I FIVE f.THOU':)
MY doar girl, you'll havo to let
me off. I'm awfully sorry, but
the Governor won't give way.
I'm really fond of you, and I think you
are of me, but "
"O! why didn't I want to marry a
decent barrister, a doctor, or even a
Journalist, Instead of an Earl's younger
Bon?" said Miss Muriel Mallett, with
a frown on her pretty face, and a tear
or two In her large, limpid eyes eyes
which made all the men think, wrong
ly, that she was poetical and sentiment
al. "But, seriously, can you give me
up?"
The Hon. Hob Martindale looked at
her. She was Just his Ideal tall, well
built, but with a saucy face In which
the big black eyes seemed out of place,
If fascinating. There was In her coun
tenance the strangeness which, accord
ing to Bacon, Is necessary to great
beauty. She affected a tailor-made
gown and was always well groomed;
yet, though her dress was a trifle man
nish, In the brusque movements which
bowed that she was fidgety, glimpses
of gossamer stocking and fine Valen
ciennes revealed themselves, and show
ed that she had a conscience In coBtume
that would have delighted the hero of
Gautler'g novel with the famous pre
face. "My dear girl, If It were a question
of risking my life, or anything like
that.I wouldn't hesitate; If It were even
one of those affairs of fellows who
for a few hours of of well, you know,
gladly die, I'd be there; but but I can't
be a cad. They have brought me up
as a swell without any profession, and
I'm a bit of a fool, and I couldn't live
on your earnings as actress, so there
you are."
Mlsg Muriel sighed. Bob was a hand
some fellow and manly, and he would
have the title and estates some day If
two obstacles were to disappear.
"I did like you. Bob, and do, and
you were always straight. I should like
to have been your wife. If only we'd
wine money to run a theatrical com
pany with!"
"Yes, If I hadn't been such a Juggins
as to blue the five thou, old Uncle Tom
left mo I didn't know you then."
"Yes, If we'd the five thou.!" she
started a little. "Yon will marry me
If ever I have 3,000? O, you'd have
to work, have to be my manager."
Ho nodded.
"It's a promise for two years?"
"Yes."
"Honor bright?"
"Yes, of course. If "
"If I run straight? Well, look here, i
we've been engaged honorably and I
you want to break It off."
, IIo lowered his head.
' "I'm young, only 24 even at Somer
set House. I'd like to have married
you, and I should have been a good
.wife, too. However, some day I may
want to marry some one else."
The man shuddered.
"A broken engagement Isn't a cer
tificate of good character; you must
give me one. That's fair."
She got up and wheeled to him a
little round table, on which was a croc-odllc-Hkln
writing-pad, with silver
edges. She opened It, took out writing
paper, and found him pen and Ink.
"Now. then, write this
"My Dear Miss Mallett: It Is my
painful duty to tell you that I have
made fruitlessly a desperate effort to
'gain my father's consent to our mar
riage. He utterly refuses, saying that
he In so old-fashioned as to object to
have an actress as daughter-in-law.
Therefore, I am compelled to break
off my engagement with a woman
whom I still love and esteem."
The Hon. Bob signed tho letter sad
ly. i "Now, be off. I've to go to rehearsal.
No, you mustn't drive mo down. Once
more, If wltliln two years I have five
thou, as capital, you promise you will
miarry me?"
I "Yos, darling, on my word of honor!"
I With a swift movement she threw
her arms around his neck ond kissed
ililm passionately. A minute later he
fouud himself In the street, sad and
bewildered.
That evening there- was rejoicing In
jthe big mansion In Belgrave square,
and the Karl of Hexham drank too
much In honor of tho return to re
spectability of the prodigal Bob.
i "We'll soon find you a wife, niy boy,"
lie said, over the port, which he drank
jln honor of the affair and In defiance
of gout and doctor's orders. "None
of your rich American trash, but some
one of decent family and the sort of
sol Id, reasonable dowry that a younger
son deserves.
; Next morning at 12 o'clock, when
the Earl was valuly trying to put on
bis boots without swearing at the pain,
the Hon. Bob entered the library with
document In his hand. "I never
thought she'd have done It, sir," he
said.
"Hone what?"
"Look; the beustly thing says, 'The
plaintiff claims damages for breuch of
promise of marriage."
"Bring me my slippers!" shouted the
Earl; "damn the horse! send round the
brougham!"
Off he went to Lincoln's Inn Fields.
"You'd better settle," said Mr. Pou
der. the old family lawyer.
"Settle!" he shouted, "settle! I'll
show up tho baggage, the ! I'll put
every detective In Loudon on the job.
I'm not nfrntd nf nmrti ptvl ivhi'n the
jury hears what she reahy Is "
"But the scandal V"
"Don't talk about scandal; euter an
appearance, and leave the rest to me."
"My dear Governor," interrupted
Bob, who had accompanied him, "be
fair to tho girl. I didn't thluk Muriel
would have done It; but she's perfectly
straight I'd stake my life on it."
"Nonsense, Bob! You're a fool, and
you'd better stay abroad till the af
fair's over. I'll attend to It. I'll show
her how to tight." The Earl's eyes
gleamed. "We'll teach her, won't we,
Ponder, what litigation means?" Then
he told a lengthy, stale tale of his suc
cessful lawsuit about right-of-way a
success which added a new mortgage
to tho family collection.
"It's all very well," said Mr. Ponder,
"but that wag chancery, this Is com
mon law. I'm sure we should make
a mess of It. One of my articled clerks
has set up In business In Bedford Row;
he's a smart fellow, and will fight bard,
and Just suit you."
Bob went off to the Riviera, and lost
all the money his father gave him.
During his absence the old gentleman
employed a detective a fellow with
splendid Imagination, but very poor
powers of observation and the skir
mishing was done under the Earl's
supervision. Bob was to have staid
away till after the trial; however, an
urgent letter from a club friend of
his father brought him home in a hurry.
Ho arrived In the evening, and, going
to the Carlton, learned that the case
was In the list for next day. When
he reached Belgrave Square and was
shown Into the library he found his
father with Mr. Illcks, his Bedford Row
solicitor. There was a row going on
at a high pitch.
'Tray tell your father he must set
tle," said Mr. Hicks.
"Settle be damned!" interrunted the
old boy.
"Settle. I sav." reiolned the anllfltnr
"You see, Mr. Martindale, Sir Edward
says he won't cross-examlno the plain
tiff as to her character. He suggests
that the material Is absurd, unit ha
does not believe a. word of the detect
ive g story he says he'd sooner return
the brief."
"And tho check?" gasped the Earl.
"Yes, and the check. He snva tli.Ws
no decent defense, and ho won't try
to support the detective's tissue of lies.
Moreover, he Insists that If he did he'd
fail, and the damages and disgrace
would be awful."
"What doeg It matter to nit?' Rlimitpil
the old gentleman. "It's not my case.
It's my son's."
That's a bit steep," observed the
son.
My retainer Is from vou. mv lur.i "
urged Mr. Hicks.
"O, I'll nay your confounded
but where will they get their damages
from?"
Bob groaned.
"They've told me they'll mnke htm
bankrupt," replied Mr. Hicks, "and his
discharge will be suspended for two
years at least."
What has that to do with me?" said
the Earl grimly.
Bob Interposed: "Lord Salisbury has
many claims on his patronage, and In
my bankruptcy he'd find a decent ox.
cuse for leaving me out In the cold."
The Karl had no gout, but he man
aged without Its help to use very vig
orous language concerning sons, solicit
ors, advocates, and actresses.
"They will take f.TOOO for Anm..
with a full apology and withdrawal in
open court," said Mr. Hicks, "and 500
for costs."
"An apology! A withdrawal!"
"A withdrawal of all the eha
on the record."
Next day, to the Infinite disgust of
the reporters and the crowded court.
Sir Edward, In a graceful speech, made
an apology of the most ample char
acter, withdrew all Imputations, and
announced that 5,000 would be paid as
compensation for the Injury to the lady,
together with her costs.
The Morning Tost, on the morrow,
announced that the Earl of Hexatn had
gone to Buxton.
When tho honorable Robert, a day
later, received a letter from Murlei,
saying she was most anxious to see
him, he took a cab to Brompton Cres
cent, and grew more and more per
plexed' every Inch of the way.
Miss Muriel, looking very neat, nat
ty, handsome, and piquant, with a pro
digious glow of life in her eyes, shook
hands with him warmly and made him
sit down on the sofa by her side. For a
quarter of an hour she stimulated his
curiosity by talking about nothing In
particular. At last his patience broke
down.
"Look here, Ella," he said brusquely,
"stow the cackle and come to cues.
I'm delighted to see you, and don't
bear malice; but what on earth put It
into your pretty head to send for me?"
She laughed loud, long, and heartily
so loud, long, and heartily that at last
he laughed with her. j
vt ell, you are a goose: sue sam.
"I know It," he answered. "I dread
Michaelmas."
"I think your brain Is developing;
you're growing witty. O, you haven't
got there yet!"
"Well, but"
"Listen to me. The Hon. Robert Tal
bot Hiesnies Clarence Martindale made
a promise to Miss Muriel Mallett that
If within two years she had 5.000 to !
nuance a theatrical company with he'd ',
marry her."
H" g:i?.t upon mouthed.
She wheeled up the little round table
to him, opened the crocodile-skin writ
ing pad with silver edges, and look a
bundle of crisp "flimsies" from the
flap.
"One, two, three, four," she counted
out up to fifty; 'fifty' brand new Bunk
of England notes, each for 100 beauti
ful, shining sovereigns. You see, I've
got the five thou."
He stared, mentally paralyzed.
"The damages!" she shouted, hyste
rical with laughter.
"The dampges!"
"Yes, and your promise."
"Yes, but "
"There are no'buts about It; you've
promised, and you love me."
He nodded.
"And I love you. If the Earl hadn't
played it so low down In the defense
I might have chucked up the game. As
It Is, I hold you to your word as a man
of honor. Will you marry me?"
She looked Into his eyes. He really
loved her. She took hold of his left
hand, his right arm wandered round
her waist.
"Will you marry me?" she repeated,
her Hps an Inch from his.
He replied affirmatively without a
word.
There Is now one obstacle the less
between the husband of the fascinating
Murlei Mallett and the earldom of Hex
ham, for his lordship died suddenly
from apoplexy on getting a tebgram
from an old club friend concerning
his son's marriage with the fascinating
actress. The Sketch.
AWDfJ
Interviewing Casey.
A reporter of a New York daily once
went to the office of the late General
Casey to get some information concern
ing the Lydecker tunnel story. General
Casey looked at the young man rather
sternly at first, and the reporter ex
pected but scant detail to follow.
"Come In, sir!" he exclaimed, In a
tone of almost unpleasant command.
The two doors of his office were open.
The reporter was standing. The gen
eral, without a word, went to one
door and closed it with the utmost pre
cision; then he went to the other door
and closed It with the samp nraplalnn
The reporter was In doubt. The two
were in the room alone. Coming up
to the newspaper man, he pointed his
Index finger straight at hig eye, and
said: "Sit down there, young man,
and I'll tell you the st story you
ever heard." And he did.
A Long Shot.
James Shields was elected to the Sen
ate In 1S48, defeating his predecessor,
Senator Breese. Shields had distin
guished himself In the Mexican War,
and at the Battle of Cerro Gordo be
was shot through the lunga, the ball
passing out at his back. His recovery
was one of the marvels of the day.
Shields' war record Is believed to have
secured to him nis triumph over Breese.
When the news of Shields' election
was received, a lawyer named Butter
field was speaking of It to a group
of friends, when one of them remark
ed: "It was that Mexican bullet that
did the business." "Yes," retorted But
terfleld, "that was a great shot. The
ball went clear through Shields with
out hurting him, and killed Breese one
thousand miles away."
Fiery Dragons.
In the "Statistical Account of Scot
land," published at Edinburgh In 1793
there Is an account of the "rare appear
ance" of fiery dragons, which sailed
through the rarifled atmosphere of the
Scottish highlands In the latter part of
November and the first few days of
September, 1792. According to the ac
count, they had a "fiery red color" and
made their appearance In the north
flying rapidly In an easterly direction'
The account adds that "many people
tegarded the phenomenon with much
terror" because It "was indeed a
strange and startling sight to behold.
A Vacuum.
A perfect vacuum Is a perfect insula,
tor. It Is possible to exhaust a tube so
perfectly that no electric machine cau
send a spark through the vacuous
space, even when the Bpaee is only one
centimetre. '
Saw a Meteoric Stone Fall,
Mr. J. F. Black, a farmer, living about
nine miles from Ottawa, Kan., saw a
small meteorite fall on his land late In
the afternoon of April 9 lust, and going
to the spot where It fell, picked it up.
It weighs thirty-one ounces and con
tains a little Iron, but consists In the
main of stony material.
New Zealand's Gents,
Agate-hunters from Germany are now
exploring New Zealand with very prom
ising results. Blue mid white topaz
and splendid specimens of amethyst
havo been discovered by theni, as well
us lurgo pieces of quartz so filled with
sleiulop nit!!e crystals as to resemble
masses of matted hair.
Java's Man-Ape,
Frof. Marsh, of Yale, has recently an
nounced his opinion, that the remarka
ble remains of a skull, teeth and other
tossil bones found by Dr. Pubo's In
Java belonged to au animal that "was
not human, but lepreseuied a form
Intermcdlatebetweeu man and the high
er apes." This opinlou confirms the be
lief of tiie discoverer of tho bones, who
called the animal pithecanthropes, or
"ape-man." The bones were found In
ancient volcanic deposits, and belong.
Prof. Marsh think,, to the age known
as the Pliocene.
New Kind of Kites.
Meteorologists are now trying to
study the atmosphere high above tho
ground with the aid of self-recording
barometers and thermometers, etc., sent
up In kites. This has resulted In a
great Improvement In the forms of
kites, which are now constructed on
scientific principles. At the headquar
ters of the Weather Bureau In Wash
ington box-shaped kites, with open ends
and sides partly covered with silk, aro
used. Instead of twine or cord, fine
piano wire is employed to hold the kite.
At the Blue Hill Observatory, near Bos
ton, box-shaped kites have been Bent
up to an elevation of almost a mile
above sea-level.
A Phosphorescent Party,
Monsieur Henry, of the Paris Acad
emy of Sciences, has Invented a phos
phorescent starch with which surpris
ing effects can be produced. Used as a
face-powder, It makes the countenance
glow in a dark room with mysterious
radiance. Recently a "5-o'clock tea"
was given In Paris after dark, no light
being employed except that supplied by
phosphorescent starch sprinkled over
everything In the room. The carpet,
the ceiling, the pictures on the walls,
the furniture, the teacups, the flowers,
the faces, shoulders and dresses of the
ladles all glowed and gleamed, making
a spectacle that was at once startling
and beautiful.
Oldest Man in the World.
According to statistics collected In
Germany the oldest man known to be
living anywhere on the earth Is Bruno
Cotrlm, a negro born In Africa, but now
living in Rio Janeiro. Upon the same
authority Is based the seemingly incred
ible statement that there are 3,883 per
sons living In Bulgaria, each of whom
has reached, or passed, the age of 100
years, making one centenarian to every
1,000 Inhabitants of that country! Ger
many, with a population of 52,000,000,
claims only 78 centenarians, and
France, with a poulatlun of 40,000,000,
213 centenarians, while Ireland, whose
population numbers only 4,000,000, bus
578 centenarians.
Destroying Friction.
Af ter calling attention to the fact that
man was content with the use of oil to
keep machinery In running order until
he began to ride the bicycle, when he
demanded some better labor-saver and
Invented ball-bearings, the Scientific
American proceeds to Illustrate and de
scribe some recent applications of such
bearings. They are employed for wag
on and carriage wheels, for the carrier
wheels of cable roads, and for the
shafts of swift-running machinery.
They practically dispense with the use
of the oil can and greatly reduce the
amount of friction to be overcome, thus
adding to the effective power of all ma
chines In which they are used. The
singular fact Is noted that Prof. Boys,
of London, showed experimentally that
ball-bearings, when properly construct
ed, are practically proof aginst wear
He demonstrated this fact by weighing
the balls of a bicycle-bearing when they
were new. and again after they had
been subjected to long service. They
showed no loss of weight.
American Soapstone.
In the Ragged Mountains, In Albe
marle County. Virginia, the scene of
one of Toe's weird tales, exists a great
deposit of soapstone which Is said to
be the finest in the world. It was dig
covered only about twelve years ago
but now a small colony exists at the
gpot and three quarries have been open
ed. The stone, which Is very hard and
f
fine-grained, is cut out In bta,
aging nine tons in weight tu
ward Is sawed Into slabs, h
u.,us uunga, oru.i
chemical laboratories tnh, ..,1
laundries, linings for flrepla
dies, which need
made of soapstone, tables anrtV
iu iiuniuuiis uuu oissecting-rooa.
Is said to have no effect upon th,
Tinea Urtmnn I.',.
xuuusauus ui women worki.li
mines of Belgium, England mil
i"c "lai-uuuiea countn
formerly worked from twelve i
teen hours a day, with no Sunda
The linen-thread spinners of X,,
sey, according to the report c
Labor Commissioner, are 'it
branch of the industry compel,
stand on a stone floor In water ft.
round, most of the time barefoot
a spray of water from a revolt
lnder flying constantly agniii,'
breast; and the coldest night ig
ter, as well as the warmest In
mer, these poor creatures must
their homes with water drippin,
their underclothing alouir th
because there could not he spaa
few moments allowed them vrtt
chimire their clntlilit,. " v.. '
are "exempted" from labor ar-P"1
by hardship!
Despite these washerwomen,!;
and linen-thread spinners, wear,
"it Is womun's privilege genera:
be exempted from the care of c
her livelihood and that of lit
spring."
It would seem to be time th'
libel upon woman should be t
by fair minded men. From alias
ty the majority of women hare
faithful workers, rendering a
equivalent iu labor for theirs
share of the world's goods. Th(
of every Industry bears testimo:
this. In our own era, while i
were still bomekeepers, did the
earn their livelihood? What J
weaving, the sewing, the cookljj
doctoring, the nursing, the child
"the work that was never done;
was not earning a subsistence?
In these days, when woman gots
and receives the reward of her
as publicly as man, she Is no
worthy of her hire. Her aneest
sweet and saintly soul! did not
or recompense. But was It no:
due. and shall we refuse tn erc
because man was then a self-sufE
Ignoramus who deemed himself
only one lit to acquire property!-!
uiar science Monthly.
Will Not Submit to Dioutb
The subject of renewing then
leges of the Bank of France will
ly come up for discussion in theti
ber, after having been in abejl
since 1892, when the senate app:
a bill for the purpose.
The bill has not since been mot
and the provisions Included Id it
It Is thought, be adonted wlthoi;
terial alteration. One of them, t:
was to empower the bank to Inc
Its note issue from 3,500,000,000 fi
to 4,000,000,000, was passed as far
as 1893. The charter exnlres on
31, 1897, and the proposal Is to er
it for a Derlod of twenty veanl
that date, In consideration of tie i
making certain concessions to
state.
Among these ronepsalnns is Oft
which the bank is to forego all ftf
Interest on the government debt
000.000 francs, and not to denial
payment of the capital so long is
charter Is In force. The bank;
undertake tho service of the Mt
debt and transact other business
the treasury, hnth nt tho hpnii offiff
branches, free of charge, and mi'
annual payment to the latter fori1
000 francs during the first year o!
currency of the new charter and-
000 francs ner nnnimi siihseai
It Is to open several new br'
and make advances to agrlculturt
operative societies.
It lg not lmnrnhnhln tlmt an
will be made to convert the ban!
a state institution hut Qii.'h a or
doeg not command support eitbf
nnanclal.-or ministerial circles, I
not In the least decree likely to
with success. Edinburgh Seotanuj
Edison's Speech.
Mr. Edison has only once trfc
make a speech. It was before l
seminary, where he had agreed
ture on electricity. He had enpf
a friend named Adams to.operat'
apparatus while he talked; but
the "Wizard" arose before his
ence, he felt so dazed that be
said: "Ladies, Mr. Adams will
address you on electricity, and
demonstrate what he has to WJ
the apparatus."
Heard While Waiting.
A passenger, while waiting at
way station for his train amused
self by watching the queer looto'
antics of a tailless cat as it played i
on the platform. The station
happening to pop out of his offlc
Intending traveler pointed to UV
and said, "What kind of a cat is
Manx?" "No," replied the statlox'
ter, with a sly smile, "Brighton
press."
A woman should at least be g"1
for one thing: she la never asked 1
a paubearer.