goUfid by a CHAPTER III. . Four yean hare passed away since that October night. I am now eighteen. I am the last one left of Mr. Porter's old pupils; they hare all been "bagged" by some grim custodian, and carried off I know not whither. Others hare taken their places, but I am still left I am melancholy, moody and dreamy. My reading is limited to a few semi-religious books. How ardently I long for a copy of Shakspeare, but not one penny of pocket money has ever been given me; neither would the ReT. Mr. Porter hear of such a book being brought into his house. Every Image of that one break In my monotonous existence is indelibly fixed upon my memory; and I can never disassociate that mysterious child that I met under the old Norman gateway with the Juliet of the play. What a strange memory she has left upon my brnln; she is ever with me In my dreams. Shall I ever see her again? I am ever asking myself. Yes; I feel assured I hall. I feel that she is in some way interwoven with my destiny. We never saw Josiah Cook again, but I heard that he had gone away with the - theatrical company, who left the town shortly after the time that marked my adventure. The Rev. Obadiah Porter, of course, at once settled his eternal pros pects by condemning him to the bottom less pit. During my boyish days the post of servant was occupied by a very cross old woman; but a twelvemonth previous to the period at which I have arrived, she left, and her place was taken by a young woman of about twenty years of age. When I ceased to attend the senool room I was consigned to the kitchen, and helped in the household work. Martha and I soon became fast friends. She used to say that had it not been for me she would not have remained a month In the house. In the winter evenings. after she had finished her work, when Mr. Porter did not require our presence at Little Bethlehem, or at religious ex ercises, we used to sit by the fire and talk. She had but little education; but her shrewd mind was a better tutor for me at that time than would have been a more learned, sedentary companion, The second person of whom I must apeak conjures up a very different set of images. I remember the first time I saw him was the very evening after my niem- . orable escapade. We were at prayers there was a loud, imperious knock at tne ... street door. The Rev. Mr. Porter paus ed and signed to the servant to answer The next moment there entered the parlor a tall, elegantly dressed man, with a remarkably pale face, the pallor of which was greatly enhanced by a full, glossy black beard, black curling hair, and large black eyes. One of those tranee shndders. at which the supersti tious cry out that some one is walking over their grave, ran through me us I looked up at him. He stood in the door way, and . cast upon the group a glance f infinite scorn. ."When you have finished your devo tions," he said, with a sneer, addressing my tutor, "I have something to say to you." The Rev. Obadiah Porter colored, hesi tated for a moment, and then rising, aid, with hia devotional whine, "We will ask a blessing upon all here, and Tbray no more to-night" With an exclamation of contemptuous impatience, the stranger threw himself , upon the sofa, his head Btill covered. We were quickly hustled out of the room, and the tutor and his daughter were left alone with their irreverent visitor. More than a twelvemonth passed away before he came again to the house. Then, little by little, he became a fre- quent visitor. Miss Judith and he were very frequently together.' I used often to see them stroll down the road arm , ln-arm: and by and by I began to ob serve how anxiously Bhe watched for his coming. Martha soon comprehended how matters stood. "I don't like that Mr. Rodwell," she used to say; "and if Judith wasn't qnite so high in her manner I should take the liberty of telling her so." One evening I was summoned from the kitchen to attend Mr. Porter - in his "study." When-1 entered the room he bade me shut the door, and take a scat I obeyed him, wondering what was com "Silas," he began, fixing hia small, ham eyes upon me, and brushing back the rebellious hair from his low fore head, "can you remember anything - of your life previous to the time that Provi dence entrusted you to my keeping? Don't hatch a lie," he said, sharply; "re member the fate of Ananias." "Indeed, sir, I have no such thought,' I answered meekly. "Remember, how young I must have been when I first came to you, and "Don't beat about the bush," he cried, yet more sharply. "You are concealing something: you can't deceive me." Then suddenly changing his tone to his usual one of shuffling hypocrisy, he added: "Si las, I am asking these questions for your B00,l for the sake of those carnal in- terests that must be looked to while we are sojourners In this world of shu" He leaned forward with his arms upon the table, and fixing his snake-like eyes upon me, as though to read my very oul. he began in a low voice: "I will tell you all I know; perhaps that will helo your-Jnemory. . Thirteen years ago. a middle-aged woman, looking like a gen- , tleman's housekeeper, or something of ' that sort, called here to ask my terms for taking charge of a child of five years old. She had seen my advertise-. ment, and thought It would suit the pur - pose she had in view. . She was most particular in her injunctions that you should be reared stncuy ana religiously Two days afterwards she brought you here. She gave. the name of Carston, and said that you were to be called Silas Carston. ' The money . was to be drawn half-yearly, of Messrs. Fogle and Quirk, solicitors. For the sake of the precious soul entrusted to my keeping, tried ' as discreetly as possible to glean -a little more Information; but she was very close, and awfully stern, and could zot get even an address out of her. The money has always been paid regu larly to the day. Once I called npon Messrs. Fogle and Quick; but I found them stiff-necked men, of hard and unre- generate hearts. Two years ago I wrote to say that, as you had passed bejond the school boy age, I wished for further instructions. About a week after, I got a short note, saying that you were still to remain with me; but as they desired that you should not contract idle habits. was to give yon some sort of useful employment Why don't yon say some thing, Silas"?" he cried, striking the ta ble sharply with hia fist What what do you want me to say. sir?" I stammered. "The truth what yon know." "I don't know anything indeed, I do not" There was a savage look about him, as though he would have liked to have squeezed something more out of my throat Then he took out of a desk be side him a small gold locket, and passed it to me, saying, "This was sewn up in your frock when you were brought here. I don't think she who brought you knew anything about it" It contained the portrait of a very beautiful young woman a foreigner, I should have imagined; dark hair, olive- tinged complexion, also a lock of brown hair; and upon the back was engraved the initials "F, B." and "E. M." joined together by a true lovers' knot "The woman who brought you here, he went on, "was tall; and big-boned; thin, white lips; a nose like a parrot's beak; light gray eyes, as cold as stone. She wore a front of dark brown hair. dressed In small, fiat curls, and bound round the forehead' by a band of narrow blsck velvet; she was dressed in black silk, and wore a muslin handkerchief crossed upon her bosom." While he spoke, a veil seemed lifted from my memory; the woman seemed to stand before me. I had trembled be fore those cold, stony eyes. That por trait too my heart told me it was my mother's, and a shadowy remembrance came upon me that I had been at some time fondled by such a face. The Rev. Obadiah Porter was evident ly disappointed at the result of his reve lations. He snatched the locket out of my hand, and then locked it up in the desk again. "Well, well, if yon can't remember, you can't" ' he said, irritably. "But when you are alone, or In bed, try and think. Who knows? you might be the child of some great or rich people," he added, cunningly. - "Think what an ad- ventage it would be if you could find this out! But we won't talk any more of this at present I have something else to speak to you about Silas, it has much troubled me, for some time, to see a youth of your appearance and proba ble prospects doing menial work. I've long been thinking whether I couldn't more profitably employ you; and, after a talk with my daughter, I've come to the conclusion that yon shall, henceforth, assist her in the care of the boys." My duties as tutor were to commence on the next day. I really felt very grate to him for what appeared, to my unso phisticated mind, a great kindness; and so l told Martna when 1 went back to the kitchen. Well, I don't know about being grate ful, Silas," she cried. "Depend upon it master's serving his own turn. Miss Judith's getting very tired of the work; and if she was to go away, what would he do? It wouldn't suit him to have a stranger in the house. ' Now don't you see" that he couldn t do without you that you're the very thing he wants?" Martha's worldly view of the matter somewhat dashed my exalted 'feelings of gratitude; yet for all that I still felt very thankful for the change. CHAPTER IV. In less than a week I found myself sole tutor to the Rev. Obadiah Porter's pupils. Martha was right; Miss Judith had grown tired of the work, and, seiz ing the opportunity of my initiation, re linquished it altogether. I now dined in the parlor, but took the rest of my meals in the kitchen, where I also spent my evenings. By and by Martha called my attention to a great alteration that had taken place in her mistress. There was worn, anxious look in her face; and she seldom quitted her own room. Then we began to notice that Mr. Rodwell's visits grew more infrequent, and at last ceased altogether. One day Mr. Porter informed me that he was going to London for a few days. Such an event had never happened in my memory; it was to me the climax of all the changes. "To you, Silas," he said, "I commit the care of the precious lambs of my fold, and you must also give an eye to household affairs, as my daughter's health, is not strong at present It is a great trust but you will prove worthy of it You are almost like a son to me, Silas." " He paused upon The last words like one struck with a sudden idea, and while he stood gazing at me, a strange look stole across his face.. For the first time nl his life he took my hand; his clasp was cold and clammy; he meant to be kind and caressing, but I had never felt so re pelled against him. I shuddered, with a boding presentiment of evil. While he was away Miss Judith took all her meals in her own room. Thus the house was almost entirely under the care of myself and Martha. .- - On the fifth- day after his departure, at 5 in the evening, Mr. Porter returned. I was in the front -garden. . Now this ground was kept .sacred tohim and his daughter, but having a great love of flowers, and having acquired some knowledge of gardening,. I. had of late been privileged to tend the beds, and prune the shrubs of this exclusive spot I had no desire to presume upon this privilege, as I greatly preferred the more extensive grounds that lay at the back, which were free to all. ' A wall of abont ten feet in height separated this garden from the road. When I saw MrPorter come through the gate, I was busily em ployed in cutting away the dead blos soms from a very fine rhododendron bush which stood near one of the parlor win dows. Although I was in full sight, he did not perceive me. The bush stood between me and the window, which waa wide open, and entirely concealed me irom any one wno mignt De witnin. i i heard my master enter the room, and a minute afterwards he was joined by his daughter, whom I heard eagerly ask him, "What he had done had he -been suc cessful?" "He has gone to Paris," waa the reply, in a harsh tone. "Gone to Paris! Oh, what will be come of me what will become of me?" I heard Judith cry, in a tone of despair. "I loved him very dearly! But he can not he will not he shall not desert me!" "But he has done it His last letter was qnite enough. And now he's gone off to Paris, to get out of the way of your reproaches." But if he went to the world's end. he should not get beyond the reach of my revenge!" she cried, excitedly. "But how do you know he's gone? Who told you bo? Perhaps you have been pur posely deceived?" "Not such a fool. They'll have to get up betimes to deceive me! In the first place. I never made any inquiries my self; a friend that they couldn't suspect did that for me. He left ten days ago." What shall I do whnt shall I do?" And what shall I do?" he cried, in a savage tone. - And I heard him smash his fiRt down upon the table, and could almost fancy I heard the grinding of his teeth. "But-in the meanwhile we must think of the present time. We are in snug quartprs. here, and I don't feel in clined to give them up. Remember, if. I lost my chapel, I should lose the boys, too; for although their friends would re ceive the tidings of their deaths with the utmost satisfaction, yet their consciences and their sense of duty would be trou bled by the thought that the unhappy Little wretches were under a master of lax morality. With such people, you know, everything is doing the proper; they don't care for the humane. Now the very day I started for the city an idea came into my head, which a chance circumstance haa since strengthened. It all depends upon you whether you 11 act upon it He paused, as though expecting an an swer; but none came. After a moment he resumed, in a somewhat hesitating tone, "You'll stare when I tell you what it is; but for your own peace of mind. as well as mine, you must be married." Married to whom?" she asked, drear ily. ,. , "Suppose I were to tell you that I had a husbaud in my eye? What do you say to Silas Carston?" I could scarcely repress the cry that rose to my lips at the sound of my name so strangely associated. "What!" she cried,, impetuously, marry that puny, contemptible, sneaking boy! You are mad! He would make a very good hus band." A very meek one, no doubt" she said scornfully. Listen to me. Worm as he is, it may be a better match than you suspect thought I would call upon Fogle and Quick. In the first place, to endeavor to get the money increased, in consid eration of his age; and in the second place, to try and glean a little informa tion. Just as I got within sight of the door, .who should I see coming out- but the identical old woman that brought, the boy here. There was no mistaking ' her she seemed to nave on the very same dress that she wore thirteen years ago and as to her face, it is one' of those iron faces upon which years seem to have no power. Here s my chance, I thought I don't lose sight of you till you're earthed.' So, instead of calling npon the lawyers, I followed the old woman at a respectful distance. At this point of the dialogue, to me the most interesting, I lost the thread, Two pleasure vans, full of peaople who had been out holiday keeping for the day, were returning to the town; the occupants were singing, shouting and laughing, in a most vociferous strain. To make the matter worse, just as they got beyond the house, a delay of some kind occurred; either something was wrong with the carriages or the horses. Whatever it might have been, it detained them for two or three minutes, during which the bawling and shouting contin ued so loudly that I could not catch word that was spoken in the parlor. When at last the noisy crew drove away the revelation that I so eagerly desired to hear had passed. May-be he would not Have me, were the first words that fell upon my ears.. "How could he help himself, if I were determined upon it? Besides, you could soon make him a puppet in your hands." "Don't let us talk any more now." "Very well. And here comes Martha with the dinner." And so the conversation ended. I heard Martha come and close the win dow, and draw down he blind and then I crept from my biding place, and got round to the back garden. For "a time I could not go into the honse; every nerve was trembling. I felt like one surrounded by a circle of fire the victim of some foul plot the exact nature of which I could not understand, but from which I could perceive no escape. (To be continued.! 1II1"HHI I t 1 I'ttftlll l-H-4--.t.t..l.l.4..l.j....f lt"l"t'l"t:.H"l-HM.. J LITTLE STORIES I AND INCIDENTS t 1! - a That Will Interest Entertain Young Readers. and We Ain't A-Scairt o' Pa. Us boys ain't scairt o' Pa so much, lie only makes a noise, An' says he never did see such . Onmanageable boys. But when Ma looks around I see Just somethin' long an' flat An' always make a point to be borne better after that Pa promises an promises, But never does a thing; But what Ma says she does she does, An when I go to bring Her slipper or her hair brush when She says she'll dust my pants, think I could be better then If I had one more chance. Pa always says nex time 'at he W ill have a word to say. But Ma she is more apt to be A-dom right away; Pa turns around at us an' glares As fierce as he can look, But when we're out of sight upstairs He goes back to his book. Ma doesn't glare as much as Pa, Or make as big a fuss. - But what she says is law is law, And when she speaks to us She's lookin' carelessly .around F'r something long an' flat And when we notice it we're bound To be good after that So we ain't scairt o' Pa at ail, Although he thinks we are; But when we hear Ma come an' call. No difference how far We are away we answer quick. An tell her where we re at When she stoops down an' starts to pick Up something long an' flat J. W. Foley In New York Times. Raisins. TO I S&id Ann I'm Jeelin cvufy I w et This bit oj oohT "to meJke spirits vise -the V4YV It Hiding. . Little Peter hid from Paul, In the corner of the house; There he stood a long, long time. Quiet as a little mouse. On the other side the barrel Little Paul from Peter hid, Cost of Running a Creamery. The total cost of running a creamery and marketing the product, including Interest on the investment and provi sion for a sinking fund, ought not to exceed 3 cents for every pound of butter made. Under favorable coiidi- tions this cost ought to be reduced to 8 or even as low as 1 cents. . The smallest practical creamery cannot be operated for less than $4-xr $5 per day. It becomes evident then that the daily product should be over 150 pounds as a -safe minimum. Conse quently no creamery should be put Into operation unless having control - or a promise of about 300 cows. Oscar Erf, University of Illinois, in Orange Judd Farmer. The bodies of men who have per ished in sandy deserts become so thor oughly dried by the sun and wind as to be reduced to 30 per cent of their weight In life. . : The light of the firefly is produced by some combination of phosphorus, though In what manner has not yet been determined. - ' . He who desires Claudlanus is always poor. WOMEN WEAR POISON RINGS. and you can make one pretty easily. Get a piece of tin and cut out a circle or a round piece about six inches in diameter. Now draw a pencil line across the circle, arid another line across the tin at right angles to the first, so that the circle will be divided into four equal parts. Get a heavy pair of scissors and cut along each of these lines to within half an inch of the center. You may easily bend back the pieces of tin so formed until they have the position shown in the picture. This screw can be nailed to the end of the shaft or by punching a hole in the center of the tin you may run the shaft through it and fasten it by copper wire. No matter what the boat will do, when made it will be well worth the trouble, for if it should stand still and refuse to go ahead, even in a strong wind, then you will have something which will fool every one of your friends and raise many a laugh at their expense. Practical Education. Every boy and ghCthat is educated should be able to Write a good, legible hand. Spell all the words in ordinary use. Know how to use these-words. Speak and write good English. Write a good social letter. Add a column of figures rapidly. Make out an ordinary account Receipt it when paid. Write an ordinary promissory note. Reckon the interest or discount on it for days, months and years. Draw an ordinary bank, check. Take it to the proper place in a bank to get the cash. Make neat and correct entries in day book and ledger Tell the number of . yards of carpet required for the parlor. Measure , the pile of lumber in the shed. Tell something about the laws of health, and what to do in case of emergency. Know how to behave In public and society. Have a good knowledge of the Bible. Have some acquaintance with the three great kingdoms of nature. Have sufficient common sense to get along in the world. New Kind of Lamps. A little country boy visited his aunt in the city and when he returned home his mother asked him what kind of lamps his aunt had. . He said, "They don't have any lamps at all; they light the end of the towel rack." This is an actual experience and the boy is a relative of that little boy who, eating some pineapple for the first time- and being asked his opinion of it, said: "I thing it is a wooden lemonade." These bright and pleasing things coming from young America make wholesome read ing. Out of the Months of Babes. Nellie (aged 5) Mamma, do you real ly and truly love me? Mamma (a widow) Of course I do, dear. Nellie Then won't you please marry the man who owns the candy store? - Little Margie Mamma, do you think grandpa has really gone to heaven? Mamma Certainly, my dear. Little Margie Well, I guess he sneaks out once in a while to smoke his pipe. "Willie," snid the teacher, "what would you do if you had the goose that laid golden eggs?" "Why," answered the young schemer, "I'd make her set on some of the eggs and hatch out more geese of the same kind." Harry had been teasing his little sister. "Why, Harry," said his moth er, "I'm surprised at you!" "Oh, that's nothing," replied the incorrigible youngster. "I'll be surprised if you ever quit being surprised at me. ' "Now, sir," said the indignant moth er to her naughty 5-year-old son, "I'm going to give you a good whipping. "If you'll cut it out,, mamma," rejoin ed the diplomatic youngster, "I'll use my influence with papa to get you a new sealskin sack." Jewelry of Days When Harder Was Fashionable the 'Fad. Society women have a brand new fad, and even the most blase of the -"500" can't deny that the smart ma trons have started an interesting nov elty, says the New York World. The newest sensation among the ultra smart set is the poison ring. Not that the swell matrons are con templating any "Lucrezla Borgia" set, nor are they followers in the footsteps of the Medici, but the poison ring is a real affair Just the same. The fad was started by Mrs. Gran ville Kane. The rings first appeared at a dance, and immediately Mrs. William Peirson Hamilton, who is known for her love of quaint and oriental jewelry, became e follower of the fad. Mrs. Hamilton's love of quaint de signs in jewelry became known most prominently at the time of her mar riage, when as Juliet Morgan, daugh ter of J. Pierpont Morgan, she received a handsome bracelet, an ancient Ital ian design from an Italian nobleman. The bracelet was sent In a book and was discovered by the customs officers. and J. Pierpont Morgan paid $475 duty in order to avoid its seizure and the publicity of an auction sale. The other beautiful society matrons who are wearing the poison rings on their fair fingers are Mrs. Arthur E. ., Grannls and Mrs. Henry Trevor. Mrs. Trevor's ring is historical and said to have belonged, to a member of the house of Richelieu. The ring is of exquisite workmanship and is set with a sapphire hedged with alternat ing diamonds and topazes. ' Now, in spite of the fact" that these Interesting rings are causing the more conservative of society to raise thejr" eyebrows, there Is a little secret about them that robs them of part of their romance. They do not contain a sin gle drop of poison. , The little chamber that used to con tain the deadly poison which brought swift and sudden death on desired oc casions in those days of sudden mur der and secret plotting, now holds only a tiny bit of rich and powerful smell ing salts. Mrs." Trevor's ring Is made so that pressure on a spring in one side of the hoop distils a microscopic drop of liquid through one of the surrounding stones. This is necessarily hollow, but the aperture is so small as to be im- -perceptible except on the closest examination. The rings, which have given society something to talk about, are extremely rare, for all are relics of ancient houses and have been procured for their new owners only after careful search. Modern rings are made In this form, and the new society fad . indi cates that up to date Jewelers will henceforth offer rings . that dispense sweet perfume and smelling salts, but the old historic rings, with their clus tering memories of sudden death, are the ones the women of the "500" covet for their bejeweled fingers. Each expecting to be found By the other little kid. Mamma called quite loudly: "Oh, - Come to supper, Pete and Paul!" But they stood and waited there 1 For each other that is all. What Will This Boat Do? It is very easy to see by looking at the picture just how this boat Is made, but it is not so easy to tell. what It will do. ' We will - assume that the shaft works easily, without friction, and that a good; strong wind 1 blows steadily, Now, what will the boat do? Will It go forward, backward, or stand still? It is not answered as easily as you ' may at first think. Who can tell what It will do? Of course the very easiest way-to find out la to make a boat and try It ' -V . , The only part that might give you I -any trouble la the propeller or screw, A Striking Individuality. It does not pay to be too striking in one's individuality unless that char acteristic Is the outspringing of one's own nature. . Directly little eccentri cities are assumed criticism is invit ed. We become conspicuous and the unconventional beauty which we wish to achieve turns , to gall and worm wood in what the world -calls only "queerness." Unless you can be ar tistically out of the ordinary do not try to be other than commonplace. It does not pay to bring down reproach and sarcasm upon your unprotected head for the sake of winning notoriety. Better by far to pursue the even tenor of your way, exactly as thousands of other mortals do, than to strike out Into new paths which lead only into the jungle oft ridicule and : condemna tion. """" :-, -" -. Child. Weddings in India, The custom of marrying girls when they are mere, children of nine or ten years Is increasing rather than de' creasing In Bengal and other parts of India. The resulting racial degenera tion is becoming so obvious that laws have been passed in several regions forbidding the marriage of girls under fourteen. A lawyer draws up a will In such a way that he can see a second fee when It Is contested. TOURISTS PESTS IN ROME. Tip-Seekers, Beargara and Tenders Fleece the Foreigners. One hears a great deal about the "Association to Facilitate the Move ment of Foreigners"' In Italy, but of the good accomplished by 'these well- meaning persons, says the London Pail Mall Gazette, one hears much less. There is no doubt that there is a crying evil In the peninsula, which to some people overbalances her un doubted attractions that of the con tinual necessity to pay out money In small sums if you wish any peace. Take, for Instance, the trip from Na ples to Sorrento and Capri. When you return you are shorn of perhaps 3 lire, not more, but the giving of that 3 lire has been such a weariness to the flesh that xyou feel that you have given thousands. First you fall into the hands of the boatman to go on board; getting down to Capri there are fresh payments and on visiting the grotto there are further disbursements, with innumerable tips to odd people and beggars, while Illustrated post cards and coral venders make life a burden. And this is only one example of what the press aptly calls the "hunt of -the foreigners." It is argued that this would be avoided if the tourist paid something more for his round ticket . and had not to disburse these small sums. The Swiss and Germans are no less anxious to make money out of travel ers, but so marvelous Is their organ ization that the victim is to some ex tent unaware of the fact and pays cheerfully .whatever is asked. This being so, it is proposed to Invite the above-mentioned society to move In the-, subject and see, if they cannot justify their existence. Statistics show that the number of beggars along the beaten track of trav elers has very much decreased and that those who do exist are much less Importunate and although the "Society for Foreigners" claims the credit, it is more due to . the "Association Against Begging" and still more to the chiefs of police. No Wonder They Lose. "Is them the' Senators?" asked the low-browed and square-jawed Individ ual who surveyed the scene from the gallery at the opening of Congress. "Yes," answered the friend. "Well," was the response after soma critical examination, "It ain't no won der every other club In the league beats 'em." Washington Post : - .. Idille. A girl had a hat of chenille, . , ' With ornaments made of cut 8 tills, And she wore on her back ; An elegant sack, And of course it waa made ont of sille. ' Chicago Chronicle.