ILWT TABITHA' S
BISCUIT BOX.
, AISY! Da i sy! It baa come at
Inst the present . from Aunt
Tabitha. Oh. do hurrv down.
dear, for I'm all Impatience," and
Daisy's mother looked at It as she stood
at the foot of the staircase and contem
plated the 1xx newly delivered by the
parcel van. "I knew the dear old soul
would not forget her, and it's so heavy
It must be something very handsome."
"Ob, mamma, what can it be?" cried
Daisy, putting the finishing touches to
her toilet as she hastened down stairs.
"I do hope it Is one of the new silver
afternoon stands they are so chic and
stylish, you know, and no one here
abouts has one except Lady Hlghtoff.
Her presents were put In the paper, you
. know."
"Call, Susan, Daisy; we could not get
this lid off ourselves," snld Mrs. Elder,
Ignoring the fact that when she helped
in her father's grocery store she was an
adept at opening boxes. - It was befit
ting, however, that the arrival of a
marriage present to her difughter from
"their one wenlthv relative should be ac
companied by all the pomp and cere
mony at her command.
So Susan's help was Invoked, and
with the uld of the kitchen ax the box
was opened, and the article it contain,
ed, wrapped in silk paper, was carried
to the parlor. An uuclosed envelope
was attached to It, which contained
Aunt Tabltha's visiting card with this
written on it:
"With best wishes and the hope that
her grand-niece will prize this for her
eake."
"Lor, mum," said the maid, as she
set It down on the table, "it's heavy.
I do believe It's solid gold."
"It might well be, coming from Aunt
..'Tabitha to her name child," said Mrs.
Elder, smiling to her daughter, who
-was unwinding the paper with a dig
nity that would have graved the unveil
ing of a public ptatue.
"A biscuit box!" they exclaimed In
chorus, when thei thing stood unveiled.
It was of rather an ancient type,
-rOltn iT I tin H 1 1 nflinn It wna
the properties of a mausoleum mas
, ' " slve and solemn. It consisted of a
, majolica Jar about the diameter of a
drain pipe, and quite as elegant, fixed
in a silver-plated stand of a . coffin
, mount style, and with a lid of similar
metal.
"Isn't It hideous?" cried Dairfy, on re
covering her breath.
"It's it's not what one would have
Expected of Aunt Tabitha," sighed Mrs.
Elder, In a disappointed tone.
. Susan, having heard the Elders boast
ao much of the old lady's fabulous
wealth, and thinking she might have
filled the box -with sovereigns as a set
off to Its ugliness, lifted the lid and
peered Inside. Its capacious emptiness
gave Susan a brilliant Idea.
"Lor, mum," she said, "It 'ud make a
beautiful coal scuttle,"
This was a reflection on her relative's
gift however, which Mrs. Elder resent
ed, and the girl was thereupon remind
ed of some household duties that re
quired her elsewhere.
"I could not show It among my pres
ents, mamma; every one would laugh
at It" said Daisy, petulantly.
"And I've been telling everybody that
it was a solid silver tea service, Aunt
Tabitha was sending you how provok
ing," snld the mother, peevishly; "I
don't know what to say now."
"Look, mamma," pointing Jo a trades
man's, label on the paper, "this is where
it has been bought Couldn't we ex
change It for something else?"
"Yes, Daisy, we might something
useful spoons and forks, say; that
would save your papa buying them, and
the old wretch need never know."
"And I don't care, suppose she did;
It would only serve her right the spite
ful old thing. Trlzc It for her sake, In
deed; I would pitch It at her If she were
here."
. "Do you know, Daisy, what I think
we should give out that she has sent?"
said the mother, suddenly brightening.
- "No," replied her daughter, evincing
some curiosity.
"A check."
"Oh, capital!" cried Daisy. ,"The very
thing a large amount; a hundred
. gnlnca. shall we say? That's what all
the grand insople are doing now. It will
sound quite aristocratic.''
And so the firm of silversmiths in the
distant (own where Aunt Tabitha re
sided, and from where she bad pur
chased the biscuit box, were communi
cated with, and after some negotiations
an exchange was effected; They were
strictly enjoined not to let the exchange
be known to their customer for fear of
, Iter being offended. ' 1
The firm tn question had congratu
lated themselves on having got rid of a
piece of old stock, and the salesman
had a lively recollection of the prim
- old lady, with snow-white side curls, to
-whom be bad told It.
. ' "Show me something suitable for a
wedding present," she had said, on en
tering the shop., , . '
A number of articles had been sub
mitted for her inspection, and at length
a biscuit box was suggested.
t "Could I see them?"
"Yes, mem; we have some very pret
ty ones just now," said the salesman,
scenting a chance for getting quit of
an old "shopkeeper," and producing
the one that finally reached Daisy.
"Here is a really handsome one the
newest pattern real majolica ware
and "
"I dou't want your newest pnttern
new and nasty!" interposed Aunt Tabi
tha. ;Show me something like my
selfold and antiquated the oldest
thing you have in the place."
"Well, mem, this Is really the 'very
thing you want. When I say It Is the
newest pnttern I mean the style Is
quite up to date It never goes out of
fashion, you understand; and it is
yes, I believe it is the oldest article we
have In the shop." ,
"'And the ugliest?" snapped the old
lady. .
"Well, I wouldn't say that, but "
"Say that It is and I'll take it," she
said; adding, "how do you clean It?"
"Oh, it's easily kept. You unscrew
this nut at the bottom and the tinware
comes out," explained the salesmun,
and a bargain having been struck the
article was sent home to Aunt Tabl
tha's and then to the destination al
ready known. - , - .
It had not been many days in the sil
versmith's show case after being ex
changed when the old lady, again put
in an appearance at the shop. Her er
rand, she explained, was the same as
before a wedding present, i-
"You haven't any more 'newest style'
biscuit boxes?" she asked, with a smirk,
of the shopman who had served her on
the previous visit.
"Yes, mem," he answered; "very curi
ously, there happens to be another al
most Identical to the one you got it Is
not quite the same, as you will pgrhaps
observe," placing it before heramjLnot
even blushing; "bul you could hardly
tell the difference." I
, "Are you quite sure It Is not ttie same
one?" Aunt Tabitha asked pointedly,
"Perfectly certain," chirped the shop
man. . ,
"Then unscrew it and show me again
how you clean it."
The young man went through the
same operation as before; but this time
a folded slip of paper fell out from be
tween the ware and the stand and
dropped at the old lady's feet. Pick
ing Jt up she unfolded it and looked at
It, and then, turning to the shopman,
said:'
"Do you know, young man, where
liars go to? That's the same box that
I bought from you about a month ago;
but I suppose It's your business." And
with a twinkle In her eye as If -she was
enjoying the joke, she paid for the arti
cle and ordered It to be sent home as
before."
'
Stephen Elder, railway signalman,
was reading In the local newspaper the
account of the wedding, of his niece.
Miss Tabitha (Daisy) Elder, and his
only daughter, also about to be married,
was looking over his shoulder.
"Ay, Tabby, this will please your
uncle: It's ca'ed 'fashionable niarrhige.'
John aye wanted to be big; that's bow
he went to be a grocer, he couldna bide
the moleskins; an' when he mnrrled the
grocer's daughter an' got the business
he was neither to hnud nor bind. And
now he's a Bailie an' a' that, and they
tell me he Invited Aunt Tabitha to the
marriage; and so she sent the present. '
"Her name's on the top of the list of
presents, father; see. 'Miss Tabitha Ma
sou, grand-aunt check.' How much
would It be for, "(Jo you think?"
"Oh, maybe five pounds, or It mlcht
be ti-n; but you maun mind Aunt Ta
bltha's not so rich as John's folk make
her - out to be. It's their big way
again." '
"She'll not ken about lulne, father?''
snld the daughter, demurely. -
"Ay, Tubby, she dors; I sent her
word. She asked me to write her at
antrln times an' let her ken what's
gnun on, and I sent her word when
your mother dee'd, and I thocht she
would like to ken about your mar
riage." "She'll not think o' sendln' me ony
thlug, father; I couldna expect it for
he's never seen me." .
- "There's nae sayln'; you're named
after her, and not thlnkln' shame o' the
name, an ca'ln' yourscl' 'Daisy.' '
. While thus chatting a neighbor look
ed In at the door.
"Oh, you're In noo," she said. "There's
been a box left wl' me; the porter
brocbt It doon when ye were baltb oot
Ye mlcbt gang ben for it, Bteen, as It's
geyan heavy." '.' . ,
"it's for yon, Tabby," cried her fath
er, returning with the box in his arms;
"and. I wouldna wonder but It might
be something frae Auut Tabby."
"It'll -ie tbei,waddln' cake. Tabby,"
laughed the. neighbor. ;. ....
The girl's clear brown eyes glistened
as she; watched her father undo; the.
cord and pry open the lid. : . . - ' ,
"I hope it's not a cake," she said,
"for that has to be eaten; and If she
sent me anything I would like to have
It as a keepsake." '
' "There, Tabby, do this rest yoursel'.'
said her father, on placing the parcel
oil the kitchen table. . "My bands are
a wee thing course, on I might maybe
break it. What's that?"
"It's a card Auut Tabltha's," cried
the girl; "and It says, 'With best
wishes and the hope that her grand
niece will prize this for her sake.' "
The neighbor, as curious to see what
It was as If It was for' nerself, fell to
and helped Tabby to unwrap the paper.
At last It stood revealed the same
biscuit box that had undergone a sim
ilar ordeal of Inspection a few weeks
before.
. "Megstle, It's grund!" exclaimed the
neighbor, with uplifted hands.
"It's owre grand for ine, Jennie,'
was Tabby's comment as she stood
with wonder In her beaming eyes.
".What Is't for, ava?" questioned the
father, looking round as if be expected
to see windows In It like a lighthouse.
"It's a biscuit box. father. It's not
likely I'll ever use it; but it's awful kind
of Aunt Tabitha to send It and I'll keep
It for her sake."
Some months later Daisy's husband
a commercial traveler related to her a
funny story, told him by a brother com
mercial, about an old lady sending an
ugly old biscuit box, with a check hid
den in It, as a wedding present, and the
box having been exchanged without the
check being discovered, nnd then re
bought by the same old lady, and sent
Out nnew as another marriage gift.
"And the curious thing Is," he added,
"that it was said to be sent to some one
In our neighborhood." ...
Daisy bit her Hp with vexation. Wns
that Indeed the object Aunt Tabitha
had In view in asking her to keep It
for her sake, so that the check would
be eventually discovered?.- And the bis
cuit box had been sent the second time
to her cousin? She knew Tabby hnd
got one of the same kind servants are
useful purveyors of- news If the nils
tress Is at all inquisitive but she had
not realized until now that It might
be the veritable one that she had re
turned. -
As. her husband had known nothing
about the return of the present he
really' believing Aunt Tabitha had sent
a check as announced Daisy kept her
own counsel, and determined on a plan
of campaign. If the check was still hid
den In' the biscuit box, ten chances to
one that Tabby, in her Ignorance and
simplicity, would not hnve discovered
It, and Daisy relt that If she could but
gain temporary possession of It she
might find the hidden missive and ap
propriate It for was It not" Just as much
hers as Tabby's?
The following afternoon the latter
was considerably surprised to receive
a visit from her stylish cousin.
"How do you, Tabby Mrs. Jack, I
should soy? And I'm really ashamed
that I've been so loug In calling on you
after your marriage, but I've been so
busy, you know; It takes such a time
before one geis- such a large house as
mine really In order. You have such a
snug little plnee, Tabby, and what l
nice room. Everything In apple , pie
order!" And Daisy's swift glance took
In everything In Tabby's pnrlor, her
eyes finally resting on the biscuit box
placed under a glass shade on the
chiffonier. "Oh, was this from Aunt
Tabitha?" she continued. "I got one
the very same, but as I had ever so
many already I hnd to get It ex
changed." "Yes," said Tabby, "that was a pres
ent from Aunt Tabitha; wasn't It kind
of her ever to think of me?"
"Do you know, Tubby, site's combig
to visit me one of these days, anU I
don't know what I'm to do about the
biscuit box. She doesn't know I chang
ed It, and she'll be awfully offended If
she doesn't see It set out. Would you
mind letting me have a loan of yours?
She would never know."
"Would there be no chance of her
looking In on me?" suggested Tabby,
humbly. "I'd be so vexed If she did,
and the biscuit box away."
"Oh, no; she's too grand to come here;
but I'd aik you up to have tea with her
at my house, do you see? So If you
don't mind I would Just take It with mo
now."
"I would need to ask .Tom, my bus-,
band, first." submitted Tabby.
"Goodness gracious, Tabby, can you
do nothing without asking your bus
band's leave?" scornfully retortel
Daisy. "But please yourself. Wben
will yon know?" . . .
"Tom conies home, at live."
"WelL I'll look around in the even
ing. I'm so frightened Aunt Tabitha
might turn up at any uiomeut It will
be so kind of yon, Tabby, to let me
have It."
When Tom Jack came home his wife
explained matters, and Tom, a good
hearted fellow, said if Tabby wished to
oblige her cousin by all means let ber
have a loan of the article. ,
"But It looks a trifle dirty," said
Tom; adding with a laugh.. "I wouldu'
like your fine cousin to think that we
hadn't a butler to polish up our silver
plate, rir give it a cleany' er my tea."
And so he set about taking It ; to
pieces, and was In the act of doing, so
when Daisy paid her return visit. The
kitchen blind was not drawn down, and
the young couple seated at the lamp ar
rested Daisy's attention. She saw a slip
of paper fall out as Tom unscrewed the
bottom.
"What is this, Tom?" she heard Tab
by exclaim..
"Let me see It's like a bank note,
wlfey; no, it's a check," was Toll's an
swer. "By gum! listen Tny to Tabi
tha Eider or bearer the sum of one hun
dred pounds Rterllng, Signed Tabitha
Mason. That's yours. Tabby! Good o'.d
Aunt Tabitha!" ,'
"The dear old darling!" cooed Tabby.
"The old wretch!" was echoed from
the outside as the battled Dulsy turned
on her heel, having no further interest
or concern In Aunt Tabltha's biscuU
box. People's Friend.; , , ' ; " .'
" WATCHING FOR CYCLONES.
Westerners Fear Them n the Islund-
era Da Volcanoes.
Recent- disturbances by volcanic!
eruption In the Island of Martinique
and Guatemala brlug- out In full meas
ure of sympathy of the residents of the
cyclone district of the Southwest. The
cyclone Is by far the worst form of
disaster that visits this country, coin
ing at unexpected tlms and dealing
manner.
Wben the summer days bring waves
of heat across the stretches of hot sod.
then the residents of the prairie' WeV
begin to cast their eyes to the wind
ward. They nre watching the forma
tion of the clouds, and he who could
not distinguish a cyclone bifnk from
any oilier Is Indeed a tenderfoot. Then
the cry of warning Is carried across the
plains nnd the members of every fam
ily make for their cyclone cellars.
These cellars differ lit various com
munities. The popular cyclone cellar
on the plains of western Kansas, where
cyclones a few years ago were almost
a dally occurrence, are ordinary sod
houses, built low and strong.
In the Russian communities of Kan
sas these cyclone houses serve as the
family residence the year around. They
are about seven feet high, nnd built ex
ceptionally strong. The roofs nre slant
ing, and the houses nre set to the wind,
that is, the ends-are faced toward the
east and west.
In Oklahoma every- farmhouse 1b
backed up by a cave, d hole dug Into
the ground, and covered by an earthen
roof. Some' farmers have gone so far
In protecting themselves against cy
clones, that they have a small cannon
loaded with salt and buckshot, which
is fired Into the 'whirling clouds as they
approach. This has been known to
turn the course of a storm. It Is a
common event to dismiss school on the
plains of Oklahoum when a bank of
clouds begins to arise In the southwest.
These wind and rnln storms are becom
ing more uncommon every day, and It
Is believed that the planting of trees
and the settlement of the barren sod
has had much to do with It. Before
Oklahoma was thoroughly well settled
dozens of cyclones were reported every
day In the. hot months. The writer
was In the Newklrk one day In the
early period of that town's existence,
and bbw,-seven cyclones form In the
afternoon. All of them followed the
course of the Arkansas Hlver, and
"struck" In the f)snge Indian reserva
tion, fur to the westward.
New Faces on Postal Issues.
Within n short time two new faces
will appear npon the postal Issues of
the United States. One ?f them Is a
postnl card officially known as the
"McKlnley card," and a postage stamp
of the new denomination of 3 cents,
having ns Its central picture the like
ness of former President Harrison, will
follow soon after.
The new card has a medallion at the
upper left hand corner precisely of the
same size as the oval at the right con
taining the portrait of President Mc
Klnley. The medallion contains a fig
ure of an eagle with outstretched
wings, nnd bearing In Its claws a bun
dle of arrows nnd an olive branch. Al
together the design Is very attractive,
and the card will be the finest ever pro
duced by this government.
The department has finally decided
that the portrait of a woman shall
adorn one of the stamps of ' the new
series, although what distinguished
American now represented upon the
postal Issues shall suffer retirement to
mak way for the lady bo's not been
determined. . . '
I.ong hours hnve been spent by offi
cials In the department In the effort to
hit upon a woman In every way suit
able and satisfactory. No decision bas
been reached, but one point ha been
settled; she must have been a married
woman. Although there are objections
to her, tbe Indications point to the final
selection of Martha Washington.
Very few people bide their talent
under a bushel; most of them drag It
out and try to sell It at five times Its
value. , '
Wben a, woman has a fine house,
how the other women lmposo on her!
, VICTIM OF A CONSPIRACY. .
Wherever He Goes Death Seems to lis
;' ' Hot on His Track.
In the adventures of Carlo CattapanL
Marquis de Cordova, now living in New
York, there would appear to be ample
material of adven
ture for ' a dozen
novels.r;, The mar
quis belongs to one
of the oldest of the
titled families of
Italy. Some ' two
years ago be start
ed to secure certain
papers to be used
in substantiating
his claims to a
2 i'
MAlttjUIS CORDOVA
large Spanish es-
fate. Since then In every city he bas
visited bis life has been one of per
petual terror, nnd murderous assaults
have been made on him.
The Spanish estate Is valued at $2,
600,000'and belonged to another branch
of the marquis' family. Before setting
out on his quest for the lost papers,
which had been stolen from the Cntta-,
panl home In Italy, he employed French
detectives. These, after a time, sum
moned him to Loudon, believing that
they had located the papers there. The
marquis was then nt Monte Carlo. One
night before he set out for Londou he
was fired on. The Incident did not
grently alarm him, ns he wns then Ig
norant of the conspiracy ngulnst his
life.
On reaching London be received an
uuuuj luuua ic-iLii iu Si.uiioii, iuicul-
enlng him with death of he persevered
In his efforts to secure the estate. IIo
laid the matter before the Italian am
bassador, but no clew could bo found ,
to those who threatened his life. A lit
tle later, while in Birmingham, he wns
I assaulted by three men ou one of the
streets of the city. He wns found,
later, lying on the pavement uncon
scious. When lie recovered he returned
to London and there received word
from one of his detectives in New York
to proceed at onco to that city. Ap
parently his enemies lenrned of his In
tention of- sailing for the hew world,
for a few nights before his departure
he was assaulted In his room. Ills as
sallunts bound and gagged bliu nnd
then tied him securely to the bed, after
which they lighted a fire In the grate
and turned on the Ifcs nt full pressure.
Meantime they had ransacked his pa
pers. Fortunately SUsftltwr of the
building smelled the gas and traced
Hg-escnpe tft- Its source in time to re
lease the marquis.
During April, ltoj.'fuVmift'quls sailed
for New York and took up his quarters
well uptown.- Here, one dny, be re
ceived a letter nsklng hlin to meet the
wi-lter at South Ferry1 nnd take his
pnpers nlong. The letter went ou to'
stnte thnt If the marquis' claims were
well founded ho could have the missing
papers then and there.
On reaching South Ferry he saw a
carriage In waiting nnd was Invited by
two men to step in and drive with
them to nn office where the matter
could be arranged. Thfs' wns at 10
o'clock on a Monday morning and when
again the, marquis waB.consclous of
anythlug It was Friday night and he
found himself lying In bed In a hut,
near what be subsequcntlyfound was
Prospect Park,. Brooklyn. When he en
tered the carrlngo he 'wns apparently
hit In the head by some wenpon, for
be carries a scar as a memento of the
ocension. . He bellej-os he was also
drugged.
When ho regained consciousness In
the hut he beard voices In an adjoining
room and beard the question of his kill
ing discussed. This thoroughly aroused
him and he mndo bis escape throngh a
window. Subsequently he tried to find
the hut. but failed. The police were
also unable to solve the mystery.
The marquis has not yet found the
lost papers and nppnrently Is as far
from attaining the Spaulsu estate as
ever.
The Druit Store at Fault.
An Individual, who from his clothes
and th) dinner pall which he cnrrled
appeared to be a laboring man, recently
walked Into a drug store on Eleventh
avenue and .requested 'to be given a
marriage license.
"You'll have to go to the city hall to
get that," said the druggist.
"I dou't see why. Isn't my money
good here? I'm In a hurry, too."
"We dou't handle that kind of li
cense," answered the drug store niu.
"Well, I was told I could get uue
here sure, and that dr-n Jutlee won't
marry mo without a license," angrily
snapped the fellow as' he walked out.
The druggist said that people often
come In with requests which would
make a stone man smile, "and If you
do laugh they get mad," be concluded.
Milwaukee Sentinel.
White Wings" of Indon.
The street sweepers of the borough
of Westminster, Loudon, have been
dressed In so gorgeous a uniform that
MsJ. Oen. Trotter of the Grenadier
Guards recently complained that when
guardsmen go out they are frequently
taken for dustmen-and their feelings
are consequently hurt. Tbe Mayor of
Westminster, whose official robes out
shine even those of the King, has prom
ised to add a blue band to the cape of
,the sweepers as a distinguishing mark.