!
Pastor Marvin's
Conversion
By WINTHROP ALLEN
Copimyhl, 130'-.. bu Il'i.imroji Allen
V
A
t
,1111 KGHGOING was good enough
I for women, argued the sturdy
miners of the Crosscut Coal
J company. It kept their tongues
Av:.ggiug on other themes than the
shortcomings of their hushands. Hut
for men! Well, why should they on
this one day In seven, when they might
bask in sunshine and breathe air un
polluted by noxious gas and tire damp,
shut themselves within the narrow
walls of Zion church?
Yet. strangely enough, on this par
ticular Sunday in May every one of
them manifested a surprising deter
mination to be numberell In Parson
Marvin's tlock, and loud )and earnest
were the demands for shoe brushes
and "boiled shirts."
It was old Tom Caughey , boss of
No. 7 shaft, who toid Father Feeley
the reason, as he stood, hat in hand,
when his spiritual adviser came out
from early mass.
"It's no hard penance you'll put on
me. father, for goin' to Pastor Mar
vin's church the day? Sure, it's little
Arthur that'll be preachin' to the peo
ple of Wymore (tap for the first time,
lie's been away to college these three
years, an they do say he's a smart
man him that took many a ride down
in the carriage with me an' has played
roun' the breakers ever since me own
Tim"
He paused, and Father Feeley grasp
ed the thin, muscular hand.
"With the saints by now. Caughey.
never fear. Yes, you go and hear
young Marvin. I mind him myself, a
likely spoken and civil mannered lad.
who seemed always to love our mines
and men."
Three hours later Arthur Marvin
stood with tightly folded arms, gazing
from his window across the square to
the church which had been his father's
charge and which, according to the
rules and regulations of the denomina
tion he represented, might now become
his.
Eagerly he watched for each familiar
face in that slow gathering congrega
tion. There was Mary MaeNoal, whoe
husband and son had been killed in the
explosion of l'.U. She still wore black,
and she had company in plenty, for
there were pretty Bessie Magulre.
whose Dick laid been caught in a pre
mature blast, and Lizzie Dugan. whose
husband of three happy months had
gone down with the last nasty cave-In.
and yes, there was dear old Caughey.
A band of rusty black still clung round
his Sunday hat, though to Arthur it
seemed years since he and Tim square
shouldered, light hearted, honest intcn
tionetl Tim had chased round the
breakers together. Then one day Tim
had gone to work in his father's shaft
and had nevor come up again. .lust one
day! Arthur felt a strange grip on his
throat. He turned abruptly from the
window as Caughey, with uncertain
stops, entered the unaccustomed place
of worship.
They crossed the little square togeth
er Pastor Marvin, tall, stalwart and
proud despite ids threescore years; Ar
thur, a trifle shorter, slighter and fairer
than his father, but with the same de
termination in Ids bearing, and Lucy.
No one in ail Wymore Cap knew Lu
cy's history. Pastor Marvin had one
day been called suddenly to Philadel
phia, and wLen he had come back Lu
cy had come too. Some said she was
the daughter of a boyhood friend who
in dying had bequeathed the child to
the Marvins. Another popular tale held
that she was the orphan of a repentant
parishioner. Be that as it might, the
gossips united in declaring that Lucy
had developed in the placid life of Zion
parsonage like a rare mountain llower.
and that If she did not in due time ac
cept the heart and hand of Arthur
Marvin, thii truly would every tradi
tku of poetic and romantic justice be
shuttered.
Side by side walked father and son
dvwn the center aisle and up the steps
to the haireMh sofa behind the gaunt,
unlovely pulpit. Side by side they
sank on their knees, and old Caughey,
norvoiisiy lingering the crape band on
his old fashioned derby, murmured an
"Ave." uiicoitx-ious of its Incongruity
iu this church, where there were nei
ther altars nor candles nor sad eyed
madonnas.
When the simple introductory serv
ice was finished Arthur rose, unfolded
his manuscript and announced his
text. Then lie paused and looked al
most wistfully into the uplifted faces.
P.y soiih strange coincidence Mary
MaeNenl. Besdo Magulre. Lizzie Du
gan and old Caughey sat close togeth
er on the right hand aisle. His glance
rested as If hypnotized on that blur of
black; then, with shaking hands, he
turned the lirst page of Ids sermon.
It was a dissertation on the resurrec
tion of Lazarus, and the people lis
tened wonderliiKly to Ids vivid word
pictures of the soene. his sonorous pe
riods, the inflections of his rich, well
trained voice. For twenty minutes he
read on. yet each word seemed to
strike against a sounding board and
cone back to him with a mocking me
tallic ring. Yes: Arthur Marvin, their
Arthur, whom they had known and
loved as babe, lad and youth, had
come back to them knowing many
wonderful things, and yet
They did not understand, but he did.
It pierced his very soul. Their disap
pointment was pitiful. In some way
lie had failed them how they could
not say.
He reached his peroration. What
was he to tell them? That men no Ion
- I
ger needed miracles to convince them
ui the love and tenderness or Cod?
Smtdenly before his eyes rose a gray
Uh mist, and in the center of it stood
0111 the black robed group on the riant ,
hand aisle. fa Item I, stammered aj
few w..rds and abruptly folded his (
manuscript.
The prayer which followed was more
lifeless, more coM. than the sermon. .
Lucv. listening as one frozen In shock
ed surprise, forgot to bow her head,
and with wide open eyes watched the,
r...... f the voting n readier, now al-'
tiv
most harsh In its sternness.
She slipped out the side door, ami
when tatlter and - n. still erect, still
proud, still silent, entered the parson
age dining room, a bouquet of fresh
spring tlowers graced the table. They
seemed almost a mute, gentle prayer
for tolerance, for patience, but the
eyes of the elder man never strayed
their way. Finally he dropped his
fork, his napkin slipped to the floor,
and one strongly veined hand fell upon
the tablecloth with an almost despair
lug crash.
"The tlrst Marvin in four generations
to fail! Preachers before you, every
one of us father, grandfather and
great-grandfather, and you, my only
son. fail me- utterly."
There was no appeal in that voice,
only harsh, accusing pride. Arthur
squared his shoulders, and his voice
rang out more convincingly than from
the pulpit:
"It is not my fault, father. If you
had spent one-half the money you put
into my theological course on making
an engineer of me 1 would have been
a credit to you. Hut now well. I did
my best to please you, but the work Ks
not for me nor In me."
His father stepped to the study and
returned with a letter bearing the
note head of the seminary from which
Arthur had Just been graduated. Ar
tlnir read it and handed It back to his
father, his face turning ashy gray.
"I will not call Dr. Crawford a spy
or an informer. It was probably his
duty, or part of it, to keep you in
formed as to my movements, but he
might have gone further. He might
have said that every recitation I miss
ed was made up that every absence
could have been accounted for in the
otlice of an expert engineerthat my
visits in the slums were for the pur
pose of studying the real condition of
the lowest and most slavish working
classes. As for heretical speeches -I
wisli I had made more of them. I wish
I could have dragged every one of
those students away from their books
to men, to the lives into which they
were expected to bring relief and com
fort." Pastor Marvin stood with livid face,
the letter crumpled and moist in his
hand, and the voice of his son swept
on.
"Now that we are at the root of this
matter, let's speak the truth. I'd rath
er give men a chance to live here than
to assure them of safety in the life to
come. How can they prepare for a
future existence amid conditions so de
grading? How can they serve the
Cod I preach when they are starving
that ouie one man may accumulate
wealth?"
Pastor Marvin swayed and clutched
a chair back for support. And this
was the son of a preacher whose -
"How can 1 look to these people for
financial support when I know that
tery dollar they pay into the church
is earned at the risk of their lives? I
tell you IM rather invent some means
for neutralizing tire damp, of lessening
the chances of explosion, than to tell
f these people to accept privation and
death as dispensations of Providence.
Anil there was no other way to con
vince you that I was not meant for
the work than Just what I did today
to let you see for yourself that I was
a failure a dead failure!"
"And you flaunt It in mj- face! You
boast that you were a failure and I
the witness of your disgrace! You are
no son of a Marvin. I have done my
best for you. but you will not see the
light."
His hand pointed to the door. And
Arthur understood.
Night was settling down on Wymore
Cap when Lucy tapped at Arthur's
door. He sat at his window watching
the tiny lanterns of the night shift,
twinkling ever and ever nearer to the
yawning holes in the mountain side.
His grip, packed with his few belong
ings, lay open on the bed. Lucy crept
softly to his side, and her arms slipped
around his nock.
"Arthur, dear, you're not going? Oh,
he will feel differently tomorrow! It
is only his family pride that is hurt,
anil you will break his heart, and mine.
Arthur, dearest, you will stay, just
one more day?"
"No. I would 1)0 a thorn in his flesh.
I tried to make him see this years ago,
Lucy, but he was obdurate. He would
not listen to my side."
"Hut I what am I to do without
you? I have waited so long three long
years, think and I love you so!"
Gently he took her hands In his and
drew her close.
"Just a little longer. Lucy. You must
ftiy here until he understands. I could
not rob him of his all, and some day
we will be together with his consent.
Now well, he does not wish you even
to soo me."
For an instant the girl's spirit rose in
rebellion. Then she looked into the
calm, clear eyes of the man who loved
her and yet for that love would not
break his word, and a brave smile
came to her lips.
The next morning John Seeger, su
perintendent of the Crosscut compa
ny's mines, glanced up from his desk
to face Arthur Marvin. He had heard
of the scene at Zion church, and he
wondered if the young fellow was ready
to start anew In a humbler way, per
haps by asking the privilege of holding
noon prayer meetings In the works.
"What can I do for you, Mr. Mar
vin?" he Inquired politely.
t uii can give mo a Job, Mr. See-
giT."
The superintendent whistled softly
'i ud loaned back in his chair. Then he
surveyed the little form rather super
riliously. "Well, really. Mr. Marvin. I don't
believe I can accommodate you. Ev
erything in the otlices Is tilled, but if
there's a clerkship open wlthiu a" I
"Thank you, but I prefer the mines,
ff there's any chance In No. 7 I'd like
In be willi ( 'aughey. "
Superintendent Seeger almost whis
tled again, then drew himself up stiff
ly, as becomes one of his position when
dealing with a common miner.
"I think the matter can be arranged.
I food morning."
So after this fashion was the name
of Arthur Marvin, graduate of the
Frances Allen seminary, added to the
payroll of Tom ('aughey, boss of No.
7. Not only did lie work under Caugh
ey, but he boarded at the boss simple
home, where Mrs. Caughey loved him
for his own sake and Tim's. W3
more (Jap gossiped over the affair for
a time; then arose fresher and more
exciting topics, and Arthur Marvin's
future was left to his own determin
ing. He went down into the bowels of the
earth day after day not only to dig,
but to study. By and by he changed
"Our foremen tire tatpimst'd to look tijtcr
Uicsc matters."
to other workings. He wanted to
know something of other veins, drifts
and formations, and far Into the night
he talked with Tom Caughey. who
knew the Crosscut property as a good
.Mohammedan knows his Koran. Ev
ery Sunday morning Arthur went to
Zion church to study something else
the unyielding features of his father
and the pathetic little lines which
were beginning to show in Lucy's face.
He worked on day shifts and on
night shifts, but it was always night
down there. The summer waxed
stifling hot. and autumn swept on. cool
and refreshing, but the temperature
In the mines did not vary. Then one
day when the first snow was on the
ground, nnd the men. coming from be
low, looked like gnomes against the
glistening hillside. Arthur Marvin
again presented himself before Super
intendent Seeger. The latter looked
up impatiently. What did this son of
a preacher want now- promotion be
fore his turn?
"Well. Marvin, you must be taking
n day off."
Perhaps in the tone was Just a sug
gestion that men who were above
their work were given to taking fre-
pient lay-offs. Arthur made no reply
to the thrust, but plunged at once Into
the object of his call.
"There's a nasty bit of tire damp in
No. 7, and the fans don't seem to car
ry it off."
"Most miners expect to contend with
fire damp. They don't anticipate a
picnic down there."
Arthur flushed, but his voice was re
spectful.
"This is not an ordinary amount or
an ordinary kind. It means trouble."
Seeger whirled round In his chair im
patiently.
"Our foremen are supposed to look
after these matters, Mr. Marvin, and I
believe Standish. our Inside man. is
erfectly competent."
Arthur did not mention that Standish
had boon too intoxicated for three days
to distinguish between tire damp and
illuminating: gas. He lowered his voice
a trifle.
"Mr. Soeger, unless something is done
there'll be an explosion within live
inurs."
The superintendent rose, flushing an
grily.
"Permit me to remind you. Marvin,
that you asked me for a Job In the
mines, not as my adviser"
His next words were lost in a deep,
reverberating detonation, which shook
the very foundations of the iong, nar
row ofiice building.
The two men looked each other silent
y In the face. No need for explana
tions now. From adjacent rooms peer
ed frightened faces, and the next in
stant from the distance came the sound
of many feet hurrying toward the top
of the shaft. White to the lips, but
with a great determination burning In
ds eyes. Marvin readied the place even
before the startled superintendent. Yes,
t was No. 7, and Caughey was down
there.
The old heartrending scenes were re-
enacted. Arthur had witnessed them
leforc. The anguished faces of wom
en hovering near the shaft and about
he carriage, tho waiting stretchers,
that first awful load of maimed and
blackened forms, the Instant of horri
ble uncertainty, then the cry of cries
"Fire!"
Caughey nnd half a dozen of his men
were entombed in one of the cham
bers farthest from the shaft, with the
tire creeping slowly toward them.
Seeger had hi en directing the efforts
ot the rescuers, but now there was
more important work at hand. Tho
iroperty of his employers was endan
:ered. It could be saved only by flood
ing the mines. He had started toward
the long distance telephone booth when
Marvin stopped in his path.
Mr. Seeger," he said quietly, "there
cai!t bo more than live feet between
the workings of Nos. 7 and 0. and
'aughey and the others must be at
the far end of the gangway In 7 If
they're alive. I know every Inch of
that ground. A light charge of dyna
mite would break the wall. Thev'd
iae a lighting chance. At least I
ould tret in audi sec."
Seeger listened
impatiently. lie was
lot thinking now
of a few imprisoned
e result to his com
Miners, but of tl
pany and himself if that fire was not
controlled. He did not realize the bru
tality of his next Avords.
"They'd better drown than burn.
The mines must lie flooded."
Arthur's eyes were steely as he
watched Seeger disappear. Then he
turned swiftly and dashed toAvard the
mouth of No. ( shaft. The carriage
swayed sullenly over the yawning
hole. He turned to face Lucy.
"h, Arthur.this is awful! Can't they
do something? Mrs. Caughey is near
ly crazed. What"-
Arthur clasped her trembling hands.
"There's not a second to waste. I've
got to beat Seeger. When he comes
back he'll flood the mines unless you
tell him to Avait till he hears from me."
"You"
"Yes. I'm going to break through in
to No. 7, or"- He bent over and kiss
ed her. "Send some men here. I'll
need them alter the explosion."
She Avould have held him, hut al
ready he had stepped on the carriage,
and with the rattle and clank of cable
drums he shot out of sight. When See
ger came back from the telephone,
with determination written on his
face, he met an equally determined but
pale faced girl. When he heard her
story he exclaimed:
"He'll never come up alive!"
"Yes, he will," nfllrmed Lucy, her
faith In her lover paramount to her
discretion. "He knoAvs the mines bet
tor than you do. He'll never try It un
less there's a chance. And you'll give
him that chance, Avon't you?"
Seeger paused and looked into the
pleading, uplifted face. It meant a de
lav of a foAV minutes only. The flames
could gain little headway In that time.
He strode to No. 7 and detailed a res
cue party for No. 0. The uoavs spread
like the seething flames far beneath
their feet. Arthur Marvin had gone
down No. 0 shaft to save the entombed
men. No one knew Just hoAV nor asked
A was a ray of hope, and heartsick
women Joined with willing men in the
rush to the head of No. 0 Just as a
second deep toned boom fell upon their
oars.
Lucy leaned faintly against Pastor
Marvin, Avho had been passing from
group to group, praying and adminis
tering Avords of comfort, but who noAV
stood silent and haggard, with his eyes
straining toward the shaft. Was At
tltur alive, or had that blast been his
deathknell? The silence which folloAV
ed was the silence of death. From the
top of No. 0 came no sound. Women
looked Into each other's eyes, nnd hope
died down again. A young girl whose
lover was Avith the 111 fated group un
derground fell unconscious at Pastor
Marvin's feet, but he did not see her.
Hark! Yes; the clang of the engi
neer's bell. Some one was alive and
signaling. Mien fought for the right to
answer that call, but Seeger's hand
was first. Up up slowly- sloAvly
came the carriage. What would it
bring to the Avaiting Avoinen-llfe or
death? Now It reached tho head of the
shaft, and a singed, puffed, but living
face appeared above its rim. What
mattered it that several lingers wore
gone: that the flesh quivered and
stung? Here were life and air and
mother. A woman sprang forward
with a great cry of joy nnd knelt be
side the bruised form. Seeger Avas
stepping up on the carriage at the
head of the rescuing party when he
felt a light pressure on his arm. Lucy
spoke in low tones.
"His father he wishes to go down.
Perhaps Arthur"
Seeger put the other men aside. Pas
tor Marvin walked silently on the car
riage: then Seeger motioned Lucy to
follow. Down, down to that awful
uncertainly they dropped. The air was
still thick with smoke and dust. After
signaling the engineer above to stop
the carriage Seeger led them along the
gangway tOAvard the No. 7 workings.
They could see dimly the great gap in
the earth, through Avhlch Arthur and
Caughey, the latter bruised and bleed
ing, but still stanch and strong, Avere
drawing a limp tigure.
By the flickering lamps of the rescu
ing party Arthur's face looked discol
ored and drawn. He did not see Lucy,
and she sprang forwnrd Avith a glad
cry. Then she stopped suddenly. Aft
er today her love Avould come tirst, al
ways, alwnys, but this she recognized
as the appointed hour for another.
She droAv back. A tall, erect tigure
strode through the uncertain light, a
trembling hand rested on Arthur's
shoulder, and a voice shaken with feel
ing exclaimed:
"Arthur, my son, my son 'greater
l-.ve hath no man than this.' But I I
ditl not understand. You must for
give." A CIVIL WAR TOAST.
The Way a Very EnihnrraicwIiiR Situ
ation Wun Relieved.
it may seem rather trite to go back
to civil war times for a story, but all
the tales of that memorable time have
not been told.
My uncle, Major Thomas Hidgly,
was a surgeon attached to General
Grant's staff. It was after the surren
der of Vicksbtirg. The Union forces
had entered the city, and much merry
making and entertaining Avere going
on. One night a dinner Avas In prog
ress at which many northern oflicers
anil a large number of southern ladies
were present. Many toasts had been
proposed and drunk, all of them practi
cally in honor of the successes of the
Union army and the men responsible
for them.
Finally one of the southern ladles, a
great beauty and noted for her Intense
partisan fueling for the south, arose
and said, "Gentlemen, may I propose a
toast?"
With natural gallantry nnd a little
trepidation the ranking olllcer said.
"Certainly."
"Well, then, gentlemen, I give you.
"The Southern Confederacy.' "
It Avas an embarrassing situation,
but with hardly a moment's hesitation
one of the northern oflicers relieved the
tension.
"Down with It, gentlemen," he cried.
And the glasses Avere drained Avithout
embarrassment and Avithout dlsloj'nltj'.
Lippincott's.
The Koto anil SuiiiInch.
Japanese girls of the upper and mid
dle classes learn to play the "koto."
while those of the lower orders usually
learn the "samisen." The "koto" is a
narrow horizontal Instrument about
live feet long with a sounding board
upon AVhich are stretched strings sup
ported by ivory bridges. It is played
by means of ivory linger tips. The
player sits before the Instrument on
the floor In the ordinary posture, and
when she touches the strings she often
sings a soft accompaniment. The "sa
misen" is a kind of banjo and is often
(flayed during theatrical performances
ami recitations. It gives forth dull and
monotonous tones.
NcccKNlty Drove.
He I don't understand your extrava
gance! Before we Avere married you
had the reputation of being very eco
nomical. She (sweetly) But you for
get, dear, thot before we were married
I didu't have the money. Detroit Free
Press.
THE YOUNtt VULTURE
HE IS WILLING TO FIGHT BEFORE
HE IS ABLE TO FLY.
The FledKeliiiK Him Wonderful
Strength of 11111, In Couruffeonn and
AKirreHMlvc ami In hk Quick Almont
un a Flaxh of Liwht ninfc.
In the south there is one bird which
everybody knows whether he Is a na
ture student or not. I refer to the
turkey vulture, or turkey buzzard, as
most people call him. This bird seems
to be an ever present feature of the
southern landscape, for look upward
when you will you may see him sweep
lug the sky with outspread Avings,
Avheeling In broad circles or soaring In
graceful spirals, with seeming never a
stroke of the mighty pinions for hours
at a time.
One day I saAV a vulture sailing thus,
says Ernest Harold Baynes In the
Boston Herald, and I carefully marked
his flight until he descended from the
white clouds and disappeared near the
edge of a distant Avood. Supposing
that he had come down to feed on some
carrion a dead horse perhaps, which
had been dragged just outside of the
woods and left I made the best of my
way to tho spot where I lost sight of
the bird, that I might be a Avitness to
the feast.
I arrived at the avooiI. but neither
bird nor carcass could I see. Then I
bethought me that this Avas the month
of May, and that perhaps the buzzard
had a nest thereabout. I hunted un
der the bushes, along the side of fallen
trees and In some old stumps Avhich
were standing near, but not a feather
was to be seen.
Presently I spied a log which lay
somewhat apart in the shadoAV of some
shrubs, and as I approached It out
from somewhere came a big turkey
buzzard. Avhicli quickly disappeared
behind the trees. On coming up to the
log, Avhicli was a large one, I found
that it Avas hollow, and in the cavity
there Avere two eggs, which doubtless
belonged to the vulture Avhich had just
departed. They Ave re considerably lar
ger than the eggs of a domestic hen,
nnd in color they Avere dirty white,
lieavily spotted with chocolate broAvn.
I left them that I might have an op
portunity to study the young.
The next time I visited the IioIIoav
log the parent birds were not in sight,
but In the nest I found two downy
fledgelings, Avhich could scarcely be
called pretty. They were In every way
less attractive than young hinvks of
the same age. They expressed their
disapproval of my presence by a Aveak
growling sound.
I could not visit the spot again for
some weeks, and Avhen I did one of
them had disappeared. The other avus
no longer In the hollow log. but stand
ing at a little distance, nnd I AAas in
terested to see the change In his ap
pearance. In the first place, he had
grown tremendously; the down which
had formerly covered the whole body
Avas nJw confined chiefly to the head,
neck and under parts, and the rest of
the bird was clothed with Arm black
feathers. He looked fat and well fed.
I reached out my hand and caught
him by one wing. But here he had a
surprise for me. for he seized my fin
ger In his hooked bill and with a turn
of his head twisted off a bit of the
flesh before I had time even to object.
After hurriedly cleansing the Avound I
again advanced on the enemy. Avho
Avas game enough to satisfy any one
and came to the attack Avith open bill.
Of course he was not dangerous In the
least, for he avus very young and could
not even fly, but for a fledgeling the
grip he could give Avith his bill Avas
astonishing.
However, I picked him up, took him
home nnd tethered him In the garden
Avith n strap to one leg. The first night
he ate a good meal of liver, and after
that he took almost any kind of meat
that avus given him. I let him have
carrion Avhenever it AA'as convenient,
but at other times he ate freshly killed
frogs, fresh beef, opossum and even
fish.
One night soon after I had brought
him home I Avent out to see hoAV he
looked when he was asleep. It AA'as so
dnrk that his black plumage was not
visible against the grass. All I could
see of him Avas a white spot, his head,
as it hung near the ground.
I approached very quietly and AA'as
Avlthln five feet Avhen something hap
pened. Out of the darkness there came
a flash of white straight toward me
Avith a speed Avhich 'caused me to stop
quickly bnckAvard, and nt the same In
stant mere Avas a startling, rustling
sound, accompanied by a guttural
growl, Avhich for a moment I did not
recognize as the voice of the young
vulture.
Altogether It was n most startling
phenomenon, nnd, although I realized
In a moment that the bird was in some
Avay the cause of It, I do not know
even yet just Avhat happened. This
much I know, hoAvever, that the bird
rushed nt mo. growling Avith all his
might, nnd that the flash of white Avas
the white down of the body uncovered
by the opening of the black Avings.
The rushing sound wns, I think, i
caused In some way by the wing feath
ers or tall feathers, or both, but Avheth-
er by dragging them along the ground ,
or otherA-lse I cannot toll. I tried on
several occasions to find this out by ap
proaching the young vulture when I
there was just light enough for me to
see what happened, but he would never
net In Just the same way unless It was
quite dark.
No doubt this Is some provision of
nature to protect the bird when It Is
young nnd helpless, nnd I can testify
that It Is a good one, for I am sure that
few night prowling animals would care
to pursue their Investigations after be
ing given so startling a reception.
The Proper Cnne.
Teacher Sammy, in the sentence, "I
have a book," what is the case of the
pronoun T?" Sammy (promptly)
Nominative case. Teacher Next boy,
tell mo In what case to put the noun
"book?" Next Boy (thoughtfully)
Mookcase. Mean.
Miss Mugley- I always try to retire
before midnight. I don't like to misa
my beauty sleep. Miss Pepprey You
really should try harder. You certain
ly don't get enough of It. Exchange.
WOMAN AND FASHION
The Fashionable Mohair.
No material makes more satisfactory
suits for traveling and general Avear
than does Sicilian mohair in the new
and fashionable designs. This out1
sIioaa's a small green and blue plaid
and is exceedingly smart as well as
serviceable, the trimming being bands
of plain colored taffeta pined and
stitched. The jacket Is on of the new
MOIIAIIt TKAVELIXG SUIT.
ones that are quite collarless and al
low a choice between the mandolin
and plain coat sleeves. Its many seams
mean slender lines as well as perfect
fit, and the closing can he made Avith
loops and buttons, as shown, or invis
ibly by means of a fly, as may be pre
ferred. The skirt is cut in nine gores,
each alternate one being stitched and
trimmed to give a panel effect. The
fullness at the back is laid in inverted
plaits, nnd the skirt tits smoothly and
snugly over the hips, while It flares
freely about the feet. To make the
suit for a Avoman of medium size avIH
be required for the jacket 4 yards of
material 27, 24 yards 44 or 1 yards
54 inches wide; for skirt. 7 yards 27, 4
yards or 44 or li yards 54 inches wide.
The Xew Ileltx.
The newest bolts are charming, the
loveliest being made of rich black
satin, cut on the bias and lined with
black china silk. These are folded, are
Avide at the back and graduated nar
row at the front. Avhere they are hook
ed underneath and confined by a horse
shoe, a heart or golf stick of tine
rhinestones. These ornaments are
large, the sparkling stones mounted on
n dainty rim of French gilt. In the
center of the back the fullness or folds
are dnnvn through a rhinestone and
gilt buckle about tAvo Inches Avide by
six inches long. Those buckles are set
upright, and tAvo long loops of the satin
rise above the upper end. Avhile tAvo
sash ends about a quarter of a yard
long fall beloAV. Buckles in modish
designs are also iu old silver, gun
metal and Itoman gold finish, but noth
ing can be more charming than those
of rhinestones. glittering against the
lustrous black satin.
Ilandr For Warm .Morninirs.
This is the season Avhen the wise wo
man makes readA her clothes that will
be needed during the warm Aveather
Among the most necessary of these are
LAAVN DKESSI.VO SACK.
the dressing sacks, Avhich are so inex-pensh-e,
easy to make and, oh. so com
fortable to slip into early in the morn
ing! In the model shown here Ave have
a design that is both pretty and yet
very easy of home manufacture. Tho
front has n prettily shaped collar, the
back Is fitted, and the sleeve may be
In flowing or bishop st3le.. It is charm
Ingly developed In figured lawn, usint
plain color for the collar and facings.
Tartan Voile.
Among the multiplicity of voiles in
every weight and color there is a tar
tan plaid Avhich is really noAA-er than
anything yet produced in this material.
The phi id Is a very small green and
blue check representing the only com
bination of the kind so far attempted.
The fact that this new voile Is not
cheap obviates, for the summer at
least, any chance of its being too nun h
worn to be -desirable. A shunning goAvn
of this material Is math. Avith a three
tiered skirt and trimmed with little
kilted frills of blue taffeta, the bodice
becomingly arranged with trimmings
of the kilting.
Popular Hat FIom-otn.
nydrangeas are as popular for sum
mer hats as wistaria and lilacs and
make a most effective decoration.
WhUtlliiKT Women.
"It's a peculiar fact." remarked the
observing youth, "that only one avo
nian In a thousand can whistle."
"Nothing peculiar about that." re
joined the man with the absent hair.
"As long as a Avoman can talk she
doesn't care to Avhistle." Illustrated
Bits.
The Happy Part.
She Did your uncle die happy? He
Well, to tell you the truth. I didn't
notice hirn, but everybody else seemed
verv h.ionv. Boston Transcript
CROCODILE FISHING.
IiikciiIddx Method of Catching the
Uea.stN Led In India.
A correspondent of the London Field,
writing on the pursuit of the crocodile
in the Malacca strait, describes the in
genious method of catching the beast
adopted by the natives of the Kedah
rier. lie says: "A small bamboo raft
some tAvo feet square Is constructed,
and on it Is erected a flag post sur
mounted by a red flag, Avhile from the
underside of the raft, or float, run.
twenty or thirty yards of stout line,
ending in a few feet of chain. To this
chain the barbed hook of hard brass
metal is attached by three feet of un
twisted fiber In. order that the fine
ligaments may get betAA'een the croco
dile's teeth and thus prevent his snap
ping off tho bait. On the shank of the
hook a live fowl is made fast, together
with a short length of bamboo, to giA'e
it flotation, and then the raft, line and
bait are dropped into the river. Loudly
squawks the unfortunate fowl for a
few minutes, but its sorroAAs are short
lived. A splash, a swirl, the bait has
disappeared, and then the men return
to their homes, leaving a boy to mark
the progress of the floating flag. Next
day or the day after half a dozen men
paddle doAvn stream until they sight
the raft. Then, taking the line ashore,
they haul aA-ay, and ns by this time
the hook Is firmly entangled in the
crocodile's Intestines, he shows but lit
tle light and is easily dispatched."
THE HALIFAX GIBBET.
A Sort of Guillotine That Was Once
L'aed In England.
An ancient law of Hardwick forest,
a tract coextensive with Halifax par
ish, is sung by Taylor, the Avater poet:
At Halifax the law so sharpe doth deale
That whoso more than thirteen pence doth
steale,
They have a Jin that wondrous quick and
well "
Sends thieves all headless Into heaven or
helle.
This "jin" resembled the guillotine
in construction and stood on a stone
scaffold, unearthed when Gibbet hill
was IeA-eled. The ax is preserved.
This, the only guillotine used in Eng
land, was the forerunner of the "maid
en." introduced into Scotland by Re-'
gent Morton and uoav in the Edinburgh
Antiquarian museum. The "Halifax
gibbet" Avas last used in 1G30 and the
"maiden" for Lord Argyll in 1GG1 and
his son in 1GS5, Avho spoke of It as the
sweetest maiden he ever kissed.
Dr. Guillotine did not invent the ma
chine. Dr. Louis constructed one in
17'Jl, the "Louison," but the name
guillotine" became general from the
burst of surgical enthusiasm, in which
Dr. Guillotine, iu 17S9, after deploring
the tedious torture of hanging, ex
claimed. "With my machine I strike
off your head in the tAvlnkling of an
eye. and you never feel It!" London
Globe.
SECOND WIND.
It Copicn When All the Lbbst Cells
Are In Fall Play.
The folloAving Is a popular explana
tion of Avhat is known as second Avlnd.
In ordinary breathing we use only a
portion of our lungs, the cells at the
extremity not being brought iuto play.
This is the reason why those who are
not in training Avhen they try to run
for any distance soon begin to gasp
and unless they are resolute enough to
persevere In spite of this choking sen
sation are forced to stop, but If they
persevere the choking goes off, and
they acquire what is known as second
Avind.
When this second wind Is fully es
tablished the runner does not again
lose his breath, but can run in comfort
as long as his legs will carry him. The
fact is that on starting the farthest
portions of the lungs are choked with
air and the remainder do not supply
enough to meet the Increased circula
tion induced by exercise.
By degrees, however, the neglected
cells come into play, so that Avhen the
entire lung is In full working order
the circulation and respiration again
balance each other, and second wind
is the result.
In the Rat Pit.
The ordinary house rat will not fight
if he can find his AAay into a hole. In
closed In the pit, with no chance of es
cape, the case is different. The rat will
not only fight its enemy, but will turn
on those of Its kind with which It Is
bunched. The trained rat dog will
jump backward and forward, often
times entirely over the rat, in avoiding
its bite, and, AA-atching its opportunity,
will catch the rat by the back, give one
crunch and break Its spinal column.
Then it throAA's the rat, dead or dying,
aside and like a flash leaps into place
for seizing and killing the next rat.
A Pillar In Norway.
Close to the old Augvaldnaes church
on Karneon island, psorAA-ny, and lean
ing toward it is a stone pillar about
twenty-five feet high called the "Virgin
Mary's Needle." Tradition holds that
when the pillar touches the church the
world will come to an end. The super
stitious local preacher Avhenever he Im
agines that its point is getting nearer
to the sacred building mounts the pil
lar. It is said, and chisels a bit oft the
top so as to saA-e the Avorld from an un
timely end.
Runxlan Choral SinKing?.
Love of music, cultivated and en
larged by the fine rendering of the an
thems ami chants of the services of
the churches, is a trait of the Kussian
peasant. The choral singing of men
and boys In some of the smaller ham
lets is indeed so rich and finished In
st vie as to be a constant source of
Avonder to all travelers. Social Serv
ice.
31edlcal Advice.
"What prompted you to rob this
man's till?'' asked the judge of the
prisoner.
"My family physician, sir," wns the
reply. "He told me It was absolutely
necessary that I should have a little
change."
A SncsceNtion.
Miss S nappe Why don't you propose
to her by telephone then? Mr. Hoain-
loy Tim mid Maybe she wouldn't kuoAV
Avho I Avas. Miss Snappe Exactly.
That might help your chauces. Phila
delphia Ledger.