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I
Oscar Linton’s Val
entine.
BY SALLIE LONG.
The elegant drawingroom of the fashionable
Mrs, Gaston contained three occupants Marie
Gaston, who was amusing herself by throwing
the cat into a basket where a cross poodle lay ;
h< r elder sistir Julia, who reclined in an indo
lent attiinde upon the lounge ;and their orphan
cousin Florence Bertram. Between the latter
two there had, ever existed a petty jealousy, or
rather n jealousy against a cold haughty indif
ference. Florence Bertram at the tender age cl
twelve found her-. If an orphan and an heiress.
It was her mother's-last request that she should
make her Lome with Dr. Gaston, her uncle and
nearest relative, and for s x years she bad re
in..ined under his roof w here, although not un
kindly re tteJ, she had never shared the love
cr confidence of her uncle’s family.
Mrs. Caston regarded with envy the truly
accomplished girl who proved so formidable a
rival to Ju ! ia, wbiie Julia openly di3playtd the
jealousy of the girl, who when she chose do ex
ert herself, could fascinate the hons of society,
but 'wonderful to tell Miss Bertram rarffiy con
descended to <x it herself for the entertainment
of any one. The utter ionelin ss and negli
gence that had surrounded bt r daring those
years that snake or mar a woman's nature,
hid rendered her cold and indifferent. H-r
books were her only companions. Notwith
standing the fact that invi aliens from the elite
of the city were showered upon her, and many
enticing snares were laid to secure her hand,
and money, the wayward creature was seldom
cosxed into society.
Painfully cold and heartless, sho had entered
her eighteenth year without Laving experienced
what Moore called the ‘-happy era,’’ thereby
proving fallacious the assertion that no worn n
ever reached her sixteenth year before falling a
v’otim to the power of the little God. Jdi a
affirmed that Florence was too selfishly in love
wiih her own beautiful fact to have one throb
of affection for another—and Florence was beau
tiful, although seemingly unconscious of it.
HerVwas an unusual type; that style which in
variably betokens high birth; an eye whose
hue varied with contending emotion but gen
erally of that shade called hazel, where we can
not decide if it is brown or deeply, darkly,
beautifully bine, while her luxuriant hair was
of that sunny gold that poets rave about, and
women envy.
She had been .reading, but new the book was
closed, and ’lie happy fight in her eyes gave
place to a yearning wistful expression, as she
exclaimed ;
•I lhinkthi8 should be called the modern age,
for there is not one spark of chivalry left ; all
goDe, gone ! I wouid infinitely prefer to be
surrounded by a troupe of creatures like
Crufoe s man Friday, or a battalion composed
entirely of Don Quixotes* than this vain, frivo
lous, soulless set that constitute fashionable
society. I wish I were an old maid or better 1
still an old bachelor that 1 might light my ian-
tern and search the world f- r an honest chev-1
elier, such as odo existed out ot a novel.
I would like to know if there is such an edi
tion cf a man.
•Florence, I did not think you capable of in
dulging in such a strain of nonsense. Why it
was only last night that I heard a certain gen
tleman say_lli^t he u.-meJit you rip
noblest andlsnos* charivaoleTjeioga he Avefyiiet
‘Which remark goes to prove that he has
never troubled himself to anabze my character
or else his idea of nobility d’ff -rs from mine—
An ! that is the word I should have used a mo
ment ago. It is true nobility that is so nearly
extinct. ‘
‘And supposing you could find such a noble,
chivalrous creature what then ?‘
•She hesitated a moment then raising the dark
eyes said solemnly :
‘Then pehraps, I would realize that for which
I would give all the wealth of which they tel),
me I am mistress. ‘
‘And what is that? eagerly inquired the sis
ters. ‘
‘Love’ was the earnest response. Had Cupid
presented himstif at the moment, the young
ladies would not have been more thoroughly
astonished. At fi:st they were inclined to laugh,
but the solemnity of Florence precluded all idea
of mirth.
■You iove, Fiorence? Why cousin mine that is
one of the impossibilities of the nineteenth
century. 4
‘Ahd why ? if I may ask ?‘
The three looked hastily around as the last
inquiry was made, and were surprised to see Dr.
Linton a partner ot Dr. Caston and a boarder in
the family. ‘ Why so, Miss Juiia, - he repeated
as he seated himself near ner.
•Because Florence is utterly devoid of ail seu-
timent—she has i o hi art.’
‘No, Julia. you are unjust. I know I hive a
heart, and one that is capable of great and holy
devotion, and if it i-; once aroused wouid love
the object that touched it forever. Perhaps I
am devoid of that sentiment to which you refer,
if no, the misfortune is owing to the fact,
that I have never come in contact with a nature
sufficiently noble to arocse that dormant feeling.'
‘Oh pshaw ! that is nonsense, you are too fas
tidious .’
• No, I am not, and to prove that I am sincere
when 1 tell you that 1 wish I could iove some
noble creature, ‘ intend to renovale an ancient
custom. Yon know in the blessed days of Aald
Lang Syne ’ the young people always invoked
the aid of St. Valentine on his especial day
Oh, you need not laugh for I intend to do the
same tomorrow, as it it St. Valentine’s day.’
‘Dn what. Kinrru-?’
ed ambition, that striven for eminence that he i You know that I was always an i eberg,‘ and
may aid this less fortunate; I could never marry
a plebian—a carpenter, for instance, or a car
penter's son, therefore the List as the first essen
tial, would be blue blood. I bid you good
morning. 1 end with a low courtesy that was
peculiarly becoming, a saucy no t that was
fascinating, and a smile that was winning, she
lelt the room.
The expression upon the Doctor s face at that
moment, was one of mingled pain and indigna
tion. Could it be possible that she intended
that last thrust for him ? He could not endure
the uncertainty, and turning to Julia Caston
asked firtcsly:
•Dors your cousin know that my father was a
ca* peater ? Why don‘t you speak. I waut to
know; tell me quick, does she knowpt?*
The temptation was too great. She uttered
the one word ‘yes* and be, never dreaming that
she told a falsehood, turned and lett the room.
•Juiia did you teil Dr. Linton the truih?
‘No 4 and without glancing at her sister she
gi.ve a rhort, hard laugh.
•Oh J iliar how could you when you see that he
worships Florio? 4
‘The very reason why I perjured my soul by
uttering a lie. Sire roobed me of my honors at
school, she has queened it over as all in society,
but Rite shall nevery marry Oscar Linton. 4
‘Why, i 1 I may be so inquisitive ?
‘For several reasons, tae most important one
of which is that Julia Caston intends to secure
that prize for herself'.. 4
•You are more candid than truthful, but how
can you prevent her from accepting him. 4
‘Made, you are verdant, oi course she will
never h..ve an opportunity. _ L staa to my plan,
but c-ver rare be riy me and—you understand. ‘
‘Somewhat,’ was the indolent answer, accom
panied by a yawn. ,
‘You heard what she said ab^ut St. Valentines
day, and to-morrow I shall arise at tne same
hour to witness the n suit of her invocation. I
do not think Dr. L ntou will be so silly as to
happen in the street at that moment, but there
is no certainty about it, so I sh-.il^ be on
the look- ui.Aud if he should happen to be there,
then I myself will send him a valentine that will
fffdually cure him of his insane adoration tor
my marble cousin. 4
•Bat if she should send him one, wLa' then ?‘
•I know her welt and I know she would not
send it, for if she considered him her interior
she would be too grateful for his many kind at
tentions to wound him by sending an insulting
valentine, ana if she loves him, aud I have tried
in every concsivable l a finer to discover her real
feeling ail in vain, but if she loves him she
would fe d too great a sense of timidity to let
him discover ii. Yes, I will do the job for mad
emoiselle. Besides she quite ruined her chance
of securing him when sue spoke as she did about
carpenters. Ah ! little does sue suspect that the
wealthy, aristocratic and courted lion ot s ,-ciety
was tne son of a carpenter. You know there was
a kind of mystery connected with the family.
Richard Linton, the d etor's father, was a mere
carpenter, but father says he was the haughtiest
man imaginable. They bad one child, Oscar,
and they sacrificed their own comfort that he
might be educated, and he in return idolized his
parents. Father was with the old man when he
died, and said the iasl act of his life was to call
his son to him and say: “Oscar, I want yonrsoi-
emn promise‘hit joip,will never accept an ac
cursed dollar from them, until they give you
your entire rights, promise me that you will
prove yourself worthy of the name of which they
wish to defraud you, promise that -when he dies
you will wr- si your lawful inheritance from the
0 usuroers and get beck the home of your lather's. ‘
f thA~jVr Lining xins nndarirhjjAghttf fill- rA-.y>
' ' \versation referred/and father says he has gaia-
‘ ed both w aith and honor by his proud and
honorable course, and there seems little chance
of our ever discovering his secret, tor he needs
no more wealth or fame.*
Early on the following morning, Dr. Linton
was aroused from his dreams by a messenger
who bade him tome in baste, for oi« Judge Ver-
ner was qui f e ill. As he sprang into ms buggy
he involuntarily glanced at the window above.
At that moment Florence Bertram ended her in
vocation to St. Valentine and opened her dark,
ea n st eyes. Instantly she sprang fiom the j
window, but too lace to avoid the gallant movr- !
ment of the young physician as i.e raised hi-
One
as cold and dreary as an iceberg she looked as
she left the room.
On that day Florence Bertram was painfully
surprised to awake to a consciousness of her
love for Dr. Linton,. Too late she discovered
thas she loved him as she could love no other,
and well she knew that it would be impossible
to efface his image from her heart. Many suit
ors pleaded for her heart and hand, but to all
she invariably repliecfT
‘I can Dever love. 4
Under the pressure of a silent grief and com
parative solitude, her physical constitution fail
ed, aud her physician demanded a change of
climate, but she positively refused to travel.
At the expiration of four years Maria married,
and when Mrs. Ciston and Julia decided to ac
company the newly married couple to Europe,
Florauce yielded to their solicitations and join
ed tke party. t
Tney had been in L-fadon several weeks when
Florence, who was quite ill, demanded to be
taken to a quiet country home. Out iu the
frisk air she rapidlv gained s.rengtii, and the
day before leaving Eagland.accomp.inied a par
ty of tourists to visit a. historical castle that was
now in ruins. It was St. Valentine's day but
as calm and s irene as a May day, and as they
drove by verdant fields, it was impossible to re
alize that it was in id-“'hi ter. Florence exclaim
'd alia, do you recollect this day four years
ag-?‘
•No, indeed. 4
‘Why, it was on that day you offered your first
invocation to Sr,. Valentino. 4
A gentleman whoy[“,ad visi’el the ancient
ruins had proposed L-eet as guide to his coun
trymen, but | live wandering confess
ed that he had lc,Jj *;■ proper road, and pro
posed to return "aide, but it wu3 too iate,
lor tne day whs f^j^rmood and the clouds be
tokened rain. 1 tiy, large dro; s began to
tali, when Mr. \V ,a, a gentleman of the par
ty, exclaimed:
‘I know this road; it leads to the manor of a
young lord, who is a most hospitable gentle
man. We will drive there and ask shelter.
la a few moments they passed the park gate
and driving through a wide avenue alighted at
the marble steps -Jf a magnificent country
mansion.
A neat servant answered their ring and ush
ered them into a handsome apartr e it that served
as a drawing-room. The servant soon returned
saying that his masted was taking his daily ride,
but was expected at any moment.
‘Mr. WMton, n&s'yijur friend no wife, mothor
or si t ;rs ?'
•Do you refer to Lord Birmiagtoa, Miss Cas
ton ? No, he is an ofphan and a bachelor. 1
have heard quite a romantic story of his life,
which I will relate for the amusement of the
party, though I do cot give it as a fact, only as
it wa3 toil to me 1 The father of the pr sent
Lord Binning on was the eid st of tao s n--,
po.-s-s.-ed large, st tes, ut man unlucky hour he
secretly married the Daughter of a poor farmer,
which act so enraged ihe old man that he sv ore
tae estate should not become the property of such
a plobiaa race, and he began to taunt tae young
wife iu every way imaginable until she an
nounce! her intention of accompanying her
parents to Am arica * d thereby release her hus
band from his un- -Spy dilemma. But much
to the surprise of 1 * Iriends and chagrin of his
father, the jouug L s i followed his bride across
ilu wafers, where vta suffered poverty, and led
the life of a comm I* workman positively re
fusing m mey that J » repentant father off, red.
fie hud onebhiid.t' *t)r vent Lord Birmington,
- -sA-l-Vf J. w s 4 fArm-srir?
concealed the hiStt^/ of'the parents until a
short time before ti* father’3 death.
Several years aft^-wards led by a desire to
visit his father's hone the young heir came to
England. Arriving hire a few days afeerthe death
Ji uis uncle he, presented himself to his grand-
sire who received bin with open arms, and for
four years devoted hrnseif to the happiness o
his truly noble grant child. The oid man died
a few months since having a handsome lortune
to the young mau.
Ah! 1 fear this rain will coutinue all night
aim—ah, there comei the young L.-rd now; he
Will bo with us soot. 1
In a few minutes the master of the house
‘A Rose Bud Dashed by a Suddeu
Shower.’
BY PEAKL OKIOLE.
you quite sure Katharine has recovered
er disappointment, Maud?’ asked a tall,
f at aloft and gave her a smiling bow. One > entered, and ; s Mr. Watson explained the eir-
—J11- i nninufffn.ahc that itrivmrhf. Humi fr.hxx Knmn
‘Do what, Florrie?
‘Why, rise with the sud, go to an east win
dow and with closed eyes repeat
•St' Valentine, St. Valentine,send me I pray
A nobleman to gladden my heart today: ’
•And through life I'll ever bless tliee
If that being now I may see.’
and then I will open my eyes and see my fu
ture lord.’
Her friend laughed heartily, it seemed so un
like the usually cold, indifferent Florence Ber
tram.
•Do you really intend doiDg that?’
■I do. 4
‘And suppose on opening your eyes, you
should see not the nobleman, but a plebian, who,
having heard your invocation, will deem him
self St. Valentiine‘8 choice for you. 4
•Oh, suoh being the case, I will politely thank
St. Valentine 4 and tell him I have decided to
wait another year, while I will dispatch a val
entine to the mistaken chevalier expressing my
contempt for all that pertains to plebianism. 4
Yes, there it is again, you are too fastidious. *
‘No, I do not think the word fastidious at all
applicable to me. I want only true nobility. If
I never find that I will never marry.*
4 Miss Bertram what constitutes that true
nobility that yon so earnestly seek?’ and despite
his eflort at indifferance, the Doctor's voioe
betrayed how deeply in earnest he was. She
always woro & ssrio-comio expression when
partially interested in conversation, and her
most intimate companions failed to diserminate
between her sarcastic and bonafide remarks, and
at the moment an aocut6 physiognomist would
have been puzzled to deoide whether she was in
jest or spoke truthfully, as she said:
•Sir, the first essential is bine blood; the
seoond an honorable heart; the third an exalt-
other person witnessed the pretty tableau
lia Gaston.
‘Martha, did you tell Miss Bertram that we
a‘e waiting breakfast for her?*
•Yes ma'am, but she says she doesnotcara for
breakfast, she fas a headache. 4
Mrs. Caston was quite satisfied, but Julia and 1
Dr. Linton were puzzled. D;d Florence really j
love the physician, if not, why did she absent |
herself from the table after ihe scene of a few 1
hours before ? Half an hour afterward as he lett
the house, Dr. Linton gave Martha a note, say
ing:
Give this to M s.i Bertram. 4
The hall door Closed upon him and Julia step
ped from behind a screen, saying:
‘Martha, here is a costly ring, I will give it o
you, so keep it, only you must give mo taal
note and promise never to mention it—do yon
understand ?‘
‘Lor, yes, Miss, I won! never mcii ti on it. I
aiut no gos
But as she returned to her sweeping she mat- j Lord Birin.ngton.’
cumstanees that brought them to the house, the
host welcomed each .me withcourteous grace,
but as he was presented to Florence Bertram
he started perceptibly, while she unconsciously
: xciaiiued.
‘D-. Linton! 4
‘Yes, it was he, and although other friends
failed to rtcoan ze ia the English Leid the
American ^hysi ian, the eyes of love coul i
not be deoeived iu a tew momenIs Marie left
the room and that evening as she bade a lien to
her host, she slipped ado his hand a letter that
freely confessed the wrong done him years
before.
Ou the following day Lord Birmington called
to oee Mi«3 Bertram, and after she had read
Marie's kt er he smilingly asked:
•W il Fi r io are you willing to marry a cur-
peni-rs ion?’
The old serio-comic i xpression shone in her
beautiful eyes as she said:
‘Certainly not, but sir I am willing to marry
tered:
‘I may teil some of tin so days, for I heard all
she said uystairs yesterday, about sweet Flor
ence, who is a perfect little angel, poor thing.
She is in the lion’s den, sure. •
The note that Ju.ia opened contained only
these words:
•Miss Bertrtram;-Will ycu permit me to give
you a ride this a. ternoon at three o'clock, that I
may tell what I can no longer concea. ? I shall
expect the valentin *, remembei; you said y ou
would send me to St. Val ntine‘s choice; I will
know your decision by the tenor of the va.eu-
tine. Ah ! my beautiful, my proud Florence, do
not say nay to my love. O. Linton. ‘
At three o'clock the postman called at the of
fice ot Caston & Linton, and with an unusual
degree of excitement Oscar Linton broke the
seal of the envelope that contained so much for
him. It was a comic valentine, representing
the grinning visage of a carpenler in the act
of sawing a piece of timber* Near by sat a boy
looking eagerly at a fashionably dressed lady,
who, as she passed, drew closer her dress lest it
shonld touch him. Underneath the picture was
written: ‘I can never marry a plebiav. 4
•Beautiful but false. For myself I do not care,
but my father's memory is sacred. Oh, my
God! what an awakening from my dream of
bliss. Florrie, my first and only love, I had
rather known you lost to me than to have dis
covered your heartlessness. Oh 1 I never real
ized until now how dear you have .become to
me. How true— Quae nocent docent. 4
That evening he was relieved to hear that
Florence was spending the night with a friend.
In a calm voice he announced to the family that
unexpected but important business would com
pel him to leave for the North early on the mor
row. Three weens afterward Dr. Gaston re
ceived a letter from him containing directions
for the sale of his city property, as he would
sail for Europe in two day s, and would hence
forth make England his home. Julia Gaston ut
tered an exclamation of mingled chagrin and
disappointment, while Florence Bertram looked
ghastly.
'Why florrie, my child, what ails yon?' ex
claimed Dr. Caston ’ *
I A troubled txprsssicn overspread his hand-
I some face*
to
‘Then you do not love me—I am mistaken-a
your feelings:’
‘Yon are not mistake^.’
‘.‘ind you will bo mint ?’ ‘Bemember I am
St. Valentines chioce. 4
And fortunately not a plebeian; yes since your
veins flow with biui blood, since it consti
tutes the seven chaaacteristics, anu since yon
are lit. Valentine's c’atics, I m st abide bv the
deer e of fate, and tlsreby rt.al.ze my girlish
propqecy that I world never marry until I
found a true nobl-.mai.
‘Are
from her disappointment,
slender young man, leaning with lazy grace on
the gate and looking with deep, honest blue eyes
in the pretty face of the girl beside him.
‘Y s, quite suie, Harry.’
•Well, all I have to say, is, I thought she was
not tho girl to bo ‘off with the old love and on
with a new’ so remarkably soon; scarcely six
months is it ?’
‘No,’ the girl replies, ‘but then, Harry, he
proved himsolx so unworthy tire love of any lr te
hearted woman. IIs threw away the tenderest,
truest heart that will ov.r beat for bi/n-*-tbr an
other who possessed the golden key to hear s.
How do you think sh'eoould continue to love
such a creature as that?’
Harry shrugged his shoulders and said doubt
fully.
‘I sometimes think, in spite of all, that she
Mill loves him. I have noticed a quick changs
iu her face more than once, when uis name has
been mentioned" suddenly; b it I must admi
she Lai wonderful self-control.’
‘Nonsense, Hal,’ in a tone of vexation. ‘H>w
sentimental yon are, trying to make Kuthie ca 1
‘proud, broken hearted.' Why ! I heard her say
only last evening that if sho should find h r
idol to be clay, she wouid tumble ic from its
shrine in no time and feel only contempt tor the
shattered fragments. So your romance is base
less, you see, sir. Look at her now as she
comes to meet us—a moro eloquent refutation of
your suspicion than anything I couid say.’
Harry turned his eyes in the direction indi
cated and acknowledged ,o himself that K th-
arine Maynard looked anything else but, a love
lorn maiden: cheeks like damask roses, full,
smiling lips and glowing dark eyes. Sue bowed
gayly to Harry Moreland mil playfuly chided
Maud for being so late.
T had almost given you up, but I’ll excuse
your tardiness since 1 see who is with yon ' sue
said, glancing mischievously at Harry who bow
ed with a smile and heightened color. Maud
kissed her hand to him and ran lightly up the
step?, while he lifted his hat and walked away.
Maud, stauding on the top s:ep b s do her
friend, looked'after him witu fond pride.
‘How much you do iove him !’ Katharine said
almost pettishly.
‘To be sure. It’s my right and duty, child.
Don’t you care for L mnox ?'
She m Me no a swer for a mo nenb
'Jf course,’ she said at lengdi with averted
eyes. ‘Am I not going to marry him to-morrow ?
By-ths-way ! my dress and veil came to-day—
come and see them.’ Sha drew her friend into
her pretty room, where the bridal attire .a , in
billowy folds oi lace and satin over the bed.
Maude, girl-like, wont into ecstacies and b gin
examining the trimming and drapery with an
eye to her own bridal dress which would be
needed next month, while Katharine lay at full
length on the lounge with one fair round arm
supporting her head and looking at her from
under drooping Is lies. When tne bridal finery
was carefaiiy folded away, Maud came over to
the lounge and laid her hand soitiy on the
crimpy, brown hair.
‘Are you asleep, love?’
‘No ! only dreaming, idly dreaming, specula
ting on my rose colored futu re—on me long hap
py years in store tor mV Sloe laughed a little
mocking laugh; b it did t ot lift iic-r eyes. ‘M.uid,’
k 1 .wia’xt Aaijw •..'.iqJji vu ydio.jaiiJn^nLuaa.djVf^-
ing, serutmiz.ng eyes reading her i'aov. ‘I w;s
you to sing for m«; some of our dear old scho s
song-; how long it seoms since we 1 -Ik th .*"“
merry old walls, careless, happy school-gins!
but in reality it has been little more than a year.
How one can change in that short space of time.’
‘Ah ! that delightful comm ncement. It was
the first time you me. Eva i, how your, es
sparkled and glowed taut night—you rem a-
ber what he said about taem.
‘No ! I rsmembir nothing.’ Kat'aie ropli ’
a voice rendered sharp by pain. Maud k
at her in surprise and thought to a ♦
was thoughtless in me to mention E. -.a '1 1-
bert’s name. But suiely he is nothing to ut
an unpleasant memory—a chapter ia nei ii:c s
history she wishes forever sealed.’
‘I never think of the past or future,’ K 'Lit
continued. ‘The present only is mine. Wa ,
should we stir the a .hes of tho past w ien there i-
too apt to be a smouldering earner aiivo enough
to burn.’
Maud gave her an anxious, searching
glance and then went ever to the piano, aud
began singing ‘I’d be a bu-Ueiil/, following b
up with C'est L’amour and other fragments oi
light songs learned in school days; , >senr,ly
she struck a more plaintive chord ana began t
simple bal'ad, whose sadder significance wo :l.
have deterred her from singing it, had hei
oughts not wandered away from present & tu
nnelings.
<1 other, there was one, you knew him,
i cannot call his name,
You remember ho w he wooed me,
liow with sweetest.words lie came;
How tie gained my young affections
Vowing in love s tenderest tone
That he wouid forever guide me,
If my heart were his alone.
You remember l ow I trusted,
How my thoughts wero all of him.
liaise the curtain higher mother,
Fur my eyes are growing dim.
You remember how he leu me,
Coldly putting me aside,
Hu w he wooed and won another
Fairer girl to be his bride.’
Bat there was no time for questions now.
Lennox Hi d ng a q erred at the doorway and
alt trace of emotion vanished f.om the bride’s
face as she pi c-d h r hand 'n his. She was
cold and wuiie ps a statue as she entered
the parlor filled with guest's.
‘How lovely; but how strange looking’was
the whispered comment; i and even the bride
groom, proud and happy as ho was, wondered
at the marble calmness of the bride ho had
found it so hard to win.
That calmness was destined to be broken up.
They were kneeling before the minister.
L nnox was (epeating, -Wi:h this ring, I th e
wed,’ when the hand he held was suddenly
snatched away and pressed convulsively over
her heart—a moan escaped her lips, a sp sm
q-iiv.ired over her face, and shefell forward into
the arms of the watchful Maud, who had been
the first to spring to har side.
‘Heart disease and she is dead,’ the Doctor
Slid, looking down at the eiim face, f amed by
tho bridal veil and crowned with myrtle bud*.
‘Too much excitement,’ and shaking his head
wis.dy, he tun ed away.
Yes, she was dead before the vow, that would
have been mockery, had passed her lips. D ad
on the threshold of s womanhood so iull of glo
rious promise. ‘A rosebud dashed by a sudden
shower,’ The deiicat-ly-sirung chords of her
sensitive na'ure bad once been too rudely s wept,
an 1 no 1 -, while they vibrated to iha memory
of that touch, they snapped asunder and were
sil-.no forever.
A young boy, Mister Frank T. Freeland, a
student at the University of Pensylvania, has
invented an automatic machine for playing ‘t ic-
tac-to.‘ When the human player that opposes
it selects a square, the machine immedii
die ites is choice of anothar.and no ma'ter what
combinations are adopted the apparatus draws
the game or wins.
Lewis V/ il, the only Jew in the North Caroli
na peuitentiary, has been pardoned by Govern
or Vance, who endorsed the following on the
paper: *1 take pleasure ia saying that I sign rue
pardon in part recognition of the good and law-
abiding char icier of our Jewish citizens, ibis
being the first sericas case ever brought to our
notice -an the part of any of that peopte. ‘
A Wisconsin girl put on trousers and started
through the deep snow to walk s x rail s to a
village for provisions, the family larder being
empty. She soon became tired out, besides
losing her way, and the cold was intense. A
big Newfoundland dog which accompanied ht-r,
was the means of saving her life. Sue scooped
out a hollow in the snow, laid down in it and
made the warm dog lie on her, shifting him
about so as to successively cover the oddest
parts of her body, la that way she passed a
whole night and was not very severely frost-bit
ten. -With two or three more dogs, 4 she says,
T would.have gotten along very comfortably. 4
The evil tendencies of our aaiure privately
dulged are t.o less off .-naive to God, beaa
they are not known to men. Men err because
they judge from appeauoes; God lorks at the
heart, and r quires truth in the inward parts.
A LouBi ma State Sandy School Convention
will be held ia New Orleans the last of next
month.
The Southern Methodist Episcopal Church
has received to its communion, within the past
year, between I 000 and 5,000 converts.
Only the other day I noticed an adverlisenent
for a sermon on ‘How Jonah lost his umbrella. 4
D was on the gourd vine that shaded him. At
*yv.^.Ma 5.t» Vh ASaiagaft AS Sgy.'u ^.Tiffing. ■
‘xampbs of the oiessed Savior and his apos-
^ and how must it weaken the confidence of
^agregations in the declarations of a minister
uat he has a mtstage for them from God.
Why Will Von Allow a cold to advance in your
sy-tem and thu? encourage more serious maladies, such
as Pneumonia, Hemorrhages and l.ting Iron I lies whenau
immediate re'ief can be so rtaUily attained? Boschee’a
German Syrup lias gained the largest sale in the world tor
the cure of Coughs, Colds and lit,- severest Lung It s-
■ascs. I is Dr. Hoschee's famous German prescription,
■ nd is prepared wiih the gn a'e-t care, aud no fear need
•j e i.ri iaiued in administering it to the youngest child,
as per directions. The sale of this medicie nis unprece-
leu ed. Sinoe first introduced there has been a constant
. icreasing dema d and without a single report of a fail
ure to do its work in any case. Ask your druggist as to
the truih of these remarks. Large size 75 cents. Try it
and he eonvii ced.
A young merchant at Waverly, Iowa, when
packing eggs about a year ago for shipment to
the East, wrote his name and address on one,
with the ri quest that the person to whom it fi
nally came would write him and advise him of
the fact. In due coukw. came the letter from a
young lady in New York. It was acknowledged;
a correspondence sprangup; photographs were
exchanged, and the merokant is coming East in
a few days to take home the young lady as his
wife.
It was copied in fifty .ournals, each with a
sworn circulation of 100,100 copies daily, and
was therefore read by 5, OK),000 persons.
The Rev, Dr. Wilson, p:esiding at one of the
sessions of the Missionary Conference, said that
of every three persons waking on the earth two
had never heard the nameof Christ nor seen the
Bible.
Rov. T. P. Crawford, missionary to China,
says: ‘The work of evangilizing China is a work
of five hnndred years. I can bear all bat the
coldness and indifference of the Churches at
home. I have labored in China for seventeen
years, and am going back toon to die there, and
there is no one to take iny place.
As in a town or city, immediately before sun
rise, the extinction of ihe lamps annonnoes the
termination of darknets, so, oftentimes, after
the irksome night of sorrow that probably
Coussens’ Honey of Tar will relieve severe
coughs of long standing, and prove a blessing to
alt who suffer with affections of the throat and
lungs, and is confidently offered the public as the
best remedy in the world. In our rigorous clime
where coughs and colds prevail, this favoiite rem
edy should have a pBce in every household. When
the little ours are attacked by croup, or whooping
cough, nothing will afford such instant relief as
Coussens’ Honey of Tar. Price 50 cents. For
sale by Hunt, Rankin, & Lamar, Wholesale Drug
gists, Atlanta, Ga.
TJu* Hiex5can Dollar*.
What is the difference between the Mexican dol
lar and T.sbler's Buckeye Pile Ointment ? One
does what it promises and ihe other doesn't. The
Mexican dollar says, ‘I am one hundred cents;’
but when you come to iuvest i,t you find it is only
eighty-five, fabler's Buckeye Pile Ointment says
‘I will cure you of Tiles ; and upon trial it is found
to do so in every ease. It makes but one promise—
to cure Piles; and does so without failure. Price
50 cents a bottle. For sale by Hunt, Rankin &
Lamar wholsale Druggist, Atlanta, Ga.
that p
seemed at one period « though it would never
I never knew yon to be j expire, the dawning ofthe day of relief and joy
the least unwell. Are yon ill ?* . may be divined by thedying out of earthly con-
*No, sir, only the excessive heat of this room, fidences.
Alstrbea in the seng, she had Dot looked at
her listener, navi! startled y ■« suppressed
moan, she glu. c d at Katherin-.-, O ie hand was
clasped tight!} over her eyes and great tear dr ips
trickled through her fiugers, the other cjuv .u-
siveiy piested her side.
‘K tthie what is the matter. Are you ill?’
Kathie rose to a sitting posture, laughing
hysterically.
•Nothing. Only a little rain in this trouble
some heart of mine. What a ; yorte mu tt have
a heart, especially if ouo hapi sus to be a wo
man. The doctors say mine is too iar;;e tor its
peri-oardium, and it will flutter somttimes 1 ke
an imprisoned bird. But it is nothing. Gome
I’ll ring for more lights, and we’ll have a merry
night of it.’
Never shone stars more brisrhtly than on K it:i-
irine Maynard’s wadding nt it. She shod at
the window watching them, u ressed in her bri
dal robes. Was it the weird light of the young
moon on her face that gave it’s loveliness that
unearthly look? Maud did not like to see it -
she stole softly to her] side, and putting her
arm abound her, whispered, ‘Dreaming again
my Pet,
‘Please dont ever call me by that name r g fin;
it has a false, hypocritical sound to me.’
There was an impatient, almost a fieic* tone
in her voioe, and the tears sprang to Maa » ov-
ing'eyes. In an instant, Katherine's aims were
around her, and she said with impulsive ten-
Acting upou the urgent request of numerous correspon
dents, I have extended my Holiday offer lor a Limited
Period. Order at once,pay only after you have fully tested
the instrument at your own home. New Pianos $125
5135, $145 a d upwards. New Organs $«!), $75,'$H5, §97,’
illustrated Newspaper with much informs
Ac, Latest
tion free.
Address,
DANIEL F, BEATTY, Washington, N. J.
IE WntaSlo"'’
trial packageSentto any address
free of charge. Send for Circular
Address, GEO. S. RISHOP,
777 VaaSarea Street, CHICAGO, ILL.
derness; ‘Forgive me Maud. Forgive all my' \M A M T £ canvassers of intelligence
waywardness dear ftiend. Think of me kindly aud adjoi ing statesTfilrL ■' ibi’eat'i,n™a tCr m Georyia
always—think of me only as the Kathie of our , Messrs, d. at ox & (jo.. New York
sohool days.’ Maud looked wonderingly into
the s veet face, lit by great burning brown eyes
that made her restless and wish to escape f rom
a nameless something that looked out from their
fathomless darkness.
. sy is made and goou
•eoinplished in this work
Van holt Nash,
.. £j ei1 - Manager for Georgia
44 Marietta st, Atlanta, Ga. ’
a week in your own town. Terms and »6 outfit tree
«PUU Address H. HALLETT A CO.. Portland, Msdne.