0 The Planter's Daughter 25 FATE'S By MRS. AUCB P. Author of "A Waif from the Sea," "Her Brightest Hope," S llWltuirH Wlnn(FH " rn.tr. REVENGE CARRISTON fcii CHAPTEK X.-ConUnued.i In spite of care. trouble and privation the lady bore the undeniable stamp of having once been beauty, and not very many ywara ago either. She was tall and slender, still graceful, and in ercry movement a thorough lady. Her plain, cheap attire could not conceal the fact that sho hod not only seen better days, but had kept that memory alive In her heart, which Is more than many, who are forced to descend the ladder, are wise enough to do. ' With a wan smile that spoke of phy sical weakness and repressed anxiety, Mrs. Burgess crowed the kitchen to Mar tha and placed the basket In the hands of her faithful domestic. "How is Miss Claire?" asked the woman, eagerly. "She seemU to be asleep when I looked In upon her a moment ago," replied the lady. "Asleep at this hour!" exclaimed Mar tha. "Then she must hare been up writ Ins again last night!" "I fear so," rejoined Mrs. Burgess, sinking wearily into a chair befldo the table; "oh, Martha, Martha, what can this journal contain that she keeps so mysteriously to herself? I must know!" "So you shall some day, be sure;" then to turn her thoughts Into another chin ne)9 Martha added, "but what docs tills basket contain? "A few trifles for my husband's break' fan. Open it and see." The good woman removed the lid of the basket and started back In amaze, tnent. "Oh, what extravagance, ma'am!" she cried; "however could you afford It?" "Don't scold me, Martha," answered Mrs. Burges. with a wan smile; "it la so long since my poor husbannd hits had a respectable repast. Men cannot bear privation as we women can. Besides, I wisihcd to surprise htm; it Is his birth day." In a burst of generous enthusiasm, Martha caught her mistress' hand, and was about to press it fervently to her lips when she suddenly recoiled a step as she exclaimed; "Your ring, Mistress! Where Is It? The one with the pearl! your engage ment ring! Have you sold it?" whis pered Martha, with dismay depicted up on every feature. "No, It Is only only pawned." "Yes, as are your jewels, your silver, your lace, everything even to the mat tress off your bed! Ob, that miserable pawnbroker" "Hush, Martha," interrupted the lady; "speak no III of htm, for he Is the only friend from whom ono can borrow with out a blush." "And for whom?" cried Martha, for getting her position in her Indignation; "for one who never asks what it has cost you to raise the money, so long as he has it to waste!" In an instant Mrs. Burgess was upon her feet, dignity breathing in every at titude. "Martha!" she exclaimed, warningly. "I bog your pardon, Mistress," the woman returned submissively; "Mr. Bur gess has been a good master to me, and you know that I would die for him, but it wake me angry to see you so anxious, while ho remains calm arjl Indifferent! It is you. Mistress, who bears all the burden. Why does not Mr. Burgess bor row of his friends?" "Because of a senso of pride, Martha, which you cannot understand." Mrs. Burgess laid her hand gently, caressingly upon the arm of her faithful friend, and with tears in her eyes, turn ed abruptly and left the kitchen. As she entered the little dining room, where a snow-white cloth covered the table which awaited such repast as Chance might offer, Mrs. Burgess found her hus band standing by the window, gazing ab stractedly down Into the sunlit street. Philip Burgess was still a handsome man, though many years the senior of his wife, and long past the prime of life. He was dressed with that scrupulous care that bespeaks the geutieman, and there was none of the haggard anxiety In his cheery face that had prematurely aged his wife. As she entered be turned, and coming to her, took her hands In lilr. "Your eyes are red!" he exclaimed. "And you are paler than usual! When was Dr. Gresham hore last?" "Yceterday, and bo agrees with me, that it is not so much a positive Illness as some secret grief that is preying upon Claire's mind." "A secret grief!" rejoined the gentle man; "our poverty, perhaps." "So; Claire is too noble, too proud for that; It Is not for our lost fortune that she weeps; a deeper grief weighs upon her heart. Our poor child Is most un fortunate, since she is in love, and loves in vain!" Philip Burgees started In amazement. "I have divined her secret. I tfhould have respected It, had I not seen that the hopelMM tears ehe thed were short ening the few day that remain to her in this world. She consecrate almost ev ery night to writing, and seems to take little comfort in Inscribing her thoughts, hope end fears. I have been able to gain possession of one or two pages of this mysterious manuscript, written with a trembling band, and blotted with tears. Thus I have discovered," continued the lady, "that Claire loves, but love In vain." "Loves whom?" "I do not know, but rest assured that I shnll discover soon. Hark! she Is com ing. Not another word." The next Instant Claire Burgess stood before them. 1 1 ml It not been for her excessive pallor, which the hectic flush upon her wan cheeks heightened, Claire Burgera might have been eo in Ulcer il n rarely beautiful girl. To her slender, stntely figure was added an exquisite grace, while her fnce. of n dellcoto oval, wan classic In mould, nnd shaded by masse of rich goldeu-broiiae hair, which were gathered Into a heavy coll at the buck of her slender neck. Her full, gray eyes were wonderful In their slzo and brilliancy, seeming to embody all the life which, at her ap she should have been enjoying. At sight of her parents she psused a moment; then, advancing a step, exclaimed: "Why do you look so sad! Mother, there are tcara In your eyes!" And with a deep-drawn sigh, she added: "Ah, I un der.itand; you were speaking of me." "My dear child, we are going to save you: Dr. fSrenham has assured us that " "Yes," Interrupted Claire, "he told mo yesterday not to despair, but that Is the word they use when they cannot say hope." "What folly. Claire!" cried her father. with a suspicious tremor In his voice; "why, my dear, I should have gone to the dogs long ago. If I had not kept a bravo heart in my breast. No, no; have cour age; brighter days are In store for us." "Do you thluk so, father?" she asked. "I know so! Am ready to to swear It. Hark! There Is tho bell ringing! Who shall say that It Is not Dame Fortune at our door?" And an Instant later, Martha put her head In the door. "A lady to see you!" she announced. "A lady!" exclainW Philip Burgesr. gaily; "what did I tell you! Show her in here, Martha." And ere either Claire or her mother could escape, the door was thrown open to admit a lady, closely veiled. "And although I nm unnrite to do so to f- t. - TfflnrJininO day," continued Sylphlde, under the samo OUrUlg Jf UUIUMV painful rcpresflon, "I can at least" ,, . . .,.. ..,, ,..imi mind "Mother!" gasped Claire, in s.uhlon Thorn U no oilier season Hoi RO ml dismay, checking her visitor's words! and tnodlclno Is io much noodod M III Uio as pyipnmn turned irom one to tne outer i utirtnir Tho blood l Impure, weak nnd Impoverished tv condition Indicated madam," ho said, with haughty prompt-, iy m.Ica nnd ollior eruptions on tho imm, "and we regret that we are unahlo , . , ,,-,, vUttlltVi imu nun .., t , loss of niipotlto, lnck of strength, ad want of nulnintlon. Hood's Sarsaparllla and Pills In astonishment, Philip Burgess mlvnnc- ed. "You nro fullllllng n noble mission, to contribute to It a liberally as wo 1 Met) mm uuuy, uy uoiiuiuut ,. , might havo In the pnU." "Contributor' cried Sylphlde, recoiling A step. "You must see that our circumstance are somewhat cramped," continued tho geutieman, without heeding her niiiase- IIHMlt! MVIt Villi tlltlMt tll'riltL'tt IIM til poll. tribute our mite to jour collection," and J Make- tho blood pure, vigorous and us lie spoke lie drew irom his pocket a one dollar hill, the Inst cent he possessed In the world, and with n courteous bow, placed It In the silken bag. A crimson IliifJi dyed Sylphlde Coura mont's beautiful face to the very root of her black hair. rich, crcnto atmotlto, give- vitality strcngth nnd nulmntlou, mid euro nil eruptions. Havo tho wholo family bcj;lii to tako thrm today. " Hood's flarsapatlll has been used In I (l.nnk v.i'.i. .t. . im...,. r.v oar family for tomo time, and always nlth faintly; and turning abruptly, she left Rood results. Last spring I was all run the room. down and got a bottle of It, and as uiual .U.I...I ...... I Kj,nflt Mill IISULAH She was completely dumbfounded, stilling with mortltlrstlon, and not until ho reached the lauding was she ablo to regain her breath. The figure of n man came lightly up tho stairs and confronted her, urnl, too late to conceal her Identity, she found herself fnce to face with Dr. llresham. "You here!" ho back In surprise. received great benefit." Nu ulam Hover, Slowe, VI. Hood' Snrtnpnrllla promise! to euro and koopa tho promlso. CIIAITIJIt XI. The veiled lady was none other than Sylphlde Courtlandt, or Sylphlde Coura mont, as a cruel fate had decreed that nhe should henceforth be known; and she had come to tills humble home to see with her own eyes the woman who was destined to take her place and be come the mother of her child. So anxious and excited was she to sat isfy herself that Dr. Gresham bad not led her Into a trap, that her first move ment was to snatch the veil from before her face and rivet her eyes upon Cislre. A little amazed himself at tills rtrange proceeding, Philip Burgess sdvanced and demanded, politely: "May 'I ask, madam, to what we owe the honor of this visit?" "I will tell you with pleasure, sir only I am not well and so many flight of rtalrs " "I beg your pardon, madam," exclaim ed the gentleman, quickly offering tho most comfortable ohalr that the room afforded; "will you be seated?" Sylphlde bowed and sank Into the chair, glancing about her with the mental ejaculation: "What misery! I wish I bad brought fire hundred dollars Inrteod of ono!" While Burgees, whose eyes were not yet blind to the beautiful, thought: "What a remarkably fine woman!" "I do not live so far away as not to be considered a neighbor, and I havo often heard your family spoken of your former affluence and present distress." Drawing himself up proudly, Philip Burges replied: "Then you have been informed, mad am " "Of how nobly you boar this iHstrem," said Sylphlde; and with glance at Mrs. Burgess, "and you, nlso Mrs. Burgess, I supposo? And this Is your daugh ter?" "Yes, I am Claire Burgess," replied the young girl, with such unwonted flnnuets that her father glanced quickly at her. "Will you bo good enough to inform us whom we have the honor of receiving?" "My name Is Hastings Mrs. Hast ings I am connected with a charitable Institution." She did not dare to raise her glance to the three pairs of eyes that were fixed upon her until the voice of Philip Bur gess broke the silence. "Ah! A charitable Institution," he said; "then I presume you came, madam " Quickly opening the silken bag which hung upon her arm, Sylphlde Interrupt ed the tpeaker with: "I am making my usual rounds; I have received my share this morning, and am now durtrlbutlng It." "Do I understand that you are dis tributing alms?" inquired the gentle man, a bright gleum darting into hi blue eyes. "Bay, rather, assistance," she answer ed; "there Is an honorablo grade of pov erty which object to the terra alms, I believe." "You are correct, madam," was tho firm rejoinder. "I regret to nay," faltered Sylphlde, "that the assistance I have to dispense Is not as great as I could wish. There are certain unfortunate whoso suffer ings I should be glad to relieve." "What doe she mean?" breathed Claire, drawing nearer to ber mother. KliMttrlo Mulit nml I'lililo HpenhliiK. Slngeri). actum nml public perform- exclaimed, starting cm generally m nblo to speak with Inllnli i.ritiitit, niiin nml ,-tfllllfort III tl "Silence!" she breathed, pmalonntely; I ,Pllll(K ,.,, wlh t.otftrlclty thnn "I never witnessed such pride and mls-i, ?..,.". .1..,.. 1- 1 1.. ,1... try! But the girl is dylng-you may '" u" """" K""""1'" ""' " " safely marry her to my-to I.uclan!" 'ormrr cnao Urn temperature of 10 While this brief but significant Inter-! w,,ol building 'r "I11"- n," " view was taking place upon the stairs rl"k f catching cold Is consequently beyond the closed door a scene of hys- .diminished. The snakcr Is cooler, doe terleal relief was being enacted. The not perspire, his thmnt Is not parched, moment their routed benefactresa had and hi voice Is less liable to get disappeared, Philip Burgess exclaimed, ' husky. It is said that since the Intro proudly: ductlou of electric light public perform. ou see! I am not such a spendthrift ' cn, nr , ,mleh ,,c,.r vo,w Chan they after a!!. I have kept a dollar by m. . iu,fr .,,.1 .!..,. .-1. i ... .1.- 1. .4 1. 1 1 1 were octore. 11 art iiiuiikii il 11 is la nil- inrv. si uni aiiirii 1 us from a great Iniiiilllntbuit" Throwing her arms about his neck, Claire cried, with a sob In her voice: "It was your noblr heart, dear father, that has saved us!" Opinion AVnntnt. He Yon are an authority on flowers, I am told. She Well, not exactly an authority, "Go-io you7 rZns. Mh of you!" ex- at't r"'" nnd If so, sho shall not depart until she has satlnfied my suspicions!" Scarcely had Claire and her mother vanUhed when the door ojiened to admit Dr. Gresham. With an exclamation of that to U society bud? demanded In the Spring, Lowndes, Mo., April -Ith. Mrs. II. surprlso and pleasure. Philip BurK.,s 0. Marty of this place, wys: turned to the scarcely chwd door. "'" 'm I ' very bad health. hvery spring I would gel so low that I una unahlo to do my own work. 1 seemed to be worni In the spring than any other time of the year. I wn very weak nml mlserahlo and had miicl pain In my back nnd head. I nw Dold'M Kidney Tills advertised last "Where sre you going?" Gresham, abruptly. "To call the ladle Iwek." replied Mr. Burgcns; "they have Just left in." "Do nothing of the kind! It Is you whom I wish to see firtt of all, upon n matter of the utmost Importance to SrtW&V I.J7l tKabe'Xno '""'f a" treatmentof the,,,,,., for Claire Is to render her declining day ",y have certainly dono mo more goal comfortable. Stay! hear me out. Sho ,,lnn "y"K "v or num. requires other quarters than this mis-! "I was ll right last spring and Ml erahle tenement; she needs luxuries, at- tatter than I havo for over ten years tentlon, a carriage. I will place them I nm fifty year of ago nnd am stronger at your disposal, and you have only to ' today than I bnvo been for many year accept them." nm J Kvo Dodd'n Kidney Pills credit "What do you mean? What must I for (l0 wonderful improvement." uor uommami me! Tho statement of Mn.. llarty Is only of ,?? f.? rif "n tri7l0t lrmf.rv "" one of Krcat many where I).Id'a Kid- "certZl'y fdi WAS? S ' "," Pm' '"f "T T? T, '" since." I ",0 vcrJr 1 I,r'nK medicine. They "Leaving a widow ami ono son. For a ' Bro unsurpassed aa a tonic and are the while their property was depreciate!, but Y medlclno used In thousands of recently It has come Into value, and Lu- families. clan Courtlandt Is one of the wealthiest young men In the city." During leap year every eligible young man should be equipped with a chaperon. CAT CANNOT PUCK UriEATM, Old Hiuiarstltlnu I tlimat lijr i Itlulioat Medical AiillinrltUs. Can u cat really suck the breath of n child? Wo havo nlwnys henrd Hint It could. Awny hack In early childhood wo dis tinctly remember of frequent wnrn. lugs to look out for tho eat. Do nut allow tho cat to get Into lied with thn bit by. ns It In liable to suck tho baby' breath, which would cnusu tho baby to die. Is there nuy foundation for such rt notion na Ihls? V never could ills, cover nuy real meaning to the belief that n cat can suck the brciith of a child. Indeed, the sentence la totally unintelligible. What U men nt by sucking tho breath? It may be trtio (hat tho cat, nttructed by the breath of a child who had recently been nursing, might attempt to Interfere In Boum mnuiier with thn child's mouth. 1 11 young ru the Impulse to nurse might be eiclte by tho smell of tho child' breath. It Is barely possible that the cat might I mi seised with n desire to bite or to de vour tho chilli's lips or tongue, I urnl on by the smell of milk, Wo nrn not In a position to deny these posslhlll. ties. Maybe they ore true. Hut not any of these suppositions furnish n basis for the statement that the cat Is liable to suck thn child's breath. Wo have always heard this Htutement with n shudder of horror. It seems to (tiitrey some weird, hor rible tragedy that can hardly ho Imag ined. Hut It Is n mere fancy, tho ori gin of which Is hard to eiplaln. Ynt wo would ndvlse mother to be careful nlxnit leaving thn Infant with n cat. Wo do not favor the Idea of cats sleeping with children. Nor do wo favor tho practice of children play, lug with cats, handling them, mopping them around the floor, fondling them, dressing them up as dolls. It Is not good for the cnt. It Is not good for the child. Neither cuts nor du ought to bo treated lu this manlier. They are nil right In their place, but they nro not fit for plaything. If thn superstition that a cat can suck n child's breath has operated as a preventive to mother nltewlng their children to play with rats It has served n very good pune, hut sueh childish notions are hardly cumNitlble with ma ture reflection. It Is owe of tint old wlvos' falde which may have served n guod puriHue, hut It Is too ridiculous 'or iviM'tltlon. There are other and Vtter rensons why the cat ami baby tliould not lx left together thin tint vague, unintelligible fear that the rat will suck the child's breath. Medical Talk. Addlnir I'ool 10 llii rininn. "See here, ymi okl addle pated duffer," Mdalninl the Irate iHtllfMual, as he en tered the f.lltorlsl ssKrlum ef a vlllst wrekly, "I am l4d that U csllr.1 III toafiir In ymir last Ihc." 'Sir," replied Ike r.lltur. ralmty, "ytvi have been islilnfiinnwl, W prtut only the latest news" Ills Limit. Her Patkr Yihjhx man, Is your flnsiwlal condition aH-h s will enahls you to upHirt family? Young Man (tlmldlyi Why, lerlhal Is, I waseronly flcuriug on supporting Jennie. I rrniipp-.H joa would eon tlnue to suptKirt tl'o rest of Hit family, KHCUMilTISM MOT A SKBN Bl&EA&E. "Well, well go on!" urged Burgess. eagerly. "Unfortunately, Luclan became fasci nated by a young woman In tho South, and hastily married her. It now trans pired that his supposed wife U the daugh ter of a slave, Vt no wife at all. Oonno quently ho has corae to his sennet), and is looking for a wlfu in his own station in life. II has commissioned me to ask the hsnd of your daughter In marriage. It la also understood that unless he -ar from me within an hour he will pnent iilmseir hero during the morning, and the wedding can bo arranged to tako ' It is natural to rub the npot that hurts, and when rheumatic P PhllS lurgesr,ro?8 like one routing ' Pain3 a?c haoiin through the joints and tmisclca and they are from aaze'idream , namcd and sore, tho luffcrer is apt to turn to linimcnt.1 and plasters "Are you mad. or moklng sport of "" relief ; and while such treatment may quiet lite pain temporarily", me?" he "muttered. "You cannot havo ' no amount of rubbing or blistcritig' can cure Klicutmitism, becnusc it forgotten that even In my abasement I Js not a skin disease, but is in the blood and all IhroUL'h the uyntem, of a dying woman?" ili ,r8t attack, you arc iroitijr to have another, and Rheumatism "Because he has a son who cannot 1 Will last JUSt as lotltf aS tile poison is ill thti blood. 1111 inrtttiT what bear his name, since its motiier is a you apply externally. Too much acid in the blood is one cause of "I : t-tl ! Ilf Mrs. Courtlandt has thn nron., ..f .-i which brinfr on this painful dis ease, uuciuiBc 1 iic mood uccomca understand!" retorted Burs. wh SS '' tS! dlL'eHti0n' " " rhnr nareaMn; "since tho .rsent i?tJ,. ,.' V ?..?"''-, f.?".',?9 DSAiu rn ht. ,,. lililn.v. Ohio, Aurust SO. 1003. A fow months ago I was fsslluir wsak and rundown ana uusbl to KstsTp iillht. I fU estromsly bul.and also had Ing freel some day from slavery, her husband does not wish to be too long hampered with a second wife, nnd ho has commissioned you to select a wlfu for him from among your most hopcltwa pa tients, ami you have chosen us becauro we ore dying of hunger. Well, my dear sir, go to Mr, Courtlandt and tell him that I am his servant, but that, though my poor child may bo lost to me, sh Is not to bo sold!" "My good friend." said the doctor, calmly, "I do not doubt you have the right to condemn yourself to misery, but I question your Justice In condemning your family to death. I offer you renew ed health for your wife and pence and cmnfort for your daughter, who is a. ready spent by the privations which she has suffered." "All of which I reject In the name of my wife and daughter," cried the old man, excitedly; "stay! hero Is my wife ask her if sho has tho courage to accept the term!" To b continued.) ., f Til. Dollar. "She's as bright as a dollar." "Isn't Bhe a bit forwurd at times?" "Well, you know, a dollar gow far ther, them? days, than It did when wa were glrU." rfisuintttio palus In mr Joint ,nd tnus. pins, tiio miislu I used icava tun only ii"iiorrr ronsi si utaii sosreln U.n iilgniy reooiiiiusudsit for suclt troy tilts, I bagsti lu uss, nd sftor uklnr II lorsoin tlins wsa wtli nU.,.,1 uiihll.1 rssult, Inlldswsy wim tits rhsumatlf psliis, guvs ma rerrsahlna- stssp sni built un iny irsnsral syslsiu, KlvlnsT ( trsnirtliamlonsrav, ltlssuuoa id1I oln, wltlioul doubt, and 1 tak ll uralnnudoralntrlt. K.IMJ.N0.1, 0, a. IIOUUIITOW. tainted with the poisonous mat ter which these organs fail to carry out of the system. Cer tain oecret diseases will produce Rheumatism, and of all forms this is the most stubborn and severe, for it seems to affect every bone and muscle in the body. The blood is the medium by which the poisons and acids nrc carried through the system, and it doesn't matter what kind 0! Rheumatism' you have, it must be treated through the blood, or you w VVirge Pcrmanc,nt,y M of U. As a cure for rheumatic trou Si r; il'J if " Kcr V?,enUalIcd' II doesn't inflame the atomacli and ruin the digestion like Potash, Alkalies and other Htrongdru viu tones up tne general Health, genu; ititnulatcs the sluggish organs, and at the same time antidotes and filters oul of the blood all poisonous acids and effete matter of every kind ; and whet? S. S. S. has restored the blood to iU nntiirril wjjfl!tl. At. !uf.- t .tall Joints and the sore and tender muscles are immediately relieved. J!! n,bf on Rheumatism will be malledffrce to tho tS 2 i'!Sir Pf ry8jcJansJw,iU chrf7 answer all letters askfoj for special information or advice, for which no charge is made. rUCMWIFTSPtCinO CO.. AUAMTAs 9