CHAPTER XVIII.
Lady Grace Farqtihar'a list guest
w-r on the eve of departure, much to her
husband'e delight In two days' time
Mrs. Clayton would be the only visitor
remaining Mr. Hsstfngs ercly spok
to Misa Byre. When he did, he noticed
with some ecret pleasure that her color
came and went, and that site ?emed
restless and nneasy. Lady Grace was in
the garden, giving directions to the head
gardeaer, when Mr. Hastings joined her.
"I hare come to ask a favor of you.
Lady Grace," he said.
"I am sure I shall be disposed to grant
It." she answered, pleasantly.
"When your guests sre fone, I want
you all to come and spend two or three
days at the Court."
Lay Grace hesitated.
"I should like it very lunch," he said,
presently; "but Sir CUyto has the great
est dislike to tearing home when he is
once settled."
"If I can succeed In persuading him.
will you come? I have a particular ob
ject in my request."
, "Oh. yea, with pleasure; I am sure Ma
rion and Winifred will be delighted. But
I am afraid you will hare some difficulty
with my husband."
Mr. Hastings was, however, more suc
cessful than Lady Grace anticipated, and
won the baronet's consent without much
trouble. The truth was, there was a
eery fine library at the Court, and Sir
Clayton bad for some time past been anx
ious to consult some old and valuable
works he knew to be there.
When everything was settled, Winifred
heard of the arrangements with conflict
ing feelings. She was almost sorry that
she had been included in the invitation.
Iter presence could but awaken unpleas
ant memories In Mr. Hastings' mind.
Tuesday came, the morning was lovely,
and it was arranged that Mrs. Clayton
and Winifred should ride, and that Sir
Clayton should drive Lady Grace over
in his phaeton. When they arrived at
the Court Mr. Hastings and his friends
were standing on the steps to receive
them. This time he did not lift Winifred
from her horse and whisper welcome, but
went at once to Mrs. Clayton. Winifred
felt the difference, a little bitterly, per
haps, and yet with quick consciousness
thst she had no right to feel it But
when she waa shown to her room, a glad
thought blotted out the bitterness. Was
it by accident that the walls were hung
with her favorite prints, and that vases
filled with scarlet geraniums and ferns
her favorite combination were disposed
11 about the room? Scarcely. It must
hare been a wish to please her, aad if he
till cared about giving her pleasure,
nrely all the love had not died out
There was a dinner party in the even
ing a very gay. pleasant party, that ev
eryone enjoyed. Afterward Winifred
sang, and was brighter aad happier than
ahe had been for many weeks. Mr.
Hsstings had scarcely spoken to her, but
yet she was conscious that he was 'not
indifferent to her.
The next day he asked her suddenly if
he would like to see her old home once
more.
"Yes," she said, quietly; "will yon take
me?"
"If you go alone with me I will," he
answered.
"I will go, if Lady Grace does not ob
ject." "Shsll I ask herr
, "Do."
And they went toward Lady Grace,
who was sitting reading by the open win
dow. "I see no objection," said Lady Grace,
miling, "except that you always used to
be so terribly quarrelsome. I think I
must' exact a promise first that there
hall be no disagreement on the way."
"I promise," laughed Errol
"And I." added Winifred, a shade more
eriously.
"Then I consent" smiled Lady Grace.
They went away silently together,
neither speaking nntil they reached the
end of the broad gravel drive. Then Mr.
Hastings broke the silence.
"Shsll we go through the woodsr
"I should tike to very much," she an
swered. "I have not been there since"
And then she stopped suddenly, remem
bering on what occasion ah had been
there last
"Since when?' and he looked keenly at
her.
"Oh, a long time ago more than two
years."
"Do you remember that bank?" Errol
asked, suddenly. "It wai there I first
aw you."
Presently they came to a gate; the
ame gate they had stood at more than
two yeara ago the same at which they
had parted, ahe suffering, he stung by
remorse. He had brought her here on
purpose to test the strength of her lore
and forgiveness. He did not open it for
her to pass through, but stopped and
leaned against it. She stood in front of
him, waiting patiently, and he looked in
tently at her.
"It is two years and two months since
we were here together last Miss Eyre.
You are greatly changed since then."
"For the worse V she asked, quickly.
"Not as the world would think."
"But as you think?"
"I scarcely know. They say we are all
the happier when we lose our impulsive
ness and warmth of heart, and become
cold and indifferent You have fouad It
o, no doubt?"
His tone was almost harsh, and she
looked up in his face sadly, and yet with
infinite patience.
"I cannot be angry at your saying so,
Mr. Hastings. Yon have the right to
think It."
"And yet I would rather hear you deny
it indignantly, Miss Eyre."
"If I denied it would you believe me?"
Ha waa silent for a moment while
there was a struggle going on In his
heart He had too much chivalry of feel
ing to wish her to confess herself wrong
and plead to him, and yet there was
latent pride of spirit that made him feel
it would be unmanly, undignified, for him
to make the first advance now, after all
that had gone before. He watched her,
unwilling to help her, yet feeling vividly
that she waa suffering.
. "If," ahe faltered at last "if I thought
that in spite of all that Is past, you did
not hate me" and she stopped.
"You know what I feel for you," ha
aid, quietly, "am I likely to change?'1
' "Then I should like to tell you how
much I regret the past," she went on, In
low vole. "Yon do not know how bit
terly I have suffered in the past months,
because any pride would not let me own
I loved yon. I am ready to make my
toatmsst hero la this very place, to
.Haaal
NLY A FARMER'S
DAUGHTER.
By
MRS. FORRESTER.
HIM HI
bare remembrance of which hat made me
shrink aad turn from you before, I for
give yon the wrong you did me, and I ask
you to pardon me, toe. - Have I humil
iated myself enough?" and she looked
for a moment In his face and then turaed
sharply away, with a quivering tip and
large tears In her eyes.
He caught her by the hand.
"Winifred," he said, a sudden passion
In his voice and eyes, "tell me one thing
more. Do yoq in truth love me?"
She looked bravely np In his face.
"I have never left off loving your
He drew her toward him in a strong
clasp, until her head rested on his breast
"I think It la true," he whispered, "tbat
we lova that best which is most dearly
won."
CHAPTHR XIX.
It was almost dark when they returned
to the Court
"Your idea of the length of half an
hour must be singularly vague, Mr. Hast
ings." smiled Lady Graoe. "Surely you
have been further than the Farm?"
"Net even as far. Lady Grace." he re
plied, with glad smile; and then Wini
fred bring gone, he told her his story.
"I sm very glad." she said, kindly. "1
could wish you nothing better than to
have such a wife as Winifred."
All obstacles surmounted, and the en
gagement betweea them being ratified by
the consent of all parties. Mr. Hastings
m ould not hear of a ay objection to the
marriage taking place immediately.
"Remember, darling," he said, when
Winifred would have urged him to wait,
"I have loved you for more than two
years. Having made me so miserable,
surely you owe it to me to lose no time
in atoning for it Pray get that horri
ble trousseau business over with all
speed, or I shall think yon do not love
me eas I love you.
Sir Howard was delighted when he was
apprised et the intended marriage, aad
insisted that Winifred should be married
from Hurst Manor. She had a fancy for
being married in the little church where
she had so often sat when ahe waa only
a farmer's daughter. She waa not the
aimple little country girl now, but an ele
gant young lady, accustomed to luxury
aad good society. Errol would have liked
much better that she should come ts him
portionless, but that waa not to be aa he
desired.
Sir Howard Champion gave her twenty
thousand pounds, sad Sir Clayton ten
thousand, while Lady Grace provided her
with a magnificent trousseau. Mr. Hast
ings had the family diamonds reset and
remounted for her, aad would have had
her wear soma of them at least at the
weddiag.
"Please not Errol," ahe pleaded. "I do
not like nil thia grandeur. I would rath
er not forget that my early life was aim
ple." Mrs. Clayton waa of course to have
been at the weddiag. She waa looking
forward to it gld at heart at the part
she had taken in bringing together two
people who cared for each other. Three
weeks before the day fixed she received
a letter with a foreign postmark.
"Who can it be from?" ahe said, turn
ing It over in her hand, and speaking to
Winifred. "I do not know the hand; it
seems crabbed and foreign, and has been
forwarded from London. It is addressed
to Milsdy Clayton, too!" And Fee con
tinued to look at It without however,
breaking the seal. "Who can it be
from?" she said again.
"If yon open it you will soon see, dear,"
Winifred replied, laughing.
"I don't quite like to do it," Mrs. Clay
ton remarked presently. "I suppose it is
because I am nervous and unwell; but I
always feel aa if every letter I received
contained bad news. Will you open it
for me?"
And she tossed It across the table.
"Of course I will. What a acrawir
And Miss Eyre proceeded to tear the en
velope. "I should Imagine it contained
some mysterious secret, from the wsy it
la gummed together. I must tske a knife
aad slit it open from the aide."
With some trouble she got at the con
tentsa dirty scrap of foreign paper,
with a few crabbed hieroglyphics, and be
gan to read aloud:
"Milady aad honored excelency I av
to profonde regret te to anaonce to you
dat te Milor Clayton monaieur yor hus
band av bin took wid de horrible maladie
of cholera an want to aee you.- av sent
for the principal docteur an am at yor
orders. GODEFItOI LUPIN."
A horror seised upon Mrs. Clayton. She
had never loved her husband; lately she
had hated him; but the Idea of his being
ill alone among strangers brought the
tears to her eyes.
"0, Winifred!" she exclaimed to her
friend, in whose face she read consterna
tion, "I must go to him at once."
"You cannot. Fee; weak aa you are it
would be madness. The address is some
obscure village in Switzerland. Let us
go and ask Sir Clayton what had best be
done."
"Who do yon suppose this letter to be
written by?" Sir Clayton asked, when he
had read the curious missive.
"I cannot tell. Perhaps the hotel keep
er." "Had he a foreign valet, do you know,
Msrion?"
"Not when he left London. Simmons
was with him then; but he may have left;
he was always threatening to leave, aad
then, of course, it is most probable that
Francis would engage a foreigner."
"Something must be done at once. Yon
cannot go yourself, Msrioa-rthat is quit
out of the queation neither can I very
well. Perhaps Alfred Clayton ia in
town; he waa coming up, I know. I will
telegraph to him. Stay, I am not sure
where he would be. I will go up to Lon
don myself nt once."
And Sir Clayton rang the bell and or
dered the carriage.
"But I feel that I ought to go myself,
Sir Clayton; the letter said he wished
to see me."
"My dear, do not think of It; the jour
ney would kill you. To cross the channel
la this cold weather and with these tem
pestuous winds, would be nothing short
of madness."
Sir Clayton dressed hurriedly for his
journey, jumped Into the carriage and
drove off to the station, leaving 'Wini
fred to explain matters to his wife. He
just canght the up train by a minute; the
horses had accomplished the five miles ia
exactly twenty-two mlnues. Sir Clayton
had told the coachman that it was a mat
ter of life and death, and the old man,
aorely against his will, had driven his
favorites the whole distance at the top of
their speed. Sir Clayton reached London
au drove off a the hetel where he knew
Alfred Clayton always stayed when he
was ia town. By good fortune he had
just arrived there, and was at the door
ready to depart again when Sir Clayton
drove np. The story waa briefly told and
the two men looked doubtfully at each
other.
"Of course t will go at once." Mr.
Clayton said; "but cholera in one of those
foreign holes la natty business. I will
get a time table and see how soon I ran
t off. 1 must get yon to telegraph down
to Mrs. Grant at Brighton I promised to
dine and sleep at her house ts-aight"
"I think," said Sir Clayton, "thst while
yon are making preparations, I will drive
round to the house in Piccadilly aad see
if there is any further news."
On arriving there he found another
letter, with a foreign postmark and open
ed it at once. It waa written by the doc
tor in good French, and informed Mrs.
Clayton delicately that her husband had
just breathed his last
"This Is a sad business," said Sir Clay
toa, returning to the hotel; "you must lone
no time in getting there. I fear he will
be buried long before you reach the place,
and there will be no chance of bringing
the body' to England. Of course, if "
"Of course of courser exclaimed Al
fred Clayton, hastily, and grasping the
baronet's hand he hurried off. He waa
the next heir to all that splendid prop
erty, but for the time he felt no exulta
tion at the thought of stepping into th
shoes of the man who lay dead aad aloae
in a foreign country. On reaching the
village he fouad that Sir Clayton's sur
mise was correct, and that the rich man
had tx-vn iuterred some days before with
little ceremony. The obsequious land
lord aad Lupin, the valet of the dead
man, were voluble in their information.
From Lupin he learned that Mr. Clayton
had engaged him in Paris six weeks pre
viously, hsving parted in n quarrel with
his English servant
At first Mrs, Clayton was shocked aad
stunaed at the unexpectedness of the
blow. She had disliked her husband, but
it seemed so horrible for him to have did
in that terrible way, so far from home
aad without n ainle friend. Her nrst
resolution was to leave Endon Vale, and
she sent an urgent message to her sunt
to join her. This time Lady Marion made
no delay ia answering the summons.
Lady Grace begged Fee to remain.
"You are very kind," ahe answered. "I
can scarcely thauk you enough for your
long hospitality, but I would rather go.
Cnder the circumstances. I could but mar
the cheerfulness that ought to reign hers
during the preparations for such n happy
event as dear Winifred's marriage; aad
until I caa realize my aew posltioa I
wonld rather go away quietly to aome
fresh place. If you Invite me Inter, I
shall be very glad to come ts you again."
(Te be continued.!
FACT8 ABOUT KINO ALFRED.
Character of Founder of Eaarllah Legal
and Constitutional rJyeteaa.
It was Freeman, we believe, who pro
nounced Alfred the Great to be "th
most perfect character Id history." The
declaration was a particularly sweep
lug generality, which a less positive
writer might hesitate to make. Cer
tainly there are other characters In his
tory, sacred and profane, deserving of
careful consideration before the judg
ment of supreme excellence is Irrevo
cably pronounced. And yet, when we
come to contemplate the character of
Alfred, If objection be freedom from
faults, we might concede that it pretty
thoroughly realises It It Is true we
do not knew much about him. But It Is
also true that all we do know Is good.
Whether or not It Is because he was so
largely th historian of his own tir.es,
there Is nothing recorded of him to his
discredit So far as our knowledge of
him goes, his character and career were
flawless. This Is the more significant
when we remember bow praise and
blame are commingled in the records
of other sovereigns of those days of
whom we know as little or as much as
we do of him.
The commemoration of the one thou
sandth anniversary of his death, which
was conducted In England, would
doubtless have received much more at
tention here bad It not been eclipsed by
an appalling national tragedy. Certain
ly the occasion was and even is yet
well worthy of our notice. That may
be said for the reason already express
ed. A man whom so high an authority
as Freeman declared to be the most
perfect character In all history, and
who has so strong a claim to that dis
tinction. Is certainly worthy of the
whole world's study. We have said
that we know little of htm. But all
that we do know Is both good and
great. It waa a great thing to found
the English nation. It was a great
thing to found English literature. It
was a great thing to found tbe sea
power of England. It was a great
thing to found tbe English legal and
constitutional system. Ami these
things Alfred did. To have done any
one of them would be sufficient to In
sure for him everlasting and grateful
remembrance. To have done all four
places him upon an eminence of great
ness not easily to be rivaled.
These achievements are titles to
world wide fame. But they peculiarly
commend Alfred to our grateful mem
ory. For, with all credit to other ra
cial elements which bare largely en
tered Into the making of Its greatness,
this nation was primarily and chiefly
of English origin, and It owes such orig
in to tbe achievements of Alfred which
we bare named. It sprung, In both tbe
New England and the Virginian colo
nies, from that English nation which
Alfred founded, through the exercise
of that sea power which also had Its be
ginnings from blm, It was organized
upon, and even yet largely retains, the
English legal and constitutional sys
tems which date from blm. and It uses
the English language and Inherits the
English literature, to the world-compelling
greatness of which he gave tbe
first Impetus. Tbe United States does
not owe much to many kings. But It
does, In common with all the Anglo
Saxon and all the English-speaking
world, owe a debt of much grateful re
membrance to the Illustrious sovereign
who was able to say of himself with
truth: "So long as I have lived, I have
striven to live worthily, and after my
death to leave to my descendants my
memory In good works." New York
TTlbune.
Volumes In the British Museum.
The number of volumes In tbe Brit
ish Museum Library, according to a re
cent counting, Is now over 2,000,000.
There are more than 16,000 volumes of
London newspapers, about 47,000 vol
umes of provincial newspapers, count
ing Welsh as well aa English, 10,000
Tolumes of Scottish papers, and 9,000
from Ireland,
ILL-TREATED TREES,
Ideas Held by New-Tnrker m Sab
Jecl of ArUwrcaltara,
Some otherwise Intelligent people
seem to bar queer notions alxut trees.
We are not sure whether they think
tree require for their welfare treat
ment Mentlcnl with that of lamp posts
and telegraph poles, or that they re
gard a tree In a city street an a public
enemy which should be destroyed, says
the New York Trlbuiie. They surely
must hold one or the other of these
views, or else their actlous grossly
bell their beliefs.
Here are some example of the treat
ment given to tree ou a choice rel
deuo) street In one of the best part of
the city: A few of the tree bar each
as much as a couple of square yard
of open soli about them, graaslc, of
course, aud packed aa hard and utafl
as Impervious to water a so much
well-puddled day. In some case the
open squares originally left about the
tree have been carefully filled In with
bit of flagging, close up to th trees
all round. In some case the squares
have been carefully tilled with concrete
or artificial atone, fitting water tight
if not air tight around the trees. In
some cases th large tree trunks have
carefully been trimmed square with a
broadax so that tbe straight edges of
flagstones may fit closely against
them. It may be added that these are
nil fine specimens of elms, linden and
other trees. Before the sidewalks were
thus adjusted to their trunks they
were thriving almost as luxuriantly as
though they were In their native for
ests. Now they are beginning to die
and the people are removing some of
them, saying that "there's no use In
trying to grow tree in the city, any
way." 1'erhaps they are right. Perhaps a
city ought to be an unhrokeu expanse
of masonry and asphalt, with not a
tree nor a shrub nor a blade of grass
within Its bounds. The park should
be cleared off and covered with asphalt
for roller skating rinks. It would coat
a great deul less to maintain them In
that condition. Perhaps the people, too
might be varnished or coated from
head to foot with some waterproof and
alrproof preparation. Then they
would not need air or water, but would
die as these trees are dying, and It
would coat a great deal lens to keep
them so.
ONE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE.
Survivor f th Caars of Balaktava.
Lrvlsu la Dm (tola.
Living quietly In an humble home
In De Melues, la.. Is one of the he
roes of the famous battle of Bala
klava, fought during the Crimean war
almost 50 years ago and commemo
rated by Tennyson In his Charge of
the Light Brigade. He la James Lai
lay and he wears a Victoria cross as
the reward of his services In that
famous and stupid rhurge.
Besides the Victorian croae for gal
lant participation In the battle of Ifula
klava Latlny poanee.se two medals
JAMES LALLAY.
won for bravery, while serving in the
Connaugbt Rangers, from the west of
Inland. It was during the battle of
Green Hill, In the Crimean war, that
Lallay seized a burning torpedo which
had been hurled Into tin ranks of the
Rangers and which was about to ex
plode and cast It Into a nearby lake,
thus preventing an explosion which
would have meant death to an entire
company. On another occasion he
rushed out upon a battlefield to rescue
a wounded comrade, and dragged him
back behind the firing lines, while
the shots from the enemy were fall
ing all about blm.
In the charge, In which 000 horsemen
took part, the survivors did not ex
ceed 150.
Science of footprint.
If the scientific render were to call
an old-fashioned gamekeeper an "icb
nologist" the man would doubtless
stare in some surprise. Buys' Tld-Illts,
and yet many gamekeepers are the fin
est practical judges of animal foot
prints that is, "ichnologlsts" to be
found, for from such prints they can
tell exactly what the nnlmnl was
which left the impression, and a great
many more things about It besides.
On many an estate the gamekeeper
will spread soft mold about the places
usually resorted to by foxes and after
he has examined this be will, with
wonderful accuracy and from the foot
prints alone, be able to tell his master
not only the probable number of foxes
that are about, but whether they are
foxes or vixens and whether any of I
them are lame through some cause.
And In addition such a gamekeeper
will be able to say whether the animal
had any weighty prey In Its mouth. I
Scientific lchnologlHts can toll from
any given footprints not alone the 1
genus of the animal, no mntter from
what portion of the globe It may hare
come, but Its probable age, sex, pace
at the time the Impression was made
and many other particulars.
Why the Change.
Naggsby "Let's see, isn't Home
body's wife named Rosn?"
Waggsby "It was before she took
antt-fnt."
Naggsby "Well, how could that
change matters?"
Waggsby "He now calls her Rosa
lean." Baltimore American.
Mother Mississippi's Voice
nT was exceaslvely lucotisldcrat of
Mrs, iKiwna to die. Just aa he
waa nUoit to close that N., It. A
M. merger, argued Henry Yates, but
with due respect for his sister, he
turned hi back on hla New York
office, boarded th "W-hour train" for
Chicago, and of a sudden found him-
self living In the past.
II awakened to a realisation that
year had passed sine hi gentle,
shrinking wife had closed her eye to
sight of hltu (landing shocked and
wide-eyed with a wee baby girl lu hla
arm.
He had been so busy, lighting for a
foothold lu Chicago's financial world,
that he had failed to Hot hla wife's
falling health, aud even tu th hour of
ber death, he bad uot realise that ah
had died literally of heart-hunger of
longing for the companionship and the
protecting love, but not the dollars, of
the utau she had married.
Of one thin he waa sure. He had
loved tier. In hi passive way, and had
meant to make a great lady of her,
when he hud won hla financial fight,
lie hated the child who hud robbed
him of his wife.
So the bale had been thrust Into the
willing arma of Ills widowed sister,
and he had plunged hack Into the busl"
luii maelstrom.
The allowance turned over to Mr.
Iina for the support of the child
bad leen liberal, lie had teeu In
formed that ber education bad been
curried on after the most approved
methods, but tie never saw her, and
when from Chicago he had plunged
Into New York, still bent on acquiring
more and more wealth, be had passed
out of their lives without even a
sight of the child. ,
And low, of course, with Mr.
Downs' death, souietblug must b
done. Doubtlea his slater had had
Intimate friends among her own sex.
Tbe problem would be solved some
how. And It was, but not Just as h had
expected.
Edith settled It for herself, when ahe
cam to greet hltu, blg eyed, slander,
Illy-like and sorrowful. The daughter
was her mother of their honeymoon
days.
Yates reached out hla arma with a
great cry. The paternal Inatlnct
awoke with a rush that robbed blm
of speech. But the girl understood.
She was the sort who could read men
aright.
From that hour Kdlth'a happiness
and social success were of more vital
Interest to Henry Yates than the ac
quirement of stocks nod bonds. The
lntter were useful only In furthering
her Interests.
Mr. Yates built a palace on Million
aire' row and cursed In hla heart the
social lights who withheld their beams
from hi lovely duughter.
A lordllna; of depleted fortune but
Irreproachable social connections came
and saw but did not conquer. Yates
said the price waa too high, and hla
daughter, curled up In his never-falling
arms, thanked hi in between sobs
of Joy.
But all this did not help matters
when Allen Houston appeared on the
horizon, and, so far as Edith wa con
cerned, filled It completely. Young
Houston bad a small patrimony a tre
mendous fund of ambition, and th
profile of a poet.
Henry Tales said "No," Edith re
membered the lonely year her father
had spent, talked pathetically, yet not
waverlngly, of "duty," and Houston
flung himself into th wllda of the
west.
Edith did not grieve openly, but th
loving eyes of her father were not to
be deceived. He became restless and
anxious, and so they decided that New
York was unbearable and the sight of
New Orleans during the Mardl Ores
would do them both good.
Mr. Yates planned the trip without
consulting Edith, They would go to
Memphis by rail and there board -one
of the old-fashioned Htemwbeel river
boats for New Orleans.
Somehow, with the sting of social
failure and the mad rush of his busl
aem life wearing upon him Yates
was hungry for the old life life he
had known when he was only "Mr.
Clerk" of "The Belle of the West."
Those were the days when the Yates
fortune was represented by three fig
ures, and during those river trips he
had laid tbe foundations for the pros
perity which now ran into eight fig
ures. They reached Memphis at night, but
he liwlested upon a glimpse of tbe ma
jestic sheet of swirling, yellow water.
It was like meeting an old friend, he
declared, and, with Kdlth'a arm held
close to his side, he added:
os the vau.gr qrrt.
"I never realized how tired I was un
til I got within sound of my old
friend's voice."
The next morning they went on
board the Valley Queen. Yates thrill
ed as his foot touched the deck. He
walked briskly to the little window
on the saloon deck and exclaimed:
"Mr. Clerk, I wont two of your best
rooms to New Orleans."
A blue-coated figure came close to
the window, a strong, masculine band
held out some keys, and a voice
which made Mr. Yates start answered:
"The best two on board, Mr. Yates,
and I hope you will find your trip
with us moat pleasant mid comfost
able."
Mr. Ynte glanced wildly toward tBar
ahor. It waa slipping away frons
them. They were in mid-stream-and
th man at th window waa Allen
Houston.
Retreat wa Impossible Graceful
capitulation was Inevitable. Ynte put
out hi band.
Thereafter h divided hla time be
tween th dock, which h paced with
hla daughter, telling her lively yam
of hla own daya as a river-boat clerk,
and th office, wher he shared Hous
ton's preoccupation with his duties.
There was something familiar about
It all the pleasant familiarity which
take 10 year off a man's shoulder.
And Ilouaton understood the work,
Just a Yate had understood It year
before. Wher b bad started, Hous
ton waa starting.
Home time watching hi daughter's
face, he wavered. But no; It waa Im
possible. Hla own rase had been ex
ceptional. All river-boat clerk could
not be millionaire, and Houston was
merely of good. up-Mint family,
without social standing lu th world
where Mammon ruled.
Yet Mr. Yate found himself watch
ing young lloiistou curiously. He
wasn't half bad, (his college bred
youth, who could dispatch utile duties
with ease, placate patron who fret
ted at the alow method of travel, and
In an emergency could tell tux deck
hnnds inor things aUut their sncea
try than Yale had dreamed of In
hi own river life.
They had quit the bluffs, and cotton
had given wny to csne and rice. In a
few hour they would touch at New
Orleans. Th deck hands had all been
pld off. save for th dollar which In
sured their aid lu tying th boat to
th dork.
Th clerk's dutle were over, hla pa
per In ahape, and th last lauding
made. Mr. Yate met him on th sa
loon deck, and remarked. "It'a go lie
low and watch thoe darkle lua all
their money."
Th old llf bad him In Its clutches.
lHwn below they wnt Away In
tb stern th engine pounded. To
ward the bow th furnace glowed.
Between tbe two, ruustnltouta had
gather to gamble their earolnga. Horn
of the negroes were already penniless.
Other wer flushed and excited by
their galna.
Yates watched'the seen for an hour,
laughing at th apt rem ark a of the
gamblers. Walt street waa forgotten,
Social ambitions died within blm H
was again In Aliens place, a clerk
without a future, without great hope.
Suddenly he turned:
"Man, they are happier than I hav
dared tie since I stood wher you ar
to-day. I am wondering whether It 1
worth while the struggle, th knock
out blows ou must glv and take.
Mother Mlsahulppl baa been talking to
me, Houston; scolding me In her own
way. Edith told me once that money
was not all and I reckon she la
right. At any rate, you may ask her
If she still believe that If ah doe,
I won't stand between you."
An hour later the boat slipped
around the crescent, past tbe coal
docks and Hie fruit dock to th
levee. The rush of the water and
the ruddy melodious voice of the
negroe singing nt their work, mingled
with a strange harmony.
In the bow of the Valley Queen.
Edith Yates stood with her hand clasp
ed In her lover's her expectant glnnc
fixed on the quaint old city.
In the stern, looking backward upon
the river, whose voice be had heeded,
Henry Yate stood with folded arm.
He was wondering whether be should
ever go bark to the mad struggle
and the social wnlls be had striven so
hard to climb fur ber sake. Boston
Globe.
FILIPINO BABIES WALKING.
Haw It la Taaaht Ths KarlUr Than
Moat Hablea Learn.
Filipino mothers hav little trouble
with their babies. They have a con
trivance which relieves them of most
of the bother of this sort Every house
Is equipped with a piece of mechan
ism to teach babies to walk. Infants
are nervous. Doctors aay they cannot
remain quiet more than five seconds
when they are awake. Filipino babies
are fully as nervous as those of other
countries, but they don't have the op
portunity of expending their energy an
noying their mothers.
In the swampy, reptile-Infested por
tions of tbe Island the bouses are set
up on bamboo poles. In the center of
these houses, which usually consist of
only one room, one bamboo pole Is al
lowed to extend about two feet above
the level of tbe floor. In the hollow
of this bamboo, which acts as a socket,
Is placed a round piece of wood aliout
two feet long. On this Is nailed or
fastened a crossplece which projects
a foot or two on each side.
When the Infant reaches tbe age to
get Into mischief through a desire to
exercise Its little legs, th mother ties
It to one end of this crossplece. A
soon as tbe baby tries to lean on It the
device revolves in the bamboo socket.
Tbs llttls on is apt to bs frightened
and cry out, bat the mother expect
this and refuses to interfere. Then
begins a treadmill stroll for the Fili
pino baby. He has to follow the revo
lutions of the walking machine or he
will fall. Ills little hands, which
clutch tightly Just as those of white
babies do, enable hlin to preserve his
equilibrium, and he keeps up bis ex
ercise until he la ready to go to sleep,
In this way Filipino babies are taught
to walk much eorller thon those of any
other country, and their mothers are
not forced to hire nurso girls or devote
their whole time to their offspring.
New York Press.
Cheerful in Spite of Everything.
Tommy Pop, what Is an optimist?
Tommy's pop-Ap optimist, my son,
is a man who is married and glad of it
Philadelphia Record.
When a man loses confidence In him
self h makes th vot unanimous,
m THIRSTY CRVrtC
Sftrtsj t m SMa'a Craw for tart
Drlaal; Water.
It msv uriwt on readers to
learn that lu the year t'3 Kltaabcth'
great admiral. Nfr Ilk bard Hawkins,
known a "the ewiafilctn seaman." had
a distilling apparatus an board hi
ship, mid found th water sw distilled
la Im wholesome aud liaurlsblug."
Sailor In the middle of the ulmleriitli
century seldom bad such sianslaf. !
ften suffered through altar lack of It.
A former midshipman ls lb British
navy recalls. In an srtlcl In Manull
lau's Magaslne, the suffering endured
daring a cruise on board 11. M. S. Xen
opbvu hi th South Scan, sixty year
l"r si i teen dnyn, h ayn) w re
inlned becalmed within sight f land,
drifting to and froi crossing and r
crossing the equator with wearying
Iteration. The win stared vertically
nt lie (mm a steel blue sky, an4 even
under the rtmibh awning th pilch
ran llautd from tb neauia. an that It
cogg4 shut feel as w walked! (lis
deck.
In th nilttst of these surrounding
the order wa given to reduc the
allowance of drinking water t on
pint per day for each officer and man.
This a I law a uce wan served out In mtm
Issue nt noon during the men's dinner
hour. The meal consisted of salt Junk,
which had been so long In brine ami
wa so hard that It would Ink
handsome polish In skillful hand, or
of pork that shriveled In the boiling
to little mare tbnn liard rind. Of
course the result of such diet wa
that when dinner was over, not a
drop of water reiiiutued to th poor
fellow for the next twenty-four hour
of burning best. The few who tried to
sava some found It liupoaallil. for they
hnd no place lu which In secure It
from their Improvident nlilpnmtea.
In this strait men felt back on
vinegar, of which each mesa had lib
eral allowance, but In their raging
thirst they were uot satisfied merely
to moisten their mouths with thn
strong acid; they mixed It with salt
water and drank It In large quantities,
aud the terrible effect may b Imagin
ed. Th men were fairly knocked
over by this horrible mlitum, and wil
ed In agonies In the forecastle.
At last, on May .Soth. w sighted
th anchorage of San Bias, aud th
order was Immediately given to serve
out a gsllou of water to each man.
Discipline waa forgotten bl the wildest,
most Joyful confusion as It win Issued.
And so, ninety throe day after leaving
('a lino, our privations ram to an end.
For the last seventy -aoreo daya of our
voyage we had averaged a sieel of
Just one in Ho an hour, record for
slowness which I scarcely think th
suimls of wa life could bent.
PLUNCCR SMATHISS, WHO
HIT BOOKS I0R $40,000
E. E. Smntlier. the New York stock
manipulator and Kportaman, now hold
the western record In future book bet
ting, having won nii,ii by Met 'lira
ney'a victory In tbe Harlem Handicap
at Chliago.
McChesney wa purchased Inst win
ter by Stnalher at New Orleans. Th
betting against blm lu the handicap
race wn YJ, to 1. Two bets at thes
odds netted Smathers over SDO.00O .
"Kid" Weller giving hltu a ebeck for
titt.Sttf, which la also a western record
for a single bet
Immediately after th rac Smathers
remembered his help In s financial
way, giving Hlldreth, th trainer,
$7,500; Gray, th Jockey, $3,000; ths
stable foreman, $900; David, who
"rubs" the horse, $500, aud th boy
who exercises the horse, $100. Mrs.
Hlldreth, wife of the trslner, received
$1,000 for allowing Gray to ride Mc
Chesney. II was to have ridden her
own horse.
Ilight Way to Bribe.
An amusing story Is being told
among lawyers of a Walloon peasant
who had gone to law with a neighbor.
In a conversation with hla lawyer he
suggested sending thu magistrate a
couple of line ducks,
"Not for your life," anld hla adviser.
"If you do you'll lose tho case."
The Judgment was given In his
favor, when ho turned to his lawyer
and said,
"I sent the ducks." Astonishment
on the bitter's part turned to admira
tion when his client continued, "But
I sent them In my neighbor's tin mo."
Nut the Typical (Jip.
The pink shlrt-walsted girl In ths
grand nlaud clapped her hand.
"Wasn't that a beaut of a pickup?"
she exclaimed with enthusiasm. "H
covers more territory In short field
than any fellow I've seen since ths
days of Kd Williamson!"
Here the young man sitting next to
her collapsed. He had braced himself
to meet the shock of hearing her ask
what the crowd was cheering ab.iut
Chicago Tribune.
Accommodating Him.
"I assure you," said tho nersistnn
suitor, "that 1 will not take 'no' foe .n
answer."
You needn't I'll sny 'yes' unnn nn
condition."
'And that In?"
'Just ask m It I am determined w
to marry you under nnv clrenm.tan.
ces."-Phllttdelphla Press.
An old railroad man looks linnn a
DaHsentier brnkomhn with di lirliat Via
says a passenger brnkemnn Is a sort of
nurse to woman and children passengers.
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