Corvallis gazette., January 08, 1907, Image 4

THE BROOD
SOW TO KEEP
It Is not enough that the brood sow
be'of the proper conformation physical
ly. It is equally Important that she be
of the proper conformation mentally
and morally, if we may be permitted
to use such a term with reference to a
brood sow. In short: Is she a good
mother? Is she level headed? Is she
kind In her disposition? Does she
know how to take care cf her pigs?
Or is she one of those hysterical, fret
ful, ill natured creatures that are un- :
fit for the duties cf motherhood? If j
the latter, no matter how good a looker
she may be, send her to the fattening
pen. Get all the meat on her that you
can conveniently and than let her go.
Again, no matter how good her con
formation or how many pig3 she may
have to the litter or how good her dis
position may be, is she a good suckler?
Does she belong to the milking type?
For there is a milking type in brood
bows as well as iu cows. If she has
this with all the other qualifications,
then keep her, no matter how tempting
the price may be which the feed lot
offers or some neighbor. A brood sow
of this type is worth two or three of
equal weight and equally endowed
with good looks, but lacking in milk
ing, mental and moral qualities. There
fore, first look over your brood sows
and see how many are to go to the left ',
Into the feed pan and how many are
to go to the right and be permitted t'ie '
honor and privilege of furnishing the .
pigs for the next year.
In selecting youngsters it is well to
reject ail from Utters that came small,
say three or four. Select from litters
of seven or eight good, healthy pigs
that have proved by their growth that
they have been well nourished by good
milking dams. They are quite likely to
Inherit her milking qualities as well as j
her disposition siv.d conformation. Re- j
ject unqualifiedly all candidates for
future honors that came from uneven
litters, and reject any that show a
A FKIZE WINNING CHESHIRE.
tendency to become short, chuffy,
wheezy in other words, to develop
into animated lard kegs. These pigs
Will naturally bo deficient in constitu
tion and vitality and should pass Into
the feeding pen. Many farmers if they
should reject the short, chuffy pigs
will find themselves rejecting many
whole litters. In that case It is prob
ably the farmer's fault and not the
pigs'. He has been feeding them too
much corn and not giving -them enough
clover, oats, oilmeal or other protein
foods. He has been asking them to
make bricks without straw, muscle
without muscle making material. They
have done the best they could to turn
the fat making material into fat, and
let the farmer take the consequences.
In this case the thing to do is to re
form his methods and either take the
best that oilers or close out the whole
business and start again with new
stock, perhaps purchased at a long
price. Before doing this, says Wal
lace's Farmer, make sure that you are
not going to make the same mistake
again, but that hereafter you are go
iug to food your brood sows with food
"convenient" for them, to use the ex
pression of the wise old man in the
Troverus, by which he meant suitable
food, needful food, food adapted to the
object in view.
The accompanying illustration shows
one of the largest and handsomest
Cheshire sows exhibited at the state
fairs during the past few years. She
is owned by K. G. Button of Madison
county, N. Y., and was six years old
at th time this picture was taken fop
the American Agriculturist. The ani
mal was in good form and weighed 594
pounds. She was the first prize win
ner at several state fairs, including
Kew York. In some places these ani
mals are known as Jefferson county
swine and are said to have originated
In New York, in the county by that
Dame. It is stated by some that they
started from a pair of pigs brought
from Albany, N. Y., that were called
Cheshlres. As there is no distinct
breed of hogs in England known by
this name and as there are no authen
tic records of importations into this
country under that name, there is rea
son to believe that the so called Chesh
lres have been Improved by cross
ing with Yorkshires brought in from
Canada and elsewhere. Cheshires are I
white, with small, erect ears, long, J
broad, deep bodies, broad hams and j
nearly straight backs. At maturity
they dress from 400 to 600 pounds.
I . Breaking the Colts.
1 Handle the colts as much as possible
while quite young. The time to begin
to break a foal is as soon as it is born.
If a colt is handled from birth it is far
less difficult to break it to work later
on than if allowed to run wild. A colt
should be bslter broken by the time it
Is a month old and should by that time
be on such intimate terms with man
kind as to allow its legs to be handled
freely, says the Farmers Advocate. To
teach a horse to be driven that has
been handled from birth is so easy
compared to breaking an unliandled
colt that it is almost play. It is much
easier to teach a suckling colt to lead
or drive than it is a wild, strong colt
of two, three or fonr years of age.
Broken thus early, he will always be
more trustworthy than if broken at tint
latter age.
HANDLING WINTER LAMBS.
Sosae Valuable Points m Pwwiir
H Marlcetlna- Them.
In no case can lambs be sent to the
market alive. The express charges
would "eat them up." They must be
killed at home and sent dressed. Each
market has a fashion of its own. Bos
ton wants them fully dressed, entirely
divested of skin, while New York
wants them with the skin on, but with
the heads and feet off. ' Early In the
season a lamb that weighs, dressed,
about thirty pounds if very fat win"
meet the market's demands, but later
they should run up to thirty-five or
forty pounds to top the market
In killing the least amount of suffer
ing should be inflicted. This is accom
plished by bringing the lamb gently
into the killing . trough, placing one
hand on the under jaw, the other on
top of the head, and giving a quick
twist of the hands, suddenly breaking
the neck. This stops all sensation.
The throat should then be cut, sever
ing the jugular vein, so as to cause
rapid bleeding. Next skin the Inside
of the hind legs and down the belly
as far as the brisket and on each side,
back even with the middle of the side.
Cut off the feet at the hoofs. Cut off
the head. This is required by an or
dinance in New York city. There
seems to be no good reason for it, as
the lamb sells for no less, and the
meat on the head Is fine enough to
make two or three good meals.
Dressing For Market.
Tie the hind legs together and hang
on a hook so as to bring the lamb even
with the killer's shoulders. Open and
remove the caul carefully and put it
into a pocket made by separating the
skin from one side of the body a little.
Remove the bowels, but if the weather
is cold leave the haslets. If the weath
er is hot the haslets should be removed
and a handful of salt thrown into the
cavity. A couple of clean sticks are
next inserted in each side of flanks,
crossed at the back, so as to stretch
the sides open as much as possible.
Carefully place the caul over all the
skinned part of the carcass, fastening
it, if necessary, until cold, with wood
en skewers. Cut a small hole in the
caul opposite each kidney and, having
loosened it up, pull it through the
opening so as to make it show to the
best advantage. This is what catches
the customer's eye. Hang away until
entirely cold. If the weather is hot an
ice room could be provided, in which
they should be hv.ng until cold. When
ready to ship wrap the skinned part
in clean muslin, cover the whole lamb
with burlap, sew up securely and send
by express to some reliable commis
sion man unless you are fortunate
enough to sell on order. J. S. Wood
ward in American Agriculturist
THE SHEPHERD
Don't forget when laying plans for a
new sheep barn that it should extend
east and west, with doors anei windows
facing south, and that it should be well
ventilated.
A healthy flock of sheep is a profit
able flock.
Sheep are good manure spreaders,
and they make a business of killing
weeds too.
Count the sheep and lambs every
day. Keep a sharp lookout for sheep
killing dogs.
Sheep are the scavengers of the farm.
Turn a flock of sheep hjto foul fields
and let them free it from weeds. Ev
ery farm should support a small flock
of sheep.
A ewe gaining in flesh at mating time
is much more likely to produce a
good lamb than one in poor condition,
says the Farm Journal.
To insure a thrifty and growing con
dition some grain should be given ewes
every day in addition to the pasture.
Scrub rams will make you scrub for
the money you get Don't keep them;
get good ones.
Save some of the best ewe lambs for
your own flock. Those from good,
twin bearing stock are best
The sheep fence needs to be good and
tight two or three feet up from the
ground. Above that it may be more
open.
Contract for your sires early. A lit
tle later they will all be picked up.
Feeding Sheep.
The feed should be so distributed
that all may have free acess to it at all
times, writes W. E. Raymond In Kim
ball's Dairy Farmer. This Is more Im
portant with the large flock than with
the small. Judging from our own ob
servation, this Is seldom the case. We
have seen flocks Inclosed In one yard or
in a shed while the feed was being dis
tributed in another; then when the
door was opened often a narrow one
the sheep would crowd in, tumble in,
anyway to get in. The first ones have
plenty of time to fill up before the last
ones get out Generally all would be
eaten up before the last arrived. This
again is where the strongest get the
most and best while the weaker and
those that need it most get little or
nothing. While this may not be avoid
ed altogether, It can be to a great ex
tent by providing wide doors and
gates. One of the best arranged sheep
sheds I ever saw had the whole side
for a door, about three feet high. When
sheep were let in of out to feed, all
came as near having an equal chance
as it is possible with a large flock. An
other feature of this kind of a door Is
that none is hurt or killed by being
Jammed in doorways. This may mean
much to a flock of ewes when heavy
with lamb. It is also very Important
with a large flock that they have water
where they can get to It at all times
and at no distance from the feeding
yards. Sheep are so gregarious that it
they be driven to water and all cannot
drink a once many of them vrtH tot
tow tot flock rather than step to JdMc
A GOOD PLEA.
There came one day to an Inn near
Bologna, kept by a widow, Madonna
Locretzie, three travelers. When they
rose to go, one, a Venetian, thus ad
dressed their hostess:
"Excellent lady, may we leave under
your roof for a day or two this bag of
gold?"
"You may," she replied gayly. "But,
remember, we fasten only with a latch.
Bars and bolts we have none in oar
village, and, if we had, where would
be your security?" '
"In your word, lady."
"But what if I died tonight? Where
would it be then?" said she laughingly.
"The money would go to the church,
for none could claim it"
"Perhaps you will favor us with an
acknowledgment?"
"If you will write it."
An acknowledgment was written ac
cordingly, and she signed it before
Master Bartolo, the village physician,
who had just called by chance to learn
the news of the day, the gold to be de
livered when applied for, but to be de
livered (these were the words) not to
one or to two, but to the three words
wisely introduced by those to whom it
belonged, knowing what they knew of
each other. The gold they had just
released from a miser's chest in Peru
gia, and they were now on a scent that
promised more.
They . and their shadows were no
sooner departed than the Venetian re
turned, saying, "Give me leave to set
my seal on the bag, as the others have
done." And she placed it on a table
before him, but in that moment she
was called away to receive a cavalier
who had just dismounted from his
horse, and when she came back it was
gone. The temptation had proved ir
resistible. The man and the money
had vanished together.
"Wretched woman that I am!" she
cried as in an agony of grief she fell
on her daughter's neck. "What will be
come of us? Are we again to be cast
out Into the wide world? Unhappy
child, would that thou hadst never been
born!" And all day long she lamented,
but her tears availed her little. The
others were not slow in returning to
claim their due, and there were no tid
ings of the thief. He had fled far away
with his plunder. A process against her
was instantly begun in Bologna, and
what defense could she make, how re
lease herself from the obligation of the
bond? Willfully or in negligence she
had parted with it to one v aen she
should have kept it for all, and inevita
ble ruin awaited her. ,
"Go, Gianetta," said she to her daugh
ter. "Take this veil which your moth
er has worn and wept under and im
plore the Counselor Calderino to plead
for us on the day of the trial. He is
generous and will listen to the unfortu
nate; but, if he will not, go from door
to door. Monaldi cannot refuse us.
Make haste, my child, but remember
the chapel as you pass by It Nothing
prospers without a prayer."
Alas, she went, but in vain! These
were retained against-them. Those de
manded more than they had to give,
and all bade them despair. What was
to be done? No advocate and the cause
to come on tomorrow!
Now, Gianetta had a lover, and he
was a student of law, a young man of
great promise, Lorenzo Martelli. He
had studied long and diligently under
that learned lawyer, Giovanni Andreas,
who, though little of stature, was great
In renown and by his contemporaries
was called the arch doctor, the rabbi of
doctors, the light of the world. Under
him he had studied, sitting on the same
bench with Petrarch, and also under
his daughter, Novella, who would often
lecture to the scholars when her father
was otherwise engaged, placing herself
behind a small curtain lest her beauty
should divert their thoughts, a precau
tion in this Instance at least unneces
sary, Lorenzo having lost his heart to
another.
To him she flies In her necessity, but
of what assistance can he be? He has
just taken his place at the bar, but he
has never spoken, and how stand up
alone, unpracticed and unprepared as
he is, against an array that would
alarm the most experienced? .
"Were I as mighty as I am weak,"
said he, "my fears for you would make
me as nothing. But I will be there,
Gianetta, and may the Friend of the
friendless give me strength In that
hour. Even now my heart fails me;
but come what will, while I have a
loaf to share you and your mother
shall never want I will beg through
the world for you."
The day arrives, andthe court as
sembles. The claim is stated and the
evidence given. And now the defense
Is called for, but none Is made. Not a
syllable Is uttered, and after a pause
and a consultation of some minutes
the judges are proceeding to give judg
ment, silence having been proclaimed
In the court, when Lorenzo rises and
thus addresses them:
"Reverend seigniors, young as I am,
may I venture to speak in behalf of
one who has none else to help her? I
will not keep you long. Much has been
said, much on the. sacred nature of the
obligation, and we acknowledge it In
its full force. Let it be fulfilled, and
to the last letter. It is what we solicit
what we require. But to whom is the
bag of gold to be delivered? What
.says the bond? Not to one, not to two,
but to the three. Let the three stand
forth and claim it"
From that day for who can doubt
the Issue? none was sought none em
ployed, but the subtle, the eloquent
Lorenco. Wealth followed fame. Nor
Bead I say how soon be sat at his mar-
ar who sat tennlflt kiMi, j
IRRIGATION PRACTICE.
IVew Land Requires More Water
Than Cultivated Fields.
By SAMUEL FORTIES.
The subsoils of western lands when
first brought under Irrigation contain
little moisture. The most striking char
acteristics of these formations are their
great depths and the close similarity
which exists between the surface and
subsurface layers. Apart from their
darker color, due to decayed vegetable
matter, there is little to distinguish top
soils from bottom soils, and the roots
of plants extend to great depth through
the latter. On "account of these pre
vailing physical features a large part
of the water which is applied for the
first few seasons is absorbed. Cases
are common in which new land has ab
sorbed in one season a quantity of wa
ter which would have covered the sur
face to a depth of six feet To claim
that this large volume correctly repre
sents the duty for such land is a mis
representation, because the open space
in the subsoil Is gradually filled with
water and the ground water level in
time rises nearer the surface. It is a
fact however, that new land requires
much more water per acre than old
cultivated fields, and crops are likely
to suffer if it is not supplied.
Good Ditches and Laterals.
Other conditions being similar, less
water will be used on a farm which
has a good system of ditches and later
als and a well cultivated, even surface.
The beginner is not always posted a 3
to the best way to lay out and build
farm ditches, and he may not possess
sufficient means to properly prepare his
fields for irrigation. These defects in
variably prove quite costly in the end,
when measured in waste of water and
small yields. In an arid country thor
ough cultivation serves a double pur
pose in that it increases the yield and
prevents the escape of water into the
atmosphere. Grading or leveling the
surface is even more important, since
it is difficult to apply water to an un
even surface, the growth of the crop is
not uniform and the soil in the low
places is likely to be damaged by an
excess cf water.
Rlntaringr Crops X'ptlCT IrrigratSon.
The time necessary to mature plants
differs. Unier favorable conditions a
crop of alfalfa can be grown in less
than fifty days, a crop of barley in
something over a hundred days, while
it may require 150 days to ripen cer
tain varieties of fruit. There is not
only a difference In the period of
growth, but in the number of crops
grown in one season.
A FEEDING RACK.
Convenient For Bonghage and
Ground Food.
The accompanying illustration, cred
ited to the Farmer, represents a type of
feeding rack, with troughs that will be
found economical for feeding both
roughage and ground food. These
racks can be cheaply constructed and
will last for a number of years. One
half of the roof is put on hinges so that
they can be filled directly from a wag
on. If cut silage Is fed, it should be
put in first, as it will fall through the
rack Into the troughs. After the silage
is thus properly distributed the racks
can be filled with hay. Twelve or
fourteen feet is a good length to build
such racks. The frame can be made
of 2 by 4 inch lumber. A 2 by 4 Inch
scantling runs lengthwise in the center
of the rack and is framed to the bot-
BACK WITH TKOUGES.
torn crosspieees. To this is nailed on
each side at the bottom a 1 by 3 inch
strip for the troughs to rest on. The
slats can be made out of 2 by 7-8
inch stuff placed two and one-half
inches apart. For outdoor use in a
wet climate the racks should be roofed,
though it Is not necessary where the
rainfall is light A one-half inch strip
should be nailed to the e&ves so as to
prevent the water from dripping in the
feed or on the sheep while eating.
Pumpkin Sugar In Iowa.
Sugar from pumpkins will be the
next source of wealth which will be
developed In Iowa, for the authorities
at the agricultural college declare high
grade sugar will be made from them
by a process even more simple than
that required to make it from beets.
Experiments have resulted in the pro
duction of a species of pumpkin which
contains 4 per cent of sugar, and it is
the prediction that in three years the
sugar element will be Increased to 12
per cent This is equal to the quantity
of sugar found in the best variety of
sugar beet Because pumpkins are eas
ily raised and a tonnage may be pro
duced to the acre which will exceed
that of sugar beets the new sugar
pumpkin will open up a valuable field
for the Iowa farmers. The pumpkins
may be planted in the cornfields, and
the same soil which will produce corn
may be made to produce a crop of
pumpkins at the same time. American
Cultivator. ,
Vetch Zn Western Oresoa.
Common vetch stands the winters
admirably in western Oregon and west
ern Washington and is shown in the
autumn from the last of August to the
last of November. It Is sown also In
the early spring, but fall seeding usual
ly gives the largest yields. The stems
of this vetch are not strong, and heavy
crops are inclined to flatten out on the
ground. Oats are usually sown with
vetch, winter oats being sown In the
tall and spring oata In the spring; -
PIGEON POINTERS.
Berne Hints to Breeders of the Little
Feathered Beauties.
The following valuable hints on
pigeon rearing aire clipped from Poul
try Success:
Birds bred from good foundation
stock will show their good qualities
for several generations to come.
Charcoal Is one .of the necessities
that pigeons must have, and granu
lated charcoal is the best as it is free
from dirt and dust and uniform in size.
This should be in every loft
Too much attention cannot be given
the birds at this season of the year,
the molting time. Some call it the
"dying time." A well balanced ration,
cleanliness and ventilation are neces
sary. Keep your coop free from feathers.
Examine some of them and you will
find lice and mites. Burn them and
lessen your trouble.
Don't tend your birds on the Install
ment plan and say there Is nothing In
the business.
Common sense, care and attention is
the only road that leads to success, and
then you find some thorns on the way
ide. Why of course you ore going to ex
hibit that pair of birds at your local
show, and if they win a place send
them to another.
Remember the pigeon breeder who
has spent ten or fifteen years in per
fecting a strain of birds cannot sell
them at low prices. Get the best from
reliable breeders and you will be bet
ter satisfied one year from now.
Do not be led astray by some of the
literature put on the market by some
squab company. Remember the squab
business must be learned largely by
experience. Better start with six pairs
than GOO.
Some people rush into the squab
business, thinking fabulous sums can
be quickly realized. Remember, it
takes years of experience and judicious
handling to make a success of the busi
ness. Bowel trouble in pigeons is usually
the result of improper feeding, filthy
water and crowding.
In the breeding of pigeons it is well
to remember that size is influence!
largely by the female.
T2xe LaKKhan.
In Eng!a::d there is on foot a move
ment to return to the oU type of Lang
shan. The Langshan is an Asiatic fowl
and originally very closely resembled
the "true" Shanghai of a generation
ago, except as to color. Despite the
many explanations of the name, it is
probable that the homely one to the
effect that it is merely an adaptation
from the words long shanks is correct
Ott STYLE IiANGSHAU.
At any rate, many of the British breed
ers are arguing that the Langshan, un
der the requirements of the modern
standard of perfection, is losing the
characteristics which first made the
breed popular and that its former re
markable utility qualities are being lit
erally refined out of it. There is prob
ably a kernel of truth in this charge,
but the first experiment looking to
ward what seems to be a step back
ward In poultry culture will be watch
ed with interest The illustration here
with gives an excellent idea of a
Langshan cock of the old type.
Don't Use "Henny" Cocks.
Never use a "henny" cock bird, and
there are too many of the kind birds
with only a hah? a crow to them, cow
ardly in their disposition, would not
stand up in defense of their mates
even against a young. Immature cock
erel. Such a bird Is no good, howevei
well he may look as far. as feathers are
concerned. He will ultimately ruin tha
strain by lessening its vitality. A cock
that doesn't spoil for a fight is no good,
and neither is the cock with no crow
to him.. A well, strong and potent cock
will crow Incessantly and give full
evidence of his lordship.
Layers and Breeders.
Pullets on their first winter are the
best egg producers. The older the pul
lets are when winter begins the more
continuous will be the egg supply, ac
cording to the Feather. Eggs from
young pullets are not the best for
hatching. Hens two years old are bet
ter for producing eggs for hatching
than pullets. Immaturity -is not con
ducive to strength and vigor in the off
spring. Chlolrs on Plowed Ground.
It Is well known, though less well
known than it should be, that chicks
thrive wonderfully on plowed ground,
and one well known poultryman plows
np alternate strips of his chick range
so that the young stock can have their
choice of either fresh ground or grass
ground. He Insists that the youngsters
spend most of their time on the plowed
THE WOMAN IN GRAY
"Don't ask me for names and dates -
flftd nlsces. Mcn and xtrnmnn ro ti? -
creatures of names, times or places, '
but they are only creatures of love, dla- -. '
appointment, joy, grief and pain. Men
are not loved, hated or honored for the
time, place or name under which they,
live. Neither do men cease with their
time or place, but 'extinctus amabiter :.
Idem ,
. "I have seen three generations of
men in manhood, the first in St Louis
years ago and the latter two in an
eastern city Where my home is. In that
eastern city I learned the story I am
about to relate to you.
"It was not many years ago that I ;
knew them the persons whom my
story concerns. They were three. The
vuutrui uure m caul irju was u ueau
tif ul young girl, about twenty years old
when she came into the story I am
about to tell. She was richly endowed
with womanly grace and worldly
wealth. She was not from St Louis,
but she traced her ancestry to the . '
founders of the city and was bouud by
ties of blood to families still represent
ed here and honored for their lineage.
"She lived In an eastern city; There
she knew and loved an artist. The ten
der passion was returned, and but for
one thing all was well and propitious
with their love. The artist was a gen
ius, his devotion to his art being second
only to his devotion to the young wot
man whom he loved. His work was
much sought after. There was a pe
culiar sameness about all his pictures,
however. He had a hobby in art, al
ways affecting the somber ia tints. The
gray of November landscapes was a .---passion
with him. He carried this taste
into a pet name for his fiancee, for
when he petted her he called her his
mue gray mouse, one iiKeu tue pel
name, fbr she was but a timid, clinging
child of love.
"The one thing that disturbed the
happiness of these two was the foolish
jealousy of the artist lover. The ob
ject of this jealousy was a young
man of fortuue and leisure who was a
friend of the pair. He knew of their
love and sacredly regarded it, but he
did love the young woman. He con
cealed his love, always conductingfcim
self as a friend of the two and noth
ing more. He did not know that ha
was the innocent cause of frequent
outbursts of jealous accusations by
the ardent artist against bis sweetheart.
The girl always passionately avowed
her love for the ari t and declared tha
other man to be but a friend.
"The artist and his fiancee were ac
customed to frequently visit art ex- '
hibits together. One gray afternoon
they went to a large art museum. She
was clad in gray. For hours they loi
tered before the pictures. At last the
young woman complained of weariness
and wanted to sit down to rest.
" 'Come into the next department
and "you can rest while I look at the
pictures there,' he suggested.
" 'No, I am going to rest right here,'
she said, just a bit pettishly, as she
found an easy chair, and she would not
go with him. He left her, saying that
he would be back soon.
"He had scarcely gone before the
mutual frieud of the pair happened
along and stopped for a moment to
chat with the woman whom he loved,
but to whom, for honor's sake, he
would not declare his love. He soon
passed on and left her to wait for the
artist whom he envied and whom she
loved devotedly.
"The artist never came. The young
woman waited until the dusk had fall
en. As the moments wore on her heart
began to smite her, and then came a
sense of sickening fear and then a flow
of tears. She searched the gallery.
He was not there, t'uddeuly a look of
horror came into her eyej and with it
the inward questions: "Did he come
back? Did he see Vernon speaking
with me, and did he go away forever 7
&t last the gallery closed. The wom
an in gray was driven to her home,
hoping yet that he would come to her.
"The evening passed, and the artist
did not come. The next morning the
young woman was in a raging fever,
delirious, constantly calling for her ab
sent lover. At last she recovered, but
was never the same woman. The art
ist never returned. As frequently hap
pens in great cities, he bad disappear
ed as though the earth had swallowed
him up.
"The woman, now grown almost to
middle age, still searches for him
quietly and mysteriously. The habit
of visiting large gatherings, especially
art exhibitions, has grown upon bei
until it has become a mania. She goes ""'
to these places always clad In gray.
She glides about as though possessed
of the spirit of mystery. In her eyes
there is always that look of an awak
ening question powerful and awful, re
pelling all questions from those who
would be curious. 'Did he see Vernon
speaking with me, and did he go away
forever?" This woman In gray has al
ways been a mystery wherever she has
gone, but none has ever learned hez
story from her lips. Her lips are
closed, but her heart speaks.
"No; don't ask me for names or date,
for her secret is sacred, and it would
be a sacrilege to reveal it," said the
old man. "When death shall come and
eternity shall bring light to her clouded
brain she may learn the mystery of
that somber afternoon, or perhaps In
her wandering, faithful search she may
find the lost artist and dispel his jeal
ousy by the story of her devotion."
And the old man turned away from
a dazed auditor. St Louis Globe-Democrat
A Friarht.
"Miss Nobbs had an awful blow thil
morning."
"What was It?"
"She went down the avenue to show
0,' her new fall hat and three horse
h.ed art he." Dsfcott Fre PfW i
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