! H i.t-v" .!,ii.:r'.i, r ! ' ' i
mmm- vv if n. ,
...X Tin; inn at
f- I. o 11 il r e was
-.very disagroo-',,-JaliK
The odor
......!: i
of gariii
ill!')
.'cabbage a 11 il
tin- dampness
sinil dirt wero Insupportable, and
so I decided to push on to Daii
vers. The only vehicle 1 could pro
cure was a rattling two-seated gig.
drawn by a bony white horse, of doubt
fill ability; hut as my destination was
only three hours away, and I was not
llahle to meet any one on tin- lonely
road, I started off cheerfully cin-ugh,
resolved to enjoy my solitary drive to
the utmost.
The moonlight, as It glinted on the
soft creeii of the hedges, and streaked
the gray of the dusty road, was very
bcautirul, and before half a league hail
been passed over I heartily congratu
lated nivselr immt ?m r f o ;,- ;j:
escaping the horrible inn at Loinlie
After an hour's dreamy and delight
fill ride 1 came to a cross roads where
with tliilicully I deciphered the butler
1 signpost and learned 1 must turn
to the left to reach Dan vers. So, duel
ing up my deliberate steed, which pru-
'ded In a half dignified, half protest
ing fashion. I turned Into a iri-assv
lane between two tall hedges and drove
through a li ly district until the
dreamy Inlluence of night overcame
me, and I drifted Into a somnolent state
midway between sleep and waking.
I was aroused by the sudden halt
ing of my horse, that gave a fright
ened snort and planted both front feet
llrmly before him.
A subdued sobbing, as of a woman
In distress, fell upon my ears, and lean
ing forward I peered Into the moonlight
to discover whence It came.
A high brick wall ran close to the
roadway, covered with Ivy anil lichens,
and leaning against an angle of this, a
few steps before me, was a slight girl
ish form, draped in a dark' mantle.
I sprang to the ground ami softly ap
proached her. Her face was buried In
her hands and she sobbed bitterly.
"Mademoiselle," 1 said, speaking In
French, "you are in trouble. Can I
assist you in any way';"
She lifted her head, and the moon
light fell upon the most beautiful face
I have ever seen. Absolutely faultless
In feature. It was surmounted by a
crown of yellow hair that shone like
Sold In the glare of the inoonbeains,
while a pair of deep violet eyes Unit
even tears could not dim looked earn
estly Into mine.
"Who are yon V" I asked gently, "and
why are you here?"
"I am Amelie de Hotirsons, monsieur,
and 1 reside at the chateau just within
these gales,"
The soft, musical notes of her voice
added to the powerful Impression her
exquisite beauty had already produced
upon my heart.
"Hut It Is late," I continued; "surely
Home great misforl must have be
fallen you to bring you hero at tills
hour."
ii is irue. .Monsieur, she replied,
struggling Willi a new paroxysm of
Brief; "to-morrow is my wedding day."
The tniii! of despair In which those
words were uttered stanled me.
"Itnt Is that so terrible an event 7" 1
asked.
II you but knew, monsieur,'
said, "how vile and brutal is ilu
she
maii
you
they are toiling me to marry,
would willingly save me from iny
rible tale:"
hor-
Mie accompanied there words
an appealing look into mv lac,
wilh
and
then she dropped her head .-in, I .,).i,...i
Jim w.
I did not stop to reason upon the
strangeness of all this. 1 was a young
generous hearted mail in these days'
and could not resist this appeal from
beauty in distress.
"Hut, tell me," I said, "how can I
save you from this distasteful mar
riage' Do you wish to Hy? I have a
conveyance close by, mid will gladly
escort you to a place of safety."
"To Hy would avail me no.'itlng," hi.
answered with n sweet sadness; "they
would follow us and force nie to re
turn." "Hut how else can I save you?" I
linked, helplessly.
"1 do not know," she replied, with n
Midden calmness that suggested de
spair, "lint unless you can tlnd some
way to succor me I shall take mv own
life."
There was no doubt, from the expres
Kloli of her low, earnest voice, that she
meant this, and. tilled with consterna
tion at the thought, I racked my brain
for some way to preserve both iter life
and happiness.
At last an Idea camp to me. but I
trembled at my owu presumption as I
suggested It.
"Mademolsello," I said, haltingly. "I
nee but one alternative. You must
marry me.
,. - ..
I ho violet eyes opened wide lu sur-
ist. "Marrv vmu n. ,,.,-...
prise. "Marry you. monsieur-."
"Thou pursuit would be useless. Re.
lug my wife, you would escape this vil
I-
win who insists uuou wedding you
.:.,;
t V".
am free mid able to give you all that
would add to your happiness, and I
shall learn to love you very dearly. It
is true that I am a stranger to you. but
I assure you that I am in all ways wor
thy to seek both yowr heart and your
hand."
She gazed with earnestness Into my
face for a moment, and then replied
slowly:
"I think I shall trust you, monsieur.
Indeed. I cannot help myself. I will be
your wife."
There was no coyness In her answer,
no blush tinted the pale, beautiful face;
simple dignity that commanded mv re
spect and admiration.
"Then come." I said, eagerly; "we
must lose no time. It will be midnight
before we can hope to reach Danvers. '
"Xot Danvers." she replied, shrink
ing back as I sought to take her hand;
"let US go to Treirolllle: there Is n no.
lary there who will marry us. and we
are tar safer Irom pursuit."
"Very well,' I "ansTvofed, "let us be
off."
liefusiug my proffered assistance,
Mile, de ISoursons walked to the car
riage and sprang lightly to the back
seat. Ha l her awkwardly I took my
place in front, withered "P the rein's
and drove off as swiftly as I could In
duce the ancient steed to move.
Mademoiselle drew her mantle close
ly over her head and shoulders, and but
once during the long drive did she
speak. Then it was to direct me to the
Tregonne road.
With ample time for roHeotton mv
adventure now began to seem rather
queer and uncanny, and bv the time we
discovered the lights of Tregonne
twinkling before us I had come to
doubt the perfect wisdom of my pres
ent course.
Itnt It was too late toil raw Imi.b nniv
and the girl was very beautiful.
" 1 his Is the notary's." said nil' com.
pnnlnn, In her low. sweet voice Initt.
eating by a gesture a rambling struc
ture from whose windows gleamed a
single light.
I leaped out. found the door at the
P iv i I: s I I ai s ' i
M
mmm
THE HANI) WAS
end of a long pathway, and knocked
upon It loudly.
A tall, thin man. beyond the middle
age. holding a tallow caudle high above
his head, answered my call.
"You are the notary?" 1 asked, brief
ly. He nodded assent.
"1 wish to be married."
"Married:" he echoed In surprise,
"but when, monsieur?"
"Now: at once."
"Hut the bride, monsieur?"
"I will fetch the bride. She Is wait
ing without."
1 thought he intended to protest, so
I left him abruptly and returned for
the lady. She was already coming to
ward the house, and as I met her she
motioned me to go before, while she
followed silently up the pathway.
The notary admitted us without any
ceremony, and we entered a small,
dimly-lighted room that appeared to
be n study.
My companion at once seated herself
in nn arm chair, but without removing
the mutlllngs from her face.
The notary snuffed the candle, ar
ranged his books, and, turning to uie
with a penetrating lmik, said:
"I must know your name, monsieur."
"Kichard Harrington."
"Your residence?"
"1 nm an American."
He wrote the answers In hU book.
Then, glancing toward the arm chair,
he continued:
"The lady's uame?"
I waited for her to reply, but as she
remained silent, I answered:
"Amelie de Hoursons."
VUio?' cried the notary In a loud
ni'iinging io ins roei, wnue a look
of fear and consternation spread over
...... . , ... '
tun nniiKieo nice.
"Amelie de Hoursonn" I p,.n..nt...i
slowly. Infected by the man's agitation
r:: i'm i.: i i.imw ,. mvmiv i i m mmm
W f li".' -r -Mill
."5,
I
ins
The notary stared wildly at the muf
fled form of the lady. Then he drew
out his handkerchief and wiped the
beads of perspiration from his fore
head. "What does this mean, monsieur?" I
demanded, angrily.
The man heeded me not the slightest,
but clutching the edge of the table to
steady himself, and extending his long,
bonv linger toward the girl, he ex
claimed:
"Are you Amelie de lioiirsons?"
Slowly, with admirable grace and
dignity, the lady drew back her man
tle, and her marvelous beauty was
again revealed.
The notary, with distended eyes fixed j
upon the visicM. sank Hack 111 his cli.iir :
with a low moan. j
"This must be explained, monsieur," !
I cried, striding to his side and g"as-!
ing ills shoulder. "Is there any reason j
why I should not many Mile, de lSocr !
sons?"
"Mile, de BoursMis." returned the no- j
tary, still regarding her witli horror,'
"has been dead these forty years!"
"Dead!" I echoed, staring tirst at tlioj
notary and then at the girl, while a :
sense of bewilderment overcame me. j
Mile, de Hoursons arose with nJ
charming smile and came to my side.
"See. inonsli'T'" " she evelaiined 1
mockingly, and giving me her hand, I
"do you also think me dead?"
The hand was as cold as Ice. but Its
touch sent u strange thrill through my
body.
"Come, monsieur," I said to the no
tary, who watched the scene in 11 Olll'e.
nieut, "read the ceremony at once. We. j
iire in nasie.
I drew a seal ring from my tinger
nnd placed it upon her icy hand, ami in
its place slipped a large ruby from her
owu hand upon mine.
The ceremony concluded, 1 paid the
notary, thanking him briefly for his
services, and followed by my brlib; j
walked down the patli to my carriage.
The notary stood in the doorway,
lighting us with the candle.
At the carriage I turned to band my
wife to her seat, but she had disap
peared. I ran back to the doorway.
"Where Is tny wife?" I asked.
"She followed you down the pi'ih."
said the man.
"Hut she Is not there!"
Without n word the notary neconi.
pnnled me back to the carriage. Xo
trace of the girl was to be seen.
Hlght nnd left ntiong the shrubbery
I searched; I called aloud her name,
:j' i II if -f h, .y
out routing her to come to me, but no
sight of the beautiful face rewarded
iny efforts.
I returned to the notary's study tilled
with vague misgivings.
"Where can she be?" I asked, ills
mnlly. "in her grave," was the hoarse an
swer. "Monsieur!"
"I told you bor.u-e that she was dead.
It Is true. You have wedded a ghost!"
The next morning, in company with
the notary, 1 drove down the road till
we came to the brick wall where I
first saw Amelie de Hoursons.
We entered the gates and walked to
the chateau that stood lu the neglected
grounds. An old woman admitted us
the care taker, and at the notary's re
quest allowed us to visit the gallery
The notary threw back the shutters
nnd the sun came In and Hooded the
portrait of a beautiful girl whose violet
eyes regarded me with the same sweet
expression I had noted in my bride of
the previous evening.
"It Is Amelie de Hoursons." said the
notary. In a gentle voice. "I have seen
this picture often, and heard the girl's
pitiful story, and that Is why I knew
her last night to be a mere phantom.
Her father was a stern, hard man. who
insisted upon her marrying a persou ut
terly distasteful to the young girl She
tried to escape, but was captured and
brought home to confront her fate On
the wedding morning they found her
dead. She had taken her owu life
that was forty years ago. monsieur'"
As we left the room I glanced curl
ously at the ruby that sparkled on my
finger.
It is the ouly evidence I have ever
possessed of my phantom bride -sl
UuU Globe-Democrat,
III
if'
mmm
A u. .-I'll i; ; : !' ill I
W 11
H i !
AS COM) AS ICE. I
PEARL DIVERS OF CEYLON.
Marco Polo Tells of thurmers Who
Keep Away Shurks.
When you leave the island of Seilau
nnd sail westward about sixty miles,
you come to the great province of Man
: bar, which is styled India the (! renter;
it is the best of all the Indies, and Is on
the mainland.
In this province there are live kings,
I who are own brothers. I will tell you
: nhout each in turn. The province Is
1 the finest and noblest in the world,
i At tills end of the province reigns one
of those live royal brothers, who is a
I ciowiicii hiiin iliiil ion intuit m oiMiocr
j Bandi Davar. In this kingdom they
: find tine and great pearls; and I will
tell how they are got.
! The sea here forms a gulf between
i the Island of Seilan and the mainland.
; And all round this gulf the witter has
! a depth of no more than ten or twelve
: fathoms, and in some places no more
than two fathoms. The pearllishers
take their vessels, great and small, and
proceed into tills gulf, where they stop
from the beginning of April till the
middle of May. They go Hist to a place
called Bettelar, and then go sixty miles
into tile gulf. Here they cast anchor
and shift from their large vessels into
small buat.s. The lucrcliauis divide in
to various companies, and each of those
must engage a number of men oil
wages, hiring them for April and half
of May. Of all the produce they have
llrst to fay the king, as bis royally, the
tenth part. And they must nlso pay
those men who charm the great llshes,
to prevent them from injuring the
(livers while engaged in seeking pearls
under water, one-twentieth part of all
that they may lake.
These lish-cliarmers are termed
Abrnlamnn; nnd their charm holds
good for that day only, for nt night
they dissolve the charms so that the
fishes can work mischief at their will.
These Abralanian know also how to
charm beasts and birds and every liv
ing thing. When the men have got into
the small boats they jump Into the
water and dive to the bottom, which
may be nt n depth of from lour to
twelve fathoms, and there they remain
as long as they are able. And there
ithey find the shells that contain the
pearls, and these they put Into n net
bag tied round the waist, and mount
up to the surface with them, nnd then
dive anew. When they can't hold their
breath any longer they come up again,
and, nfter n little, down they go once
more, nnd so they go on all day. These
shells are in shape like oysters or sea
hoods. And in these shells are found
pearls, great and small, of every kind,
sticking in the flesh of the shelll'lsli.
In this manner pearls are fished in
great quantities, for thence in fact
come the pearls which are spread all
over the world. And the king of that
state hath a very great receipt and
ueasure irom His dues upon those
pearls.-St. Nicholas.
The Water Bicycle.
Ball bearings and scientific genr are
creating a revolution in motors of all
sorts. A new and promising invention
is the bydrocyclo, which Is built on the
catamaran principle, with cylinders or
galvanized steel lllled with air. A
slight framework connects these two
cylinders, and a bicycle soar is attach
ed which drives light padd'o-wheols of
eight blades. The sprocket-wheel is
set between the pedals in the same way
as the sprocket-wheel and chain of the
bicycle. The steering gear consists of
two small steel rudder-i. operated by
rudder-chains connected with the
steering gear, somewhat after the fasii
Ion of the ordinary bicycle.
The bydrocyclo is capable of n speed
of ten miles nn hour without iiard
work, nnd as the craft Is so built that
It can neither sink nor upset, the pleas
ure and safety of It are at once appar
ent. The cylinders are made with com
partments so arranged that the free
ture of one will not afreet the others
The machine sits lightly ou the water
can be turned lu ulmost Its owu length!
and, like the ordinary catamaran, will
live In a sea which would upset a boat
of a much larger size. It draws but -i
few Inches of water, Is light,' ..
agenble and novel, u combination of
qualities that makes it extremely at
tractive to those who are fond of water
sports. Those already built will carry
five or six uuudred pouuds, and are
about ten feet In length of cylinder
Only a few have been built, but the
experiments already made are sut!i
cient to satisfy experts that tin; hvdro
cyele Is one of the coming fads." ami
promises to furnish a great deal of
pleasurable amusement.
Didn't Know When to Ptop.
"Darling," said she. "do you love me
as much as ever?"
"Yes, dearie," said he. with his nose
buried in his newspaper.
Tlmt ought to have satisfied her
but she hud to ask "Why?" '
"Oh. I dunno. Habit, 1 guess'-Cin-clnuatl
Enquirer.
. rca la Thl Rhyme.
The English language must be tough
At least that's what I've reckoned '
t or it is still alive to-day,
Though murdered every second.
New York Truth.
Heallntlc Teeth.
Hosn t she lovely teeth?"
"Almost too lovely. I can't make nn
my mind whether they are real or
rettllstlc."-lndianap0lU Journal
i . !
"Yarbley has taken
vliilint dlstaaJL "
for opera
What a clover simi,. . i?
economy. "Chicago Itecord
iu
He "I love you better than mv iif.Jk
She "Considering the life vnnieaiii 'l
cannot say that I am surprised.''
dlanapolis Journal.
"They say people who live top.,f.
get to look alike." "Is that so?
jiisi in i ue inierest or science, of. i
i. ni.: i. ' "1
IL. UIC.IO IICCUIII. E.
Kreildy-"Vhnt Is statcsmniMiiij
I't U1I
son, is successlul politics." New Yot'tl
I I l "l .ililll Slll.lllSlllll
uoiiiiiierciui Ail vert Iser.
Ill-own "Why do they call tho nf
cycle 'the silent stood'?" sinltli -4
don't know, exactly. The horse isnit l
saying a word, is lie?" ruck. ' ,
Ilobson "Is Kobsou n man you cm!
trust?" Dobson "Yes; that Is, If jo-,
lend him anything; It's all you car. A 1
New York Commercial Advertiser. I 1
The t ioverness "I know l-'rem-ii j:- '
(jeriiian " Mrs. Uptodate "ThaTlir "
not HUfiiciont. I want some one win!1'
can tench my children Scotch."-Brool;;
vu Life. f
Krauces "Yes, be is pursuing Uteri
ture.' Gertrude "Indeed! And Is (j
very successful?" I ranees "No. m,
still a long way ahead of hiin."-oiw
laud Leader.
"Mos" men," said Uncle Ebon. "mil.
'bout de cotnuionos' kind o' troublei!
like dey done 'scovered etn an' could?
git 'em patented ef dey chose."-Wanh I
ingtou Star. jj'
"While Miss Fltz was away, Georgt'
took her parrot." "Anything happen" j
"I don't know; she keep the jarrot"
down cellar now, and the engagement''
is off." Life. !
Leola "Don't you think they are two
souls with but a single thought" S;
Hazel "Well, I shouldn't wonderi
They are both making fools of them-i
selves." Truth. ' ,
"What is a hardy rosebush?" "It Is
one that doesn't mind your mother pull-1
Ing It up by the roots every few dayi '
to see If It has begun to grow yet"-;:
Chicago Itecord.
"Some men," said Uncle Ebon, "kin;
train er dog ter do unyt'lng dey tells ;
Mm an' nt de same time de inns' Hl- !
obejlutest chilltin lu de neighborhood." i
tvusiuugiou star.
Wickwlre "Y'ou made some "Otiej
on the fight, didn't you?" Mmlge
"No; don't think I did. I won and
spout $-18 of It the same ulght."-In-
dlanapolis Journal.
He (fervently) "Your eyes are like
the Btnrs above." Shu (sleenllv)-
"There are no stars above just now,
Charles the sun Iti nhout tn rlse."-
Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
Hostess "Alt M In Ml., left-,, sll
down on this Ottoman." Russian J.h
llmnt "Parblleu! I would 7,rnzer
stand. Ze vnre thought eez oonipoBSl-1
bio!" New York Press. I
He "Do you think your father would I
offer me personal violence If I were to I
ask hi in for you?" She "No, hut I f
think he will If you don't pretty kjod." i
Cleveland Plain Dealer. t
u
Wlldlv was thinlclii!' nf n Into evnprU
ence nt the club, when his wife asked;
"Did Mr. husk call?" "Not lilin: I
bluffed him with n $10 er wh;:t was
that, dear?" Baltimore News.
She "Did you have any trouble In
getting papa to listen to you?" fie
"Not a bit. I began by telling hlra I
knew of a plan whereby he could sate
money." Cincinnati Enquirer.
Getting acquainted: "Are yon the
new girl?" asked Mr. W heeler, coming
down to breakfast. "Yes, sir." replied
the maid. "What make of wheel do
you ride?" Yonkers Statesman.
"It's a shame," cried the young wife;
"not a thing In the house fit to eat. I'm
going right home to papa!" "If yon
don't mind, dear," said the husband,
reaching for his hat, "I'll go with you."
Yonkers Statesman.
Hodge "Hello, ole man, what's goin'
on In Pumpkluvllle?" Podge "Nuth-
111' W't, . . , , ,
" jt "ii o jfsi got so uiaiueu uuu s
house rent has stopped an" the interest
vu wuui a tenor owes bez plum quit. -Atlanta
Constitution.
"There was a strange man here to seet
you to-day, papa," said llttlo Ethel, who
met her father in the hall as he cam
home on Wednesday night. "Did he
have a bill?" "No, papa. He had Just
a plain nose." Newark Call.
Walker-"They gay that Napoleon
was so self-possessed that not even the
sound of pistol fired close to his ear
could make him start." Wheeler-"Ue
wouldn't have stood much show In
bicycle race."-Indlanapol!s Journal.
" 'From state to state the , spirit
walks,' " quoted Mrs. TTcounter; "now,
I wonder what Tennyson meant by
that?" "I suppose," said Mr. Tlcoun
ter. remlniseently, "that he referred to
Hamlet's father's ghost walking In
from Kargo." Puck.
"So you want to marry Fred, do
you?" said the father. "Yes, papa," re
plied the daughter, with her arms about
his neck. "And go away and leave m
all alone?" "Why, no. papa! I know
Fred will be willing to leave mnmm
with you!"-youkera Statesman,
le
si