WOMAN IS THE HIGHEST
aVaewJicrc I have heard tins adage,
Anil I think It Is a true one:
It tVcB much to make a lady,
It take more to nnke a woman."
JLadies -rilh their studied graces,
Ladies with their snow-white hands,
Delicate and clear-cut faces,
Ladles high and ladles grand,
Ootbrd In Telrct, robed In laces,
Much too lino for common touch,
Otnraed and decked with pearls and rubles,
Not true woman, overmuch
Shallow, Tain and superficial;
Hiere arc thousands simply human
"Worthy of the name of lady,
Scarcely worth the name of woman.
JfcA Jar them thcRrand crcatlona
Ola glorious womanhood;
Kot for tbem the hlph Ideals ti
Only soul hath understood;
3ot lor them the lofty mountains
KwinRo'er life's desert waste;
They hare eaten Dead Sea Apples,
Lei them pall uoii their taste.
"Woman mounting slowly upward,
rare and steadfast, modest, sweet
As the violets, which arc blooming
In Mime shaded, cool retreat;
TVomsn reaching out strong tendrils,
Kamest In the walks of life,
TTVtudlne In the path of duty
llinragh temptation, caro and strife;
IVoeian in the garb of patience
Standing where tho tried hare stood,
Xreakinc bread for questioning spirits
Wearing crown of motherhood;
"Toman delving, sculpturing, carving,
Making still this adage tiuc one:
"It takes much to make a lady.
It lata more to make a woman.'
Jjet the firea of fate burn higher,
Well, who cares! On downy bed
Sleep the lady, hut the woman
Walks the earth with stronger tread,
Vital are the latent forces
Which are tried, the pearls He deep,
And they win who stem the courses
And who climb the mountain steep,
"Write upon the heart this adage,
For ire kixw it Is a true one :
it takes much to make a lady,
Jt takes mure to make a woman."
Jlmma i'. Jlrowii. in Woman's Journal.
His Second Wife.
I mast say, Mildred, that everybody
I wean all your friends wcro per
fectly astonished at your marrying
John Vcmon." said Miss Lay, as she
lusscd licr gloves on the littlo tablo be
fore her. and settled herself comfort
Ably in licr chair.
jUihj friends. So that Includes
you, of course." said Mildred, with a
littlo b cnroiis laugh that was meant to
hide licr annoyance.
"Well." and Miss riy lookod
thoughtfully up at tho coiling, then
down again, "1 confess I was astonish
ed! lu tho first placo your husband is
vcrgiugon forty, an ago quito unsttitod
to jour youth and beauty," with a littlo
complimunlry nod toward Mildrod,
winch tho lattor nllboted not to seo -lhen
you nro his .second choice, and 1
bate too often heard you express your
opinion o! widowers in general not to
be "
"One is privileged to chango ono's
opinion. 1 supposed' Interrupted Mil
dred, quickly and deliantly.
OI course!" said Miss Lay, not at
all abashed at Mildred's look and tone.
Hut the question Is how you managed
lo uproot your strong prejudice"
"1 don't think it absolutely necessary
Torino to relate how the wonderful
change cnnio about," said Mildred, im
patiently, and with a look of sudden
anger in her eyes-
"Now, Mill v, there is no need ofgot
i'mg angry. "You know I've nlways
rcli privileged to say what 1 pleased
without fear of olk'ndlng you," and
Miss Lay elevated hor pretty eyebrows
sad regarded Mildred with a look of
HTunsciuciiU "Knowing your disposi
tion so well, I can't holp wondoring at
onr choica Not that 1 find anything
, jljjcctiopsJ)lo in tho chnraoter of Mr.
Vettian? tha added, hastily, sooing
that Mildred was on tho point of spcak--rig.
"but it must bo mortifying, to say
the least, lo a girl of your proud, sensi
tive nature, to havo the virtues of Mrs.
Vernon Number Ono continually dinned
iato his cars, for, of course, now that
iWi dead and gono she had no faults,
poor woman," and the corners of Miss
Lav's rosy mouth came down with a
tudden comical jerk that, under any
other circumstances, would havo pro
voked a laugh trom Mildred.
"It it were any one else but you,
Liir.ir, I wouldn't listen to such non
tease!" exclaimed Mildred, with a look
sf lofty scorn, "but knowing your friv
olous nature so well, 1 can readily ox
suso you."
"Kuowing my qotxl naturo so woll,"
rerreclod Miss Lay, with a laugh.
"New confess that your husband is for
rnrsouuding tho prnlsos of Mrs. Ver
sion Number One."
"forever is a long word, and I shall
senfees nothing of the kind, because it
u Bet true," said Mildred, smothering a
strong desiro to box Miss Lady's ears.
I'll wager nnythlng ho's called you
'Helca' a dozen times sluco you were
married." said Miss Lay, with provok
iag persistence.
"Indeed, he has not, and if he should,
I wooldn't mind It in tho least." said
tMUdred. telling a deliberate falsehood
with a placid faco.
"And that picture," remarked Miss
Iy, indicating with a sweep of her
baud tbo portrait on the opposite wall,
ef a fair-haired, bluo-oyod woman, "1
dau'tseo how you can have it always
before you. Let me sec, what is that
verso about, "black eyes and bluo?'
Oh havo it now:
Tbo Wack eye mar say:
Omio and worship my ray,
Br suloriug ierhaps ou may move me."
Cut the blue eye half hid,
Saya (row under its lid,
I loveand am yours if you'll lore me,"
Why Bot havo your pieturo under
calk by way of contrast ami label it
'Mrs. John Vernon Number Two?"
"It was iny own request that tho
picture should notbu removed," said
Mildred, utlerlv Iruorlnr tho last
.iiestion. while tho suddeu omlnus
parklo in her dark eyes warned Miss
Lay uiai sue WHS minium); mo i.u.y
Don't mind my nonsense, Mllly.
Yei know 1 was never serious in my
Ufa. and I really couldn't resist tho
temptation to tease you a little this
luttriiluir. I am sure I mount no
eSease. Now. Mildred, please don't
assume Hint high and miglity air wnu
u it miritr Jul havo tho least o fleet.
tHTslT sewing that Mjldrod still looked
nnnojoJ, "just attribute my remarks
to jealous)-, sheer jealousy. Tho fact
Is," rising and drawing on her gloves
"wo all envy you. I wore my sweetest
smilo for John Vernon in vain for
moro than a yonr, and Bollo Hunter
gave tin tho only chance she had to go
abroad, thinking that ho would surely
ask her to marry him, but ho didn't
Well, I must bo going. I supposo it Is
quito useless to ask you to come and
see mo soon, for now that you've got
homo you'll bo too utterly happy to
care for tho society of your old
friends."
I shn.ll never bo too busy nor too
happy to seo my old friends," said
Mildred warmly, though her faco still
woro a troubled look, "Tell me, Liz
zie," sho added, suddenly, do all my
old friends predict that I shall not bo
hnppv?"
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Miss Lay.
Didn't I say wo woro all full of envy
nnd jealousy? You arc not really vexed
witli mo, are 3-011, juiuye xou stiu
count 1110 as your best friend?"
"Until you provo an enemy." said
Mildred, lightly, not answering tho
first question.
Miss Lay was a littlo vain, a littlo
shallow, and yet not bad at heart, and
when sho parted witli Mildred that
morning sho had not the smallest idea
ol tho sting her thoughtless words had
left boliind.
Alone, Mildred asked herself for tho
first time in hor lifo how it was possi
ble that sho had ever tolerated tho
young girl who had just loft. In her
present state of mind it scorned prepos
terous that she .should havo entertained
oven tho slightest feeling of friendship
for such a creature. Sho romombered
witli a feeling of sclf-contompt that un
til now sho had looked upon Lir.zlo Lay
as her warmest and truest friend. "Yet
why should I worry over tho sonsolcss
chatter of a silly, frivolous girl?" she
asked herself, as sho wont back to her
pretty room, and taking a book, sat
down by the window to read, and the
first thing hor eyes fell upon was the
word's "From John to Helen," written
in her husband's bold hand on tho fly
leaf. "Jlcr book!" she said, feeling a sud
den pang of jealous pain for which she
could hardly havo accounted, and al
most unanimously sho laid tho book
as I do.
They had been school-mates, Mildred
Lawson and Lizzie Lay; had spent their
common vacation together, cither at
Mildred's home, or in tho pretty littlo
western town whore Lizzio resided. II
was at the hitter's homo that Mildred
had formed tho acquaintance of John
Vernon, and after a short courtship
consented to become his wifo. It was
a matter of much surprise to Mildred's
friends when it becamo a settled fact
that she was to marry Mr. Vernon.
Kuowing her strong aversion to wid
owers, and her rather eccentric notions
upon the subject of marriage, it is not
strange that many wondered at her
choice, though it is quito probable that
envy was at the bottom of much of the
gossip. For years mothers had schem
ed and planned, anil daughters had
worn their sweetest smiles, in order to
captivato John Vernon, but ho had
boon proof against all until ho met Mil
dred Lawson. Thou thoso who had
concluded that ho would never marry
again were obliged to acknowledge
that, howevor faithful ho had seemed
to bo to the memory of his dead wifo,
he was certainly tlooply in lovo with
Mildred.
Mildred had been a wifo four months
quito long enough to bogin to realize
that marrlago meant something moro
than a beautiful homo over which no
shadow would ever fall, and n husband
who would nlways bo blind to hor
faults; and perhaps she would have
realized it sooner had It not been that
immediately after hor marriage sho had
boon hurried into a vortex of gaiety,
visiting and sight-scoing. which loft her
no time for rotloction. So sho had con
tinued to view lifo, married life at least,
through roso-colored spectacles, until
Miss Lay's visit, two days aftor tho
hoino-coinlng. Thou it seemed that her
eyes were suddenly opened to the fact,
that, as John Vernon s wife, she would
bo constantly roiuindod in a hundred
dill'oront ways, that not only was sho
hor lmsbanil's second choice, but that
she occupied the second placo in his
heart.
'.I should have thought of all this
boforo I consented to marry him," sho
told horsolf bitterly, her eyes wander
ing, in spite of horsolf, to the portrait
on the wall. "And yet ho miglit havo
spared 1110 tho pain of finding some
thing every day to remind mo of Aer,"
she added, with childish unreasonable
ness, forgetting that only a littlo while
ago sho had protested that it was hor
wish that nothing should bo changed
about the house. "John should not
havo married such a foolish, jealous-
hearted girl," sho mused, with a sudden
revulsion of feeling, as sho drummed
dismally on tho window-pano, against
which a heavy rain mm coininonecit to
pattor. Tho day was dark and gloomy,
quito in keeping with her dismal
thoughts, though only tins morning
she had called herself tho happiest wo
man In tho world! How true it is mat
tho veriest trifles make up the sum ol
human happiness or woe! Iloeauso ol
a few careless words, spoken in half
jest, Mildred wandered aimlessly from
room to room, torturing horsolf with a
hundred perplexing questions, until
bralu and heart aliko aehod, and sho
was at last forced to lie down and sob
herself to sleep.
She woke with a stiddont start when
the door oponod two hours later and
her husband came In.
"Have you a hoiulaoho Jfelenf he
asked, with much concern, coming over,
to the sofa and seating himself beside
licr.
For tho first time In hor lifo his wife
repulsed hlin coldly.
"Mv name Is Mildred, ploaso remem
ber !" sho said, curtly, sitting up quite
straight, while tho sudden rush of ho
blood to hor faco as sudilently receded,
leaving her as pale us death.
I'm sorry I blundered," Vernon
said, trying to draw her faco down tc
his shoulder. "Are you angry with mo,
dear ?"
'1 supposo It Is quite usoloss for me
to be angry at what I shall very llkolj
havo to endure every day of myllfo.uow
that wo are at home whuro you havo sa
much to remind you of of tho past!"
said Mildred, averth'st. her tear-stained
faco, and withdrawing from his arms-
Vcmon sighed, then bit his lip fierce
ly, to keep back an angrv retort.
"Mildrod," ho said, after a gloomy
silence, "if tlicy annov you. 1 will havo
thoso things removed,'' and ho glanced
nt the picture on tho wall, and then at
tho books ami bric-a-brac scattered
around the room. "You romember, it
was because you requested It that I al
lowed them to remain."
"I thought it would plcaso you tc
have them, and and I I imagined
1 wouldn't caro," stammered Mildred,
on tho vorgo of tears again.
"Hut you find that you do caro; is it
not so?" Vernon asked, gently. Then
without waiting for an answer, ho said:
"It pains mo to seo you unhappy, so
soon after our coming homo. Has any
thing happened to vox you to-dav,
darling?"
"If you only wouldn't forget and call
mo Helen," sobbed Mildred.
"I will bo more careful in future,"
promised Vernon, as ho took her in his
arms and kissed away her tears.
"I know I am a silly, jeolous crea
ture, John," and Mildred's arms tvorc
around his neck, nnd her hot choek
laid close to his. "but I do want to
think that you never loved anyone as
you love me!"
"You know I lovo you fondly and
truly, above all other women," said hci
husband, drawing hor to his heart."
"That is not answering my question
properly," said Mildred, hor jealous
heart prompting hor to claim a stronger
statement.
"Then what is it you do wish me tc
say?" asked Vernon a littlo impatient
1 it must be confessed, for ho was
both surprised and annoyed at this sud
den and unlooked for display of jeal
ousy, "You should say that I am tho only
woman you ever really loved." said
foolish 'Mildred, as if any man ever
reached tho ago of forty without hav
ing a love affair of some sort.
"It would bo wrong for mo to make
such an assertion, sinco it would be
tolling you an untruth," said Vernon,
gravely. "Mildred, do you want me lo
say that 1 didn't lovo Helen?" ho asked,
in a low, pained voice.
Mildred was stubbornly silent
"Because, if von do you are not the
sensible woman I have believed you tc
be, he said, his dark, handsomo face
growing pale and stern.
"One can lovo but once. Thoro can
bo no second lovo!" said Mildred, hotly-
If this is your belief, you should have
roniembored it when I asked you tc
marry me," said Vernon, coldly, pa
cing tho floor.
A spirit of pervirsity prompted Mil
dred to say:
"It would havo saved mo much pain
and porhaps a lifetime of regret had I
remembered it"
"Mildred," and Vernon stopped in
his rappid walk and took hor hands in
a close clasp, "you can't mean what
you have just said! Say you woro not
in earnest unless you want to make me
miserable!"
"You can't bo moro miserable than
lam!" said Mildred, witli a littlo sob.
"I have boon tho happiest man in tho
world for four months until to-day,"
said Vernon, quickly.
"1 suppose the homo-coming has giv
en voti unpleasant thoughts," said
Miliired, who was in a perfect passion
of unreasonable jealousy and anger.
"1011 havo given 1110 unpleasant
thoughts," retorted Vernon, losing pa
tience, and speaking in a quick, angry
voico. "Mildrod answer 1110 truly, are
you sorry you married 1110?"
"1 am simplv what it is to 00 a second
wifcV said Mildred, bitterly.
"1 ou nro angry and unreasonable
just now," said Vernon, quitoly, though
lie had grown white to his lips. "When
you are calmer, perhaps, you will take
a more sonsiblo view of tho mattor,"
and dropping hor hand, ho abruptly
quitted the room.
When tlioy met at dinner both woro
moodv and reserved, vet frigidlv polito,
though beyond a fow commonplace re
marks no words were exchanged.
The meal over, without a glanco at
icr husband's faco, Mildrod retired to
hor room, while Vernon, making 110 ef
fort to follow hor, lit a cigar and left
the house.
Davs and weeks, passed thus, Mildred
too angry and stubborn to confess her
self in tlio wrong. Vernon too proud
to intrude where he believed he would
bo unwelcome. Hither pttrposoly or
through neglect, tho p oturo and books
were not removed, and Mildred with
out consulting her husband, quietly
took possession of 11 room in tho south
wing of tho houso, and made no further
allusions to hor wrongs whether faucl-
jd or real.
Vernon spoilt the evenings in the
room his wife had vacated, and it was
miall comfort to Mildred to know that
f ho was nlouo ho was constantly sur
oundod with mementoes of his lost
llolen. "Even hor picture is doaror to
him than 1 can ever hope to bo !" sho
old horsolf. bitterly, when on crossing
the hall, one ovoning, sho saw her hus
band standing boforo the portrait, his
face wearing a strango, absent look.
Vernon was too deeply hurt at his
wife's coldness to notice that she was
Jaily growing thinner, and that hor
ayes woro constantly dim with unshod
toars. Pride, anger, and bitter resent
ment woro raging in his heart, and ho
uubbornlv refused to boliovo that Mil
lrod wa3 longing for a roconoiliaton.
i With tho obstinacy of ono who believes
himself deeply Injured, he determined
that Mildrod should bo tho ono to break
down tho barrior hor own hand had
ralsod.
In these long days and weeks Mil
.lrod was fast learning tho sad truth
that each added hour of coldness and
silence was drifting them further
apart, and she shuddered at the
thought of what tho end might bo. "Our
J marriage was a wretched mistake!''
she saiil to herself, 0110 night, when
Vernon with a careless kiss and "good
night." had gone out, and she realized
, that another long, lonely evening was
boforo hor. "What a nitsorable farco it
is!" sho exclaimed aloud, "lids ex
change of polito greetings, these cold
caresses that moan nothing! Why
should wo trouble ourselves to blind
tho world to the bitter truth? Soouor
or later it will be found out He Is
happier when away from nu and 1 am
miserable in this house. Why should 1
bitty hero lonely and unhappy night tu
for night, when they want and miss mo
so at home? I will not bear it another
davl" she added, passionately, a sud
don determination com'ng too her,
born of her anger and loneliness.
Throwing aside tho book she had been
pretending to rend, she donned cloak
and hat, and, notwithstanding tho late
ness of the hour, hurriedly left the
house.
"Is Mr. Vcmon out of town that you
havo condescended to pay 1110 a visit?
Surely you didn't walk and it raining
and almost dark?" and Miss Lay has
tened to rcmovo M ldred's wot cloak.
"Why, Milly!" with a glance at the
white, set face, "have you been crying!
Is nn thing wrongi" nnu hor face that,
at sight of Mildred had dimpled all
over witli smiles, instantly grow sober.
Mildred sank into a chair before the
cosy fire while Miss Lay established
herself on a low stool.
"Have you had bad news from
home?" sho continued, as Mildred hold
her hands in the warmth of tho lire
without speaking.
"No; it's about John. Wc quarreled,
and and, oh, Lizzie, I am so unhap
py!" and, laying her head in Miss Lay's
jap, Mildred sobbed out the wholo mis
erable story.
"You foolish child!" exclaimed Miss
Lay. "I don't wonder that John was
angry!"
"So you think I was wholly to
blame?" said Mildred, with flashing
eyes; "and after saying what you did
about marrying a widower, too.
"I understand now; it was my fool
ish words that caused all the trouble.
My silly tongue is forever getting me
into a scrape," said Miss Lay, in a tone
of genuine regret
"It would have been the same if you
hadn't said a word," exclaimed Mil
dred, passionately. "Sooner or later I
would have found out what a terriblo
mistake I have made!"
"stuff and nonsense!" cried Miss Lay,
with a sniff, "I have always thought
j'ou a sensible girl, Milureu, but l con
fess that you are acting very foolishly
now,
"I suppose I have no right to' com
plain, as I was not forced into this mar
riage, but I certainly expected some
sympathy from yoH," said Mildred, in
an injured tone. "As it seems quite
useless to explain matters I will not
trouble you further," ami she rose as if
to go.
"Sit down, you unreasonable child,
and tell me what you want 1110 to do."
said Miss Lay, drawing her stool near
er the lire. "Iain sorry you'ro so un
happy, though 1 don't seo that you
have any cause to bo so wretched and
heart-brokon. You have it in your
power to bo tho happiest woman in
town," siie continued as Mildred, witli
a heavy sigh, resumed her seat.
Certainly Miss Lay was displaying
more forethought and wisdom than ono
would have expected from so shallow
and frivolous a creature,
"What can 1 do for you Mildred?"
she asked, after a littlo silence.
"You can let mo stay with you till
morning," said Mildred, with sudden
eagerness. "I I am going home
tof morrow," her voico faltering a little.
"1 couldn't bear to stay another night
in that house!"
"Mildred, you are not in earnest?"
and Miss Lay's blue eyes opened wide
with astonishment.
"Hut I am in earnest, very much in
earnest," returned Mildred, quickly,
her voice growing firm again. "1 seo
no reason why I should stay hero and
bo miserable when they want 1110 so at
home, the boys especially. Jack writes
that father mopes all day, and Tom has
broken his arm, and things are getting
topsy turvy, and "
"A pure fabrication of Jack's," in
terrupted Miss Lay, "just written to
fill up spaco. And you want to leavo
your beautiful homo and a husband that
worships the very ground that you walk
on; don't shako "your head" in that
scornful way, for it's truo to go back
to thoso horrid troublesome boys! Well,
I only wish John Vernon had asked mo
to many him!"
Mildred laughed in spite of herself
at the owl-liko gravity of Miss Lay's
look and tone.
"That's better, and goes to provo
that you'ro not half as wretched as you
imagine Now, Mildred, tho right way
lo nianago a man is to mako him bo
liovo ho's the only man in the world
worth looking at."
"Is tiiut all?" asked Mildred, dryly.
"Yes."
"Then I'm afraid I'll never learn how
to manago a man," said Mildred, with
a litle curl of tho lip.
"Seo here, Mildred, you know you'ro
in tho wrong, and it's your business to
jot matters right again," said Miss
Lay, beginning to lose patience nnd to
roalizo that she had a rather dillicult
:ask before hor. "I know John Vernon
bettor than you do, if ho is your hus
band, and l know just how sensitive ho
is, and how easily you havo made him
boliovo that ho is too old and quiet for
you, and that ho has tired you with his
umplo. commonplace ways. 1 know,
:oo, that ho's just misorablo over this
little what shall I call it? misunder
standing." "Do you really think ho is?" asked
Mildred, unbonding a littlo.
"I am certain he is. How can ho bo
anything else? "Now, Mildred, go
homo, like a good girl and mako your
peace with him."
Mildrod burst into tears, and taking
her silenco as a good sign, Miss Lay
hastened to follow up her advantage.
"I'll send you homo in thocarriage,"
she saitl, as she helped Mildred ou with
lier cloak and hat. Toll Jehu you felt
lonely and ran over to spend an hour
or two with me," she added, as sho
kissed Mildred good-by.
'Lizze, I believe I was mad a littlo
while ago," whispered Mildred. "You
havo saved me from a life-time of mis
ery and regret! And you will keep my
secret?" she added, pleadingly.
A pressure of tho hand was'her only
answer, and looking back Mildrod saw
that the bluo oyes were full of tears.
At half past eight o'clock, contrary
to his custom, Vernon returned home.
Could it havo been tho memory of Mil
dred's sad, wistful face that spoiled his
evening's pleasure nnd hurried him
home? if two or threo hours of uimless
lounging in tho club rooms could bo
called pleasure.
Tho truth was ho wns getting tired
and restless over this cold sllouco and
restraint, for which, according to hit
idea of right and, ho was not to blame,
yet he longed to mako his peace witk
Mildred, longed to take her in his nrmt
and k.ss away her tears, and nssur
licr over and over again how dear sh
was to him and how much ho missec
the sweet companionship that had been
theirs until this cloud came between
them. To-night, for tho first time since
their estrangement, his heart softened
at the memory of her pale, weary face.
"I have been a brute and a fool!" hf
said to himself. "I should havo ro
niembered that she was young nnc
thoughtless, and that her sudden out
burst of jealousy was a proof that slit
cared for me, perhaps, more man 1 cie
3crvc. 1 wonder if I made a mistake
in asking such a childish creaturo tc
marry me? No doubt she would have
been happier as the wife of a youngoi
man."
Closing tho door of his room softly,
he crossed the hall and looked into his
wife's room. A fire burned cheerfully
in the grate; an open book lay on the
table, and a pair of dainty, einbroiderec
slippers had been thrown carelessly bj
the lire. On tiio open book lay a little
glove with the faint perfume of violetf
still clinging to it. How vividly every
thing suggetsed the presence of hit
young wife, and yet tho room was va
cant!
A sudden, vague foreboding seizec
him, as he pushed the door oper
and went in, then with alittle nervous
laugh he sat down before the fire.
"How foolish i am, she has only gone
out for an hour or two. It is quite
comfortable here; I will wait awhile."
He fell to thinking and the more he
reasoned, tho stronger was his convic
tion that he hail been much,if not wholly,
to blame for the present wretched state
of affairs. Ho rccallod with a fcelinp
of self-reproach that he had spoken
harshly and coldly, when a fow kind
words miglit have set matters straight
"Yet sho must know that I love her,"
he said aloud, picking up tho glove nnc
pressing it to his lips. Then looking
up suddenly, ho saw Mildred standing
in the open door.
"John!" and she came a step for
ward, her eyes shining, her voice ful,
of pleased surprise. "I thought you
had gono out and and I ran over tc
Lizzie's a littlo while. I had no idea if
was raining so hard," she addod, as
she removed her damp cloak and came
nearer to the lire. "Lizzie sent me
home in the carriage," with a quick
blush and a furtive glance at her hus
band. "Mildred," and Vernon now drew
her down to his knee, "don't you think
it about time you were devoting some
of your spare evenings lo jie?"
"And don't you think about time you
were quilting that horrid club?" asked
Mildred, hiding her face on Ins shoulder.
"After to-night it shall know mono
more," said Vernon, earnestly, as lie
drew her closer to his breast "I'm
afraid you are too young to understand
a crusty old fellow liko "me," ho added,
witli a sigh.
"Nonsense, I am almost twonty!"
said Mildred, with a happy laugh.
"And I am forty," said Vernon, "a
cross and crabbed "
"The dearest and best old fellow in
tho world!" interrupted Miliired with a
torn! kiss.
"After to-night you are never to
doubt 1110 again," said Vernon. "He
cause" his voice growing a little
stern "whero there is 110 perfect trust
there can bo 110 happiness.
"1 don't see how we are going to be
happy if you keep bringing up disagree
able subjects," said Mildred with a
little pout "It is my nature to be
jealous."
"And mine," said Vernon smother
ing a strong desire to laugh. "I ex
pect to knock tho first man down that
dares to pay you an open compliment."
"And I expect to bo a martyr in the
future," said Mildred, with an air of
happy resignation.
Miss Lay continues a frequent visitor
at Mildred's home, nnd notwithstand
ing the reputation she bears of being a
vain, shallow creature, a gossip, and
mischiefmakor, sho has convinced Mil
dred, at least, that she knows how to
keep a secret.
Although Vernon, having always re
garded Miss Lay as a woman most do
void of brains and witli very littlo heart,
wonders sometimes at his wife's choice
of a friend, ho sas nothing, because
ho believes that Mildred has tho happy
faculty of drawing out Miss Lay's good
qualities, and because in his fond fool
ish eyes, his wife is that creature of the
imagination a perfect woman! Ade
laide D. HoLLSTo.v, in The Current.
A Foline Adopts 11 Litter of Rats.
Joseph Messenger, a woll-known
farmer, who enjoys a reputation tor
truthfulness, credits tho following story
told of his cat, which is famous in tho
neighborhood whero ho resides for her
record as a successful ratter and
mouser: A fow days ago, as Messen
ger ontorcd his barn, he saw a big rat
jump out of a barrel and scamper away.
Tho fanner looked in the barrel and
saw six young rats which where unable
to get out Ho wont and brought his
famous rat-killing cat and put her in
the barrel, as the quickest way of rut-
ding the promises of tho six incipiont
pests.
To his great surprise sho did not
make short shrift of them, but on the
contrary took the rat family under hor
protection ana tretueu tueiu wnu as
much consideration and affection as
though they had been a litter of her
own.
Tho news of this roraarkablo whim on
tho part of the Messengor rat-destroyor
soon spread to the neighbors, and they
flocked to the barn to see tho curious
spectacle. The constant appearance
of btangors at tho barrel evidently
alarmed tho cat for the safoty of her
protoges, for she began to carry them
in her mouth, as she might her kittens,
to n placo of groator oxelusion and safe-
ty. At this point tho farmer drew the
lino, and slaughtered tho cat's family
of ratlings, much to her apparent grief.
Altoona (Venn.) Tunes.
In Haston''early Juue peas" are ahead;
advertised. This shows that the season ii
really advaueluji. A (batty Arffus.
Ilarmer is the name ot one Congressman.
The appellation would do service for most a
the rest I'MlaJdMa -YortA JLuurkan.
JUMBO'S OLD CHUM.
IIo s't lloturn to Kncliiiid He-cause
umbo's C'nrcnns In Hero.
Animal trainers arc a queer lot as a
rule, and show-managers havo to put
up with many vagaries' from them.
They form strong attachments for thoir
big and sometimes ungainly pets; at
tachments such as one would hardly
expect to exist between a human being
and a wild beast. A case in point re
cently came under tho notice of Mr.
James L. Hutchison, of tho Harnuni
show, which servos well to illustrate
what seems to bo ono of tho chief traits
in an animal-trainers character. When
the Barnum people bought Jumbo in
England they brought over to mis coun
try with him Matthew Scott, who for
some twenty years had been the trainor
and keeper of tho huge, liomoly but
good-natured beast. Scott was Jum
bo's guardian and constant companion
during the pachyderm's brief but bril
liant career in this country, When
Jumbo met his deatli as a result of too
much monkeying with a railroad train
up in Canada, Scott was "all broke up,"
to use the verancular. ' Ho was a rost
loss, dissatisfied, pretty well broken-up
individual while the skin of his elephan
tine bedfellow was beiug stuffed and
his skeleton cleaned and mounted for
exhibition purposes. When the ro
mains of Jumbo were added to the
Uarnum aggregation Scott was put on
exhibition with them. Ho seemed to
have recovered some of his happincsa
then, and never tired of telling of the
peaceful disposition, the kindly nature,
and the altogether commendable habits
of his late chum.
When the Barnum show closed its
season last October Mr. Hutchinson
told Scott that he would havo uo furth
er use for him, nnd advised him to go
back to England and accept tho position
at the London zoological garden that
was waiting tor him. Scott said he
would do so. On Oct 23 in Lynch
burg, Va., Mr. Hutchinson paid Scotl
the nearly $2,000 which had accumula
ted in his hands as the old trainer's
wages. Scott also received money tc
pay his passage back to Europe, in ac
cordance with his agreement with the
Barnum people. Ho bado everyone
good-bye. left tho show, and started foi
this city in time to take the steamer he
had selected for Liverpool. That was
the last that was seen or heard of him
by the proprietors of tho Barnum show
until last week.
Mr. Hutchinson went up to the
Bridgeport winter quarters then to sec
how things were progressing for the
removal of tiie show's truck to this
city. IIo was astonished shortly aftei
leaving his train to meet Scott
"Hallo, Scott, what are you doinp
here? Thought you were in England
with your friends? Glad lo seo you,
any way." Thus spoke tho cheery
manager.
Scott stumbled in his words considera
bly and explained that he'd mado lots ol
friends in this country, rather liked it,
and thought he'd stay here for a while
for rest as lie had a good pile of money
for him. Ho appeared to bo a trillo
ashamed of something, as if caught m
a disreputable sort of proceeding. Mr.
Hutchinson left him and went to the
big barns and sheds of tho company.
But lie could not forgot Scott
"Seen anything of Jumbo Scotl
around hero lately?" ho inquired casu
ally of tho people in the office. No,
they hadn't. lie dctermed to pursue
his inquiries further, and solve tho mys
tery of this man Scott's boingin Bridge
port So lie went down to the elephant
house. Yes, thoy had seon Seoil; seen
him frequently; "almost daily in fact.
Mr. Hutchinson followed tho clew qui
etly and successfully, and then it turn
ed out that nearly every day since the
show had been in winter 'quartors Scott
had prowled about tho barn, chatted
witli the elephant mon, and invariably
wound up his call by a visit to tho spol
whero the stuffed Jumbo and chained
skeleton are stored. After a short, and
so far as is known, silent communion
witli his dead friend, Scott would leave
the placo satisfied and go to his humblo
lodgings in Bridgeport If tho deceas
ed Jumbo travels this season Scott will
want to, oven if ho isn't on the salary
list Xew York Times.
He Wild Know Him.
"Would you recognize him?" asked
the keeper of the morgue to a man whe
had called to identify the remains of a
person who had been found floating
in the river.
"Faith, and I wud."
'And could you indontify his body to
a certainty?"
"Iudado I could."
"Well, sir, come in and look around?"
With that Fat moved hurridly
around, first going totho extreme loft
of the building.
'Why do you go way over in thai
part of the building first?" asked the
morgue keeper.
"Faith, an' I dunno, 'copt it bo thai
I wud find him there."
I don't boliovo you would know him
if you would see his body, said tho
keeper, who had begun to boliovo thai
it was nothing moro than morbid curi
osity that had brought Fat to the
morgue.
"Kuow him dado, an' I wud, foi
sure. Wasn't ho left-handed?" iYef
zelVs Weekly.
Kind Frlotuls.
Friend "1 have brought you a fen
slices of ham."
Poor Neighbor "Ah! How kind yon
arc."
"Don't mention it. It Is really
pleasure for mo to show you any little
attention."
"Well, I appreciate your kindness. 3
can assure you of that"
"As I said before, I am only too glae
)o bo able to accoramodato you. Tin
slices arc cut from a ham that wai
glvou us. By tho way, if you discovoi
any svmptoms of trichina in youi
family,' after you havo tried tlm ham,
you will let us know please. Wp an
not going to oat of it until we hear froa
you ?' Texas Sif tings.