The Columbia register., April 29, 1904, Image 2

j
The Planter's Daughter
.22 FATE'S REVENGE
By AUCE P. CAJ&ISTON
K Author of "A Waif from the 8eaM "Her Brightest Hope,"
Wayward Winnafrad," ate.
Quick I Back to Rosemont, and keep
the hone hameeed!" whispered thl
arid to' the coachman, aa aba enter!
the carriage, followed by Courtlandt.
Onca fairly on the road, aha fell with
a hyaterteal eon into ner lovers arma
Suddenly aha started up with a terrified
gasp.
"Hark," aha pal "do yon not near
the beat of horse behind us?"
Courtlandt lowered the glass and look
ed back Into the raiqy night '
"I aea nothing, ha aaid, "and hear
nothing."
(T at continued.)
CHATTER I. I "Unhappy the bride that tha rain ralna
A rMti and dismal afternoon in on, whispered ona old dame,
v. month (VfnW. 1S5S. tha country "Married In black!" ahuddered anotb
folk who llred within ' ear-ahot of tha er; while a third ahook her head, aa aha
belle of tha little Tillage of Vernon, were muttered: ."Married in haste, repent at
amsted at tha audden clanging that an- leisure
rmtlr bnrat forth from tha Ity-Telled Rut all nnconacioua of Ill-omen. Syl-
tower of tha old church and aent iti phlde Courtlandt pissed out of tha porch
rererberatlng echoes far OTer rice-field, t0 receive a aplteful daak of rain, like
nlantatlon and trore. All tha greater iCT tears, unon her brow, and to ba salut-
was tha amacement of those who hark-ed by tha muttering of distant thunder
ened to tha merry peala, since oniy me front tha leaden hesrens,
day befora thoaa aelf-aame brssea throats Meanwhile, tha acena outside the
had raised their Toicea in a doleful knell church had been In atartllng contrast
for a departed soul " to tne solemn, peaceful proceedings
KeTevtheless. In spite of tha atormy within. Soon after the bridal pair had
wind that raged and the fitful gust ofknttlwli anj tna crowi bad aurged into
rain thst beat upon their laces, women tha porch, filling eTery crack and crevice,
caught op their shawls and men their B horseman had ridden np at break-neck
hats, and ran with their children into lpwd, dismounted at tha graveyard wall,
tha Tillage to find tha place all agog, ana and tethered his foaming steed to a syca
rerr step hastening towards the church. more thst crew hard by. Ha waa breath
The sunset hour was at hand, and all less, and corered with mud from hard
alone tha lower horison, fiery gleams, riding, though his dsrk face was flush
blood-red, shone through the rifts in the d and his deep-set black eyea fairly
driving clouds. There waa mute inquiry scintillated.
opon eTery face, while mystery orooaea There ls no denylng tn ftct that he
over all la a handsome man, handsome In a fierce.
The twinkling candles upon tha altar. bruUl wty. t younjt man too icarceiy
together with the eloquent perfume of thirtT. but brin the traces of nrema-
massed rosea and jasmines, lying In great tura a(e wnich dissipation eTer sets un-
beaps witnm tne cnaneei, auraciea mo on tne pemtenancea of ita votaries.
than half tha multitude within we aa- Tney aU knew htm thert h,. that ne
cred edince; tnoee wno remaineo. wuuoui
looked np and down tha road, and asked
each other what joyous event wss about
to take place in such uncanny weather.
At last the bells abruptly ceased, the
deep tones of the organ began to surge
and swell upon the bated silence, tha
clock struck six. Simultaneously the
rapid beat of horses' hoofs and the roll
of carriage wheels smote the air, and
from the direction of tha magnolia-crest
ed heights, a barouche wss descried
swiftly approaching the church. A cry
waa raised among the byatanders as the
Rosemont livery wss recognised, and
heads wera craned to catch the first
glimpse or the occupants, while a shud
der of horror psssed through eTery heart,
as it was recalled that only the day be
fore the same equipage had atood befora
tha church to bear away to her lonely
home the only and beautiful daughter of
the lamented Colonel Couramont
Tha respected gentleman had met an
untimely death by accident while hunt
ing, and tha scent of the flowers that
clustered about his bier had scarcely
evaporated from the dim aisles of the
old church ere these fresh blossoms were
brought in to form a festal decoration.
But the carriage was closed against
tha stress of weather and no glimpse of
those within was afforded until it drew
up beneath the porch, and the aged sex
ton stepped forward to open the door;
whereupon, to the speechleee amazement
of the beholders, there alighted a band
some, ittstely young gentleman in full
evening dress, who in turn assisted a
lady swathed in mourning to alight At
algbt of her, eTery hat was removed, for
one and all recognised at a glance tha
beautiful Sylphide Couramont, sole heir
ess and mistress of Rosemont
She was attired in a trailing costume
of black tulle relieved by an enormous
bouquet de corsage of snowy jasmines
that Tied with the ghastly pallor that
OTerspread her faultless neck and ex
quisite face; while in ber jet-black hair
clustered more of the spectral flowerc,
ahaded by a Teil of inky gauze. Had it
cot. been for the flashing eyes and the
triumphant curve of the haughty lip, one
would have said thathese were the trap
pings of the grave she wore and she.
the wraith of her former self.
The man at her side was flushed and
nervous. Though a stranger at Vernon,
25 FATE'S REVENGE
By MRS. AUCB P. CARRJSTON
Author of "A Waif from tha 8aa," "Her Brightest Hop,
Wayward Wlnnofred," ate.
CHAPTER XI.
Summer was already upon tha wane
when Luclan Courtlandt arrived at Rose
mont with letters of Introduction to CoL
RARft CO NS SOLO IN STREET.
Baelaase Profitable Amoac Clarke
Employed la New lark Offices.
The latest and moat singular acqui
sition to New York' army of curb
stone Tenders Is the old-coin man, as
he is called, who did business In a
lower Broadway store until two Couramont Being a rising young law-
mouths ago, and who ls known by yer of promlae, ha had been Intrusted
collectors from Saratoga to Florida, with sundry Important clalma of North-
Until last winter he has, he says, gone capitalists. Muck of the property
to St Augustine for one month ever, .K.ttoS
year, and has sold enough coins to Mtufl thin ,htt h, ihonld b w, up.
make his trips profitable, says the New pled wlth ,ettMt ot introduction to tha
York Times. Every summer he has ajing planters and gentlemen of Influ-
sold old coins to guests In the Sara enca In tha vicinity?
toga hotels. He says he expects to Foremost and most Influential among
go again this summer, because hU these persons stood CoL Couramont, the
curbstone buslnes. has been so good. jSJSTWZ
"Luck began to change with me openinc 0f our narration, had coma from
since they began to pull down my store imislena with his year-old motherless
at 301 Broadway to make room for a daughter In his arma, and had purchaa-
sky-scraper," said the old-coin man. ed and had settled upon the grand ee-
'I am fMi1ii.ll ffAfttnir Anaf km mil .tStS Of ItOSCmOnt.
see, my customers must write on a
wealthy, and certainly his course of life
pad what they want to say to me. t;;dmct thtt ,h, tupnoBltloB waa
My theory ls that a man who makes a He held high state at the Hall.
living should be content I never made his beautiful daughter waa educated by
more than a living when I had my resident masters of ability, and was al-
store, but I made a good one and had waja attired In Imported costumes. Tha
time for a little fun. I am still making colonel owned a colony of slavea to whom
.Fln. hi. h.nl ae wse a unu ana cuaiiumi uiwirr,
a living out of this,'
to his stock In trade, "and, although
I HI. ' ! ;, MS$P
if ; I .
mm
Wi.
"NO, NO! THERE IS NO ONE TO SPEAK. PROCEED,' SAID SYLPHIDE.
was the scspegrsce nephew of the desd
colonel; thst his nsme wsa Oscsr Coura
mont: that he lived down the river upon
they all cognized him as the guest , neglected plantation, where he beat hia
irom new iur, woo ona immsd Vumug giaTet; and more thsn all, they knew
a few weeke at Rosemont and had been that many t tlma be i,ad .ought the hand
the companion of Coloael Couramont 0f nja ajr cougi. Sylph:de, in marriage;
wnen ne mei nis late, xney remem- not th(1. v. i,.- her .nch a tender sen-
bered that it was he who had ridden timeat had nerer entered his heart but
orer the country day alter day witn K.n.. .h. ... th. onlv ohataola that
Sylphide, and had been the one to sup- interrened between him and hla Inherlt
port her when she fainted beside her anc to R0emont
father's coffin in the church; but not one
of those honest besrts so much as dream
ed that be was so soon to become the hus
band of the mistress of Rosemont, nor
would they hare believed had they been
told how this extraordinary alliance had
been brought about.
The wedding ceremony began and con-
tinned nntil the solemn words were pro
nounced, "If any one present sees just
cause why this man and woman should
not be joined together in holy wedlock,
He could not kill her, therefore she
must marry him. Thus he argued with
himself, when the news of his uncle's
death bad. reached him In New Orleans,
whither he hsd gone to squander the
money raised by the sale of the last of
his slaves. It is needless to explsin that
he returned to Vernon post hsste, but he
arrived at Rosemont to learn that Syl
phide was already gone to chnrcb to be
united In wedlock to a etranger.
Without quitting his saddle, he put
lhlXTA K, Cf .P". to hi. jaded be.st and rode like a
ever afterward hold hi. peace!"
Thereupon ensued a breathless pause.
A nervous shiver passed orer the bride
and with a hunted look in her great
dilated eyes, she turned and stared at
the assembly. No one rose; no one
mad fury down into Vernon. lie would
forbid the banns, tesr her from this in
terloper, eren kill the priest ere he had
time to give her forever to another. .
At his infuriated approach, the negroes
upon the outskirts of the crowd about
breathed although outside the church It chnrch door fel, bick jn dlamay at
was taking place, for voices were raised
ona In particular and through the
open doors the swaying to and fro of the
dense mass of humsnity was risible.
Sylphide Coursmont almost staggered,
yet clung to ber lovers arm with a dee
perate attempt to be mistress orer her
self. Fixing ber burning eyes upon the
priest she murmured :
"No, no! There is no one to speak. 1
am ill. Proceed r
And then the deep toned benediction
brought this weird ceremoiy to a close.
sight of his whip, but the whites stood
firm. They feared him not; besides, they
hsd come to see the show, and they were
not to be cheated of their pleasure.
Couramont struggled and fought to no
purpose, lie was a poweriuiiy duih
man, but he met bis equal, there In the
crowd, and do what be would, they
would not let him pass
"I am her next of klnr ba roared. "I
will see her married! Let me pass!"
Don't you see that msss of heads 7"
retorted the burly blacksmith of the
rr.- . t.-vi- .-i u Tillage "you can't get In
that Illumined the fair bride's fsce as the T wlll! 8,U-nfd back! ThU to a crime
i..t Ami" nttAi. hafflpa li.rHn. Let me go mi
tlon. She turned to her handsome youna- "Hark! Stand aside! They're coming
husband and whispered: loutr
"I am your., am I not, Ludan, yours It was true; tha wedding march had
forererr again burst forth, and Sylphide Coura
"Forever, my darling!" he answered mont was standing there befora him a
In soma surprise. bride, another's wife. Aa though his
' "I am too happy! Come, let us go. had been tha only face In all that aea
Time files, and we must leave Rosemont of faces, aha aaw him ana recouea
to-night!" I step. In the next moment, she recorer-
Lncian Courtlandt gave hia wife hi. ed herself, and smiled and bowed to him,
arm, and side by side they passed down though her face waa as pallid aa the
the aisle amid the won d trip g throng, ap- dead.
parently unconscious of the volley of cu- Oscar Couramont raised his hat and
rioua glances bestowed opon them. When fixed hia eyes npon tha man at Sylphldt's
their backs were turned, amasement took aide with a look that paralysed tha be-
yolee I holders.
It Is not such a good one, I am satis-
fled."
"ThlS," as he called It, was a piece
of oilcloth spread over an Iron grating
in front of an empty store. It was
covered with all sorts of coins, of
every denomination In value, made in
every country where metal ls used as
currency. The cheapest coin for sale
was 10 cents a piece of Austrian cop
per; the most expense was $20, a Rus
sian copper coin of a date that none
but collectors would appreciate. A
number of persons have stopped to
look at It since he began the curbstone
business, but no purchaser has put
his band Into his pocket
Another object of public curiosity,
Is a bit of metal covered with verdi
gris, which the old coin man has la
beled "the widow's mite." The prlge
of that depends on the bargain one
can make with blm, but be says It Is
high. The majority of coins he has foi
sale cost from SO cents to $1.
"I am right here In the middle of
a lot of restaurants, where clerks come
from the brokers' - offices and ex
changes," said the old-coin man. "I
have found that the collecting of coins
and postage stamps Is just as popular
as It ever was among boys and young
men, and that many of them will In
vest a quarter with me for a.good spec
imen when they never would think of
going to a coin shop.
"This outdoor trade has Its disad
vantages In the chilly spring weather,
but then I am only here four hours a
day. I roam around town and get rare
coins on commission for collectors who
have money to spend. Where do I get
them? Why, young man, I have
hustled around New York for thirty
years learning my trade."
Continuous Farewell.
"Well," remarked the spectator at
Mrs. Oldsters' farewell performance,
"she certainly was deeply affected."
"It looked that way," replied Grit-
tick.
"Of course It's natural to be affected
under the circumstances."
"Yea, that's why she got Into the
habit of affecting' to ba natural."-
Philadelphia Press.
waa the very soul of hospitality to the
occasional guests that Bought the shelter
of hla roof, and was accounted a happy
man.
His lore for his beautiful daughter
waa the one absorbing paaalon of his life;
ha lored and watched orer her with
jealous, almost fearful pride, which did
not escape the comment of tha humblest
ot his neighbors.
To tha outward world he waa a proud
and happy man, though It would hare
been evident to a cloae observer that his
mind, for some mysterious reason, was
not at peace. It was evident that he
dreaded to be left a moment alone, while
the light that Invariably burned In hla
chamber at night bad become a landmark
to all belated wayfarers. Wsa be walk
lng, thinking or reading, during those
lonely night wstchesT
la point of fact Francois Couramont
was not a happy man; he bore np brave
ly for hia danghter's sake, but. as the
years were added unto him, the lines of
care were deepened npon his brow, and
too often the morning sun shone Into
hsggard eyes. From this It may be In
ferred that some secret sorrow or dread
gnawed, day and night at his heart
that Francois Couramont waa a haunted
man.
Couramont rather encouraged the ad
vancea of his scapegrace nephew,- Oscar,
Tha young man's dissipated habits were
no secret to blm, and yet he repeatedly
assisted him when embarrassed, and took
special pains to throw htm Into his
daughter's company. Sylplilde hated Os
car Couramont from the first and did
ererythlnc In her power to shun him
when at Rosemont
"Yon seem to forget that Oscar Is your
cousin," tha colonel gently remonstrated
npon one occasion.
"I am trying to forget It as fast as I
can!" waa the impulslre rejoinder.
"And yet I would be glad to see yon
friends," urged the fstber. "Your Influ
ence might reform might save him.
Could you lore him "
Sylphide cut, blm short with an impe
rious gesture. She hsd drawn herself
up to her. full height her black eyes
flashed fire, and ber supple frame fairly
quivered with tha paaalon that at tlmea
was ungovernable.
"Love him!" she cried, furiously. "I
hate him, bate him, do you bear? And
If you love me, you will never again
mention his Infamous name In my pres
ence. If you think so much of him, be
queath him your entire property, but
leave me my liberty!"
And she swept out of the room like
an outraced queen. The colonel bent hla
head, and scsldlng tears blinded his sight
o be stretched his arma heavenward,
crying: ... ..
"How am I punished! This ratal pnae
will prove my ruin. 8ome day ahe will
lore with all the strength of her pas
sionate nature, and thenand then oh,
what a coward I ami I ought to tsll her
of the cloud which overshadows ber life,
but 1 cannot I lore ber so, how can I
see her wilt at my feet like some frost
blighted flower, crushed forever by the
"Remember your mother!"
No need to utter the warning. To her
dying day Sylphide never forgot his
words. They sank deep Into ber very
soul, filling her, at first, with awe; later,
with apprehension and dismay.
Thus matters stood at the period of
.uclan Courtlandt'a arrival at Rosemont
From the moment that her eyes rested
upon his frank, handsome face Sylphide
Couramont'a fate was sealed. She loved
him, body and soul, with that fierce in
tensity which she had persuaded herself
she iuherlted from her desd mother.
And he? Could he be Insensible to the
admiration of those lovely eyes, to the
love that spoke in every eloquent gesture,
every -attitude? He was flattered and
fsaclnated; but he came of cooler, patri
cian blood, and had aeen considerable ot
the world In the social, circles of New
xork. f air women were no novelty to
him, and, aa he hsd seen none more fair
than Sylphide Couramont, and had met
few so wealthy, be well, be let events
take their course. Be It said In his favor
that he made no aecret of his condition
In life.
He scknowledged that he was the
scion of ona of the most arlstocrstlc fam
ilies of the North; that hll mother waa
a woman of boundless pride; that he was
struggling along to win fame In the pro
fession of the law upon a scanty Income,
leaving to hla widowed mother the rem
nants of a once ample fortune, that tiie
might live in ease and affluence abroad,
In Paris, where people knew not that she
bad once queened It In her native land.
Sylphide Couramont asked no greater
boon of heaven than to be able to place
unlimited weaitn at tne teet or me man
ahe loved, to tell him that he need strug
gle no longer, that the delights of the
world were at bis command, provided
ahe were at hie aids to witness bis enjoy
ment of them.
The parchment wis there, safe and
sound; the ring was upon her finger; she
wss fairly married yet wbat meant this
distressing doubt that aesalied her? Bbe
flung herself Into an easy chair before
the toilet table and fell Into a dispirited
reverie. She wondered whether her
mother hid any such strings, Inex plica
ble misgiving opon her wedding nights
If she hsd, she pitied ber. This waa at
the happiness she had dreamed of, sleep
ing; and fondly cherished, waking!
A passing step In the corridor smote
her ear; she sprang to her feet and dart
ed to the door. Outside she found a see
Vint hurrying along.
"Where la Diana? Why la she not
here to assist me?" she demanded. Impe
rloualy; "send her to me it oncer'
She closed the door end paused with
out turning spell bound, aa It were. Her
woman's Instinct warned her that she
was no longer the sole ocupant of the
chamber; another presence beside her
own was there! The door that commu
nicated with her dressing room, and by
which her mild might have entered, had
not been opened) the Bickering ot the
candles upon tb toilet table betriyed
the secret The window upon the rerea
ds hid been opened and hid afforded en
trance to a man!
Yea, a man; and what la more, ahe
knew who It was without turning her
head. Her hands knotted convulsively
as a single word escaped her tightly com
pressed Hps,
"You!"
"Yea I," came the prompt, defiant
responae In a low, harsh tone.
"How dare you force la eutrince Into,
my chamber?" she cried.
Oscar Couramont a in I led coldly - he
replied: "Softly I hive forced no en
trance here; the window wis not even
locked. Resides, I hare been at liberty
to come and go In this bouse as I saw
fit"
"During my father'a life, yes; but I
am mlatreaa here now!"
"I do not aee that that fact alters the
caae so far aa I am concerned."
"My husband shall answer that point!'
shs cried, Indignantly, and turned to
wards the door, when a word of com
mand arrested ber.
"Stop! Where are you going Y
"To summon my husband."
"Does be carry bis firearms sbout
hlmr
With a thrill of horror, Sylphide re
called the fact that, contrary to the cus
tom of the time In tb South, Luclaa
went unarmed aud perslated In doing so.
In aplte of all remonstrance.
"I Infer from your hesitation," contin
ued Couramont, coolly, "that the man
you call husband does not carry a re
volver. Hut I do. Look at tbatr .Ami
unconsciously tne nattering prospect . : , -
exerted Its Influence upon Luclan. Freely hif't7t r,TolTr om
be gsve himself up to the charm of his
Oh, no, no! I
words of my own Hps,
esnnot!"
Th tonch of a soft warm arm about
his neck recalled him with a start to him
self. It waa Sylphide come back to him.
repentant Her anger had paased like
an April snower, ana an wss au con
trite affection and tenderness.
"Father, darling," she whispered, drop-
clnc upon her knees at his side and gent
Iv drawing his hands from his tear-wet
fact "do not forget that I have Inher
ited the hot Spanish blood or my moth
r. That mother wbom I have never
known, but wbom I love as a aaint In
heaven!
"Yes, yes," he pinted, feverishly, "love
ber, revere her memory, for she was
pur and good pure as the angelai Uh,
Sylphide, when I am dead ana gone,
promlae me that you will never lend an
ear to the tongue of evil goaalp. Your
mother was too beautiful, too perfect to
escape the malice of rival. But I charge
you, by ber memory, by your nop of
heaven, never listen to anght that lying
tongues might say against her:
"Father!"
"You know nothing aa yet of the
world's villainy, but I sweir to you, here
and now, as though I were npon my
death-bed, your mother was pure end
rood in the sight of heaven, In my sight
her husband, and I beseech you so to love
her that she may watch over you and
bring you home to her bosom in Ood's
own time,
One brief month later Francois Coura
mont lay speechless upon his death-bed,
and It was only In the moments of dis
solution, when he lay in bis dsughter's
arms, that bis parting breath framed tha
poreat
surroundings, and he awoke at last to
the realisation of the fact that he could
not, In honor, leive the hospitable roof
that had sheltered him fur one hippy
month, ss he entered It
Tbla knowledge did not wear upon
him especially, nor cause him any sleep
less nights. Sylphide wsa charming,
would be an ornament to hla home, and
after auch complete relaxation from gall
ing duty, the hum-drum exiatence of the
past seemed far away and unpleasant to
think of. Besides, he was free, could
dispose of himself ss be chose, provided
he suited the hsaabty tsstes of hi am
bitious mathor; aod asad hla mind
eaay on that score, sine Sylphide was
beautiful, nobly born and fabuloualy
wealthy. Consequently ' tb eaay waa
paved for the scene that enaued upon the
death of the colonel
They brought th nnfortunste gentle
man home to Roaemont on a litter made
of fragrant fir boughs, Lnclsn going be
fore th sad cortege to prepare Sylphide
for the catastrophe.
She bore It bravely for th Batterer a
sake while th breath of life yet trem
bled upon bis lips, but wben th spirit
fled her grief knew no bounds, and, with
passlonste wail she threw herself
across the Inanimate form, crying:
"1 am alone In the world! Who will
care for m now?"
If waa Luclan Courtlandt who ralaed
her In hla arms, comforted her, and, ac
tuated by a sudden thrill of pity, sssured
her that henceforth he would be her faith
ful guardian If she would permit it And
from that moment Sylphide Couramont
clung to th man she loved with th des
perate tenacity of s drowning creature.
With feverish haate she made th ar
rangements for her marriage eren while
ber desd fstber lay In the house. She
pretended that she could not bear to re
main at Roaemont a moment longer than
was necessary, that she would leave It
the Instant her father's body hid been
assigned to earth and her marriage had
been consummated.
Nerer once did she mention th name
of Oacsr Couramont to Luclan. She
dreaded eren to think of him, and count
ed only npon bis absence In New Orleana
to break all ties and fly before he returned.
But evil news rides fast while good
news waits, as we hare seen, and though
Sylphide hid succeeded in safely becom
ing the wife of Courtlandt the rery sight
of ber cousin In th hour of her security
and triumph filled her with a nameless
terror snd alarm.
Ia spite of her hnsband's, sssertlons
to the contrsry, her quick ear detected
tb sounds of horse s hoofs behind Liein
In the dsrkness of the rainy night as they
returned from church.
Upon their srriral at Rosemont, far
from dispelling her fears, the cheery ra
diance of the lighted room. Increased her
Impatience to escape she knew not
wbat Sh waa only conscious thit Os
csr Couramont might enter the house.
nmnnounced, at any moment; and above
all things, ahe would not see him that
night!
Therefore, leaving Lnnian below, she
sped np to ber room, Ilk a hunted thing,
to chang her apparel and prepare for
a wedding 'journey that fsr more resem
bid th hasty flight of a fugitive.
the comer of th toilet table.
Sylphide atared In baleful faaclmtlors
t the shining toy.
"What would yon do?" ah gasped.
"Rlow hla brains out If h sets foot
In this room. I'm a deid ihot, as you
know. Lock both those doors, and sit
down there and listen to whit I hiv to
y to you."
IT be emartaaM.i
Requirements of '
Swedish School Low
CHAPTER lit
The sight of thst familiar chimber, so
closely connected wkh all that pertained
to ber luxurious girlhood, brought her
to the first full pause that she had expe
rienced In the last three days of feverish
excitement For th first time she found
herself face to fac with the actual sit
uation. Whit hid sb don?
Married th man she loved, snd so
well satisfied was she with the step she
hsd taken that she would hive suffered
the igony of that ceremony again, within
the hour, to have made assurance doubly
sure. Sh waa nervous, agitated, half
hysterical as she tremulously pressed ber
finger tips upon her bosom, in order that
the crackle of tha marriage certlflcst
concealed thr might quiet her trepidation.
The school law In operation In Sweden
dates from Dec. 10, 1807. There must
exist one elementary school In eacU
parish, the school age for children,
being from 7 years to 14. The scholar
who have not pasawl through all of
the required classes when they are 14
must continue In school; on the other
hand, those who have obtained the re
quired knowledge before the fixed time
can quit school. According to the law
of 1000 concerning the employment of
women and children In manufactories
minor children must not be employed
unless they are 12 years of age and
are In possession of their school certifi
cate, certifying to the fact that they
have completed the required course, ot
study, says C. 0. Dergman, In the
Revue Pedagoglque. Children under
13 years of age must not be employed
more than six hours per day, nor be
fore 6 a. m., nor after 7 p. m., and
employers are compelled to provide for
children under 15 years of age neces
sary and sufficient time for study. If
parents and guardians persist In Ig- -norlng
the legal requirements for
schooling, they are warned by t he
president of the school council, and If
these warnings are Ignored the child la
.I.... . ....L ji .
uhu uum buvu yarcuia vr guuruianw
and given to other persons, or
In a home provided for this put V
The maintenance of the child la b. ' )
expense of the parent or guardian,
la certain places, as In Stockholm, . r,'
example, there are private boari!' '
places wherein these neglected ?
dren are placed. The one at StocV.,
holm contains usually about twelve
children, whereas there are nearly 27,
000 children In the primary schools
The children are kept In these public
detention homes for from six to twelve
months, after which period they ar
returned to their parents or guard
ians, but only on condition that they
attend school regularly.
Instruction Is entirely gratuitous in
the primary schools, and the poorer
children receive free the school neces
sities. Each school must remain open
at least eight months, the kugtb of
the school day must not be mors t' .
six hours, the classes must be -Interrupted
by regular recreation, and suffi
cient rest must be given the scholara
between classes. The number of per
sons Knowing uow io reuu sail w "
an Indication of the developmei
primary Instruction; according to
figures of the Minister or war, then
were in Sweden In 1000 out of 29,614
conscripts of the first year but twenty
three young men, that Is .08-per cent,
who could not read, and seventy-three,
that is .24 per cent, who could not
write, and the greater number of these
were Finns of the most northerly part
ot the country.
Some of-Solomon J. Solomon's most
attractive pictures have been painted
by gas-light He has accustomed him
i sMif ts surtiflelfd lisht. ' '-''T
i