! Secret of tbe Plundered Sfe
By EMILK GABORIAU
CHAPTER XV. (Continued.)
In a few minute they hsd a IsAMer
stsmllng against th wall. But to their
chagrin they found th ladder i fet
too short. Six long feet of wall between
th top of the ladder and th lighted
window waa a very discouraging sight to
Prosper.
M. VerJuret. quickly placing himself a
yard oil from th house, and seiziug the
ladder cautiously, raiaed It. and rented
the bottom round ou hit shoulders, at the
same time holding the two upright firm
ly and steadily with his hand. Tht ob
stacle waa overcome. .
Prosper mad a sudden spring, and
sailing th lower rounds, quickly climbed
np th ladder, which awayed and trem
bled beneath his weight But h had
scarcely looked in th lighted window
when he uttered a cry which waa drown
ed in the roaring tempest, and dropped
like a log down on th wet grass.
With wonderful promptness and rigor
M. Verduret laid th Indder on th
ground, and rau toward Prosper, fearing
b was dead or dangerously injured.
"What did you see? Are you hnrt?"
be whispered.
But Prosper had already risen. Al
though he had had a violent fall, h was
unhurt; he waa In a state when mind
governs matter, so absolutely that the
body ia insensible to pain.
"I saw," he answered, in a hoars
voice, "I saw Madeleine do you under
stand, Madeleine inf that room.
M. Verduret was confounded. Was
It possible that hs, the infallible expert,
had been mistaken in his deductions? He
well knew that M. de Lagors' visitor waa
woman, but his own conjectures and
the note which Mme. Gypsy had sent to
him at the tavern, had fully assured him
that this woman was Mme. Fauvel.
"Tou must b mistaken," he said to
Prosper. "But even so. how do we
know that Madeleine Is here on her own
account? Did we not come to the con
clusion that she wss sacrificing herself
for the benefit of some one else? That
superior will which compelled her to ban
ish you may hare constrained this step
to-night"
"That miht be the case." Prosper
murmured, "who knows?"
"I would soon know." said M. Verdu
ret, "if I could see them together in that
room."
With a strength of which a few min
utes before be would not have believed
himself possessed. Prosper raised the
ladder, and placed the last round on his
smoulder. M. erduret rapidly ascended
the ladder without even shaking, and had
bis head on a level with the window.
There was Madeleine. M. Verduret
observed that she still wore her shawl
and bonnet. She was standing in the
rclddle of the room, talking with gteat
animation. Her look snd gestures be
trayed indignant scorn. There waa an
expression of nndisgnised loathing upon
ber beautiful face.
Madeleine continued talking, and it
was by closely watching th face of
'Lagors, clearly revealed by the lamp
on the mantel, that M. Verduret hoped
to discover the meaning of the seen be
fore him. At one moment Lagors would
start and tremble in spite of his appar
ent indifference; the next, he would strike
at the fire with th tongs, as if giving
vtnt to his rage at some reproach uttered
by Madeleine.
Finally Madeleine changed her thieats
Into entreaties, and, clasping her bands,
almost fell at his knees. He turned swsy
his head, and refused to answer save In
monosyllsbles. Ssveral times sh turned
to leave the room, but each time return
ed as if asking a favor, and unable to
make up her mind to leave the house till
she had obtained it. At last she seemed
to have uttered something decisive, for
ltao'il quickly rose and opened a desk
near the fireplace, from which he took a
bundle of papers and handed them to
ber.
Madeleine took the papers, but was ap
parently dissatisfied. She again entreat
ed him to give her something else. Knoul
refused, and then sh threw the papers
on the tsble. The papers seemed to puz
r.le M. Verduret very much, ss he gaied
at them through the window.
"I am not blind," he said, "and certain
ly nm not mistaken: those pnpers, red,
green and yellow, are pawn ticket dupli
cate. Madeleine turned over the papers, as If
looking for some particular ones. She se
lected three, which she put in her pocket,
(Vidainfully pushing the others atlde.
Sh v as evidently preparing to take her
departure, for sh suid s few words to
IXaoul, who took up th lamp as If to es
cort her downstair. Ther waa nothing
tnor for M. Verduret to see. lie care
fully descended th ladder, muttering to
himself:
"Pawn certificates! What Infamou
mystery lies at th bottom of all this?"
M. Verduret and Prosper hastily laid
the ladder on th ground, regardless of
the shrubs and vines they destroyed In
doing so, and then concealed themselves
among th trees, whenc they could
wstch at one th frout door and th
outer gste.
Madeleine and Raoul appeared In th
doorway. Itaoul set the lamp on ths
bottom step, aud offered his hsnd to th
girl; but she refused It with haughty
contempt, which somswhst soothed Pros
pur's lacerated heart II followed her
to th gate, which he opened and closed
after her; then h hurried back to ths
house, while Madeleiue's carriags drove
rapidly away.
"Now, monsieur," said Prosper, "you
must tell m what you saw. You .prom
ised me th truth no matter how bitter
It might be. Speak; I can bear It, be it
what it may."
"You will only have Joy to bear, my
friend. Within a month yon will bitterly
rgret your suspicions of to-night. You
will blush to think that you ever Imag
ined Msdemolsell Madeleine to care for
man like Lsgors. It Is precisely sgulnst
appearances that we must l on our
guard. Always distrust them. A sus
picion, false or just Is alwsys bssed on
something. Hut w must not stay here
forever: aud ns Itaoul liss fii stencil (lie
gate we shall have to climb back sgnln."
They scaled the wall, and had not
walked fifty steps when they heard tho
riols of a gate 'being unlocked. They
Stood aside and waited; man soou pass
ed by on his way ts th atatlon.
and Joseph will report to lit that h I ed. and th actors ar changing
hss goti to tell Clameran what ha just drss.
ar, and with great buffoonery and volu
bility, mad th following rtmsrks:
"I.sdte snd gentlemen, this very
morning I obtained a license from th
authorities of this town for th purpose
of exhibiting to you a spectacle which
has already won th admiration of th
four quarters of the globe, and sewrnl
universities besides. Insid this booth,"
ladies. Is about to commene th repre
sentation of a most reiuarkahl drama,
acted tot th first tlm In Pekln, aud
translated into several languages by our
moat celebrated author. Gentlemen, ou
can take your seats; the lamps ar llght-
their
tsken place.'
When they got Into their hark again
snd wer driven back to the Archangel,
M. Verduret said:
"You will not see m to-morrow, but I
will b br about thl time to-nmrrow
night. Terhap I shall discover what I
ant seeking at the Jsndldiers' ball."
Prosper was dumb with amasemeut
What! would M. Verduret think of ap
pearing at a ball given by ths wealthiest
snd most fashionable bankers of Paris?
This accounted for hia sending to th
cos turner.
"Then you ar Invited to this ball?"
The expressive eyes of M. Verduret
danced with amusement.
"Not yet," he said, "but I shall b."
Iler lis stopped speaking and Imitat
ed to perfection th fantasia which
mountebanks play upon horns and ket
tledrums. "Now, ladles and gentlemen," he re
sumd, "you wish to know what 1 aiu
going to do outside, if th plc Is to b
performed under a tent The fsct Is.
gentlemen, that I wish to glv you a
forstast of th agitations, sensstlont,
motions, palpitations and other enter
tstnmsnts which you may enjoy by pay
ing the small sum of ten sous. Yon sc
this superb picture? It represents eight
of th most thrilling scenes In th
drama."
CHAPTER XVI.
The Ku St Lsiare was sdorned by
the palatial residence of th Jandldier
brothers, two celebrated financiers..
These two mansions, marvels at th tlm
they were built were entirely distinct
from each other, but so planned that
they could be tnrned into one immense
house when so desired. When th Jandl
dier gsv parties they alwsys had th
movable partitions tsken away, and thus
obtained th most superb salon in Parte.
On Saturday th Ru St Latar waa
blocked up by a file of carriages, whose
fair occupants were impatiently await
iug their turn to drive tip to th door,
through which they could catch th tan
talising strains of a waits.
It was a fancy ball, and nearly all th
costumes were superb, though some were
more original than elegant. Among the
latter waa a jester. Everything waa In
perfect keeping; the Insolent eye. coarse
lips, high cheek bones, aud a chin beard
so red that It seems to emit flames in
the reflection of the dazillng lights.
He carried in his left band a canvas
banner, upon which were painted six or
eight pictures, cosrsely designed, like
those found In strolling fairs. In bis
right he waved a little switch, with
which he would every now snd then
strike his banner, like a quack retailing
his wares. Quite a crowd surrounded
this clown, hoping to hear jokes, songs
or stump speeches, bnt he kept near the
door and remained silent. About hslf
past ten he quitted his post
M. and Mme. Fanvel, followed by
their niece Madeleine, had just entered.
BiMouging to the battalion of grave, el
derly men, M. Faovel had not assumed
a fancy costnme. but merely threw 01 er
his shoulders a sort of silk domino.
Oi)Lhis arm leaned Mme. Fauvel, nee
Valentine de La Verberie, bowing and
gracefully greeting her numerous friei.ds.
She had once been remarkably beautiful;
and to-night no one would have supposed !
her to be forty-eight years old.
But Madeleine was the object of uni
versal admiration, so dazzlingly beauti
ful and queenly did she appear in her
costume of maid of honor. Having
greeted the host Madeleine took her
snnt's arm, while M. Fsuvel wandered
through the rooms in search of th card
table, the usual refuge of bored men
when they are enticed to the ballroom by
their womaukind.
The ball was now at Its height For
gotten by the crowd, th clown had tak
en refuge in the embrasure of a window,
and seemed to be meditating upon the
gsy scene before him; at the asms t;m
he kept bis eves upon a couple not far
off.
Madeleine was dancing with a splen
didly dressed doge, the Marquis de Clam
eran. He appeared to be radiant and
well satisfied with the impression he was
making npon his partner; at the end of a
quadrille he leaned over her, and whis
pered compliments with the most un
bounded sdmiratlon.
"Evidently." muttered the clown, "this
noble scoundrel is psying court to the
bsnker's niece. But bow can Medutnoi
vlle Madeleine resign herself to so gra
ciously receive his insipid, flattery?"
Incommoded by the stifling heat of the
room, Mme. rauvei nan sougnt a little
fresh air In the grand picture gallery,
which, thanks to the talisman called
gold, wss now transformed Into a fairy
like garden, filled with orange trees, Ja-
ponlcas, laurel and many rar exotics.
Th clown saw her seated near a grove.
not far from th door of the card room.
Upon her right was Madeleine, and near
her stood Raoul de Lagors, dressed in a
Henri III. eostum.
Msdelein appeared very ssd. Kh
had plucked a japonic from a tree near
by. and wss pulling It to place as she
sat with her eyes downcast Rsonl and
Mme. Fauvel wer engaged In earnest
conversation. Their fsces wer compos
ed, bnt ths gestures of on and ths trem
bling of ths other betrayed a serious dis
cussion. In th card room sst th doge,
M. Clameran, so plsced ss to bav full
view of Mm. Fauvel snd Madeleine.
"It la the continuation of yesterday's
scene,". thought th clown. "If I could
only get behind that oletnder tre I
might hesr what they ar taylng."
H pushed his wsy through th crowd,
and just ss he bad reached th desired
spot Madeleine arose, and taking th
arm of a bejeweled Persian, walked
away. At the same moment Raoul went
into th card room and whispered few
words to I Clameran.
There they go," muttered th clown.
"Die two scoundrels certainly hold thes
poor women In their power, and they
ar determined to make them suffer be
fore relosslng them. Wbst can b th
ecret of their power?"
His attention wss attracted by a com
motion in th picture gallery; It waa
caused by th announcement of a won
derful minuet to be danced In th ball
room. In an Instant the gallery becum
almost deserted. The clown thought It a
favorable opportunity for carrying out
his project
He sbrnptly left lils corner, flourishing
his switch and beating his banner, and
seated himself In a chair between Mm.
Fauvel snd ths door. At soon at tha
people had collected In a circle around
him hs commenced to cough in an affect
ed manner like a stump orator about to
mnke a speech, Then lie struck a comi
cal attitude, standing tip with his body
twisted sideways, and his bat on on
AN AUTUMN REVERIE.
'TIs autumn and off toother,
Over the hills and away,
We go In gulden weather,
My lady and 1, to-day.
And sit on the hillside sunny
her the purple grapes hung low
And watch the clouds Homing by
And their shadow corns aud go.
We hear the clear pip of autumn
l ire call of the hiding quail
And see the Hnh of gold as h flics
Over tha old fence rail.
My lady's face Is dreamy.
And her thoughts seem far away.
As he twines th leaves for a garland.
lo trim her hat to-day.
"Of what nre yon thinking?" I ask her,
And she lifts her eyes so brown;
"I was wondering," she said 4h mis-chief!
"Will the new hutbrlms turn up or
down?"
Millinery Trade Review.
CHAPTER XVII.
Ths showman's shrill vole brought
th banker's wif back to a sens of
reality; shs started, and looked quickly
about her, as If suddenly awakened from
a troubled dream.
"Now, ladles, w ar in China. Th
first picture ou my canvat, her lo th
loft corner," her h touched th top
davib, "represent th celebrated Man
darin Ll-Fo, In the bosom of his family.
This pretty woman leaning over him Is
his wife; and thes chlldreu playing on
tho carpet ar the bonds of lov between
this happy pair."
Mme. Fauvel had left her seat, and
approached nearer to th clown.
"Pictur No. 2!" he cried, after a
flourish of music. "This old lady, eated
before a mirror tearing out her balr, do
you recognise her? No, you do not Sh
la th fair mandarine of th hrst pic
ture. I see the tears in your eyes, ladies
and gentlemen. Ah! you hav cause to
wep, for her happiness ha departed.
Alas, it is a ssd tale! One fatal day
she met ou the streets of Pekin a young
ruffian, fieudish, but beautiful as an an
gel." The last words were nttered In the
most tragic tone. During this tirade hs
had whirled sronnd. so thst he found
himself facing the bsnker's wife. But
nothing he had said seemed to affect her.
She leaned back in her armchair peifect
ly calm, and occasionally smiled at the
tragic manner of the showman.
"Good heavens!" muttered the clown,
uneasily, "can I be on the wrong track?"
He ssw thst his rircle of listeners was
increased by the presence of th doge,
M. de Clameran.
"Th thirl picture," h said, aftr a
roll of drums, "depicts the old manda
rine after she has dismissed that most
snnojing of guests remorse from her
bosom. She promises herself that Inter
est shall chain the youth to her side. It
Is with tills object that shs invests him
with false honors and dignity, and In
troduces him to the chief mandarin of
the capital of the Celestial Empire; then,
since so handsome a youth must cut .a
fine figure In society, snd as the tine fig
ure csnnot be cut without money, the
lady mnst needs to sacrifice all of her
possessions for his sake. Necklaces,
rings, bracelets, diamonds snd pearls, all
ar surrendered. Th monster curries sll
these Jewels to the pawnbrokers, and
then hss th cruelty to refuse her the
tickets."
fTe b continued.!
PALMISTRY.
English Are Ont of Date.
The skipper of the tramp steamei
Bumping Billy was engaging a new
crew. "What's your name?" he Bald
to the foremost applicant.
"Giuseppe Grlnolierl," replied the
man.
"Eyetalian?"
"Yees, salr."
"Very good; step to one side. And
yoursT'he went on the next A. B.
"Ivan Ikano!T."
"Russian?"
"Bollsh, sare."
"Right; step alongside o Yewseppy.
"Next man?"
"Wllhelm Zw II lan nurt."
"German V
"Ja."
"Very good; over you go. Next?'
"Manoel Ollveria. I I'ortuguoso sen
man, sonbor."
"Step over there, Mannlwel. Next?"
"John Thompson, sir."
"What?"
"John Thompson, sir."
"What Id th-Miuwlrr what the
what nationality?" screamed the horri
fied shipmaster.
"English, sir," replied the man.
For full half minute the unhappy
kipper stood speechless, hi counte
nance turning from purple to orange
and from orange to gray, and then
with 1 gurgling gasp of "English, by
gum!" he tottered, staggered and fell
prone upon the ground. Liverpool
Post.
Safe on the Cinder Path.
There are parts of Kentucky where
some of the mountaineers have never
seen a locomotive. One of these moun
ts Incurs who drifted Into civilization
encountered a railroad train, aud took
to flight down the track.
The englneor stopped the train and
captured what he supposed waa
crazy man. Finding him sane, thougl
breathless, the engineer In anger ask
ed him why be did not get off the
track.
"Get off the track!" roared the
mountaineer. "If I'd ever took to
plowed land the thing would have
caught me for aure."
Iler Only Chanua.
She I am aurprlaad at Edith, fine
waa in love wnn mat ioiiow long
enough to know better u.10 marry
him.
HeYes, hut too long to do any bet
ter. Town Topics.
There la not a single qualified prac
ticing dentist In the English protector
ate! of Eaat Africa and Uganda,
geouge rmsmc.inAR, statesman.
LONE James did It I have
told him since that I owe him
a debt of gratitude which
never, never can repay. His reply,
that he would rather I owed hliu
something which I could repay, touch
ed me deeply, but had no other lantio-
d In to result.
I must give you his name In full:
James Arthur Itrocktcbank. Perhaps
some day will find me teaching my
children to lisp that dear name at
their mother's knee. This Is what
they do In novels, though I should not
think "Hrocklebnnk" allows of much
scope for lisping. Still, there It Is.
It was at a fancy bazaar. Most of
us at tho hall were helping In somo
way. Our dar hostess was selling
what are those things that ladles buy?
while her daughter had sweet and
scent and tobacco stalls, and so forth
1 thought at flrt that I wns the only
unemployed one until James strollei!
up.
"Hello." he said; "you're doing
nothing."
"I wanted to help," I exclaimed.
"My Idea was to keep a tobacconist'
stall, and then one could smoke cigar
i-tcs all the time. The assistants lit
shops always do that to advertise
their goixU."
"O! And I suppose assistants In
sweet shops eat sweets all the time?"
"Of course."
"Have you ever thought," anld
James, reflectively, "what a tired tlmo
the right hand man of a butcher mutt
hav "
"Look here," I said, "did you come
to talk rot like that to me?"
"No; I want you to have jour for
tune told. There's a palmist here.
"But I haven't a fortune."
"You don't want one. Half
crown's enough."
I went with him under protest. I
was a very dark tent Into which we
plunged, and I could see 110 fortune
teller.
"Where la she?" I asked Impatient
iy-
"The other side of the curtain," said
Jnmes; "but you mustn't go In. You
put your hand th rough there, and she
It on the other side. Of course, If shs
saw you, It would spoil everything."
"Who Is It?"
"Never mind."
I put my hand through. Pome one
took It, and It seemed a though she
were going over the lines of my palm
with a pencil.
"You are quirk-tempered, alow-
minded, thin-skinned "
"Fat bended, go on!" I said bitterly.
Just you wait till I see yon."
"I'm awfully sorry," enld the voire,
I don't think I hnve the right hand.'
Of course you haven't. It's the
left."
Yes, that's right. Oh, I se! I was
coking at It tiphlde down. You lire
modest, clever, athletic and of an ar
tistic temperament."
James laughed unkindly.
"IMd you laugh?" asked a voire.
"Certainly not!" I replied. "I
wouldn't think of such a thing. But
ou are only saying things I know nl
ready. Won't you tell me my future?"
"You will be married within a
year."
I gnsped.
"Old you gasp?" naked a voire.
"That was the lmprelrtn I Intend
rd to convey. But are you sure?"
"Quit, quite sure. The line of the
heart says so."
Heart lines, old chap!" said Jim,
nudging me.
"What did you sny?" asked the
voire.
Nothing," I answered. "What you
heard whs a hitherto honored uud re
spected friend being kicked. Hut I
say, ' tell tne. When shall I be fu
gaged ?"
"Before the end of the week."
"HI! Jim, quick!" I shrieked. Whai'a
the day now?"
"The thirteenth," said Jim.
I shot a glance of scorn nnd loa til
ing at him.
"Sorry, old man," be anld, hurried
ly. "It's Riiturdiiy."
"Why good Iord then I shall got
engaged to-night!" ,
"Why not?" nsked Jim.
"Why not? O, you Idiot! ! Phe'a not
even In tho bouso. (Slio't In London."
"Who Is?"
"Who? why O, nobody. Yoti see
what I menn. There's nobody In tha
house that "
"It's no good," aaid Jamei with a
grin.
"You've given yourself away."
I turned back to the curtain.
Jit
(nJ GEORGE r. HOAR SS .
V iViiiuv-'-""""1 niimuimui7
In Uie death of George Friable Hour, of Massachusetts, the United Slates
Senate kwna one of Its most hoitored aud Influential member and the coun
try a statesman of a type which I growing rare. It ha been said that tha
rhlefest of a nation' liars I he who writes the epitaph of a nation's dead;
yet the work of the man who chisel "Statesman" on the inouumwit of (Horge
Friable Hiiar Is as ruggedly honest as Is the enduring stone,
Senator Hoar was one of the few surviving representatives of the "old
school" which doiulnatid In public affairs before the era of so-called com
mercialism set Its seal upon American politics. Like Webster and Clay and
Sunnier, of ntite-bellum days, and like Trumbull and Morrill and Vest of the
later period, Seimtor lbmr revered the Constitution and measured his Amer
icanism by the Declaration of Bights. With him. as with them, politic was a
sentiment lit which "business" had no place.
Senator Hour was splendidly equipped for his position as a leader among
American statesmen. He was of scholarly tstis and Imilnntlons, His gen
eral learning was vast and his familiarity with the details of national admin
istrative work wss extraordinary. While not 11 11 orator as the word Is usually
accepted, he had the eloquence that comes of slncero conviction and the ca
parity for Intense feeling. He will be remembered not so much for these
gifts, however, ns for his determined devotion lo principle, his high Ideal
and his absolute freedom from any sort of participation In the game of
politics ns played by the average politician. In this he ha et a standard
of dlslnti rested patriotism which Is altogether too rare.
"Are you still there?" I asked. "Aro
joti Micro, are you there, are you
there, are you "
"I've finished, thank you," chiuo the
voice.
"But are you quite sure about being
engaged by the end of the week?"
"Quite, quite sure," said tho voice
a little shakily.
James ami I went out
"Who I she?" I asked. "I didn't
recognize the voice."
"Oh,, she'd take good care about
that." '
"Well, anyhow, It' Impossible."
We entered the refreshment tent
and drank thing. Jim tried to be
facctloii about my rapidly approach
ing engagement. He even mUquoted
poetry to me. Things about love and
so on.
"Old you make that .up yourself?"
I said wearily. "It's very bad."
Why, If Khnkspeare, man," be
said Indignantly.
"O, I thought It was you."
"I don't mind having It." he said.
"Kindly observe the new Swan of
Avon."
Are swans such great drinkers,
then? I didn't know."
'You're In a nasty horrid temier,
nnd I shall leave you," said Brockl'i-bnnk.
I watched him go through the door
of the tent. Some one was coining up.
He went on and spoke to her. It was
a lady, lie came imcu wnn iht ami
brought her up to me. Good lord!
It was Kate!
"He'll give you tea," said James.
I must go. Good by."
He raised bis hat Hiid went off,
"It Is Impossible," I said.
"Well, what's the matter?" asked
Kate. "Aren't you glad to see me?'
"Go away. You're In Ionilon."
"I've Just this moment come. You
knew I was coming, didn't you?"
No, I've liHrdly seen any one. I've
only Just come myself. Why, what
train "
"Never mind the train," said Kate,
hurriedly; "I want some tea.'
We had tea. AH the time I wa
wondering If I dared "to put It to tin)
touch, to win or lose It all." At last
I took out a penny nnd tossed It. If
it turned tall, why then, ao would I
But If not
"Heads," said Knto.
"It Is. That settles It. After nil
who am I to blnst the reputation of
a respectable ami, for aught I Know
beautiful palmist?"
1 don't know what you are talking
About," complained Kate.
"Kate," I said, Impressively, "If
written on my hand" and I showed
her my band "that I shall get en
gaged to-day."
"Is that what they call shorthand?"
"If palmistry. The line of heart
ha done something exuberant."
"Well, I hope she'll have you," laid
Kate.
"ho you think she will 7"
"You should ask her."
"I am," I said, and I tools her band.
"Dear, do you think she will?"
"I don't know," snlil Knto, looking
down, "iwinp she might."
"Only perhaps? hate, say you're
turn she will."
"Quite, quite aure," anld a voire.
Something In th word atrnck me,
smile.
Sho looked np at mo with a
Then I begnn to understand.
"Kate!" cried.
"Isn't It a benntlful day?" anld
Kate. Black and hltc.
SOME LIVELY BALLOONINQ
Aeronaut CsnMht in Menailnv Than
lr I'rnk with Actlv Lightiilng.
For the first ml lo whlla slowly ris
ing, the balbo.i g gz.igg-d between the
lower currents, until at approximately
:i. feet It eui oiiiitired a malu swoep
of air, which at that height wa fol
lowing the course 0f the valley be
low. The horizon had been clear at
starting and Mm Impression wa as wo
sailed along In the current that w
should have a fair passage, unless
some cloud, hot yet apparent. In our
wake could ride after u and over
take us at a higher level, where wind
velocity Is generally greater. Per
haps, therefore, we tmld insufficient
heed a murky veil ahead of u.
which began gathering and deepening
nd blotted out the view. We wcrtj
"n enveloped In this gray curtain nd
thus It true appear nco wa lost to
us; but at Newbury, our starting
ground, a large crowd wa watching;
us entering a vast and moht menacing
thunder puck, and wa wondering why
we did not come down.
The first real warning which we had
of our predicament wn a flash of
lightning close on our ouarter mnwor-
d by another on our other side, ami
almost before we could renll.e It wu
found we were In the very fucu of
a furious storm which was being Imrno
on an upper wind, and a wild conflict
was Already raging around ns. There
wa our own fust current carrying us
westward; there was the storm cloud
slightly above us hurrying to the euat,
and added to these there now descend
ed a pltless down draught of Ire cold
air and hull. We were doubtless In a
cloud which wn discharging lightning
over a wide area, each flash, however.
Issuing from the Immediate l lult of
the balloon, and the Idea formed on
the writer' mind Will til ill inn 11 v
tlnshc were eve that I. a If from
one part of the cloud to another. Any
that reached the ground must from our
known poslllm have been At least a
mile long.
There wa another Idea forced upon
the party, which wn that they would
be more comfortable nnd far safer
elsewhere, nnd when suitable oppor
tunity occurred a descent wns made to
earth. I-oiigiiuin' Magazine.
Main Allegation True.
Mr. Gadabout 1'eopln nre Raying
you called on Mr. Verdlgrt the other
dny and got a act back.
Mr, irpjohn What A willful per
version of truth! I cAlled on ber and
got a sot of Mcken back that I'd lent
her two year before. Chicago Trib
une, Don't llras;.
"JW brng U'cnuso you hnppen to
be a 111 tie lucky," anld Uncle Eben,
"If do ben wouldn't CAckle so loud
nlxiut de egg she done laid do whit
folk wouldn' be mo ll'ble to rob dt
nin'." Washington War.
When It come to culling poopla
from their bed the Are Ml double
discount Die church bull