I-LSTOI AKD HIE PRINCESS
Invalid Noblewotror. Who Was Con
ccrred About the Great Political
Reformer's Relloloue Dellof.
When I wns In St. Petersburg I hurt
an Introduction to n certain princess,
who wns said to . be Interested In
rrleons nnd prlsonors, and though I
knew that sho had absolutely no con
corn with any political reforms, 1
hoped aho might holp mo to an Inter
vhw with Mrao.' JJrcshkowsky. The
princess was nn Invalid, nnd 1 was
allowed to co directly to her room,
whoro she lay on n loungo, with n lit
tle stand bcsldo hor on which lay
religious books. Sho received mo with
groat cordiality, winning my heart
with her first words. Sho spoke ex
cellent English and wo neoded no In
terpreter. "I am an old, old woman," sho said
cheerfully, "but t And my old ago the
happiest part of my life."
"That Is almost what Count Tolstoi
said to me," I replied. "Oh," sho
cried, "do you know my old (rlend,
Tolstoi We wero young togother,
and how I love hlml Out, alas, ho
trusts too much 41 his own morlts. I
pray for him every day, I pray not
only once, but many times n day, that
ho may learn to trust to tho morlts of
Josus. lis Is rood and noblo and ktnd,
hut ho must give up his own Idea of
righteousness and accept tho gospol.
1 havo boon so anxious about him that
at last 1 wrote out a prayer that I
wanted to have htm uso, for I told htm
I offerod it dally, So I sent It to htm,
In reply he sent mo a prayer which
ho snys h prays dally." Isabel C
Harrows In the ChrUUan Register.
It rd. Weak, "iVtnrr, Watery V.frm.
Relieved ll r Murln lira Itemed. Try
Murine For Tour Kye Trouble-., You Will
I.Ike Murln. It Hoothn. Wc at Your
Druggist. Writ For Kys Hooks. Frto.
Murln Kys lumedy Co., Chicago.
Olobe Trotting to Avoid Suitor.
Mrs. Helen Ilsryl Oraydon, who ob
tained a dlvorco from Turn Oraydon,
tho light haired young man who mado
auch a powerful fullback on tho Har
vard foothill team sovoral yoars ago,
lias gone to Europo to oicapo 0 per
Intent suitor, who say bo la a Itun
alan nobleman. Mrs, Oraydon, who
Is tho daughter of J. Parkor Whltnoy.
has boon spending tho greater part of
her tlmo on her father's rnnch In
Placor county, California. Employod
on tho ranch was an export horticul
turist Ho was prosentod to Mrs,
Oraydon and almost Instantly foil In
lovo with hor. He sought to follow up
socially an ncqunlntanco that came
about simply through his omploymont
Ho wrote letters nnd tolophoned con
tantly to hor. Finally Mrs. Oraydon
left tho ranch and went to San Kran
Cisco. Tho "nobleman" followed and
continued his lotter writing and tolo
phoning. His pursuit becamo. so nrdu
ous that Mrs. Oraydon loft San Fran
cisco snd has sailed for Europo.
Philadelphia Telegraph.
Mothm win find Mrs. WluiloV Bwthlog
Brrup tu twit rtmedr to um (01 tbtlrchtMio-t
dutluc t& Ulhlnf period,
Jspants Is Hardest to Learn.
Tho Japanoso lauguago Is claimed
to bo tho hardest of all to learn.
Kven tho Japanoso nnd It hard, and
several American army orflcors have
found It Impossible to master It It
takes tho Japanese child sovon years
to learn tho essential parts of the
alphabet, and ono must becomo fa
miliar with 214 signs to learn this
slmplo part of the language alono.
The Sit signs servo as tho English
Initial letters In our alphabet. To
bo ablo to read any of tho higher
class of Japanoso newspapers ono
must bo tho mastor of from 2,600 to
3,000 Ideographs -A'tinnr Journal.
Crfsetlvo Method.
Wunder Stayler Is successful as a
collector of bad dobts.
Waring Thafa because he takes a
tent with htm and camps out in front
of the debtor's door.
Beared by ths Cooking.
Little Willie Say, pa, when povertr
cornea in at tho door, what window
does lore fly out oft
Pa It probably flies out of the dining-room
window, my son.
Bad Breath
"For month I had great trouble with ray
tomacb and used all kinds of medicine.
My tongue bas been actually as green oa
grass, my breath having a bad odor. Two
weksogo a friend recommended Caecarets
ami after using them I can willingly and
cheerfully say that they have entirely
cured me, I therefore let you know that I
hall recommend them to any one suffer
ing from such troubles." Chas. II. Hal
pern, 114 1J, 7th St., New York, N. Y,
Plunt. rUUbl. Fount. Tut Good.
Do Good. Nver Sicken. WVn or Crip.
lOe. tie. We. Never uU In bulk. Tn rn
sin Ublit stamped C C C. CuwntMd to
cur or your money btclc
An Embarrasslno Word.
"Then," said tho reporter, "I'll say
several protty songs wero rendered by
MUa Packer."
"Oh, gracious noP replied tho bos
toss; "you mustn't say 'rendered.'
You see, her father mado all his
money In lard." Catbollo Standard
and Times.
IT IS REALLY
ABSURD
to think that you can cure
your weak stomach and get
back your health again by
dieting or experimenting with
this or that remedy. You
need Hostetter's Stomach Bit
ters and nothing eke. For
over 57 years it has been
making people well and keep
ing them so and it will do as
much for you. Try a bottle
today for Indigestion, Dys
pepsia, Biliousness, Cramps,
Diarrhoea and Malaria, fever
and Ague. It never fails.
Zelda Dameron
By
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
Copyright, !04, by Th DobU-MrrlII Co.
CnAPTEIl VIII. (Continued.)
"Thcro's Mr. Daieomz over there,"
Zelda remarked, casually, "Ho sings
divinely, doesn't he? Don't you think
ho sings dlvlnoly7" and sho looked at
Morris suddenly, with a provoking air
of gravity.
"I'm suro ho was a Do Roszke In
some former Incarnation," said Morris,
savagely.
"That was Just what I was thinking,
only I hadn't the words to express It,"
said Zelda, with a mockery of Joy at
finding they were In nccord.
"I'm glad, then, that wo can ngroo
about something, oven when we'ro both
undoubtedly wrong."
"I don't like to think thnt I can he
wrong," said Zelda. "And It Isn't In
tho least battering for you to suggest
such a thing. I shall havo to speak to
my undo Itodney nbout you."
"Any Interest you may tako In mo
will bo appreciated."
Jack had crossed tho room, giving
what ho called tho cheering Jolly to
several young women on tho way, and
ho turned quickly:
"At your sorvlco, Miss Dameron"
and ho bowed Impressively,
"Mr. Lclghton Is crazy nbout your
alnglnif. Ho Is Just waiting for n.
chanco to congrntulata you. Hut ho's
very unhappy to-night Words fall
him." And sho shook hor head and
looked Into IJnlcomb's grinning fnco ns
though this wero a groat grlof batweon
them.
"What kind of a Jolly Is this? I say,
Morris, you look llko first and second
grnvo-dlggcr dono Into one. Wo'ro not
Playing Hamlet now. Hut I can tell
you, Miss Dameron, that when Hrothor
Lolghlon ho belongs to my frnt, hence
the brother did Hamlot over at our
dear old nlma muter, tho gloom that
settled down on that township could
havo been out u Into badges of
mourning enough to havo supplied
Spain through her llttlo affair with
thoso States. That's Walt Whltmnn
'these Hlntes.' Do you know, I was
( phclla to his Hamlot, nnd If I do say
It myself) I was a sweet thing In opno
Hits."
"I don't doubt you were, Mr. Hal-
romli." said Zelda.
"There was Just ono thing lacking
In your Impersonation," declared
I.elghton; "you ought to have been
drowned In tho first scono of tho first
net to have mado It perfect."
"No, violence, gentlemen, I beg of
you!" And Zelda hurried across tin
room to where Herr Schmidt was as
cmbllna tho principals.
"Hay, that girl has got tho art nf
stringing down II no. Hljo seems to
havo you going nil right You look llko
twenty-nlno cents nt n thirty-cent bar
Kill 11 counter. Hut you tako It too bard.
I wish she'd string me! They're never
so much Interested ns when thoy throw
you on your faco und glvo you tho
morrr tra la. I tell you I've bad ex
perlenco with tho sex all right, and I
knowl"
"Yes, I remember your flirtations
with the girls thnt watted on talile at
the college toardtng-houso. You had
a very cheering way with them."
Dalcomb's eyos wero running rest
lessly over tho groups of young peo
ple. Ho was appraising and fixing
them In his mind as he talked. HI
Joy In being among them these rep
resentative young people of tho olty,
whoso names he knew well from long
and diligent perusal of tho personal
and society column or the dally pa
persamused I.oluhtoii; but the fel
low's self-satisfaction Irritated him,
too.
Tho chorus had been drilled apart,
and this was tho first tlmo Morris had
heard tho principal sing. He had
Joined tho chorus under protest, but
Mrs. Can bad Insisted, and when ho
learned that Zelda was to bo tho star
It had not been dlttlcult to comply.
She began now one of her songs.
When the last notes died away, Dal-
comb stepped out at tho director's nod
and began the answering song. Hal
comb usually amused Morris; but the
fellow struck upon him discordantly.
ZJda was laughing at Httlcomb' tu-
tlcs aa he began to sing with fervor
and a real sense or the dramatic re
quirements. As ho neared the end,
where Zelda and he sang together th
duet that ended the first half of the
opera, Zelda put up her hands, and ho
took them, gaxlng Into her eyea with
a fine lover-like air. Their voices soar
ed Into the climax without a break.
while the director threw himself Into
strange contortions afe he struck ttw
last bars leading to the high note
which they gained and held perfectly.
The dress rehearsal was fixed for the
next night
"It simply can't fall!" declared Mrs.
Carr to I.elghton. "Miss Dameron
could carry It alone If every one else
should break down."
"That Is altogether true," said Mor
ris. He was glaring at Dalcomb, whoso
Joy In being a member of the cast -was
bard to bear.
CHAPTER IX.
"Deceivers Kver" was presented,
with no more delays and slips than us
ually befall amateur performances, be
fore an audience that tested the capac-
Ity of the Athenaeum. It was a great
occasion for Mrs. Carr,. as she had un
doubtedly taken the Dramatic Club
when Its llfo was ebbing fast and made
a living thing of it. She sat In the
wings holding the prompt-book and
prepared for any fate.
Let us speak to zee ana men es
cape," said Merriam to his sister, as
the chairs were being pushed back for
the dance that waa to follow the play.
A few older people were there and ehev
formed a little coloirr by themselves.
Zelda came out presently from the
dressing-room, with her arms full of
flowers that had been passed across
the footlights, and she bore Olive Mer
riam with her.
"Don't be afraid: not In the least
afraid," Zelda said to her cousin as
she hastened across the hall to her
aunt and uncle.
"Please don't," urged Olive. "It Isn't
kbull
to me."
"No danger at all; they're all per
fectly amiable when you know how to
manage them."
"Aunt Julia, this Is a real compli
ment! Thanks very much. This la
Olive Merriam. And, Uncle Rodney,
here'a the star, to whom I expect you
to say something particularly nice. Mr.
Merriam, Miss Merriam" and Zelda
smiled at tho old gentleman bowed low
over the band of bis brother' daugh
ter.
"Oliv Merriam." said Zelda, "w my
cousin and my very dearest friefii"
Olive was not afraid. She smiled at
lUdaty Merriam; aad thsro was Btmf-
thing very winning In Olive Morrlam's
smile. Zolda looked demurely at her
aunt, who scorned alarmed lest somy
:hlng unpleasant might happen; but
Itodney Merriam laughed, half at find
trig himself caught, and half 'it tho
sight of Ollvo Morrlam's bluo eyes, her
glowing checks with their furtlvo dim
ples and the fair hair that Zelda was
now compelling her to wear In tho pro
vailing modo.
"I am delighted; I am proud of you,"
ho declared, qulto honestly.
"I think I may say that I recipro
cate," replied Ollvo. "I haven't seen
you for a long tlmo Uncslc Rodney
except at a distance."
"Altogether my fault nnd my loss! I
trust that tho distance may bo con
siderably lessened hereafter." .
A number of pcoplo wero watching
tills by-play with keen Interest. Some
thing had surely happened among the
Mcrrlams. It had been many yoars
sinco so many members of the family
had been seen together at any soclil
gnthcrlng.
"There's a draft somewhere." said
Mrs. Forrest, suddenly. "Wo must be
going, Itodney. And now, Zelda, don't
stay out nit night Mrs. Cam Is going
to take you home. You'll bo sura to bo
sick If you'ro not cnroful. And" Zol
da wns looking at her nunt Intently
"Miss Mcrrlnm, I do hopo you will
como to sco me. I never go anywhere,
you know. And plcaso' rcmembor mo
to your mother."
"And prny remember me, also," said
Itodney Merriam, feeling Zelda's eyes
upon him.
"Oh, Zee," said hor uncle, In a low
tone; "It wns all flno; but bow did Pol
lock come to bo In tho show? I don't
oaro to havo you know him."
"Of course I shall know him."
"Hut I prefer."
Tleaso don't preferl I'm having a
llttlo fun to-night, nnd I on n't bo seri
ous nt nil, Somo other time good
night!" "Whnt do you think of that girl?"
asked Mrs. Forrest, when sho w.is
nlono with her brother In their car
riage. "I think sho's very pretty. If you re
fer to Ollvo Mcrrlnm, nnd has nice
manners," was his reply.
"There seems to be no way of oheok
lug Zelda's enthusiasms. I hopo thit
girl won't take advantage, of Zee's
kindness," said Mr. Forrest, ns bar
brother left her nt her door.
"1 shouldn't worry about her If I
wero you."
"I certainly shan't; but you wero al
ways down on her fathor."
"I was always a good deal of n fool,
too," said Itodney Merriam; nnd bo re
fused to 1)0 taken home In his sister's
carriage, but walked homeward from
her door through High street, beating
tho walk reflectively with his stick.
At tho Athenaeum Zelda was enjoy
ing herself unresorvedly. Her cousin
Ollvo had been presented to a repro-
sentntlvo Marlona audience In a way
thnt had commanded attention, und
Zelda wns thoroughly happy over It
She did not earn In the least whut peo
ple might say sjout tho healing of old
wound among tho Merrlnms. It gave
her the only unalloyed Joy of her
home-coming to seo Olive established
socially on a footing that was, sho
told herself, ns firm a her own,
Halcomb, who was much swollen
with pride by his success In the op
era, wns talking In his usual breath
loss fushlon to a young friend from
the country whom ho bad nsked to
witness his triumph. lleyond Pol
lock's head Zelda could sea Italooinh's
profile, though sho could not hear him.
"Sho's a regular piece, that girl. I
was scored to death fur fear she'd
throw me In thnt duet we'd never
sung It together but I carried It
through all right, She's that stunning
Miss Dameron' cousin. She's rather
stuck on me, I'm afraid 1'vo done lit
tle things for her theater nnd o on,
but I'll have to out It all out She'
amusing, but I can't afford to have her
misunderstand my attentions. When a
fellow finds that he's got a girl down
Pino sho ceases to bo Interesting, It's
the pursuit that' amusing; but when
they begin to expect something Cun
ning? well, I should say!"
Pollock heard him distinctly, and he
shut his eyes two or three times In a
quick way that he had when angry,
though ho kept on talking to Zelda
about the evening performance.
"I'm afraid you're Jealous of Mr.
Halcomb, He got more applause than
anybody."
"He deserved all he got for making
such a monkey of himself."
"He's a man of courage; he proba
bly thought be could afford to do It."
"All of that?" said Pollook.
"A rising young man," oontlnusd
Zolda.
"A person, I should say, of most
egregious and monumental gall" and
Zelda laughed at his earnestness. Shu
had not heard Halcomb'a remark about
her cousin, but sho knew he had said
something that Irritated Pollook. That
young pftlcer left her qulokly when
Lelghton came up for. tho dance that
had now begun.
Pollock found Halcomb In a moment.
The promoter was standing at the side
of the ball, his eyes nervously search
ing for the girl with whom be had en
gaged the dance.
"Mr. Dalcomb," Bald Pollock, at his
elbow, "may I speak to you a moment"
"Certainly," said Dalcomb, In his us
ual amiable fashion. "Only I'm engag
ed for this dance and have lost my
partner."
"That's my own fix," declared Pol-
lock, "but my errand Is brief. Let us
step out here."
He led the day to a door opening up
on the main stairway of the building
and they paused there. Pollock with
his back to the door, facing Halcomb.
He carried one glove In his hand and
was very trim and erect in his evening
clothes.
"Mr. Dalcomb, I was so unfortunate
as to overhear your conversation of a
moment ago with some one I didn't
know, but that doesn't matter In
which you referred to a young lady a
young lady who came here to-night
under your escort, in terms that a gen
tleman would not use."
"As a confessed eavesdropper I don't
believe It Is necessary for you to say
anything further," said Dalcomb, with
heat, and ho took a step toward ths
door of the assembly-room.
Pollock touched him on the shoulder
with the tips of hi fingers, very light
ly. Dalcomb waa half a head taller
and much bulkier, but tho tips of Pol
lock's fingers seemed to carry a cer
tain insistence, and Dalcomb drew
bac
I "I shall hold you rcsponslblo for this,
1 you "
I certainly hopo you will. As I win
saying, you referred to a young lady,
who was hero under your protection, In
terms which no orio but a contemptlblo
cur would use of a woman"
Balcomb's arm wont up nnd ho
struck at Pollock with his (1st. Tho
olTlcoy stood as ho had been, but tha
glovo In his right hand slapped smart
ly upon Ualcomb's fnco, and Dalcomb
took an Involuntnry step backward
down tho stairway,
"In tho part of tho country thnt I
enmo from, Mr. Dalcomb," Pollock
continued In nn easy conversational
tone, "wo do very plcnaant things to
bright nnd captivating pcoplo of your
stripe" ho took another step forward,
nnd Dalcomb, n llttlo whltd In tho face,
retreated nguln "but In this Instnnco"
Pollock lifted his left hand to his
shadowy moustache and gave It a
twist; bo took another atop and Dal
comb yielded boforo him "I shall lot
you off with unwarranted leniency."
Dalcomb, forced another step down
ward, had grown red with fury, and
again struck nt Pollock, but with th
result that Dalcomb stumbled and ro
treated two steps Instead of one, reach
ing a landing. With this moro securo
footing ho gained coumge.
"You llttlo cur, you llttlo" ho blus
tered, drawing his face down so that
ho could glaro Into Pollock's eyes.
"Yes," snld Pollock, calmly; "I havo
been called llttlo before; so that your
statement Incks novelty. As I was say
ing," nnd ho leaned ngnlnst the stal"
rait with tho tips of tho fingers of hit
gloved hand thrust Into bis trousers
pocket, and holding tho other glove lit
his right hand "I haven't time now to
go Into tho matter further, but I nm
always nt your service. It will glvo mi
great pleasure to mako your excuses to
Miss Merriam, or to any other frlondj
you may bo leaving behind you owing
tn nn Illness thnt mado It necessary
for you to leave suddenly. Now you
will oblige mo by continuing on down
to the coat room unattended. Thorn
nro probably some gentlemen below
there that I should very much dislike
to explain matters to."
Halcomb leaped lightly forward as
though to mako n rush for tho door of
tho nsDcmbly-room.
"Try that again," said Pollock, selx
Ing hint by the collar, nnd throwing
him back, "nnd I'll drop you over tlw
banister."
Homo men had entered tho lower hall
from the smoking-room, nnd Halcomb
greeted them cheerily as ho turned and
went below as though to Join them.
Pollock stood above waiting for Uni
cornis to reappear, nnd ns ho walled ho
resumed his glovo nnd buttoned It
with cure. Tho waits was nearly over,
buo ho stood there leaning ngnlnst tin
stnlr-rnll nnd beating tlmo to the mu
sic with his foot, until he saw Halcomb
come out of the coat room clad for tin
street When Hrtleomb looked up. Pol
lock wnved his hand to him gracious
ly, nnd turned and went back Into tlw
halt.
"Miss Merriam," ho said, bowing bo
fore Olive, "I very much regret to pre
sent Mr. Dalcomb' compliment nnd to
say that ho has been unexpectedly
called away pressing business and
ho nsked mo to do myself tho honor to
sco that you don't get lost This I
our dance."
(To be continued.)
TAXES AND LAND IN ENGLAND
in Pnld by Hie litlvra unit Toilers
fur Country' HuiMMirl.
Whllo tho Industrious mlddlo classes
pay upward of 65,100,000 In "direct
taxation," 31.000,000 of which Is a
vexatious "Incomo tax" on Industry,
nnd also help to csntrlbuto to an "In
direct tax" of 61,700.000 making
119.800.000 the ground lords of tho
country only pay 780.000. Whllo tho
workora pay tho vnsit itim of 119.
800.000 tho ground ItmW pay I1 than
n hIiirIo million, became thy nro ns
sowed In accordance with u valuation
passed In tho yonr 1002. Though their
property has Inoroaned moro than 2.000
per rent In value, they nro paying on
n valuation passed moro than $00 yiwiu
hro. Tho ground lords oxtrnct upwnrd
or $200,000,000 per ntintim for permit'
tints tho peoplo to llvo nnd work on
"their" (?) land, both city nnd coun
try, and yet tho mlddle-clna workers,
In Income tax nlono, contrlbuto to the
government of tho country forty-ono
tlmea more than the ground lords On
the other hand the t'oplo In custom
and excise duties alone contribute
61,700.000, which Is elghty-stven
times moro than the ground lords.
Tho entire land of the country Is lit-,
erally In the control of n handful of
people. Taking Knglnnd nnd Wnlea
nnd leaving Ireland out for tho pres
ent, tho total area U 31.624,971 ncrea,
of which total 1S.MG.019 acre, or more
than one-half, are In the hands of 4,217
people, or less than one one-thousandth
of the population. Of the controllers
of this vast area 100 peors and peer
oMca "own" 5.789,079 ncroa. while
1.288 great landlords "own" 8.107.000
anew, or 1.C88 persons "own" 11,227.
678 acres.
The public seems so little nwnre of
these vast holdings that tho figure
should 1x3 presented In various aspects
in order to bring them homo. Hero Is
n little table that might assist toward
tMs object:
One-fourth r the tntat
urrraKe of the country U
"owned" by t.100 person.
Another fourth by t.100 prOnl
Uemalnlng hulf by ,U0 poron
Kntlre eountry "owned"' ,
lllsrally by S19.M0 persons
This means that out of a population
of 11.000.000 practically 13.680,460 have
no land, no "stake" in the country.
Right one-thousandths of the popula
tion "own" the whole country. Six
hundred peers alone "own" nearly one
fourth of the entire area. Twelve
landlords alone hold 4,500.000 acres
among them.
The laboring classes In England own
no land whatever, whereas In oven so
small a country as Helglum there are
ruoie than 1,000.000 small land-owner.
each with 7 acres, and In addition
there are 600.000 small proprietors,
each with 15 acres. In Prussia 800,000
of the laboring classes hold land and
have a "stake In the country.'
In England tho laboring classes and
tho mlddlo classes, or the vast major
ity of them, are absolutely "disinher
ited." Not a foot of soil have they
got, except perhaps a saare vrd or
so In some cemetery, even for which a
goodly price has to bo paid.
No stream from its source flows sea
ward, however lonely its course, but
that some land Is gladdened. No life.
can be pure in Its purpose nnd strong
in Its strife, and all life not be purer
and stronger thereby. Meredith
a
NELLIE
STEWART'S TEST
Or CHARLES A. HARTLEY
An appalling crash of thunder
caused Wallace Gordon to pull up bis
restless team sharply nnd tako stock
of tho situation. Ho had boon con
scious, In a way, for tho previous
hour thnt n hoavy downpour of rain
was beating on tho top nnd sldcR of
his snugly closed vehtclo, but up to
thnt moment ho had not realized tho
serious sldo of It
"lly 0orgol" ho exclaimed. "This
looks bad douccd bad. A llttlo moro
of It nnd there will bo nil sorts of
troublol"
Ho pulled bock tho tenm to a sem
blance of order nnd wont on under
the whip, lurching through broad
pools nnd muddy rlvulots which wero
brenklng ncross tha highway In many
places. Ho had been on a 40-mllo
drlvo that day nnd wns roturnlng with
a mind ill nt rest Tho ovonlng boforo
he had called on tho wlnsomo, but old
fashioned Neltlo Stownrt for n flnnt
answer to his petition of lovo. Mis
Nelllo wns not old-fashlonod In ap
penrnnco by nny mean, but nho had
nggravntlngly old-fashioned Ideas
nbout tho continuation of lovo when
onco plighted, ns her Impetuous young
lover hnd put It n hundred times In
his solitary drlvo.
"Wallace, dear," sho had said on
parting, "give mo Just 24 hours moro.
I must bo absolutely euro on ovory
point If wo do mnrry It must not bo
for a month, n year or half n lifetime,
but for nil tlmo. Now, nway down In
your heart, dear," looking steadily Into
his eyes, "do you think that you could
contlnuo to lovo mo when I nm old,
faded, withered lovo mo as you do
now ns 1 know you do?"
"I do."
"I know II Is oxtrcmoly selfish of
mo to bo so cxnctlng when I can do no
moro mysolf thnn glvo you tny sacred
word thnt I shall bo loving nnd faith
ful to tho end ns I require nf you;
somohow I think I know myself
but" sho broko off with n quaver.
In a moment sho had recovered nnd
There Wat a flsnswal of tho
Storm' Fury.
was nulling up nt him. "Como back
this time tomorrow evening," sho
said, "and then I will bo nbln to glvo
you' my nnswor ono way or lh other."
Gordon was on his wny back when
tho crashing storm hnd Interrupted
his train of thought Ho wns within
two miles of homo now nnd the jtlrl
of his affections lived n mllo off, nt
right angles on a beautiful country
lane
"Heaven help mo!" ha muttered,
sawing at the lines In nn attempt to
keep the horses' heads pointed In n
homeward direction, "This Is a cloud
burst and tho bridge will not stand on
other Are minutes."
He attempted to send tho horses
ahead with lash and harsh commands,
but tho poor heastH knew tho danger
abend better than did their distracted
master and they dashed from tho road
toward higher ground. In nn open
Held. As tho team came around, fa
cing the raging waters, Gordon caught
a glimpse of a figure nt the extreme
entrance to tho bridge. Tho horses
wore still plunging, but In a moment
he had them nearer tho bridge and
could mako out that the person was a
woman. She was standing on the
guard rail clinging to an upright post
while the angry waters I on pod and
boundod hungrily at her foot. BI10
was calling for help, but tho roar of
the waters drowned her words to a
mere Jumble
Gordou'a first Impulso was to spring
from tho buggy, breast the water, al
ready shoulder high, and running llko
a sea across the spaco at tho approach
to the bridge, and lend whntover aid
ho could to the woman; but boforo he
could get his feet clear of the robes
and trappings and spring out, there
was a crash followad t yasct iam, and
KING EDWARD'S DOG, CAESAR
Fox Terrier's Peculiarities Gave Late
King Chance to Get Off Good
Joke.
"When King Edward was at Illar
rltz last spring," said a Chicago mil
lionaire. "I, too, was there.
"Tho king come from the Hotet du
Palais every day at noon and walked
for an hour on the beach with his gen-tleman-ln-waltlng
and his dog, Caesar,
a white, wlre-haJrud fox torrlor. Ho
would stop and talk now and then
In front of tho Casino, or on tho
Rocher do la Vlergo, or by tho soa
wall of tho Cote des Dasquos with
bis Amorlcan friends, tho Countess do
I'ourtalcs, for Instance, who was a
Lorlllard, or Mrs. Cavendlsb-Ilontlnck,
who was a Mvlngstono, Out thoso
who did not know tho king neither
stared at him nor followed him. He
could walk the streets as froely as you
or I would do.
"Out one day an excursion of cheap,
low-class English arrived at Dlarrltz,
and for a week tbey bothered the king
to death. Tbey trailed behind him as
D
tho old bridge topploA rom Its founda
tions nnd floated away, at first hosl
tatlngly nnd then swinging to mid
stream gained momentum and In a
momont wns racing with tho raging
torrent An ImmenBO pllo of drift
wood had struck it nenr tho mlddlo
nud It was gono befora Gordon could
roallzo what hnd happened. For n
second ho romnlncd stricken Into In
action. When tho structuro hnd fat
Ion from Its supports nnd buoynntly
como to tho Burfoco nfter tho first
plungo, ho saw tho womnn still cling
ing to the post Sho seemed to havo
remained on tho top sldo of tho de
stroyed structuro nnd as yet had not
suffered greatly.
Tho team was sent flying down a
Bldo road parallol with tho stream. In
flro minutes Gordon was abreast of
tho swiftly floating bridge. Ho loaned
out nnd called nt tho top of his volco:
"Hold fast; I'll got you off somehow."
Tho woman feebly waved n hand to
signify that sho hnd heard him. Tho
team went on nt tho speed of tho
wind. Half n mllo down stream ho
Jorkod his horses to n sudden stop and
sprang out on tho spongy sod. A
hundred yards nbovo tho brldgo hnd
becomo ontnnglod In a treo top and
was swinging out of tho main current
townrd shoro. It phuscd dirtily In nn
eddying clrclo. Gordon could seo tho
woman In tho snrao position that sho
had nt first occuptod. Ho lookod
about for material for nn Improvised
raft Nothing was In sight and ho
was about to pull off his coat nnd
swim to tho roscuo whon tho brldgo
ngnln swung out nnd went on.
Gordon sprang back to his vehicle
nnd followed In pursuit calling ns ho
went: "Kcop up your courngo; thoro
Is still hopol"
A half mllo fnrthor on, tho brldgo
grounded ngnlnst nn Island of bushes
on n slight dotation. In a momont It
swung Rhoroward and camo to n doad
stop. Gordon could sco tho woman
lying faco downward across tho rough
timbers. Ho plunged Into tho soothing
watftr a hundred yard nbovo with
tho determination to reach tho wreck
ago. Ho bad glvoa hlmsolf Uint dis
tance ns a loowny ngnlnst botng
benten down by tho curront Wading
obliquely with tho eurrent ho wns
soon waist deep, then shoulder deep in
th tumbling, drift-laden waters. Ho
kept his foot with difficulty and wns
In tho act of taking a long breath for
tho final plungo whon n soctlon of
board fonco floated ngnlnst him. Ho
grasped it with both hnnds nnd brncod
himself to stop It It swung In be
low him nnd bobbed lightly In tho lest
ngltnted water. Clinging to tho rntt
with ono hnnd and holding onto eotno
bushes with tho othor ho looked about.
Ho had his raft but ho lacked monno
of propelling It Looking up nnd
down, ho saw a long fonco-stoko float
ing nonrer shoro.
Ho was within n fow yards of tho
end ot tho brldgo and wns float
ing by nt nn alarming rnto of spoed.
Onco moro ho thrust tho polo down.
His heart almost ttoppod for ho could
not reach bottom. At thnt Instant
there was a scraping sound nt bl feot
and ho saw tho top branches of a
sapling raking by. Dropping tho polo
ho clutched ono of tho branches nnd
lying flat on tho raft ho hold on with
sot tooth. Tho shook of tho sudden
stop almost tore tho flesh from his
hands. Gradually tho strain slackened
nnd tho raft swung against tho brldgo.
He shifted his position quickly nnd
grasped ono of tho brldgo tlmbors.
Tho next moment ho was standing on
tho bridge. Tho rnft wns pulled up
to prevent it from washing nway,
Gordon then sprang toward tho
womnn. "Poor old soul," ho ox
clnlnu'd, stooping over hor, fiho wore
a sunbonnet, which had becomo wet
and hung over her fnco, hiding her
fonturus, A faded shoulder shawl had
slipped up nbout her nock, whllo a
cheap calico dress clung nbout hor
dronchod form. All this Gordon saw
at a glanco as ho stooped to raise
the limp boly.
Staggering back with blanched faco,
ho cried: "My Ood, it is Nelllo!"
At flrst ho fell to chafing hor hands
nti( calling her name Imploringly,
then springing to his feet he ran to
tho buggy for tho lap robes. Wrap
ping her In them ho hurried with her
to the buggy and lifted her in tho host
he could. Ho grasped tho lines with
one hnnd nnd steadied her with tho
other. Tho hoads of tho horses wore
turned toward tho Stewart homo.
They had not gono a hundred yards
before the girl shuddered and other
wise manifested symptoms of return
ing consciousness in response to tho
lover's agonizing appeals to hor to
spoak.
"Oh, Wallaoo, can you ever forgive
mo?" sho whispered when sho could
spoak. "Oh, what a foolish, foolish
thing I dldl"
He pressed hor closor.
"I was going to tost your respect for
old age.
"I como out In these poor clothes to
meet you and I expected somohow to
find u way lr the gulso of a poor, old
woman to test you without being
found out Then the storm camo and
I was caught tn tho brldgo."
For a momont thoro waa sllenco.
Then, Gordon asked: "Nellie, do you
still doubt mo?"
"No," waa tho faint whisper near
his car. "Now, I doubt only myself."
urchins trail behind a band. He could
not got rid of them any moro than ho
could get rid of his cough. Ha showod,
In his good-natured way, that ho was
annoyed. For example:
"Caesar, tho beautiful white terrier,
was always running away from tho
king and getting lost, Ono morning
ho disappeared, as usual, from his
royal owner's path, and tho king chat
tod rather unoaslly with bis friends
whllo waiting for tho dog to turn up.
"When, at last, tho truant Caesar
was brought back, tho king said to
him, with a whimsical glanco at his
frlonds:
M 'Caosar,- you ore tho only animal in
tho placo that doesn't follow mo
about "
The Difference.
"I supposo tho ordor Mrs, Hangs
sent hor huBband from tho seashore
was a dead letter."
"Not a bit of it It was a live who,"
Just Out of College.
"My boy feoU competent to carry
the world on bis shouldors."
"Mine feels competent to Juggle it
DEATH IN HOT SAND
SURVIVOR TELL8 OF DEATrlj
STRUGGLE ON THE DESERT.
Find Dead Rattlesnake In Well Con
taining 8ally Water Ono Man
Dies and Others Are Res
cued by Auto,
Dorkoloy, Cal. Ills condition bordor
Ing on nervous collnpso and hardly
nblo to tell tha story ot his terrlblo
exporlonco, O. Horbert Masters, n
young mining englnoor, who was n
member of a Horax lnko oxpcdltlon in
which Chnrlcs Strachor DavldBon, n
graduate of tho University of Califor
nia Mining college, lost his llfo in tha
Intonso heat recently, has returned to
his home In this city. Ho left flva
others of tho party at Randsburg nfter
tho burial of Davidson In a rudo desort
grave on tho shore ot tho lnko, whoro
he mot his death. All of tho others
sufforod terribly, but reached camp4
otter twenty-four hours of torture In
tho broiling sun.
"Wo arrived nt RnndBburg and start
od on our trip ncross Hornx lake,"
said Masters. "Tho lako is a mud de
posit covered by n heavy crust Our
objective point was an old camp on
tho opposlto shore, whoro wo believed
wo would find prospectors. Whon wo
began drawing our II 110 Davidson wad
prostrated with tho hoat, which was
terrific. A llttlo lator ho collapsed.
Then ho broko from us, nnd, running
nbout fifty foot, foil on bis faco. Ono
of tho boys went bnolc to htm. Ha
died shortly nftorwnrd.
"Ono by ono wo followed a course
toward tho opposlto shoro. Whon I
arrived 1 discovered thnt thoro was no
wator. After sovornl hours wo found
an old woll, but tho wator was sul
phurous nnd salty nnd nt tho bottom
was a dend rattloannko. Two of tho
original party of sovon hod gono to
Randsburg for battorlo whon wo
atartod on tho trip across tho lako nnd
that loft four of us huddlod togothor
Thomns A. Grnvos, n mining oxport
of Olonu, N. Y.; David Hunkers, Nor
man Stoln nnd mysolf.
"In tho morning befora sunrlso wo
took a roundabout tra'l skirting tha
lako. Whon halfway ncross wo mot
nn nutoitioollo party and wero carried
tho rost of tho wny In tho machiuo.
"That nftornoon wo wont on tho
soothing mud lnko again nnd got tho
body of Davidson, Tho boys mado n
rough plno box nnd wo gavo Gcorgo
tho most decont burial wo could giro.
His gravo Is ont thoro In tho sun, near
tho placo whoro ho dlod. Tim othor
ot tho party nro used up, hut thoy will
recover. It was n terrlblo oxporlonca
ud I am through with tho desort"
SAYS GHOST ATE A BISCUIT
Former Medium Tells Strange Btorls
of HI Experience at Ssanoo
of Spiritualists.
London, Ghost stories ot a highly
interesting nature to boltovor nnd
skoptlcs ullko wero related nt a moot
ing ot tho City Templo Debating soci
ety, t
Tho storlos wero told by Ooorgo
Sprlggs, at ono tlmo a spiritualistic
modlum, nnd now tho prosldont of tho
Psycho-Tbernpoutlo society. Every
story, bo said, was well authenticated.
His own conviction waa "that spirit
communion is not only n possibility,
but nn actual nnd ronllzed fact."
On ono ooonslon, hu said a sonnco
wns hold round a table nt tho resi
dence of Rues Lewi of Cardiff. All
tho "sitters," tnoludlng rather Hutch
er, a priest, and Rev. David Jones,
kopt their hands on tho top of tho ta
ble. In nbout flvo minute rap weru
heard, nnd on looking under tho tablo
there wero found small bundle of
grape, n branch from an npplo treo,
ono from a ponr tree, bunches of
wheat nnd bnrley nnd somo peas, Ono
of tho reverend gontlomen exclaimed:
"This Is as near a mlraclo as possi
ble." Describing some of hla experience
In Melbourne, Mr. Sprlggs said that at
one seance a spirit form, dressed In a
white gown and red girdle, drank halt
h tumbler of water and ate a biscuit
Weighing machines wero used to
ascertain tho distinguishing feature
between the medium nnd the material
ized forms, "and," said Mr. Sprlgg,
"1 found thnt as a result ot the seanco
I had lost nbout three pounds In
weight." The flrst spirit form who
stepped on tho scales turned tho beam
at 100 pounds, but subsided so rapidly
In weight as to prevent a suooosslvu
Doctor Mueller, who was present,
dlstlnotly folt tho pulsation of tho
forms, tho medium being shown sit
ting on his chnir Immediately after
wards, Doctor Motherwell also found
tho beating of the heart to bo qulto.
natural.
Ono of tho "sitters" contrlvod to
smear his hands with printer's Ink bo
foro grasping that of tho materialized
form. When the medium wns exam
ined, however, tho skeptic was griev
ously disappointed to find no tracoa
whatovor of the Ink which ho had im
pressed upon the hand ot the form,
record being taken.
GIRL AND FIANCE KILLED
Power Plant Superintendent Electro
cuted and His Sweetheart Dies
Trying to 8ave Him.
Trinidad, Col. Tho dead bodies o
Roy Keller, superintendent of tha
Dolagua power plant, and Miss Ellza
both Hennott, Blxteen years old, to
whom Kellor Is said to havo beon be
trothed, wero found upon tho floor ot
the power plant.
It Is Bupposod that Miss Dennett ac
companied Keller to tho plant whllo
bo mado somo ropalra.
Whllo nt work a llvo wlro Is hollered
to havo electrocuted htm and tho girl
Is believed to havo mot a similar fata
In attempting to rondor him assist
ance. A Tinge of Suspicion.
"That speaker always starts off?
said Farmer Corntossel, "by tollln
what tho country noeds."
"Naturally and proporly,"
"I a'poso so. Only I notice that
when a man goes out of bis way to tell
me what I need it's always somothlu
In his particular line 0' goods."