tackle them, said the young politieien, Without g3oves. :Don't be too rasb advised the veteran lt is not .always, good policy to expoee your whole hand Mr. Milly u as, briskl y—Want my daughter, eh? Well, how much are you worth 1 Money talke, you knew. Bob Ilerdup, cbeerfully—Yes,.I kaow; but I'd be wielinee to let her clo meet of the talking. Bee Sad Experienee—I. bought it Heim said the returned Ktondiker, where the nuggets were said to be as plentiful as billekberries. Add they were net? Well, yes, they were; but, you see, there are no bleekberries in that re- gtont .SUII Has Faith—Mrs. Higgins is still wildly in lovewith tier lageband. Dees she put the huttens on his shirts for him yet? No, hut • he told her he att up all night pleying eards -with- out arty stitkes—anil she believes Eincouraging—My rtle—Dh, d ear! 1. wish 1 couldthink of some new way to say no, I've had to refuse so nriny men lately that f any potinvely , be- coming weary of the olcl wey of de - el' ing. Al' -1 wouuldid woo ry about that, dear. ',Pee fellows prob- ably enjoy the joke just as much as if you. timid something original eace time. Fuddy--Whatet tbe • matter? Where have • you been? You look ae though you had beenrolled in an ashpit. Duday—So 1 have. I slipped and fell an the ice it little while ago. Lwould- tilt have minded that, but, confound it, Id ll onto the ashes that some ninny - hammer had pread there to prevent persons from falling.. Mrs. Greene—My husband is such e thoughtful man! He always were down into the basement kitchen to smoke. Mrs. Gray—And lets the Smoke acme upstairs into the dining room through 'the darab waiter. Mrs. Greene—Yes, ,but that's because he is gibeenitement- ede poor man, That has nothing to do with his thoughtfulaess, you know. TOO MUCH Fon. First Kiondike Millionaire -1 cover yoar bet and (swim you a hundred ounces. , Sewed Klondike tLilhicouai re --Pork or go I d dust ? lei t F(londibe. riIImnnaix'e-.i'ork Iseeond Klondike. Milliomera sadly— Let nix' out or id 1 pass, To THE KLONDIKE DY BALLOON A Party of wreneltmen win bane on west from Juneau to the To the Ihteudilte in is balloon! Pre Poisterons as the idea seems, it is be ing serionely entertained by Severe Frenclunee. Aecording to a 'embus, Parisian journal, the idea fleet sug- gested iteelf to K. Variele, a well- known balloonist, He expresses no doubt as to his ability to make the trip, and he says thee he will surely start for the Klondike Were the middle of thiS month. . M. Variole first began to tbink seri- ously of going to the Klondike when he read in certain French paper's of the hardships which the gold seekers were suffering there through the extreme cold and want of food. In the words of a French journalist, as soon as be heard that ',11toueands of reokless adventur- e erg egnorane of the perils and of the rigorous climate of tbe Klondike, 'were imprieoned in these icy solitudes with- out the possibility ot returning home before summer," and that theft famish- ed, millionaires, though surrounded 11y gold on all sides, woula almost surely come to a Lorrible end, the thought at once occurred to him that there wes no reason why he should not go to their assistance with a fleet of balloons. He interested, his friends in the pro- jeet and in due time a plan was formu- lated. A new balloon, entitled '"The Frans," was built by NI. Laobambre for elm purpose and was tested a few days ago. According to the Figaro this aerostat, which has a capacity of 1,200 metres, ascended at La Villette and came down some hours afterward at Reriey, on the banks of the Seine. Next day the aeronauts set off again, 'steer - bag the balloon as they chose," and at noon they passed over Fontainebleau towerd the southwest. The:, party in- cluded MM. Varicle, Mallet,. Magnier and Bureau, and their main object WEIS Lo raake final experiments in steer- ing the ballooui and. to test a contrive ance designed to eimble its passengers to stop at will. Twelve fellow explorers will =cm( paey M. Variale on his trip to the Klondike. The party will go first to Liverpool and. thence to New York. From. that point they will go yto Van- couver by the Canadian Pacific Rail- way, and a day later they will arrive at Victoria. There they will remain about a week for the purpose. of obtain- ing provisions' and. other necessaries. Thenee they will go on to Juneau, and at tile point the balloon ascent will take place. They hope, nay, they are confident, that from this point they will be able to make the trip to the Klondike within twenty hours. ROM_ELY MEN. It is rather curious, from a woman's point of vi'etv, to hear a man sometimes talk as if his lack of gooa looks militat- ed. against his chances with the other sex. - "I am such a plain, chap," you will hear one of them, say, "no woman is ever likely -to care about me ;" or "Poor old Jones! He'll never get a girl to take 'Ian with that ugly tam of his." A wornaa whea she hears such a speech smiles to herself. A. man is so muola affected by looks in it woman— Ws love se often springs -from. some outward attraction a woman may pos- eesseathat he not unnaturally fancies D. woman is swayed. in the same way. But., as a -matter at fact, her love is wen by such utterly different means that the question of looks affects her very little one way or another. To be sure, she oftea admires the out- ward mane but unease she is very fool- ish aal very young she does not think most or the face. It is the man's streagth that appectis to hex weakness --she delights in his height and size ane look of. power. In most cases a woman ie ileard to say she does not care for a man to be handsome as long as Ile looks sweaty and. strong; and, it is wonderful how little suecess a. mere beauty man lies among women, as a rale. Even size a.tul strength however, are not necessary .queltactitions in a wo- noat's eyes for the man she loves. Ev- ery day one eees men: deformed, mis- shapen and so hideous that one hesi- tates to .Loole twice at them., who he e won wives who not only love them, hut are proad of them, and would not change their personal appearance for that of any other man iu the world, were he a veritable Adonis. Observers of these bare noticea this, and turnett it inn, a matter for sneers. They sappoise the reason for it lies in a. woman's frantie desire to get, mar- riea, and, they Pint it out ecornfuity, and. bay: "aust leok a,t, woman! As long es she can find a man to give her the proud position of writing. 'Mrs.' on bar visit leg cards she. deesn't care whether he is Wine or halt, or lame." But in reality Iter conduct COMea from a very different cause. To begin with, physical afflietion in a man excites women'e compassion and empathy. It does n,ot, stir her to re- pulsion as it does a raan. Then she is far more affected by els disposition, and chaeacter in beeterying her love than by regular feaeutee and. a straight baek. Perhaps this is ole reason why wornen's Jove eits been more enduring than a man's eines tbe world began. II; does not fade with tveinkles and gray hairs; it does not burn low when the light goes out of the eyes, and the erectneee from the figure; it endures, and as Wattmeter I's the one thing im- mortal, about us, which reaches on to another lite, it is safe to 6uppoSe that a good women's love can outlast death itself, and live again in eternity.. But whet wine a, woman's love most chiefly in a, mos in hie eepacity far love- making. tendernese and erder wili make her his more surely thaa anything else 1. tbe knowe world.. And the ugly man may tiossess the qualities of it deeoted lover,as Jewett ae the hand - son* man; it Moat CaSeS Ile poasus- usa a thousand times more. 'nee being so, there et every reason why e plain racial steatite be able to win a woman.% love even more readily and certainly than any or his goOd-lOoking rirojs, awe in tdeetti nine teen. out of every ten be susceeds in dr,in,,,4 so, The uglieet teen i ct the e hid e his t ory of the world have had the twist beauti- ylowwwwwwwwwww,e, ri 0 lir Dickiy Women! Out of sorts'Anally tired, hag- gard, pale end listless, try WW1 Woman's Balm. H makes riob new blood, banishes backsobea, headaches, heart palpitation, Oa^ stipation and all other ailments to winch women are so subject. It is suffering womanhood's greatest boon, Has cured thousands-- " Why not you? ,0 obiZole.4.416414101.111,41tivitla ANcit ERVE PILLS FOR WEAK PEOPLE. At all Druggists. Price 6o,cents per Box, or 3 for $1.$o. Sent by Mall on receipt of price. T. MILBURN & Co., Toronto. ' THE 1 X.ILT ER TIN ES' O4(Y ful wives. Thle uglier a man is, it would. seem, by a, law of natural com- pensation., the more he has the power Owen; the. love of women for whom all in)Siii Biel/ if he knows how to use it right. Se let thIs plain, men take comfort, they need not have the least fear of' remaining lonely bachelors all t,heir, lives, if they will only realize the face that a. fair field is before them, teed woo boldly and like men. DISASTER IN QUEBLC. eams.mar Four People allied Wind TWO mouses be stroycd by a Snowfall at Quebec. A despatch from Quebec says :—Four lives were lost by an avalanche at South Quebec about 710 on Tuesday night, and two houses were destroy- ed. They were built directly under the cliff, opposite the G.T.R. sheds, and a little west of the Vietoria, hotel. The disaster occurred suddenly, and with- out a moment's warning. (inc house was crushed' down by the weight of snow from above, while, the upper stor- eys of the other were cut clean off from the first storey, and overturn- ed. in front of it upon the street. A whote family named Labreeone were in this upper part of the house during its somersault, and escaped practically unhurt. an tbe lower flat resided one Angers, his wife, and six children. The father and two children, ogee 2 and 5 re- spectively, were taken out dead. Mrs. Angers is in a critical condition, and Lour children escaped. In the other house Mr. James King, head. carter here for the G.T.R., re- sided with his wife, son ancl daughter. Mr. King and his son and daughter have escaped serieus injury, but Mrs. King is still under the ruins, notwith- standing active efforts to release her, and she is undoubtedly dead. BROKE THE RECORD. C. P. fl, Takes Freight From Vancouver to New Fork Seven Days. The C.P.R. has leroken the world's` re- eard for a transcontinental freight run. On February 11 a leraa quantity of silk was landed at Vancouver by the steamship Empress of Canna and on the 18th it was landed in New Yeark, the trip oectipying seven days. There were four carloads vaned at e200,000 each, SCURVY IN DAWSON. ahout. Thirty cases or the Disease Dave Developed Among the Miners. A despatch from Dawson, N.W.T., via Victoria, B.C., save—Scurvy has " developed among the miners to such an extent that ther are now seven- teen cases in the pie ie hospital. It is estimated that there are from twelve Lo fifteen cases in private rabins,swel- ling the whole number to thirty. Pre- cautionary measures are being taken to prevent the spread of the malady. c29.4131,J911VMM.X.E11... Me fat. rhino Aivantra/ of SANDSTORIVI AT SEA. le as tvery manor. Familiar Experience Deported by ilia OVer- 11140 41C11110'1. ROSITil 0.1,141.r. A despatch. from Plymouth England, says steamer Roslyn, Castle, frem, Table .Bay, arraced. !here an Weanesdey, two days overdue. She re:ports that on falyruary 14th slue encountered what sloe:need to be a, fog, but whiele peeved to Is a sandstorm.. 'The dar wag per- rar„Ituted with red sated, mid bow 900 miles the sou nal, stars were in.visibae. Ob- sst'vxtt!Lrnc *era ttneossible tixiuil tee ship ree,rbett Meseette„ and for the ce- tiea distance the vessel worked her way Iv dead reekorbilog. C STO For Infants and Children, Tho Oran° tiEllar.ra( 01 it at only ‘44, weeps.