A SCRAP
i
WAS winding my way up the nar-
ill row Btalrway to my domain, a fire-
minute taper in my baud to guide
me through the darkness. I stopped
suddenly half-way down the corridor.
In the dim flickering light of my taper
IBaw fastened to the door of my laud
lady's room a white sheet of paper. It
was pinned above the doorknob and
contained a brief message.
"Dear children," it read, "God bless
your home coming. I love you both,
dear daughter aud beloved sou. 1
couldn't wait for you, because I had to
go to the theater. Your Mother."
"Ah," I said to myself, "the young
couple are coming home." As the latch
of my own door clicked I heard two
persons come up the stairway.
"My mother is not at home," said a
cheery, manly voice, "but here Is her
giueiiiiK, us kiud and iovlng as ever."
I don't know what else the man or
the woman said sweet love words, no
doubt, such as a young husband and
wife are apt to Indulge In on their wed
ding night.
Mrs. Alberta Daraman had been my
landlady now for two years. She was
t little, rotund woman, with a viva
cious temperament, which betrayed ev
ery minute the presence of actor blood
In her veins. For many years, she told
me, she had been wardrobe woman In
the only stock company house in the
city. She had saved up a little money,
Which she loaned at reasonable Inter
est to actors and actresses In hard luck,
nnd she was able beside to do a prollt
able busluess In purchasing and selling
cast-off party dresses and stage gowns,
l'he glib-tongucd wardrobe woman was
as passionately fond of the theater as
she was picturesquely disorderly about
the three rooms which she herself oc
cupied. My own rooms, in happy con
trast, were neatly and simply fur
nished, aud always kept scrupulously
clean. The disorder In hers was ap
palling and stilling to me. Furniture
from all kinds of periods hobnobbed
with chandeliers and cheval glasses of
long-forgotten periods.
Mrs. Damman's sou was very differ
ent In character and disposition from
his mother. While she was shrewd and
full of temperament, he was taciturn
and slow of comprehension. Despite
his 80 years he was as helpless as a
child almost. In his habits he was
absolutely correct nnd faithful to his
employer, who had given him the posi
tion of head bookkeeper at a moderate
salary. Ills mother and he always ate
their meals together. On Sunday he
went to the theater, and during the
week he waited patiently for the old
lady's return from the playhouse, that
lie might partake of supper with her.
Young Damman grew courageous one
day and confessed to his mother that
he loved a girl and had promised to
marry her. Mrs. Damman's verbosity
would not permit her to conceal this
fact from inc. As she was serving my
coffee one morning she acquainted me
with the new state of affairs.
"Do you know your son's ilaneeeV" I
asked, Just a. little uneasy as to how
the would take this sudden surprise.
No, she had never seen her, but In
quiry among friends elicited the In
formation that she tame of a respecta
ble family aud was a good looking
young miss.
"I'll receive her as my daughter," she
Bald, "and they can both live here. My
son's salary Is uot large enough to sup
port a separate household, aud 1 mu
llet give him anything out of my own
means, so they will have to make their
homo here, and my daughter-lu-law
will have to learn how to please me."
Now the wedding had been celebra
ted and henceforth the young people
would be my neighbors, for their room
was next to mine. If my misgivings
had continued about the new member
of the household, that friendly wel
come, pinned to the door of my land
lady's quarters ou the eve of her ar
rival, would have dispelled them. In
the morning, Mrs. Damnum, as usual,
brought my coffee and rolls.
"They are here," she said, with a
broad, motherly smile. "Didn't you
hear the noise wc made wheu I came
homo last night. My daughter Is a
perfect little witch pretty as a peach,
too. I know you'll like her."
An hour later I sauntered down the
hall. A fresh voice, fresh as a bird's,
sung a gay little ditty.
"The bride," 1 mused, and presently
rhe hove la sight, wielding a broom
with a pair of round, dimpled arms
bared to the shoulders. The moment
Bhe saw mo she blushed nnd disap
peared, dropping the broom ou a little
head of dust she had swept together.
OF PAPER. I
i
On top of the heap, staring at me In un
comfortable fashion, lay a scrap of
white paper.
"The welcome," I murmured, and
stooped and lifted the motherly greet
ing to save It from destruction with the
rest of the debris.
"She can't be very sentimental," was
my silent comment, "or she would have
treasured these penciled lines all her
life." Naturally I soon made the ac
quaintance of the youthful bride and
found her to be all that her mother-in-law
had said of her. She was as handy
and alert about the house as she was
fresh and pretty. Mrs. Damman was
relieved of a good deal of work, al
though she superintended the house
hold as of old. Fred Damman, the
young husband, was head over heels In
love with his wife, pnd pbo seemed
fond of him in her ingenuous girlish
fashion. There were little bickerings
between the two women now and then,
but they were forgotten in an hour,
and all was as calm and peaceful as of
old.
An unusual stress of business kept
me away from the house longer than
had been my custom, and when sum
mer came I was ready to Indulge in
an extended journey that was likely
to keep me away from Mrs. Damman's
house for at least three months.
Upon my return the family received
me with open arms. All three had a
friendly word for me and for each
other, and I was more than delighted
at the continued harmony that pre
vaded my landlady's home. That much
of this harmony was sham I learned
before many days. Mrs. Damman was
the tirst to pour out her heart to me.
She complnined bitterly of the young
er woman's wilfulness, and her daughter-in-law
usurped rights which did not
belong to her and threatened dissolu
tion of the household. It came sooner
than even I anticipated, but in an en
tirely unexpected manner. After a bit
terer quarrel than ever young Mrs.
Damman left the house without telling
her mother-in-law whither she was go
Ing. She failed to return, and soon
everything was as quiet as the grave
once more. Fred, the young husband,
was even more taciturn than before.
He avoided h4s mother, whom he seem
ed to regard as the natural enemy of
his wife.
One day I met him In the street.
"Where is your wife?" I asked. "Don't
you hear from her at all?"
lie laid his finger on his lips, forget
ting that his mother was miles away
and could not possibly hear what ho
had to say.
"I hear from her- very often," he
whispered, and a light broke from his
timid eyes.
"Is Mrs. Damman going to remain
away from you forever?"
He came quite close to me now. "She
Is right here in town," he answered,
"with her aunt, and I see her every
day."
"I am glad of that," I said. "Perhaps
your mother will soon come around and
ask her to come back again."
He shook his head hopelessly. "She
doesn't even want to hear her name
spoken," he answered sadly, "aud I
haven't enough money to set up house
keeping. My wife Is sorry now for
what has happened, but she Is misera
bly afraid of my mother."
"What are you going to do about It?"
He seemed so Iwy'lsh nnd fearful of
consequences that I could uot help get
ting out of patience with him. If he
had had a little more energy, I felt
sure the two women would uot have
become separated. He shrugged his
shoulders. "I can't help myself," he
murmured, "and, as things are now, I
am glad to be able to be with my wife
without being molested."
"You must bring them together," 1
admoulshed. "It Is your duty. Try to
make an end of this unsatisfactory
state of affairs."
Two weeks later I met the young
couple promenading in the park. "Ah,"
I said, "on your way home at last?"
"Fred's going there, but uot 1," an
swered the young wife shyly, holding
out her hand to me.
"That's more than I can understand,"
I said, somewhat dryly, "the wife be
longs In her husband's home."
"You know how things are with us."
she Insisted, with a sob.
"Yes; I know. You are afraid of
your mother-in-law, who has a good
heart, but Is unusually obstinate. And
you," turning to her husband, "have
not the energy to bring these two wo
men together. You, my dear Mrs. Dam
man, went out of your own free will
and of your own free will you must go
back."
When I saw that my words had made
a deep Impression on the two young
people, I continued: "You had better
go home right now and become recon
ciled to your mother-in-law."
"Mother Is away from home this
evening," said Fred.
"All the better," I suggested. "Let
your wife prepare the tea, and when
she comes back from the theater every
thing will be lovely."
I told them to follow me, and, to my
Joy, saw that they had agreed to do as
I bade them. I entered the house about
five minutes before they could possibly
reach it, for they had percptlbly fal
len behind. Once within, I discovered
that Fred was in error about his moth
er's absence. The sewing machine was
rattling away at a lively pace. Sud
denly an Idea crossed my mind. I lin
gered around in my vest pocket and
from its depths pulled a scrap of pa
per. It was Mrs. Damman's welcome
to her daughter-in-law on the night ol
her arrival as a bride. Quick as a flash
I pinned it to the door, and then with
drew to my own apartment to await
the appearance of husband aud wife.
The young wife's Joyous cry startled
me. "From mother!" she gasped, as
her eyes fell on. the piece of paper on
the door. And theu she read aloud
sentence after sentence, alternately
sobbing and laughing. "Dear children:
God bless your home coming. I love
you both, dear daughter and beloved
son. I could not wait for you, because
I had to go to the theater. Your
mother."
"Fred, Fred," she sobbed, "your
mother Wants me to come buck again.
She has forgiven me dear mother!"
The door flew open and the girl wife
rushed in. With a sob she threw her
self into the elder woman's arms. "For
give me, mother, forgive me! Oh, how
glad I am to be at home again with
you."
I stood motionless at my door. What
next? Mrs. Damman had not opened
her mouth. What if she were still ob
stlnent and would drive again from
home the penitent girl? But no, I heard
her voice now.
"My dear child," she said softly, "so
you are sorry? If you had said so on
that miserable day all would have been
well. I love you; you are my child Just
as much as he is!"
"Oh, mother," she sobbed anew. "I
never knew how good you are. Scold
me, do what you will with me; you are
my darling mother anyhow."
And they were reconciled. They
called me to witness their joy, and I
had hard work to make Fred under
stand that I had placed the scrap of pa
per on the door that had brought about
peace and harmony in the little house
hold. It was an Innocent deception aud
and If he ever had the courage to con
fess it to his wife I never heard of It.
QUAIL-HUNTING IN EGYPT.
Half a Million a Year Ensnared by
Natives.
Much has been sold lately of the cap
ture of quail in Egypt, touching the
protest made by Frenchmen against
carrying the birds across French terri
tory for English use. Until this mat
ter rose nobody seemed to know that
quail existed in Egypt, but they do
by the millions.
The passage of bands of quail over
the coast of the delta of the Nile, from
Fort Said to Alexandria, begins in Sep
tember and lasts a month and a half,
the birds arriving in little groups aud
alighting on the dunes.
Generally the chase is made by means
of nets of five meters high, which the
natives extend on cords fastened to
poles, In the fashion of curtains glid
ing on their rods.
In reality the net Is double. The first
near the side of the sea Is of meshes
very large aud loose, but on the back
Is another net where the bird will real
ly come and perch Itself In the folds
formed by this second net of small
meshes. There Is another method of
capture which la more picturesque.
Hows of dried branches are placed on
the shore. At the foot of each branch
is disposed a tuft of fresh herbs. In
the middle of which Is arranged an
opening which ends In a snare. The
quail, tired by Its Journey, takes refuge
In the branch, without figuring to Itself
that It Is going to put Itself luto a trap
where a native will surprise It and kill
It. With these perfected means of de
struction. It Is not astonishing that each
year more than half a million of these
poor little birds are taken. St. Louis
l'ost-Dlspatch.
Helping Him.
"Henrietta," said Mr. Meekton, as he
paused ou the front step, "could you re
member what It was you said yester
day when you so properly reproved me
for leaving the door open?"
"I think I can. But I hope I shall not
have occasion to use It again."
"Could you give me the exact tones
and the gestures?"
"Yes."
"Well I wish you would. I have an
office boy who leaves the door open
continually, and if you could teach me
to make that speech It would certainly
be a great help to me la my business."
Washington Star.
When lovers meet on the street. It Is
never accidental
MIHALY MUNKACSY.
famous Hungarian Was One of tit
Great Painters of the A ice.
Mihaly Munkacsy, who died May 1 In
a private insane asylum at Bonn, Ger
many, where he had been confined for
more than three years, was one of the
world's greatest painters. Some of hut
best productions, chief among them
Christ Before Filate, are owned in this
country.
The famous painter's real name was
Michael Lieb and he was born In the
town of Munkacs, Hungary, fifty-four
years ago. Early In life he became
apprenticed as a carpenter's boy. He
showed a taste for poetry and In lei
sure moments learned to draw. His
talent developed wonderfully and he
managed to get a studio in Dusseldorf.
In 1809 Mr. and Mrs. Wtllstack, of
Philadelphia, traveling in Germany,
stopped "at Dusseldorf and Mr. Will
stack was so pleased with Lieb's work
that he told him to make a painting
which the American sent to the Paris
Salon In 1870, where it created a sen
sation and made the young painter fa
mous. It earned him a medal, a
wealthy patron and a start on the :
road which brought Michael Lieb to the !
rich and celebrated Count Mihaly de
Munkacsy, chevalier of the Legion of .
Honor and Knight of the Austrian Or
der of the Iron Cross.
Munkacsy Is said to have received
nmnii to n (CI nnn ruvi a. 1.1. tti I
Christ Before Pilate was purchased by
John Wanamnker, of Philadelphia,
who still owns it, for $100,000. Other
prominent paintings of his In this coun
try are The Last Day of a Man Con
demned to Death and Milton Dictating
Paradise Lost. Ills mind gave way as
he was putting the finishing touches
on his last great work in the Christ
Beries, Ecce Homo. In 189G, the mil
lennial year of Hungary, Munkacsy
left Paris, where he had lived for
many years, and returned to his native
land. In the autumn of that year he
was stricken with a spinal paralysis
and had done no work since. He soon
afterward became demented and was
sent to the asylum at Bonn.
LAW AS INTERPRETED.
The doctrine that an agent to pur
shase property cannot buy for his owl
benefit is applied, in Kimball vs Ran
aey (Mich.), 4G L. R. A. 403, to a pur
chase on foreclosure by an agent who
had been employed to effect a Bale of
the mortgaged property.
Breach by a water company of a con
tract to supply a city with water suf
ficient to protect its Inhabitants against
loss Is held, in Gorrell vs. Greensboro
Water Supply Company (N. C), 40 L.
U .A. 613, to entitle a citizen whose
property is burned in consequence
thereof to sue as a party in Interest
One system of street railways over
some of which both freight and pas
sengers are carried and cars from lines
running to other towns are run Is held,
In Oren ex rel. Barbour vs. Plngree
(Mich.), 40 L. R. A. 407, to constitute
a work of Internal Improvement within
the meaning of the Michigan constitu
tion, which forbids the State to be in
terested in such works.
If a creditor takes an assignment of a
life insurance policy to secure his debt
he Is held In Morris vs. Georgia Loan,
S. and B. Company (Ga.), 40 L. R. A.
500, to be entitled to retain out of the
proceeds of the policy an amount suf
ficient to pay the debt with all ad
vances made to keep the policy in force,
and Is required to pay any balance to
the persons named In the policy as
beneficiaries or payees.
Removal of a Judge from office for
purely economic reasons not personal
to him or relating to his administration
of the office Is held, In McCulley vs.
State (Tenn.), 40 L. R. A. 5G7, to be
not authorized by a constitutional pro
vision for the removal of a Judge by
concurrent vote of both houses of the
General Assembly, after notice to the
Judge, accompanied with a copy of the
causes alleged for his removal.
Very Strong.
Stubbs The woolen mill down the
street was destroyed by fire this morn
ing. Penn-You don't sayl Why, Smyths
and I were standing in the same block,
and never even heard an engine.
Stubbs Wonder you hadn't caught a
whiff of the burning wool. -
Tenn That was Impossible. Smyth
was smoking a cigar he bought on tht
train. Chicago News.
MIHAI.Y MUNKACSV.
THREE DAILY TRAINS BETWEEN
OGDEN AND DENVER.
The increase In transcontinental
travel by way of Salt Lake City in con
sequence of the scenio and other attrac
tions of the route, has recently justified
the Rio Grande Western Railway in
connection with the Denver & Rio
Grande and Colorado Midland Railroads
says the Salt Lake Tribune, in estab
lishing a triple daily iast passenger
service between Ogden and Denver.
All of these trains are equipped with
the latest appliances, improvements and
cars. This road now operates through
sleepers between Chicago, Ogden and
San Francisco, also a perfect dining car
service. Send 2c postage for literature,
rates or other information to J. D.
Mansfield, 253 Washington street, Port
land; or Geo. W. Heintz, general pas
senger agent, Salt Lake City.
To Prosecute Cigarette Case..
Since the decision of the United
States supreme court that the Illinois
cigarette law is valid, the Chicafo
authorities have announced that they
will see that it is strictly enforced.
The board of education and the Anti
Cigarette League will co-operate in the
prosecution of all violaters.
Conformity With Christ.
The whole life of a Christian is a
steady aiming at conformity with
Christ; so that in anything, whether
doing or suffering, there can be no
argument so apposite and persuasive
as His example. Robert Leighton.
An Interesting Itelic.
Among the interesting relics recently
secured by the confederate museum at
Richmond, Va., is the main shaft of
the old frigate Merrimac, or as she was
renamed by the confederate authori
ties, Virginia. The shaft is much
worn and rust eaten, but 6hows that it
was originally a fine piece of work.
Aged Hani tack.
A Rumford Falls, Me., veteran has
in his possession some of the hardtack
composing the last ration dealt out to
him by Uncle Sam when in the service
over 30 years ago. It is in good state
of preservation.
Tennessee has become the leading
phosphate producer of America. There
are 248 valuable mines in the state
and over 21,000 men are employed in
the bnsinesp. New mines are being
opened daily.
Sentaor Beveridge is an enthusiast
on the subject of the practical benefits
of college fraternities. He is himself
a D. K. E. man, and was steward at
its chapter house, while a student of
De Pauw University.
Kerbs, Wertheim & Schiffer, New
York cigar manufacturers, applied to
the sapreme court for an injunction re
straining striking union employes from
picketing their factory and threatening
non-union workmen.
The Southern Pacific has abandoned
the plan for establishing a relief depart
ment, owing to the opposition of the
employes.
Caterer Have yon finished that bill
)l fare for the Millionaire Club banquet?
Assistant Nearly. What shall I
end it with?
Caterer (wearily) Cigars and
and chesnuts. N. Y. Weekly.
Not a union bricklayer in North
America is now working more than
nine hours a day, and in 130 cities the
eight-hour day prevails among the
members of that craft.
A TOP BUGGY
FOR $50.00...
Would be too cheap to be good,
but we have Top Buggies for
for $65 Cash that we guaran
tee for one year from date of
purchase. They have good
strong wheels, guaranteed hick
ory spokes, tires 5-J6 thick,
round edge and projecting
over the felloe, to protect same.
We have others at $70, $75,
$80, $85 and up.
Road Wagons at $40 and up.
Mitchell Farm Spring Wagonj
and Harness.
SEND FOR CATALOGUE.
t,
FIRST ADD TAYLOR STREETS,
PORTLAND,
OREGON.
Buy reliable goods of a reliable concern
is good oolicy.
jc sSwmm pension
If BICKF0B0. Washington, U. C. ther will ro
ll clve quick repllM. B. 6th N. H. VoU. 8U
20th Corpi. froMCutlDg claim, iluc 1B7&.