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About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 21, 1889)
COMFORTED. I Td Just been desperate all that day; I couldn't stand one thing more: I The work was piling and piling up, like an aw- (nl mountnln before. I gave tny ittsticlnth a twist and a wring, the wring of my b tterest mood. And nld: "If the Lord Is tender, or cares, He'll show tne u token for good." And Mllly turned, ns she stood outside, In her pretty new tlgured gown, 1 saw the tenrs In her big blue eyes God bless her! they seemed to drown A little of nil I was suffering. Slio watted, and then said she: 41 Peihaps Ho sends us some tokens that we do not look to see." When she was gone I sat down and cried, with my head on tho old roil shawl, I almost thought there wasn't a God to plan lor th s world at nil! Hut after I'd cried my tears away, I thought of what Mllly had sa d; 1 thought of It all the afternoon, and when I had gono to bed. In tho morning I went to tho door, and there wns tny cactus at latt in bloom; A great, red, glorious blossom that had burst 'twUt the 1 ght and gloom. And when I looked deep into Its heart, I felt a kind of an awe: The sheaf of stamens! that parted cupt but that wasn't all I saw. I giuod at tht gnarlv. prickly plant, so bare and crooked nnd dry. With that bloiom Just like a rosy star dropped out of tho morning sky, Then sanlc to my knees beside tho door, nnd there on tho cold, wet sod. I knew thoie was One who cared for me, nnd He was the loving God. For oh! If He has tho power to make such a lloww bv loro d vine, Perhaps Ho will bring a pure white soul from such a poor life us m ne; II Is dry, and twisted, and dreary, filled up with mv household dust; But ah' I have seen His token, and I know I can wait and trust. Ellen Hamlin Uutlcr, In Maine Farmer. TWICE DEAD ! Tho Mossaco of tho Oorp30 A Strange, True Talo. (Written for This I'iiper. I. I HE night was bail. Hum and sleet canto In tlorco gusta Tho darkness was awful. "Are tho horses rondy?" Tho speaker was panoplied in rub ber; great-coat, hat and boots, and was looking at the prim ing of a braco of pistols. Tho young man to whom tho question had boon addressed had just co mo into tho loom, stamping and blowing with tho bnistorousuoss of youth and health. "Yes, t-ir; nnd we'd hotter hurry up, for tbev won't stand tied much longer. My eyo. hut it's dark out doors!" "do and toll I'rof. Cronin to bo ready for us by tho timo wo got back. Tell Pat and lavo to conio on and bi ing tho dark la torn ivith you as you como back." 'All right, sir," and tho young man wont out. Aithtir Denver, loft alono, slipped his pistols into his pockets, looked all around tho waiting-room of Westmoreland Col lego, in which ho was standing, whistled oltly n part of a tune in an nhsont-uiindud way, and stopped out of tho light room Into tho darkness of tho storm. Tho sudden tnuisition lrom light to dark blinded him, but ho soon saw tho dim lights in the far-oif windows of tho college aori.iitoiy, and discerned before him tho swaying blanches of tho trews and tho rush of nilit;drops acrors tho nth of light that t-treamed from tho window of th.3 loom hu had just loft. Ho remained standing long onough to havo developed soma itnpationco though, if tlio wind could have taken oogn zanco of tho face it boat against, it would have por rcived that tho m nd was far awny and was noticing nolthor tho weather nor tho low ering temperature when simultaneously a cood-natured peal of laughter and a clatter of horses' hoots announced tho arrival of his young friond with tho team. Ho drovo up at a dashing pneo and reined his horsos In so suddenly it throw them on thoir fcaun'ohes. Arthur could dimlv boo, behind tho rostloss horses, a light spring wagon and in it tho dark and shadowy figures of threo moil. Ho climbed in and took tho va cant seat besido tho driver. At a word tho mettlesome steeds sprang forward nnd sped tin ougu tho darkness at a breakneck pace. 'You will havo to loarn to bo more quiet on expeditions of this sort, Morton," said Arthur Donvor. "It wns not I who laughed so boisterously just before wo camo up with you," replied tho young man. "Indued? I thought It was." "No, sir. It was Oraoino." "Oraomol Tho idiot! What does ho out on such a night as this?" "Ho bo alwuys out on these koind of noights, sor," spoko up ono of tho men on the back soat. Arthur Denver shrugged his shoulders. "Aro you sure you know the load, Mor ton?" "Iloon over it over sinco I was a child, sir." And ho did know it, for they How around tho hillsides, over dangerous ground enough In daylight, without an accident Thu rain still beat in gusts directly in their faces. A smothered inipreca. ion from onu or tho othor of tho two men in tho back tent, botrayod thoir nativity and early re ligious training, as well as varied tho monotony by marking tho possngo of somo particularly rough chnck-holo or high culvert. They npod on, winding among the hills and measuring many a Uronry lano boforo thoy stopped. And whon they did halt, it wns boforo a gate that had over it a lingo white arch dimly discernible through tho murky night. Tho gate was lockud, but It yielded to tho "open hcsamo" of a broad key in tho hands of Morton. Through (ho gnto tho wagon passed, und ah ng tho grnvoled drivowny wounu its tortuous way nii'ong tho habitations of tho dead until it camo to a now-tntido grave. Hero tho mon alighted. d while tho Into occupants of tho rem .t hhovolod away at tho mound, Morton hitched tho horses nnd stopped back to watch tho gate, and Arthur skilfully lit his plpo beneath his great-coat and smoked. Half mi hour later thn samo team wns making a return trip over tho same road A filth passenger wax now aboatd. Hut this passenger lay on thu lloor of tho wagon In a sack. At tho college gate Prof. Cronin met 'them. "Havo you got Alice?" ho Inquired. "You hud butter put her in your room. Pro!. Denver, till to-night; tlui lock Is broken on thu door of the dissecting room, and if it will not incoiiYcnle.Dc " ".Not at all" m Kim Morton drove on slowly through ths col lege grove. The wind had died down and tho rain ceased, leaving tho air full ot damp fog. The first indications of dawn were barely observable in the gradually clearing eastern horizon as tho trees began to loom into spectral shape, holding their over tho wagon passing beneath. The somber pllo of the college outlined itself indistinctly against tho gray sky. To tho loft lay tho dormitory hall, to tho right tho building occupied by tho laboratories, reci tation rooms and tho bachelor apartments of Prof. Arthur Denver. To tho last-mentioned place thoy drove. Tho professor paid tho men, dismissed Morton with the Wn SHOVELED AWAY TIJE M0UXD. horses, took tho sack In his arms and noise lessly entered tho house. Hu laid his bur don on n sofa, and retiring into tho next room went to bed. 11. Goorgo Dascnr was handsome, clover, passionate, weak; and, because ho was weak, cruel. Ho loved Aunto Morso blind ly, madly. Sho - well, Bho was young, and if sho felt a reciprocal sentiment for n young man who besieged her at every nvtiilabio opportunity with fierco lovo, who could blamo her) Sho knew not her own honrt, to toll the truth, and vasolllatod be tween tho taciturn pi ofossor nt tho medi cal collego and the handsome grain buyer. Sometimes sho thought for long days how happy she would bo it Arthur Denver would smllo and cast his brown oyes on her alway. And then Dascar would como into her mind nnd all his windy sighs and protestations of how ho certainly should dlo unless sho would lovo him in roturn. At this stage in her reflections she would look at herself in tho lass and wonder what any ono could boo In her to lovo so desperately all of which showod that Das car's llattery had not fallen on stony ground. That satno gray morning, after tho Btormy night, Dnscar camo down to his ofllce with unusually light stop. Tlio ollico boy was surprised at not being kicked. Tho dog caught his master's good humor, as dogs will, und ti d himself into Ixau knots on the lloor as an evidence thereof. "Poor Alice!" muttered Dascar to liim golf, as ho picked up his morning paper and adjusted himself to scrutinize its contouts. "Poor Alice! Sho wasn't a bad girl. I should havo wanted her to live, had It not been for that mlserablo secret On the whole, sho acted very woll about it. Though sho nlwnys opposed my paying attention to Annio, yet she never did any thing to In jure my prospects. Now sho is di-ad, and tho last mouth is closed that could blah any thing of that cursed business. I wish tho memory of it had died with Allco. Well, bars and bolts ot certain institutions aro as strong as the gravo and keep secrets as well." Ho read his paper. Ho throw it down and sauntered out along tho street to seo if ho could got n sight ot Annio. Ho had often passed her houso boforo at oven moro un reasonable hours than this to catch a glimjwe of hor. This timo ho was success ful. Sho was on tho porch just starting to town. 'Mr. Dascar, of all mon!" "And why not Mr. Dascar?" offering his arm and closing tho gate for hor. "Who would havo thought of seoing you at this time of day? I should havo im agined you iininorsed in business nnd to bacco smoke by this timo. Papa always is. And horo you aro, without tho scent of a cigar, actually! What will happen next when" Sho would hnvo chattered on, for she was in a happy, talkative mood, but ho inter rupted. "I told you I would not 6moko if you dis liked it. I would do any thing for you. I camo by on purpose to boo - if not you, at least tho house that sheltered you lost night in tho dreadful storm. I envy it" Ho spoko softly, yet with a peculiar abandon and lncoheronco that was a protty fdinulat.on of emotion. "O dear!" said Annie, innocently enough. Goorgo Dascar's brain worked fast Out of tlio many thoughts that rushed through It camo this conclusion: "Toll hor now, be foro that other fool does. You'ro all safe. Tho only witness is dead." "Mhs Morse Annie, I will say it. Have you not soon it? I must marry you. You know I lovo you to my death. Do not toll mo 'nay.' I know this Is a quoor timo nnd place for a proposal I can not help it My feelings overpowor mo. I daro not look you In tho face. I shall call this ovoulng and loarn my fato. I lonvo you and turn hore. No, do not answer." And he was gono. Annlo stopped a momont gazing nt his receding form. Her heart iiuttorod; sho waa dizzy. It was only for n moment, how ever, for sho hurried on hor errand, a bright iiamo burning in each cheek. That forenoon there was a terrific battle. Tlio arena was Annio Morso's honrt; tho combatants, Goorgo Dascar and Arthur Denver. Not n literal hand-to-hand com bat, as in tho days of chivalry, but Annie would now think of one and thon of tho other in a dazed way that bespoke her tho subject of cross mesmeric influences. Arthur Denver was to como that after noon and tuko hor to seo tho now city llbra-y- Ho would havo a chance to lm provo his prospect Would ho do it? If he didu't woll, sho didn't know what, If ho didn't Tho afternoon passed, but no Arthur Denver camo, notwithstanding ho had pleaded with hor to make the engagement, and to do so she had broken soveral others. Sho was piqued. When Goorgo Dascar camo ho had that much In his favor that ho know not of. Ho Improved his cbnnceB well, and whon ho left her houso that evening it waa with the promlHo ot hor hand. Things went on smoothly. Tho wedding was at hand. Arthur Donver did not show himself. III. Arthur Dnnver awoVo from hU lumbers and came book into his nnte-room, he saw an empty sack lying on the lloor. "Where has it gone?" he exclalmod. His first seusation waa a peculiar cold wave, commencing along the lower part of the spinal column nnd terminotlng promts, ououily among the root of his hair. Then .... ,,,,tinMa nKmit thn ktmnii Alma tome tieinbllnir there. Ix ibort, h wu A-,, --hi ' - feared. lie recovered partially, however, !n n moment, and looked under the lounge. This trait ho probably Inherited from his maternal ancestors. Of course ho did not expect to see any thing undor tho louuge, but t io exertion rollovcd his mind nnd he nroso and wondered why "it" had boon taken away in broad daylight Ho went to sco Morton and found him In bed. Ho called on Prof. Cronin, only to bo told that tho professor had not seen any thing of "It" hadn't been in Denver's room that morning. Then thoro wns n scono. No body know any thing of "it" but thoe three nnd tho two hlr d assist tilts. It wns improbable that tho last-montioncd would havo taken "it," for thoy wore profession als and depended on tho college for em ployment In their semi-ghoulish calling. It could hardly bo posslblo that tho othor college boys had played a joke. The only thing to do was to keep qulot and await developments. Ot courso it would turn up in n day or so. Hut it didn't Arthur Denver spent that day In quiet but earnest investigation, to such an extent that ho forgot Annlo Morso and her engagement Tho next day and the next and many days passed and no so lution to tho mystery. The affair leaked out somehow, and tho studonts noticed with reticent awe tho nddouod aspect of thoir best-beloved professor. IV. Allco Cranston opened hor eyes and know not whoro sho was. Sho was cold, sho know, and damp to tho skin, but a vail seomed to hang over her mind. Making an elfort to move, sho felt an excruciating pa'n in every muscle ISho continued her oxortlons, however, until sho had extri cated herself from tho sack, and stood up in her grave-clothos in tho Bltting-room of Plot Arthur Denver. Her oyes had in them n wild staro, ami showed that, al though sho had boon restored to life, rea son had not yet resumed its full dominion. Sho seemed to bo laboring under somo imaginary fear and, with a low cry of pain, she darted to tho door, turned tho key, opened tho door and lied through tho hall. Instead of turning to tho loft when bIio loft tho professor's door, which would have taken hor in a few steps to tho front oxit of thu building, she ran to tho right, which led her into the penetralia of tho house. On she How in her delirium ti I suddenly, upon turning n corner, sho rushed Into tho arms of Martin Grnemo. Martin Graemo wns tho janitor ot West moreland Medical Collego laboratory. Ho was what was left of a great physician. Through pecuniary trouble his mind had been shaken nnd whon soon after this blow his boloved wife and his only daughter went to tho gravo within two weeks of ench other, old Dr. Graomo turnol from horrid griof to silly senility. Ho proved himself harmless. Ho loved to wander about the buildings, muttering incoherent ly to himself. Tho true, courtoous gontle nian survived tho wreck of tho scientist and Scholar, and, treating all tho studonts with studious gontllity and lospoet, ho in turn was always tho recipient of thoir pity and equally exempt from their joking rude ness. His venerable aspect helped him in this as woll. His hair was of peculiar whiteness and his face boro tho marks of a learned sago rathor than a crooning dotard. Ho had nskod for and received tho position of Janitor of tho laboratory and amused himself with childish roarrangoment of its paraphernalia. Ho lived by himself in a Binall cottage a little distanca back of tho collego grounds tho same little cottage whoro ho had spent many years boforo, the happy days with his wife anil daughter. Miss Cranston started back from tho rough encounter with now terror. In a moment, however, tho serono nspect of tho bowed old man whom she had almost up set changed her terror into confidence Her dl.traught mind studied a moment his patriarchal appearance, as woll as that benevolence and chivalry which oven her oonfusod faculties could discern in his face, nnd tho next Instant sho throw horsolf on lilm for protootion. "O, snvo mo, sir!" sho crlod, clasping her arms about htm; "protect mol Somo ono Is after mo! Dill you not seo it? Oh! thoro, there! Soo Its horrid eyes!" So sho ran on In an ocstaoy of frenzy. A jano man In tho old doctor's place would aavo beou nonplussed; thu lmbocllo loomed to comprehend tho whole situation. Ho caught down a groat-coat that hung upon tho wull of tho hallway by thom, throw it over hor shoulders, gavo hor his arm, and together thoy wont out of tlio rear door through tho woods-path to Dr. Graumo's cottage. V. Timo passed on. This saying is trito, but it is very ossoutlal to a story-tollor. Whon Arthur Dsnvor romoinborod his engage ment with Miss Morso it was alroudy forty-eight hours too lato to fulfill it. Tho rnystory of tho missing corpso had bo on grossed Ills mind that even tho thoughts of tho sweet girl who had filled his quiet Ufa HE READ THE PAIlAOnAPIL with dollcious liopos woro crowded from his attention. Ho sat down immediately to pen his regrets and request pardon. As be prepared to put his pen on tho paper bis eyo casually fell on a nowspaper that lay upon tlio table, and ho read this para graph in tho local news I "The engagement of Miss Annie Morse to Mr. George Dascar is announced. The wed ling will probably occur In the lutter part of July," Ho put down his pen slowly and took up the paper. Ho road tho paragraph a dozen times. Laying the paper down on tho table he arose and contemplated thn little iqulb profoundly, with his hands lit his pockets. Then he said; Thodovll'" Ho ho did not send his noto. Neither could ho make up his mind to soo Annie, knowing hur to be another's; that other, too, Dascar, whom for somo roason he had slways Instinctively despised. Now he doubly dotplsed him lor a good reason. Thu wind and ruin of March gave way to the more temperate weather ot succeeding mouths until, in course of time, July came round, bringing much elation to Dacar, palpitation and unaccountable uneasiness to Aunle and bitterness and melancholy to Arthur Denver. An incident occurred, however, at this time that brought affairs to a crisis. It U came about UutMgb Graeme. Ono day ho stopped up to Arthur on tho collego campus nnd snld; "Doctor, I havo n pntiont at my houso whoso dlseaso battles mo. I desiro your services In consultation if you havo lols uro." This Willi all tho grandeur imag inable. "Certainly, Dr. Graeme, I shall bo glad to bo of any service I havo nn hour's leisure " At the cottage ho saw a nalo, thin wom an, almost a skeleton, lying in tho bed. A rapid glance of his trained eyo saw tho ev idences ot approaching denth. As ho ap proached hor bedsldo she raised hor eyes. "Oh, sir," sho said, in a faint gnsplng Volco which ho hnd to bond low to hoar, "I do not need a physician so much as I do a friend. I havo been delirious a long while and do not know now whoro I am nor who this old man is who takes care of mo so kindly and attentively. I may llvo long onough yot to do somo gooil 1 haw tried to toll tho old man, but either ho Is silly or 1 urn notyot sane." "His mind Is mostly gono." 'Woll, his hoart Is aft whole yot! Hut my broath is short -I have no timo to ex plain - what 1 do not clearly understand mysolf. Answer mo jiomo questions sir. I abjure you - as allying woman that you speak the truth -as I shall. Do you do you know - Goorgo l)acar?" Arthur Denver started, colored, hesi tated, gazed at her sorutlnlzlngly and sus piciously nodded affirmatively. "Do vim--know Annio Morso? Yos? Ara you a a friend of hers? Thou toll mo are thoso two -to bo married?" "Thoy are. Next wook." The woman gavo n little scream nnd fainted. Arthur hastily gavo hor a restora tive and sho revived. "I must-see her. Lean -closor. My strength Is falling." Ho bent his ear closo to her Hps mil sho whi'pered a few words that made htm sprln.' to his feet Growing red and whito in turn, ho gla.od upon her. "What proof?" ho roaioil. Sho signed him to bo silent and wont on faintly. "His letters are at - Mrs. Sherman's on Schuyler avonuo together with abundance of other proof." "In threo hours sho shall bo horo." ho said, regaining his composure. "I loavo you somo strengthening wino. Modieino is usoloss. It is wrong to deceive you with falso hopes. You may llvo a wook and you may dlo to-night. God forbid that you should dlo before I return. Quiet yourself. Sho shall return with mo." Ho was gono. An hour, two hours, throo hours passed, llko as many lifetimes In tho invalid's room, as sho lay gazing at tho slow-moving hands of tho clock. Throe hours passed. Soon tho quick ear of tho dying woman caught tho sound of hoofs and soon tho crunching of the gravel announced that n carriago had stopped broro tho door. A momont later Miss Morso camo into tho room, followed by Graomo and her father. Annie's eyo caught tho wan, emaciated fueo nnd looked sympathy. Tho invalid motioned them to bo soatod. Graomo of ficiously otlored Annlo a chair, but sho drew closo to tho bed. "You havo something to say to mo?" bIio said. Tho sick woman gaspodonco or twicoatid spoko with a groat effort: "You will not bo offended? You you will bo bo - calm':" "Indeed, yes." "I have not much much broatli. For give forgive -" "Yes, yes, poor soul! I understand. I forglvo you nny pain you may cause mo. Do not bo afraid. Speak out My father Is hore." Allco looked rolloved. Sho rested a few moments, thop, motioning Annio to como near, as Dr. Donvor had done, sho whis pered in her oar the same words that had so startled him: "George Dascar has a wife in tho insauo asylum at HoneBborough." When Annlo foil back hor fathor caught hor. "He calm, daughter, and thank God for whnt you have esoupud. I know it all. Dr. Denver has put tho proofs in my hands. It Is onough proof to say that at a hint from mo Mr. Dascar has loft town. ' To this dying woman, howovor, nolthor tho doctor nor I could rotuso tho satisfaction of speaking tho words that would sovor you from thut '' "Never mind, father. Do not nbuso him yot It is so sudden. I must think. Ploaso take mo home." Hor face woro an unnatural pallor as sho left tho apartment. "How did you got possession of thoso papers?" asked Arthur Donvor of tho sick woman when ho called later In tlio evening. "Mrs. Dascnr, after sho had boon cruolly dosorted, was my best friend. Wo lived like Bisters until his persecution drove her crazy. I took possession of all hor papors when thoy took her away to tho mad houso?" "At tho plneo I got tho papers thoy tola mo you hnd loft there some tlmu ago and had taken another boardlng-placo. Did you como from thoro horo?" "No; I went from thoro to tho to tho-" Dr. Denvor bent low to catch tho words to boIvo tlio rnystory of tho woman's pres ence at Oraomo's, for the old man gavo n now story ovory time ho wns asked how tho woman camo beneath his root "Take a little wine," ho sahL Sho drank ami, renting a moment, suld: "To the to thu now department in the in tho Marino Hospital" Dr. Arthur's face was us lion whon ho put tho next question. "Are you tho nurso who was omployod there and bail brain fever? You aro not Allco Allco Cranston?" Tho answer solved moro mysteries than one in Arthur's uiliitl "I am." A spasm passod over tho sick ono's face, tho arms woro thrown wildly up, and sank slowly down, tho head full back, tho oyes grow fixod and glassy, the ohln dropped, leaving tho mouth partly open. Dr. Don. ver touched the woman's Hps with tho tips of his lingers and said quietly: "This tlmu sho U deud." Pomfiiet Jor. Tho Depth of tho Ocean. Tho greatest known depth of tlio ocean is midway between tho Island of Tristan d'Acunha und tlio mouth of tho Rio do la Plato. Tho bottom waa thoro roachod at a dopth of l0,2!10 feet, or ti miles, oxcoouMng by moro than 17,000 foot tho height of Mount Everest, the loftiest mountain in tho world. In tlio North Atlantic Ocoun, south of Newfoundland, soundings havo boon inado to a dopth of -1,080 fathoms, or 27, 480 foot, whilo depths exceeding Jll.O.iO, or 0 tnllos, aro ro ported hotith of the Ilormuda Islands. Tho avorago dopth of tho Pacific Ocoau, between Japan and California. la a little over 2,000 fathoms, between Chill and tho Sunilwlch Islands 2,600 fathoms, and between Chili and Now Zealand 1,600 fathoms. Tho avorago dopth of all tho ocean la from 2,000 to 2,500 fiithoina. Chicago Horald, I lliislnrss unit Politics IMsrussril llj Young lVopli f llnth Spjps. Of course llirtntions nrojjoing on on ovory sido. Thoro Is not n pirl on hitiul but who, ut tho entl of Iho ocu son, would havo found hvv special "ntllnlly." Yot thoro is such :t rndlcul dilTeroncc between Kussltin ami Amer ican flirtation as to inako tho Husslan article almost unrecognizable to tho tnerican. Social lifo in Russia oven, in largo centers of population .senst on such linos as constantly to throw the men and women together; family men aro in tho habit of bringing their unmarried friends to their homes. Here social nnd business questions, as woll as politics, all such topics as aro considered of interest to men alone, aro freely discussed in tho family cir clemostly over tho tea-table. Tlio girls, as woll as tlio women, gft to be thoroughly versod and interested in tho most serious of life's problems, and, as occasion offers, turn out. -plen-did helpmeets to men in all their un dertakings. No matter what social or political question is brought upper most by tho times, it is thoroughly discussed in tlio presence of women, nnd tho men's course frequently is modified according to the women's suggestions. So. in thoir flirtations, then, the younger tho two kindred spirits, the more thoy vio against each other in stringing up their talk to tho most serious topics; their idea is that lovo may make them womanish and handicap their usefulness in their chosen sphere of action. As soon, however, as a couple of lovers come to an understanding thoy begin to lay plans for a lifo's work in common. Tho futurn does not appear to thoso enthusiasts In tvxy other form than that of a wido field of duties toward thoir lower, oppressed brethren. A Russian girl of liberal toadoncios scorns tho idea of being "supported" bv her husband. And again, it would bo ditlleult to find young peoplo in Russia nowadays who would bo will ing to pledge their lovo to ono ntsothor "forever and over, " as was tho custom of sentimental lovors of formor tlmos Their acknowledged ambition, how ever, is to bo "honest" boforo any thing olso, and they protniso to deal fairly with each othor, and not to treat each other with rechauffe sontitnent when thoro is nothing olso to offer. When tho ardor of lovo gives out thoy aro prepared to remain trtto and fast friends. It is understood neverthe less that, were a stronger, unconquer able passion to assort itaolf in oithor of the two for another, then tho othicfl of tho young "Intolligoncia" would command tho unloved husband or wifo to commit a peculiar kind of hari-kari giving ills or her partner full liberty of choleo. Though tlio Greek Church is strongly sot against divorco, and there is no othor but Church mar riagos recognized by Russian laws, thoro is a kind of prido among liboral minded young married peoplo which impols thorn not to impose lovo and company on one who refuses to appre ciate it. Not long sinco still stranger idoas wero popular among tho educated Russian young people. A few years ago it was by no means an uncommon thing for two young ontliuslasts to marry on a 11 cm understanding never to assume toward ono another tho re lations of husband and wifo This transaction, though taking tlio form of a church wodding, was called a "fictitious" marriage, and was gonor ally resorted to to holp a liboral minded maidon who had not yot roaehed hor legal majority to throw off tho tutelage of unsympathotio par cnts or tutors, and to acquire tho right to dispose of her estate or hor money at hor own will, sinco In Russia a mar ried woman no matter how young and inexperienced is perfectly indo pendent from hor husband In hor prop orty rights. N. Y. Star. Didn't Like tho Milk. A London Bishop had gono down Into tho country to visit a charitable institution, into which poor lads had been drafted from tho east ond of Lon dtn. and in addressing thorn ho con gratulated thom upon tho dolights of thoir now rosidonco. Tho boys looked unaccountably gloomy and downcast and tho Hlshop kindly asked: "Aro you not comfortablo? Havo you any complaints to makor At last the leader raised his hand. "Tlio milk, my Lord." "Why, what on earth do you moanP The milk hero is tenfold better than you ovorhad in London." "No, indeed, it ain't," cried tho boy "In London thoy always buys our milk out of a nice, clean shop, and horo why, horo they squoozo If. out of beastly cow." Tld-Hits. Curious Test of Brooding. It is told of a wealthy family in this city Unit it is thoir regular custom to apply to now acquaintances a test o breeding which thoy aro accustomed call tlio "booby trap." 'J'hoy soat tho stranger in a rocking chair and sit about to watch him or her. If tko visitor rocks tho vordict is given against him and lie is thoncoforth cu off from tho calling list of tlio family. If ho or sho sits quietly and does not stir to nnd fro tho case is considered as being decidedly in his or lior favor. N. Y. Star. The following epitaph on husband nnd wifo tho husband having died first is to bo seen in ono of tho Paris ian cemeteries: "I am anxiously await ing you A. I). 1827." "Horo I am A. U. 1807." Tho good lady had take her time about it. FLIRTATIONS IN RUSSIA. THE LIMEKILN CLUa TThnt the Sorlct.v Acromillhnl Sinn Its foundation In 187. When tho meeting hnd been called to ordc and several of tlio windowl lowered from tho top to lot out tha odor of burning woolen, causod by hitler loots getting his back too near tlio hot stove, Brother Gardner arose and said: "Wo hov begun do twelfth ynr ob do oxistenco of dis club, an' it ar' nn ap propriate timo for figgoriti' up what wo hov accomplished as an organiza tion. I hov made a leetlo calkerlatlon, which I will pureoed to read: " o have improved tho moral Matus of do ciill'd race in Amorlca 5'J per cent. "Wo hov reformed upwards of (ostl- tnatcd) H0(X) pussons, who war ad dicted to do use of intoxicatln' drinks. "Wo liv converted upwards of (es timated) 1.000.000 pussons to do sci enco of tiygieiuio an' sanitary rogula shtius. "Twelve y'ars ngo 3,000.000 dog3 owned by ciill'd pussons war' allowed to sleep under the bod. To-day tha number is estimated at loss than 100. "When dis club was first organizod do loss of chickens in do United States by midnight ovaporashun was calkor- lated at K000 per night fur cbory night in do y'ar. At dis ditto it will not alvorago fifty. "I welvo y ars ago no cull'd pusson in diss hull Icontry felt any moral ob- ligashtm when in do presonco of a wa ter tnellyon. At do prosont timo do said mollyon has got to bo do biggest an do ripest sort, an1 to hold out actual incouragomont to bo tooken in, bofo' a cull'd man kin bo tempted. "In seventeen difforont States dia club has taken preeedoneo of tho reg ular legislachuros, an1 its purcoed- ings ar' road atr honored wid fur mo' interest. "In many localities do Limekiln Club is considered do superior of Con- gross, an' our reports on agriculture lishln , possum-lluntin, an' astronomy ar' accepted as standard by a larcro ma jority. "Wo hov Inducted tho speorit ot economy an' thrift into (estimated) 4,000,000 bosoms, adding to do capital of do kontry at least $75,000, 000 per y'ar. "Twolvo y'ars ago do best educated cull'd man in dis kontry couldn't tell a slx-shilllii' ehromo from a $2,000 piiiutin'. At tho prosont date do samo kin bo told six miles off. "Ebon up to sebon y'ars ago no cull'd pusson in dis kontry had any idea of gravitashuu, astronomy or medical science. Jo-day 0,000,000 of our raco know why a grindstun falls to do ground when you point it up in tho air. Almos' obry man. woman an1 child koops track ob do moon's phases an' knows do sun's dlstanco from do airth. Do cause an' effect of ehlllblaiiiH la now common knowledge an' do cull'd man who gits a whack in dooyo knows all about do virchews of frosh boof as a remedy. "To sum up, wo hov mado a record of which ebory member of do club mny justly feel proud, an1 wo hov honestly aimed do right to Inscribe on our bnu nor: Sic Semper Tremor." Rev. Penstock, who has been very quiot for a fow wooks past, now nroso to inquiro: "Does do cha'r fully comprehend do moanln' of do Latin term just used?" "Do cha'r does!" was tho omplmtlo response. "Exactly, but I Iwhat did do ' cha'r mean to infer?" "llruddor Penstock," ropllod tho president, with a wholo cold stociigo company in his tones, "dis cha'r hasn't passod frow collego an' bin loaded down wld certificates an' diplomas, but nevertheless ho rocltons on know in' what he is talk in' about. Do moan in' of dat Latin is: 'Wo Hov Got To Do Top.'" "Hut I I!" "Rrudder Penstock, sot down! You is dlsturbin' do mootln' an' layin' your self liable to a lino of half a miilyon dollars!'' Penstock fell backwards In a honp. and the presidont then announced tho local officers and committcoa. Dotroit Froo Press. Funerals in Venice. Whoro is tho porson who, upon tho first eager introduction to tho gondola, has not felt that ho is stopping into his colli n when, with scant graco, ho creeps into tho blfui't cabin of this lltho black boat? With mo tho Im pression was pothapi dooponod bo cause in our passago up tho canal w twice made way for a funoral proces sion bound for tho island cemetery to tho north of tho city. Tho ono Cunor al was that of a girl. Sho lay undor u blue pall in thn middle of tho boat, a crown of whito flowors, symbolical of hor virginity, bolng ovoc tho poll. Tlio other was a youth, whoso tender ago was marked by tho crimson pall. Roth wero flanked by tall candles. After tlio bodies camo tho friends in other gondolas, priests in violet, und acolytes in scarlet. Tho sun blazed uiioii all from tho bluo hoavoiiH, so that even this dolorous scene, on acted on tho smooth purpled water, between tho high mildewed old "palazzd," was not wholly melancholy. Cornhlll Magazine. A wall street man recontly cele brated tho sllvor unnlvoi,snryj of hui wedding by making handsome pres ents of monoy to employes gt hla firm, tho glfta varying with tho length ot sorvico porformed. It la said that over $10,000 waa distributed lu tkl happy mannor.