t(.e«« people are my motlvee their pleae-
uree my pleasures their life, my life.”
“ Apparently so,” he replied, ambigu
ously,
“ So that,” she pursued, “ I am Indicted
o f the crime of endeavoring to prove my
By H. S. MERHIMAN
superiority over ray neighbors."
lie laughed in an abrupt way.
"N o more than myself."
“ That la a mere prevarication," shq
:<§)
per* i«lo<l, g n y ly .
"T ell me. please, in
what particular this coveted superiority
C H A P T E R I I . —iContlsoedJ
C H A P T E R X II.
lies.”
After dinner Easton at last conde
It was almost a month later that Mat
“ In a desire to appear more aimlcva
scended to explanatbra. Chairs had been thew Mark Easton stepped fairly Into
than you ape/’ he retorted, gravely.
drawn around the Are. While he spoke the circle of w-hlch Mias Winter was to
“ 1 deny that. I plead not guilty," she
the American kept hi* eyea fixed upou the a certain extent the leading spirit. This
said. “ I am a person of many motives,
Are. and at timea moved hia limba nerv lady had been five minutes in the bril
A a N l s k l - S i a . a M ara.
but the many receive their life from one
ously, after the manner of one who la liantly lighted rooms of a huge picture
Here Is u plan for a bum o f tin* eight
source.
That
one
source
is
an
earnest
more highly strung than muscular.
gallery before she singled out the little endeavor to please myself In all things, sided or octagon shape. This octag«»nal
•‘Oeutlemen,” he said in his peculiar, American. He happened to be talking ro
to crowd as much pleasure and as much barn is ” T> feet on each side, providing
slow drawl, and an Immediate silence another Insignificant, unobtrusive man.
excitement Into a lifetime as it will hold." uccomoiinlutloii for ulstut fifty head of
followed—-"gentlemen, 1 asked you to who tugged nervously at a gray mustache,
“ Then,” he said, after a pause, "you 'cattle. There Is u considerable gain
come here to-night for a special purpoae. while he listened. This was one of the
are only one of the crowd after all.”
In floor space when the octagon form
and not from the warmth of my own ablest envoys ever accredited to the Court
“ That la nil. Mr. Tyars. Did you ever Is ns«»d Instead o f the square form, the
heart. What I am going to tell you can of St. James by the Cnited States.
suspect me of being anything else?"
not be quite new to some, while to others
same amount o f wall enclosing a great
Mias Winter knew most of the faces
“ 1 believe I did." he replied, with a
1 surmise that It will be very new. There in the room, and among others that of
t*r
number o f square feet. The main
more direct gate than Is allowed by thi
Is a country on the map called the lMrk the American minister.
Moreover, sho
objection to nn eight-sided barn 1» that
dictates
of
polite
society.
Continent, but during the last few years recollected perfectly the form and fea
It Is difficult to fill with u bay fork or
She returned the gnse with serenity.
it has come under my notice that Africa tures of Matthew Mark Easton.
“ Theii please get rid of the idea,” she sheaf carrier.
This may !»• largely
is as light as the heavenly paths com
The occasion was a vast sssembly of
overcome by erecting a gable on oue o f
pared to another land uearer to this old the fashionable, diplomatic, artistic anil snld, significantly.
There was a short pause, but It wss the shies o f the r»«»f and running a
country. I mean Siberia. Now, I am literary worlds for the collection
of
not going to talk about Siberia, because money and ideas toward the solution of a not the silence of |>eople win» have noth track In from that height, which may
there are four men in this room who social problem. The tickets were a guinea ing more to say to each other. It was to» Is* extended to within 20 f«*et o f the op
know more than I do. In fact, they know each; there were choice refreshments at tense, too restless for that.
"Shall I," inquired Tyars, rising sud |s»slte wall. Th e n sif requires to Is*
too much. Before I go 1 will explain a stated and ruinous price ; soft carpets,
denly.
“ go ami find Easton? 1 should self sup|s»rtlng nnd to secure this tin*
for a spell who we all are. Four of us so exhibition of pictures, and the same
plates should Is* I silted together at the
like
you
to know him.”
are Russians. O f these four, oue has a of dresses.
I believe also that several
*1 shall be most happy." she said, with
wife living in the Siberian mines, con gemlemeu read pai>ers on the subject un
one of her gracious little tx>wa. As he
demned by mistake; a second has a father der discussion, but that was in the small
living in a convict prison, almost on the room at the end where no one ever went. moved away she called him back almost
as if she were loath to let him go, as If
edge of an Arctic sea ; a third has been
Claud Tyars was there, of course.
there himself.
These three undertake During the last month or two he had there were something still left unsaid
what may be called the desperate part of been geing out so much that one almost between them.
“ Tell n»e,” she mid in a gayly confi
our scheme. The fourth Russian is a expected to meet him, just as one ex
gentleman who has the doubtful privilege pects to meet certain well-known faces dent tone, “ before you go, what is his
specialty. I always like to know a stran
of being allowed to live in Petersburg. at every assembly.
Miss Winter saw
His task is difficult and dangerous, but hint immediately after noticing Matthew ger’» chief characteristic, or. If he has
no characteristics, his particular hobby—
not desperate. Tw o of ua are English Mark Easton, and before long he b-*gan
men ; one has given up the ease and lux to make hia way across the room fow arl whether, I mean, he is a botaniat or a
ury of the life of a moneyed British her. Wherever they had met during ths yachtsman, a fisherman or a politician.
sportsman— has, in fact, become a sailor last few weeks, Tyars had Invariably It is ao much more I'oneenient, you tin-j
for the deliberate purpose of placing his succeeded In exchanging a few words demand, to know beforehand upon what
topic oue must conceal one’s ignorance.”
skill at our disposal. In addition to that with Miss Winter, seeking her out with
“ Miss Winter," lie said, delitierately,
he has opened his purse In a thoughtless equal persistence, whether Helen Grace
and generous way. Why he has done were with her or not. If, as the lady "you hare not found out my particular
these things I cannot say. In Mr. Tyars' opined, he was determined to tie- holtby or my chief characteristic yet.”
"N ot yet,” she admitted.
position 1 certainly should not have done come one of their intimate friends,
” 1 think.” he said, ’that Easton ha»
so myself. 11 is is the only name I men be displayed no Indecent baste, no
tion, because 1 have seen the portraits undue eagerness; and In so ’ doing no hobbies. Ilia s|»ecialty 1» eloquence.
He could almost persuade a certain «tul*-
o f him in the illustrated papers, and he was perhaps following the surest
born quadru|»ed to part with hi» hind
there is no disguising who he is. The method. He had not hitherto showed the
legs.
lie was destined by the poaitiv«
rest of ns have names entirely unknown, slightest desire to cross the line which
department of Providence for an orator,
or known only to the wrong people. Some separates acquaintances from friendship.
bur the negative depat tment, with it»
of the Russian names, besides possessing
There was a mutual attraction existing usual discrimination, gave him a weak
this unfortunate notoriety, are quite be between these two capable, practical p-o-
chest, and therefore he 1» nothing.”
yond my powers to pronounce. The sec pie, who met to-night as they usually did
“ Tlmtik you," ah«* said. "N ow I know
ond Englishman is a naval officer, who, with that high-toned nonchalance which
something of him.
I have to conceal
having shared considerable danger with almost amounts to indifference. There
Igmeuth w r e t c h e d smiles the fact that I
Mr. Tyars on one occasion, may or may was a vacant seat, for a wonder, beside .
'know absolutely nothing of
Antericnn
not think fit to throw in his lot with M'ss Winter, which Tyars promptly ap-
coirunerce, American |»olitica or oratory.
him again. His decision, while being a propria u d.
I wonder,” she added, aa an afterthought,
matter of great interest to us, lies en
“ Who,” she asked, after a few conven- "whether there is anything he can per com ers and held hy a hand o f Iron 1
tirely in bis own bands. He is as free tlonaiittes had been exchanged, “ is that
feet long, lient to fit and solidly bolted
suade me into doing?”
when he leaves this room as when we en gentleman talking to the American min
’’ He might,” suggested Tyars, "per so that the corners can never spread. In
tered it. Lastly comes myself----- ”
ister. and apparently making him laugh, suade you into the cultivation of a tn>-
the stable part the larger cattle should
The little face was very wistful, while which is 1 should say, no easy matter?”
tive.”
Is* assigned to the outer circle, the
the thin lips moved and changed inces
“ He ie generally making some one
Then he turned and left her. Matthew
santly from gayety to a great gravity. laugh,” teplied Tyars.
“ His name is Mark Easton saw him approaching, and smaller ones to the Inner row. One
The man's hollow cheeks were singularlv Easton— Matthew Mark Easton.
The broke off rather suddenly a waning con feeding alley serves for tin* two rows,
fluahed in a patchy, unnatural way.
and n circular track can Is* arranged
sort of name that sticks in the wheel- versation with his minister.
“ I,” he continued, with a little laugh. work of one’s memory. A name one does
In order to g d
“ Easton” said Tyars, “ come here. I for carrying silage.
“ — well. I ’m afraid I stay at home. 1 not forget.”
wsnt to introduce you to Miss Winter.” sufficient light there requires to Is* nn
have here a doctor’s certificate showing
“ Ami,” added Miss Winter, lightly, ” a
” Mis* Winter,” returned the American; uliuoet continuous window al«»ut three
that I would be utterly useless in any fare that one does not forget. lie inter
“ ominous name. Who Is she?”
f e d above the ground.— Montreal Star.
but a temperate climate.
I am—con ests me— a little.”
’’ Kite i». a i arson of considerable In
sumptive.”
Tyars laughed at the qualification Im fluence in the Grace household. Do you
tfro a a k t
M a th e r th a n
M o is tu re .
He produced a paper from his pocket plied by the addition of rbe last two understand? It la in Miss Winter's pow
It Is much easier for one to be Intle-
and held it in bis hand upon bis knee, words.
er to deprive us of Oswin Grace, If she
liendeiit o f dry weather than o f wet un
"That is always something.” he said. cares to exercise that power."
not daring to offer it to any one in par
ticular.
There was a painful silence. “ A email mercy. lie is one of my great
Easton's face expressed somewhat lu less the soli Is naturally wet, so that
It may Is* pl|s> drained and thus get rid
No one reached out his hand for the cer est friends— may I introdnee him?”
dicrously a passing consternation.
“ O rta in ly,” murmured the lady, with
tificate, and no one seemed to be able to
‘ Hang these women!” he
muttered. o f the excessive moisture ami this Is an
think of something to say. A t last the a little bow of the head, and then she "Do.** she," he inquired, “ suspect some ex;s*nslve o|s*rntlon, hut, notwithstand
stout gentleman rose from his chair with changed the subject at once.
thing?”
ing, a most desirable one In the end.
“ Heien,” she said, “ is not here to
a grunt.
“ 1 think so.” was the reply, “ and, Potato growers are perhaps more Inter
" I , too, stay at home, gentlemen,” he night.”
moreover, site is a clever woman; so 0 « ested In the problem o f Itow to battle
Tyars looked befitting!/ disappointed. careml.”
said, breathlessly, "and I have no certifi
with dry w eather than growers o f any
“ She does not always care to leave the
cate.”
IT « hs eontlnned.*
other crop and, under normal condi
He crossed the hearth rug, and, taking admiral, and he objects to dissipation on
( O n ce rn ln ic M e n a r d s .
tions, the secret Is simply to see that
the paper from Easton’ s hand, he delib a large scale. Is that not so?” he sug
Many
persons think they ought to be the soil Is pro|s*rl.v supplied with hu
gested.
erately threw it into the fire.
“ Yes. That is the case to-night.”
rewarded for simple honesty. The Idea mus or vegtahle matter.
“ There,” he grunted, "the mischief take
She wondered a little at his intimate' Is not only wrong hut silly, declares a
your Certificate.”
It Is folly, or w ill Is* found so after a
knowledge of Helen’s thoughts, hut said w riter In the Denver Post, nnd tells of few . years, to nttempt to grow |M>tat<M**<
Then he sat down again, adjusting his
nothing. It was probable that he heard nil Incident that roused his w rn tli;
large waistcoat, which had become some
on 4he same ground year after year or
this from Oswin. and his singular mem
what rucked up, and attempted to smooth
A few days ago, while wnlklng down to grow them wholly hy the aid iff com
ory had retained it.
his crumpled shirt, while the paper burn
Here Is where It
“ Miss Grace,” said Tyars, presently, nn Omaha street, 1 saw a inntt ntieiul o f mercial fertilizers.
ed slowly on the glowing coals.
A messenger pays to mnke every |tosslhlo effort to
“ has a strong sense of duty, and is un ine drop n pocketla»od.
“ I only wished,” said Easton, after a
conscious of it. An unconscious sense of I h > y picked It up. Just then the man grow clover for getting heavy cro|m o f
pause, “ to explain why I stay at home.
duly is one of the best of human mo missed It. nnd the ls*y returned It to clover tinder the soil w ill add the re
It is no good sending second-rate men
tives. At least it seems so to me.”
him without looking Inside. Th e mnn qtilred humus, which. In connection
out to work like this.”
Although Agnes Winter was bowing gave the ls>y a quitrter. Th e hoy ac xvlth first-class seed, care nnd cu ltiva
He paused and looked around. There
and smiling to nTi old lady near at hand, cepted it, but was disgusted.
was something critical in the atmosphere
tion, will enable one to grow heavy
sin* had followed him perfectly.
of the room, and all the seven men as
“ Is dat all I get fo r bein’ honest?” he crops o f potatoes In normal seasons and
“ Well,” she answered, "a sense of duty
sembled looked at one another in turn.
ls*tter thnn your neighbor's In dry sea
of any description is not a laid thing asked.
Long and searcbingly each looked into
“ Th ere Is Just three dollars In that sons.
in tiles* time. Indeed,” she added, turn
the other’s face. I f Easton had set down
ing suddenly toward him, “ a motive is pocketbook,” said the mnn.
This question o f getting humus Into
the rule that second-rate men were of no
in itself rather rare. Not many of us
“ W ell, you ought to give me a dollar, the soli is one thnt must Is- met sooner
avail, he had certainly held close to it.
have motives.”
anyw ay," the boy replied, sulkily.
or later hy every farm er and especial
These were, at all events, first-rate men.
Her manner Implied as plainly as if
Had I been the mnn I would have ly hy those who pin their faith very
Not talkers, but actors! no blusterers,
she had spoken it : “ We are not, all of us, ndded n kick to the qu arter; nnd there
largely to commercial fertilizers.
but full of courage; determined, ready
like ycu.”
u _____
are lots o f ¡»ersotis like that boy In this
and fearless. The slight barrier raised
There was something in the expression
R y e f o r l*n «tu re .
by the speaking of a different tongue, th-*
world.
of his eyes that recalled suddenly their
thinking of different thoughts, seemed to
Th e early rye always shows Itself
first meeting at the precise moment when
P ity th e W o r k ln ir W o m a n .
have crumbled away, and they were a*
soon nfter the weather begins to moder
he, entering the drawing room, overheard
’’ Poor wom an! She works hnrd all ate In the spring, nnd some farmers
brothers.
a remark of hers respecting himself. It
“ Our plans,” said Easton, “ are simple. was not an unpleasant expression, but It day, and then she’s up nearly all night usunlly then Iwgln to use It for pastur
W e fit out a ¿hip to sail in the spring, led one to feel instinctively that this man with the babies.”
age. It Is a mistake to use the rye t(s>
ostensibly to attempt the northeast pas might under some circumstances be what
"W h a t’s the mntter with her hus early, as It may cause scours. It Is very
sage to China. Her real object will be is tersely called in France, difficult. It band? W hy doesn't he help her?”
laxative In Its effects, being watery, nnd
the rescue of a large number of Russian was merely a suggestion, cloaked beneath
“ O, he puts In all his time ngltnttng a chnnge from dry feed to young rye
political exiles and prisoners. The three his high-class repose of manner, but she
fo r an eight-hour dny fo r the working very early In the season tuny result In
Russians go to Siberia overland. Theirs had known many men of his class, some
loss o f ntllk.
Is the most dangerous task of of all, the of whom had made a name in their sev mnn.” — Philadelphia Press.
largest, the most important. The fourth eral callings, and this same suggestion
She l.o »« O at.
T h e P le a s in g (ta rd e a .
remains In Petersburg, to keep up com of stubbornness had come beneath her
Mrs. C aller— It doesn't always pay
I f you have n garden It carries with
munication, to forward money, food, dis quick, fleeting notice before. He looked
to husband one's resources.
guises and— arms. Mr. Tyars takes com gravely around the room, as if seeking to
It the satisfaction o f going out early in
Mrs. Hom er— W hy not?
mand of the steamer, which Is now almost penetrate the smiles and vapid affecta
May and gathering radishes, lettuce,
Mrs. Caller— W ell, I Judge so from
ready for sea, and forces his way through tion.
votTTtg onions nnd spinach.
A
few
Mrs. Backer's ex;»crletire. She let her
the ice, God willing, to the Yana river.
“ Oh,” he said placidly, ” 1 am not so
veeks Inter early liens nnd beets are
Easton stopped speaking. As he re sure. There are a good many people who husband have the $5,000 she Inherited
;here for the taking. By the Fourth of
turned to his seat, he glanced inquiringly pride themselves upon steering a clear from Iter grandmother nnd he lost It all
Inly early potatoes, sweet anil nutty,
toward Oswin Grace, whose eyes had fol course. The prevailing motive to-night In speculation.
ifte r a fashion never found In any
lowed him.
is perhaps a desire to prove a superiority
I f a ton o f coal Is placed on the tore, can lie dug.
In succession fol-
" O f course, gentlemen,” said Grace, over one’s neighbors, but it Is still a mo
ground and left there, and another ton ow snap lienns, crisp cticumliers, to-
glancing comprehensively around the tive.”
Is placed under a shed, the latter loses -tatoes, corn thnt Is sweet In soine-
group, “ I go with Mr. Tyars.”
Miss W inter looked at him critically.
‘Thanks,”
muttered
Claud
Tyars,
“ Remember,” she said, wamlngly, “ that about 25 per cent o f Its heating pow- Itlng more thnn name and muskmelona,
ahortly.
this la cay element. The motive« of all •r, the form er about 47 per cent.
■ ragrant, melting, delicious»
Prisoners and Captives
ft. -
»»
l*r<>nt
In
►‘» r e s i
T h ln n ln a .
A bulle! In eutltled " I mpro vement
Th liinln g" Ima heen lastied hy thè State
foresicr o f Massachusetts. Th e nuthor
shows flint thè gm w th oli considera bla
a m ia enn I h * luiproved and inaile more
productlve hy thè application o f inoder
lite thiliulpg w lille lite alauda are Iti thè
procesa o f developiueiit. Tltlli as ofteu
as thè material lo I h * retuoved w lll pnv
for II» reuiovul Is thè rule lald down
as to how ofteu to t filli. As lo thè de
gna* In whlcll It Is snfe to llllll, thè
cover slanild never Is* h m ka» to sudi
nn exlent tliut It w lll not dose agalli III
two or lima* years nnd cast a dense
strade. Ili nuswer to thè oh jed lon thut
la Bomelliuca urgisl tInit sudi Work la
Im pradlcnhle under estatina coudltlnna
o f thè lalsir and wood market, thè iiu-
tlior refera to thè fnet tirai tldnnlng
lina lieeti it o n e sud la golug on how Iti
Musnndillactls and uelghlsirltlg States,
and tlrat It lina not ouly pald fo r Itself,
Init Ima In some ln*tnn<*o* ylelded a net
proftt o f frolli twenly Uve eents to #2 on
eaeh cord o f wood remnved.
I'r r s a r r
liar
H ito I
M a li.
A wool grow er s«*udlug w«s»l to mar
ket In a heavy, dirty condition, leav
ing anything In the fleece to make
more weight, nnd ex(M*ctlng to get mor«
money Is greatly mistaken. Buyers es
timate the value o f tin* clip hy the net
yield o f cleau wool. When growers tlo
their U*st they »usure for themselves
the ls*s. results. The soundness o f the
tll»er ntsy Is* tested hy stretching a
stirali staple between tin* fingers. Sta
pie 2 4 Iueh<*s In length up, Is classed
ixituhltig tielow clothing,
(uilior ex-
|s*ndcd In preparing the clip fo r sale la
well hestowed and brings Its own re
ward. The yolk III wool Is the oily
substance which gives color ami lends
softness to the fleece. It tils«» promotes
tin* growth o f the fleece nnd prevents
tin* wearing o f the filu-r. Gissi feeding,
shelter and care promotes this secre
tion.
k n m ls a lla i
th e llrrh a ril.
Th e Insect tux u|s»u this country's
Mf/rbulturnl
Interests
Is
something
stll|s*lidons. Indeed. Wen* It dot fo r the
ravages o f Insect a, great anil aurati, the
life and profits o f the liortlciilturlst
would Is* so attractive ns to completely
change the present attitude toward
their occupation. Th e government ex-
|s*rta are doing an enormous amount o f
educative work In determining the e x
act organisms that arc ri*s|s»nslhle for
each particular form o f damage nnd
the ls*st method o f combating same. Fit
initiation Is one o f the modern farm er's
tiragli' science wands hy which. In a
trice, he clears Ills crops o f Insect Ilf*
that If not held eradicateli would prob
ably destroy his entire crop. In Call-
foruln Immense Imlloonllke arran ge
menta o f canvas are used In fumigating
fru it trees, and now a Texas Inventor
promises to modify the plan, w ith the
Idea o f making It available for smaller
crops, such ns cotton and corn.
The
appliance consists o f a supporting truck
for movement over the ground, general
ly hy the use o f horses, a combustion
chamber fo r the formation o f the
filini*», or gnsi*s employed ns fumignnt,
and a fram ework, adjustable ns to
heights, and a lussi covering the whole.
A t the rear a deflector curtain Is pro
vided, with n di*|w>ndlng shield exteml-
Ing across the combustion I'lramlicr to
deflect the fumes mid force them Into
contact w ith the plants. W ith an appa
ratus o f this general ty;s* It Is |N»sslhle
to effectively nnd rapidly treat large
numbers o f plants, the deflector or hood
extending over two full rows o f plants.
— Sacramento Bee.
A v v i l i t e In
M este».
Mexlcan fnrm lng Iute resta are w n k -
Ing up under thè exantple o f
thelr
nelghlsirs o f thè North, and
a new
school o f ngriculture Is to l»e ostaTi-
llalied under thè cliarge o f otte o f Lu
ther Bnrhank's co workers. Tltls school
is thè fi rat o f thè klnd to la* establtsli-
etl Iti Mexico, nini Is locateti ncar thè
bonntlary line.
The conditim i» there
nre »Indiar to those In Texas and South
California, and a high grada o f ngrlrul-
ture mny bo expected under Intclilgent
metboda.