l.li.li.i.li.i-llAi-4.i.i.i,t,.t,li.lt.ll.t.i.t.4,.,t.Lt...lt..lU-,i-i.li-1X Afts. CIIAI'Tllll XVIII. . I.mly (Irni'ii Farquliiir'a I" it ifiii-nt" were nit llin cvo of departure, much o bcr husband's delight, In two days' limn Mr. Clayton would In the only visitor leiiiiillilng. Mr. Hustings scarcely apoko lu Mlaa liyro, Whi'll In- illil, he noticed wllli iiiiii- ai-cri'l plonaiire Hint her color m nil' iiikI went, mill that alio accmcd resile nml unenay. I.mly (Irsro was In llic garden, giving iHroetloiH tu Ilio head gardener, when Mr. Hnatluga Julnnl her. "I have i'oiiim In ask a favor of )'ou. I. aily llriirii," he anhl, "I nm sure I ahull In disposed la urn"! II, " she aiisncrcd, plciiaiintly. "When ymir gueais arc iiiiiii I want j nil nil in eoino ntnl apeiid two or three daya in tin- Court." Iny draco lit-allalcd. "I should IIU II very irilicli." she "ni l. Iirrwciilly: "tint Hlr Clayton hat tlio ufi-flt-est dislike lo I ! villi; liuiuo when ho Is OUCH Sl'lllcd." "If I rmi am-cecd In ' rtin ill im dim. will you mine? I huvo n particular ob ject In my ri-nucal." "Oli. )e, Willi il)-iaiiri I am sure Ma rlon Ullil Winifred ulll In' iIvIIvIiimI. Jlut 1 mn nfrnlil ymi will have aoinc illllli'tilty Willi my linaliiiinl." Mr. llitatliiua waa, however, umre siio rraafiil than l.mly draco anticipated, mi'l Won III" baronet's roii'ctit without miii'li trouble, 'riii irulti win, ihcro wna n vr-ry flllo lilirnr) nt the Court, and Sir ('lay mn had for aoiim llmo inat lri'ii nil inns to I'niiaiilt miiiik lil ami valuable Worka he knew to I there. When eteryllllllg wna acltlcd, Winifred heard of lliu arraligcmcuta with cuiilllcl lug fcidllui, She wna almost aorry that the had ' Included In the Invitation, lir r nri-ai'iict could lint awaken uuplcaa nnl iiirinorlra In Mr. Hnatluga' inluil. Tuesday en inc. Hie morning wna loiely. Mill ll wna arranged iliat Mrs. Claylon ami WlnlfrtM alioulil ride, nml that Hlr t 'In y I ill alioulil drive I.mly I Iran- over In lilt phaeton. Whru tlii'y nrrlicd at the Court Mr. Hustings anil lila friend vrrro standing on the steps to receive I Iii-iii. Thla time hu .11.1 not lift Wlnlfrv.l from her hora mul whisper welcome, hut went nt once to Mra. Clayton. Winifred frit Hip difference. A Utile bitterly, per hops, nlhl yet with n quirk 'iiiai'louaiipaa that ahu had no right to fn-1 It. Hut when ahp waa aliotrii to her room, a glad thought lilottnl out the lillti'rni'aa. Wna It liy ni'i'Mi'iit llmt tlio walla na-rp limit: Willi lirr fnrorllo (irllila. nml Hint raapa lill.'.l with arnrli-t crnuliiiua mul frnia lipr fnvorllo roiiililnnlluii wirp ilaioai-il nil nl'oilt tlio riHiuiT Nrnrri'ly. ll iiiuat ImVi' lut'ii n nlali to pl.-n i. Iiit, nml if Iip Mill rnrwl ali'Mit rMiik Iht lrnaurp, auri'ly all I lie low hail not .lli'il out. There wna n illmipr party In tin. prrn Init-n very guy, ilvaanin pnrly. Hint rv fryoiiii rnjoypil. Aflrrwanl Wiiilfri-il amis, pml wna lirlclilor nml happier t tin ll lifl linil live ll for llinnr werka. Mr. Ilnalnc hail arnrrrly apnkcn to her. hut ypt ahp wna ronacloiia thnt hp wnn Hot JmlllTerelit lo tier. The licit ilny he aakp.1 her inl'lciily If ahp wouM llko to aei) her oh houm onco inure, "Vi iiip?" ' sho said, qulctlr; "will joil take "If you so alone with mv I will,' nawereil. be "I will co. If I.aily draco dora not olr Jivt." "Shall I alc herr "Do." Aiul they went toward I.mly (!rnc, ho wua alttlng romllni: hy tlio open win tlow. "I nee no ohjwllon." anlil f.aily (Irncp, aiulllllir, "pseept thnt you alwuya tiaeil to ho mi terrihly iiuarrelaomp. I think I ilium exiicl n promlao firat thnt ihem ahnll ho no illank'reeiuent on tlio way." "I prninlap." Inuclicil Ur rul. "Ami I." milled Winifred, n alimlo more aerloualy. "I'heli I ponaent," imlled I.ndy Oraoe. They went nwny allrntly tosether, neither apenkliiK uiilll they renehed the pud of llie hrond grnxel drive. I'hcu Mr. Ilnatlniia hrokp tile alienee. "Shall wo bo through tho wooda?" "I ahouhl like lo rery iniieh," alio on awered. "I linvo not heen thero alnrp " And then aha atnppcd aiulilenty, remeni tiering on whnt occaalon alio had heen thcro Inat. "Slnca when?" and ho looked keenly at licr. "Oh, a long time ago moro than two jenra." "Do yon rememher that hank?" Ilrrol aaked, Hiiilileuly. "It wna there I lira: anw you." j 1'reaently they enmo to a gnto; the anino gnto they had atood nt morn thnu two yenra ngo Iho aniup at which they lind fm rt i'il . ahp auhVrlug, ho ntuiig hy remorae. Ho had hroukht her here on purpose to lent the atri'tiglh of lier love nml forglvi'iiena. Ilo did not open It for her to pnaa through, hut Mopped nml loaned nguluat It. Kho atood lu front of him, waiting pntleiitly, mid ho looked In tently nt her. "It la two yenra and two months alnce wo wero hero together Inat, MIhs Kyre. Vou aro grently cliutiged allien then." "h'or the woraoV" alio naked, iiulukly. "Not n tho world would think." "Hut na'you think?" "1 acnrcely know. They nay we arc all tho hnppler when wo loao our Impulalvo iii'bh ami wnrinth of heart, und hecomo cold and Itiiliu't'rent. Vou huvo found It ao. no doubt?" Ilia tone wna almoat hnrah, and aho looked tip In hl face anilly, mid yet with Inllulto piitlonco. "I ennuot bo an cry nt your anylng ao, Mr. Ilnatlnga. Vou huvo tho right to think It." "And yet I would rather henr you deny It Indignantly, MUa Kyre." "If 1 denied It, would you hellere me?" Ho wna silent for n moment, whllo thcro wna a atrugglo going on In his lienrt. Ho had too much chivalry of feel ing to wlali her to confeaa heraelt wrijng mid plead to ll I in. nml yet there wna a Intent pildo of aplrlt thut inndo him feel It would ho untiinnly, umllguined, for him to ninko tho flrnt ndvanco now, nfter nil Hint IiikI gono heforo. Ho wntched her, unwilling to help her, yet feeling vividly thnt alio wna aulTeriiig, "If," aho faltered nt last "If I thought that In aplto of all that In past, you did not hato mo " and aho atopped, "You know what I feol for you," ho aald, quietly, "am I likely to chnngo?" "Then I ahouhl llko to tell you how much I regret tho past," aha went on, In n low volco, "Vou do not know how hit torly I have differed In the pout montha, liccnuao my prldo would not let mo own I loved you. I am ready to make my atonement here In thla very place, tho NLY A FARMER'S DAUGHTER.- it, I'oiuiiisntii. Im if remrmhrnui'i' of which hna iiinde In" tlirlnk iiitil lurii frmn vim ltrurt. t fnr- j give you Urn wrong yini did iiip, mid I ink you to pnrdon hip, loo, llnvo I nti m il ia I 'il myai'lf I'liuugh?" nml alio looked for n liniment In hla fain mid then turned ahnrply nwny, with n qulri-rlng Up mid Inrge tenra In her eyea. Ho rniighl her hy Hu huml. "Winifred." hp nu lil, n auddeii paaalon III hla viilrii nml ryca, "tell me ono thing inure. Do you lu truth Invp iiip?" She looked hrnvely up In hla fail). "1 hnVe npvpr left oil loving out" Hp drew her lownrd him III a atrong elnap, until her hend reated on hla hrenat. "I think It la true," lip whlapcrpd, "thai wo lota that heat which la moat dearly won." CIIAI'TIM XIX. It wna almoat dark when they returned to the Court. "Your Idea of Hip length or half an hour mint he alnguliirl) vngup, Mr. Haai Inga," amlleil I.mly (Iraep. "Surely oil hnve heen further than tho Kami?" "Not prrn aa far, l.ady tlrarp," Iip rp plpilf with n glad ainllej and then Wini fred lielng gone, he told her hla atory. "I nm rery glad," ahe aiild. kindly. "I roiitd wlali ytm nothing heller than to hate auch u wife na Winifred." All olntnclpa aurmnunted, and th'n en gagement lul ween them lieing rntllied hy Ihu eiiiiaeut of nil piutlea, .Mr. Haallnga woilht uyl hrnr of miy plijeetlou to tho marriage taking ilarp liiiinedliilely. "Ilememlier. dnrllng." he anhl, when Winifred would have urged him to wait, "I have hived you for moro than two yenra. Having lunde me ao mlaernhlp. aurely you owe it to tup to loao no llmo III atoning for K. Pray get thnt horri hie trouaaeau hualneaa over with all apred, or I ahall t ll Ink yon do not low iiip eaa I low you." Kir Howard waa drllghtpil when he waa apprlaed of the Intended marriage, and Inalalpd thai Winifred ahouhl ho married from Hurat Manur. Kho. had a faucy for lielng married lu the Utile church whcr ahe had ao often aat when aho waa only a farmrr'a daughter. She' waa not tho almplp little country girl now, hut n.n ele gant young lady, nccuatomcd to luxury and good aoclrly. Krrol would haw liked much heller that ahp ahouhl comp to him portlonleaa, hut that waa not to he aa ho dealreil. Sir Howard Champion tare her twenty thouaand poitnda, and Sir Clayton ten tliouaaiid, while l.ady (iraep prorided her with a uingnltirent Irouaseau. Mr. Ilnat lnga had Hip family dlalnotida react and remounted for her, and would harp had her wear aoino of them at leaat at Hip wedding. 'Tlcaae not, Krrol," ahe pleaded. "I do not like all thla grandeur. 1 would rath er not forget thnt my early lifu waa aim- pie." Mra. fllnytnn waa of con rap to hare heen at the wedding. Slip waa looking forward to It, glad at heart at Hie part alio liad taken ill hrlliging together two people who eared for each other. Three wccka.hcfore the day tiled ahp received a letter with a foreign postmark. "Who can It lc from?'' alio aald, turn ing it over In her hand, and apeaklng to Winifred. "I do not know the hand; It aeema crahticd and foreign, and haa heen forwarded from Ixinilou. It ia addrcaaed to Milady Clayton, too!" And I'eo con tinued tu look nt It without, however, breaking the aeal. "Who can it be from?" ahe aald again. "If you open It you will noon are, dear," Winifred replied, laughing. "I don't quite like to do it," Mra. Clay ton remarked preaeiuly. "I attppoae It la beenuae I a in nervous and unwell; but I alwaya feel aa If every teller I received conlnUed had newa. Will you open It for me?" And ahp tosaed It across the table. "Of cotirao I will. Whnt a acrawl!" And Mlaa Kyre proceeded to tear the en velope. "I ahouhl imagine ll contained some myaterloua aecret, from the way It la gummed together. I must take a knlfo nml allt It open from the aide." Willi aome trouble ahp got nt Hip con tents n dirty acrup of foreign paper, with a few crabbed hieroglyphics, and ha gnu to rend aloud: "Milady and honored excelency I av to profonde regretle to an nonce to you dat le Mllor Clayton monsieur yor hus band nv bin tool; wbl dp horrible innlaille of cholera an wnnt to ace you. I nv sent for the principal doeleur an am nt yor ordera. (lODUl-'ltOI l.l l'IN." A horror seized upon Mra. Clayton. She had never loved her husband: Inlely alio bad bated him; but the idea of his being III nloiio iimoiig strangers biuught the tenra to her eyes. "(). Winifred!" she pjclnlmed to her friend, In whoso fncu aho rend consterna tion, "I must go to him nt'oiice." "You cannot, I'eo; weak aa you are It would ho mildness. The nddress. Is some obscure village lu Switzerland. Let us go mid ask Sir -Clayton what had beat b done." "Who do you supposp this Idler to he written by?" Sir Clayton asked, wheu ho had reud tho curious missive. "I cannot tell. Perhaps tho hotel keep er." "Had he n forelcn vnlet, do you know, Mnrlon?" "Not when ho left London. Simmons was with him then; but he may havo left; ho was alwaya threatening to leave, and then, of course, It Is most probable that I'mncls would engage n foreigner." "Something must bo dono ut once. You cannot go yourself, Marion that Is qulto out of the question neither can I very well. Perhaps Alfred Clayton Is in town; he was coming up, I know. I will telegraph to him, Stay. I nm not sure where ho would bo, I will go up to I.ou- ilon myself nt onco," And Sir Clayton rang 'the hell and or dered tho carriage. Hut I feel that I ought to go myself, Sir Clayton; tho letter said ha wished to seo mo." My dear, do not think of It; tho Jour ney would' kill you, To cross the channel In this cold weather anil with these tem pestuous wluds, would ho nothing short of madness." Sir Clayton drcsseil hurriedly for his journey, jumped Into the carriage mul drove off to tho station, leaving Wini fred to explain matters to hla wife. He just caught tho lib train by n mlnutoj the horses had accomplished tho five miles In exactly twenty-two mlinies. Sir Clayton had told tho coachmau that It was a mat ter of life and death, mul tlio old man, sorely against his will, had driven his favorites the wholo distance at tho top of their apeed. Sir Clayton reached London and drov a off io the aolel where he knew Alfred Clayton alwaya stayed when be waa In town. Hy good fortune he hml Just arrived there, ami waa nt Hie ilnor reii'ly to depart again when Hlr Clntmi ilrovp iip.The atory waa brb'lly told mul drove up lb (wo wo null looked doubtfully at em ll oilier. 1 'Of i-ourap I will go at once." Mr. Clayton anlil; "hut cholera lu olio of tlioan foreign holes la a Monty hiiahivns. I will gel n time table mid aen how roun I can go olf. I miiai gel you to telegraph down lu Mra. (Irmit nt llrlghloti I promised to dine and aleep al her houap to-night." "I Ihlnk," anhl Sir Clayton, "thnt whllo you are making preparations, I will drlvu round to the house In Piccadilly mid see If there la any further news." On arriving them he found another leller, with foreign postmnrk nnd open ed It nt once. It was written hy tint doc tor In good Krone), and Informed Mra. Clayton delicately thnt her husband had juat breathed hla Inat, "Thla ia a and business," aald Sir Clay Inn, reluming In Hip hotel; "you moat loan 110 Hum III gelling there. I fear he will lie hurled long before you reach tho Plan', and there will lie no chnncp of brlngiag Hie body to Ivnglnnd. Of rourae, If" "Of rourae 'of f-oliraal" exclaimed Al fred Clayton, hastily, and grasping the baronet's hand he hurried off. He was the next heir to nil Dint aplendld prop erly, but for the time he felt no exulta tion at the thought of stepping Into tb-l shoes of Hie man who lay dead nnd alone 111 n foreign country. On reaching tho village he run ml .Hint Sir Clayton's sur mise was rorrrrl, ami Ibnt the rich mall bad In en interred some days before with llltle ceremony. The obsequious land lord and l.upln. the valet of Hie dead man. were voluble in their information. I'rom l.upln he learned Hint Mr. Clayton had engaged him lu Paris six weeks pre viously, having parted lu a quarrel with his Kngllsh servant. At (lrt Mra. Clayton wna shocked and stunned at Hie iinexpecleiliieaa of His blow. She bad disliked her husband, hut It seemed so horrible for him to have 'lli-l in that terrible wny, so far from homo and without a single friend. Her brat resolution waa to leave Kudon Vale, and she sent an urgent mraange to her mint to Join her. 'Hi Is lime l.ady Marlon made no delay In answering the aiimmons, l.ady (iMce begged I'"ce lo remain. "You aro wry kind,'' she answered. "I ran acnrcely thank you enough for your lung hospitality, but I would rather go. I'tnler the elrcuniatiilieea. I could but mar the cbeerfiiliipaa that ought to reign hero during the preparatlona for auch a happy event as dear Winifred's marriage; and until 1 cau reallxo my new pualtion t would rather go away quietly to some fresh ylace. If you Invite nie later. I ahall La .very glad to come to you again." (To be continued,! FACTS ABOUT KINO ALFRED. Charncterof founder at !njz1lah I.ruul nml Constitutional Hyatcm. It wna I'rct'iimn, wc believe, who pro nounced Alfred the Great to be "tho most perfect chnrnctcr In history." The ileclnrntloii wna a particularly sweep ing Ko'icmllty, which a lees positive writer might hesitate to make. Cer tnlnly there uro other diameters In his tory, urn-red nml profane, deserving of careful t'oiislderiltlon lieforo tho Judg ment of nupri'ino excellence is Irrevo cably pronounced. And jet, when wo come to cuiitemplnto the cburucter of Alfred. If objection bo freedom from faults, wo might concede that It pretty thoroiiRlily realizes It. It la true we do not know much about him. Hut It Is also true thnt nil we do know la good. Whether or not It is because be was so largely the historian of hla own times, thcro la nothing risrorded of him to his discredit. So far as our knowledge of lil in Roes, hit character nnd career were flawless. This Is the more significant when wo remember how praise nnd blame are commingled In the records of other soverelRna of those days of whom we know na little or ns much as we do of him. The commemoration of the ono thou sandth anniversary of his death, which was conducted In Knglantl, would doubtless have received much more at tention here had It not been eclipsed by mi appalling national tragedy. Certain ly the occasion was. nnd even Is yet well wofthy of our notice. That may be, anhl for the reason already express ed. A man whom so high nn authority iih I'reenmn declared to ho tho most perfect chnrnctcr In nil history, and who Iiiih bo strong a claim to that dis tinction, Is, certainly worthy of tho whole world's study. Wo havo salt! that wc know little of him. Hut nil thut wo do know Is both good and great. It wna n gTcat thine to found tho Kngllsli nation. It was n great thing to round Kugllsh literature. It was a great thing to found tho sen power of Cngland. It was a great thing to found the nngllsli legal and constitutional system. And these things Alfred did. To have done nny ono of them would he sutllclent to In sure for III in everlasting nnd grateful remembrance. To havo done nil four plncea htm upon an eminence of great ness not easily to bo rivaled. rhoso achievements nre titles to world wide fame. Hut they peculiarly commend Alfred to our grateful mem ory. Kor. with nil credit to other ra cial elements which hnvo largely en tered Into the milking of Its grentnesa, this nation was primarily nml chUMly of Kugllsh origin, and It owes such orig in to the achievements of Alfred which wo hnvo mimed. It sprung. In both the New Ktiglnnd and the Virginian colo nics, from thnt English nation which Alfred founded, through tho exercise of that sea power which also bad Its be ginnings from him. It wna organized upon, nml even Jet largely retains, the Kngllsli legal nml constitutional sys- ' tenia which date from him, and It uses tho Kngllsli language ami Inherits tho Kngllsli literature, to tho world-corn- ( polling grentnesa of which he gave tho llrst Impetus. The United Stntes does not owe much to ninny kings. Hut It i does, In common w)th all tho Anglo Saxon nnd till tho Kngllsh-spenkliiB world, owo a debt of niiicli grateful re membrance to the Illustrious sovereign who was nblo to say of himself with truth; "So long ns I hnve lived. I hnvo striven to llvo worthily, nnd after my death to leavo to my descendants! my memory lu good works." New York Tribune. Volumes In tlio Ilrltlsh Museum. The number of volumes In tho Ilrlt lsh Museum Library, nccordlng to a re cent countliig, Is uow over '.',000,000, Thcro aro moro than 10,000 volumes of London newspapers, about 47,000 vol umes of provincial nowspapcrs, count ing Welsh as well as Kngllsh, 10,000 volumes of Scottish papers, and 0,000 from Ireland. KxbftiLStlvii tests for yinrs have con vinced Joseph 1 1. I'crnll Hint sulphate of aluminum Is the lest llreproollng for wood. Unlike eulphnle or pliospiinte of niiiiuoiiln, which check flames by emit ting animonbi gas, the aluminum com pound forma, an Infusible und iioii-con-ductliiK coating. Tim lnte discovery In strawberries of snllcyllc acid, a apeclllp In iK-uto rheu matism, has seeined lo confirm the hlci Hint these berries nre a desirable arti cle of food for rheumatics. The effett of the fruit cannot be duo to the sali cylic iicld, however, ns less than tho hundredth of n grain per pound Is found. Important testa of the fatal prujMir Him of carbonic oxide In Hie air have been nuidn by Profi Moawi at the Tnr'ln Physiological Inslllute. A heroic sub ject wna'conllfieil three limes In n her i mcllenlly sealed Iron chamber, the nlr of which was mixed Drat with 1-3S3 of carbonic nxldp, then with nnd hstly with 1-23.1. On the hist experi ment the limn reused to brmthe. being reetorid only by oxytn. While urging thnt the proposed bio logical survey of Hie North Sen should aeek menus of fiivwliig llslu-s nnd their food supply. Prof. V. C. Mrlntosh di-elnri-s thut no Important species Is lu danger nf becoming extinct. The fishes were not exterminated by the awnrms of gigantic di'ktroyirs of reptilian times, when the destruction must at least have equaled thnt of to-day by mini, find future extinction need not Iw feared. Alcohol Is coming Into considerable uao for Illumination In France. The (lame Is mnde luminous by the addi tion of sufficient conl-oll or crude ben l zliie, or the ordlnnry non-luminous llniue la used to give Inrandesconco to a Wdsbach mnnUe. The bitter Is the more Important method. Some lamps have from sixty to eight hundred candle-power, and these large portnble lamps, carrying their own lllumlnnnt, seem to have advantages over gas or electricity for many purposes. The best of the burners yield about thirty candle-power houra per ounce- of alco hol. Testa have recently been made on the Iloston nnd Maine and the Florida Knst Coast Itallroada to determine the value of oil aa fuel for locomotive en gines. On the Florida Railroad It was found, after a month's experlrneutlnc with a locomotive hauling Its regular load, that 132 J gallons of oil did the work of one ton of coal. Another test ahowed 131.8 gallons of oil to lie equiv alent to a ton of coal. In the Iloston and Maine experiments the ratio was llO.'Jtl gallons of oil to one ton of conl. It was found thnt the engine could be urged to n greater capacity with oil than with coal, and this with a smoke less lire. Hy a singular' change of circum stances, the gold miners of Hastings. County, Ontario, Canada, who for years were baffled In trying to extract the precious metal from Its matrix by the presence of arsenic In the ore, have lntely found the nrsenlc to be more profitable than the gold. This Is due at once to the great purity of the Cana dian arsenic, nnd to the rapid exhaus tion of the nrsenlc deposits of Knglnnd nnd Clermnny. At the same time, the Introduction of a successful method of separating the gold Increases the profit of working the Canadian deiws Its, because every ton of the nrsenlcal ore carries from fl to J00 worth of gold-. HOt-DINQ HIM TO HIS WORD. It Does Not I'nr to .Mnke Too Sweep IniC Htatcmeuta. "My dear," said Mr. Puffer, with somo dismay, ns a smoking cherry pudding was placed on tho tnblo be fore him, "doii't you think you are sort of running to cherries lntely? Of course I hopo that I shall always bo cherished by you, but when It comes to cherries In some form every meal, Just cherries or stewed cherries or cherry pie or cherry pudding, I be lieve I could cheerfully donnte some of our cherries to our less fortunate neighbors." "Well. John." said his wife, calmly, "I suppose you remember what you said when you Insisted ou picking tho cherries yourself?" "Ah, Martha." said Mr. Puffer, com plncently, "thero was a clean-cut, neat, workmanlike Job for you, In splto of nil your fears and opposition. In stead of tho grass under the treo be ing piled n foot deep with n Utter of leaves, twigs and branches broken from the tree, ns It Invariably Is when you send n boy rampaging after the fruit, I cleaned thnt tree without any damage to It, and consequently with hardly n single lent to bo raked up off the grass. And I got nil tho cherries without breaking any of my arms or legs or necks, us you so cheer fully predicted, too. Still, whllo I admit I am proud of tho Job, I do not think It absolutely necessary to live In definitely upon those cherries I gath ered." "You haven't eaten avslnglo ono out of tlio few quarts you gathered, John," said Mrs. Puffer, positively. "I canned all of them." "Well, whero does this sntlety of cherries I've bad Inflicted upon mo for tho past two days come from, then?" domnnded Mr. Puffer. , "Do you remember whnt you said when I asked you If tho few you picked wcro all It was posslblo to get from tho tree, John?" asked Mrs. Puf fer, with n twluklo In her eyo. "Why, ye-cs," acknowledged Mr. Puffer, thoughtfully nnd suspiciously. "What was it?" persisted his wife, the twinkle widening. "Wo-ell, I believe I said that If any body could get any moro off that treo I'd cat them, stones, stems and every thing," admitted Mr. Puffer reluct antly. "I havn't Insisted upon the stones nnd stems," said Ids wife, demurely. "ISbl" exclaimed Mr. Puffer. "Hut little Jimmy Hallou got enough to last about three weeks louger at tho rale you nro rating them," continued Mrs. Puffer, quietly. Mr. Puffer solemnly helwd himself tu n large, thick slab of the pudding, nml began slowly stowing It nwny. "Mnrlliu," ho said, gravely, after n few minutes of tills labor, "If I own up that I nm n little Just n trifletoo ' old and stout to pick cherries as well ns I did when I wns a Imy. don't you think tho hospital would appreciate a donation of some nice, luscious cher ries?" Youth's Companion. BOLD FIOBIN HOOD'S DAY. Mr 1 the Annlrtranrjr of the Death of the Noted Wo-Hliman, An Immense lot of leases still dale from May 1, says tho New York Com mercial Advertiser, bat not many of the lewirs or lessees know that this Is simply an adjournment of a few days from HI. Oeorge's day, from which the leases of their ancestors used to run. This again dates from the moro remote period when tbp date wns fixed at ffce time of otie moon nfU-r the spring equinox. May day as a day for strikes of workmen Is not a thing of recent years. It has the sanction of centuries, If of nothing else. May 1 Is the day on which bold Itobln IIixxl waa bled to death by his treacherous rilutlve, and sped Ills last arrow, which marked where his grave should be. The date Is at least as cer tain as that on which Itemus made his unlucky Jump over the rising walls of Home. Itobln Hood wns the hero and mint of the common people of l.'iiglntid, nnd for centuries the Mny dny festivities were Joined to celebra tions of his deeds, and to exultant pro phecies of the day when conditions should be equalized after the Ideal of this knight of their own. It tins happened ever since that when the sun enters the sign of Taurus and Itobln Hood's day approaches, the sturdy descendant of his woodsmen, working nt the mechanic's bench, feels a strange fever burning In his blood. He feels that he would like to have a reckoning with certain "rich carles" whom he wots of. He grows Impa tient toward the "fat bywihoppes and the arehbysshopes," and works him self into such n fighting mood thnt If Interfered with be would not hesi tate to take n fall out of even the "hye aheryffe of Nottlnghame." So he throws down hla tools and hies him off to the "green forest," where shnws bo sheen and shards full fair," to gether with a brass band and plenty of refreshments. Perhaps he will bring to terms the proud Norman who owns the shop; perhaps not; anyway, be has bis fun. The floral festivities! of the day. In these times and In this country usually adjourned to the first Saturday In May are a survival of the old Koman festi vities In honor of the goddess Flora The May queen Is Flora herself Im personated. The rigging up of a boy consort Is an Impertinent and ridicu lous Innovation, which should. If pos sible, be abolished. MISSED HIS ENGAGEMENT. Wily John Chinaman Could Not Ka raite From I'oIJce Clntchea. Some time ago a squad of Manhat tan police raided a fan tan game In Chinatown. Eleven Chinamen were captured and kept In a third story front room In charge of Detective Drennan until the patrol wagon came for them. While they were waiting for the wagon one of the prisoners said to Drennan. "Me got to go. Mt got velly Import ant engagement." "I suppose so," said the detective, "but you've got n more Important en gagement at the police station. The Chinaman begged like a good fellow, but Drennan was obdurate. "Me give you five dollals if you let me go," the prisoner finally whispered. "No use, John. Even If I let you out of the room." said the detective, "the police would catch you at the lower door. They are guarding that." ' As quick as a flash the Chinaman answered: "That's alle light. You let me out, mo go upstairs, get out on roof, and go down other building. .Police no cntchce me." "Can't do It, John," Drennan per sisted. "They've got you prisoners nil counted. If I turn over only ten I'll havo troubles of my own." "Me fix that," the Chinaman ans wered, without a moment's hesitation. "Me go to window, call a Chinaman friend up from street. When he come to this door you pull him In and I run out. See? You have eleven pllsoners alle same, and pollco can't tell one Chinaman from other." Hut notwithstanding bis cunning, John had to go to the Btatlon, nnd his "velly Important engagement" was broken. Brooklyn Eagle. Horses ScarA anil JItgti. T have not known a period when horses wero bo scarce and high," said T. E. Gilbert of Cincinnati at tho Hotel Harton. "I nm In tho business and hnvo of late been scouring Kentucky nnd Ohio with a view of purchasing a good-sized bunch, but had very poor success. More people want to buy than sell, and prices aro at n point where It Is Impossible for dealers to make nny profits. Tho couutry was drained of horse flesh during our war with Spain, nnd further depletion was caused by tho Boer war. It will take sovcral years to make up the deficiency, nnd high prices will continue. The nu- tomobllo craze has had no perceptible effort on the demand for high-class animals, and I do not believe that It will over get so -violent ns to make people indifferent to tho delight of sit ting behind n pair of hlgu steppers." Washington Post. When Talk Comes High. 'Oh, well, talk Is cheup," sneered tlio nngry lawyer. 'Not that kind," replied the Judge promptly. "Ten dollars," please." Syracuse, N. Y Herald. A Definition. "Pa, what Is a fray?" "Why, my son, that Is what a per son who has uovcr been In a tight calls it." Puck. Theaters In Now York. Thirteen new theaters, to cost $8.- 000,000, are being built in New York city. Once more the umpire la doing his annual stunt as a martyr. 0UK BUDGET OF JFUN. HUMOROUS SAYINGS AND DO INGS HERE AND THtRE. Jokes nnd Jokeleta Unit Are tiuppnaed tu liure lleen Keceiitly llorii-Harlnua nil lolii us that Are Old, Curious and kfllilfliable The Week's lluiuor. "I can't see what you find In me to ndmlm," said the lovelorn youth who had recently blown himself for a engagement ring. "Why," gurgled tho fluffy-haired an gel of his domestic dreams, "that's Just whnt everylKidy else says." And Immediately tho sllcnco became oppressive. As Corrected. Mrs. O'lloolllian Pfwhat kolnd nv a Job Is yez ould man a fther hnvln' now? Mrs. MeOnrtgle-Job, Is It? Shure nu' It be nn llllgnnt slttunshun ns tUlo graph opernlher he's n ft tier hovln'. It's trnv'lln' about dlggln' phnst holes fer th' coompnny he Is. d'y molnd." Bare nf Ills Orotind. Wife of New Minister Now, Davie. you'll have to look after the church better than this or we will bars to think about getting a new beadle. Davie (beadle of long standing, se vere' y MIstressNlcholUon, we whiles change oor minister, but we never change oor beadle. He Never Worried. A lady waited for hours at a wayside station of the Midland Great Western Hallway. The train came along and the got In. The hours dragged by, and at each stoppage she asked If It was Sllgo. Finally the guard became Irri tated. "Don't worry, madam; I'll let you know when we reach Sllgo." "But I've been nearly all day on my Jour ney." "Will, madam. I've been on this railway three years, and I'm not wor rying." "Poor man!" she retorted, "you must have started the next sta tion beyond mine." Ilia I'lea. "My plea," said the young lawyer, who had Just won his first case, "seem ed to strongly affect the Jury." "les," replied the Judge, I was afraid at one time that you would sue ceed In getting your client convicted In spite of his Innocence." Not Fo Reckleaa. 'Do you take this Internally?" asked the customer as he put the bottle In his pocket and took his change. "Me?" said the druggist's new assist ant. "Great Scott, no! I sell It." Stray Stories. An AccommoJatlnar Btork. The following order was received a few days ago by a Chicago grocery firm: "Please ship at once by freight, one bag salt, fourteen lb shuger. The stork brought us a baby last night and box crackers, also one barrel soap. It weighed nine lb. The Vasarlea of Faahlon. Mra. Commouhen Don't mind her, my dear. Long skirts are doomed. It will soon be our turn. Circumstantial Rvldence. Tommy Was that your mother I saw with you yesterday? Willie I guess so; 't any rate she's the one who carries tho key to the Jam closet at our house. Boston Tran script. Force of Habit. Tho boss plumber had become a multi-millionaire nnd was going abroad for his health. On the voyago over a school of whales were sighted and tho boss plumber was seen to rub his hnnds In ecstasies. "Why Is ho so happy?" asked a curi ous tourist. "Ho can't help It," whispered the captnln. "Ho Imagines each' spout Is a bursted water pipe, to be repaired by him at his old rates." Vain. "Did you find tlio Chinese a ralu peoplo?" "Very. To hear a Chinese brag you could almost bcllevo an American was talking." Unouah Bald. Nell So Jack asked permission to kiss you, eh? Hess Yes. Nell You refused It, of course? Hess Certainly. Neiy What did he say then? Bess Nothing. Actions speak loud er than words and Jack U all right as an actoe Not Kensaiirlna. "Do you know what precautions the proprietor of thla hotel tins taken against lire?" asked thf ncrVous old lady ns the bellboy escorted her to a room on tho llfth Hour. "Sure I do," replied tho knowing; youth. "Un boss has got do Joint In shoor'd fer two times do worth uv It Sou?" Ills Preference. Magistrate It will bo cither t0 or thirty days. Uncle Itnstus. You can hnvo your choice. Undo Itnstus Ah's much crbllge, yo boiinnb, an' Ah reckon yo' nil had bet tali gib mo do money, sub. HU Bnectalty. Strnnger Vou hnvo a flna farm here. Farmer Hlght yew nlr, stranger. I 'low ns It bo one o' the finest In theso parts. Strnnger Whnt is your beat paying crop? Farmer Summer boarders. Chicago News. Profeaalnnal Adrlee. "Doctor." said the timid patient, "I'm fond of tho water, but I don't wnnt to risk taking cold. What shall I do?" "Take it hot," replied tho wise pill compiler. "Two dollars, please." In the 1'ltppr Class. He But I am willing to wait If you will give me some hope. She Well, suppose you wait nlna days: perhaps your eyes will be open then. Twns Ksrer Tlina. "The world Is backward about com ing forward with Its appreciation," mused the Irish philosopher. "Wo never think of strewing flowers on a man's grave until after he Is dead." Hacked to Win. She (after the engagement) Why were you so nervous when you pro posed? He Oh, I was merely acting n part. I didn't want you to know how sure I was of your answer. Afllnence. "Rich? Why, she never has to think; of the matter of cost at all." "No?" "Not for a moment. She can afford to wear what she likes, even though It Is something cheap." Antomoblllty. "Steam, eh? Isn't it rather noisy?" "Oh, no. Except for a slight puffins' when It Is climbing a very steep hill or running over an extraordinarily; large person, quite noiseless." Deduced Rate. "Mamma, give me a penny, please, for a glass of lemonade." "But, dear, If It's only a penny, it can't be good." "Yes, It Is, but they're selling 11 cheap 'cause a dog fell In it." No Reciprocity, Fairy in the pink Bhlrt waist Reg gie boasts that you're bis best girl! Sweet young thing in blue Maybe I am, but he ain't my best feller by a long shot. Recosrnlzed at Last. He But what reason have you for refusing to marry me? She Iapa objects. He says you aro an actor. lie Give my regards to the old boy and tell him I'm sorry he Isn't a news-s paper critic. felf-ApproTel. "Well," said the detective, "there Is one thing upon which we may con gratulate ourselves In this case." "Why, you haven't even found an important clew." "That's Just It We can rest as sured thnt no Innocent person Is go-. lng to suffer." Washington Star. From Kxperlence. "Rudolph, dear, the people next door wish to borrow our lanterns for a lawn fete." "Don't lend tbem." "But they can't hurt the lanterns." "Ob, you don't know. If you loan them the lanterns they'll want to bor row tables, cloths, knives and dishes. Then ns our lawn Is larger than theirs they'll want to borrow that. Aftcrwurd they'll ask our children to help out as waiters." Womanlike. Sirs. Topley What do you think? Baby spoko her first word to-dayl Mr. Poplcy Well, well! And It won't be many years before sho'll bo hav ing tho last word. Philadelphia Press. A Hynonrm. David Wardeld, tho actor, was a very promising scholar as a lad when ho attended the public schools of San Francisco. "I remember an examination," said he, "which was the hardest thing I ever had to get through. The teacher, I understand, has kept somo of my an swers, which sho says aro much moro humorous than edifying. Among n bunch tbnt sho sent mo recently wns my answer to the query, 'What Is a synonym?' It ran: 'A synonym Is a word we uso In placo of ono we don't know how to spell.' "Clover, wasn't It J Yet a lot of fel lows appropriated that as their own, and Belasco says other fellows wero just as bright as I was, years before I was born. Isn't that dlscouraglpg to a budding genius?" St. Louis Globe- Democrat Frosts Destroy Vines. Tt ta estimated that half tho Tina crop of France was destroyed by th frosts of April.