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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Clinton News Record, 1912-04-18, Page 3il I8th, tv1 P011 -W06 TIFF, ?tACFMA1[111. rale of a 'teilless Bee. esti* Morgan, egoeyreseit: 1y Puble11-00S Pro 2 1,111,) 1 /CFI really ray posstoisioM leeause his presence mode tot but peace in his own hie had a tifstinegily fi is i.ti 111 or; sitience upon his. little mother, whilst, sis tiny brothers and sisters logil ;70i11telY ob- 10 Pe11818 at 111 when he was Te the box. Rarely sleeping himself,. he would hot permit sleepiness in tdiers, alga ho growl/id, barked stall stumbled et gin incredibly early age,' '10 flog, when his eves opened for Pm' first time he immediately found soine-' thing to object to. Pertness- he e011/It0(1 Ws brothers and; esthete and thought his little world 1 sverero'reded. I protested, of e011 101(1, tgainst, this .iggresslife though tiny ' ersonality being thimst upon me, hut Y Prethestations were entirely in It, wits pointed 011 1. 1.0 Me hal 3. -hen to fitted so nicely into my overcoat Moceet le would ,be 'debidedly mean epee' my pertnot tce ofter him a, egairi I objected; and remind - .til the oversgenerous ones of the vow .1 'sande When •the hull terrier died that bis place should never be filled. This wits firmly impressed upon rite . Mak In all hernart-eve rathee ermine -se mmobability this bleak morsel Would; teeSer grow large enough to anythingt like fill the vacant peace on the, hearth -rug that the white one had eccupledi So ungraciously, I per- mitted them to place him iu mem pocket. mlf you really don't want him," said, file donors, "give him to the erit eindly-lookipg person you meet". I made no reply, but banged the e Emir behind nue, kt was a particularly cold and dism tgreeable Febenary day, and I mar-' feted at the number of people itt the etreets whose faces matched the. eseather. Once, upon perceiving a itindly-look-' Mg old lady approaching, 1 placed my sugleved hand in the pocket -be had eaten a violent exception to the emell 11 tobacce wbich pervaded the gloves. e- mid his baby teeth "vitiate- triee to. [mike an impression neer rny thumb, end finding thls ineffectual he stoked lied licked it by turns and -well --the `Id lady had passed, mid I absolutely tad to take him in to the eireside. He WAS so glad to find the hearth- eugg and seemed to realize at once Mae he had come into his own king - tom, for, stretching himsele to his eery limit, with his littee tummy turn - td towards the flee, he fell fast tsleep. After that 1 became merely t guest at my own fireside. fle took tbsoiute posseseion, and could only eit ill my corner Oath- when he demet mutt it, or preferred the center of the hearthrug. Then I had to be very.. tareful eat to let my slipeeree feet eprewl aboat or he would give a teliciously tiny grow!, welch com- .' smiled nue to do it again, just to hear ;he encore. . However, other doge,other manner - 001 the tiny tyrant led me *thither he would. I had to give in to elie stronger personality, and walk ;est where and as facr em he liked. We had beett of as eters many' ..cm amm titres itt tlia-flie Wore "she" camei :mon the scene. Pog-wog bitterly resentful her snes- at thce first, and it 'as not until efternoon when she maths tea for ue !hat. Ilt really accepted' her. 1 remem- her how Inc left my side oe the table tud sat near her. I thought it so nice ef him, and svished that I had ,his mitrage. It was atter this that slip accept .c1 Then, when we went Walking, it, was hog -wog the animal who changed the erder of his parade and led inc nto Mose dreamy. deserted streets, where tut- whispers were softly echoed. So rechristened him Fog -wog the tla tchinaker. gun ,contInnallY wondering what the original (muse or our quarrel. ' end yet, what does it Matter now? trow CSO one:expect a woman to care much for one whose hair shows signs if gray at the temples end looks thin e1 tbe top Witen there 11 re co many erigh t, handsome young fellows t bout? We will go to the old walk tonight, lo'-weet, Just yen and I, cm we went tut thdee days before we ever thoueht ef .5 (nl)W, r don't understand women, but I did think that Fog -wog Veld me in chains, and yet even he eas left me. Why would he insiet ripen revising the very streets that I was longieg to forget? When he 'eaught sight or her he rushed from am side and claimed around her as he eever dimeed to me. Sbe etooped, to ;me itim, and unnoticed I hurried ieway, had hoped that lie woald, g' 'Wale back during the nighm mai es, Waited, listening for that tremaneet tenth* of hie on the door, Never mind, there be still i 111l0)', a book, anti the pictures in. Mc fire-, . She 'carried bleM In ana placeek hint; bus chair. ' 'Mee wanMd to come batik,' site mia, "only he wouldn't come atone." ' mWozet you stay too?" 1 beggee We call hem Peg -wog the Peace- . 'Maker new. • Vic Interesting Lower Claes. , "en England wItlie good form we- ttrains and levels the Universities and tlee Ailey., the poor 'people 'are tbe meet motley and amusing ceeatures .te the wrold, full or humoreus nt- iectattoOs and urejodices and twists ef Irene. . Pm:richt-nen tend to be alike, eecause they are el 1 soldiers' Free- dom; because they ere all something co thm, probably policeman; been Amer - o0510 are a.11 epteething, though it is se 60t easy to say that it. '10511 goes with hawl...-elike eyes and an lamationid eb itagereess. Perhaps it is savages. Bet 1'1? ;we hinglish eabnarm will be as, gro- ' toneitely different es ear, Weiler end; er Ur, dream" Ctinton News -Record Ily 14Abel (Copyright by Fuldliekers Preis Melee It etas the fleet leght tit their suburban , house. , The furniturs 'Jan had 1Mt the door, the children and the Iwo maid 4awartis were 111 bed, and dohn IMO Wary Bederave a1. resting after Chair labours before a cheerful fire in the barlour. "How the wind does whistle," itatll "A corner house, you know. But 1 is an exceptionally windy night% Tired, dear?" "Only pleasantly tired. How nice it feels just to sit down, and ISIA it a good thing to be in a house of our teleY,own at lam? We have never had that since we were married, only rented ones, with landlords." "Landlords ought to be shot!" "Yes, unless they immediately gran- fy- all the tenant's dentandei especially It thal tenant be John ,Bedgrave of !Tlfe Echo." " They both laughed, but Mary's laugh ended in a chifier, "Virh-e-e How that wind does howl! \Val it always nowl like this Miro?" Nensense, no° Of course riot." He I if ted his chair across the hearth, an.d sitting close to his wife put les arm proteetingly rouud her. "Feel all right now, little woman?' She rested her heed on his shoulder, "Of course I dd 11 don't care now how the wind howls!" "Hallo! What's that?" They started. up. . • Some melted opened the outer halt door. Almost immediately the outer door was 'closed again, and. John, Imre eying to see what was the matter, came Mee to 'face with the intruder at the parleur door. "Hallo/ Who .are you?" he de-. mended. -- The stranger started, his eyes blink- ing in the light. He appeared to be d, man of about 30, awl Inc had a clean shaven, handsome tepee, and carried • portmanteau. "1-4 beg your pardon," be began.in O gentlemanly voice that had some-- u thing particularly winning about it. e eTials is number 64. Do not Mr and is, Mrs liorningstone live here?" "No. They used to, I believe. Old g Mr. ITorningstone died a few weeks ago." "AM.!". The stranger shrank back. eMhave come too late, then," he said, s wearily passing his band across his brow. "But Mrs Horningstone, my -mm mother? Tell nte, she is still alive?" John shook hie Lead. 11 "Horningstone was e. vvldower. I !mese it for a fact," he said, not un- h kindly, but brusquely, with a mates'Id wish to tell an unpleasant thing to M another mau quickly and get it over. 11 "I cannot tell you how long ago bis o Wire died!' "Alt...?" the stranger repeated, andth leant wearily with one hand upon the m edge of the deer and bowed his head an as if in abject misery. "Won't you come in?" begged "per a over her husband's shoulder, speak- m Ing for the first time her sweet voice h broken with womanly sympathy. sh "Yes, come in," ocboed her husband. sh They installed hira in the one arm- tr chair the room yet boasted of. OS "Have' you come a long journey. sa And did no one tell you about - the house - nor anything?" asked do Mary' gently. His lips twitched. an "I have come straight from Austealia and I have been away for nine years, Tl and all that time hello heard nothing be from them, I was - I might as well .a tell you - I was a prodigal. Nine Years ago my father disowned me, le forbade me his house, and from that ee day to this I have never come back. I ea have been sueoessfut enough in a hu worldly way to have pleased even him p r anel -- I have repeated - but it is in too late. ri "I am sure of It, aaid Mary, tears ee glistening in her eats. "Mothers al- ways forgive." he He gave her a grateful look. "There is a room upstairs, the one eu ttbove this one, that she used often, nut and called her `sewing -room,' "You may certainly see tbe room," „ began John, making as if he would be conduct him there intmedletely, when - Mary intercepted him. na "So you must stay," she entreated. After a little hesitation he con- sented, and Mary went off to yee first about food amt thea about sheets and blankets. ' It was a little after midnight be-„ fore they conducted their, visitor to the room above the parlour and bade him good night. The to -morrow came and° turn.ed into to -day, as to -morrow always do, but this one brpught a shock to John and Mary Bedgeave. They found, their spare room empty. The bed had not been slept in. The "prodigal" was not to be found, neither was his portmanteau,. neither was a quantity of their silver and several things belonging to them. The bird Mad flovvn indeed. Though comparatively, little was their loss Compared tie what it might have been had everything been un - Ilk NOT e r ly ( 'op ubliehers Press (side 'Don't anything worry or tits - ban, Id the doctor. "fie won't 11v, thvnigla, the night: but he will Mabfli be quiet and comfortable np to the end. The least excitement bring 00 the pain again," Wit' ft young, istoftgliettried doctor wall a pair of Irish eyes that had trick. of growing, feisty at times over the death -beds of Ills patients, This IffeYshaired, man had interested int 11001 the Orel. How hail be spent is in? "Poor fellow!" he said to 1,11S 001 'I' feel sure he fe a Somebody. looks like a mart 15111) interAt poet, flats he no friends, wonder Ina the landlady knew of no 0 Ho had lived' iri her house f years and always paid hor regular EilleirleSS letters, or what looked 1 business letters, came for him, a he burned 0 groat' deal of otl tlng alp far Into the night- writi s believed--ina beyond that nothing of him. A coal fell Into the grate a startled bet from her reverie. S had been thinking of the old da the (lays when, idle had been a hap laughing young thine, loving 6. loved of everyone and wtthout a et in the weight. It would , be spri time now in the country, and., th were. primroses and violets under t hedges, and the woods would be green and leafy. Their woodsl a now others would be walking in t narrow oaths, and over the le streevp messes where frail externem enfolded their buds. Over the calm, eteadfest face there stole a tear, the lonely descendant este those she had sited long, long ago. he wiped it away -with a furtive look towards the bed. 'The professional instinct reasserted itself; she loved her work and excelled in it; It was ttme for the patient to take his me- dicine, perhaps the last draught which ould pass his lips till he shouM rihk of the waters of Lethe and be t peace. As she poured the mixture nto the glass he opened his eyes and zed them on leer in a fixed, vacant ase. "Norse," he said suddealy, "I shall le to -night." She gave him elm naedicine and moothed his pillow- before she an- wered. "You will Inc glad to go?" She asked "Out of this bell? *Yes! Whatever ee beyond it can't be worse. Nurse, bave .spoken to no one of -what I ave suffered; to no one in the world. ay I talk to you a little? It will ease e, I think, and you don't know mY ame - or hers. Yes, it was a woman, 1 course. They're the curse of the mild, I tell yeti! No, I won't say at, though -you've been good to e; but then I wasn't your nearest ti dearest." "Listen, I was young and strong all on the high-roed to fame, and I arried the woman I adored, heaven elp Inc Mr a blind fool! Yes, I wor- ipped her, and I thought she wor- timed me; but-pahl there was no uth or constancy in her. She de- :Yed me and we parted. I never w her again in all, these fifteen ars, and all the time I've been going wnhill-you see mtheerve come to! didn't care for fame or moneY or Ythieg else after she went away, I lost everything. by degrees. lags my life -story, nurse. Why, I lieve you're crying! Have you such tender heart?" "I am not crying; but -it's terrible! ave you never forgiven her? Sup - se -suppose there was some mis- ke? Suppose you were haety and rt her too cruelly, and she was otid and went away without speak - g? Are you sure you were in the glut? Did you never wonder whether e wore not innocent after all?" "She had dark blue eyes like yours," said dreamily. "But her face wee und end her hair WaS dark and rly. Heaven - or the devil - had de her very beautiful." 'He must not be excited or Um in will come bate," the woman pt repeating to herself, and the ils made deep marks In the flesh ef her clenched hands. 'To tell him - but he would not forgive - he would not believe that he was wrong ane then, the cruel agony!" The lamp began to burn low; strange shadows danced on the ugly Wall -paper, and a cold brea.th seemed to pass through the room. The nurse hose to look at her watch on the chest of drawers, There was a small crack- ed looking -glass over it, apd as she passed she caught a glimpse of her own reflection. No wonder he had hot recognised her, she thought with h sad smile. Fifteen years of bitter' phin and hard work had left her little beauty. - The man's breath was coming in gasps, beads of sweat stood out on the wide brow; he was not of those to whom the crossing , comes easily. Men of his stamp fight with death as they have fought with life, and softer horribly.. It was midnight now' he ST Beheld Fie Ommeighe by Publishers „ THII VEIL Any' one would have ..looked the girl who was comingdthri, O big ntes of the etht gel -130r with several hundred olfier plc who had got out of a train - Once ill -tart from tho crowd shetheido ated a moment, hip. eyes haheeping he bystanders. Suddenly elle caught iight of, gOoll ieolidnaej.gioung 0100 AC110 wore violent crimson tie and 111 14100S, mrtd vit),(.1 38115 el. patiently' waiting, )0lie beamed me. relievedly that he unconsciously Het stepped forward as slitt flattered down Mg upon ham r. 'Oh!" cried the girl, "I Irnmv it was ee• Yoe the instant I saw Yoh! Helen said tee when she wrote to tell me why she TV, couldn't meet me, and that she would Ike send her brother DOM. Site told me nd such a lot about you becauee you teem alt- stub. dreadful tics. f beg your pardon. lig, Of course, your tie isn't at all dread - she Lai, but red, you Itnew--" "Oh, don't mention it," bee,ged the nI Young man, as she struggled, at cup be, tarrassinent, "I'm alnays ge;,,ting. rot- ted aboW ety ties, 1011,--"' "Ho'' is Helen?" cried the girt ta 4'4 brown. "I'm just dying to see the dear nee tbing! Just think! We haven't ' set ng. eyes cal each other since we were at eve school two Years ago. e think it wae hs. perfectly lovely 'of her to invite nil Me to spend the holidays, and she's led planned ao many delightful things to he de. And isn't it fine that you could af- es be here, too? Actually, Relen sung the praises of her brother' so much at school that we girls used to get tired et you, That is ---- I mean not or you Of but of hearing of you, That sounds impolite, I know, but I don't mean-" "Oh, I understand," said the stgeng loan basely. He seemed facinated, but uncom- fortable. " "Don't you think we'd better Inc starting?" asked the girl ha brown, with an excited little dance stele and a lift of her pretty eyebrows, The young man picked up her bag and opened his mouth, but she. broke in again as they began edging their way to the stairs. so glad you are a Harvard man," she burst out, "because nearly all the men I know are, mid it makes us just about the same as acquainted, doesn't it? I suppose there is going to be a dance, isn't there? Helen said so. I'm so glad. Don't you like dancing?" "I should say so!" agreed the young xnaa, who was making no particular haste to reach the stairs. "I wish though-" "Ole I know," raid the girl in brown. "When n man dances he is bored to death with invitations be- cause so many are sulky anti lazy and won't and just spoil a party. Does Helen go to a lot of dances since she had her coming out party? I expect she Is a tremendous belle, beconse She is such a splendid looking girl. I hope You won't be bored to death at having me on your hands next two tveeks. It was awtully good of you to tell Helen meted like to give Inc a good time. I don't want you to Wel you bave to neglect any otte eisa - your old friends, you know - just to be polite to me, because I shan't mind it a bit, and you must have lots of engagemeets'of your own." "Not at all! Not at all!" said the young matt, hastily, with a sigh that seemed a combination of despairing admiration and hopeiessness, "I should be more tha.n delighted.--" "Is that bag of mine heavy?" said the girl In brown with pretty anxiety, as the young imais lagged up the stairs, "I'm $o sorry; but you see what I'm going to give Helen is in there, and it's weighty. Ole are you all well again? So stupid of me to forget about that brotten collar bone. Isn't football just awful? But it's grand to see a good run, Ole bow I wish I'd seen you in that match! Why, the newspapers-" "Oh, I say now," protested the young man, looking wildly unhappy and baulking at the door of the sta- tio. "Don't be so modest!" said the girl, dimpling. "Where do we go now? Can we get a car or must we take a cab? 51 a cab, don't get one with a bony horse, because I'm always so sorry for the poor things, 1 don't enjoy my ride a bit. Do you suppose eltier-y0' 'lung man shook *Ms shoulders like a water spaniel ready for a plunge, but Just then a tall girl In blue dashed into the station, andt with O cry of "Mabel!" fell on the neck of the pretty girl. Then she turned in- quiringly towards the good looking young man, whose face WaS the color of hIs tie. Mabel looked the picture of bewil. derinent "What's the matter, ITelen" She asked, "Dciet you know your own broth "He's not my brother," cried Helen, In aceents of frigid amazement. "How dare he?" "I never said I was anybody's brother" cried the unhappy young man. "I was just welting eor 105 train When Mee young lady-". But the 'girl, with an agonized shriek, gathered her bag and Helen, mid the twe fled out to the street. The young man mopped his !ore- heatt and ran fer his train. ecked; great was their Indignation - Rutting the matter in the hands of (be police, their 'prodigal" was found o be a noted swindler, who had leverly eluded them for several ears. He still continued to do so. Upon ingeiry they found that the old gentleman, Mr. Horningstone, went had lived la number 64 beeore had been married, but had never had a S011, and his wife had predeceased him Neither joint nor Mary Bedgrave- espeelallye etamr earo to talk to other e ortheir first rteebt in the house that has WSW been tetele home for manw yeage, latt mis heltday thee draws neat': they alwaye think about Lt. John, with a twamie in his eye, says.- • '1 wonder if the 'prodigal' will • egele to-nieht?" "Don't! John! and Maef utilues ;mice Time: through a whiff of smokm O ereelies her busband's Mee Wild ey. both laugh. Outside the wind still ie; vale id whietles shrhlbg.` e Le prodiowl Masi, where is he?, would scarcely live another hour. "Is the pain coming back?" asked the nurse, 'bending over beta. He took no notice ot her question. "Yes, she was beautiful," he gasped, "7 wonder where she is now?" leer eyes shone, with a light that Was new to them, "Would you forgive -if she were here?" she asked softly. But he turned hie fece fretfully to the wail., "No, I would never forgive, not on my deetb-bed, not even now!" The light died out of her eyes erid left bee, face oldemand greyer. tilepaint' he groaned. "Heine, t give urie something!" r She took up the little bottle, the eentents of which would semi 110)5s quietly and painlessly to rest., Then ' ehe heMteted "No, would never eorgIve!" he re- peated. "She spoilt no- life, Ah, lienven, the pain!" e "Of what 'use?" the woman said to herself, "Ile would never forgive." I. She nacorked the bottle a,ad, bent (wee him. • MOW AntIsSuffragleins. , Perhaps the Supreme Being nerele it ridiculous blunder in creating sex, but it Is noir too late to remedy 'IL Woman suffrage is so a.dvantageous o mem in relieving them of .reePone sibilities' and endowing them with troperty at the expense of their WiTOS h.at it is a wonder ail men are net in aver of it. If voting be a natural right, not nby rue.n and women but children mem vote, for a natural right le 41 - remit at birtli and lasts 1411 death. Tho immense court of the United tates has decided that voting Is aot moral right, but a Privilege. Cohernments exist by a (moment of 1111JORISY of the governed, 'reere A Jenny is meter:01y brekeween memo, FtIljulzPri fly Martin Ly011 11 %the Pubtiekers Fret:, Perfectly motionless lay the Blrlp 01 c still water, awaitIng the danti t enter the harbor, 'lit a deck -chair If awl 005213' yrefigiu rttisis,,t1g6istisileyr, gbut 111 U70's' hodinnroarrni reeedd 1f0ort itt the diOl Light the 1110315 ti5,,',,'(i5 bilge:My here and there, o31. the fore- head suil round the 010') 1)1, with short, herd lingo. Every now iind then hia hand, vgiuirl clench Le100:01,11V, Kw? a quick, -Puna tient sigh Jisteapeti ;tom - p lips. The light mariner from the 111.41+.1,ark0', where a lote fellow - 'et and the first officer were over a last cigar, came to imhertinenee and on ittri- /talk-qt., !it length the 50105s died niyay tts the sh*Jihers moved 10 ('(1, and notlinig. broke tile stillness save the long wash of the Australasian sea, and st intervals, with Jarring sudden - s, the striking cif th8. ship's bell. ihe plan looked 8S01.111)1 to Bee if 1)8 tiNgt alone, and dropped back with an gasclanistion of satisfaction. Py- andsby he began to murmur and tret once more. "Whet fools women are!" he 'growled. "They take an abstrac- tion met make e god of it; they take a 'literature dnd make it a fetioli. Alic1 what a fool I am to tithe so much notice of their chatter!" He was .silent for a time, Then he remit/me his muttering. "Who said the Med et Futurity' ie woven by the hand or Mercy'?. Stuff,. I should. like to tift it, for one. .Tust as though there could possibly be Any meecy in not ,letting a poor devil see what's slimed of him - and people have lifted It, too - what about the Eastern mystics - the soottimayers - the Chaldeans? 7- what about prophecy? The old,prophets were more than the mere far-sighted. staMsmen ns some Would have us belleye - wonderful wonderful—" His voice died away in a low, drearily' nuirmur; then Inc stirred again, .and • began to mutter once 0)000. "What about their wretched West- ern imitators! They are toe grossly material to possess even a fraction of tbo occult power they Preen/tie to lay claim to. Centuries ot European training; have been quite enough to extermivate any force of the kind, even if it ever existed, Existed? - of course It dld. Men have read the stars like an open book and seen their own fate in the signs of the wind and the wave -- they have foretold war and famine and pestilence and the doom of nations ;but they were men of old - not the puerile would-be mystics of to -clay. "I do not believe the most spiritual- ized, sensitive Anglo-Saxon could look five minutes into the unknowa." As he spoke, Ills whtte face 'grew whiMe, and an expression almost of fear came over it. He shivered for O momene then braced himself, neveirvdennutslyly.with an effort. Ile laughed ' "Something is wrong vtith me," Inc said savagely. "I hope I am not going to get fever. I had a feeling then that I could know tbe future, if I would - only - that it would be well for me if I did not will to lutow. It's horribly uncantty; I can't shake it off. Well - his voice rose In ex- cited defiatice - "I will test this power. 1 demaad to see tnyself a year hence." , x x x Tnen he was floating In a thick, heavy atmosphere; now dark dark to blackness - now lightening into transparent blue; sometimes Washing into silver, and even blazing into a splendor of gorgeous goidea freeh- nese. Around him, with hint, mud ot him, were long, spherical gray shapes. He was conselous ora curious souse or clisperelon - of separation iti some Indefinite, indefinable manner from himself; and yet be was perfectly capable of connected thought. "Can this be an enswer to my de- mand?" be questioned. "Bab! As vague as all prophecy! Well, we will ask eleven rnoeths," There was no Manage. "Well, then, ten -- nine - eight - seven six!" A look of horror seized him. tSreet drops or sweat sprang out on Ms brow. One might 11 ave teen the muscles start and stiffen in his hands as he gripped the arras or the chair. "rive - four - three two - a month, yes, a month!" he spoke with agonleed intensity, The sense of uneasiness was with him still, but in a modified degree. Ho seemed more sentient, more living, more hurnen. His voice rose to a shriek. "Take me back to this hour - to thin minute." Ile was alive now, but oh! the agony of that re- vival! Ate that tierce, deadly grip on his shoulder! A score of cruel, sharp palette were entering; his flesh and creaking his loins as in a steel trap! What was that awful wrenching tug at his foot? "Ah, mercy! mercy!" x x The flust °Ulmer reported to the captain: "I had been talleng to Me. Chad- wick till he finished hie cigar. I noticed Mr. CareterIght - he Was Ailing in a deck -chair, I thought . aeleaste Before turning in finally, I made the rotted of the decks, after Mr. Chadwick had gone. When I came back Mr. Cartwright was still them, end, as 1 thought he might get a chit if he slept in the open I was going to awake him. "As I got cioee to him, I found that he was talking In his sleep very ex- citedly. I, woe just about to rouse him when he epreng out of hie chair with a most dreadful shriek. for Mercy and beeore I could step hint he had rustled to the side awl jumped over- board, I matched, bp aeM1 of eope and mut Os the plum but 1. wa$ 100 late. 11 would ahnoet seem as if the sharks had been welting for bine Mere Were three of there." , • And he turned away aoa put his broad over lea eyes. le a entail but 'very dangerons Ines ' SiSt,Ity ,tbe ,laels, Wee have meeve- The matt who alwaye follows the ?severe. their coneene 4 ftr his co -1)401.011-a must ha rett,y shares eare. ' a, airl 'ditorm, ' memeamerwimemeer NEB WEIGHT Jae (IOLII By Carlin Joyce, (Copyrlght by PUblifihers Press Ltd.) The, proposal of the Indian people to weigh King George V,„ 011 the oc- casion of' his approaching visit its In- dia, against his weight In silver coin and afterwards to distribute t1ie. silver ausingst the poor In Irulla, recalls an interesting Incident III the history qf a Well-known Iriah family, now re- lated for the fast time. "Thill IS the fifth marrtage settig- ent 1 have had the lignmir of draw - ng up for your family, Sir Thomas, and you will .exeuse me, I hope, ek- ing my curiosity respecting ono pecuIlarlty common to them all." It" Interpolated the baronet. °I c ficipate what you are going to 803', Cheerers, Neu ere puzziPd to explain why there is a uniform dowry cif SI5,000 settled upon my daughters from the daze of thalr marriage, os- ishen sou are aware that a dTnititr SUM who settled upon MY sisters when they married." 'ProglselY, Sir Thomas To speak openly, I wondered why the sum was not fixed at tert,00.0 or if,' 10,000." "I comprehend your meaning fally. You might be a long lame searching or a solution of the, problem and fail an slooltveoreisua tfnnt.hsetoernyd.. 0, Is, n however, "My eldest sister, Ita, was a charm- lng girl, idolised by our parente, the most popular of the Young county people of her age, and beloved by the common people. Up to tile time im- mediately preceding the public an.- nouncement of hee engagement she was regarded as heart -free, and un- attached to. any of the many eligible admirers with whoin slue was ac- ouainteil. One evening, after dinner, Mr. Strewton, a neighbour of entre, celled to know 15 1 could play in a erieket match that Was being ar- ranged with a team from the metro- polis. Subsequently he asked if 105 father was alone in the library, as he wished to speak with him. I brought John down to the dear old num, and left the pair of them together, never dreaming of the surprise that inter- view had in store for us all. About a week- later we were apprised that Ita had given her heart. to StrevMon. That hereon and her lover had always' entertained mutual affection for each other, though Stresvton had made no avowal until hM bachelor uncle had spoken to him of the desirability of marrying and avoiding the premature ageing and loss of real live interest In life which is the fate of the over- whelming majority of old bachelors. Streerton avowea his desire to marry my sister but explained that Inc never felt at liberty to disclose his heart's dearest wish to her, because he re- cognized- that he was dependent upon hi uncle's generosity for the where - Withal to set up an establishment of his own. Contrary. to the code of the romance emiten Sl'e;v' IWele Ap- proved his nephew's action and choice, and guaranteed a generous settlement if the marriage could be arranged to the satisfaction of all parties. "It was after this interview Btrewton ascertained that rny sister teciprocatecl his affection and, later, secured audience of the pater, 1 well remember ray father approving of etrewten's manly, straightforward way et urging his suit. '13y George.' he used to say, 'I shall neve(' forget the earnestness with whieh eulogising Ita, young Strewton averred that she was 'worth her weight'in gold,' or the happy thought that prorapted me to lay. 'that she is; and her own weight in gold will be her Wedding dotveYe "Of course, Cheevers, you remember that my father was Director of a Bank at that period . What do you think he ditle One day Inc brought Its into the Bank and, In Me presence of two ether members of the Board, mindueted her ao the strong room where she was put sitting Into a beam and scales constructed on the prin- Witte of those commonly seen at the town market -houses throughout the country. When she was comfortably tixed, one of the porters of the es- tablishment was directed to shovel sovereigns into the opposite Beale Until the gold placed there equalled the weight of the lady on the other tide. When the Wide were subse- euently. counted the amount was found to be £8,000, representing, as tvell as I remember, my sister's weight to be about ten stones. That was the brigin or the R8,000 dot in oar tamily," A Thought for To -day As in that which is above Nature, Bo In Nature itself: he that breaks one physical law is guilty of all. The whole universe, as 11' were, takes up arms against hhn, and all Nature, ,with her numberless. and unseen powers is ready to average herself apon hint, and on Ms children after him, he knows pet when nor where. ile, on the other hand, who obeys the law of Nature with his wleoee heart and mind, well find all things tvorking together to hire for good. He is helped mid befriended alike by the sun above his head and the dust be- neath his feet; beeanse he Is obeYitte the 111 and mind of Him who made aun,' and dust, and all, ehinge: and who line given them a law which can- not be broken. -- l'itOnght It Watt a Crack. A corpulent gentleman with a large sPpetite entered a mean-100E111g res- taurant, anti ordered a chop, and wett- est twenty rnieutes. Then the waiter reappeared with a plate ont whieh teetetaa dab eV maehed potatome a Mt sr meat burnt almost to a cinder, out et welch emergeil a long, thin piece 111 1)0110. The waiter set it clown before the tarring gentleman and, hurried mfr. "See here," called the cuetOmer, metered 'a chop," "Stet sir," replied the man "there "AM so It Is," mused the hungry man, readjeeting his spe,ctattlee, "I Mought t1 was a crack its the plate." Knowledge is, budeed, that %Wei, next to vIrtue, truly and essentially Mises one retan abOtre =Other. It tinishee one half of the humaa soul. ,tt gives ease to solitude and grace- tialle43a eo rettetement, - Addison. TILE 'eleteOltt OF"LOME By L. A. Ituffinan o yright be 1?tiblisiters.Press Ltd.); can't, tneet yell on ilgindaY. rtitt (A goin». to nieet you gill), 111055." °Sett i leaned battk 5811011;1. ltho fragrant Cli5g30r00111, jutting ito golden. PraY t1r25531 the fence, her e3e4 ehon grouitd, sec:I:tag refuge 116111. inert givoyal Sid's stapid obtuse- foreed from her. .d. forward, 13'0.1 hand fell tulder. thrhing her r.Jugh- tt- . her to face tho 1,1)1)0,), 1(1;(el r" Im ' 01510 SO 'There': sonic ,-)nr= flo silt! (3, t.igging at her, goreltag her gves "Well, v if there ft?" Ellie faced him, a small fury llavon't 1 a right pleshe myself?" "If there 11it. throw bet off with sueh violence that she rebounded tforossnedvorbit)'lltoiefene,ey1ne,idsher bounet was Nettie tore her ht off. "There Is! Thero is!" slut cried, • The girl caught herseli up with a_ gasp, Sid was looking very ugly jest then. In the eyes that stabbed her there was a oicions heat, leis moutht was slightly open, the under jaw rigid, "You little beast!" be said. He held her tightly. "les Dottie." The preesure increased, bruising ker Mott, Mie body. "It's Bedio." "Yes, it is," she answered, defiantly, "A Dago. A dirty Dago!" He pushed hioevrelayTdon't Care what Y011 sate he% y, his face full of disguet. "He's lovely. I don't mow witat you. tbink. I For over three weeles Sidney Woad saw nothing of Nettie, but be beard of ber often, and always in associum tiers with Ginn Itodio, the dapper, black-eyed Italian who speared oysters with anmeing dexterity an the right side of Silvio Panzacches shop trent, while Nettie -Mulholland ,boxed sweets anti bagged bananas behind her tatty little counter on the left. Sid was a commonplace youth in 5. commonplace world, suddenly threat intoavotrrg42,. taex001, elie. emotions that makafor One mooulight night, tiMer following tbein like a blackmailer tor an hour, oreepiing meanly from bush to Miele, he saw Gian kiss Nettie good -night by the Cape -broom hedge, where be and she had so oftee sterteds. The Italian held her close in his'arms. and kissed her again and again, evith uncouth, noisy kisses. Steldeney Sid arose, fle understood 11050 .0111 IL all meant. He realized ill a moment what the .furY and the lever had 'prompted. ' Nettie-, must die. He would kill her. ' leo arguenent •followed, eo self-. questioning. In. bis Mina there escrow., no doubts. Be. no longer cherisheder enmity. towards Ohm I3odio; his sour ivw.tansihaoitraourdbed in the 11111)15 of Nettlet, Then he konril slue Wag 10 Inc at the trade picnic with Glen Bodio, and that decided hius. At the picnic, some- where in the busle berate the eyes of her Dago, he would kill her. you," oho lUlflpl'rI None detected the smallest evidenee of Sid's iritentiop inc they drove to the picnic. Gem &Alio sat .on •Nettien. left. Next her qn the right, pressea very close. 'sons Mettle Sickert, him , Meek -haired, viotet-eyed, handsome, it. suburban Mephistopheles. He cer- tainly enJoyell more or Nettle's atten- tion than poor Bodice yet. iellietin Was nothing but lorryman for Sin Me, the banana hies, with two guineas a week ant] the boor babe.. Throughout the morning at Grass Creek. too, Nettie Mulholland flirted openly and im- pudently with Sickert, and Bodio sat wim hie back to a gem butt, and watebed them, small and silent, no emotion in his pale face. Nettie was couselous of Beale, but gave no thought to Sidney, and he too wae watching.. H. was not till after diner, when Martin Wad too drunk to be eonmanionable, that Nettie re- turned to the Italian.. There were no reproaches. They sat together S r half an hour and Olen went oft through the trees and along the creek. Sid followed. He felt his moment ea at hand. Near the camp they passed, from VieW beyond tt clump of saplings.. He walte,d, but they did not reappear. He stole forward, crept quietly tee the Saplings, erose, end gushed his way through, without a seand, his bend on the weapon, Ids soul hot with resolution. He stopped. They were there. Nettie lay upon the grass, 130010 knelt upon her, his leuee erushing her breast, his left band gripped about her throat. In his right hand he held a knife, from the bright blade or which the sunlight fleeted. Ills Mace was close to hers, his teeth bared, a.nd he spat Roman oaths at 'her with something of the tiger, somethiug ot the snake. His face was e0mtorted. WWI abominable malice, hers Wild with the horror of death, For one tense moment Sidney Wood gazed down upon the lovers, and thee, O heart -burst filled' him with blitut rage. He hurled himself at' Bodio. A moineet later the two men were on their feet fighting. Nettle, crouched down, backeug under cover of the saplings, watched them, intul With Sid was sparring and punching with here hands. The other slashed with his knife. In a blind fury. Instinetively Wood's left shot for the face with every movement oe the Henan. , HiS arum were cut. He got the Unite in his breast again, and then Inc saw Boctio's chin 115 through a mist, and smote; bit right with all the. weight and power he eoilld put into it. The Italian collapsed on himselY, and went clown, limp and lifeless. Sid staggered Lo his knees, and then fell, face foremost, across the bOrly of Iiis 500. pieNneictilietarlVya,sethruitnenlibutgri wt°11Vda,r6strietlktd- ingT4"e3simireanerL,TardGetrali'l! Taniiin nit 10E3 'MOSS, still dased; but Sidney Wood - lay prone, bleeding front a dotes "Take eare ot Nettie," he whispered. "For God's sake; take care of Nettie. The nage will kill her!" .As they lifted bbn a loaded revolver fell from ,the right-haud,pocket of hie cents will pay a any address maims ea. 8-Recc047.