1
v CHAPTER niL-tContiaue-U
A (harp pang of annoyance shot across
Flora Chimpioo she u Lord Harold
bending over her cousin. She had ex
pected to find Winifred awkward and
llldreased. and here ah was, perfectly
at her ease, and elegantly dressed. It
waa in Mist Champion's heart to treat
her with alighting disdain, but Lady
Grace was there, and sh could not for
get her good breeding to gratify her
spleen. So aha walked straight op to
where her cousin waa aitttng and held
out her hand, as though there had never
been anything else but the most cousinly
friendship between them.
"How do yon do? Did yon hare a
pleasant drive from Hurst?'
"Delightful," said Winifred, recovering
herself. "Mrs. Champion was kind enough
to send me in her carriage, although she
was prevented coming herself. She sent
a message through ma to yon that Sir
Howard was rather unwell, and aha did
not like to leav him, but she hopes to
drive over early text week."
"I trust there is nothing serious tha
matter with grandpapa," exclaimed Miss
Champion, feigning interest.
"Nothing mora than a severe cold.''
At this juncture In came pretty Miss
Alton, and on Lady Grace introducing
her to .Miss Eyre, aha aat down beside
her and apoke in such a pleasant, win
ning way that Winifred thought her the
prettiest, sweetest little creators aha had
aver seen. And then tha other guests
came in, and were introdncrd to her in
, turn; and when dinner waa announced.
Sir Clayton gave her hla arm and led her
lato tha dining room. Miss Champion's
lip wss curled contemptnonsly, but Win
ifred was deeply touched by the kind con
sideration of her amiable hostess. She
waa a little shy at Brat with Sir tilay
ton, but he talked so pleasantly to her,
and hla manner waa ao reassuring that
aha aeon felt at her ease. And then af
ter dinner Miss Alton came and sat ba
aide her, and chatted to her of their af
ternoon excursion, and the picnic that
waa arranged for tha following day.
When the gentlemen came In, Winifred
felt no longer shy; she waa thoroughly
enjoying her first glimpse of the world.
Mr. Clayton cama np and carried Miss
Alton away to the piano, and Lord Har
old went over to Miss Champion. Wini
fred took tha opportunity of looking
around at the different faces.
There was a handsome, melancholy
looking man, who attracted her attention
In particular. He had coma in late, and
waa tha only person who had not been
introduced to her. He waa sitting alone
near the piano, watching Misa Alton,
Winifred thought, with a tender, almost
aad Interest, as sha sang her brilliant
French chansonetta. The little fairy had
thrown him her gloves and fan, in that
careless, peremptory way women often
use to men who they know love them
and ha held them gently and reverently.
Mr. Clayton frowned aa ha aaw the ges-
tore, then he turned away to the piano
and began arranging tha music,
When Misa Alton had finished her
song she moved back to her place beside
Winifred on the sofa. Mr. Clayton walk -
ed up to Col. d'Aguilar.
"I must troubei yon for Miss Alton's
fan and gloves," ha said, nonchalantly.
"I will give them to her myself," UoL
d'Aguilar said, coldly, rising.
Mr. Clayton turned away with a scowl,
Aat reminded Winifred painfully of Mr.
Fenner.
. "Miss Alton." said CoL d'Aguilar,
"have yon forgotten that yon Intrusted
your property to my care?"
"Oh! my fan and gloves," she exclaim
ed, "thank you, I did not remember them;
the fact is, I waa ao anxious to return
to my new acquaintance that I forgot
yoo. But I will make amends for my
neglect by sharing my plessure with yoo.
Miss Eyre-Col. d'Agnilsr." And she
made room for him on the sofa beside her,
greatly to Mr. Clayton's snnoyance, who
began to talk to Miss Eyre assiduously.
Winifred did not dislike him so much
when ha was talking; his conversation
was certainly amusing, and he told her
great deal about Parisian society that
sha found extremely entertaining. It was
only now and then, when she remarked
tha malicious, ugly scowl that crossed
his face when ha glanced toward Miss
Alton and Col. d'Aguilar, that she remem
bered her Instinctive repulsion for him.
as tne aays passed i lora unampion
became very uneaay, and not without rea
son. She had feared it from the first,
and now there was no possibility of
doubting that Lord Harold Erskine waa
transferring his allegiance from her to
her cousin. She detested Winifred, as
only a woman can hate a rival who sup
plants her. A stinging Innuendo, a point
ad sarcasm, at times betrayed her feel
ings, but as a rule ahe had too much tact
to indulge her angry malice. Now and
then cama an opportunity she could not
resist One day at lunch. Lady Grace
waa speaking of Mr. Hastings.
"I regret so much," sha said to Miss
Vance, "that wa have lost such a charm
ing neighbor as Mr. Hastings promised
to be. His sudden departure is a com
plete mystery to every one."
"Wa quite thought he intended to live
permanently at the Court," answered
Miss Vance. "It appears ha made the
most complete arrangements for doing so.
All hla horses are still there, and I have
not heard of the servants being dismiss
ed. A friend of his Is staying there now,
playing host to a party of gentlemen.
What reason did he assign tor his sud
den departure?"
"In a note I received from him a few
days before ha left be said he coald not
as yet accuatom himself to a quiet coun
try life, and felt a longing for the excite
ment of foreign travel. But I cannot
bring myself to think that was anything
more than an excuse, which he thought
simple enough to repel further question
ing. I wish," Lady Grace continued, turn
ing to Winifred, "that you could have met
tha gentleman we are apeaking of, you
would have liked him so much. He Is
not only singularly handsome, but has a
pecoliar fascination of manner that ren
ders him a general favorite. Perhapa
some day be will return, and I shall have
n opportunity of introducing him to
Wifllfred bent down her head In silence.
Miss Champion looked np, and a glance
' of malicious light shot from her cold, blue
' " . . ...
"An Introduction oetween sucn inti
mate friends would scarcely be neces
sary," sha remarked In her clear voice,
that was heard from one end of the long
table to the other. "I should think Miss
Eyre and Mr. Hastings would be greatly
amused at such formality, after their
rambles la tha Hasell woods."
Tha crimson blood dyed Winifred's
set' ,;-t aMtuiusguiir rfUlMM, 08 ' the safd
MaVaaVaV4wA4aUaU
NLY A FARMER'S
DAUGHTER.
By
MRS. FOJMES TSJt.
cheeks until tesrs of mortification stood
In her eye. Poor child! aha waa not yet
sufficiently used to tha way of the world,
to parry such cruel shafts. But Lord
Harold stood by her friend,
"That was hardly fair of you. Miss
Champion," he said, coolly, "to taks the
words out of your cousin's mouth. I
wish Miss Eyre could hsva heard tha
flattering speech Hastings made about
her once, before a room full of young la
dies; they were awfully jealous of it"
One vivid glance of thanks shot from
under Winifred's long lashes; Lord Har
old, seeing It. waa rewarded. Miss Cham
pion noted it, too, and waa bitterly an
gered. But ahe smiled sweetly ai she
said:
"Miss Eyre will scarcely thank yon
for your hasty championship. Your words
almost eeem to accuse ma of betraying
something she wished to conceaL"
Aad laughing still, she wslked to the
window, bitterly conscious that she had
ruined her last chance with Lord Harold.
That lame evening Misa Alton dismias
ed her maid, and betook herself to brush
her pretty hair In Winifred's room, for
whom she had conceived a violent fancy.
"I'm aura you're not tired!" she ex
claimed, aa ahe was admitted. In answer
to her summons; "and I want to have a
chat with you."
"No, I am not tired at all." Winifred
answered; "end I think there's no time
for talking like this, when one has a sort
of a guilty feeling that on ought to be
in bed."
"Well, then," exclaimed Fee, laughing,
"let's be prepared to do without our beau
ty sleep for once and begin. I am going
to call you Winifred, and you must call
me Fee no one ever thinka of saying
Marion. Not that I approve of people
calling each other by their Christian
names as a rule." rattled on the tittle
fairy, "because It leada to familiarity, and
familiarity, we are wisely told, breeds
contempt. It's the greatest mistake to
be too Intimate people are sura to quar
rel; but I don't think we shall; so, if you
do not mind, let it be Winifred and Fee."
In which arrangement Misa Eyre con
curred heartily.
"And now I want to confide in you,"
continued Fee, "because I am the most
miserable creature in tha world, aad I
want advice, and I know you are good
and sensible. Don't be offended," sha
went on in her quick, droll way; "I don't
mean anything disparaging by saying you
are aensible. I know it'a generally con
sidered an odious trait in young people to
be aensible; but you couldn't be anything
that wasn't nice, because you are so pret
ty and clever. I want to talk to you about
Col. d'Aguilar and Mr. Clayton. Which
do you like the most?"
Too csnnot ssk me such a question
seriously!" exclaimed Winifred. "At all
events, you cannot have any doubt as to
my answer."
"Then yoo don't like Mr. Clayton V
"Indeed I do not," replied Winifred,
earnestly. "He seems to hsve s cynical
disbelief in good, a sneering mistrust of
kind actions, that never goes with a good
or benevolent nature. I would rather
J die ten thousand times over than come to
suspect every thought and action of the
people I lived with."
I "I know what yoo aay of Francis
; Clayton to be true; I despise him In my
heart I hare not a shadow of hope that
I shall ever approach to a feeling of love
for him. He is malicious he la cruel-
he is revengeful. And yet, knowing all
this. It will not hinder mo from selling
myself to him if he cares to boy me. 1
think he wilL I think if it were only to
triumph over Col. d'Aguilar he would
marry me. Winifred, do you know I lore
that man with all my heart with all the
love of which a poor, vain, frivolous na
tore like mine is capable? and yet I can
not sacrifice society and fashion for his
sake. I wonder why all the men who
are worth loving are poor?"
"Too would give up such a man as
Col. d'Aguilar and take Mr. Clayton,
for the ssk of his money?"
Fee nodded her head.
"Tea, so would you If yon had led my
life, and been brought np as I have been.
What can I do!" and sha stamped her
foot impatiently; "I have no money; my
aunt has none to give me. Col. d'Aguilar
has only a pittance barely sufficient for
himself. Riches, they say, cannot givs
love or happiness; but poverty can take
away one and destroy the other. I have
no other alternative.
"Dear Miss Alton," said Winifred, "I
beg of you with all my heart to think well
before you make up your mind to marry
a man like this Mr. Clayton. Think what
it must be to spend the best part of your
life with a man yon cannot love a" man
yoo might perhaps get to hater
Fee laughed a little unnatural laugh,
and put her fingers to her ears. "
"Hnsh!" she said; "do not talk in that
way. I know all yoo can aay. After all,
wbi kws? Mr. Clayton may never do
me the honor to propose to me, and then
how foolish I shall look I Good-night,
cherie kiss me once more. Good-night."
And the little fairy tripped off to her awn
room.
CHAPTER IX.
And yet tha very next night Fee tap
ped at Winifred's door, and when It waa
opened she went quickly In, and, throw
ing herself in a chair, burst into tears.
Winifred was fairly distressed; great
drops welled into her eyes for sympathy.
"Don't cry, dear Feo-what Is lt?-what
alls your
It was startling to see tha gay, lnsoo
ciante little ftdry In such a plight
"Oh, Winifred. I am so misersble-I
hate myselrr
Winifred guessed tha rest
"You hare not consented, Fee? yon
are not going to marry Mr. Clayton?"
"Tea, I am."
"Oh, Fee, how could yoo? yoo cannot
like him."
"What is the use of talking like that?"
Mias Alton cried, with feverish petulance,
"Why don't yon congratulate .me? It is
a aplendid match."
"I love you, Fee. I cannot deceive you.
If you do not care for him and yoo
cannot love a man Uka that all bis money
win not make yoo happy.
Winifred went sorrowfully to bed, for
she loved the frivolous, worldly little crea
ture dearly. ,
Mr. Clayten'a reflections were tolerably
satisfactory, as he smoked his Spanish
cigarette after the ladiea had retired; '
"Though after all," he muttered, "I
am not quite sure the game's worth the.
candle. Of course fellows will laugh at
my being caught, after all I've said about
the 'happy state.' Tbey won't give me
credit for being caught 'with Intention.'
I wish d'Aguilar was here, but I suppose
he won't be in until very lata."
Thursday of each week for ft pe'"WWW!,w'OT'''w"TOr
Just about one o'clock Cot d'AgulUr,"
who had been away on a dinner invita
tion, came in. In high good humor and
spirits.
"We have had a charming evening,"
he said, in answer to a question from
Capt Cullodea. "Some very Jolly fel
lows there, and I was greatly tempted to
stsy the night, as they aked me. How
ever, as I had said nothing about It to
Lady Grace Farquhar, I was afraid of
committing a breach of good manners by
remaining. Arthur le Merchant had driv
en over from llaaell Court a rare good
fellow he Is, too. the very life of a party."
"Did he say aoythiug about Hastings?"
Inquired Reginald Champion.
"I think he mentioned the name of
Hastings. It f recollect rightly It waa
something In connection with a yacht la
Constantinople."
"I am sorry Hastings took It Into hla
head to leave England," Interposed lord
Harold Krakine, "He waa one of the
nicest, most gentlemanly fellows I ever
met with. He entertained us In a prince
ly way at the Court last month."
"Hastings?" remarked Francla Clay
ton, interrogatively. "I seem to know tb
name. By the way, Krakine, waa not
that the wan Misa Champion accused
Miss Eyre of being so much in the woods
with?"
Lord Harold colored with passion.
"I presume they were only together
just as d'Aguilar and Miss Alton might
have been In the park this afternoon."
"Ah!" said Francis Clayton, quietly,
but with hla most disagreeable smile,
" 'Let those laugh who win,' la a capital
maxim. But you've not congratulated ma
yet any of you."
Col d Aguilar grew very pale; the
hand that waa on tha back of his rhair
trembled.
"I am no hypocrite," he said, quietly,
hut with a curloua ring in hla vol.
cannot wish you happiness when I know
it entails her misery." And amidst a
dead silence ha left the room.
Before the party assembled at break
fast the following morning he had left
Endon ale.
(To be continued.)
INSECT VANDALS.
Tropical Aats that Haras thaCona
try Like a Ftre,
The Huns and Vandals of the Insect
world are undoubtedly the tu arching
army ants. In tropical countries every
thing falls before these Invaders; they
leave nothing but ruin behind tbein. The
author of "Tangweera" gives this de
scription of them:
I have nerer found where these ants
lie concealed when not engaged in for
aging; but two or three times In the
year. Just before or after heavy rain,
they come out of the forest In millions,
advancing In a solid column, which
may cover an acre of ground. Some
times the column may aeparate In divis
ions, one goiDg In one direction, one la
another. Each travels in a fixed direc
tion. In which It la guided by the guards,
distinguished by enormous heads and
threatening mandibles, who march
ahead of the main body, as If to recou-
nolter the ground.
The army follows after Its officers,
and - rummages everything as It ad
vances. Some swarm np the trees to
considerable heights, searching to all
the cracks of the bark, or among para
sitical plants. Every fallen or hollow
log and every stone Is carefully in
pected.
Tbey destroy as- If a fire had passed
over tne ground. Snails, beetles, butter-
Dies, slugs, spider, caterpillars, scor
pions, centipedes everything Is de
voured. Waspa' nests are rifled of the
grubs; birds are driven from their nests
and the young ones eaten up. Fortu
nately, few blrda lay In the rlany sea
son, but occasionally Incursions of the
army take place before the rains, when
the birds are rearing their young. I
have . seen llxards eight inches long
writhing, lashing the tall, rolling over
and pver, covered with ants which soon
mastered and devoured them.
Twice; in the middle. of the night we
have been roused by such Invasions of
the marching army ants, and "had to
rush out of the bouse and wait till the
foray was over. But we were consoled
by their leaving us a clean bouse, for
the anti search the thatch through and
through, plunder the wasps' nests which
line our eaves, and drag from hiding
every lizard, cockroach and spider.
PLUCKING OSTRICH FEATHERS.
Process Is Both Simple and Painless
to tha Bird.
Many have wondered whether the os
trich felt pain during the plucking of
his feathers, and whether the opera
tion was cruelly performed. The pro
cess Is both, simple and painless. Over
the bead of the ostrich Is placed a long
bag with a breathing hole In one end.
A man then bold the bird while another
cuts with shears the long feathers.
Only those of the wings and tall are
taken. The short feathers, being ripe,
are pulled out without pain, as they
would soon drop In the course of nature.
Great care mut be taken not to In
jure the feather root for If a "socket"
Is destroyed, a feather cannot grow
again. The stumps of tbose that are
cut remain In until three months later.
Sometimes the bird picks them out
herself, and often he keeper assists
ber. To pluck this terrible creature la
often a dangerous operation. Care la
taken to stand behind It to escape Its
kicks. The feathers of the back and ab
domen drop off and are gathered In
bundles. Natural colors are black,
white and drab. The black ones are
kept for black entirely becauue of the
natural shade and the fine, silky down.
The feathers of the male bird, says the
Christian Endeavor World, are the most
valuable. Also, those from a live os
trich are better than those from a dead
one. The plumage of wild ones Is held
In higher esteem than of tame varie
ties. Those of the female birds and of
the young rank as' second quality. The
white feathers are often very pure and
beautiful Those of the tall are dingy
and Inferior In quality. The various
kinds of feathers are put Into separate
bags tall feathers, wing feathers,
white, black, gray. They are then grad
ed, weighed and shipped to feather
dressers, where they are washed, sewed
together, dyed and curled Into muny
styles. -
The EtibarraMeii Whale.
"I do net mind the notoriety g
much," soliloquized the wbale, after It
bad left' Jonab on tbe beach, "but toone
smart young whales In our set will i.e
sure to always be asking me to ih1-..
something for tbe Inner man, or to
spouting around about how bard )i
to keep a good man down." Bait, ui - .
American.
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w W W W w w w w W W w
vOio fe.'lra.c v. I . xW" T pio.j.w?
if m0m if
i
jjH ' THE lrrED STATES I jpj
V?X. A POPDLATIONSI.000.000
JJ I W8AtTriet.ooo,ooo,ooo &
' 1 : t i r-rg . r - -rga
THE OLD-FASHIONED FOURTH,
Give us au old fashioned Fourth la the way
way
Th papers are putting th mltr today.
Ulve u au old fmhlouvtl Fourth with tta tun
and Ita nuUe;
Recollect all about It, I guns, don't jou.
boyal
Ita speech aud procession, with Breworka at
ulght.
And the ml lemonade In loug draughts of
delight I
The big wooden stsnd oa the quaint village
green.
The Saga aud rosettes with the mottoes be
tween; The gauily Home Ouarda and the big couu
try band.
The drum major marchlug with baton In
hand;
The man with a voice like a sawmill or
two.
Who sang of the Bag of tha Red. White and
Hlue;
And the orator, well, was there ever before
A man whose two lungs could hold quite
so much roar I
What peeches he made, though, and how
he'd portray
The patriots who aprang with their guna to
the fray
When the algual fur combat at Lexington
came
And they faced the awart red rot t and met
tbe death-Dame
With that ahi't aud his flita wbrn be told
of It twirled
That la hrard to thla day ringing oa round
the world!
And then Bunker 11 U I It waa.good for the
bluet
To hear him dilate oa that grand battle
newt! If ever the eagle had screamed, It would
ecream
When h pictured the conflict at quaint
Concord atream;
And then Valley forge end the end at
Yorktown.
While the aweat ehone upon him from
ehlo unto crown.
As the great peroration required all hla
at rend h
To bring out the cUmax at juat the rlh'ht
length.
Ah, the old-fathloned Fourth, and they want
one again.
But I gueas It's a want they'll be wanting
In vain I
y
By Candle A. Bramblo.
- ACK and Nellie r ouer and their
three young neighliora, the Rlakea,
vi were holding a conaultatlon beneath
the great elm tree which atood Juat upon
the line between the two dooryards.
"I tell you, I call It a shame that we
can't go in to the city, as we always have
before! said Jack Foater, diacoutent-
edly.
'Well, you know we can t, so what s
tha nae of acolding all the time about it,
Jack?" replied his sister Nellie. .
'Of courae father ian't to blame for
being alck, and I auppose your father ia
almost as aorry aa we that his buainets
calls him away just now," said Uladya
Blake In ber gentle voice.
'But on the Fourth of July," inter
rupted her brother Tom, Impetuously.
It a too bad for anything. It wouldu t
be quite so mean If we bad a few fire
works to let off at night; but here we
are, almost dead broke, with hardly
enough money between us to buy a de
rent supply of firecrackers, let alon any
thing else."
"Well, never mind," answered Jack,
good-naturedly. "Firecrackers will make
a dreadful lot of noise if they're prop
erly bandied, and what fun to be bad
from noise la bound to be ours next
Thursday. Eh, Torn!" and ha gave hla
friend a poke which tumbled him over
upon his back In the grata, where be
chuckled a delighted "Yon bet It Is, old
chap!"
"Oh, but we've forgotten all about poor
old Mr. Norrli!" cried Gladys, remorse
fully. "We can't go to shooting off crack
ers and making a whde lot of noise, be
cause, you know, (t will hurt his bead
and make him ever so much worse. We
can't, indeed."
"Well, I ilk thatl" ahouted Tom, as
he glared wrathfully at the big brick
house Juat across the way. "What la
Fourth of July for If people are not to
make any noise? and, besides, what do
w ears if we do hurt his old head? I'm
sure he was never so careful about hurt
ing our feelings."
"Yes," chimed In Nellie, "he's a dread
ful mean, cross-patchy old thing, Gladys
you know yourself he Is and I don't
cars If his head do ache a little, and
I don't think you ought to, either, as
many times he baa set his horrid dog on
our cats, and you know h never will
let us atep Inald his yard, even to look
for a ball or anything."
"Yea," chimed In little 8 year old Bob
ble, gravely, "an' ha said If I peeked
through the fence any mors to aa the
peacocks he'd turn oat an' spank mej an'
I don't like him, too."
"Oh, Robbie I" returned Gladya, with
a reproachful look. "It's a sham for
you to aay to. Only Just think, poor Mr.
Norrla haan't any little boya and girls
to be good to him, or any on to lovs
him. and he's old and lam and sick,
and it's ft wonde? he'g cress, I'm sura,
we would be If wa had half his trouble
to fret ua."
"Well, then. Mlaa," Tom aald. his ton
a little Was wrathful than before, for he,
aa well aa little Hobble, had been Im
pressed by hla ilater'a reiuonttrauce, "if
we're not to fire 08 crackers, and are to
go walking around on our tlptoea all day
long, ao'a not to make any nolle, per
hapa you'll tell ua what w can do next
Thursday, If It wouldn't trouble you too
much."
"Yea, I will," returned Gladya bright
ly, quite unruffled by Tout's sarcaaui,
"let'a take our dinner and go over on
the Island and stay all day long. Then
we'll be so fur away that our note
wou't trouble Mr. Norrla, and I'm aure
we'll have lota nit.? fun than w could
at home."
The children all realised the truth of
thla atatement, but Tom fait that he
mutt not yield the point too eaaily, and
ao objected. "But how do you kuow
mother will let ua go?"
"Oh, nonsense, Tom!" cut In Jack,
briskly. "Of courae the will, and what'a
more. Gladya la right, and you know It,
to don't raia any more objections."
Bo it waa settled, aud from that mo
ment preparatlona for a very delightful
day upon the Ialand went steadily on. The
boys erected a fort and fortifications for
'lAOEELT OATIIEHKD AB UT TUB LIT-
TLX FEAST."
the blooitleaa battles which were to be
waged with firecracker aud popguua,
and tin girls buaied tbouiaelves making
ready the bnntiUHt, which waa to be au
elaborate affair, while little Hobble Im
partially gave his aid to every one, help
ing anil hindering as only au active small
boy can.
At last the morning dawned, bright
and beautiful as a Fourth of July ehuuld
be, and every one waa ao liuy that no
one noticed when Hobblo stole out Into
the yard and stood looking wiatfully
senilis the road. :...
"I'oor old man!" he said, softly, "I'm
aorry he isn't got any little boya an'
girls to love him. au' 1 link I'll take him
mine poiies an' two booful firecrackers
to make him a good Forf o' July. I don't
fink he'll be croas to me."
A few moments later Mr. Norrls, fret
ting upon his aoftly cualiloutil couch In
the dim library of hla great, lonely borne,
waa aurprixed to hear the tap, tap of tiny
hoot heels In the ball, and then to aee
Robblo's fnce smiling upon him from
the doorway.
BOY'S DREAM OF
"I bringed you some flowers," he aald,
aoftly, "aud two nice firecrackers too.
1 couldn't apart any more, 'caut wt
hasn't got very many, I'm awful sorry
you'a sick, an' we're all going away ofl
to shoot our firecrackers, so the bauga
won't make your head be worm. Good
by."
Ho atrangely aud tlltntly had RobhU
come, and to abruptly hid he departed,
that Mr. Norrla would have thought It
all a dream had he not had tangible evi
dence of Ita truth In the bunch of gaudy
flowers snd the two brilliant firecracktn
which Hobble had left upon the stand
at hla aide.
By 12 o'clock the merry little company
oa the laland waa ready for something
to eat, and gathered eagerly about the
little featt spread out upon the ground.
"Oh, Hobble!" cried Uladya la a dis
mayed tone, In the very nildst uf the
banquet, "what have yon done? You
eareleta hoy to atep In our beautiful
lemon pit,
Bure enough, to their great dismay the
children discovered that Hubble had suc
ceeded In planting one dmty little fool
right In the very center of the tempting
pie which waa coinldered th crowulng
uainty or th spread.
"Never mind." aniwered Robbie.
gravely, tpecting hla foot with Inter
eat "I uon't fluk It will hurt my aline
very much. 1 gueaa It will all wipe off."
Hobble waa ao aolemn and ao utterly
unconacluua of the mlachlef he had dona
that the children all bunt Into laughter,
ana in the nildat of the merriment Mr.
.orrla good natured coachman aunaar
ed before them with an liumena baaket
upon his arm.
mere," ha aald. aettlng It down with
a thump In their midst. "Mr. Nnrrlt
ten dt this, with hla compliments, to Mat
ter Robbie, and he hnpea you'll enjoy It;
and I'm to tell you thai If you'll cmt
over on the lawn to-night there'e ba
few flreworka which perhapa you'll like
to aee," and with a kindly nod at hli
delighted and aatounded hearers, Illram
was gone.
"What does It mean? Homebody plnrh
me, so i n be quite sure It t nut all
dream I" gaaped Nellie, after a moment of
breathless silence.
"No, It Ian't a dream, because here'a
th basket, and do left aee what la In
It." returned Jack, selling the heavv bat
ket and engerly tearing away the paper
covering.
If I should try, I rould lint tell ynu
all tne goomea wnicii mat baskot contain
ed. rsor could I describe the beauty and
brilliancy of the fireworks upon the lawn
that evening, mil every one of the chll
(ire n ili'darcd, when tired and happy they
sepnrnicu ior ine iiikiii, inai .Mr. Norrls
waa a most delightful person ami that
thla Fourth of July hml been by fhr the
heat they ever yet had known. lletrolt
Fre I'reaa.
A I'alrl.iMo IVaoe.
"Julius, I thought you weren't going
to spenx in ine niuitnt any more.
"Well, Julia, I had to borrow their lit
tle boy to tend off thene rockets." De
troit Free Treat.
AN IDEAL FOURTH.
VERMONT'S LAST "PAINTtfl'
(wtCeaatrrataTrtrk Kill lllwt
aad Uel SI'J State Houat.
"Tliey's peopl lu Vermont a
thought that the painters waa
all dead," aald "Black Hear
Jo" of Hen mountain to a
writer Id th Hoatnn Journal,
aa be aat on a barrel lu the bark shop
of a Main street store In Ituillngtoit.
"Hut tbry wau't. I beered on on 'em
screech up at Urn mountain In th
tiitddl o' lha night Ibis winter, tin' It
frla my blood up llghter n a drum.
"I cam down by Montgotmry ('en
tor way t'other day, au' there I bcerd
tell ou th biggest painter that I ever
torn.
"Mom folks rail 'em pntillicr au'
torn folka rail 'em painter, an uiore'n
all of 'nil rail 'rut wildcats. Hut th
rcnl nam, I beered tell when I waa
down to the sportsman's show, was a
iiiotitttnln lion. Them's th crltlur
Hint they let b)i ('resident sliwit down
lu Arlsoiiy, tit' tbey Is scheduled to
run up aa far aa Canada au' down
ai-roaa the northern end ' New York
an' over Inter Maine, New lUmpthlr
and Vermont,
"HakersftYld mountain la 'limit th
last pine that you'd pi to Dud a
real live panther. But they kllUd on
tber' t'other day.
"8ouie of the boys waa out In th
bllla nulling au' digging sprue gum
au' th Ilk wbrn tbey cam upon th
crlttur's tracks, Tbey waa big enough
to b a tiger's atvp au' on of th
lada fouitd where a fog bad been
caught aud eateu. Th snow waa all
tracked down and bloody Ilk and th
hid waa torn up aomrwbat. Itonr
never tear up a hid but skin It off
can-ful Ilk an' roll It up ou th
ground.
"Noii of tha young feljera rould
tnnke out what the tracks waa. Hut
ol' Teddy Blifldou, who I now going
on to 71 years, an' I suppose baa kill
ed tuor than seventy bear, shook hi
head and aald to Ih young una, tea
be: Tliat'a a painter, or my nnuia
alu't Theodore. I'm 70, but I'm bless
ed If I don't git out Hi old gun au'
have a try at th f 12 tbnt It liluVll
bring In bounty.'
"II au' William II. Jewett polished
up 111 i-l r guna an' set out. Tbey found
whi'r a deer bad been pulled down
an' biT throat blttru by th panther,
but the deer bad evldeully shook th
brut off an' got away. After running
a long distant It fell and died.
I'rob'ly lb painter waa too full o' bl
earlier dinner to fuller an' so be never
kurw that tha deer died.
"Tby got some o' their dogs on th
track of th panther, an' after a lively
rhase they found tbe trail leading down
Into Cold holler. Now, Cold boiler I
a valley that no ou ylt ever bad good
luck burning lu. Cal'lnt that they
would 'a' had If they bad gone there,
but the name sorter give all the Hn.
kerafleld lliouiilaln buys cold feet lo
bear, an' they have fought shy of It.
"Tbe panther wna lying along a log
' map! when tbey came up with their
logs in Ita.h on' aflrr letting out on
r I wo o' bl bloody screeches be went
nlo the tree and began running along
an' Jumping from limb lo limb ait'
re to tree, Kvery now and then li
would stop an' totter turn back to light
hut the clogi iron 1 1 led him. I ral'lat a
'ullali.il panther will taekl a man
my time, 'specially at night.
"At last the doge drlV blm Into a
tree tbnt stood all alone an' tber h
iurued at bay. Jewett fired al him, th
ball going through th shoulder inua-i'Ii-s.
The great rat fell sprawling Into
the enow, bin Immediately ran up an
other tree, where a bullet, fired from
be rifle of Bhelilon, reached hla brain.
"Old aa I am I'd given a. year off
lb fust end o' my life ter have shot
the last painter In Vermont, for I ral'.
late thnt's what It waa, Ain't been
non abot her for fifty years aa I
know on,
"When I was a boy they pulled down
cattle au' children "moat every day.
Sheldon an' Jewett took tiliu to th
town clerk of Montgomery Center an'
collected $12 bounty. Might Jua' well
cloa the account. Alu't no uior eou
Ing In."
Hack lo lb Farm.
After ten years aa a 8t. Louie polle.
man Hugh McMnhon tired of llfo lu a
great city and baa gone back to th
country. I.Ike Clarene th Cop, be
has been "transferred agitlu," but this
time at hla own wish.
II hai gone back from th fore to
lb farm; from polftlfa to potntoeai
from courts to carrots; from alntlou to
stable; from clubs to cloda; from
"plug ugllee" to plowa; from "plneboa"
to parsulpa; from mud to meadewat
from garbage to garden; from blood to
blossoms.
II has gone back from wrlta to
roses; from arrests to rest; from pool
rooms to cool rooms; from sunstrokes
to sunflowers and aunseta; from vio
lence to violets; from helniels to holly,
hocks; from dens to daisies; from run
ning crooks to running brooks; from
murderers to meditation; from quick
thieve to quiet thoughts, and from
"green gooda" men to th greou thlngi
of Nature herself.
Who shall any that be lint not chosen
th better part of life? "tlod miiila
the country and man made the town,"
aud at the very heat, It sometimes
scemi, man mad a bad Job of It
fit. Louis rost-Dlapatch.
Farmers and Faotorlea.
Farmers In those districts that hsva
xtenslv manufacturing eaiabllah-
ments ar able to pay doulilo nt much
for land ai those who live in tha .iri,.f.
ly agricultural districts and then real-
IB double th profit from the crops
grown. Tb farmers of New England,
occupying a soil originally thin in an
uncongenial climate, are able to pny
nigner wage timn u,e farmers of the)
South, although the natural fortmi.
of th soli and Its capacity ror pro.
dudng a great variety of crops la not
half as great aa It Is In the Houlh and
the staples grown In the fiomh a.
world-wide demand and of paramount
necessiiy.-Bouincrn Farm Mngnslu.
No Itlsk to the Dentist.
Dentist Wilt you take gas ?
rational! there any rlak.
Dentlat-Not for me. Ynn'ii h. .
------ .. ,, Tv la
pny In advance.-Detrolt Free rwss.
Tunnela Dug by Ant.
Th ants of Bouth America h.
been known to construe a f.,.,n..i
w w wUUUvJa)
three mllei la length.