The morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, January 17, 1892, Image 9
PART tw o. MARRIED a lieutenant. By Leßoy Armstrong. ( CovvrioM. 18 62 - the United Prett.) The orderly sergeant fiuished calling the HI slipped tbe liat ot names uuder the but ton of his blouse, opened a second bit of oaper, and read: ••Sergt. Higgius, with Privates Abrams, Evans. Larsen and Stone, will report at 10 clock to-morrow morning, armed and nnted to escort the commanding officer “and hi, family to Fort Warner.” Then he "bout faced,” swung his lantern bee je him, lifted the right hand in salute to tvToffloer of the dav, and reported: •ronmany present or acoounted for, sir.” ••Dismiss the company,” was the brief re- ranks—march!” called the orderly allt and the uion hurried through the Withering storm to their quarters. * ••Hods it will snow all day to-morrow," mid the corporal to one of the esoort detail. ‘‘Thanks ” responded the soldier. ••Hope you will be properly frozen here in take my horse, Larsen,” sug sested a lazy soldier, lolling on bis bunk. KL’s an easy rider.” “.No take mine—he is the fastest trotter In the stables.” ••I will take my own, ’ replied Larsen. “He's big and strong. If it turns out a bad dav he'll bring me home in spite of snow or wiul or rushing water.” ••or 'rushing water,’ ” quoted tho lazy man with mock contemptuousness. These Sued grow poetical us soon as they join the broke dark and gloomy. There wai promise of snow in the dense gray clouds of the west. There was a promise ot ram, the unsteady wind from the south. .10 o’clock the colonel stepped into an ambulance, up there by the door of the commanding officer’s quarters, and told the driver to go ahead. He settled himself comfortably be3ide the valises on tho rear seat, and faced bis daugh ter on the seat in front. He had all the curtains pullod down and fastened to keep out the chill of the present and the promised snow that was sure to come. He was a very proud old man, with a rea erd that had grown brighter in battle. He was cold and imperious and commanding— as an officer should be. Ahead of the ambulanoe rode the two servants of the commanding officer. Behind came the escort. Half way over to Warner the storm broke upou them. The ruules were lashed into a ruu. lue ambulance bouuoed and jolted, the cavalrymen in the rear trotted briskly along in the trail. Down one hill and up another, through the canyon, across the half tilled bed of the creek, till they all came out oa the table laud, and Warner lay before them. Tho dance at Fort Warner that night will bo long remembered. Lieut. (lay was the lion of the evening, Ho bad just come back from a brush with the Piutes, and all re ports united in oovering him with glory. He was quick, incisive, pompous. He knew a great many things and he told all about them. He was so like her father, Dorothy Lane did not like him. Why will we love in one man the traits that make us hate another ? Lieut. Gay was captivated by tbe colonel’s daugh er. Maybe he thought the alliance would help him in an official way. He overstepped the bounds of prudence, and boasted to a group of superior officers, as they stood in a corner of the ball room wlula the waltzers flitted by. “Don’t anticipate too much, Gay,” said a captain, bantering. ‘‘She looks higher than you.” “She couldn’t,” said the lion calmly. Then he added, with a vain man’s rising voio: “Dorothy Lane will marry the lieutenant,” A couple just whirling past caught the boastirii;, ami the lady dropped from her companion's arm. Turning suddenly upou the group of otllcers, the subject of com ment sail swiftly. "You overrate yourself, sir, I will not marry the lieutenant.” Any other man would have been crushed. He simply ignored her, and returned to continue the gossip. But the other officers, annoyed at bn ill taste, had quitted the corner, and the ljon of the evening had to hunt up wor laipers. Yeit day ho as Red permission to accom pany the escort back to Camp Bid well. He as provided a mount. At 1 o’clock the little cavalcade marched out of Warner, ine ciouds in the north had thrown out 6 “irmish line of snow. The wind in the east was heavy with rain. Across the table land, along the creek, “Own into the canyon they pushed their the commanding officer nodding be- Mehis valises, his sister and daughter, wtuig bdt upright before him, broad wak \ but. shrouded in darkness, for the curtsmg were down again, a | jolted on through interminable ~ “ rs ' They were half capsized a dozen r S' i rt >ey pushed the curtains aside now a then, and saw the suow descending with s “vageuess. It was so dense they lit. 800 k*' e head team. It was heaped " a bundle on the seat by the driver, j hour the front wheels chucked Tho D 1D B gull Y' the ambulance stopped, on L. co , rnri: | an htng officer, lying there almost „,!! tack, opened his eyes and swore, oiip silo' 1 ™ *° St ’ 6 ' r ‘” Baid the sergeant from t„,L b . oa . mbulance 13 broken,” said the lieu “haut. from the other. .„j !l f t ' r, ‘ an brought a great heap of wood to build a tire. But the warming turned the snow to rain, and terin„* me ' vas ext *nguished in spiteful sput th. J,'? rm ; 6t stay here all night,” growled r- a i ßll ' l tben be cursc< t the team . dance, and the snowstorm, lance 1 0 Comf or;ios3 “couch in the ambu (iay tried to comfort Dorothy, but as. l i„, T6n J r3m the window by the com ta b ank ICB j> He wrQ PP9 d himself up At mi* - ,‘‘ n d lay down on the ground, c Y': 6 f nig ,‘, t bo roused with a sense of the nniJ, 1 ' stu P'd brain was filled with W'v , dancing. Ho thought some HeeiVn ■ w “ s taking place upon him. Kemi.'i ~P , ln *y feel the feet of a man who oT ea balancing.” j" it the Pune*!” blankets. The snow m00.,' a ‘ Tbe rain bad ended. Tbeoool at t; e j lB sbtning. There was a bitter fight had boon i tlia “'abulance. The horses ,J> broke Btar ?P°ded-. Their picket rope ha)y a . Hl * aQ d they were galloping aim hiirned . ' H® caught one, mounted and Sqi , there wa * swinging a saber down cut a n Wro cked ambulance. Ho had fight gi £¥} s P a °e, and was pushing the tank- t run nlng forward, retreating, ltva ßM . f tke right, springing to the left. Win,!, tta point and right cut: tierce and g; ln quarto and straight down Thd' bites £f pistols, the orack of car ta* aK °t “fleet him. He was in close That ~t he Bte ®b was a friend. lo t L h s ir ‘vate Larsen. .“Fetch n r .L >f nae d be took command, fttierif. three horses!" he shouted; and , larjA* 3C iP a J ue fading two of tnem. •i a w °mau from the ambu -Bat her upon one of them. ill amino Jfetol* “Mount the others, and bring th*m along," he commanded. Tneu he sent the saber home with a clang, picked up a car bine and darted away, leading the horse with its clinging rider. Down the canyon and across, up the steep hillside to the table land, then off I through the snow to Fort Bid well. “Do you want to walk awhile?” he asked the woman. “It will rest you.” Dorothy dismounted, tucked up her skirt and stumbled through the snow, while he led the horns and watched incessantly to the right aud to the left; scanned the coun try in front and behind them. Then she mounted again, stepping from his hand, and rode sidewise, without a sad dle. At daylight he saw a horseman skulk ing in the rooks. He did not like him, and he fired one shot as a challenge. It was the recreant Lieut. Ga y—lion of the bail yesterday, pitiful coward this morn ing. That evening as the men stood in line to answer roll call tbe orderly sergeaut an nounced a promotion. Private Larsen was made corporal by order of the commanding officer. He was made a sergeant two weeks later, when one non-commissioned man was dis charged and another Insubordinate, made a proper opening. As spring approached the commanding officer fell sick of a fever. Lieut. Gay un dertook to attend him, but he annoyed the oolonel. On Sunday inspection, the officer of the day pushed his scrutiny into a little cup board at the head of Sergt. Larsen’s bunk, and found it full of volumes. “Who reads these?” asked the major. “I road them,” replied young Larsen. “Let’s hear you read this.” It was a pas sage in “Faust.” “Where did you learn to read?” asked the major, dropping the military, for he had fouud a man. “1 studied in Stockholm; but I have been reading all ray life.” “How did you come in the army—in the ranks?” “Wentbroke, got discouraged; enlisted rather than beg or be dependent. Money came from home next day. It was too late.” “Why didn’t you desert?” The familiarity of the man had dropped to the banter of comradeship. "Mo. no; I know that. You couldn’t do a dishonorable thing like that. Will you come up to tbe colonel’s house this afternoon and lead to him ?” It was a veyr pleasant hour for the man. It was rest and reoreation for the colonel. Dorothy sat by the window and listened to liim. lie had selected a book of alternating skotchos and poems. They were easy to listen to. They were pleasant to remem ber. “That man is a good soldier, too,” said the major. “He is brave and full of re sources.” “If he bos education enough, he might stand examination for promotion to a lieu tenancy if ho had been in the army long enough.” “He couldn’t as long as lam an officer,” said Lieut. Gay. "He shot at me that morning after the Piutes jumped us.” “If I had had my way he would have hit you,” cried the commanding officer. “You are a miserable poltroon. Gay.” But a man may say many things when he is sick. The commanding officer had seen long servieft He knew the beginning of many a politician. He bad an uncommon hold on the men who had graduated from the army into the halls of c ingress. He was piqued that a thing like Gay oould wear epaulets, while a hero like Larsen was bound to servo him. He went to Washington with a mission as soon as the summer brought him healing. He made a oase aud pushed it to considera tion. Sergt. Larsen was ordered to appear be fore a board and pass examination. He ac quitted himself so well in mathematics, in history, in tactics, in language—that at the end they asked him questions with defer enoe. It was Lieut. Larsen—by order of the Secretary of War, approved by the Presi dent. Then came the climax. Larsen asked for Dorothy’s hand in mar riage. A year ago he had stood in the ranks at tattoo and answered roll call; to-night he was offieer of the day: and lie saluted and said: “Very well, sergeant; dismiss the com pany.” Tno colonel commanding refused him in rage; berated him for a presuming ingrate, and ordered him out of his house. Teen he returned to his old admiration for Lieut. Day. This puffing up a private soldier always was bad. It made him forget his origin. But Larsen's origin was as good as that of the colonel. He had wealth at home wealth he turned bis back on when he must desert to use it. Day amused the colonel by playing cards. The stakes wero trivial. It was against reg ulation to gamble. But there was a game over there iu the dark room above the store, where the major and the captain and the lieutenant found something more than pastime. The colonel knew it, and did not forbid it. Then he went over and looked on. Then the old passion for play, which had slept since the tedious day before Vicksburg, came back, and he took a hand just for that once. It was two weeks before he played again. Then it was two weeks more. He felt temptation tugging at him, and ho prayed for orders, lor an Indian upris ing, for a plague, to keep him from yield ing. Une evening ho tapped at the dark room door. The subdued noise within was bushed to silence. A second knock and they opened the door. He sat down by the other three and they dealt him a hand. ‘‘No, I only wanted to look on,” he said. “I am not going to play any more, and I am going to order it ” Ho looked at his hand and saw five diamonds. . ~. „. Gay opened. The major staid. The cap tain passed. The colonel said: Well, this hand, then.” and tilted it. Gay staid and the major raised. The colonel staid: so did Gay. The captain dealt. It was a good “pot,” and the colonel won it. He said he would play until he lost it again At U o’olook he bad lost that and as uiuoh more. At 10 o’clock he had signed a certificate. At 11 o’clock he owed more than his pay would amount to in a year. Gay was winner. . Another light knock came at the door. Another silence followed it. A second knock, and the major responded. It was Lieut. Larson. He was dressed in an elegant suit of citizen clothes. “If you have no objection I will join you ’’he said, smiling. Surely he was a handsome man. Where could he have learned the wearing of suoh garmeuts—and BU “VVeII w 0 will overrule it,” replied the new-oomer. He dipped his hand in his coat pocket, and brought up a score of gold 8a “ Vou should be gentleman enough not to come where you are not wanted,” cried the ° l “You man enough to know you are violating orders. No lawless man can stand on a pedestal above another. Deal m Hewafffie only calm man, the only mastorful man there. SAVANNAH, GA., SUNDAY, JANUARY 17. 1892. Oav subs led. Then he set in his checks sullenly. He had a mind t> crusade fir those yellow eagles. The colonel sat back. He was out of the game—dazed, bewildered, almost un balanced. “Give me two cards,” said Guy. “Give me four,” said Larsen. Gay caught a pair to his threes, and bet low, for a play. Larsen caught three more queens. He raised it twenty. Gay said "twenty more.” Larsen repeated it. Gay called—and the wondering major saw a marvel. "Beats a full hand with a four-card draw!” ho whispered. Gay was breathless with chagrin. He was fuming. "That oan’t last,” he said, and went in blindly. Some goddess sent him four hearts, and he filled. Some goddess sent Larsen an ace. deuce, tray and five of clubs. He laid them down open, and bet a twenty. Now Gay bad him. There was just one chance in thirty of filling that hand. But the nine-and-twenty chances of loss turned away unmindful, ami the one ohance of winning appeared. Larsen caught the four of clilbs, and held it hiddeu. He won in one hand what Gay had been an hour in winning. Presently Gay had threes again, and he made it costly to play. Larsen drew two cards with him and bet sl. Gay raised the limit and was raised in turn. Ho was mad beyond the point of prudence. He touched the limit again, only to see that insolent Larsen imitate him. Gay had four queens and an ace. Larson had f our kings aud vanquished him. Gay had no more money; so he lost his watch. It was Larsen's deal. The elder lieutenant picked up a full hand. "I can’t play it," he said in frautio ex asperation. “I have no more money.” “Put up your coat,” said the younger lieutenant, calmly. "I’ll do it!” oried Gay. He tore it off madly. He laid it on the edge of the table, and dived, gnashiug, upon bis hand. “It’s a show-down,” .he said, aud spread out throe nines and al pair. How he wished he might have dared ask credit against that win’row of cash! “It’s a show-down,” repeated Larsen calmly, and spread out three tens and a pair. That instant Gay came very noar suicide. He walked home in his shirt sleeves. Karly in the morniug ho went to tho ad jutant’s office and prepared charges. He was willing to abase himself in puuishiug that upstart. After he bud labored an hour, the post adjutant banded him a paper. It was Lar sen’s resignation. And it had been ac cepted. Tbe shaft of envy fell harmless. At the reception which followed Doro thy’s wedding Lieut. Gav appeared. It was his last night at Bidwell. He had been transferred to Fort Fetterman. “It is a very dark day for the poor fel lows in the army,” said he, bowing above the hand of the bride. “But you remem ber you told me one time you would never marry a lieutenant. "I haven’t,” retorted tbe girl, her flashing eyes lighted with the memory of that night at Warner. “My husband is a free citizen of this country—and a nobleman at homel” WOM AN’B WORLD. A Few New Things in the Faihtonsand Bright btories. Up in one of the hotels in New York there dwells a certain newspapor woman who, like the bachelor of nursery lore, lives by borself. A few weeks ago the loneliness of her situation oocurred to her, and she started out to get a oompanion. All the flesh and blood ones that she knew were open to some objection. If she wanted them very much they were sure to bo otherwise engaged, and those who were available she did not care for at all. And si, with rare good reason ing, she bought a Chinese doll and paid if 1 50 for it and took it home. "This is my proxy,” she explains to smil ing callers, who admire the life-sized Chinese baby seated in the corner. "I am away so much, you know, that I am obliged to have a proxy. Her full name is Proxy Ruth. Ruth is after the Cleveland baby, you know.” At last aocounts Proxy Ruth and her lit erary owner were both doing well, and wore living in singular harmony aud unanimity of spirit. The little shoulder cape, says the New York Sun, that we embraced so ardently in the spring as to destroy its prestige, is rarely seen now except at the theater, where the cavalier and Henry 11. shapes, with their imposing collar, lined with ostrich feath ers, frequently lend piquant grace to a pretty woman’s toilet. The capes are usu ally lined with some gav color, aud the smart little bonnet matches this lining in tints. Among tho treasures recently dis played by a returned girl traveler from Laris was a cape of black velvet, with a wonderful Persian embroidered collar spark hug with iridescent metallic threads and jewels. About this collar was a band of sable aud from it fell a flounce of beautiful white lace, oreamy with age or coffee stain. The capo was lined with pale blue silk. Ar.d the bonnet, when she sat very still and you could look closely, you oould distinguish a pale blue tint and rosette, a blue aigrette on one side sparkling with diamonds aud a bit of yellow old Uoe, all of which may have been a bonnet. Any way, it hail most imposing strings of pale biuo that fell far below the cape. And the girl who wore it was of the most brilliant brunette type, witb a skin as clear as a child’s, but as dark as a Spanish seaora. The real objection to the girl of the day, says Clara Belle iu a New York letter to tbe Cincinnati Enquirer, is her insane desire to get married. The very moment she is presented to an eligible party she begiiiß her net-casting, and it’s not agree ble, so say these club men, to be eternally engaged in wriggling out of the matri monial seine. The girl of to-day detests the word sentiment, and has but one question to put to herself when a young man is pre sented to her: “Can he take care of me?” It’s a simple question, but it means a great deal. But no doubt you are anxious to know how the meu are to do without tho young girl. Easy enough, they intend to cultivate the women of 30. There are plepty of them, for a woman is 30 until she has passed the 40 limit. Now the woman ot 30 in the old countries is the most charming of com panions, intelligent, vivacious, amiable and inspired with ail ambition to please. Gbe doesn’t expect au offer of marriage. She is willing to fill the role of friend, to be satis fied with a reasonable amount of attention. She has all tbe young girl has, save tho complexion—that may not be quite so fresh and transparent, but she is not a bottomless hopper into which theater tickets, expensive cardies, gloves, jewelry, invitations to lunches, supper parties and dances, disap pear like snowflakes in the river. O, to, she is a seaii-reasonabpj being and abovo all a grateful one—which tbe young girl never is. She tbii.ka her. company is worth all it brings and she tries to make it bring all she can. Tbe club man feels that be can learn something from the woman of 30. She’ll be a liberal education to him without letting him suspect it. The pert miss of 20 has hitherto crowded the woman of 30 to the wall, but men are getting wisdom. I need hvrdiy add that the mere fact of the woman of 30 being a widow is nothing against her. Ladies, do you? Among wedding novelties is a most origi nal idea, emanating from France, of lining the carriage tor the newly married pair with rare orchids, roses and white lilacs until they look as if they were seated in the heart of a wedding bouquet. And to Lon don are we indebted for exhibiting toy du plicates of wedding presents too large to be shown in the usual way. For instance, at a recent English wedding were shown a small miniature brougham with glass windows, a wardrobe with glass doors, a china dinner set, the pieces aoout the size of a doll’s set, all of which must have been rather costly in execution. The fashion of wranng a tiara instead of orange blossoms is on the increase, too, though it is one scircoly to be commended. The traditional simplicity of tho wedding gown, its veil of tulle and wreaths of fragrant orange buds, seem to be falling into deplorable desuetude along with sentiments which they were supposed to typify in the wedding ceremony. "I don't see why I shouldn’t have that piece of cloth for my new tailor-made gown,” said a young girl not long ago, when her brother’s new trousers came homo from the tailor’s. "But it’s for men’s trousers,” said her brother. “That’s no reason why a girl shouldn’t have a gown of it, if she wants one,” she answered. It was soft gray with tiny stripos of a darker gray and a hair lir e of black running through it. "It would make a pretty gown," said her mother doubtfully, not used to such innovations a. this, even with her fin de siecle daughters, “but it is too heavy.” “It isn’t any heavier than your Bedford cord,” persisted the daughter. Aud so the patient mother trotted away to get a bit of the Bedford cord. Bure enough, it wasn’t. “1 shouldn’t think of having it lined,” said the young woman positively, ‘ ‘except in the bodice, and that with thin silk.” “It cost |3 50 a yard,” warned her brother. ‘ ‘So does Bedford cord.” she answored. And the result was plain from that mo ment. Whether she set the fashion or whether by some strange metal telegraph the same tdea oame to other girls, you must settle for yourself, but the fact is that a great many young women have stolen masculine cloths to have their street gown made of. And many of tho patterns ure specially pleasing and refined in the dainty Lair fine stripes, soft coloring or invisible plaids that the muo of good taste selects for bis trou sers. A curtain Now Yorker, says the Now York Times, whoso income permits the gratification of his generous impulses, wauted to send a substantial gift to an old friend, a clergyman, n hose small parish in a distant community vouchsafed him more of lovo and reverence than of salary. “I’m going to send B. &1U0," tho New Yorker announced to his wife one day iu December. “Areyou?" she said. “I’m glad.” Then after a minute sha asked: “How will you send it?” “By check, ot course,” was the reply. “How else should 1!” But the wife demurred. “It seems a little too—too sordid, doesn’t it, for a man like Mr. B. Let me manage it, may I?" and the husband consented. On Christmas morning a registered ex press package was delivered at the little western parsonage to Mrs. B. She opened it wonderingiy aud found a flat box. Going further a mat of silk paper was removed and a dainty booklet of Christmas remem brance was disclosed. This was taken out and admired aud tho card beneath it read for the givers. Something showed still un der a second mat of paper, and when that had been put aside, there, fitted neatly iu tho bottom of the box were five tiny silken bags, each tied close with a lit’le bow of ribbon. Eaoh contained a #2O gold piece. This was the wife of the New Yorker’s deli cate way of eliminating the check element. The wife of a Chicago sporting man wears what is said to be the largost single piece of jewelry ever made in America. It consists of a great butterfly with outstretched wings, made of diamonds, emeralds, rubie3 and sapphires. It contains 200 diamonds. The butterfly has a body made of a Hunga rian opal, and its tail is made of emeralds. This is fastened to a diamond neckless, an i it rests just at the edge of tho collarbone, with toe tail extending down on the bosom of the wearer’s decollete dress. Fastened to tbe body of the butterfly and hanging down below it is a great oval mass of gold and diamonds as big as a door plate. The ex act dimensions of the ornament are 5 ; j inches long by 2}<j inches wide. Tbe base is of solid gold, and there is a blazing ring of seventy-six largo diamonds around the edge. Upon the face of the gold door plate is the monogram of the owner iu diamonds. Tbe ornament weighs over a pound ami is valued at #15,000. This rather startling conception takes to pieces, and portions of it can be used as a tiara, pins, pendants and other articles of jewelry when so great a display is not considered desirable. An English paper, says the New York Recorder, recently offered a prize for a tea gown, which should be pretty useful, and nt the same time capable of a few changes iu its appearauoe. Thousands of designs were submitted. The prize was award to the Lady Victoria Blackwood, of the British embassy, Rome. Lady Victoria's design is eminently prac tical and useful and the idea of utilizing the one upper garment for two or three differ ent fronts is one which will commend itself to every one. giving as it does that oppor tunity for the variety which is always charming. The tea gown is thus described: Coat of light blue silk, with two ribbons of same color, which are scoured on one side and hooked and eyed on the other. Front of either pale pink, yellow, or white chiffon or lace, loose, with a Toby collar of the chiffon, aud a flounce at the bottom. Llain back, witb turn-down collar. A coming wedding will have its origin in a little episode, which, in a book, would probably be put down as improbable, says the New York Tress. A bout a year ago the bride, who is a New York girl, chanced So notice among tbe hotel arrivals the name of a Cleveland friend, as she suppo-ed—a gen tleman who had been very polite to her on the occasion of a visit of the previous twelvemonth in that city. Bhe called her mother’s atten tion to his presence in New York, and, there being no father or brother in tho fam ily to wait upon him, the cards of the two ladies were Inclosed as permission to call. Shortly after the young man presented himself. The daughter was out, but the mother, recognizing the name, received him with great cordiality and iuslsted that ho re coin for dinner to meet the daughter, who would “be sorry to mlsa you." Now the vourg man had been considerably puzzled by the cards, tbe names Upon which he did Bit recognize. But as he traveled about a good deal, and had a large circle of casual acquaintances, he concluded these ladles were some of .them, and as tho initials ou the envelope were correct, as well as the name, he reasoned there could be no bluuder. When he saw the mother, be knew at once it was their first meeting, but her maimer was so unmistakably cordial and reassuring that he did not declare him self, trusting a 6ight of tho daughter would at once disclose the identity of both ladies. The daughter was delayed, and dinner was begun before she appeared. Her en trance showed the man instantly that there was a mistake somewhere—explanations followed, and the "double” had made so favorable au impression upon the mother that, even after she learned of the blunder, ho was not permitted to withdraw. It was sh rtly discovered that they had some mutual friends, after which the young man felt considerably better, and out of this chance acquaintance, as has been said, grew a courtship which ends, most prop erly, next month in a wedding. A girl who is artistic in making herself attractive need not fret about not being pretty. That isn’t thcchiof point nowadays. You must be Individual. If you are happily l laweil by a bit of a scar, by a distracting “cowlick,” by an eyelid tbit droops, by a corner of tbe inouih but half matched by the other corner, you are indeed lucky, and the pretty girl may tear her hair out with envy. I know a faultlessly pretty girl, says Clara Belle in a New York letter to the St. I."uls Hi-public, who got desperate and bleached a lock of her hair as near white us she could get it. That startling individual lock arrested attention at once, and, that doue, she had sense enough to hold the charm aud to turn it into admiration. Tho most regular and beautiful eyebrows in the world can’t hold tkeir own beside a pulr, one of w hich is streaked with white; a brunette with blonde lashes, a beauty with a big mole on her cheek, even the girl who boasts an eye set higher than the other, oro to be envied. Especially the odd eye girl. She will carry bar head always tucked on one side, to counteract that slant cut of her face, and tho result is fascinating. If nat ure hasn’t given you a "separation” iu your front to ’th, or one eye darker the other, or a mole on the end of your nose, or some thing queer, why do the best you can for yoursolf. Bo unique, but not eccentric. That is out of fashion. But be just your self. Buccoss lies no other way. Tho gay little blazer, says tho New York World, is soen this winter cut iu tho same wav as wus the Euinmer blazer, but it is made of different material. Broadcloth bhiz rs, tweed ones, and even liny leather ones have taken the place of the silk and the flannel ones which wore worn in tho summer. The leather blazer is a thing all by itself. It is unique and tho only one of its kind, and unless you have seen one you may be sure that you have nevor seen anyth! >g like it. To give you a rough idea, one may ask you to recall the little zouave jackets which are worn over plain waists. The leather blazer is like one of those zouaves, only it has a very high collar and it fs a little longer in the back. The front meets over tho bust with a o!a p, and the clasp Is often a buckle and a strap of leather. Leather bands round the bottom of the skirt and a leather hat baud with a buckle attached are accompaniments to the leather .jacket or blazer. During the past holiday time hospitablo owners of country houses, says the New York Tribune, in every direction have thrown open their doors for merry house parties. who have indulged in every species of Cun and frolic imaginable, and as usual on theao occa lions, practical jokos have come largely to the fore. At Mr. A’s beautiful old place on the Hudson, where a p h.io of young tioopie were a.ssoin bled to honor the sea ion, every new comer was subjected to a sort of initiation that was slightly trying, to say the least; but the mischievous crowd received a well deserved (right when they tried their antics on Mr. 8., who, among other pleasant little surprises in his room, found a wet sponge iu ins bed. Tho next morning be did not appear at breakfast, and the footman who “valeted” the young gentlemen announced with a very grave face that Mr. B. was suffering from a heavy cold. The conspirators exchanged looks of dismay. "Thu wet sponge,” they whisperod among themselves; and not daring to own thoir misdeeds they dis putched Archie 8., one of the ringleaders, to their victim’s room to see if he were really ill. He found Mr. B. breathing with greut diffleuloy and much flushed. “I and n’t want to alarm them downstairs, my dear fellow," he whispered n •arsely,“or oat a damper upon the party, but I fear I am in for an lllru-as. i was tired out when I went to bed last night, and how it happened that i did not notice that my a eels were wet, Ido not kuow; but t his morning I found a wet sponge in the bed and every thing was soaked. Borne of tbe ohiidren must have played me a trick. Don’t tell Mrs. A. It would trouble her if—unything should happen to me.” he ejaculated, falling back on his pillow, overcome by a violent flt of coughing. Greatly alarmed at bis con dition, Archie 8., at, Lis hostess’ suggestion, drovo over for a doctor, who, after a visit to his patient, came downstairs shaking his head gravely. “I’neu munia,” ho said solemnly, "an aggravated case.” This was too much for tbe girls who had been the chief Instigators of the silly joke; and in a great fright they coufess id thoir misconduct to Mrs. A. and passed the morning wretchedly enough Their disgust and indUriation may be imagined when Mr. B. appeared at luncheon as gay and radiant as possible, and their hostess, who had been in tbe secret from tbe beginning, asked sweetly whioh hud “had the best of it.” There are handkerchiefs for use and hand chiefs for ornament. Of the latter there is a greater variety. Tho siik crepe de chine with round corners are very pretty. The corners are as a rule just outlined with a darker shade of silk than the handkerchief. Light pink and blue handkerchiefs of chiffon, embroidered in white silk, are a novelty. One of tbe dantiest handkerchiefs soen in Paris was of white chiffon, embroidered in silver. Another pretty one was of yellow chiffon, embroidered in gold thread. White hand-blocked handkerchiefs are used for mourning; also black crepe de ohine, embroidered in white. Exquisite handkerchiefs are made of solid embroidery. They are more in vogue now than those of lace. H. B. Randolph, Brunswick, Ga., writes: "I was uuder the care of nine difforont doctors, but not one did me the good that Botanic Blood Palm has done me."—Ad. A Pair of Opera Glasses Is a most useful Aud convenient article. Beautifully mounted Glasses are so oheap At Sternberg’s that No one can Afford to be without.— ad. Undressed kid and driving gloves, all sizes, at LaFar’e.— Ad. Hats, hate! Silk or Derby shapes. Dun lap’s tine hats, at iaiFar’s. — Ad. Harderfold underwear, equal to Jaeger’s at La Far.— Ad. DRY GOODS. ECKSTEIN’S NEW MDUV SILKS! INDIA PON6EE SILKS ! STRIPED KOIKI SILKS ! BLACK JAPAN SILKS! White Shanghai Sis! Spring Style Ginghams! lie Embroideries at sc, 20c Embroideries at 10c. 39c Embroideries at lie. 20c Laces Down to 10c. All Cloaks and Capes SOLDATANYPRICE. GOSTAVE ECKSTEIN k CO. AND STILL THEY GOf and will continue to go DURING JANUARY. $24 00 Suits or Overcoats at sl9 805 22 00 Suits or Overcoats at 17 90, 18 00 Suits or Overcoats at 14 40 15 00 Suits or Overcoats at 11 90j 12 50 Suits or Overcoats at 9 6SS 10 00 Suits or Overcoats at 7 75 They are going, and why not at such prices? If you wish to select before choicest are gone, come now. Think of it, Jas. A. Banister’s finest French Calf ami Patent Leather Shoes, all styles, sold everywhere at $6 ani $0 50, go during sale AT S4 75 Mi Sift Ml Toes, Plain nr Tip. $4 00 Men’s or Ladies’ Shoes go at $3 30 3 00 Men’s or Ladies’ Shoes go at 2 65 2 50 Men's or Ladies’ Shoes go at 2 15 2 00 Men’s or Ladies’ Shoes go at 1 65 1 50 Men’s or Ladies' Shoes go at 1 30 These are bona fide offers, made to reduce stock. DRV ITS EROS., CONGRESS AND JEFFERSON STREETS. .Children Cry for Pitcher’s Caatorla.^ PAGES 9 TO 12: