MARGERY.
fair Margery I chanced td view
Within her garden's gay-decked space,
Clad in a gown of purple hue,
A F.vlph with all a flower's grace.
I'ou left upon my heart so true
An image time can ne'er erase
Maid in violet!
A love-light in her eyes, whose blue
Of heaven's a.ure seemed a trace;
What wonder I began to woo!
rw obstacle they needs must face:
The other lovers who would sue
A promise without days of grace,
Made inviolate.
Woman's Home Companion.
HER BIGGEST PUPIL.
Scene: The little parlor tn the modest
cottage in which Miss Mary Brewster
boards.
Mr. Jim Thrasher nervously await
ing her, his stalwart form perched on
the edge of an easy chair.
As she enters his eye brightens, he
'smiles, and dropping his broad brim
med hat on the floor he rises.
Mary You wished to see me?
Jim Yes, Miss Mary. (He eagerly
puts out his hand. She takes it in a
hesitating manner.) You don't know
me. I was afraid you wouldn't. Fif
teen years, and a beard, and any num
ber of hard knocks do change a man.
liul you why, you've scarcely altered
a particle. Can't you guess who it is?
Mary You remind me something In
your voice in your smile reminds me
of of a boy I once knew.
Jim, delightedly I'm the boy.
Mary Not not Jim Thrasher? '
Jim The very Identical. (
Mary I'm so glad to see you. (She
takes his band Impulsively.) Sit down,
please. It Is so kind of you to hunt
me up. I've thought about you many
times and tried to wonder what you
were doing and what you had become.
Jim That's very good of you, Miss
Mary- I hardly supposed you'd cher
ish such pleasant remembrances for
your biggest, pupil. What a gawk I
was! I can't Imagine how you had any
patience with me. Let me see. I
was just 20 that last winter In the old
red school house and a head taller than
you and two years older, wasn't I?
What an awkward problem I must
have been for you! Too old to learn
and too big to whfp.
Mary Ah, but you never needed
whipping. You were my right hand
man, my prop, my encouragement. I
y don't know what I would have done
wuu tnose nig boys trom down the
creek If It hadn't been for your strong
muscles.
Jim Do you remember how you talk
ed to me the first day I came to school?
I had come with those very creek boys
to make trouble. My mother died when
I was very young, and no other woman
had ever talked kindly to me. When
you nppealed to my honor, and putting
jour hand on my shoulder begged me
not to bury the good that was In me,
something seemed to swell In my
breast, and from that moment I re
solved to be a man a man whom you
would one day be proud to say you
knew.
Mary You make me very happy. It
Is a wonderful pleasure to feel that my
poor efforts were not all wasted. It
makes life worth living.
Jim Life, then, hasn't always but
tell me something nbout yourself.
Mary There is very little to tell. My
mother died the summer after you went
West, nnd I liadito return home and
keep house for father. In a year or
two his health failed, nnd after a long,
long sickness be died. My brother nnd
I were'alone, and after he found a sit
uation on the railroad we moved here.
When the war broke out brother en
listed, and died at Tampa of a fever.
Jim, after a pause And so you have.
no ties to keep you here?
Mary None.
Jim And mny 1 ask
Mary How I support myself? I have
five little pupils whom I nin teaching
the rudiments, and I do some fine sew
ing. I get nlong very well only there
Is always the fear of sickness. Now
tell me nbout yourself.
Jim One moment. I want to say to
you, Miss Mary, that I've been trying
to find you out for n long time. I
wrote to the old neighborhood, asking
for you, but they answered that nobody
knew where you bad gone. I wouldn't
have traced you down here If It hadn't
been for Joe Slater. You remember
little red-headed Joe, the scamp of the
school? Well, he came out to Montana,
looking for work, nnd I gave him a job,
nnd, one day, In recalling old times, he
said be was sure he saw you In this
town. That's bow I came to be here.
About myself? Well, whatever I am,
It is you that gave me the start I fancy
I've done pretty well. I'm something
of a mine owner nud something of n
capitalist, and I've served n term In
Congress and could have gone bnck.
I've got a nice bouse In Helena, nnd
thore'H enough Idle cash lying around
to enable me to travel as much and ns
far ns I please. You understand I'm
Hot blowing my trumpet for the per
sonal gratification there Is In it nnd
Jet It Is a personal gratification to blow
V .,"t before you. . I'm accounting, ns It
were, for the use I've made of those
talents you cnlled my attention to fif
teen years ngo.
Mary Pin very glad to hear of your
success. I knew you had it In you.'
You have made the day very bright
for me. ,
Jim-I nm not yet quite sure whether
It will be a bright day for me or not 1
Hie fact Is. I-i waut to ask you a
iu.vui-, miss aiary.
Mary A favor, Jim?
Jim Yes, a great favor. I-I want
to bo your biggest pupil again!
Mary I I don't understand.
Jim Andlwanttobeyour only pupil.
I need your help. They're talking of
making me governor next fnii nnri ru
require lots of polishing up. Oh, it
will be hard work, but you'll find me '
a wunng pupil. I
Mary I don't know what you mean.
Jim (rising and coming closer) I'D
explain. They say, you know, that a
well-ordered boy usually falls In love
with his teacher. That's bis very first
love. And most well ordered boys get
over It. But this boy is different. He
doesn't get over It. That teacher has
been to him the one ideal of sweet
est womanhood through all his fifteen
years of hard knocks and growing
success. Do you understand now'i
Teacher, guide, friend, will you be thai
grateful boy's wife?
Mary (covering her face with hi
hands) Oh, Jim, Jim, I'm so old!
Jim (taking her hands) Nonsens!
And you are growing younger every
minute. Besides, don't forget for a
moment that I am two years - your
senior! Coiuo, Mary; I need you.
There Is a home waiting for you In
the West, and comfort, and love. I
don't ask you to love me yet. Perhapi
I can teach you that. There, there;
don't cry. Surely there's nothing yon
leave behind worth these tears.
Mary (rising) They are tears of hap.
piness, Jim. .
Her head drops on his shoulder.
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
A NIECE OF KRUGER.
She Is Now In This Country and la a Re
markably Well-Bred Girl.
Miss Sannie Kruger, a grandniece of
President Paul Kruger and of his wife
as well, Is now a resident of Phifadel
phia. She came from South Africa
several years ago In company with her
brother, who Is Interested in mines In
Arizona. Miss Krucer's svmnnthles
are strongly with the brave men who
are uerenuing uer native land., but she
can see that they have no chance for '
ultimate success. Miss Kruger was
educated In Europe and Is proflelenl
both ns a musician and artist. She
says the popular Idea of the Boers In
this country does them Injustice. The
burghers are not, ns a class, she de
clares, coarse, uneducated and brutal.
On the farms no more attention Is paid
to dress than by the agricultural por
tion of any community. In the cities
. ,i j i. .-J I .-. I
uress as wen aim as uiucu uurauuii ia
paid to the amenities of life as In other
countries. Miss Kruger expects to re
turn before long to South Africa and
will spend the remainder of her life
there.
Uumistaltable Evidence.
Agulnaldo: "Why do you suspect he
Is an Americnn spy?"
Filipino: "Hist! He has on a 'Ua-
Ion' suit!"
SlHm"se Supcrntltlon.
The Siamese have so strong a super
stition against even numbers that they
will have none of them. The number
of rooms In a house, of windows or
doors in a room, even of rungs on a
ladder, must always be odd.
Fan.
It Is no unasunl thing for a vessel
plying between Japnu and London to
carry 1,000,000 ins as a Blngle Item of
MISS 8 ANNIE K RUG EH.
Its cargo.
PATHETIC CHINESE INCIDENT.
A Mother's Attempt to Dispel the Blind
ness of Her Child.
This Is what the Fair Samaritan saw
after she had climbed the dark stairs
behind the store and peeped into a room
that was in semi-darkness, while she
repressed Lee Chung with a warning
finger that enforced silence. It .was a
room of considerable dimensions, with
a low celling. The windows were
so ill-placed, besides being barricaded,
that the. room was in twilight gloom,
althougn the day was bright without.
Its furniture was curiously disposed
close against the walls, thus leaving a
wide space In its midst. And In the
room the woman Suey Yep was taking
part with the little Lee Moy in what
was evidently a dally occurrence.
With palms folded suppliautly before
her, she regarded Lee Moy with a look
of Inexpressible love tinged with sad
ness. He was hitting wildly about him
with a toy whip, and shouting angrily,
his language being punctuated by
strong Anglo-Saxon expletives.
"D n you, mother! Why eoineth not
the sun?"
She submitted with the patience of
an Oriental to the Imperious language
of my lord, her Man-Child.
"Oh, son of mine," she replied, with
infinite tenderness; "the sun Is still at
Pekin, drying his hair for he hath but
now risen from his ocean bed. When
he hath had his morning meal, and
washed his face with dew and decked
himself with marigolds, he will mount
clouds of purple and gold and amber
and come to San Francisco."
"Do they of Peklu see more of him
than we do?"
"Yes, son oh, would we were there!"
she sobbed; "for the sun always shines
there, but here it is mostly dark."
"We will go there, mother, at once!"
He held up his hand for his mother to
take.
"But it is a long and stony road from
here to Pekin, and we must eat and
drink before we start."
She led him to a little table, and set
cakes before him, and a cup of tea
which she fortified with a generous
draught of sam shu.
When he had satisfied his appetite
she prepared him another cup similarly
Sophisticated and set it before him.
"Drink once more." she said, "for
when we have left San Francisco we
shall have no more tchah (tea) till we
reach Pekin."
And the little man drank as he was
directed, and prepared for his daily
flight across the world. Lippincott's
Magazine.
LAW AS INTERPRETED.
Riding on the front platform of an
electric street car is held. In Watson
vs. Portland & Cape Elizabeth Rail
road Company (Me.), 44 L. R. A. 157,
not to constitute negligence as matter
of law.
Mortgages made by deposit of title
deeds without writing are held, in
Bloomfleld State bank vs. Miller (Neb.),
44 L. R. A. 387, to be contrary to the
policy of the recording acts which are
In force In this country.
Liability for assault committed In a
joke Is Involved In State vs. Monroe
(N. C), 43 L. R. A. 801, where a drug
gist who dropped croton oil on candy
for a customer, to be given to a third
person, la held liable for the damages
caused.
A drawee bank which pays the good
faith holder of a forged check on which
an Indorsement Is forged Is heid, In
First Nntlonal Bank vs. Marshalltown
State bank (Iowa), 44 L. R. A. 131, to
have no right to recover ' back the
money paid.
On the vexed question of the right of
one person to bring an action on a con
tract made by other persons for the
benefit of the former the case of Bu
chanan vs. Tllden (N. Y.). 44 L. R. A.
170, holds that a woman mny sue on a
contract for her benefit between her
husband and a third person which pro
vided for payment of money to her In
case of success In contesting a will, for
which the husband procured an ad
vancement of funds, while there were
strong moral and family reasons why
she should be considered an heir,
though not legally such.
Fire In the United States.
The average loss by fire In the United
States has been reduced In ten years
from $0,022 to $1,800. The insurance
loss in the same period was reduced
from $3,903 to $1,050.
The prevailing use of electricity has
brought nbout a large Increase In fires,
owing to cnHsid wires. Ten years ngo
there were only sixty-six such fires and
last year there were 058.
Defective flues are responsible for
over 11 per cent of the fires and Incen
diarism Is next ns a cause. Lnst year
0,891 Incendiary fires occured. Light
ning caused 3,479, spontaneous combus
tion 1,179, friction In machinery 295,
natural gas 94, dust explosions 14 and
five were caused by the sun's rays pass
ing through wlndDW g'ass. Thcie
was no assignable causes for 12,201
fires of last year.
Some men have so many diamond!
that they are made miserable in guard
ing them.
Many a woman who becomes Indig
nant when called tough, glows when
called a Bohemian.
NINA VAN ZANDT.
tVomuu Who Was Married by Proxy to
August Spies, the Anarchist.
Nina Van Zandt, the woman who
was married by proxy to August Spies,
the anarchist, almost upon the eve of
his execution, is now Mrs. Stephen
Malato, wife of a prominent Italian
politician of Chicago, and has been liv
ing quietly since her marriage, four
years ago. She now dismisses the esca
pade of her proxy marriage to Spies
SIUA VAN ZANDT-MAIATO.
by snylnjT "I was n foolish yountr elrl '
then." She Is the daughter of an ex
pert chemist, who lived in a fine house
on Huron street.
When the Ilaymarket riots occurred
she was only 17 years old, and fell in
love with Spies when she saw him at
the preliminary hearing. She became a
constant visitor to the courtroom, al
ways elegantly dressed. She made no
secret of her Infatuation, sending flow
ers and meals from expensive restau
rants to the jail. Her parents made
no effort to break off the attachment.
When Spies asked her to marry him
she consented, but the sheriff Inter
fered. It was then decided to use a
proxy, and Miss Van Zandt was mar
ried to Chris Spies, acting for his
brother. The girl continued her visits
to the jail, and used every endeavor
to save her proxy husband's life. For
a long time nfter the anarchist's death
Miss Van Zandt shut herself up In her
home on Huron street, and denied her
self to all callers. She had a marble
bust of Spies made.
A GOVERNMENT JOB.
It Very Often 8aps the Energy of Its
Holder.
The narcotic effect of government
employment is notorious, explains an
Eastern newspaper writer, but, as In
other eases, the victim of the sedative
habit does not believe and cannot real
ize Its power until It Is too late.
There is a certain fascination to the
old and hardened to watch the young
struggle against their fata. The same
sensations may be secured by observ
ing the operations on a sheet of fly
paper. The victim is' "foot loose" and
is looking around for a favorable open
ing. In the meantime it seems desir
able to have some temporary lodgment
standing-room, ns It were until the
delayed opening appears. So the fly
steps into the soft Government stick
uni. At first it does not seem so bad,
and It Is only when he feels his feet
sinking that he decides to quit. But
this he finds It not so easy. He pauses
and begins to cast about for a little
leverage or a way to wade out. In the
operation he tangles up another mem
ber or two. By this time he suspects
that the danger Is serious and buzzes
frantically. The result Is the same,
and while be Is resting from the exer
tion he tangles up one wing. The other
waves for a while, the emblem of a
disappointed and hopeless ambition,
now and then buzzing about the time
to come when be will quit the Gov
ernment fly paper and enter business
or a profession. Then he rents a larger
house and his wife takes a few friends
to board. Ills body Is submerged In
the Government glue nnd he Is In the
Government service for life.
As Secretary of the Civil Service
Commission Mr. Doyle has had oppor
tunity to observe the number of Gov
ernment employes who leave the ser
vice for other occupations and then re
turn to It. "A few years ago," said
Mr. Doyle, "my attention was called to
a man by the excellence of the exami
nation which he passed. He secured
the place, but after a year or so he re
signed. He had saved money and was
going to Yale College. After four years
I heard be had graduated nnd was
studying law. Then I heard he had
been ndmltted nnd had gone to New
York to practice. And just the other
day," he continued, "the mnn came In
and mnde nppllcatlon to take the ex
amination for his old place In the de
partment." Und r -round City.
Epernay, In France, Is a vast subter
ranean city, the streets for miles being
hewn out of solid chalk, flanked with
piles of champagne of all blends and
qualities. The largest champagne
manufacturers In Eiwrnay iwssess un
derground cellars which cover no fewer
than forty-five acres, and contain
G.000,000 bottles of wine.
It Is useless to acquire knowledge un
less you have a little common sense
with which to season It,
MALADIES OF TELEGRAPHERS.
Subject to Tuberculosis, Heart Trouble
and Brain ConKestion.
"Telegraph operators are kept In a
constant Btute of cerebial tension,"
says Mr. Hull, President of the Railway
and Telegraph Workers' Union. "They
ure exposed to a great number of mala
dies, and it can well be said that their
work is dangerous. , A telegraph oper
ator reads better with h.s ears tnao
with his eyes. He carries out an es
sentially mental opeiatiou by using
the nerves of hearing. This faculty is
consequently h guly developed in h.s
case. In the ordinary work of reading
twenty words a minute the telegraph
operator must distinguish 150 alternate
strokes or Intervals, and when theie
is a rush of work this figure can go as
high as 450. There is also the trans
forming the sounds into vis.ble sym
bols, or writing, which Implies another
mental process. And whereas the nor
mal amount of varied sensatory Im
pulses per minute is 120, the telegraph
operator has to accomplish 150 to 450.
"Without taking extreme cases into
consideration, it may be said that the
sense of hearing in a telegraph oper
ator Is two and a half times more pow
erful than In an ordinary Individual.
Again, in telegraphy the continuity of
the nervous stimulation, the monotony
of sounds and the fixity of attention
ere further cau-es of exhaustion. It
is found also that during forced work
the telegraph operator's breathing Is
affected, his heart's action precipitated
and his brain congested. As a result
of these phenomena it is noticeable
that a general decline of the organism
follows, ending In tuberculosis."
According to Mr. Hull, the ordinary
death rate for tuberculosis Is 13.8;
that of telegraph operators is 40.0. And
what Is true of tuberculosis applies to
other affections of the respiratory or
gans. The general death rate for the
latter Is 3.5, but It rises to 18.4 among
telegraph operators between 15 and 25
years of age, to 23.1 between 25 and 35
years of age, Instend of 4.9, and to 12,
lustend of 5.3, between the ages of 35
and 45. From 45 years upward it de
clines, being 4.3. Itisienil of 5 3, but
this diminution Is very delusive, seeing
thnt it is due to the elimination of the
weak members who have died off in the
preceding years. It becomes more
marked with increasing age. Between
55 and 00 it stands at 0.5, instead of
5.4, and above (15 at 0.4. instead of 8.2.
But these are not the only affections to
which telegraph operators are liable.
The nervous tension which they endure
often gives rise to a state requiring
Immediate withdrawal from their
work.
Arab Weapons.
nere in Muscat I saw the pure bred
Arab man, sinewy but not tall, a dom
ineering, swaggering nobleness In his
glance, nnd a brace of daggers In his
waist. When I recognized a beautiful
haft or noticed a slender Inlaid native
gun or singular shield, I offered to buy.
But nothing could Induce them to sell.
"Snhib," said one man, "I killed my
deadliest foe with this blade, right
through his black heart! You see this
dint In my shield? Ah! that dint was
caused by a spear. The shield saved
my life; shall I, then, sell It for money?
My gun? No, sahib! I am an Arab,
and my gun Is my other self. How
could I be an Arab If I had no gun?
This sword It belonged to my grand
father. It has killed forty men. By
Mohammed! It Is true. These marks,
sahib you see these marks only one
of these marks Is put there when a
mnn Is killed." I offered three times
the value. The answer always was
"No, sahib, I will not; I cannot."
Eve-ybody, from the frolicsome boy
of 8 to the tottering Imbecile of SO,
carried a weapon. The old men had
rusty swords that reminded me of the
unwleldly, double-bladed monsters that
Richard Coeur de Lion and his knights
swung In the face of the Saracens.
These Muscat swords nre four feet six
inches long, the blades three Inches
wide, nnd the handles provide room
for both fists to grasp. Law Is an un
known quantity In eastern Arabia.
Up-to-Date Hand Musio.
Visitor: "Can your band play well,
uncle?"
Band Leader: "Play N well! I guess
we does. We gits all our notes clar
from Boston, wo does."
Wisconsin ChrUtmaa Trees.
As enrly ns Septomber orders were
placed In Wisconsin for 50,000 Christ
mas trees, to be shipped East.
The mnn who slowly climbs the lad
der to success remains there longer
thnn the one who reaches It via the bal
loon route.