GREAT MEN'S WHIMS.
Strnnce Conceits of Prominent Pol
iticians The Crack "Walking
Crnzc.
Great men have whims ns well as small ones,
and public personages arc frequently very
queer upon some particular thing. Probably cx-Attorney-General
Brewster hail the strangest
conceit of any man whoever came to Wash
ington. He liked an open-grate tltc, but some
how he detested the color of coal. The con
trast of the black coal and the red and blue
flames was most distasteful to him; as his ser
vants had orders to spIhsIi the fuel liberally
with whitewash, which he kept on baud for
the purpose. If there was such a tning as
white coal. Urcwster would pay more fur It
than any other man living, lien Butler has a
whim. Of late years he is seldom ulthout a
piece of slippery elm in his mouth, whleh he
declares Is an admirable specific for nervous
ness. Years ago Butler was a smoker. Then
he took what Is known as dry smoke that is,
he went through the motions of smoking with
an unllghtcd cigar lu his mouth. Fiom that
he was irrnduated to slippery elm, and there Is
no telling which higher course he will take
next. Congressman Glover, of St. Iiouls, who
Is aboutto marry the wealthy Miss Patten, of
this city. Is a tolu licnd. and the first thlnir he
docs In tl o miming when he gets out of bed
is to reach for n wad of his beloved tolu. He
chews it all dav, and rumor savs that it is the
last thing he removes at night". Glover Isn't a
very pretty man am way, and the unceasing
movements of those Jaws hour after hour does
not add nnythlng to what little beautv he has.
Senator Beck's w him Is that he cannot speak
unless he arises with a penholder In his right
hand, whlcn he always slams down upon his
desk before he has soken a dozen words.
There are several members of congress who
have what Is known as the crack walking
craze. Not one of these men would step upon
a crack In a day's walk, unless obliged to do
so by the presence of a brick sidew alk. They
wlll'walk from the capltol and go the entire
length of Pennsylvania avenue as far as the
treasury dcpaitiiient and not step on a single
crack. There Is a certain scientific man hern
whose name is known all over the civilized
world. Knowing him to be a crack-walker,
The Traveller correspondent asked him how
the habit became lixcd uou him. After being
asstited that his name would not be given lie
replied: "I have had this crack-walking habit
for twenty years. In the first place I started
just for fun to see if I could avoid stepping ot:
a crack in going a certain distance. 1 found
that 1 could, and I made up my mind to keep
It up for that day. As I had a certain amount
of walking- to do, at first this craze was a sort of
pleasing diversion. Then It became a settled
habit. " I have tried to break it up time and
again, but It has such a hold on me that I pre
sume I will remain u crack-walker to the end
of my days. There Is one peculiarity about
crack-walk' ng, and that is that if I should
happen, by accident, to step on a crack. It
would upset me for the day. Whenever I have
done this I always go back and step over the
crack. I can't tell why I do it, but I do. Sev
eral times 1 liave made up my mind to forget
all about my misstep on my wav to the olllce,
but I couldn't. I have even sat down here for
two hours in a nervous terror, trving to over
come the feeling, and at the end put on my
coat and hat and walked down the street to
step over the hateful crack. I know others
that ate as badly afllicted as I am. They are
all
s-ople of highly nervous temper
Yiuhinyton Cor.' Jloston Traveller.
peraments."
-)
A l'EKFEVT UXDEltSTAXDISG.
Washington dispatch: "A perfect under
standing exists between Daniel Manning
and Mr. Cleveland," exclaimed a promi
nent democrntic leader of New York to
day. Secretnry Manning rotireH now with
a good record, and before the end ol the
Hummer will be the most prominent candi
date for tho presidency, and endorsed by
the administration. It is conceded that
Mr. Cleveland has fully decided not to
enter the race next time, and Mr. Mnnning,
us his closest friend, will be pushed to the
Trout. This was the understanding be
tween Mr. Cleveland and Mr. Manning two
years ago, and both men are shaping
ovents to curry tho plan to a successful
consummation. At tho close of his pres
ent term the president will sell his private
property in Washington at an advance ol
$10,001), and accept the presidency of a
largo New- York life insuruueo company, at
a salary nearly equal to his present com
pensation. None of Mr. Cleveland's nets
since he nssumcd the presidential olllce
have been directed towards securing votes
in the future: none of his assertions havo
been made with a view of increasing his
political popularity. Manning and Car
lisle will be tho strong douiocrutic ticket for
1S88.
Tho intimate frionds of Speaker Carlislo
advise him in the strongest possible terms
to declino the offer of the secretaryship of
the treasury, the chairmanship of tho inter-state
commerce commission, or any
other oflice under the administration.
His friends stnto that Mr. Carlisle's name
in pretty certain to bo placed on tho presi
dential ticket for 1888, and any change bo
fore that time would imperil his chance,
for his nomination either for tho first or
second pla.ee in 1888 can scarcely bo pre
vented. VUttCiiASK Of 00,000,000 ACHES.
St. Louis, Mo.,Fcb.27, While Texas was still
province of Mexico, Dr. Bealcs, an emigrant
from Englaud, married a native of Mexico,
became a citizen, and desiring to forma colony
upon the frontier, obtained from the Mexican
government an Immense grant of land, con
sisting of 00,000,000 acres, known as
the Aikansas grant, situated In what are
now the states of Texas and Colorado
and the territory of New Mexico. Just
then the war of Texas Independence broke
out, and Dr. Beales found it impossible to es
tablish his colony. The graut was renewed,
however, and the treaty of Guadaloupc Hidal.
fro being so framed as to protect those hold
hgirrauts from the Mexican government, Dr.
Beales retained possession of his laud. Before
he was able to carry out his plan of forming
a colony he died and the grant passed to his
minor children. Thev did uot, however, ap
preciate the value of "the land, and no part of
it was ever sold. Now a eompauy of Amer
ican capitalists, Ittifus Hatch among the
number, have obtained the title to the land
from the heirs and will, it is said, take pos
session In a short time. The grant covers a
district in northwestern Texas, northeastern
New Mexico and southeastern Colorado, em
bracing In all more than 00,000,000 acres, but
prior grants will reduce this to about 50,000,
000. Those Interested in the trausfer will not
at present make known the exact boundaries
of the tract
LUMSEIt DESTROYED JJ1" fXBJS.
Hanxwal, Mo., Feb. 27. Fire to-day de
stroyed eight blocks of lumber belonging to
D. Dubaeh & Co. and tho Herrlman & Curd
lumber company, causing a loss of $200,000,
apportioned as follows: Dubach & Co., $150,
OuOj Herrlman it Curd, $50,000; fully Insured.
Five Missouri Pacific box cars and two Si.
Louis and Hannibal box cars were also de
stroyed. One of the latter was loaded with
wheat and the consignees not having been
notified of its delivery the loss will fall on the
railroad company.
A high wind served to spread the flames with
great rapidity and at 3 o'clock it seemed as If
nothing could save that part of the city be
tween felxtu street and the river, and Qulncy
was telegraphed to for assistance. The Quiri
cy boys responded promptly and hastily load
lng an engine and hose cart on flat cars came
by special train, making the run of twenty
miles In twenty-five minutes.
By 9 o'clock tonight the flames were under
control. Tramps are supposed to be responsi
ble for the origin of the Are.
An art tv-j as: "Painter Lambert al
wars con'.w-tea caU to the Paris Balon
Does Mr. I ambert think the Paris Balon U a
aausage factory I I'iU.lmra Chronicle,
The fellowg wl Intended to reform next
jets itaatf to M iUIL rhUadttAla
FACTS ABOUT THE CZAR.
Incidents In Ills Stormy J.tfo Xot
Generally Known,
Wlille the private nnd public life of
every other European monarch has fre
quently given tho journalist's pen
j occasion to cover a ream of paper,
more or less, Alexander Alcam!ro
wileh, of Russia, has kept the modern
hicrophants, to whom every secret is
known and who are initiated into
every mystery of life, pretty well at
bay. What has crept into print about
him, oil" and on, has uniformly been
marred by inaccuracies. This is easily
explained. Tho present cznr is not
readily approached, and since his ad
vent to tho throne especially ho has
been hedged about so thoroughly that
even the intrepid gatherer of news
hits often lost scent before reaehinrr
him. Alexander 111. saw the frosty
sun of the Neva lirst on March 10 Feb.
20 by the Russian calendar), 1815, as
the second son of Alexander II., ami
was educated with his elder brother,
the heir presumptive. Nicolas, by two
yjurs his sen or. The education of
thexo two princes was put into tho
hands of Count S. Strogonow, but their
real "gonverneur" was Privy Council
or Titow, recalled for tne purpose from
his post ns Russian ambassador at the
court of Stuttgart. In Tttow's place
Stale Councilor von Grimm was :ip
po.nted in 1 80S. when' Alexander was
12 years of ago. From that time on
the boy drank daily deep from the
fount of German learning, as nearly
all his tutors were professors of that
nationality. Grimm, however, in spito
of his German name, was an arch
Russian at heart and tho early
iutluenco of Titow, a Muscovite of tho
old school to the finger-tips, had sunk
deep into the youthful prince's soul,
fir mm, twenty ears before, had
guided the education of the Prince
Constantino Nieolaiowiteh. The milita
ry training was intrusted to an adjutant
ireneral residing in tho winter palace,
the religious instruction to a learned
old pope, and State Secretary Huron
Modest Korll", author of several books
on Russian h. story, taught the high
born twain all of Russian statecraft,
It story, and law they were desirous to
learn. On April 21. 1805. the death of
the Czaorwitch intervened at Nice, and
Alexander, then just attaining his ma
jority, was solemnly declared tiie heir
to tho throne. In the following year,
on Nov. !). 1S6G. ho wedded witli much
pomp the Danish lady who had been
his Into brother's fiancee, Princess
Dagmar, King Christian JX.'s daughter.
Baptized in tho Greek orthodox faith,
she received the names Mario Feodo
rowna in exchango for her former ones
Mario Sophie Frcdorika Dagmar,
This princess, as amiable and accom
plished as she is beautiful, was born on
Nov '26, 1817, and was consequently
her spouse's junior, by two years and
eight mouths. The young consort of
the Russian heir came from a court
where the loss of a two beautiful prov
inces, just swallowed up by Prussia,
was mourned with tears ol impotent
wrath, and where pious William by the
Spreo had been daily anatliamat'.ed.
What wonder then that tho beauti
ful brido made her young husband,
then in tho Hush of enthusiasm
50 common to hoir-presuinptives,
a sharer in her mortal antipathy to
the llohcuzollcrn dvnastv. i no palpa
ble effect of these uxorious lessons was
not long in coining. Tho prince within
a few months was tho acknowledged
head of the anti-Uermnn party at the
court, at that time and up to hour of
Alexander II.'s death divided into tho
old Russian and tho Russian or German
parties. In Berlin they were well-informed
about tiiis, and" Bismarck, to
gether with his master, indulged in diro
forebodings as to what would happen
when Alexander II. should close his
.:ycs. The war of 1S70-71 came, and
the llamc9 burst out afresh with renew
al vigor. The czar and his immediate
entourage were in full sympathy with
Germany at that time, and especial
pains were taken to emphasize this state
of feeling. Tho young Alexander, on
the other hand, liad a well-organized
following of his own, whoso sympa
thies were strongly in another groove.
The inevitable result was that theso
(sympathies and antipathies frequently
clashed, and that snubs and the "cut
direct" were dealt out very liberally
nd evonly distributed during the
A'hole duration of tho Franco-German
conflict, and for sometime after, to tho
representatives of Germany as well as
France. Personal oncounters even and
duels ensued, and Alexander II. had
rather a busy timo of it trying to
allay the outraged feelings of this em
bassador and of that attache or sec
retary. Occasionally, however, he, too, felt
provoked, and on one notable occasion
tho emperor was put into a perfect rago
by his son's Pmssophobous pranks. It
was on tho occasion of n court ball.
This happened to bo given on tho night
when tho telegraphic news of another
disaster to French arms had just reach
ed St. Petersburg, The emperor had
been speaking of this to several of his
intimates early in the evening, and in
terms of admiration ac the wonderful
achievements of German valor. Soon
nfter ho had entered tho grand ball
room in tho winter palace, Prince Al
exander came in likewise, almost im
mediately followed by his circlo of
friends. The prince, as well as those
behind him, had pinned small favors to
tho lapels of their swallow-tails, those
being diminutive representations of tho
French tri-color. The whole set of la
dies belonging to them carried simul
taneously bouquets to their lovely little
noses, which exhibited even more glar
ingly the three colors making up the
Gallic emblem. Tho demonstration
was so patent that it could not escape
the imperial host, and ho was consid
erably angered. To take tho edge oft
this unpleasant incident, however, tho
emperor walked over to where tho wifo
of the German ambassador sat and,
agairibtjiis usual custom, danced a totir
or two ol a quadrille with her. The
czorowich, nothing daunted, responded
by leading the spouse of tho French
ambassador to tho mazy whirl. Next
the gentleman of tho Gorman party
went out, ono by one; and re
turned with tho "German colors-
white, black, red in their button-
Holes, and their ladies in an hour or sc
had managed to obtain the correspond
ing tiling n nowers. 1 Ins. of course,
did not liiimowi matters, .-mil tint bull
for the rest of the evening consisted
largely in couples of diilotcnt political
aflliiiitions sweeping past each other
and glowering savagely. A sitn lar
occurrence happened on the evening of
the day when the Germans triumphant
ly enter. 1 r s. That was at tho
opera, br nneror did not hanneii
to be prc.v : einonstrnnees and un
pleasant m'C'i -re said to have been
quite frequeti' ist about that timo be
tween fat1.- ion. However, it all
blew over, ami the scenes enacted a few
months later on bv tho commune in
Paris, as well as the repeated attempts
on the life 01 his fattier made by iiilulis
tie conspirators, considerably "changed
the czorowiteh's views and held in
cheek his sympathies for France,
though these sympathies never wholly
died with 11 h.m, and still exist to-duv
How much of a change time had
wrotifhl. ill him wm-j lirst. nlivimwlv
shown when Alexander III. nfter the
assassination of h s father ascended the
throne, lliousands in Russia expected
in li s proclamation to his people some
proini.se of larger liberties and it not a
constitution outriirni at least an assur
ance from him that the nation :it hirce.
through its representatives, should
have a voice in miikim- mid unmak
ing laws and in administering the finan
ces of the immense empire. Rut neither
in that document nor in tiio published
manifesto of Mav 11, 1SS1. did the new
emneror sav a word about, this. Quite
the contrary, he accentuated his claims
to autocratic power even more
broadly and absolutely than his
father had ever done. Doris Melnikow,
a reformer of a mild pattern, was soon
given the go-by likewise and IgnatieiV
appointed in n s piaee. bciiuwalolt foi
lowed, ami now it is even iolstoi. a
man than whom there can be nobody
better oualilied to crush everv liberal
aspiration and retard every sort of pro
gress and popular onlightment. Tho
present emperors loreigu policy is too
well known to need comment, and tho
fact that he has lliotiirhf a trio of such
men as Tolstoi, Do Giers and Gourkho
worthy of the highest honors and of his
special conlidence, and that Kaulbars,
whom a recent article in thisi tmnnr suf
ficiently characterized, has ol lato like
wise found favor in his eves and has
oven been promoted to the grado of
lieutenant general, speaks volumes.
The family relations of Alexander
III. have been uniformly pleasant. lie
is a devoted Husband and a fond and
dutiful father. From his union with
tho royal Dane havo sprung four chil
drenthree sons and ono dainrhter.
The latter. Princess Xenia, is now near
ly 12 years of age, and is a lovely amia
ble girl, with blue eyes and fair hair of
a rare golden tint! Tho eldest son,
Nicolas, was born May 18. 1808, and is
a line, sturdy boy. George, tho second,
was born in 1871. and Michael in 1S78.
Tho empress is still a charming woman
tnu wears ner lorty years with ease and
grace. J hough not much of a music
ian when she wedded the Russian, sho
pertecled herself since in order to grati
fy Irs tasto for music. The emperor,
however, is onlv fond of (inn Itnii-m
opera and of tho melancholy folk
songs 01 ins country, uagmar sings
to him even to-day when she wishes to
please him. New York Mail and Ex
press. Left-Over Expressions.
3ro aro certain humorous sidewalk
observations that are open to ono :is a
kind of compensation for having to el
bow and jostle along tho public ways.
Ono of theso is tho trick people havo of
looking at you with tho left-over remain
ders of the expression of face just bo
stowed on tho companion with whom
tiioy aro walking and talking. A pair
of persons engaged in lively argument
arc approaching you. Ono of thorn is
laying down the law with great vigor
of facial and muscular gesture. At tho
moment ho brushes by ho glances
at you, with tho feroc.ous scowl of
his fervid eloquence still puck
ering his features. You would
think ho was your bitterest foe. Of
course it would have been opposed to
tho great law of economy of force to
havo relaxed and then puckered up
again just for tho momentary meeting
of another face. Perhaps his apparatus
of facial expression is not agilo enough
to have accomplished the maneuver if
ho had tried.
Shortly after your oncountor Saccha
rissima and Dulcisslma, chatting and
laughing together as thov come. They
aro entire strangors to you, but as you
pass you recoivo a most captivating
smile from both of them this timo, as
it happens, for both aro talking at once.
It produces an effect liko those mo
mentary stroaks of warm air through
which one sudddenly walks on an au
tumn day. Atlatitic Monthly.
Tho Steel Pen and tho Quill.
Tho steel pen is an oxcedingly mod
ern invention. Any person past mid
dle ago can remember when its use be
came general in Amoriea. Before that
timo tho quill pen was universal, and to
make or sharpen it for his pupils was
ono of the chief tasks of tho school
master. Many persons still employ
this archaic instrument, driving to
madnoss all who aro within hearing of
its most harrowing sound. Tho utter
inability of tho present generation to
listen to the scratching of tho quill pen
is ono of tho most startling evidences
of the increase of norvous disorder
among us. Tho protended proferonco
for it is generally an affectation.
Tho namo of tho person who first
used a quill pen has not boon preserved,
and the loss has not been seriously
felt. It was probably sonio monk or
'learned clerk" of tho middle ages who
found that it could usefully supplement
tho stylus w th which he was illuminat
ing a manuscript. Tho quill might
havo easily been suggested by the bod
kin mode of the bono of a bird or other
animal transmitted from tho Romans to
tho medieval monks, or by tho sharpen
ed reod, also used bv the Romans and
still m use among tho Arabs The Chi-
ueeso and Japanese use a sort of brush
in writing, and when well instructed
writo rapidly and witli artistic skill.
San Fnmcitoo Chronicle.
HERE AND THERE.
There la a machine out for making fingci
nails almond shiiped.
Kiesh grass butter, a novelty lu February
comes from Cul ferula.
An eyeless baby was Uini n lew days ago ll
Fayette county, Alabama.
"Sitting on Ice' Is a theatrical phrase fori
uouc that dws not applaud.
Kice straw shoes are Morn by the Uborln
people lu the south of China.
Only '.V Oof the 10,000 coke ovens In tb
Councils (Pa.) coke region are now Idle.
A colony of grasshoppers put In an appear
ance at Corry, Pa., one day last week.
A large bounty Is paid by the Nlcaragw
government to farmers who plaut iudla-rub
her trees.
A hawk, measuring fifty-one Inches from th
to tip of wing?, was killed a few da) sago nea
Turiu, On.
The governor of Panama has Issued precau
tlonary order to prevent the entrance of chol
era into ttie countty.
The court-house at Hlrmlngham, Ala., ba
boon condemned, and a new one to cost
000 will soon lie built.
The Indians on the Slletz recrvatlon, ir
Oregon, raised and shipped forty Uioumiik
bushels of oats last year.
"He's Jounced" is the synomin fo.- mashec
In tho vocabulary of the day. The exprcsiloi
came In with the toboggan.
"Let me write the ads. of thU town," say
the man in a newspaper counting-room, "am
1 care not who slings the poetry."
A salmon trout was ciipturcd in the Coom
river at Koine, (la., one day last week. It was
the tlrst one ever caught lu (icorgla.'
A Jen eler says that t.ome of his best custo
mors are colored people, who realize thatgoms
look well against a dark background.
There are two married and settled men Ir
the freshman class of (Jeorgli university.
Their families are in Athens with them.
In Germany during a year are made 5t0,00(
real meerschaum pipes, ttOXO 0 Imitation
meerschaums, and !00,000,OJO wooden pipes.
Tree-planting is much engaged in lu various
parts of California. During the past jeai
three firms sold IW.OOO trees In one couutj
alone.
Hilarious Jennings and Mrs. Julia Jolb
and Kraukllu Jennings and .Miss Susie .loll)
were married at Shelby, X, O ., one day re
cently.
A doctor at Southwest Harbor, Me., th
other dav cut open a cat's throat and success
fully extracted a needle that pussy had swal
luw I'd.
The 'possum business of Herrlan count
fieorgia, Is looking up. A car-load of big, fa
fellows came Into Quitman the other day, and
found a ready sale.
Hundreds of antlers of the elk are shipped
every year from Oregon and Washington ter
rltory to Kngland, where they grace aneestra
halls as ornaments.
During the recent rough weather lu Oregon
there were over two hundred fallen trees ot
the track of the Northern Pacific rallroac
within a distance of fifteen miles.
A colored man who Is 87 years old walks t
und from Washington, Oa., a distance of eight
miles, to carry the mall for a family, foi
which they board and clothe him and his wife
In Nevada there are soma of the largest
dams In the world for storing water for mlu
big purposes. One Is fiTt! feet long and 75 feet
high, another feet long and 100 feet high.
Dull-lights are growing In popularity in Mex
Ico, and large prices are paid for superior mil
mals. Three bull lights were recently glvet
at Saltlllo In aid of a hospital, and uettec
?S75.
A largo steel gun can only be used aboul
200 times with full battering charges. As thi
guns cost from $75,000 to $:i75,000, according
to size, the cost per charge Is from $.'175 t
$1,875.
An effort is being made In California to re
organize the American party in time for tin
next election. Last year 7,!tl7 votes were cast
in that state for the head of the American
ticket.
On the retired list of the navy there are 5C
rear admirals, 15 commodores, It! commanders
20 paymasters, 14 captains, 'JO lieutenant com
maudcrs, 41 lieu tenants, ?J engineers, and 4(
surgeons.
Tho Inhabitants of Old Town, Me., aro most
ly Indians. The chief olllces hi the city an
occupied by red men, who take us much Inter
est in such affairs as their white brethren In
nelglibortng cities.
Onlv onc-of the live nersons who on theh
death-beds last year confessed to great crimes,
told the truth. It was found that the othei
"confessors" could not possibly have had any
thing to do with the crimes.
The devotion of a young man attending t
prayer-incetlng In 0110 of the churches in St.
Mary's, Canada, the other night, were dls
turbed by a mouse running up the leg of hit
pants while he was kneeling.
The first country to Usuo stamps for chcaj
postage was Great llritaln In 1810. An un
used ono Is worth about $,"00. Tho rarest ioat-
age stamp known to collectors was Issued by
the postmaster at llrattlcboro In 1810.
A foolish woman at Uutler, Ga., burled $11(
lu bills In the wood-yard lor safe keening, ani
when she dug them up for ueo found that tliej
had been so badly eaten by woodllce as U
render them almost beyond recognition.
On Jckyl Island, Georgia, Is a band of horscl
so wlhl that they run at the sight of a man.
William Turner, who has charge of a club
house on the Island, says that the other morn
lng one of these horses came to tho barn, ap
parently In great pain, allowed herseff to b
haltered, and showed unmistakable signs of
gratitude when Turner doctored her and gavt
her relief. Usually these horses aro very stub
born and vicious, and nearly die of starvation
before they will yield to a man.
Tho country negroes In the south aro be
ginning to complain that the city negroes are
too much given to visiting. Keccntly a Cov
ington darky who pretends to practice law,
went to a neighboring settlement for a vaca
tion. For some time his hosts treated hhn
royally, but finally became annoyed at his
long stay, and one night took whips and sticks
and went to the house where he was stopping,
and Invited him to skip. He skipped, aided
now and then by a limber switch.
Sicily Is the chclf source of manna. In that
country the trees are cultivated In plantations,
and when about eight years old they begin to
yield. Cuts an Inch and a half to two luchci
long are made In the bark, cutting through tc
the wood. One cut Is made dally, beglnulug
near the bottom ot tho trunk, with each suc
ceeding cut about an Inch above the formei
one. The thick sirup-like juice exudes from
the cuts and hardens on the bark Into white
spongy flakes, which when hard enough are re
moved and dried still further liefore they art
parked for commerce. It consists mainly of 1
form of sugar called raanlte, and hai wild,
laxative properties.
JlUbBAMJA.ND LOVER.
I wni the lntightef of a Memphis
piiysicinn, and his only child. In my
7th yenr I lost my mother, but tin
poignancy of my childish grief wna in
sotno measure nllevinted when nix
months litter my father brought me
a little plnynmto of my own ncc. Sho
was his ward, nnd we grew from child
hood to girlhood benenth tho stvmo
roof, and for my part I can s-ny I
loved Natnlio Chester ns a sister
How beautiful sho was, in tho first
Hush of her peerless womanhood.
"I wonder will ho bo her lntest con
quest?" I nsked myself, when for the
lirst timo Lindon Stafford nnd sho
stood face to fnce. lie wits my fath
er's young assistant, and perhaps the
only nmn sho over met who, pan
opliod in tho armor of a cold ituliller
once, scorned insensible to her charms.
And I know this indilTerenco piqued a
vanity tho llattery of many tongues
fanned into a passion.
"Does it not occur to von, Myrtle."
she said to mo one afternoon, "that
our voting doctor is a man of singu
huiv phlegmatic temperament?"
"He has never made lovo to vou,
Natalie," I answered drjly. "Yob it
ought to bo a novel sensation to
meet a man who does not fall in love
and worship vou."
He cheeks Hushed slightly, but sho
retorted with a laugh: " onltl it
not be a moro novel sensation still to
constrain linn into idolatry. They
say that natures tho least demonsta
tive aro capable of tho strongest feel
inns, and that thosnark once applied
to the latent tire vou aro treated to a
conlla-'ration."
She spoko lightly, but, tho glanco
that Hashed from the dusky beauty ot
her eyes convinced me that if all the
devices of a fascinating woman did
not fail her she wouid bring Liudon
Stafford to her feet. I, who watched
Mr. Stafford keenly, saw that ho was
.struggling with a passion that he
lelt would only bring linn unliappi
ness. littt tlu hour had come
when strong men's souls would bo
tried in the crucible of a great
atlhction, and Lindon Station), stand
ing face to face with uncompromising
necessity, dare no longer fritter away
existence in a dream of lovo. Tho
terrible scourgo of yellow fever had
spent over Memphis, and within a
week it presnted all'tho appearance of
a city of tho dead. In their abject
terror tho people lied they cared not
whither, and fear for the Minn being
crushed all tho nobler instincts of
humanity from hearts where craven
HollishncHs predominated. My father's
lirst thought was for rsatnlio a safety
and mine, and to this end hetelngraph'
cd to Miss Chester's other guai dain
who was then a resident in anorthorn
state. Indue timo that gentloman
arrived to carry his beautiful ward
and me far from the reach of tho tin
pending danger, but no romonstranco,
no entreaty, could niduco mo to uo
Bert what I conceived to bo my post
of duty. Shall I ever forgot that night
when Natalie left us. Heforo bidding
hergood-by I had hurried upstairs
for a parcel she had forgotten, and in
returning in a minute or so to find
Dr. Station! in tho room, I paused
outside tho door,
"Intended to say farewell," alio said
as, with downcast eyes, sho hold out
her hand.
"Vou must think mo vory cowardly
to fleo from danger whilo Myrtle insists
on remaining."
"Miss Craig's place is by her father's
side," ho answered; "but it would bo
worso than madness in your friends
to allow you to incur risks thatcould
bring no possible good to any ono.
And then you aro to young and beau
tiful to die."
"And if this parting should bo for
ever what would you say to mo, Mr.
Stafford?"
"I would say farowell only faro
well," ho replied, evasively, as ho re
leased her hand. Her eyes looked in
to his, and a cry escaped him as ho
caught her in his arms, and if a man's
love over went out to a woman it was
in that lingering kiss ho pressed upon
her lips. J turned awny, and, with
trombling limbs and sinking heurt,
stolo quiotly upstairs. For I had
learned to lovo this man oven with a
hopelessness that intensified a passion
winch hadchangedthoctirreutof my lifo
into a channel whosesourco was bitter
ness and sorrow. I am notgoingtolin
ger over the days that followed when,
as an hospital "nurso, I tried to forget
my folly. Within two weeks tho sum
mons canio to tho only ono that loved
mo, anil I waB an orphan. Dr. Staf
ford was also stricken down, and I
nursed him through his illness to re
covery, and when tho scourge nt length
had passed away, I found myBolf
alone and almost friendless in the
world. Ono day Lindon Stafford,
whilo still pain and omaciated, camo
to mo and asked mo to bo his wifo. I
know too well ho did not lovo me. I
knew his every thought was with tho
beautiful Natalio in her northern
homo; but, oh, my Godl I could not
let him leave me, and in tho blind fatal
ism of a woman's lovo I cheated my
self into tho belief that in time I would
win his heart. And so we wero mar
ried, and th bridal kiss ho gavo mo,
in its coldness, chilled my lips and
heart. Jitit I did not marry him to in
duigo in vain regrets, and Lindon Staf
ford was too loyal a gentleman, too
sensitive to truth and honor, to bo
other than tho kindest hmband. Tho
first year of my wedded lifo was draw
to a close, when ono morning I re
ceived a letter from Natalie. Sho was
coming south with her guardian for
tho winter nnd would upend a day or
two with us, she wrote. Shoromamod
a week with us for ino a week of tor
ture, for, as I said, my husband lin
gered often by her side. I fear the
smoldering fire of an unforgotten lovo
hud burned into a llamo again within
his breast.
It was Christmas eve, nnd Natalio
kissed 1110 in bidding mogood-byo. Old
the treason of a woman's kiss to a
woman, I thought, aiTl watched tier
dark oyou turned to ihy husband's
faco when he took his scat bcsidij
her in tho carriago to leavo
her at tho depot. Motionlosa
and 11111 to as if grief had turned
mo to stone, I stood beside tho win
dow and looked out on tho dismal
street. And ns tho minutes passed!
this maddening thought occurred tOj
me. Would my husband, tho husband
that I loved, desert 1110 now for this
beautiful Natalio; would his loyaltynnd1
honor bo forgotten in an unholy" pjs
sion? My hands nnd cheeks and brow
were deathly cold, and yet my brain
was on lire. Tho objects on the street
had, to my vision, grown indistinct,,
nnd I turned to totter to a chair as
Lindon noislcssly entered the room.
There was a tender sadness in his eyes
as ho looked upon my palid lace, and
and with tho sobbing cry of "Oh! hus
band!" I sank into his outstretched
arms.
"Myitle,wife,"said he, "when a year
ago I stood before thoaltar andsworo
to lovo you until death there was a
perjury on my tongue. Kven then nn
image that wns not youis was en
shrined within my heart, nnd tho
haunting eyes of Natalie Chester seem
ed to mock my linn resolve to ho at
least a faithful husband. You may
havo known my secret, poor, patient
wife, and ytt reproach nor taunt has
nover passed your lips. Well, I'vo
met Natalio Chester again to learn my
passion had burnt itself to ashes.
And now, this Christmas eve, sweet
wife, when every heart-throb time
beats against your own is yours and
only yours, 1 ask you to forgive mo
and forgot tho past, for I know nuch
lovo as yours could pardon oven a
greater wrong."
I brushed tho hair back from his
splendid brow, and almost as shyly
as a girl, kissed his lips. In my hus
band I had found a lover at- last.
ANTICS OF A IM2T COOX.
Hon It Hail a Mes or Honor, anil How It ItoJo
llorioliark to UiilcW Music.
"But speaking of coon," said John
Pimpson, of savannah, "did you ever
have a pot coon? I had a pot coon,
and ho could got into more troublo
than all tho pots that ever lived on
father's, farm put together. lie would
steal thread, thimbles, socks, combs
and brusho3. Anything that was lost
would he looked for in tho coon's nest,
lie hud a bed up on tho phtto of tho
house, an old-fashioned 3tory-and-a-hnlf
log-house. Everything ho got
hold of he carried there, and in overy
troublo ho got into ho made for that
place. Onco I carried this coon with
1110 to a quilting at old man Ungloy's.
Old man JJagley had a heap
of bees, and you know a coon lovea
honoy better then anything. Tho
quilting was proceeding nicely; all tho
women folks sitting around plying;
their needle, when in dashed tho coon,
literally covered with bees. Ho rush
ed under tho quilt, strewing tho mad
insects. I tell you thonuilting movod,
and chairs Hew and tho drosses flap
ped, and sucliadancing wnsnovor seen
before Pet coons wore not worth'
much in that market aftorward. "This
saino coon got 1110 into troublo again.
Ho would follow 1110 all around tho
placo. Ono Sunday Frank and my-
sell went down In the pasture, just be
hind tho horse lot, and the coon camo
along to. Jn tho pasture wo docided
to take a ride upon a gentle horse-
that was grazing thero. Wo
got tho horse by tho mano
nnd led him to a stump, nnd I
got upon his back and Frank got up
behind me. Then tho coon bounced
up on tho stump and wanted to got
up too, so I reached down and took
him in my lnp. No sooner had tho
horso started off than tho coon, foar-
ful of falling, stuck all tho claws ho
had into the horse's withers, and tho
fun began. Tho horso went 1 uniting
11 ml lrl.Hnr tii-n.il" unnii 1 1 if; ffin
ground and left myself and tho coon
holding on for dear lifo. I stuck on
till wo reached tholotlonco, and there,
as tho horso mounted high and wont
ovor, I camo down across tho rails
and left tho coon master of tho situa
tion. Father heard tho rnckob and
soon tho wholo plantation was trying
to catch tho horso to relievo it ol it s
rider. That was tho last of that coon.
HA got killed and I got whipped, and
I'vo nover wanted a pot coon since."
Atlanta Constitution.
A Curious Now York Charity.
Of a charity in Now York tho cor
respondent of tho Cleveland Leadoc
writes:
It seoms that in Now York, ns oIbo-
whero, bcnovolent enterprises aro gen
erally started by tvomon. Wo wenfcf
down to Duano street and Park ravf
to "inspect" tho "booths" opened by
Mrs. Lamadrid, whoro a supper may
bo had for ono cont. It wasatanhour
when not many wero about, but wo.
wero told that at certain hours thero
was a regular swarm of ragged chil
dren, bootblacks, nowsboys nnd girls
and tho street gamin generally, clam
oring for a breakfast ordinnor or sup
per for ono penny. Mrs. Lamadrid
tias moans and boars tho expense her
self. She is always to bo found in her
kitchen on Madison street, where sho
prepares tho food sold. Sho is deeply
intorosted in her "booths," and hopes
that others of tho same kind will bo
started in tho districts of the poor.
f PI 1 1 Itlll r fnrn lu ou 4 n 11 rt ura
From 5 to 11 a. m. One-half pint
of colleo, witli milk and sugar, and
ono slico of bread, ono cent.
From 11 a. M, t o 1:30 p. M. One-
half pint of soup and ono slico of broad,
ono cent.
From 1:30 to 7 p. m.- One-half pint
ol coffeo, with milk nnd sugar, and
ono slico of broad, ono cent.
On Friday, from 11:30 a. m. to 1:80
jr. Fish chowder, ono cent with
coffee and bread as on other days,
satno hours. Pork and boans no
sorvod overy day, ono cent a plato.
On Sundays tho booths aro open
from 7 to 10 a. m. and from 3 to 5
m with tho same faro as on week
days. Mrs, Lamadrid says she en
poets to make the boatlu se.li sup
porting. ,