STOLEN GLORIES.
JIt dirllnc s clorlnns eyes I
Aty darling's radiant amllol
Barrel gleam from paradise,
With tiiuj:bt o( earthly gullet
Mirrored within those eyes
Heaven's holiest love I ee.
Ami in etch umilc'a sweet gulfte
I read heaven's torlcl glee.
Whence came these glorious cycsl
Whence enmc this smllo so sweet!
When from bright paradise
Bbc trip)U with haby feet.
A last fond rlance, with sIrIis,
5be gave Iter angel pilde,
And then throuch earthly skies
Her downward way she hied.
And memories of tlioac eyes
Forever llnpcr there;
Kncti eartalv smile e'er dlca
For heaTcu's, unaware.
O maid with stolen eyes
And faintly echoed smllo 1
Hon- sure of'jmradlso
Wheu far Irum earthly Rulle
And, when alovc earth's sklci
Apaln jon wend tour way,
The angel, In Mirprlse,
"Loiy lost, hut found," will say.
Karl Marble, in Jioslun Folio.
A Stray.
Tho red ray of the setting sun lengthened
the shadows against the black deadened lilllf,
as the workmen swnnncd out of the pit and
dragged weary, stiffened limbs along the dif
ferent paths leading to the habitations above.
Very grotesque some of them were, with
blackened faces, from which eyes gazed out
with tho weary pathos one sees In the eyes of
oxen, with bent figures mid stooped shoulders
from work In rooms whero the roof wbh often
not four feet from tho floor, where water lay
lo juols and bred rheumatism In joints, warm
ed by the sun all too seldom.
The motley nature of the mining village was
shown by the different dlalccti In which the
conversations wero carried on, the broad
slurred intonation of tho Kugllsh miner; the
round, rollicking tones with tho note of a
caress In it that Is nntlvo to tho land St. Pat
rick IotuI; the soft decided voice of Scotland,
anil, 43 a background for this flotsam nml
jetsam Dint Is drifted to us by the ocean, was
heard thfc sharp, slightly uasul voice of tho
natlvu of our Middlo States.
Hut different ai was their nationality, their
in I mis seemed to run much In tho some groove.
There was Rome dissatisfaction with tho rec
ord of Uie da 'a work, and menaces omlnlous
to the managers were exchanged with curses
and clenching of black, hardened hands.
Fragments of their conversation caino to n
woman standing at tho top of tho rickety
atops leading up the face of tho el I II above tho
mines. ISack of her was a row of bare, tin
painted bouses where tbo workmen lived;
worno of the women wero about tho doors,
slouchy ami dishevelled, calling out to ono an
other and to tho children In coarse, shrill
voices, which now and then a laugh and n
joko with tho home coming workmen. Only
the woman at tho steps stood alouo silent. A
few nodded to her; only ono mun sioko to her
in passing, while many looked at her In a way
that mado her face llliuh and her teeth set.
8ho was hnndroiiicr than nnything thoy ever
B.wr about tho pit's mouth, hut tho huMiamls,
sons, and lovers knew better than to greet her
before tbo eves of their women folks. Four
years ago sho had learned Hint and Ignored
them, men and women, ever since, only Mio
could not but fceo the glances that needed no
Interpretation to bring a Hush lo her brown
check mid n cold ttarc of bravado Into her
gray ejea.
'Inn one man who spoke tohcr was not a
good fight to look at. 1 lo had partially washed
tho coal dust from his face at the tank by the
pit enough to show deep blue scars furrowed
ill his face by u blust of Nmdcr.
"(!ood cvciiln' to ye, Kb to," ho tald. as he
reached the level whero she stood. "Hero Is
tho lad; ye'd lictter watch him ubout these
steps, it'll a bad place for little chaps," mid he
swung from his shoulder u sturdy little yellow
haired I my of lour years.
"1 ain't scared," ho announced with a lisp.
'I want Dan to carry me, carry mo up."
'What'a the matter down" thcie," BBkcil
Kate with a nod towards the pit. "Something
wrongl"
"Oh, yes; same old story, somo o' the men
docked a half a car because a wvo bit o' slato
hapiienod in, an the new cars are short weight
they say. Tho men won't put up with much
more, mid somo o' them lire muken ugly
threats."
"Who do they thrcatcnl"
"Mlchty near all thii otllclals, tho now over
seer young Hepburn, In particular."
"Vt hy sol"
"They think ho intent appeal for tticm to tho
comicanj to huvo tho rules changed about tho
weight inciiburfiucnta. Hut he's only n bit of
a joungktcr hliiiM-lf, and hasn't much back
bone, thiittch ho Is tho doctor's nephew, mi'
they don't much llku tho Idea of a collego brcd
younir mail over the in. Oiiihi' tho men as has
worked In thu mine himself would suit them
better- not that 1 blame them much though
for tho doctor's sake thcre'd be many a man
stand up for him," ho added, as ho wulkcd on
to thu company boanllnir-hoiise.
The woman, leading tho child, turned also
from the steps towards tho liltlo cabin she
called home, around tho iliipahitcd boards of
which clsmlicrcd morning glories, while at the
back could be seen lull sutiHowcrti and holly
hocks that bordered tha little sqiiuro of u gar
den whero a few sickly-looking vegetables
wero coaxed Into existence, showing to tho
curious that Its owner must nave. come, from a
farm. Othcrwlsu how eiuno sho with it kuowl
edeeof tho needs of her plants or a patience
that would carry rich loam In baskets from
tho woods In order to have a bit of green In
the midst of tlm nil clay mid tho black coal
dust around her! It was thu only attempt at
u garden on the cliffs. Tenants have small
encouragement to Improve, or cultivate ground
belonging to coal companies, us under exist ng
rules, they are, in many places, ojoctod on four
days' notice, for the most paltry of porvoea
Mono. As she parsed u window of thu company
boardlug-hoiiso she beard n voice say!
"Hello, Dan I had n nice chut with Kato out
there I Ycrp'ttlng to be great friends."
"Well, I shoul.l liopo Dauulli'tsohard upas
to pick up friends among tramps ami sinus I"
"That's enough said thu man called Dan.
'I'll not be lettln' man or woman speak
against her when I'm In licuren. The doctor
aaya I have to thunk her fcr tho sight o' my
eves this minute. It was her nursiu' more
than bis medicine as saved 'cm wheu 1 got
burnt wllli tho powder. 1 tell vo Micro wasn't
another wouixti In tho place would a looked at
mo without grttlu' sick. Hut Kate I Why,
she jest walked in and helped Doo lake cant of
inaiuilflwna hnndsomo us u picture-book;
an' hbe's done goo.1 turns to lots o( the boys,
though some of thorn am too mean to speak
up for her, an' she's got mom lenrulu' than
most folks hero though sho Is only u ktrny "
The girl walked on tohcr own door and sat
down wearily on tho wooden step, while tho
child K-auipered after u pet kitten.
A s tray I That was all. , Four year slnco
alio came, ilrst, a blg-oved girl ot seventeen,
dusty mid foot-toro from long travel from
where, tliey never knew-an t wheu ho sank
fainting on it door step and was cairlcd limldo
tbo one tavern In the place, there was much
wonder Mining tho people us to who she could
tw; and when the doctor laid her child In her
arms uud asketl If there was any word ho
could send for her to her husband or relatives
she only looked at tho babe's pink tlowcr-llko
f&co in a half-curious, balf-loiug way, us If In
doubt whether it could bo Jims, and thru,
drawing It t-hu', kho looked sinnuelr at tho
doctor, and said: There la uo one."
In a small place gossip mrmi spreads, u ml ere
long tho communll i knew that thu tramp was
it mother but uo wife a thing to bo shunued
by the virtuous to bo pitied, after a fashion,
but to bo left alone oho waj peuullesa and
without friends. Tho doctor's voice was thi
only kind ono she had heard since tho day thi
child wa$ born, and ho looked on her pltylntr
lr, perhaps helped lo It by the memorv of a llt
tie daughter's grave over the hill, whose occu
pant would have been this girl's azc had sh(
lived. A sober man of forty years he was,
kindly, Christian gentleman who hnd settled
among them years ago, when the wife and ha
br daughter had droimcd into their e tern a
sleep while on n visit to this mountain of the
Alleghaiilcs. Ho wa held In much rcsect bi
tho people. Ills klndlv hauls had cased man
a broken bone or crushed limb among them
and he did what he could to soften the harsb
judgment of the villagers towards thlsglrL
and III best was little.
Two weeks after coming ho ventured on th
subject of her destination and Intentions. S
far she said nothing except her name, on
when asked, she said. "Kate." that was all
The doctor found her as usual looking witt
unseeing eyes across the hllK seemingly heed
less of the yellow-haired, brown-eyed babo It
her lap, for sho had been hi a sort of apathj
ever bIiico lis birth.
"I have come to have a talk with you
Kate," said the doctor. "This little fellow li
old enough now for you to take him home,
wherever that Is, ana I have come to sco whai
arrangmeuts can be made."
"I havo no home now," she said, with I
little break In her voice.
"Hut there mut be somo one. Como now
my girl, tell me what you can. I want to bi
voiir friend. You need one. heaven knows
There must he tome one tiio bov's father."
"He Is nothing nothing to mo or to It tin.
cowurdl" she burst out, with more Icciiiif
than he had heard her express before.
"Hut you muit have some one to take can
of joiil How arc you to live f"
"I did not want to live. Tney should hav(
let me die In the street that day; they had tic
rJgnt to toucn me!"
"Hush I" s.ild Dr. Hepburn, sternly. "W
should never nuestlou the decrees of heaven,
Kvcry life has a use of Its own else It woulc
not bo riven."
She laughed harshly: "Use! What use h
my life now, the life of a nameless outcast I"
'"You have your child to live for."
"Ah!" sho breathed, with a half sob In he
throat, ''do you think I have not thought ot
mm i now am no live iiirougu tuo siinuio o
It when ho crows older and understands) Het
tcr wo shoul.l both dfo now, now before hi
grows asiinmeii oi ms tnoiiicr. unonigiittiii!
thought came to mo as If some ono had whls
jicred it lu my ear. It was dark but I sceinec
to feel the presence of forms pointing at ui
and whispering 'hamo.' I can't tell you hov
terrible it was. Thu only way to escape It wai
to die both of us. 1 cot upsoftly and lit thf
candle. 1 did not think now 1 was to do It
onlv In some way I was to end our lives. Ah
how afraid I was of mnkliiira noise that would
awaken him 1 I crept across to the lied so soft
Iv. I lifted a billow. Its weight on a bnbv'i
fuco would stop Its breathing so quickly; but
as l bent over mo banc, i saw ir. wis noi
asleep. It had been lying there quietly but iti
eyes were wide open. It smiled up at me, am!
for the llrst time reached towards mo its arms.
Oh, how I knelt there and kissed ft and cried
over It! That was tho first time I cried slnci
this trouble came to me, and It seemed to cart
thu dull, aching pain In my heart. Hut I lei
tho candle liurn all that night. 1 was afuild
tob.- In the daik for fear of that tcnir.tatlot
coming again. Do you think It over will!'
Her cheeks were quite flushed and her eyei
wet as she clasped thu child close to her auc
appealed to thu doctor.
"Ood Ulcus me!" he ejaculated, springing tc
Ills feet and walking buck and forth, thu tcan
lu his on ii holiest, kindly eyes. "Ood ble.M
inci What n scoundrel that man must bo!'
Then In: sat. again beside her.
"vuiere weio you going wiicn ou iook mi'
Her face Hushed: "I wus looklner for him
Ho said once that his bu'-iuess wus lu the cou!
region. U hen no letters came I tried to line
him. I walked from town to town, sometlmei
fclcetiliiLT In the woods. I walked until I would
get dizzy and drop with fatigue; but I had ne
time to rest. Mv one thought was to Hnd hlir
in time, but the coal fields aru m wide I nev
cr knew how wide bcfoio!"
"Pcihupsjcm can find him yet," ventured
the doctor. ' We might advertise."
"Now," she nnsHorcd. "No; It wns not foi
myself only for the child, hut It Is too Intel''
"You must think of your fuluro. If you
will not iro home, or Mud him, who will tula
care of you and tho child 1"
"I will. I can work."
"Hut where, ami what nti"
"Here; It Is as good a place as any other,
there must be somu work for a woman here,
enough to keep us and pay theto people. The
people seem burled here, shut oil from tin
rest of the world. That Is the best lor inc.
anil 1 can woik at anything. Somu ouu wll
glvu mo work, don'tyou think sol"
"Ood bless mo! 1 hope so," he answered. "1
I'll try to fix It, but Its a weary place, child,
and a dreary life for you here."
".My life would bo that any where, It doe
not matter."
And so It was settled. Sewing, housework,
nursing, washing, anything In thu way ol
work slio did well, anil did cheaply for nil)
who would glvu her tho chance, but" sho inadc
no friends and resented all overtures from the
curious Thov knew no more of her unit now
than they did the day she came among them.
Kuto was tho onlv name they kuew her by.
Her loy she called Vaul.
"It was my father's name," sho said to the
doctor, "llo Is dead. Thu disgrace cannot
hurt him."
Tho boy grew and thrived, but It wns al
most as quiet as the mother, for It had uo
iiluymates only a kitten and a few chickens.
Thu mothers of other children resented thu si
lence, so like prhhi In tills trump, mid called
the clilldieii to their sides when the baby na
tures would reach hnuds to each other all liti
kiiovilui: to the social gulf between them,
l'.vcn her kindness to the sick won her no
hearts, for sho did nil so coldly though so well.
Their sidelong, meaning glances when sho first
met their faces with her child lu her arms hud
closed forever nny sympathy between them.
Thu child sho worshiped. Her moody, gray
eyes would warm and thu closed mouth smllo
oiilv for Itl tn. nnil once, when a fever among the
children laid little l'uul low, tho doctor was
startled by the wild grief of this girl who
seldom spoke among them.
"Hu quiet, Kate," ho said, putting her In n
chair, "you must not glvo .vay llko this, tho
chances nro that ho will recover, but should
ho not we must U)w to that higher Will; bo
sure what will be, will bo for tho best."
"Tho best!" and sho laughed bitterly. "If
ho wero to die to-nlglit you would try to con
solo mo by Buying It was best. Don't vou
know that this Is u punishment for that other
time, wheu I did not want him I And now
Just when wo havo grown to bo even thing to
ouch other you tell mo it Is a merciful Ood
who would part us I l'coplo should lovo noth
ing If thev wish to bo happy. It brink's a curse
always. How can jou understand I Others
have husbands, homes, children, 1 havo only
him only hlml" amUhc sunk beside the little
bed lu a passion of sobs that wero stilled only
by a nurcortle from tho doctor's hand.
Hut little l'uul did not die, though tho doc
tor wus anxious for many days and very
thankful when ho could safely say all danger
wus past. Kato did not say much, It was as
It the feared to g.vc n voice to her joy lest the
pout up emot.ous would be beyond her con
trol. Hut her glad eves, us sho kissed her boy
uinlYrcsscd tho doctor's bund, held in them
more gratitude than wortU could express.
"You have dono so much for mo," alio suld,
"and mv life Is so useless, all 1 can do lu re
turn M'Ciiis to little 1"
"Tut. tutl If It wero my boy Hall, you
would do us much If you could; bo a good
girl, that Is all 1 shall expect In payment, and
lu tour gratitude for your Uiy, return thanks
onlv where they are due to the Giver of all
life!"
Ho had In all things been her friend, and,
sitting on tho wooden step lu tho dcejionliig
dusk Willi the iiiluers' words still lu her ears
"a strin" sho droppc I her face In her bunds
thinking; thinking of his goodness slnco that
llrst day, and then she tut her memory wander
back over the bard, Jylos toll umong these
people where only ono "voice hud bfuii helpful
uud Kind, buck over dusty roads where she
bad drued tlrvd foot in it hopeless search,
back to tho duvs when her clil's heart had
beat w .irmly ui the gift of a lore to which sho
reKiudeil with what she fancied was the last
ing lovo of her life, and which she know now
was only tho rosult ot a starvimr soul In it
child's Ixiily, it weloomo ray ol light across
tho unloved, moitotonniu level of hr lifo, but
a ray that was to sure ami burn all the roo
tints of youth Into a llflos mass ot ashes.
Lately a knowledge had len creeping bit bv
bit luto her heart, and illllug It w Ith a supreme
contempt of self. Ah how vile she wns grow
ing In her own eyes! How often, lutelv, had
siie freed her mind from the fetters of thepsst
and let her thoughts wander where thev would
lu the sweet iastiircs of a longed-for present!
How often slio had checked herself on the
brink of wild hopes by muttering bitterly: "A
tiamp a stray I A tiling lower III his thoughts
than a lost dog. which no would shelter. A
dog at least is faithful; I am not even that.
A true woman's love should be the same al
ways. Neglect, desertion, nothing should
change thu thing she hud dreamed of ng an
endless love." And now she knew she had not
even that virtue to redeem herself, not even
lasting lovo for her child's father. She had,
In her thoughts, only loathing for him and for
herself. Ah, how bad, bad he would thlnkhcr
If ho knew her weakness, her faithlessness, In
the one instance where a woman's faithfulness
to a sin Is a virtue I Hut the man of whoso
opinion sho thought was Dr. Hepburn, the
kindly, calm-eyed friend, whoso life was filled
by the memory of a gentle little woman, who
slept In the same narrow green lied with their
one child ho who had been faithful so many
years. What would he think If ho knew the
weakness nnd fickleness of her nature as sho
hnd known it lately! And then her face crew
hot ns she remembered when this knowledge
had cnlncd on her, nnd how his helpful words
and kind eyes had helped to verify It.
Tho child, tired of play, had crept into her
lap nnd cuddled down to rest with one brown,
chubby h ind against her neck as sho stooped
to kiss him, muttering:
"I owe even your life to him, my darling,
nnd there Is no" return wo can make. If he
knew tho truth ho would think mv dreams a
degradation to us both."
Tho night closing In threw Its shadow over
a woman lu whose mind had began the nntur
al revulsion that follows the dispelled Illusions
of youth; and the slow-gronlng scorn of self
crept Into her heart, following close on thu
steps of remorse, that laggard whose voice Is
always, "too late, too lute 1"
There was a ripple of excitement in the air,
a vague expectancy through tho mining vil
lage. The men had left oil work", and stood
around In groups, smoking and talking, while
awaiting the verdict, and the women gossiped
and shook their heads over the probabc out
growth of thu owner's visit to the mine.
"My man says as how that car thoy come
to the junction In must havu cost thousands,
and hero Is us glad of two rooms and n bail
roof a-top of them. It'll be no free country
until our men get the cood of their work In
stead o' them high-toned nobs as owns so
miiny pits they don't get to see them once n
year. My man says ns how thu time's a-comln
when they'll have lo bend."
"Or bu blowed," broke in n neighbor, with a
laugh.
"Oh, Mrs. Dugan," chimed In another. "It's
ycrsolf has alwuys an answer on yer tongue,
an' If what I hear Is true yer not far off thu
mark. Some o' the boys havo been drlukcu
and will stop nt notheii not oven dynamite."
"An small wonder," answcied thu Dugan
woman, "with the short weight an' a half car
lost to yo If but n bit o' slate happens in as
whoenn belli It thcru In the dark an' tho
'pluck mo' stotes, where we must buy or leave
thu works, an' scarcu ever does a dollar come
lu our door; It's all used for provisions us fast
ns It's euiiied."
"I hear It's quite a gang o' them come blir
htigs, all o' them a-maken a round o' tho dig
gens." It'll be a sorry round to thcin If them scales
nn' somo o' tho rules aint changed afore
night. Now you mind what I'm tellen ye!"
And thus tho prophecies drifted from one
to another, and a woman, with a basket of
clothes on her arm uud a little yellow-haired
child at her side, stopped short in tho black,
dusty road, ns from the other side of a high
board fence hnlf drunken curses came to her
ears.
"Ho quiet. Tom," admonished another
voice, "nnd don't drink any more, or uiu'll
glvo thu whole thing nwav. 1 am tick of It
since I saw tho doctor with them, llo has
boon mighty good to lots of us; but tho rest
can burn for all we "
"Let'em all burn. Doctor nn' young Hep
burn ii io blg-huuH us much ns tho stockhold
ers, with their Hue words an' their high an'
nihility wnys. Yer nil n lot o' toadies to that
cursed doctor. His word s law to all o' ye,
an' d'ye sposu It would bo It ho was common
worken still! like us No. It's thu learnln'
uu' thu high-toned wny of his that vo knuckle
to. an' I tell ye, dim, wo take it out o' them
all. Hurra for equal rights!"
"Hush Tom. Lay low here lu tho grass,
ond taken sleep tilfyer sober enough lo keep
n close bend. If the hovs that's In It hear you
blow-In' llko this there'll bo tho devil to pay.
Yer llkelv to bo found mlssin', an' don't you
t'erget III"
"Shut mil" growled the other. "Thev
won't change tho rules. Won't they I Let
iiiu alone! 1 know what I'm doln'. just us
well us I know who put the nltro glycerine on
the track by eutry number nine. It'll put nn
cud to their slglitseeln'. It'll teach other
stockholders to respect worklu' men's rights.
Hurra!" And tho voice continued muttering
threats and curses at moneyed men and uristo
crats, while the woman stood motionless in
the bare road, her face whitening, her eyes
full of horror us tho meaning ot thu man's
words dawned on her, and then, dropping tho
clothes basket, sho lifted tho child quickly,
rlasplnghlm so tight that hu cried out lu
'light ami surprise. Shu did not heed, but,
turning, ran witli the swiftness of a hound
back toward tho village. Sho heard a shout
hrfilml her, but did not turn. Tho child's
cry hnd told tho men of her presence. They
wcru shouting at her to stop; but on she ran,
with thuouu thought iipiHiimost lu her heart
safety, his lifo deponus on tier speed. Oh,
how slowly tho loud moved under her feet!
Hut sho could tell ihut, despite her loud, she
was gaining on her pursuers. Their vo ces
;rew fainter. Sho gained tho hilltop above
tho mines. Thero was still a halt-mile of road
to cover. Sho could sou tho groups of
men iiround tho pit's mouth. Oh,
how far uway it seemed I Could she
sver reach itl Her breath camo In
short gnsps; her head was filled with a
buzzing that was maddening; sho could not
tell If it was tho murmur of "fur-off; voices or
only tho rush of riotous blood in her own veins.
I'crlmps she was too late 1 Sho tried to cry out
',o tho peoplo below. Oh, wero they blind that
iioy could not sco hcrl She reached the strag
Hlig vlllagu street. Down Its length she ran,
wild tlgtiro with streaming hair, and tho
frightened child clasped close in her arms.
Women nnd children scattered lu terror as sho
passed. Nothing but u mad woman could ever
look llko thnt. Down among the crowd she
I pod, heedless of outstretched hands of men
'.o stop her, heedless of thler word ot qucs
;lon, on, on, until sho dropped, blind and
llzzv, at tho pit's mouth. Only for a moment
tho lay so, while rough, kindly hands lifted
ilto screaming child. Then sho staggered to
tier feet.
"Dr. Hepburn 1" sho gnsped. "Where "
"llo has jus! gone duwu the shaft with the
rlsltors. What's the matter!" It was the scar
tnced mun, Dan, who answered her, holding
tho child lu his arms.
"Quick!" she gasped. "Tho cage! Tako
ate down It. It Is lifo or death I"
"All tight. Oct In. Do your quickest," ho
laid to tho engineer.
"I'll do It, Dan," said tho man turning In
to tho oniilue-tiHirii. Good God What's this 1"
"Whati" came from a dozen throats.
"Tho iojh's ato cut with acid. Look here.
It Is not tliree minutes slnco 1 left tho engine.
Something Is u. Tho cage won't work!"
A thrill of horror went over the crowd.
Clearly tho plot wns not a general ono. All
ivcre sullen and dlssatlsllcd, but only a few
had been In tho horrible- conspiracy. To tho
woman's scnsoii was carried tho thought, "too
late!" when someone near her said;
"Well, 010 6111?. s nro bit"
"Tho stairs!" Sho bad not thought of that.
"Whero aro thev I" sho asked.
"Here," answered a man standing near tho
black-looking apeiture.
Sho turned wiftlv to Dan. "Ho good tomy
hoy," she said, and, kissing the child, sho
turned befoio tliov wero ilgutly uwaro of her
InU'Utlon and plunged Into the depths of the
narrow stairway, from inmung o innuing i
iho sUgtrerod, fooling her way us best ho '
muKI In iho intense blackness, lalllugat times,
glnt tho slimy, oozing walls, straining tier
.yea in hopos of a kIouiii of lamp. Down,
low n, down! Oh, would she over got to tho
tottoml Hor breath wasgolng.it dizziness
was coming t hor. Sho tried to stand meet,
but sho stumbled gropingly against the wall,
ltd feJt a slniUKo wmkuoss growing on hor.
Oh, to tight It off until she could roach hlml
to sllciicv for one moment that drip, drip, drip
ho beard from the roof-could hear growing
! into a roaring torrent, nearer and nearer it
1 came. Another step and It would enirulf her.
Down she staggered, her whole remaining
strength collected In a wild scream as those
black, phantom llko waves closed around her.
A party of men just entering the car nt tho
main entry, siopucii appalled at mat snricK.
They looked at one another In questioning
amazement.
"Is the mine haunted 1" asked one of the
visitors. "iuai certainly sounueu line notuing
earthly."
"Come," said young Hepburn, picking up a
lamp; "th r : Is something wrong. That
sounded fn tn the stairs. Come, Uncle!"
And there, in tho bond of the stairs, they
found her. Five steps moro would hnve
brought her In sight of the lamps she had
struggled so to reach. Blackened and wet
from the dripping walls, she lay unconscious,
and from her lips trickled a red stream that
formed a pool on the black lloor.
"This is serious, gentlemen. A broken
blood-vessel," snhl the doctor, bending over
her. "Hail, ring the bell for the cage. Wo
must get her above-ground at once!"
The bell was rung", but no answer returned.
Tho wire hud bsen cut. Young Hepburn
looked grave. "There Is something wrong, se
riously wrong, here. We must return by the
stairs" While he spoke they heard tho voices
of men, who had followed Kate with lights,
and In another minute tho two parties of men
met In the narrow pasage with questioning
wonder In their faces, and tho blackened, blood
stained form between them. In a few min
utes the cutting of tho wires was told, and
the men slowly carried the unconscious form
up tho dripping stnlrs, rollowcd by the party
of visitors, who said little, but felt, In a vuguc
way, that some dauger and mystery was lu
tlm air.
Up Into the light of day thev carried her
while thu peoplo stood about awestruck ami
fearful. I buy wiped the blacK lrom tne sun
face, and watched engcrly the faint signs of
life struggling back, until the heavy lids
aulvered uud opened to sec Dr. Hepburn bond
ing over her. A gasp for breath, and then she
whispered: "You sate? I was In time."
"In tlmul What do you meani"
"The nltro-glyccrlne on the track by en
try number nine. Mv lifo has been some use
at last. Cull Jim Mason.
Thu doctor retioutcd the name, and a man
from the crowd came forward, his face white,
and Ills mind sobered by the unexpected turn
of tho plot hutched In the brains of a few
drunken, desperate men.
"Jim," she gasped, "I heard all. Once you
snld you owed me n debt, l'ay It now."
The sight of her face, with death In It,
brought Tilin to his knees beside her, while
great tears stood on his rough checks.
"I'd a died before I'd a done a harm to
you, Kate, after the kindness to my old moth
er, as you teuded on her deathbed. What can
I do?"
"Promise no harm to the mines, they keep
so many souls alive; no harm to the doctor."
"I swear It by tho memory of me mother 1
I'll do no more such dirty work!"
Shu tried to raise tho hand nearest to him.
hut tho arm wns jKiwerless broken bv the
fall. She struggled for breath, but could not
speak further. A workman told lowly of her
bursting among them saving It mount life or
death to reach them. The visitors crowded
near to sec tho face of this woman now that
the block from the walls hud been wiped
from her features. Among tho rest was a tall,
handsome man of about thirty years, with
blonde hair and brown eyes, who leaned over
to gain sight of her. As ho did so his face
was one of lioiror, us he ejaculated: "Kate I"
Dr. Hepburn glanced up quickly. "You
know her?" he asked.
"II Why, no that is "
"Hush! she Is trying to speak."
That cry of "Kate" seemed to havo reached
her. The grey eyes opened once moro. "How
long have I to live!" sho whispered.
"Vnt iitt lintii- l!ib. mc tmor fill. Is there
anything I can do for you?"
She looked assent. ".My boy." Thev
brought the little fellow, nnd sho tried to look
around ns If for someone else.
"What Is itl" nsked the doctor.
"The voice that said Kate."
"She wants to sec you." And he mado way
for tho tall gentleman, whoe eyes and hul'r
wero the color or little l'uul's. 'He camu and
stood silent beside her, his face very pale.
She looked at him long, then turned her eves
io Hepburn, and whispered: ".My boy Is mine
none other's all mine. Will you take him!
Teach him to forget the slinmo his mother.
He has uo name "
"llu shall havu mine, mv poor girl. Don't
fret ubout his future. Hu shall bu us my
son."
"Your son," And she tried to smile. "Thnt
is best your name. 1 have none you heari"
nnd her eyes turned to the tall, pale gentlu
mun "no name only Kate ever you hear?"
"I hear," hu said, In a low voice.
"Oo where I can't sou you out of my
sight." And as hu stepped back the doctor
held the child up to kiss her. A great calm
was settling over her facu as he stooped to
catch her last words.
"It was for your sake to be of some use
mv life for yours. You never guessed you
would have thought mo bad but now Just at
tho last, woulj you would you " and her
eves told the storv. and her request to thu man
who hud never dreamed of this uuasked for
love
"My ioor Kate, my poor Katc,"ho said, and
pressed the wislied-for kiss on lips through
which tho lust breath had Muttered.
Ho lifted the child In his arms with n pity
ing, protecting clasp. As ho rose upright his
eyes met thoso of' the tall, palu gentleman.
1-or ouu Instant they gazed across tho dead
woman Into each other's souls. There was no
need of words, and In silence the death iingcl
rung down tho eurtnin on thu last act of Thu
Strny. Mary J-.'llis Jtytm, in the Current.
Tho Nobleman mid tho Hrieklttyer.
Mrs. Society 1 suppose yon never
hour of your lati'ilUei', who eloped with
thnt young bricklayer!
Mrs. Olilfntn Yes, ho litis got rich,
and, thoy aro living in Now York in
lino style.
"That is a comfort certainly. Has
tho foreign nobleman who married
your other daughter returned to his
castle yet?"
"Oh! no; ho is just in lovo with
Amorica nnd says ho wouldn't think of
going back to Kurope."
"Indeed! Where havo thoy boon
during tho last three or four years?"
"Visiting with tho bricklayer."
Omaha World.
Ho was No Tell-Tale.
Tito code of schoolboy honor outlaws
a tell-tale, and there is uo meanness
which high spirited boys moro thor
oughly dospisi.
When Salmon P. Chase, afterwards
senator, governor of Ohio, secretary of
tho treasury and chief jttstico of tho
United State, was a boy, ho was at
school at Cincinnati.
Ono day sas the Cleveland Leader,
thero was a lire made in ono of the
rooms. The boys were called up and
catechised as to its origin, All except
Chase denied any knowledge of the af
fair. When the question was put to
him as to whether he kuew who had
lighted tho lire ho roplied:
"1 do."
"Who was it?"
"I will not toll."
Tho professor grow angry. Tho pres
ident was called in and Chase was aga n
asked, llo again refused, saying: "Mr.
President, 1 did not intend to insult
Prof, Pluck, but 1 am not going to lie,
1 know who made tho lire, but 1 will
leave the school boforo I will becomo a
tell-tale."
As ho said this his largo intellectual
oyo looked sqtmroly into that of tho
president, and tho latter fttllv appreci
ated that he meant it. He said that he
would oxuuso Chase this time, and dis
missed him with a slight reprlmaud.
Ill YEARS OLD.
An Extraordinary disc of Toiiscylty
Itcportcd front Vloiinn.
The privilege of talking with a wom
an 111 years old is not to be expected
often in a lifetime, writes a Vienna cor
respondent of The London Times, and
one must therefore value such nn Inter
view as I had this afternoon with Mag
dalene Ponza, the oldest of tho Emper
or Francis Joseph's subjects, who en
tered her 112th year on Christmas cvo.
Siie was born at Witt ngaii. Dohoinia.
in 1775, when Maria Theresa sat en the
Austrian throne. George III. had then
been but fifteen years king of England.
Louis XVI., who had ruled a little
more than a twelvemonth in France,
was still in the heydev of power, the
independence of the United States of
America had not yet been decided, Na
poleon and Arthur Welluslcy were as
yet but six years old.
Magdalene Ponza retains full posses
sion of her mental faculties. Unfortu
nately she can only speak the Czech
language, and she can neither read nor
write. However, she answers ques
tions briskly enough through the
youngest of her surviving grandchild
ren, liersclf a woman of Cl). Magda
lene Ponza's age is authenticated by
tho outdoor relief certificate of the Vi
ennese municipality, which, with mag
nifice'nt generosity, allows hor-lllorins
and 40 kretttzcrs about Cs. Gd. a
month. Tho venerable dame lost the
last of her teeth thirty years ago, but
she has an excellent appetite, oats
meats minced, drinks a little beer daily,
and hobbles about her room without
much difi culty witli tho help of a stick.
S.xt3 years of her life wero spent in her
native village, more than thirty years
in another village, and sho was past 90
when she camo to Vienna, seventeen
years ago. All tho doctors who havo
seen her pronounce hers to bo ono of
the most extraordinary cases of long
evity on record, for she complains of
no ailments beyond a slight asthma.
Her worn face, with its countless wrin
kles, docs however, look preternatu
rally old.
Giving me her photograph, Magda
lene Ponza scored her mark on it with a
fairly steady hand, and remarked with
a smile that her llrst portrait was tak
en by a painter in her village ninety
years ago This was before tho German
emperor was born. The centenarian
lias received a good many visits and
presents since her last birthday, but
one must regret that more has not been
done for her through ollicial channels.
She shares one hinglo poor room with
her granddaughter and the hitter's hus
band, who is ucdriddm with a spinal
complaint. A woman who is perhaps
the doyenne of all the women in Eu
rope, and wiio has lived under six Aus
trian sovereigns, deserves at least that
her closing days should bo spent in
comfort, and that she should have the
satisfaction of feeling that the helpless
husband of her granddaughter will be
provided for when she is gone.
An Applicant For Divorce.
Lawyer Heattio has a widespread rep
utation for being very successful in ob
taining divorces for miss-fitting couples
who do not pull tho domestic plow
straight together down tho furrow of
life.
On Mondiu' last, a dapper-looking lit
tle fellow, of dtidi.sh appearance, with
his hair parted on the left-center of his
head, havinr a corner-turned collar and
a white neck-tie, hold ng in his hand a
little ratan cane with an ivery sheep's
foot for a head, and looking exactly as
if his mother had fixed him up for a
Sunday-school picn'c, callc I at Lawyer
IJeattio's ollico and said ho do-ired to
consult him about a "werrey impawteut
matter." So ho seated himself anil said
he wanted to apply for a divorce.
Tho lawyer looked the liltlo fellow
over in a sort of a compassionate man
ner, and the following dialogue oc
curred between the attorney and the
dude:
"How long havo you been married?''
"About six weeks."
"Married only six weeks and want a
divorce?"
Yes sir."
"How old aro yon?"
"About twenty-two years."
"How old is your wife?"
"About seventeen years."
"What has she boon doing?"
"Oli, nothing, particular."
"Has sho done nothing wrong?"
"No sir, not particular."
"Why do you desire a divorce, then?"
"Oli, I havo all 1 want of hor; 1 havo
no more use for her."
"Was sho a respectable girl when you
married her?"
"Yes sir."
"Is she a respectablo woman, now?"
"Yos sir."
"Has sho any brothors living?"
"No sir."
"Has sho a father living?"
"Yes sir."
"Does ho live in this city?"
"Yos sir."
"Will vou tell your wlfo's father to
call at this office I want to seo him?"
"Why, what do you want with him?"
"1 am going to adviso him to blow
your worthless brains out, ar d 1 will
"stand between him and all harm."
"Mr. Honor," said tho lawyer, ad
dressing his clerk, "show this young
fellow out, and if you kick him clear
out into tho street, I will bo restousiblo
for all damages."
And tho dude shot out of tho ollico
as if he had been fired out of a cannon.
L'url l'rctzcl' s Weekly.
He Folt His Importance.
For years ho had been trying to got
into politics, and ran tho full gamut of
all tho tricks of tho trade, but for some
reason wasn't successful. At last ho
got so far as to bo mado justice of the
peace, and tho lir.-t man that went to
make an afiidavit lioforo him happened
to bo a rough old neighbor who had
known him all his da vs. The old man,
who wus lacking in politeness as most
of hi kind, sulked in and began to toll
his storv without l ftinr his hat. "S r "
nxolitluKHl the new juatWw. whp had '
been sw-l!ing with .i:ii"r:an-', "ir, 1
you shoo l iilw.ns rem o vur hat
vlton mi i rO'i.c ' i' prise ui t tue and
JoJ..i ii U i i.e. I
Character in Hair.
If wo might jndgo from tho "Penny
Awful," and even from tho "Shilling
Shocker." there is a moral fatality in
hair, says an observer in CasscWs Fam
ily Magazine. Tho dark-eyed woman
with "wealth of raven locks" is a fiend
of deep plots and machinations, bent
upon tho destruction of tho heroine
with the golden hair or we believe
the approved form is now tho "gold
head" and the violet eyes. About one
thing the world has made up its mind,
or, at least, tho world of superficial ob
servers, who havo a sheep-liko tenden
cy to keep together; and that ono thing
is, that a strong-minded woman in fic
tion ought to bo a brunette, and that a
sensitive,' tender, genllo creature is to
bo depicted as a blonde. This is on a
par witli the old melodramas, whero tho
heroine alwavs wore white, and camo
on the stage to slow music. The hero
ines of our hearts did not appear cross
ing our life's seeno to slow music, did
the) ? Nor were they gifted with sym
pathy, tenderness and sweetness ac
cording to tho color of their hair. Tho
world of melodrama and of nine-tenths
of our fiction is not the world wo live
in. As a matter of fact, the real golden
hair is a gift :i3 rare as tho voico of a
prima donna, and the "wealth of ravon
losks" goes often with the softest of na
tures those sensitive and yet unselfish
beings of whom wo might say that won
derful word of praise that it took Mme.
Stael's genius to invent "She was
more a woman than all tlte rest of wo
men." If the color is not to bo taken as an
index, the habitual appearance is as a
safe guide to least a lew points of char
acter. Our faces carry with them tho
story of our lives, though it be written
in hieroglyphs unread; to some extent
we ourselves havo made them what
thev are; not the features, but the cx
prc'ssion, is our making formuduncon
sciottsly all our life. In just the same
way, it is not the hair itself, but, so to
say, the expression wo have given it,
that tells the tale. White, black, or
gray, brown, ruddy, j-ellow, ashen or
flaxen what matter it? our hearts
and our ways aro not colored to match.
Curly or straiglit--how could wo help
it? Hut our caro and our carefulness,
our work and our troubles, have given
it an appearance of its own, which is a
part of our individuality; and therein
are the secrets of character.
Overworked Women.
Prior to tho American Revolution
every colonial farmhouse and every
blacksmith's shop was a manufactory.
For everything was litorlly manufactur
ed that is, made by hand. The blacksmith
hammered out axes, hoes, forks, spades,
ploughshares, scythes and nails. A
tailoress wont from house to house to
make up the winter clothing, and was
followed by the shoemaker.
Tho farmor prepared the leather
from skins which had lain in the vat
for a year, and his wife mado ready
the cloth.
Spinning-wheels buzzed from morn
ing till night. Skeins of woolen and
linen yarn hung on tho walls of every
house. Seated on the loom-scat, the
best woman of the family plied .shuttle
and treadles weaving blankets, sheets,
table-cloths, towles, bed-curtains flan
nels, and eloth for garments.
livery woman in "the household man
ufactured something. The aged grand
mother spun llnx with the little wheel;
the joungest daughter carded wool,
and the oldest, if the men wero busy,
halcheled llax. ' It was hand work that
did it, and every hand did what it could
best do.
The women, whoso "work was never
done," not only carded, spun and wove,
but thoy milked the cows, mado butter,
bread and cheese, soap and caudles,
cooked tho food, did the washing, anil
in harvest raked hay, pulled llax and
du:r potatoes.
Tho neighbor, who happened in for atv
afternoon's gossip brought her work.
The mother patched or tutted, as sho
rested by tho fireside, or quartered ap
ples for "thu children to "string" and
hang in tho morning in festoons on tho
sunny outside walls. All were busy
alwavs busy.
College Hoys.
I live in a boarding house in which
tliore aro several college students of
various kinds, says a dyspeptic writer
in The Philadelphia Call, and, after
observation and exasperation, I am con
strained to define a college as a place
whero boys learn to row boats that
would bo "no good in a storm and to
smoke cigarettes. You can always tell
a collego boy bv his conversation. Ho
quotes too much classics for a sculler
without knowing enough for a scholar.
When quoting Latin he reminds mo of
a child with a new toy. General educa
tion is a good thing. That's why I am
opposed to colleges. Tho boy who can
go through collego without forgetting
how to speak Engl sh and without
learning how to bang his ha r is sttro to
make his mark. Ho has a solid kernel
about him somewhere. Somo colleges
teach their boys how to play Greok
comedies. If they would only turn out
a few good American actors thoy would
bo blessed by a long-suffering public
I will put the boy who has a Knowledge
of Webster against tho ono who knows
all tho doad languages over buried
everyday in tho week and let him rest
on Sundays.
Toadyism Ittiti Mad.
Meanwhilo. could anything bo moro
nauseous than tho abject adulation of
tho princo ami princoss ot Wales in
which that asinine jobber, Lord Hals
bury, indulged at S.on collego last
wottk? Th's groveling individual vow
ed that "thoro wore no words of his
which would adequately express tho
gratitude and alleot on of tho company"
for their royal highnesses, and then "ho
wont on drivel ng about tho impossi
bility of finding language "adequately
to descr be the gratitudo which filled
tho hearts of those present." Thoro Is
toiuHhing utterly contemptible and dis
gusting in suoh an fluorescence of
sorvKitv. howl HaUbury ovlduntlv has
a rhu,t appatito for toads. London
JVwM.