r-Zelda Dameron
By
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
CepHfkt, 1904, hr Th BobU-Mntn C.
jBLDA DAMERON, an idyl of the Ohio
which is now
When you
modern town
uine flesh and
heroine is a girl who has seen travel abroad and society at
home. Zclda Dameron is the typical American girl of the
hour. She is something more a dutiful daughter who
sinks all her own individuality
miserly, and later a speculating father, whom she wins to
the higher life of true manhood by her noble self-sacriGce.
There is a war flavor to
tinge, and Western-Southern
natc the reader. The hero is
man of the day, an aspiring lawyer, chivalrous and honor
able in his dealings with all mankind.
This story is a series of
find no unnatural coloring to
rapid life drama that you will
natural.
"Zclda Dameron" is sure
a bright, wholesome story of
cident and a coherent progressive plot that will interest all
readers.
CHAPTKR I.
"Bho' llko Margaret; ho'i really
ono of ui,M remarked Mr. Forrest to
tier brutlior. "Hh carries hcnolf as
Margaret did In her girlhood, And ho'
dark, m we nil aro."
"I hope she's escaped (ho Diimoron
train: they're unatlrnotlvo," said Rod
ney Morrlam.
Mr, Forrest and Zelda Dameron, nor
piece, who wero Juat homo from a flv
yearn' nbionco abroad, had, 10 to ipoak,
topped directly from the train Into
Mra, Carrs drawing-room. Tho placo
m full of women, old and young,
and their animated talk blended.
Mr. Carr wa forclnir tho season a
trifle It wa near tho ond of Beptem
tor ,ut tho dean of a famous cotlego
for women had com to town unex
pectedly, and It wa not Mr. Carr
way to let heat or cold Interfero with
her social Inclination. Mr. Forrest
and her brother had ccaied talking to
watch their nleco. Tho girl' proMo
wa turned to them, and tho old gen
tleman noted tho good point of het
face and figure, Hho wa talking to
several other iilrli, and It aeemed to
tilm that they allowed her a deforenc.
Zelda turned from nor companion
uddenly. Bho crossed swiftly to her
undo with a happy exclamation:
This I Indeed an occnlonl Ho
hold my lonu-lot uncle!" Bho elioJ
til hand eagerly.
"And you nro Zelda our lltllo Zeol"
"Quito tlmtl Wo mut bo acquaint
edl Perhap wo (hall bo friend, who
know? Aunt Julia promised to ar
range It and I'm not uiied to being
disappointed."
Zelda w a name that had been
adopted In tho Merrlam family long
ago. A groat many peoplo had never
known that old Honor sierriaitr
wife' namo wa Zelda, o generally
wa Zee tipplled to her oven In her
old aao. Marsaret Damoron's cnuo
had been called Utile Zoo while her
srrandmolher lived, and until her aunt
had taken her away; and now, on her
reannearanco In Marlona, ahe wa qulta
naturally apoken of at Zee Damron.
There wa a wlstruiness in me gin
eve that touched Hodney Merrlam by
tho suggestion of her dead mother, tho
slater that had been tho pride of the
Merrlam, Mr. Forrest watched her
brother curiously. Hho had peculat
ed much about this meeting. Rodnoy
Merrlam wa away from homo a great
deal. Ho had reached Marlona at noon
from a trip Into Canada, and had gona
to Mr. Carr In purult of hi lter.
Mr. Forrest understood perfectly that
her brother had come to Mr, Carr
tea chiefly that he mleht casually, and
without apparent Interest, Inspect his
niece. Hodney Merrlam wa wary of
entanglements with his relative. Ho
and Mrs. Forrest were, It was said In
Marlona, the only Merrlams who could
afely be asked to the same table, or
who wero not likely to cause embar
rassment If they met anywhere. Ho
had not spoken to Rxra Dameron, Zel
da's father, for ten years, and the name
Dameron was an offense In his nos
tril; but tho girl wan clearly a Mer
rlam J she was the child of his favor
ite sister, and he hoped It would be
possible to like her.
"Yes, we shall be friends much
more than friends," he eald, kindly.
"You must come and see me; Aunt
Julia has graduated me, and I'm back
on my native heath to stay,"
"Come and tell me what you have
learned In distant lands and I'll tell
you what to forgetl Here's Morris
Lelghton; 1 want you to know him.
Zee," said Hodney Merrlam.
Merrlam moved away through tho
crowd, followed by his sister.
"You know Uncle Rodney very well,
don't yout" said Zelda to Lelghton.
"He was always my hero. When I was
little girl I used to sit on a trunk
In his garret and watch him fence with
a German fencing master. It was
great fun."
"I sometimes fence with Mr. Mer
rlam myself. I ascure you that hi
hand and eye have not lost their cun
ning." Morris Lelghton's social adventures
had not lacked variety. He knew a
eood deal about girls, and wjille a
young man 1 still under 30 the delu
sion serves all the purposes of actual
knowledge. Rodney Merrlam bad often
poken to Lelghton of Zelda Damer
on' home-coming.
Zelda Dameron' return to Marlona
vra more of an event than she neraelf
understood. The Merrlams were on
Interesting family; they were, Indeed,
one of the first families. There were
Merrlams about whom people laughed
cynically; but Mrs. Forrest did not be
long to this faction, nor did Rodney
Merrlam, of whom most people stood
In awe. There had been much pecu
lation. In advance of Zelda' coming,
. to her probable course when she
hould return to Marlona with bor
Au&t ilwj bad predicted Ui afco
Valley, a natural but entrancing romance,
real as life. This is the truly charming serial
presented.
read this sterling story you
will be delighted at its brisk, fresh tone of
life. The characters are gen
blood men and women. The
in protecting and elevating a
this charming story, a college
characteristics that will fasci.
a type of the ambitious young
vivid life pictures. You will
its settings, no actors in the
not recognize .as strikingly
to meet your approbation as
to-day, full of sparkling in
would not go to live with her father-
that Mrs. Forrost and Hodney Mar
rlam would save her from that! but
Zelda was already domlcllod In her
miller's house.
Mr. Forrest led her brother to un
nlcovo of Mr. Carr library, and sent
nun to bring a cup of tea to her there,
Hho was afraid to wait for a bottor
opportunity; sho must tako advantngo
or his first Improialon nt once. Ho
brought what was offered at tho buffet
In tho dining-room, ond gavo her his
serious attention.
"This Isn't quite tho placo I should
hnvo chosen for a reunion after throo
years," ho began. "Where was It I
saw you Inst? QenovaT I believe It
was. Tho girl la very handsome. I
suppose you found your houso In good
order. And Zoo wont with you with
out any trouble. That's as It should
bo."
"Hut, Rodney, sho Isn't with mel
Bho ha gono to her father; sh
wouldn't havo it any other way."
'Oh! I'll fix that. I'll get her away
from him. Now that you've given her
to him, I suppose I'll havo to tako it
hand," said Merrlam, with frank dls
pleasure. "I'll have to renew my no
qualntanco with that blackguard.
really upposo I'll have to call on him.
or I might meet him accidentally, In
the street, or nt the bank. I might
mako a study of his habit and then He
In wait I should like to give an nccl
dental air to the meeting, to save my
self-respect as far as possible."
"I suppose I might give a reconcilia
tion dinner," she said. "Wo might as
well go Into It deep while wo aro about
It."
Merrlam shrugged his shoulders,
'Don't push too fast. I don't remember
Uira as a good dinner man,"
"I'll tako you home If you'ro ready,"
saia Mrs. Forrest, when, nrter some
further talk, they returned to tho
drawing-room. "Zelda'a father Is com
ing for her."
'Thanks; but I'm going to walk
down with Lelghton, if I can find him,"
It was nearly 0 o'clock, and a pro
cession of women was coming down
the stair to Mr. Carra front door,
as Hodney Merrlam and Morris Lelgh
ton left tho house with Mrs. Forrest
and Zelda, The waiting carriages made
a long line In tho street.
"How gay It look si The old town
really has a matropolltan air at last,
A tea with men present It's almost
beyond belief!"
"The town's not so bad, Julia; and
It's a nice comfortable place for one's
old age. You'd better get reconciled."
Mrs, Forrest' carriage had drawn
up to the curb and Lelghton shut her
Into It.
"He aure to come to my house to
morrow, Zee," she called to the girl.
"Miss Da moron's carriage!"
A shabby vehlclo emerged from tho
line and came forward. Zelda an J
Lelghton were talking animatedly; and
Merrlam watched the approaching
carriage with Interest, standing back
from the curb. It was a box-like.
closed carriage of an old pattern,
drawn by one horse, with the driver
mounted on a low seat in front. Lelgh
ton opened the door.
"Shall I say homer Morris asked.
as tho girl gathered up her skirt and
stepped In.
"You needn't trouble yoursolf," said
the driver, sharply, He was mutlied In
a heavy coat, though the air was
warm, and as the carriage door closed,
he struck his horse with the reins and
drove rapidly away.
'Sorry I rmde a mistake, said
Lelghton to Merrlam, as they turned
toward the city.
"It was her father," said Merrlam.
CHAPTER II.
"The cost of living Is high, very
high."
"Yes, father; I know that things
cost, of course."
"I have lived on very little while you
were away, Zee. With one servant It's
possible to keep down expenses. Ser
vants are ruinous. And I'm not rich,
Zee, like your Aunt Julia and Uncle
Rodney."
"I want to do Just what you would
have me do, In everything. It was
kind and generous of you to let me
stay away so long. I know my ex
penses abroad must have been a great
tax on you."
Eira Dameron looked quickly at his
daughter.
"Yes, to be sure, Zee, to be sure.
Marlona 1 a simple placo and your
sojourn abroad has hardly fitted you
for our homely ways. You'll find that
things are done very differently here.
But of course you will accommodate
yourself to tho conditions. And you'll
Ond tho house quit comfortable. It's
a little old-fashioned, but It was your
grandfather, and it rarely nsppona
nowaday that a girl lives la tas
house her mother wns born in. Ol
courso any little changes that you
want to mnke will be nit right; but
you must practice economy."
They wero studying each other rrlth
a shrewd sophistication on the fath
er's side; with anxious wonder on the
part of the girl. Bhe knew little of liar
father. Even tho momory of her moth
er had grown Indistinct. The thing
that had always Impressed her about
her father was his seeming ngo; she
remombcred him from her childhood
ns an old mnn, who enmo and went
on errands which had seemed unrelat
ed to her own life. Tho houso had
stood In a large tract when Zclda wont
away, but this had shrunk gradually
ns Esra Dameron divided tho original
Merrlam ncrcs and sold oft tho lots,
Tho front of tho homestead was now
only a few foot from tho now cemont
wnlk on what was called Merrlam
street. In honor of Zelda' grandfath
er. Sun and wind had peeled tho paint
from the brick walls and tho green of
the Minds had faded to n dull nonde
script.
"Your aunt probably told you somo
thing of your business affairs of the
trusteeship," ho said.
"Oh. nol Aunt Julia never discuss
ed It: but I remember that sho told
me onco I had somo property. I know
nothing more except that thcro Is a
trusteeship whatovor that Isl" Anu
hn Inuehed.
"Yes! it was a very wlso idea of
your mother's In providing for you,
Hhe always maintained her scparato
estate. Bhe Inherited some property
from her father. I never touched your
mother's nronerty at all! never a cent,
tho old mnh went on. Ho did hot know
what Mrs. Forrest might have told
Zelda. Ho was dropping down his
nlummot to mensuro her Ignorance,
Zclda know nothing; and she cared
very little. Her wants had always
been provided for without any trouble
on her port Mrs. Forrest Indulged
herself, and sho had Indulged Zelda
Mini Dameron was wondering Just
what Hodney Merrlam and Mrs. For
rest would expect him to do for tho
girt. His position as her father had
been anomalous ever slnco his wlfo
dlod, ten year ngo. Tho Merrlam
had taken hi daughter nway from him
nt onco nnd then they had ant her
out of tho country, and now that they
had brought her back ho wns not
without curiosity a to what their at-
tltudo toward him would bo.
"Tho trusteeship will not bo termi
nated for a year on your 21st birth
day, unless you should marry beforo
tho end of that time. This Is always
an emergency to look forward to; but
I trust you wilt bo In no hurry to loave
me."
Zelda laughed abruptly.
"It's funny. Isn't Itt tho getting
married. I honestly hadn't thought of
It beforo. I don't know any young
men. Wo didn't moot any men abroad
oxcept very old ones. Aunt Julia wa
afraid tho young men weren't respect
nblol"
"Thero's nothing llko being careful
whero young men aro coticornod. Thcro
aro many bad ones aoout these uays
Tho temptations or modern lire nro in
creasing fast. A young girl can havo
no Idea of them."
(To bo continued.)
llo was, first of all, n lovable puppy.
nnd second, ho had a fine pedigree.
Either reason was enough for conster
nation to spread throughout tho houso
when It appeared that ho wns gono,
The last person who had iron him, tho
nurso-mald, said that ho was playing
down tho street with that big dog next
door, At any rate, he was lost, and It
was necessary to search, A writer In
the Galveston News relates tho story.
Under the house, Just before wo got
well started, we found tho feathers of
a chicken wo had long believed safely
Interred, Fragment of a napkin that
had blown from tho clothes-lino show
cd that tho puppy had been there or
thereabout, but tho pup hlmsolf was
not In sight.
Out In the alley we found whero, In
his Innocent play, he had carried tho
cook's best npron and tnnde strings of
It. Poor little 1or! He had to have
something to amuse himself with.
Our neighbor, Mr. Hums, came to
the back fence and rested bis coatless
arms on It.
"Have you seen our dog!" we asked
him. Mr. Hums considered.
"What sort o' dog was lieT" he
asked. "A little, flea-bit mongrel with
a stub tallT"
We Indignantly replied that ho was
a fox terrier with a pedigree as long
nu the laws of the Medcs and the Per
Blons.
"I saw him." said Mr. Ilurna. "He
chased two of my settln' hens off th
nest and busted half the eggs. If ever
I ketch "
"Which way did he go?" wo asked.
Mr. Hums smiled grimly.
"Last I see of him." he said, "ho was
I ravel In' due west, an' halt a brick was
follerln' him pooly clost."
They had seen him at the drug store
He had managed to get his head
caught In a Jar. and had frightened an
old woman so badly that the doctor
had to bo called Just becauso the dog
approached her without removing the
jar.
"Have you seen our little dog?" wo
asked the grocer down the street.
"If he was yourn," said the grocer.
"you owe me for a whole cheese. Some
little snub-talled beast ate the wood
off a new cheese and got Into It before
wo saw him."
"That wasn't our dog," we assured
him, "Our dog hates cheese won't
stay In tho house with it, In fact. Dut
which way did that dog go!"
Following bis directions and follow.
ed by his auspicious glances, we went
down the street again. Far down the
street we beheld a small and hilarious
crowd.
Approaching, we saw the cause. A
little stump-tailed fox-terrier, painful
Jy like our own lost pet, bad paused
at a second-band store and pulled
down a string of shoes that were on
exhibit outside.
These he was doing his utmost to
destroy, manifesting the liveliest sat
isfaction at the progress made.
At our approach be fled, and we
knew whoso dog he was. Dut as we
had to pass the druggist's and the gro
cer's and our neighbor's borne we were
not sorry, for there are times when
one does not like to claim even a dog
of pedlgreo, and this was one of them.
Good sense Is not a merely Intellec
tual attribute; It Is rather the result
of a Just equilibrium of all our faeal.
tlsa. Bulwtr Lyttoa,
aBU TTf
i; TRACING A LOST DOG.
't Zelda Dameron
By
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Coprr!tt, 1004, W TtM BokU-MtrrlH Co.
CHAPTER II. (Continued.)
"Who' afraid?" alio said, and laugh-
id again.
"I'll be back In a moment," ho said,
nnd ho went up atnlrs, returning pres
ently, carrying a small baskot filled
with keys.
"These aro yours, my daughter," he
said, and waved his hand with a llttlo
touch of manner.
"Oh, so manyl" Sho poured tho keys
upon the table. There wore half a
hundred of them, of many kinds and
sizes; and they wero all tagged with
little bits of Ivory, on which their sev
eral uses were written clearly In Ink.
"Your mother wa very methodical-
very painstaking"
He shook hi head nnd turned to the
fire, a though to hlds anw ihor of
fcollng.
Zelda wa turning the key over In
her hand, and aho did not look at him,
A mist had como Into her oyes. Sho
romembered the dark woman who had
been so gentto and patient with her
childhood. They usod to walk togeth
er In the old pasture; nnd they carried
their books to a aoat that had been
built under n groat beech where her
mother read tho quaint tales and old
ballads that wero her delight. These
wero tho only happy memories sho
had kept of her mother tho times un
der tho beech, with which hor futher
wns not associated.
"I'm suro It' your tlmo to go to bed,
father. You mustn't let mo break In
on your ways." Zelda walked over to
him and put her hands on his shoul
ders. "I want to bo very good to you,
father; nnd I know wo'll llvo hero very
happily. You won't mind mo much
when you get used to mo!"
Bho touched his forehead with her
lit).
"Thank you, thank you" nnd thero
wa a helpless noto In his voice.
Sho turned away from him quickly,
restored tho koys to the baskot and
ran with It to hor room. '
The next morning sho Was down to
hi 7 o'clock breakfast In tho cold, for-
blddlnir dining-room. Bho was very
gay nnd mndo him talk a great deal to
her. Ho hnd been up for nn hour nl
work In tho barn, whero ho cared for
hi own hone. Ho carried tho morn
ing newspaper to tho table, a ho had
dono for year.
"Thl will never do, fathorl You
muat talk to mo and help mo to learn
tho American broakfait habit I'll bo
tonesomo If you read at tho tabto."
His thoughts seemed far nway; ho
hnd long been out of practlco In tho
amenities nnd grnces, and tho morning
hnd brought htm onco moro fac to
faco with this change In his It to. Tho
placo across tho table had been empty
for so many yoars that ho resented the
nppearnnco there of this slondor dark
girl, pouring his coffeo with nn eno
that puixled and even touched him.
Thero had been another girl llko her,
In tho long ago, and this was her
child. Tho resemblanco between room
er and daughter was so marked that
ho grow uneasy at he pondered It; ho
made a protenso of holding up hi
nnwmaner to shut out tho. girl, and
when ho dropped It Zelda was watting
for him, her elbows on tho table hr
hand clasned under her chin.
"Oh, pardon mol" ho oxclalmed, rls-
Inir hastily.
A ho helped him Into hi overcoat
her hand touched a hammor no car
rled In hi pocket with a mUccllaneou
assortment of nails, for uso In repair
ing tho small properties ho owned In
many parts of town, nnd sho drew tho
Implement forth ana inspected u ui
arm' longth.
"Why. fatherl What on earth I
this?" .
Tho nail Jingled, and sho made a
dlvo Into tho pocket ana urew rorin n
handful.
"Whv. you've forgotten to empty
your pockotal You mustn't go about
with thl hardware In your clothe."
He reached for tho thing, a llttlo
shamefacedly.
"You don't undertand. I need them
to mako trilling repair, you know."
He smiled, and ahe put tho things uacic
Into hla poeketa, atlll laughing at him.
"I must go about with you. I can
carry the hammer. Maybe you will let
mo drive a nail once In a while, If I
am good.
He drew out a faded silk handker
chief and began twisting It about hla
throat, but Ze da took It from mm ana
ndiuated It carefully under ma coat
collar; nnd aho brushed his old brown
derby hat with a wins uroom mat
lay on the hull table.
He suffered her ministrations with
his patient smile, Into which he tried
to throw something of a look of prldo;
nnd when ahe had aet the hat aquare-
iv on hla head, aho drew nacit ana re
garded him critically and then kissed
him on the cheek.
"Now be sure to come nome to
luncheon always, 'iou didn't como
yesterday and It was lonely. I must
get Polly to snow mo mu way to wia
grocery. I don't intcnu to let tier no
the boss. I'm aure she's been abusing
you all theae years."
"Oh, in time you win come to ii.
Polly will do very well, and you
oughtn't to be bothered with such
things. I I usually buy the groceries
myself. One of my tenants la a gro.
cor andand he doe a little better
for mel"
"Oh. to be aure, You must do It In
your own way, father." There waa a
note of disappointment In her volco,
and he would have liked to concede
something to her, but he did not know
how.
She roamed Idly about the house,
going finally to the kitchen, where tho
colored woman told her that order
for the remaining meals of the day
had been given by her father. Polly
viewed Zelda with admiration, but she
did not ask advice, and Zenda contin
ued her wanderings, going finally to
the attic with the key-basket
The jiluco waa pitch dark when aho
threw open the door, and as there was
no way of lighting it, sne went down
and brought several old candlesticks
from the parlor. The attic was a great
low room extending over the whole
of the house. It was unplastered. Hol
es and barrels abounded. Hunches of
herbs, long dried, and garden tools
hung hero and there; .in a corner an
old saddle waa suspended by one stir
rup. Pieces of furniture covered with
cloths were distributed under the
eaves, their draperies heavy with dust,
and the light of the candles gave them
a spectral appearance.
There were several trunks of her
mother's clothing and Zclda peered In
to theae bravely. Her mother had ar
ranged them thus shortly' before her
death. Th girl was touched by their
aleo order; they ware foldsd many
time In tissue paper and wero awect
with lavender. Ono flat packet hnd
been crowded Into tho top, and tho lid
had crushed It, so that tho papor
wrapping had fallen nslde. It held n
small address book, bound In red leath
er; and Zelda ran the leaves through
her fingers, noting tho names of per
sons who wero her mother's frlonds.
"Margaret Dameron" wn written on
ono of the fly leave. The book had
been Intended as n rcgUter of visit,
begun nt tho threshold of her married
life; but from appearances, It had
been abandoned soon as nn nddress
book. At the back, whero tho Ink was
fresher and of n different kind, somo
of the pages were filled. Tho girl car
ried tho book close to tho shrouded
table whero her candles stood and
opened It
"This Is to you, Julia or Hodney.
Thoy hnvo told mo to-dny that I am
going to dlo; but I have known It for
a long tlmo. The end Is nearer than
thoy think It Is; and I am going to ct
down hero an nppcnl that I can not
bring myself to moke to cither of you
directly. It Is about Zclda. I think
sho wilt bo llko us. Ood grant It may
bo so. I know what 1 hopo her futuro
may bo; but I dare not plan It. My
own you know that I planned my
own. Savo her, as you tried
to save mo from myself, If It should
bo necessary. Sho Is very dear and
gcntlo; but sho ha our pride. I can
see It growing dny by day. They say
that wo Merrlam nro hard and proud;
but he will never bo hard. Do for
her what you would havo dono for me.
Do not let him kill tho aweotness nnd
gentleness In her. Keep hor away
from l int If you can; but do not lot
her kr.ow what I havo suffered from
him. I have nrrnnged for him to enro
for tho property I hnvo to leave her,
so that sho may never feel that I did
not trust htm. Ho will surely guard
what belongs to her safely.
Perhaps I was unjust to him; It may
havo been my fault; but If alio can ra
sped or lovo him 1 wish It to bo so."
Zelda read on. Thoro were only n
faw psgea of tills nppenl, but tho
worda annk Into her conaclousnraa
with tho weight of lead. Bho waa to
bo saved from hor father, If need be,
by her aunt nnd undo; but alio must
not know what this dead woman, her
mother, hnd suffered nt his hands.
Thoro was tho heart ncho of years In
tho lines; thoy had not been written to
her, but fate hnd brought them undor
her eyes. Sho closed tho book, clasp.
Ing It In hor hands, nnd stared Into tho
dark nron beyond tho candlelight Hor
mind wns busily reconstructing tho Itfo
of hor mother, of whom sho know so
llttlo. Tho book thnt sho held, with
Its pitiful pica for her own security
nnd happiness, opened n now world to
her; her mothor'a words brought tho
past beforo hor vividly and sent her
thoughts Into tho futuro with a fierce
haste of transition.
This wns her homo.comtng nnd this
was homo! Bho forgot for tho moment
that sho had friends anywhere; she
felt herself a stranger In her native
city, In tho house whero sho was born.
Her heart wont out to her mother,
across u dlstanco that was vaster than
any gulf of tlmo, for thoro wns udded
the greater void that sympathy and
lovo would have ailed If mother and
child might have touched hands to
day.
Her fingers oamo upon tho brokon
wrapper that hail fallen from the lit
llo book. Bho lifted It to tho light and
rmd:
"I'rlvato. ror brother Hodney or
sister Julia."
CHAPTER III.
Tho front door-bell rang It was mi
old-fushloncd contrivance, on a wire.
and pmlwl censoriously nnd Zuld.i
thrust the book luiok Into tho trunk
and ran to tho second-floor landing to
listen. Polly, tho colored maid. of. all
work, admitted Mrs, Forrest warily.
"O ood morning, Aunt Julia! Wel
come to your ancestral hornet Como
on up!" Zelda called from tho top of
the stairs,
"What on earth are you doing, Zee?"
demanded Mr. Forrest, gathering up
her skirts nnd beginning tho ascent
"I'm cleaning house a little."
"My dear Zee, this will nover do!"
And Mrs. Forrest, having reached th
aecond Door, surveyed her nleco with
disapproval.
"Do you mean the olbthesT" asked
Zelda, putting her hand to her turlKui,
"I fluttered myself that I looked rath
er well. I'm exploring the garret I'm
not really doing anything but poxa
about; and It's great fun, raking In
the dust of the past a very remote
past, too!"
"This Is a horrible hole. Zee. You
must go right down." Mrs. Forrest
was staring about frownlngly.
A trunk stood within the aro of the
candle's llama It waa tilled with old
papers nnd letters, nnd Zelda Huns
up the lid to pique her aunt's curiosity
You must burn nil theso old things.
Your grandfather never destroyed any
thing, and your mother kept all he left.
Old (otters ought nover to be kept;
they're dangerous, I'm about settled
myself. I came In to soo how you'ro
getting on, Zee."
"I'm going to see what I can do with
this old furniture."
"You'd better buy what you need
new. I never had any patience with
this Idea of gathering up old rubLlsh
Just because it's old. And then there's
the microbe theory; It sounds reason
able and there's probably a good deal
In It"
"Horror! The garret' probably
full. Perhaps there aro some In thou
love-letters." Zelda laughed; her
mirth was seemingly spontaneous, and
bubbled up Irrelevantly.
'If there's anything of mlno up hero.
for heaven's sake burn It right away.
And now clean yourself up and come
out with me. You must ahpw yourself
or people won't know you're In town.
And come home to lunoheon with me
afterward."
"I'd like to, Aunt Julia, but I really
mustn't Father comes homo to lunch
eon." 'Oh, he does, does he? Well, ho has
had a good many meals alone and the
shock wouldn't kill him."
'He's perfectly splendid! He's Just
as kind and thoughtful aa can be. I
didn't know that anybody's father
could be so nice."
Mrs. Forrest rose and swept the gar
ret disapprovingly with her lorgnette;
and thero may havo been an excess of
disapproval that was meant for some
thing elae. Julia Forrest waa a wom
an without aentlment. for there are
such In th world. The lumber-room
did not Interest her, and sho was anx
ious to get out Into ths sunlight Sht
was too Indolent by naturo to hare
much curiosity) sho was not a woman
who spent nil her rainy days poring
over lavender-scented trifles and weep
ing over old totters. She wns born In
this old house, and sho hnd plnyod n
a girl In thu wooded pasture that onco
lay east of It Hor father's fields wora
now forty-foot lots, through which
streets had been cut, and tho houses
that had been built up thickly all
about were of n formal urban type.
The Merrlam homestead was to Julia
Forrest merely an old, shabby nnd un
comfortnblo house, whoso plumbing
was doubtless highly unsanitary. She
had been married thoro; her father
nnd mother hnd dlod there; but tho
placo meant nothing to her beyond tho
fact that It was now hor niece's homo.
It occurred to hor that she ought to
soo Zelda's room, to bo suro tho girl
was comfortable; but Zclda did not In
vito her In whon thoy reached tho sec
ond floor.
"Tho letters were beautiful; thoy
wrote lovely totters In those days,"
Zelda persisted Ironically! "I wish I
could havo somo half as nice."
"Do get your things, Zoo; It's flno
outdoors and tho outing will do you
good."
"I'm very sorry, but I can't go this
morning, I havo a lot to do. I'll bo
freer after a little.
"You're foolish, very' foolish. Whon
shall I see you, then?"
"I'll bo along late In tho afternoon
some time."
"And then stop to dinner "
"Very sorry; but father will expect
mo. It doesn't seem qulto kind to for
nk him when ho's so nice to me,"
"I suppose not, but bring him nlong.
Wo'ro nil an unsoclablo lot They ay
tho Marrlam nnd their connections
nro queer I don't llko tho word. Your
undo and I want you to ralsa tho fa!
Ion reputation of tho family. Do bo
conventional, whntovcr you do."
"Oh, I shall bo that commonplaco
oven."
"Don't como down In thoso clothes!"
Mrs. Forrest was descending tho stairs.
"All right, Aunt Julia. Qood-byl"
When tho front door had closed, Zel
da sat down on tho stairs and laughod
softly to herself,
"Oil, Polly," sho called.
Tho black woman shuttled slowly In
to tho hall and looked up gravely at
tho girl.
"Polly, I wish to sco tho footman
tho moment ho returns to th homo.
And th butler's work Is very unsatis
factory; I shall hnvo to let him go.
And please say to tho cook that them
will bo plo for dinner until further no
tice nppls-plo with cheess. And the
peasants they will b received by My
Majesty on tho lawn nt 6 as usual, and
largess will bn distributed. Will you
executo theso commissions at onco,
Polly? Stand not on th order of your
going" Sho laughed down nt th
nmasod colored woman and than ran
swiftly up stairs.
Sho did not pause until sho reached
tho cnndlo-llghtcd table In tho gnrrot
nnd knelt beforo It with her faco
against her mother's llttlo book, nnd
sobbed ns though hor heart would
break.
(To bo continued.)
A PROBLEM IN FINANCE.
Mrs. Compton set a largo, ';nobby
package on tho library tablo, and fell
Into tho easy chair which was drawn
up to the flro opposite hor husband's.
"I am almost worn outl" sho gasped,
"I Just wish you'd lift that bundle,
Henry, and tell mo how much It
weighs."
"About cloven pounds and a half, at
a rough guess," said her husband.
"What In tho world Is It?"
"It Isn't It, It's them," said Mrs
Compton, with n flno contempt for
grammar. "It Is two Jnra of marina
IijiIh, mid a pound of fudge, and two
work-aprons, nnd threo wooden mil
mals, and a raltlu handbag, and a glass
hatpin holder, and oh, yes, and half
a dozen dusters and a dusting cap."
"What do you want of all that
truck?" demanded Mr. Compton.
"I don't want any of It," and his
wlfo turned her head wearily from
sldo to side; "but then, I supposo they
dldn t want my Illuminated book'
marks, and they'd all bought thorn.
"You see, all of us, the members of
tho Ladles' Aid Society, decided not
to havo a fair this year and get all
tlrod out, as we have other yoars, but
encli one raise what niouoy aho could
by Individual work.
"So I made a lot of thoso pretty
book-marks of course nobody really
uses them, but you put them In somo
hook nobody rends, and they look at.
tractive. I cut them, and Kdlth drow
th designs, and Mildred colored them,
so wo felt wu must ask suventy-llvo
cents aploce for then. threo persona'
woik like tbatl
"Well, yesterday I took a box of
them and went to seo all tho other
women- It poured so thoy wore all at
home and perauadod nearly every one
to tako two, and I came homo with
eighteen dollars for tho mission fund,"
"flood workl" said Mr. Compton.
"Walt!" In a trnglo tone. "This
afternoon Mrs. Leigh telephoned, early,
for ma to go over thero to nn Im
promptu sewing-bee, and all tho other
immiberH of tho aocloty were there
with their things to sell nnd of
courso I had to take something from
each ono of them, slnco they'd bought
of mo,"
"Oh, yes, I supposo so." "said Mr.
Compton, taking out a long pocket
book.
"And I've reckoned It up coming
home," said the plalntlvo voice, "and
I've spent or at least I owe olghteen
dollars and twenty-live cents, Hut
then Mra. Leigh saya aho's lost two
dollars and u quarter on her work.
And we've all tried so hard to help!"
"Yes, I saw Leigh this afternoon,"
gild Mr. Compton. "Wo decided 'twas
ubout tlmo for tho assoclato members
of tho Ladlea' Aid Society to get In
their work. How does that ten-dollar
olll strike you?"
"0 Henryl" cried his wife. "But
but whero do you suppose tho money
has gone, when wo'ro nil In debt?"
"My dear," said Mr. Compton, "in
times of financial stress associate
members are allowed to step forward
and hand out helpful sums, but I havo
always understood the real workings
of tho society wero kept from them.
I shall havo to bo excused from offer
ing any opinion." Youth's Companion.
Qeorge Itoucker, who worked bis
way to America as a coal shifter and
accumulated a large fortune In the ho
tel business In Urooklyn, died at hli
beautiful villa, In his native place,
Bronkensen, German,'
IN HOURS OF PLAY
ANIMAL8 MAKE GOOD USE OF
THEIR LEISURE TIME.
Authenticated Cases Which Prove ths
Drute 8pecles Are Aware of the
Value of Relaxation Merry
Antics of Monkeys.
All animals, from nnts up to whales
nnd elephants, play togothor In youth,
nnd eonio nro fond of taking such di
versions nt lntorvnls through llfo.
Ono might search tho world ovor and
not And moro plnyful crcnturcs thnn
puppies and kittens, but thcro nro oth
er dumb animals which not only frisk
about, but actually descend to prac
tical jokes.
A Urnxlllnn parrot onco succeeded
In making a railway party bollov that
thoy hnd run ovor a child. Suddon
cries, followed by n low moaning,
rang out from beneath tho whcols.
Tho train wns stopped, and tho cm
ptoyoos nervously searched tho track,
but no child was to be scon. No cluo
to tho sttuntlon wns to bo found until
a largo groon parrot, swinging in his
cngo, uttered a mocking laugh.
A monkey on shipboard usod to
nmuso himself In tho cook's nbmnco
by turning tho wntor-cocks In order to
enjoy thnt worthy's surprise whon ho
returned nnd found tho wator running
ovor tho floor; and thcro aro scores
of authenticated Instances of actual
deception practised by animals to
gain somo desired ond.
A certain Bkyo terrlor used to at
tempt deceiving Us mnstor by going
through tho action of killing n fly, nnd
then assuming an nlr of succoaa. Ono
dny, however, whon proof was given
him that his hypocrisy wns dctoctcd,
ho slunk under tho furntturo, evident
ly qulto ashamed.
Tho merry nntlcs of monkeys ar
mnny nnd diverting. Humboldt wa
acquainted with a monkey In India
which took dotlght In riding a pig.
Every morning tho croaturo caught
ono, leaped nstrldo his back, nnd
clinging thoro with great firmness,
took his fill of riding,
Another monkey, domostlcatod br.
a missionary, usod to put tho family
cat, a strong, good-natured animal, to
tho snmo uso.
Tho favorite game of others secmi.
to bo that or sliding down hill. Thoy
climb to tho top of a high snow-rldgo,
llo flat upon tho stomach, with tha
foro-rcot bent backward, ond glvln.x
thomsolvos an Impulso with tho hind
legs, gllda down tho hill head fore
most. In summer thoy select n slo
ping rlvor bank, which has clayey soil,
and whero tho water at Its baso Is of
consldcrnblo depth. Climbing thl
bank, thoy start from tho top, slip
swiftly ovor tho sloping ground, and
plungo Into tho wator.
Tho gamboling of whales Is often
wltncssod by sailors, and Paley saya
that any observer of fish must no
knowledge that "they aro so happy
thoy know not what to do with them
salves. Their attitude and frolics
aro simply tho effect or an excess of
spirits."
Trick of the Compsss.
Experts say that tho steel hull of a
vcasol Is rendered magnotlo during
construction by tho hammering of tho
metal and thnt every ateol vessel has
to havo Its compaaa corrected to coun
teract Its own magnotlo lines of force.
Tho magnetlo Influenco la further com
plicated by tho load carried by tha
vosaol, If this lond Is magnotlo or
oapablo of being inngnotlxod. Tho ore
carrying veasols of tho great lakes ax
porlnnco groat difficulty on thl ac
count and tho Uulted Statoa hydro
graphic bureau Is endonvorlng to
loach Pilots and cantnlns nf vnnnnU
plying In Ihla trndo how to check
tncir courso uy means or the polorus,
Tho pclorus Is an Instrument slinl
lar to the sun dial, being provided
with a enomon and n crnilimtn.i urn
on which 0 Shadow of tho ennmnn lit
oast. The Instrument Is set In a north
and south direction, as Indicated by
the compass.
Ily noting tho Shndow on tha rrailn.
Btud aro It Is possible to tell by com
parison with table furnished by tho
government Just how far from tho
north and south position tho gnomon
really lies, thus showing tho compass
urror.
Wero Glad to End Seaion,
A New Yorkor who has Just re
turnnd from tendon gives ono expla
nation of tho promptness with which
Kngllshuion closed their town hnusos
after tho donth of tho king and no
ruadlly oonsentod to glvo up all enter-
tnlnmoutH far tho rost of tho present
senson.
"I-ondonora wero In many Instance
very muoh rollovod to shirk a season
of oxpondlturo," ho snld, "because this
has not been a good year financially
for them, Thoy woro not anxious to
spond any moro money than neces
sary, and when court mourning gave
them a dignified opportunity to closo
up their houses and skip a season
thoy wero very well satisfied that they
could do this without having to havo
undertaken anything bo unconven
tional on their own responsibility, So
nobody need think that English
houses In London will be opened later
In the season or that there will bo
anything llko tho usual cntortalnlng
there."
Typewritten Signatures.
"I had a letter from a Mend today."
suld a lltorary man, "giving mo a wig
ging for signing my typewritten let
ter to him with tho typewriter, and I
notified Mm at once that ho didn't
know whut ho was talking about I
told him I had written tho lottor with
my own band on tho machine and It
was proper to sign It In typo. If I
had written tho letter with a pen. I
told him, tho signature with the pea
would havo boon all right, and a pen
was Just as much an Implement of
writing as a typewriter was. There
fore my algnaturo In type was qulto
proper, though I admitted It would
not pass as a legal signature. How-
over, I was not writing a legal docu
ment and a signature In tho text of
the lottor was perfectly good form.
That Is my contention now and It
anybody can prove that I am wrong
I'd like to hear his argument,"