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About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 12, 1885)
AT lUiilV-fciUllT. At twil'clit, vl8-a v s w tli fair, She sal, unhappy nnd nlot.e; Ucr milestones tiuitibcrril fortv-clslit, No other pathway crossed her own. Ko tender voice robbed ago of gloom, No oinlHtijr faces cliCurcU htr slirlit Tbcro only glided through tic rooii Tbo pli&ntom of a dead delight. "How dim nnd drenr the pathway eccmj," She said, "to nis at fortj-e'gul; Long since I wakened from my d teams I seek for naught; for nothing wult. "I am like one who blindly gropes Toward fading sunsets In tho West; Behind me lie youths shattered hoper, What can I ask for now but rest J "Some Joys I sought with heart on flro Would find me now but all too laic I watched ambltlons.funeral pyre Burn down ere I was .forty-eight "With naught to hope, expect or win, This lonely lot lcinalus to me; To count the wrecks or what 'has been' And kuow that nothing more can be." Too sad to weep, loo tired to pray, Alone she sal at forty-eight. While sunset colors pale J to gray How desolate, how dcsolatcl Ma Whtfhr Wilcox. Mathias Sandorf. -nr- JULES VERNE. Atmion op "journey, to Tim cnNTnn OP THE KAItTII," "TIIIP TO Till: MOON," ."AltOIJND TIIK WOlt&D IN KIOIITY DAYS," "MIOHAKn BTUOOOl'l'," "TWUNTV THOUSAND I.UAOUES UNDIUl TUB b5A," ETC., ETC. Tit A N8 1. ATI 0 N COl'VltiailTItn, 1833. CHAPTER IV. TOItONTHAlS HANK. At Trieste "society " is nearly non existent. Between different races us botweon castes, i. is seldom found. Tho Austrian ollleialsnssunio tho highestposi tion, and tnko precedence according to thoir rospcotivo ranks. Generally thoso inon are distinguished, well educated nnd well meaning ; but their pay is so Binitll lor their position that they are unable to enter into comuotition with tho trad ingandbankingdasscs. Theso latter, us ontertainmonts are raro among tho rich, nnd tho parties givon by tho olllcials tiro nearly all unambitious, havo taken to display most of their wealth in outsido show in tho streets by thoir sumptuous carringca, nnd at tho theatre b' tho ox trnvagnnco of their dross and jewelry. Among those opulent familicB that of Silas Toronthal held a distinguished placo. llio head of tho house, whoso erodit extended far boyond tho limits of Aufltrodlungary, was then in hislhirty soventh your. Willi Mine. Toronthal, who was sovcral years his junior, ho occupied a mansion in tho Aequodotto. flo was supposed to bo very rich and ho should havo boon. Hold and fortius nto speculations on tho Stock Ex change, a largo business with tho Aus trian Lloyds and other oxtensivo com panies and tho issuing of sovoral impor tant loans had, or ought to havo, brought hugo.siuns of money into his coffers. nenoo uis nousonotu was conducted ou i scale of considorablosplondor. Novortheless, us Saroany had said to Zirono, thero was a possibility that tho affairs of Silas Toronthal wero slightly ombarrassed at least for n time. Seven years boforc, when tho funds wore shaken by tho Franco-Italian war, ho had reeoived a severe blow, and moro recently tho disastrous campaign which ended at Sudawa had sent down tho pricoson ovory Exchange in Europe, moro especially on those of Austria Hungary, and chiefly those of Vienna, Vanih Mid Trieste. Tho necossity of providing tho largo amounts thon drawn out ou tho current accounts not im probably caused him serious incon Ctouieuou But when tho crisis had passed ho doubtless loeovored himself, Mid if what Sareany had said was cor rect it must havo been his recent spoon, latioiis only which had led him into uiflloultiea. During tho Inst fow months a great change hud como over Toronthal. His whole look had altered without his knowledge. Ho was not, as formerly, master of himself, Pcoplo had noticed that ho no longer looked them in tho face, us had been his custom, but rather pyod thum askance. This had not es caped tho notice of Mmo. Toronthal, a confirmed invalid, without energy, and tubmissiveness itself, who know very little about his business matters. And if some disaster did menaoo Toronthal, it must bo admitted that ho would get very little sympathy. Ho had many customers, but few friends. Tho high opinion ho held about his posi tion, his native vanity, tho airs ho gave hiinsolf onfall occasions, had not Uouo him any good. Aud above all tho people of Trieste looked upon him as a foreigner because ho was horn at Hagusa, and hence was a Dalmatian. No family ties attached him to tho town to which ho had como llfteen years before to lay the foundation of hit fort una Such, then, was tho position of Tor onthul's bank. Although Sareany had his suspicions, nothing had occurred to give rino toa rumor thut it was iu diffi culties. Its credit remained unshaken. And Count Sundorf, after realizing his investments, had deposited with it a considerable sum-on condition that it should always bo available ut twenty four hours' notice. It may seem surprising that n con nootion of any sort should huvo lieon formed between a bank of fuoli high roputatiou uud Bitch ft very dubious character as Sareany. It had existed, nevertheless, for two or throo yours. Torouthnl had had a good deal of bind no;wiUi tho ltegenoy of Tripoli, and Saroany Imd bou employed mi n kind of broker Knd genwal confidential gfjeut, on trust cil with tho disposal of certain wine and other gifts under circum stnneoi in which it was not nlways de sirable that the Trie.sto banker should appear in person. .Having been engaged in these and other rather suspicious schemes, Saroiny got his foot, or rather his hand, into the bank ; nnd continued to carry on a sort of system of extortion on Toronthal, who was not, however, nuito at his mercy ; masinucii as no niatcrinl proof existed of thoir mutual dealings. But a banker's position ono of extrcmo delicacy, a worn may min him. And Sareany knew how to take advantage of this. Hut Toronthal Knew what ho was about Ho had parted with certain sums, which had been dissipated in tho rambling houses with tho recklessness of an adventurer who takes no though of tho future, and then Sareany becom inir too unfortunate, tho banker sud denly drew his purse-strhigsond refused further credit. Sareany threatened Toronthal remained lirm. Anil no was safe in doing so, after all, for Sareany had no proofs, and no ono would believe him. This was tho reason that Sareany and Jus comrade, Zirone, found themselves at tho end of their resources, and with out oven tho wherewithal to leave tho town and seek their fortune clsowhcre. And wo know how Toronthal cuino to their help with stiillcient funds to enable them to return to Sicily, where Zirono belonood to ono of tho secret societies. Tho banker thus hoped to get rid of tho Tripolitan, nnd hoped never to seo or hear of him again. Ho was doomed to disappointment in this, ns in most other iniilterrf. It was on tho evening of tho 18th of May that tho 200 florins had reached tho adventurers at their hotel. Six days afterwards, on tho2lth of tho samo month, Saroiny presented himself at tho bank and demanded to eco Silas Toronthal, and so much did ho insist that ho was at length leceived. Tim banker was in his pnvato ofllco, and Sareany carefully closed tho door as soon as ho had been introduced. "You again !' exclaimed Toronthal. " What aro you doing here ? I sent you, nnd for tho last time, quite enough to help you to leave Triesto 1 You will get nothing moro from mo, whatever you may say or do ! Why havo you not gone? I'll take steps to put n. htoppor on you for tho future 1 What do you want ?" Sareany received tho broadsido very .coolly. Ho was qui to prepared for it. His altitudo was what it had always been of lato in his visits to tho banker insolent and provoking. Not only was ho masler of himself, but ho was quite serious, lie had stepped up to a chair, without being invited to sit down, and waited until tho banker's bad temper had evaporated before ho replied. "Well, why don't you speak?" con tinued Toronthal, who, after hurriedly binding to aud fro. had sat down. "I'm wailing till you aro calm," re plied Sareany, very quietly; "and I'll wail as long as is necessary." "What does it mattor whether I nm calm ? For tho last time, what do you want?" "Silas Toronthal," answered Sareany, "I havo a little business to proposo to you." "I do not want to talk business to you 1" exclaimed tho banker. "There is nothing in common between you and me, and lonly expect to hear that you aro oil' from Trieste to-day forovor." "I expect to leave Trieste," answered Sareany, "but! do not like to go until 1 have repaid you what I owo 1" "You repay mo ? you ?" "Yes, repay you interest, capital, without saying anything of tho" Toronthal shrugged his shoulders nt this unexpected proposition. "Tho sums 1 havo advanced," ho said, "are charged to profit aud loss and aro written oil" I 1 consider wo aro clear. 1 want nothing from you, audi am above such trillos." " And if it pleases mo to remain your debtor?" "And if it pleases mo to remain your creditor ?" Then Toronthal and Sareany looked nt each other, and thon Sareany with u shrug of his shoulders continued : " These aro only phrases, and thero h nothing in phrases. I repeat, I como to bring you some very important busi ness." "Aud suspicious business, too, I daro say?" " Well, it is not tho Hint titno that you havo como to mo" " Words, nothing but words," said tho banker. "Listen," said Sareany. "I will bo brief." "And you had better." "If what I am going to toll you docs uot suit you, say bo, uud I'll go." "From hero or from Trieste?" "From hero and from Triesto." "To-morrow ?" "This evening 1" "Speak, thenl" , "Well, then, this is it," said Sareany. "Hut," added he, looking around, "you aro sure no ono can hear us ?" "You would like our interview to bo secret, then V" asked tho bankor ironi cally. " Yes, Silas Toronthal, for you and I hold iu our hands tho lives of important personages." "You do, perhaps. I do uot 1" " Well, then, see. I am on tho track of a conspiracy. Whnt its object is I do not yet kuow. Hut after what has hap pened on tho plains of Ioinburdy, after the business at Sadowa, all that is not Austrian is against Austria. And I havo some reason to think that a move ment is on foot in favor of Hungary by which wo can profit," Toronthal, as his only reply, eou. tented himself with saying; "1 havo nothing to got out of your conspiracy." "Perhaps not." Hut how V" "Hy denouncing it I" "Kvplain I" "Ltbten." Aud Sareany told him of all that had UprP-f10 Ui tho.oJd cemetery, pf tho carrier pigeon, of tho intercepted mes sago of which ho had taken a fac-similo and of how ho had found out tho bird's destination. Ho added that for livo days ho nnd Zirono had been watching tho houso ; how tho samo people met thero every night, not without great piccautions ; of other pigeons that had gono away, and others that had como ; of how tho houso was guarded by nn old servant, who carefully inspected all who approached; of how Sareany nnd his companion had been obliged to act with circumspection to ovado tho attention of this old man, and ofjhow, during tho last fow days, ho had raised suspicions. Toronthal began to listen moro atten tively to what Sareany told him. no 'asked himself if it wero true, and what gain ho could get out of it When tho story was told, when Sareany for tho last timo affirmed that thero was h con spiracy against tho Stato and that some thing could bo mado out of revealing its existence, tho banker asked tho follow ing questions: "Whero is tho house?" "No. 89 Avenue do Acquedotta." "To whom does it belong?" "To aHungarian gentleman." "What is tho Hungarian gentleman'-s name 'Count Ladislas Zathmar." 'And who aro tho pcoplo that visit him?" "Two chicflv; two of Hungarian birth." "Ono is ?" " A professor of this town, llis namo is Stophon Hathory." "Tho other is-?" " Count Mathias Sandorf." Toronthal mado a start of surprise, which did not escapo Sareany. IIo had easily found tho throo names by follow ing JJathory to tho Uorsa Stadion and Sandorf to tho notel Dolorino. "You see, Toronthal," continued Sar cany, - incso nvo tno names x navo no Hesitation in giving you. xou seo X am not playing with you." "All that is very vagno ! replied tho banker, who evidently wished to know moro beforo committing himself. Vaguo ?" said Sareany. Yes I To begin with, you havo no material proof. "And what is this then ?" Tho copy of tho messago was placed in JLorontliala hands. Tho banker ox nmincd it, not without curiosity. But its cryptographic words gavo no sign of sense to lnm, and thero was nothing to provo that they wero of tho importanco that Sareany asserted. If ho had any interest in the affair it was merely so far as it affected his customer, Count San dorf, aud with him nothing could occur to make him uneasy, unless it camo to pass that ho desired to draw out at short uotico tho funds deposited in tho bank. "Well," said ho at length, "my opinion btillis that it is very vaguo." "Nothing seems clearor to me, on tho contrary," answered Sareany, whom tho banker's attitude iu no way dismayed. " Havo you been able to decipher this letter ?" "No, but I kuow how to do so when tho timo comes." " And how ?" "I havo had somothing to do with such matters before," said Sareany, "and a good many ciphered despatches havo passed through my hands. From a careful examination of that ono I seo that its key docs not depend on a num ber or a conventional alphabet which attributes to a letter a different mean ing to its real meaning. In this letter an a is an s, a p is a p; but tho letters aro arranged iu a certain order, which order can bo discovered by a grating." Sareany, as wo know, was right. That was tho system that had been used for tho correspondence. Wo also know that it was tho most indecipherable ono that could bo found. "Ho it so," said tho bankor, "I do not deny but what you aro right; but without tho grating you cannot read tho mcsage." "Evidently." "And Low will you got tho grating?" "I do not know yet," answered Sar eany; " nut rest assured J. shall get it. "Hoally! Well, if I wero in your place, Sareany, I should give myself u good deal of troublo to do so I" I shall take tho trouble that is nec essary. "To what end? I should content myself with going to tho police and handing them tho messago." "I will do so, "replied Sareany, coldly, but not with thoso siniplo presump tions. What I want beforo I speak aro material, undeniablo proofs. 1 intend to become master of this conspiracy yesl absoluto master of it, to gain ad vantages from which I ask you to share 1 Aud who knows even if it may not bo better to join tho conspirators iusteud of taking part against them? Such languago did not astonish Tor onthal. Ho well kuow of what Sareany was capable. Hut if Sareany did not hesitate to speak in this way, it was bocauso he, too, know of what Toron thal was capable His conscienco was olastio enough for anything. Sareany know him of old, and suspected that tho bank had boon in dillloutios for some timo, so that this conspiracy, surprised, betrayed and mado tiso of, might come to its aid. Such was Sarcany's idea. Toronthal, on tho other hand, was seeking to join in with his old broker. That thero did exist some conspiracy against tho Austrian Government, nnd that bareauy hud discovered tho con spirators, ho was inclined to admit. This houso of liadislas Zathmar, with tho secret meetings, this ciphered cor respondence, tho enormous sum hold at call by Sandorf all began to look very suspicious. Very likely Sareauy was right. Hut tho banker was anxious to do the best he could for himself aud souud the matter to tho bottom and would not yet give in. So ho oontonted himself with saying ; "And when you havo dooiphorod tho loiter if you over do you will llnd it only refers to privato affairs of no impor tance, nnd consequently there will bo uo protlt for you or mo 1" "No I" said Sareany, iu n tono of tho doopost conviction. "No 1 I am on tho track of a serious conspiracy, conducted by men of lugli rank, uud I add, SLLvi Toronthal, that you doubt it no more than I do." "Well, what do you want?" asked tho banker. Sareany ro30, nnd, in n lower tone, looking straight at Toronthal, roplied : "What I want is this : I want admis sion to Count Zathmar's house, on somo i . lit 1 . - . -m- ' pretext yet to oo louiui, so that JL can gain his coufidouce. Onco there, whero nobody knows me, I shall got hold of tho gratingand decipher this despatch, which 1 can then mako uso of to further our interests." " Our interests ? why do you want to mix mo up m tho affair? "Because it is woll worth tho troublo, and you will gam something out of it" "And could not you do that by your self?" " No 1 I havo need of your help." "Explain." "To attain my end I want time, and wlnlo I am waiting I want monoy, havo none." "Your credit is exhausted here, yon know! "Woll, you will open another." " What good will that do to mo?" "This. Of tho thrco men I havo spoken to you about two aro poor Zathmar and Professor Hathory but (ho third is immensely rich. Ilis pos sessions in Transylvania aro considerable. You kuow that if ho is arrested as a con spirator and found guilty his goods will be confiscated and tho greatest part of them will go to thoso who discovered nnd denounced tho conspiracy 1 You and I, Silas Toronthal, wo go shares 1" Sareany was silent Tho banker mado no answer. IIo was thinking if it wero worth whilo to join in tho gamo. IIo was not tho man to personally compro mise himself in an affair of this nature; but ho felt that his agent would bo man enough to act for both. If ho decided to join in tho schomo ho know woll how to mako a treaty that would hold his man at his mercy and enable him to re main in tho dark. IIo hesitated for nil that. Good 1 To got all, what did ho risk ? Ho need not appear in this odious affair, and ho would reap tho profit enormous profit, which would get tho bank on a sound footing again. "Well?" asked Sareauy. "Woll? No!" nnswered Toronthal, frightened at having such an associate, or to uso tho proper word, such au ac complice. "lou rofuso ?" "Yes I rcf uso besides I do notbo- liovo in tho success of your schemes." "Tnko care, Toronthal," said Sareany in a threatening tone, which ho could not restrain. "Tnko caro? Aud of vhat if you plcaso ?" " Of what I know of certain transac tions " " Clear out 1" answered Toronthal. "I shall know how to compel you " "Oo!" At that moment thero camo a gentlo knock at tho door. As Sareany quickly stopped to tho window tho door opened, and tho messenger said in a loud voico : "Count Sandorf will bo glad if Mr. Toronthal will givo him a fow moments' conversation." Then ho retired. " Count Sandorf?" oxclaimod Sareany. Tho banker was anything but pleased for Sareany to know of this visit. And ho also foresaw that considerable dilll- culties would result from tho Count's unexpected arrival. And what does Count Sandorf do hero?" asked Sareany, ironically. "You, then, havo something to do with tho con spirators at Count Zathmar's ! In fact, I havo been talking to ono of them !" Again, I tell you to go." I shall not go, Toronthal, and I shall find out why Count Sandorf comes to your banking houso !" rVnu ho stopped into a cupboard lead ing out of tho olfico and shut tho door. Toronthal was about to call and havo him turned out, but ho thought bettor of it. No !" ho muttered; "after all, it is better Sareany should hear all that goes on !" Tho banker rang for tho messenger nnd requested him to admit tho Count. Sandorf entered tho oflice, replied coldly, as was his wont, to tho obsequi ous iuquiries of tho bankor and seated himself in a chair which Toronthal brought forward. 1 did not know, Count, that you wero in Triesto, sothatyou call unexpectedly ; but it is always an honor for tho bank to reccivo a visit from you." "Sir," replied tho Count, "I nm ono of your least important customers, and never have much business, ns you know. Hut I havo to thank you for having taken chargo of tho money that I have with you." Count" observed Toronthal, "I would remind you that that money is on current account hore, nnd that you aro losing all interest for it" "1 kuow." replied Sandorf. "Hut I do not wish to mako nn investment with your houso ; it is left simply on doposit" Quito so, Count, but monoy is dear just now, nnd it does not seem right that j-ours should remain uuproductivo. A financial crisis threatens to oxtouu over tho wholo country. Tho position is not nn easy ono in the interior. Business is paralyzed. Many important failures havo shaken publio credit, and I am fraid others nro coming" Hut your houso sir, is safo enough," said Sandorf, " and on very good nu- thonty I know that it iu(a been but littlo affected by those failures." " Oh, very little, ' answered Toron thal, with tho greatest oalmnoss. " The Adrintio trade keops us going with n constant Hood of maritime business that is wanting to tho lVsth and Vienua houses, nnd wo havo only been very slightly touched by tho crisis. Wo havo nothing to complain of, Count, aud wo do not complain." "lean only congratulato you, sir, answored Saudorf. "By-tho-by, with ejrard to this crisis, is thero any talk of political complications in tho iuterior ?" Although bamtorl had nsKou tuo ques- tiou without appearing to attach any importanco to it, Toronthal regarded it with rather moro attention. It agreed so well iu fact, with what ho had just heard from Suroiuy. "I do not know of anything," said tha banker. "And I havo not heard thai tho Austrian Government has any ap prehension on tho subject. Have you, Count, any reason to supposo that somo thing is-?" "Not at all," replied Sandorf, "but in banking circles things nro frequently known which tho publio does not hear of till afterwards. That is why I asked you tho question, leaving it to you to answer or not as you felt inclined." "I havo heard nothing in that way," said Toronthal," and besides with n customer liko 3-011, Count, I should not think it right to remain silent if I know anything, as your interests might suf fer." "I nm much obliged to you," nnswered Sandorf; and, liko you, I do not think thero is much to fear either in homo or foreign matters. I nm soon going to leavo Triesto on urgent privuto offuirs for Transylvania." "Oh, you aro away ?" asked Toronthal quickly. "l'es, in a fortnight, or perhaps later." " And you will return to Triesto ?" "I do not think so," nnswered San dorf. " But beforo I go I want to got my accounts in order referring to tho Castlo of Aronak, which aro standing over. I havo received from my stoward a quantity of notes, farm rents and forest revenues nnd T havo not timo to check them. Do you know of any no countant, or could you sparo ono of your clerks, to do it for mo ?" "Nothing casior." "I should bo much obliged." "When shall I send him to you, Count ?" " As soon as possible." " To what address?" "To my friend's. Count Zathmar. whoso houso is 80, on tho Acquedotta." "It shall bo done, Count." "It will tako ten days or moro. I should think; nnd when tho accounts aro in order I will leavo for Artonak. I shall bo glad, therefore, if you will havo tho money ready, so that lean draw." Toronthal at this request could not restrain a slight movement, which, how over, was unnoticed by Sandorf. "What dato do you wish to draw?" " Tho eighth of next month." "Tho money shall bo ready." And Count Sandorf rose, and tho banker accompanied him to the door of tho ante-room. When Toronthal re-entered his office ho found Sareany, who grcoted him with: "Beforo two days nro over it is neces sary that 1 get admission to Count Zathmar's houso in tho character of this accountant" And Toronthal answered: "It is indeed necessary." TO I)E CO.VTrXUEI). 1 "Economy Js Wealth." Several traveling men wcrostopp'ng at a hotel in Colorado recently, and ono morning at breakfast 0110 of lliein thought ho recognized an old friend in tho picco of beefsteak brought him a friend "though lost to sight to memory dear;1' in other words ho surmised that for economy's sake tho Ilonifaco was a repeater, and returned tho samo pieces of succulent ox that woro sent back to tho kitchen some times for being too raro or too well done, as tho caso might bo. Com municating his suspicious to his com panions, they resolved to mako a practical test; so ono of them fired his piece of steak well with red peppor and sent it back by a waiter, as being altogether too woll done. "Bring 1110 a pieco of steak raro done, with no gravy," said ho, "and don't bo all (lay about it." Presently a freight conductor camo iu and look a seat at the same table. His order was "beefsteak woll dono with plenty of gravy, no seasoning, and hurry up your stumps." Tno traveling men nudged each other when tho engineer's breakfast promptly ap pointed, for tho steak looked suspici ously liko tho "doctored" piece, and so proved to be. The conductor saw ed oil a section, placed if iu his mouth and sot his masticating machinery iu motion, rresently a loolc ot alarm overspread his foiitures, tears camo in his oyos, ho lowered his head, and vigorously lirod the mouthful under the table, then rinsed his mouth and exclaimed: "Hy tho Great iloru Spoons! what kind of a cook havo thoy got at thisshobang?" And seeing tho saffron-colored laco of ttio Chinoso griddlo-ereasor at tho chuck-holo, ho stabbed tho soction of leathery and highly seasoned meat with his fork and throw it with considerable pre cision at tho aforesaid tuco and yolled: "Hero, you hoathen, tako that and save it for hash. And if you critters in there don't send 1110 out a good, juicy piece, vell ilono.no seasoning, inside of live niinutos I'll run into you with a full hoad of steam on iinil throttlo wido opon. You hear me."1 Thou tho commercial tourists roared and explained thoir littlo gamo, and whop all had received what thoy want ed nnd harmony reigned, they ad journed to tho bar and tho conductor told thorn to "nominato thoir pizen." lack's Sun. Both Wero Sale. "Yes," oxclahnod tho old printer, "I fought through tho whole war, and novor reecivod a scratch. "SodidI," rouiarked tho restauraut man. "Hut I fought behind fortifications," continued tho old printer. "So did 1," rcpliod tho rostaurant koopor. "1 lay bohlnd ono of your sandwiches which muskotry could uot penetrate," said tho old printer. "And 1 was safo from artillery," ro tortod tho restauraut man. "Laid behind two of your sandwicho 1 supposo," responded tho old priutor, sarcastically. "Not niuoh," replied tho restaurant ninn. A printing-olllco towel was stretched nlong our front" Newiiuu. Independent. Whnt Hanging is Like From tho Pnll Mall Gazette. The following nccount of the sensa tions of hanging is sent by a corre spondent who is nnicmberofnkind of "Suicide Club," nnd wns nctttnlly, ho 3.iys, partly hung tho other day, in tho presence of several friends: A good stout rope hud been ob tained. This wns sectirely'fnstened to rafters of the barn roof. I pulled at the rope with my hands to make euro that it would not break. Then I per mitted myself to bo blindfolded mid mounted on a chnir. For a moment, I admit, I wns weak enough to turn pale nnd tremble. I soon, however, recovered my presence of mind. Put ting my head throush tho noose, I gavo thosigiml. I felt the chnirdrnwn from under me. Thero was ft great jerk and I felt a violent pain in my neck, as though my scarf had all of a sudden become too tight. Now comes tho most curious part of my experi ence. After the first feeling of torture, which I admit was decidedly severe, I lost consciousness. I seenicd to bo transported into a new world, moro beautiful than anything hungmed by the poets. I wns swimming, me thought, in a sea of oil. The feeling was exqusitely delicious. As I swam easily nnd without effort through tho liquid mass I noticed afar off an is land of tho most glorious emernkl green in color. This it was my wish to reach. I swam lazily and content edly on. The sea kept evcrv instant changing its hue, though it remained of tho samo substance throughout. At one instant it wns a mass of gold, ns though tho sun were shining brill iantly on it. The next moment it wns a vivid blood-red; but thero was nothing terrible or disgusting in this new color. It kept changing, in fact, to all the hues of tho rainbow, yellow and red being the predominant tints. I got nearer and nearer to the isle. As Iapprouched it there sprung out sud denly from tho ground a number of pcoplo strangely transfigured, whoso faces seemed to bo known to me I at last reached tho land. A magnificent chorus of voices, human and thoso of birds, burst forth. I closed my eyes in ecstasy. I floated calmly 011 to tho shore, and lay as a child in its cradle, slightly weakened from, as I supposed, the enervating effect of tho oily matter in which I had been swim ming. At last I opened my eyes. The magic charm was at onco dispelled. Tho divino harmony ceased. The faces wero still peering nt 1110 with an ex pression of eager curiosity, but I per ceived that they belonged to members of our society. " The pain in my neck was great. I was now in entire pos session of my senses. My friends liad fortunately cut 1110 down in time. I was still weak too weak to at onco relievo my friends' curiosity. When I was able to speak I told them my ex periences. Though 1 drew a charming picture of tho bliss which 1 had felt, not one of them would consent to try my experiment. They nil considered my conduct heroic, but absolutely re fused to emulate me. They said I looked so ghastly. Starvation Salaries for Clergy men. Clerical starvation is littlo loss than a literal met in the J'rotostant Epis copal church, according to tho asser tion of the Church Press, which argues that when a man has been duly or dained to tho cure of souls ho is enti tled to an adequate support for him self and family from the bishoj) by whom he has been set apart, anil from the parish in which ho toils. Tho editor tells of a clergyman who was induced to relinquish a mercantile po sition worth $1,000 a year.and during ten years of ministerial lilo lias never received more than $500 a year, and now ho has a wife and four children; vet ho is strongly endorsed by his bishop and approved by his parishes. Another caso taken ns an examplo is that ot a man earnest and devoted to tho work, a, good reader and a fair preacher. He has a wifo and six children, lie is promised $500 a year, and furnishes his own house. In point of fact ho received last year less than $100 salary, llobas parish ioners now at summer resorts who havo not contributed ono dimo to their minister's support. A Funeral "Wreath. "Adenconin a Western town recent ly died"says tho New York Comercial Advertiser. "His pastor soon paida visit of condolence to the bereaved wid ow. She asked the minister if he would like to soothe funeral wreath. He as sented. Sho led him to the much prized memento and pointed out its peculiarities. In a broken voice she said: 'Tho red llowers were mado of his red flannels; tho white ones of his white ilannels. Tho stamens were made of tho coffin shavings nnd tho pistils of his beard. Tho borries and buds wero mndo of tho pills that wero left when ho died, and tho feathery part wns mado of tho feathers of tho last chicken ibar James killed beforo he wns taken ill.' All this she said without a pause for breath, and end ed her Ghastly description of tho treasured wreath by imploring tho bewildered clergyman to lead in pray A Itcmnrlcubio Clock. There is a clock at Brussels which comes about as near boing perpet ual motion as can beinvonted, foi tha sun does tho winding. A shaft ex posed to the solar rays causes an up draught of air which t-ets a fun in mo tion. Tho fan actuates mechanism which rnisos the weight of tho clock until it reaches tho top, and then puts a break on the fan until tho weight lins gono down a little, when the inn is again liberated and proceedes to act as before. As long as tho sun shines frequently enough and tho machinery does not "wear out, tho clock is prac tically a perpetual motion machine. . i