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About Bohemia nugget. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1899-1907 | View Entire Issue (May 10, 1905)
J'! goat?d by a Spell Jj CIIAPTEn XXX.-Conllnoed.) A few door farther down the corri dor) In it chamber mora somber and (loom- than any we hare visited, waa Judith. She la lying bark listlessly. In an easy rhalr, with her red ralr loosely falling around her pallid, worn far. The tears roll down her cheeks, at In' ten alt. In large, heavy drops. 8ha Is weeping orer the ashes of luve. oter wrecked hopes, and a lost life. Heavily orer her broods the spirit of the night. bodlug of death. As the night advances, the clonda hate It all their own way, veiling the sky with profound darkness; anil the winds wax fiercer. The air la mint with th alternate shrieks, and sobs of terri tied nature. There Is hesvy rain, with which the monster sports, dashing It. and whirling It, and acatterlug It lu gusts. and edille, and masses. Heavy footsteps upon the carriage drive-,, but the tempest absorbs every aoaud Into Until. Over the gravel, which stands out lightly from the black' ness that encompaws it. moves a large, dark, lumbering object. ' It Is a man, bearing another, seemingly sense less, upon his back. Slowly, staggering and swaying at time under the weight aud the wind, he advances to the hall door. There he lays down his burden, and seems to ponder for a moment. Then ho walks cautiously round the house, looking up at all the windows. There Is a faint light lu two, but seemingly mitted only by ulght tapers. All seem to be sleeping. He cautiously tries the windows upon the ground Boor. All were securely fast ened. In a corner of the building then was a smaller window, like that of a pantry. With his diamond ring he cut out one of the panes of glass, put his nrm through the cavity and with some difficulty succeeded In reaching the fast ening that secured the sash, lie raised the window and crept through. lie took a lantern and some matches from his pocket and struck a light. It was not a pantry he was in, but a small bedroom. Passing out at the door, lie found himself In the servants' offices. He took off his boots and crept noise lessly along the passage, until he reached the corridor. He halted at Silas Cnrs ton'a door and listened, with hla ear to the keyhole. AH seemed quiet. He ascended the stairs. As he reach ed the first corridor he became sensible of a strong, pungent odor and a misti ness In the air. like smoke. He looked about him for some cause and crept fur ther along the corridor. Iteneath the door, and through the keyhole of one of the rooms, ahone a red glow. Great heavens! had accident anticipat ed bis intention? Was this fire? He turned the handle of the door It was not locked. His doubts were solved in an instant. A body of hot, blinding smoke rushed Into his face, nearly over powering him. The room was In flames! Hanging access the arm of a chnir was the, body of a man, cither dead or in sensible. Lost and awe-stricken, Rod well stood helpless and transfixed, gat ing upon the nwful sight. At that moment Judith, hurrying out of her room, appeared upon the scene. . , Miles .away, a carriage containing an old gentleman Is speeding furiously along the Essex road. Upon the box are two policemen. On through the pelting rain and the rushing wlnJ, beneath the shadows of overhanging trees and along the open road, the soaked, blinded driver, scarce ly able to see a yard before him, gallops the horses. "Look, look!" cries a policeman, and denly pointing ahead. There Is a glare rising up iu the black sky a wavering, red glare, that bright ens and fades, fades and brightens. The old gentleman within, who, spite of the storm, is continually putting his. bead out of the window to see what lirogress Is being made, sees It, too. "taster, faster, for heaven's sake!" he cries. "Do you not see that fire? It must be the Manor House; there is no other house near." What Is that dark object advancing u swiftly towards them? A horse, gal loping furiously, darts past like an ar row, and is lost in the darkness. "What Is that?" cries the old gentle man, looking out of the window again. Hut only the wind hears his voice. The glare in the sky grows stronger, nearer. Up rise showers of sparks, and up rolls the nil smoke, and faster and faster speed the horses, until they seem running a race with the wind, match lag themselres against the tempest, Judith and Itodwell face one another but only for an Instant. With a cry of agony, she rushed towards her fath er. The fire surrounds him now, scretn lug him from all human help. The flames and smoke drive her back with their Kcorching breath. With wild fury, the turns upon ItodwetL Recovered from Ms momentary panic, he Is flying; but ns be reaches the head of the stairs, she Is upon him, with the grip of a tigress, and calling wildly for help. He struggles fiercely, twine his fin ttcrs In her long hair, and with the other hand rains heavy blows upon her bead aud face; but still ahe holds on, (ever ceasing her wild cries for help. Other cries begin to mingle with hers, ' nnd the sounds of battering at doors. The prisoners are aroused to a sens of their danger, as well as the servants be low. He will be detected, after all, and through this wild cat of a woman, Sud denly there Is a dull thud her voice Is silenced he has hurled her over the balusters, VDown the stairs he springs. In the li'all he meets the two terrified servants la their night dresses, who scream and run back. Quick as lightning he shoots back the ponderous bolts of the door, and the next moment Is flying along the Kraveled drive, through the Iron gates and out Into the highway, where he has left his horse, tied to a tree. One bound und ho la iu the saddle, barefooted and bareheaded. One look behind a red glare' li shining through the windows und away be dashes through the daik uets, and the rain, aM the howling wind. On, on, over the open common, where the tempest rages In unresisted fur then under the swaying, groaning tux-, plunging Into yet deeper darkness, Down, down, down the speed redoubles, he la rapidly descending, but whither? Ini penetrable by sight as a wall nf Iron Is the black gulf before him, He pulls th rein with all his strength: but down, down, down, still gtllops the horse with awful rapidity. Crash! a low. project ing branch has caught him across the forehead, and dashes him from the mil mal'a back; there Is a heavy plash, and then a rushing sound the horse Is .breasting the water; another moment, ha la scrambling up the opposlto bank, riderless. Within the Manor limine the flames arc spreading with frightful rapidity. Judith lies in a motlonle heap, and two hapless beings are locked within their rooms; upon the chamber aUive. the Are has already seised; upon th one below It is rapidly advanrliig. The fire Is consuming one side of Clara's room It has fastened upon the stairs no one can mount them. Who can save her now? riamcs dart above the roof, nnd through the windows, and up Into the black sky rise volume of lurid smoke, chasing away the darkness and Illuminat ing every object around with a fearful radiance. What new figure Is till come upon the scene? A man who seems to have arisen from the bowels of the earth. He looks strange and bewildered. The women catch sight of him, and, shrieking with a new terror, fly away and corner upon the sodden earth, under the dripping branch of a tree. He sees an arm grasp ing at a window frame. He goes to him. "Unlock the door the key Is outside!" cries a frantic voice within. The stranger comprehends dashes through the hall door, which stsnds wide open. The flames rolling down the stairs show him the key. He turns It. As he does so. he sees a senseless woman huddled at his feet. He does not recog nise her. but quick as lightning he raises her in his anus and bears her safely out into the air. followed by Silas. Only just In time the flames are al ready licking the spot she laid upon. "Is It Clara?" cries Silas, frantically. They turn over the body and disclose the death-like face of Judith. 'Where Is she oh. heaven, where Is she? She has perished In the flames!" exclaimed Silas. A wild, piercing cry nf agony rises above the roar of the elements. They raise their eyes. Standing on the ex treme edge of the window sill, with out stretched arms, the Dames darting around her. Is Clara. A frightful scream bursts from Silas lips; but his companion grasps his hands, drags.him under the window, nnd stretching out both their arms shenta to her to jump. Just In time the flames cling to her dress as she falls. At that moment a carriage tears up the drive two policemen spring from the box, and an old gentleman jumps out, nnd falls into the group. CHAPTER XXXI. A soft evening In June. The sky of a deep, cloudless blue, save towards the west, where the sun Is sinking Into a sea of crimson light. Not a breath of air is stirring the trees are motionless; not the quiver of a leaf. There Is a buzz of Insect life in the air, mingled with the music of the birds. Upon n lawn, orer which Is scattered numerous flower beds, gay with bright colored blossoms, stretch ing before a picturesque cottage covered with roses, sit three men. One is young, not more than tweuty: the second Is a stout, florid, benevolent looking man; the third Is thln-vlsaged, aad-looklng, with Iron-grny hair. The three men were I, Silas Morant, Mr. Jonathan Itod well, and my father. My father was speaking "What his ultimate Intentions could hate been, I am at a loss to un derstand. Probably to cast me. In my Insensible state. Into the flame)." "Which, it seems, after all, he did not kindle," suid Mr. Jonathan, shuddering at the remembrance. "That is the most wonderful circum stance of all. Chance, or destiny, or whatever you please to call It, had actu ally anticipated him. Porter must have overthrown his lamp in n state nf stupor. Judith lived long enough to tell how the had seen Uie fire first In her father's room, and he lying across the chair, dead or insensible." "I could not help pitying the unfortu nate creature," tnld Mr. Jonathan, "in spite of the evil she had wrought. She at least deserved a better fate thnn to perish by the brutal violence of the man whom she loved so devotedly." "1 have often thought," said my fath er, "what a divine mercy It was that only one of the telegrams fell Into that wretched man's hands. It appears that the lad bad put one In his pocket the one addressed to you, Mr. Rodwell and was holding the other In hit hand, when he ran against his master, who snatched It from him and forbade him to leave the bouse. The lad said nothing about the other, but watched hit opportunity to leave the premises, and deliver It at the oftlce. The delay, however, wi very near proving fatal to more than one of ut." "That unhappy man," said Mr. Jona than, "had telegraphed to say that he would be with me that night. Hut I felt half Inclined to start for Essex with out waiting for hlra, and chance the con dition of the house. Hut look! here are two old friends of your coming this way, fillos." Such was the fact. Walking up th pathway towards the house were Martha Jennings and Joslan Cook, I hastened to meet the good, kind crea ture who had sheltered me, fed m nnd clothed me when I wat houseless and destitute. She wns dressed with un usual smartness a white bonnet, a blue tilk dress, and a bright-colored, or rath er many-colored, shawl. Jostah was also got up lu on unusual style; bright green satin necktie, buff waistcoat and white bat. After a little conversation, the secret came out; the worthy pair had been mar ried that morning. "Married!" I exclaimed! "why I had not the least Idea that such a thing was ever thought ofr "No inoro had c, Master Silas, a few weeks ago," answered Martha blushing, "and, yuu know, you have not seen US slue Christinas, So, as Joil had kindly sent im an Invitation to coins down and see you, I thought I would tak the liberty to bring Joslah along with uie, and make It a tort of marriage trip." "I am very much delighted t tee you both, and you thill stay with us for your honeymoon. I said, shaking a baud of enrh. "Hut you might as well hat United us to our wedding." Martha laughed and blushed: nnd thru my father and Mr. Jonathan ottered their warm congratulations to th happy brld and bridegroom. "And are you still at the Corinthian, Jcslah? I Inquired. "No," In answered; "Martha hta per suaded me to relinquish public life, nnd her father has procure,! for inn an P' polntmeut upon the railway as a porter." A little time afterward, Martha came to me with a radiant countenance. "Only think," she Mid; "that dean good Mr. Jonathan I going to set u up In bus! ness for your sake! And, Master Silas what did I u to say when you mad surh a fuss about the little I could do for you didn't I tell you you would be rich some day. and what line things J oil wnuM do for liier "Hut I am not rirh. my good Martha.1 I said, smiling, "and It Is not I who hav done till for you." "Oh. but It's all the same, sir," the said, with a very sly look. Prently my father. Martha, and Jo slah went Into the houe. Hut Mr. Jouathan remained behind, and taking my ami. strolled with me across th lawn. "Silas, my lad." he safid. lu a kind voice, "the sight of that 'happy couple' has set lue thluklug upon a subject I have long had In my heurt! Although I have never mentioned It. I know all about you aud Clara. Mrs. Wilson told me what she kjiew. and I have picked up the rest here and there. I have waited, however, until now. In the first place, I wished to know you better, to Judge nf your disposition; nnd. In the second place, although the ties that Imund you to that unhappy woman were of the weakest, yet, after the dreadful circum stance that attended her death, we were compelled In decency to allow n certain time to elapse Itefore the subject of love aud marriage could be broached." "Ah. sir." I nuwerrd mournfully, "Clara has ceased to lore me. She will never forgive the wicked weakness of my couduct In gaining her love while another claimed me as her husband." "It was very culpable." answered Mr. Jonathan, gravely; "and In nuy other person I could never have pardoned It; but your life, my mor hov. has been so exceptional, that It would I hard to Judge you by the rules of every-day life." 'And you forgive me,, darling?" I whispered as I held Clara In my arms. I was never angry with you, she answered, softly. "I only felt sad. and that I wished to die." She was mine mliie at last! Nothing could stand between us now save death! Oh, the bliss, the rapture of that mo ment! I am lying at her feet, with my head resting against her, and my fnce upturn cd toward hers, as I used to In the old days. The cool air nf the soft summer's night, laden with the perfume nf the clus tering rose, steals through the open lat tice. There la no light save that of the moon, that stream through the win dow, chequering the floor witli the shad ows nf the overhanging leaves. On broad beam glances over my darilnr't head, making her golden hair glisten like thread of gold, and falls full upon the lortralt of her mother that hangs behind her. She Is translating the rhapsodies that fill the souls of both Into lore's own language music. Oh. those wild, pas sionate strains, how they thrill through my soul! They tell all the story of our love soft. melancholy, mysterious then broken by sobs and walls swelling Into horror and cries of agony then melting Into n soft, dreamy harmony too ecstatic for Joy. too hopeful for sadness and so they die away Into the passion ate silence of love. (The end ! Older Thnn tho Chinese. Older even than China, the oldest existing tuition, are the cliff dwelling of southwestern United Stntes, homes of n race 'whose very nnnip bus per ished from the eiirth. Explorers, puz zling through the Man com and Cnan Verde canyons of Arizona nnd New Mexico, linve found tho houses of this strange people In the wildest and moat Inaccessible of the mountain side. Did the cliff dwellers nntedute the pyramid of Egypt? Were they nf blood relation to the early Inhabitants Ji the land where the Nile la god' Somo students are prepnrcil lo answer both question iifllriuntlvc ly and to give wim t Is to them nbumlant proof. The pottery from their long-wrecked home suggest Egypt, and the few Inscriptions found have similar aug petitions. Mummies, tiodles wrapped In cloth, featherx from the breast of the turkey have been dug from burial places among the cliffs, nnd. In bone nnd hair much unlike the Indian nf to day, there la a hint of resemblance, to a more oriental type. If tho cliff dweller left any descendant, how ever remote, they nro doubtless the Mokl and Zunl Indiana, who, mtcm bllng them In habit and appearance, aro their closest kinsmen. ' Nothing to Regret. "All me," sighed the uplustcr ai abe gave a backward glance at her waited life. "I have selfishly lived alone all these years and made no man happy!" "Ob, ye you have," rejoined the bachelor with the Ingrown hair, "Don't you remember I proposed to you 20 year ago and you turned mo down?" Unconscious Insult. Mr. Homer Do havo some more of the lco cream, Ml CJucstly! Mis fiueatly Well, Just a little, a you Insist; hut only n mouthful, mind. Mr. Homer Jane, Oil MIku Guest ly' plnte up again. nU88IA'8 LAST STRONGHOLD. Vladivostok, Auxlntt Which th Jitp iitUse Will blinrtly Proceed, It Is announced' authoritatively tlint Japan la planning n land mid ton cam paign against Vladivostok, llussla'a r timltilug stronghold In tho East. Willi the sickening fate of Port Arthur fresh lu mind, tlila latest frank nnd direct axuwiil of Hits Japanese Intention come with a ahock. Tim Impregnability of Port Arthur was fur so long a mntter nf uncertain ty and tho claim to that distinction was disproved at such a fearful colt that the world wilt hesitate to bellevo that Russia has still In tier possession a atrvughold whose claim to Impreg nability It even mora plausible than MlSTomCH AT VLAniYoaTOK. waa that of the fallen Gibraltar. Yet, according to the military wiseacre, es pecially those who have Imd the ad vantage of actual observation, Vlad ivostok 1 strong where Port Arthur waa strong nnd strong also when) that fortress waa weak. First and of great strategic Import ance la the fact that Vladivostok can not be Invested by a hostile force, either by land or tea. during the long and pitiless Siberian winter, it Is ai safe from nil external molestation dur ing lit protracted hibernation a Is the threw In Its burrow. This natural de fense confers Impregnability on the port for several months In every year. Biitsssi m ssk va sssss?0rV sW"rssT VI.ADIVOSTOK. RUSSIA'S LAST EASTERN STRONGHOLD The harbor. It appears. Is not a whit less baffling In lis natural configura tion than la that of Port Arthur. Vlad ivostok Is situated on the gulf of Peter tho Great, an arm of the Japan Sea. The town Is built on tho alopes of a high ridge forming n tapering penln- aula Into an Irregular landlocked bay. There are two narrow entrances to the harbor, both Hanked by highlands which bristle with batteries and forti fication!. The entrances aro further guarded by fort erected on an Island at their mouths ami Innumerable Islet Just outside on which lire many de fensive works of various kinds. Sur mounting the crett of the headlands, which itrotch for miles In the east ward and ore known as th Golden Horn, arc continuous chains of earth works nnd other defenses. The lofty hills on the northwest protect the jiort from the land side, and In the deep water of the Golden Horn, which Is nt least four mile In length and n mite In width, the largest ships may ride safe ly at anchor, free from the mennco of attack and beyond the reach of the wnnther. I.Ike Port Arthur. Vladivostok con slat of three portions. That nearest the water li the military town, extend ing along the harbor nnd given up al most exclusively to storehouse, mili tary quarter ind officer' residence. On tho extreme north of tho harbor are the ofllclnl buildings and the pri vate dwelling of the government em ployes and private citizen. Heyond and higher itUI la the arsenal, strong ly fortified. Tho population I about 18,000, excluding the military. It It not likely that tho town could be entered by an Invading force from landward without a repetition of the hard fighting that took place at Port Arthur, The natural disposition of tho hill at the rear of Vladivostok lint made It possible to Interpose many powerful scheme of defense ogalntt the advance of an enemy, and tho Rus sian engineer have been puzzling their brain for forty year to make approach from the rear practically Im possible. There It nothing, however, to prevent the Japaneie from com pletely Investing the place. Once In cloied within the circle formed by the Japanese fleet and the land force, there would be nothing to expect from outside. Tbb Russian have no mean of assembling or maintaining an army ta that vicinity lufflclent to suggest nny prospect of relief, as i l'ie for nwhllo nt Port Art i " w nt only bo it ilmplo iil ' i Mice. It It undoubtedly fact Hint Vladi vostok Ik oven belter provided lo ant tnlti n long blockade Hum wns run Arthur. When Russia decided lo miiku It tho tcrmluu of tho Traiisslbcrlun road aim began to tmltd storehouse and military depolt the like of which waa unknown to Aula. ThU hoarding of ilorot has never coated. To losu Vladlvottok would bo Hussla'i crown ing humiliation. THE CURVED UALL. It I tk Atmplir Which Causes It liccsutrlc tthtxiU, Almost any teuycai-old youugster cau curv a ball, eveu though be doet not know why he can do to ticepl that th leather mutt b held In a cer tain wty. Possibly a half doten of th major league twlrlen know aome. thing about th science of Ih curve, but comparatively few underatiud why they can produc their "bender;" Th Scientific American glvei 111 follow ing it the clentlflc explanation of the matter: "The pllcher In the field tella ui that the ball curvea became he gives It twist, but scientifically this will not do. Why will the twist nuke the curve? If a ball were thrown lu a cer tain direction and If the force of gravi tation wem not at work the ball would continue on In i itrnlght line forever. Some force of resistance Is then at work when a ball Is made to deviate In a curv from Its slralgut course. If a feather Is dropped In a vadium lu an exhausted receiver of an air pump It will drop like n thot, but If It Is drop ped opt In the air It will go down Ir regularly and slowly, ihlftlng from tld to tide. , "It It the attuoipltet which rautes the ball to curve. Hearing In mind that the atmosphere Is a compressible, elastic git, we find thit when 111 ball leaves the hand of th pitcher with a rapid rotary motion It impinges upon a continuous elastic cushion,' and this moderate resists lire, or friction, changes Ha course In the direction which It given to the rotary motion Take an outshoot of a right handed pitcher, for Instance II Impresses upon th ball a rapid centrifugal ro tary motion to the left, and th ball goes to th left because the atmos phere, compressible aud flattie, Is packed Into an elastic cushion Just ahead of the ball by the swift forward and rotary motion, and th friction, which I very great In front of the bill, steer It In the direction It It turning." RISKS LIFE TO SAVE GOOSE. Man Lowered Down an Old Mill him ft TOO K.ct lie. p. l-'roni Oxford, Warren county, N. J., comes the itory of Lewis Albert, an engineer at the mines, says the New York Herald, who, for the sake of n goote' life, risked hit own for fully forty minutes on Friday In a daring mid sensational manner. The goose got over the fence of III coop, flapped Ita wings, flew over the opening of the shaft, whic-u 1 700 feet deep, fell Into the black hole and dis appeared. On the following day person pass ing the shaft heard sepulchral cries proceeding trom some subterraneous source. ICemple heard sounds .and learned nf the goose' plight. The old hoisting apparatus was ex amined nnd found to lie useless and the problem arose a lo bow the bird wa to be rescued. One man lowered n honk and line, to which was at tached a worm, but the goose would not bite. Then Albert took a long rope and, selecting a group of mlnen, he bade them lower him Into the mine. Albert got down about 200 feet nnd a minute later thcro was a flerce honk ing, followed by a signal to pull up (Illicitly. Albert oon appeared with the struggling bird In hi arm. Only Misplaced, Mr. Illxby was on a visit to Mr, Rob Una, Ilk cousin, who resided In another part of tho country, where mannera and gpcech were different from thoaa to which tho visitor had been accus tomed, Ilolii eye and car, therefore, were occupied with study and compari sons. "There' one tiling I notice about yon people here," observed Mr, Illxby. "You don't seem to have, much line for the Utter 'r.' Rack whero I came from It ha a sound, a other letter bare, but here It la practically a silent Utter, Why U that?" "I haven't the allghtert Idenr," re plied Mr. Rollln, Innocently, There 1 one thing, at leaat, that a man can't be blamed fori the company at the houM. GOOD iiSborttorie$! - t Mill I Charles lUtleli Ixtatuli, the author, hi an extremely serloitt rait of coun tenance, One day lie miide a call on Henry Meyer at the Utter studio. While they were chatting, entered Ernest Haskell, th Illustrator, whose general resemblance to ImmiiIs I niott striking. Meyer gated at the two fr a moment, and then exclaimed; "How much you fellow look alike. Oh, t beg your pardou both your pardons, t mean." The German Emperor, during ene f hi forest cxcuralons, on the occasion of the vltlt of the Czar of Riitila, wa about to light hi cigar, but found b had forgotten the knife that ho turd In cut off the rud. The Cznr was no better provided, so one of tile forest keepers stepped forward and proitereil his iiwii. The Emperor used It, and then returned It, saying, Impressively: "Take back your knife. It Is now an historic relic." A man who lias recently traveled In Ireland says that In a poor little cot tage of two rooms hn saw a married couple and seven children. Hearing n baby cry, ho Hiked In see It, nnd ex plained that he tisik nil Interest In liable, hnvlng nun nt home. The In fant was produced for Inspection, nnd the mother nskisl, proudly: "Is your a big hi that, sir?" To which he re plied: "I think It Is n little bigger." Initntitly the Instincts of the mother were roused, nnd, tossing her bend, shn aatd: "Ho welt It might be; that' only half of ours; the other half la with God. We had twins." The following Is n Chicago boy' composition on "The Crocodile: liin crocodile Is n large animal that Inhab its the Nile and loves to go on tho sandy beach to bask lu the suushlnn nnd lay eggs. It looks some like a dachshund, only there Is more of It t the ends, nnd It Is bigger. There wn n crocodile once Hint rsrnied from n circus. It roamed o'er the country, seeking In vnln for pig and smart children to devour, and died of starva tion In great anguish. You can ride on the bark of a crocodile, but It Is morn comfortable to use a saddle. It I usually quiet, but li terrible when routed. We all ought to be thankful we are not a crocodile." During Queen Victoria' reign one of the solicitors of the queen who had Jurisdiction overrnpltal ensrs, chanced to be n man nnmcd Ilacon. Hy a cu rious chance a man named Hogg wa condemned to death under hla Jurisdic tion. The day before the execution Hogg sent for hi executioner. Hat-on. The prisoner pleaded for Interference In his case because nf bis claims nf re lationship to Hncou. The solicitor, al ways ready with n reply, answered: "I have no proof of our relationship. You are doubtless mtstnken. At nny rate, the execution must tn';i' plnre, for only In that way rnn matter be set right. Hogg I not 1 In eon until It Is dead." It Is said the prisoner laughed In spite nf himself. Womnii's Unrloslly. "Woman' curiosity." said Mr. Fletcher, "Is a quality of the mind be yond nil human understanding." "Ye?" mM Mr. I'leteber. "What made you think of tiutt?" Then, according lo the Now York Preti, Mr. Klctcher gave this explana tion of hi profound and highly orig inal remark. "Tim action of n woman I wtw down-town to-day," he snld. "She fol lowed n mnn ten block Just to road a placard that wa fastened on hi back. She apottod him at ,'lltli street. Tluit wu n-nlly tho end of her trip, I feel sure, from something she mild to an other woman, w-ho wns too fat to Join In Uie chase. Hut when slio might lght of that naming nsl poster tied to Uie man' back, her curiosity got tho better of her, und alio set out after him. "lie led her quite n chase, ncros town and down-town nnd luilf-wuy bnck to tilth street, hut hu never weakened. Shu tugged faithfully along lu hi wnke,' and finally she got close nough lo road that notice." Mr. Fletcher reltiiiod n moment. "What did It .iy?" nho naked. "It advised her to get her teeth pulled aomowheru on lllh nventin." Mr. Fletcher thought again. "Where were you nil the time shu was trying to Dud that out?" "Mo?" said Fletcher. "Oh, 1 vu following tho woman. I wanted to ace If she finally caught up with tho man." lleunuae. There wa a boy aud ho refuted To rilu away from school, Hecaute, he aald, this little man. It wis against the rule He hat no legs. There was a woman, to they sty, Who loved not war and strife; She went her way and never spok A cross word In hor life Rut the wa dumb. Another woman would refut To gottlp to give ear, And every tale of scandal ah Htfuitd point blank to heir Rut ilia wis deaf, Thtr I a mm who never drink Nor smokes nor chcwi nor iweira. Hot doet he gamble In the leait And ibum all sinful mares I Ie' t paralyzed. Diplomatic, Bhe How old do you think I am? Ho Really, I can't lay; but I'm turo you don't look It T