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! the scahdal of sigma. BY WYLLARD. ••Two thousand a year U not a great Income.’' said Lady Jane, Ironically, ••Still. It reacues dear Noel from abso lute want It waa ao nice of bia god mother—always a most nnassnmlng nerson, too; Indeed, I mistook ber for the dressmaker on one occasion when she came to calLand I am afraid sbe slipped of my visiting list quite a year ago.” ' "That la a pity, alnce the whole fam ily are inclined to canonist her now!” said Signs dryly. “However, she docs not seem to have borne, malice, as sbe has promoted Noel to the position of an eligible.” “Hardly. eligible, my dear! Two thousand goea such a very little way unless one Jives In Bayswater or tbe country. Poor Noel I” ••ob, I did not mean among us!” said Signs, with'a laughing sneer and a glance out of the window at the re spectable Sloane street trees, decorous ly dusty though just In bud. “But possibly aome young person In the tboui lay tnki igh It means Bays- uow, even water!” Lady Jane glanced rather uneasily at Slgna’s straight young back, which was all that presented Itself to her to help out Slgna's meaning. And Lady Jane was often at a loss to know whether Slgna was In earnest or Iron ical. She was beginning to think, with despair, that when ber youngest daughter talked sense—the sense of Sloane street and the duchess. It meant revolt and would end In Slgna doing some dreaded and unconvention al thing, such aa wanting to take up a profession or refusing a really sound offer, for Instance. Sometimes—since his god mother had behaved In snch a really laudable manner—she thought with a sigh, that even two thousand a year and Bayswatar would be better than an awful scandal, of wblch she lived In terror. It Slgna mnst marry a poor man, better Noel, who was, somehow, so satisfactory to all tbo family, than one of those younger sons with whom the girl delighted to warm men and women Into laughing, applauding humnn beings, not above joining in that last swinging chorus of the others, and one could seeeta seemed no more a drawing room in I ont street, but the • cotton-llelds of Louisiana. Lady Bloomfield's own high cackle rose high above the voices of the others and one could see the men drawing breath to demand an encore, eveu as she rose, flushed with the excitement of her success, from the piano, and she heard, nil across the room the mana ger ask who she was. Two minutes later, someone brought him over aud introduced him. and they stood by the instrument, talking quickly and earn estly—so deep in conversation. Indeed, ‘hat Sljrnn would not be Interrupted to slug again. It was only when she looked past his broad back that she caught sight of Verney,nonchalant, eyeglass in eye, evidently not at all upset by her reekless Interpretation of the notorious negro melody. “Yes, of course I will!" said Slgna to the manager. “I should like It.” and she nodded to Verney over Ills shoulder. Her smile was brilliant naif London was in the stalls of the Bacchante on the great lament night, and tile boxes were taken by select parties who tlmught the auditorium a little public for the light of their presence. I was tickled to sec the duchess levelling her glasses at Poppy le Mnreliant when that young lady danced the conger-ccl-dance In alii of the charity, and admired the toler ance of her attitude. Lady Jane was In Hie box, and Sir Wilfred and sister, the one who married Into the state; hut Slgna herself was not pres ent, and, when I went round to pay my respects In her grace, I learned that she had pleaded a headache and stayed at home. The causc.I thought, was not far to seek, ns Slgna would have persisted that she hnd lumbago If It would have saved her accom panying 11 party of which the duchess innde one. Batsburg had tacitly promised the * SHALL I COME TOO, SIQNA." frighten ber chaperons. Lady Jane Is a dear, good soul, but sbe Is accustomed to be unwise In ber management of Signs. She allowed her new uppronl of Noel to be read In the growing maternity of ber manner. Hitherto «be had been cousinly in her treatment of him—sbe was not bis aunt or that might have been her atti tude—and when things looked very black In the matrimonial market sbe comforted henelf aloud with his ad vantages. Slgna bated tbe obvious. Her temper had been decldely unect- talu since Captain Verney had come Into what ahe henceforth etyled his “Bayswater Income,” and she sallied forth this very afternoon in a mood that was ripe for mischief. She found it at Lady Bloomfield's afternoon crush where the Bohemian element was mingling with tbe severe ly social, and everybody waa discuss ing the great “Benefit night” at the Bacchante Theatre of Varieties In old of tbe War Fund. Tbe Bacchante is a very superior mntlc ball, and that lent a seat to the way in which every one was buying tickets—in aid of tbe charity! There was a fat man in a long frock- coat standing in the centra of tbo group of the smartest women present when Slgna arrived. He was Bats burg, the proprietor of the Bacchante and the originator of itae benefit, but Signs hardly'glanced at him. There was no doubtttbat sbe was in a very bad mood Indeed, and her eyes, roam ing about for some evil deed to prove this, did not alight upon Batsburg, as the special mean* arranged by tbe Powers of Darkneaa to help ber. It waa not with any thought of the fat man and hla'glossy curia In ber mind that ahe sat down at the piano and volunteered a' song. There had been music going on all of that after noon; but 8igna*a performance was entirely different, and everj-one listen ed, and indeed, crowded in from the other rooms to bear. Sbe baa a singularly dear voice, strong'enough tp fin a concert-room, and trained by Da Capri. : He'never thought that bl* excellent training would go to help Slgna to give Lady Bloomfield's Wests a treat such aa that perform ance of "Hy’ar there! Clear the road lor Lisbeth.” They were a noisy audience when Slgna's staging bad suddenly trans formed them from well-dressed lake- house a sensation that night, and we were all a little eager; it had not been announced mi the boards, but hod floated round society through the pri vate channels, and we kept asking each other who was this new star of Batsburg? The programme was ns good as could he, hut the performers were old acquaintances; ond while wo stormed the stage with applause after each Item, oil felt that Batsburg owed us a new sensation yet It came iietween numbers 0 and 10—an “extra turn” which was merely slipped upon the notice I Kurd. The lund struck up a new air, a catchy thing that no ono had heard, and yet, I believe, we all tried to hum It uud then Into the centre of the wide strip of stage left hnre In front of tbe back-cloth a littl® ragged London gnmln came swinging bis impudent dirty face turned to the audience with the sang frold of his In imitable breed. He stood still a min ute, and then cooly looking us over, he began to shy personalities at our comments that made the victim shout claim him a success. There was no doubt about his reality—be was a true arab, apparent ly brought straight out of the streets, without a dab of paint on bim that could be discerned, and supremely jaunty and Insolent Probably, be was one of the boys who sold bogus programmes at the side door» of the ball, or, for a few stray coppers, rang versions of tbe songs to be heard In side, and Batsburg had primed him up to recognize the front rows of the au dience and discourse on their private affairs and was getting quite personal when ono concluded that the urchin bad been coached by someone who did know. Batsburg had been among these people for weeks in con nection with tbe benefit and, though, bis use of bis knowledge might be in doubtful taste, there was no denying that it caught on—the stalls roared aa each stinging remark, pointed by one grimy forefinger came clcerly across tbe footlights through the jannty music. Suddenly the boy began to dance a kind of doable-shuffle end, to the air which the band ft!U played softly, broke into a song, introducing the nnmefl of people in front of nun. His voice was a swset, true toy's voice, but marred by that awful East End accent and it rang through the theatre load and Krone. Tome who was mey and Mrs. Bncebridge of the < •jgftff between Noel — Chiltren Hundreds, almost spruug up right in his teat “By Jove!" he laid. “Ita Signal” The house did not recognize her all « °“ ce “d the boxes apparently not “I ? Ten tbs awful presence of the duchesa and the appalling ' le S"i nc “ whl <d» loomed in tbe * future could not restrain tbe “Oh. They laughed at every wicked point in the song and when be was off the stage they yelled to nave him bock again. It sounded aa If the whole hull were one confused, Imper ious demand, and though they did not call her by name, It was obvious that Slgna was recognised. I wondered what she would do, and almost held my breath when tbe small ragged figure returned for a brief moment, but only just in sight at the wings. There was a growing terror in Slgna's eyes—an expression most alien to them. Either the passing of the ex citement, or the realization of ber own daring, or else that clamoring audience, was terrifying her. Sbe bowed hastily and pattered off, in spite of the cries to her to sing again. I feared the demand waa too strong, and tout they would force her to come back, and I turned to ‘look- round for Verney. But he bid dis appeared, and lie was not In the dnehess box, though I looked there with fear and trembling. Her grace was still sitting, calm and smiling, at tbe front of the box; there wae something ominous In her tacit refu sal to recognize what everyone knew. Lady Jane's face was like a mask; I thought Lady Leamington was cry ing. but I could not see ber plainly. Tbe next turn fell flat though tbero wns a gallant effort to appland and curry It through. But so many of the men had vanished that it.looked as if a wind had swept the stalls bare. It wns fatally easy to get be hind. .They were waiting for Signs. I sat out two turns; then I followed Verney. He bad, ns I suspected, left his place before Slgna bad made her bow, and was waiting for ber be hind. By the time I got round, tbe wings seemed to be full of men, chat tering in excited voice*, and at a little distance stood Verney, cool and lunquid, talking to Batsburg. I heard the manager say, sulkily, “At the slde-door-yes, there is a way round,” and I went then and there In the di rection indicated because I wanted to see the end of the comedy. There was n hrnglmm waiting there; I stood unnoticed on the pavement un- tlll they came out—Indeed' it was I who opened toe carriage-door. Slgna hnd changed ber clothes rapidly, and slipped away from her dressing-room while the men were still awaiting her III tbe wings. But sbe was crying bitterly, uud it so much surprised me that I felt the whole scene a little unreal. Verney put her Into the carriage, hesitated, (tad stood With one foot on the step. “Shall I come, too, SlgbfiT" be said. Her voice came ont of the dark- ness, muffled. •T am frightened. Noel!” “At last?" he said, quietly. “Well, I am not.” “I thought It would be fun to scan dalize you!” “Do yon mean that I waa tbe cans* tols time?" "How dare you have two thousand •i year)", said Slgna Irrcvantly. Nei ther of them noticed me. “So you thought you would fling yobr Independence of my opinion at me once for all. and sea if I could tie ■cared away, eh?” “Something like that” “Well, you cannot Nothing could. I am going to take tbe onus of the affair on myself from this time forth however, and tackle tbe family." “Will yon stand by me, Noel7’ Sig ns must really have bad a fright to say that! There shall be no occasion. They shall not dare to refer to It Union Is strength—It la you and I together now.” , • |. He Jumped Into the carriage, and I closed tbe door and told tbe coach man “nome,” because by that time they were past thinking of anything but themselves. Lady Jane confeaeed afterwards that tbe engagement was tbe greatest relief sbe had ever known. She bad feared that It would never come off. 'because It appears that owing to ber blundering and excellent intentions, sbe bad routed a breach between them wblch Slgna would not give Verney a chance to lieaL Batsburg was an angel—a fat angel—In the disguise of a frock coat and bis Benefit waa tbe medicine that killed or cured. Tbe amusing part of It la tbat tbs Duchess has Ignored tbe whole affair, and as sbe bas declined to acknowl edge what everyone knowa-tbat Slg na was tbe eensatkm of the great War-Fund Benefit—sbe will bave to go-to tbe wedding, on wblcb occasion Slgna will make ber bow and retire from ber war with right and proper behavior—for tbe present Practice Said to Acconnt for Japs’ Hardihood. The NIchl-NIchl, a prominent Jap anese paper, In commenting on the re markable health of the Japanese sol dier bl the field attributes not a small degree of bis endurance and Immunity from disease to his habit of drinking about a gallon of water every day of hla life. The statement was verified by an attache of the Jtpanese treaty commission who studied medicine st Harvard and practiced at home. “Tbe Japanese soldier la not per mltted to drink much water on tbe march. He merely wets hla lips, rin ses bis mouth, and takes a small swallow now and then. Bnt In camp he drinks freely. A quart immediate ly on rising, more after breakfast; and several quarts during the evening. Of course It Is largely habit He has not studied tbe system's requirements Qttiek Wit a Strong Factor. Some of tbe noblemen of Europe oi their preeent poeltlons and stations < honor to the pretence of mind and fore thought of tbelr ancestor* during sx- tremely critical moments. A hiccough, for Instance, Is the can** of the Kin- tkys' princely rank In Austria. It seems that during the midst of s great court function at Vienna the Em press Marla Theresa bad tbe misfor tune to hiccough ao violently as to cause, not only benelf, bnt ber court, great embarrassment In tbe midst of ber bewilderment young Count Klmky stepped forward, and with a most clever assumption of intense mortifica tion and humiliation, asked ber pardon for bis breach of good manners. Tbs young stowed with high court booocs and decoration* Another story fa told bow tbe Em peror Napolcpn III when out banting one day, being* very poor marksman, fired at a pheasant but instead Ut General Masaena, destroying tbe tight of oat of bis eyes. No on* could doubt who bad fired the shot bnt General Uassena turned round and soundly be rated General Bertbler, who bedtoen Standing behind him, which castigation Bertbler at one* accepted and appeared overcome with remorse. Napoleon waa gretefolto both for ttw.shielding Um. and overwhelmed them both with difnitj# A TYPICAL JAP -BOLDIEB. from the physician’* standpoint.. All be knows about It Is tbat be Is thirsty and drinks to satisfy that thirst” Americans Ua* Too Little. “Tour people," he went on, "neglect their needs as a role, In respect to both water and al drink enough and do _ I would not say they are unclean; tt J* only that they are less particular In tbelr cleanliness. It to a difference In the point of view. The Japanese think a dally bath the very least at tention to the body. Many bathe sev- eral time* a day—a simple sponging, cleansing the pores and . flying the soul a chance to breathe. And tbe sir hath to equally a habit My peo ple cannot at first live In the close American bouses. They crave the freedom and perfect ventlllstlon of their bamboo cottages. Drinking and bathing are national traits. We be lieve tbat cleanliness of the Internal tissues to aa necessary to health and comfort as cleanliness of the skin. Tbe waste materials of the body are often poisonous. Their retention Is the cause of many sleepless nights, headaches rheumatic pains fits of indl- geston. Water In abundance, Inside and out, to necessary to every human being.” Wash Inside And Oat, The Ntchl-Nlchl discourses' farther on the subject, stating In a naive way the benefit of free Indulgence In na ture's drink: ‘jHealtb to a gift of the gods, and tbe way to health lies through tbe do- la of cleanliness. As we wash our linen ao abonld do wash onr bodies Inside and out Water to the sweetener life. Is Its free ns* yon shall be as sweet and pttro a* a mountain brook; as strong as the lion of tba sea; aa broad aa the wind-swept rice fields. Von than bold Jour tread In the star* and your Ilf* shall be aa peaceful aa a summer day.” Wre largest pin factory In tbe world to not a* bas been «tried. In tbs United States bnt In Birmingham. Eng. where are 870000.000 an mann- jfactnred every working day. All the other pin factories In England torn out about ID‘000‘000, Bow to Become Disease Proof. It has already been suggested that tbe appendix abonld be removed from every infant as a routine measure. Bnt tfrit Is clearly Insufficient, sin tbe British Medical Journal Tbe surgery of the future mnst Include far more than this. Tire tonsils and turbinate bone* of tbe nose most be cot ont. be- rotrejMIheyjirey barber germ*- What Lane rolls tbe “human . it to the Ian mnst be removed along wl . able part of the upper portion of tbe alimentary canal, because it won't be needed wnen we begin to Ure on U. Bcrthelot’s tabloids and pills. The too readily decaying teeth will l polled out In early life and tbe gen B f store variety Inserted. The fallln in eye will D* anticipated b. . ctacles In early youth. Deficient moral sense and degeneracy will be treated by ventilation of tbe brain and removal of the offending areas. Thus protected against tbe perils of civilization, the man in the coming centuries wm be able hi bis journey through life to defy tbo countless ene mies that seek to rob him of bealtb- FRONTIER HOSPITALITY. The Prairie-Dog said to the Basin. “VourhomoUmy hole, prithee mak< ni ulc the Owl too, And 'twixt ua end you A rattling good game we will ahake.” DOES HURT Make the trial yourself—leave pfE Coffee 10 days and use P 0 ST U M FOOD COFFEE In its place. That’s the only way to find out. Postum is a sure rebuilder and when you cut out the coffee and use Postum instead, you get -a taste of health, for the aches and ails begin to leave. You may THINK you know, bnt you don’t until after the trial. - Remember “There’s a Reason.” Grt th. lttlW.book. “Tb. Rrad lo WiStrCW ta wdrite THE RACYOLE SPROOKETS Like No. 2 Grindstone are Hung Between the Bearings Which Stone will Turn Easier? The Recycle Rides Further with one-quartur less work MIAMI OYCLE & MFC. CO. MIDDLETOWN. OHIO. OLDSMOBILES ™ ECM! for 1905 TOAT G0ES Highest Workmanship. Lowest Prices. Cars for Immediate Delivery. Olds Motor Works DETROIT, MICH.