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learned Hie truth, and that was after the death of Louis Seabrook. Amongst the papers of the deceased was found a letter addressed to his uncle. It set forth in table work of art. The tube was held in the upraised hands of a mermaid, whose curved fishtail formed the handle Df the key. This handle on its outer edge was bordered with small, scarcely per¬ ceptible points or spines, which would be apt to wound , the hand of „ trying . . any one Do open the lock and not warned to take lue precautions. This key Louis care¬ fully fitted into the lock of the casket. i i Open it—open it, Grace!” he cried, with feverish eagerness, < t Within you will find inclosed a necklace of the choicest pearls to be found in ail Paris. Dpen it—open it, and tell me what you think of my wedding presents.” But without touching the key the enmur LHSUhl mri Hided forward and resting- .aj hand* on the lid rf (tec she looked into the dark troubled depths it her cousin * eyes with a tender sen dus ness in her glance that caused him to turn pale and to look aside. i i Dear Cousin Louis,” she said, “you have brought me a magnificent gift, but io not think me exacting or ungrateful if 1 ask you for something more. You know I am going out to-morrow to a new life, and 1 want to take with mo all the kindly thoughts and affections of those Who loved me when I was a little child. You feel bitterly toward us all, I know, because l could not love you better than l have done—just as I have loved rny brothers. It will cast a shadow on the brightness of my wedding day if I think and stmlel I unkiSftoward Lnuis-in Cou^fn Iaiuis my brother memory of our old pleasant days together, will you not grant me my request? Take back your lovely casket and your neck lace of peal Is, and give me instead jour frank hrolherly affection once more. ” He fixed bis dark, burning eyes on the soft blue ones raised so pleadingly to his own. So you will not open the casket, Grace?” he said, hoarsely. “Not till you promise to grant me my request. Ah, Louis, have, you forgotten all those days when we were children to¬ gether, and Little Cousin Grace used to pet you and watch over you and keep her boisterous brothers from teasing you? You were always very dear to me, Louis —he my dear brother once again and always. ’ ’ Still gazing fixedly upon her, he drew the casket toward him, unlocked it, threw back the lid and withdrew the key. He held up Iris hand with its open palm turned toward Grace as he did so, mid the astonished girl could see upon it one or two minute drops of blood caused by the punctures of the points on the handle of the key. i * Take your casket and your pearls, Grace, and with them my full forgive¬ ness. You do not know what good ser¬ vice I have done you today. I have swept from your path a bitter and a dangerous foe. Did you ever read Vic¬ tor Hugo’s ‘Esmeralda?’ There are four lines in an old translation of that poem which are now ringing in my brain: “Mine be the tomb and thine be light and life. 1 die, and fate avenges thee. ’Tis well. I go, O angel of my life, to learn If heav'n is sweet as were thy love. Fare¬ well.” So saying, he took Grace’s head in both his hands, kissed her tenderly on the fore¬ head and departed. electri- _ A week later the community was fied by the news of the sudden death of young Louis Seabrook, who succumbed to a rapid and mysterious malady a few days after the marriage of Miss Marsden. The disease which proved so speedily fatal lmfiled all the science and the conjectures of the physicians called in to attend him. They agreed that his symptoms closely resembled those produced by the bite of a serpent, and finally decided that the patient had fallen a victim to some acute and mysterious form of blood joisouing. It was only Richard Marsden who rambling, incoherent fashion these facts: “I brought the casket of Caesar Borgia as a present to Grace, he wrote, “in¬ tending that she should not long survive her marriage. The little points that stud the handle of the silver key, and that are arranged so as to puncture the hand of any one who tries, unwarned, to open the casket, contain a deadly venom. But, ‘once brought face to face with my fair and gentle cousin, I could not find it in m y J f iear t to carry out my purpose. Two natures have striven for supremacy in my soul. The one is the cruel serpent cunning infused there by the Borgia blood of inv maternal ancestors. The other is the frank kindliness of my Amer¬ ican father. T/lint if the first named (dement should once again w in the Grace’s upper band, as it did when I planru d bridal gift? I have deliberately tested on myself the death doling properties <5f ^isoned ' ^ wUl' hJoA htm°on aiy lluman And never again shall L , wolllli not liv „ tl) deal with fresh temptations — perhaps to succumb to them. The legacy of my great grand father has wrought evil for no one—not even for myself. I go *‘To where, beyond these voices, there is peace.” -Lucy II. Hooper in Frank Leslie’s. ^ n.e Bright w »...i , ,,, . And bette”°daysire mgh, ^ For close before ns we may see Roast turkey and mince pie. -Washington Critic, Eve „ a *7iir Has Uses. “ Mr ' Snyderly.'I hear that you referred to m ?““^; Idid . What al , going to about itr «j was going to ^ you put it p own on paper for me. I want to get a job in an Omaha real estate office, and I don’t need a tetter ,.commendation." - San Francisco Bulletin. A Waste ot Good Material. Their chaste salutes are not misplaced When women kiss a friend or brother; Butof life’s honey what a waste There is when women kiss each other. —Bosto* Courier. A Preference for German. Customer (to barber)—Do you speak more than one language? Barber—Yes, I speaks English and Sher¬ man. Customer—Well, I wish you would talk to me in German. Barber—You oonderstand Sherman? Customer—No.—New York Sun. Lake City Questions. In Chicago it can’t be concealed That many strange questions are bruited— They ask of a man, “How’s he heeled?” Of a woman, “How is she footed?” -Tid Bits. A Valuable Deposit. Hotel Clerk—No, sir, we can’t accommo¬ date you. You have neither baggage nor money. “I know I haven’t, but I came to town in a freight car and there is considerable coal dust in my hair.” “Well, comb it out carefully and that’ll do.”—Nebraska State Journal. Just Now. Oh, this is the autumn gay, When the apples are red and ripe. The quail is piping his lay. And the plumber’s laying his pipe. —Harpers’ Bazar. Money Versus Merit. , Jeems (high muck-a-muck to H. R. H.)— Two H’merican gents h’outside, your roy’l 'ighness. H. R. H.— Names, Jeems? Jeems-Mr. Gould an’ Mr. Sullivan. H. R. II.—Tell Mr. Gould I’Ve gone to the Highlands and show Mr. Sullivan in.—New Y ork Sun. The Best Way. As every one knows, in political strife They'll harp on the ill, not the good; So if ever you did a wrong thing in your life. You’d better keep on sawing wood. -Tid Bits. In Brief and to the Point. Dyspepsia is dreadful. Disordered liver is misery. Indigestion is a foe to good nature. The human digestive apparatus is one of the most complicated and wonderful things in existence. It is easily put out of order. Greasy food,tough food,sloppy food bad cookery, mental worry, late hours, rregular habits, an d may other things which ought not to be, have made the American people a nation of dispepsia. But Green’s August Flower has done a wonderful work in leforming this Sid business an<1 ™ kin * lhe Ameti ' can people so healthy that they can enjoy .their meals and be hippy. Rtmemberr-No happiness without health, But Green’s August Flower brings health and happiness to the dyspeptic. Ask your druggist for a bottle. Seventy-five cents. BUSY AS BEES, “Please say to the readers , of c the Journal that while we are too busy to write an advertisement, we are not too busy to give them careful atten tion if they are in need of anything j„ the way of clothing, hats, furnish complete i«>g 8™^ and &c the Our.stock great rush is i^on fn iand us is evidence that our prices are satis factory. Never before haue we been ”2'“Quick c<-\ vvell assured of the wisdom smaTprofits of our x sales and ” * bus spoke , ,, the • of c J. K. senior Harris & Co., Clothiers, Columbus, tn t0 this 1 hlS SC erdhp | be as ac he ™ hurried hurried rtff Ott to at- at > tend a waiting customer. The finest line of Toilet Soaps ever exhibited in Hamilton just re¬ ceived at the Drug Store. tf ----— —ii ■ — Crops are short but 0 J Edge, of Col ambus, has reduced ti e prices cn his tot k of boots and shoes. ■— --^ i ■ -■ Use Lax ad or for the distress and discomfort resul ing from indigestion and be at once relieved. This wonderful remedy is sold by all diuggist*. Di Bulls Cough Syrup takes the lead of all coush reparations on our shelves.—Car¬ penter^ Palmer, Jamestown, N. Y. I heartily recommend Salvation Oil foi neuialgia, for it acts Mke a charm. J. S McCaiilley, (Polkemany Residence 205 N Bond St. Balio . Rid. A Positive Gentleman. Which is die m st positive geetb man Ct r tain Taylor’s Cherokee Remedy of Sweet Gum and Mullein is certain to cuie oughs, colds and croup. It is pleasant an effective. Like Fainting Ladies. Why are g od resolutions like hunting ladies? Timer should be carried out, and parents should not f. rget the resolutions that would never sufier them to be without that cough and croup cure, Taylor’s Cher¬ okee R medy of Sweet Gum and Mullein. 3! alhnbergers Pills art a true antidote foi malaria. Intermittent lever, bilious remittent fever, dumb ague, periodic head¬ ache as well as regular cbibs are all the results of malaria iu the system. Tbe Pdts do not purge or sicken the stomach, but improve tbe appetite and digestion. They cure immediately by destroying the malarious poison in the system, and can be taken under any circumstances wi’h safety. GOODS MOST BE SOLD! I will offer for the rest thirty days, AT COST, my entire stock of Men’s, Boys’ and Children’s Clothing, Overcoats and Boots At First Cost. I Have too Many in My House, and they Must-be Sold. Everything sold in the Dry Good#.] line at a great reduction in prices . Best Prints at 5 cents.; Checks , 7 cents; All - Wool deans at 25 cents; 40c. Jenns at33*1-3 cents; 50c. Jeans at 40 cents; Dress Goods marked way down In fact , we will sell anything in the house so low that you will he astonished. No humbug about this business Come in and get 0 my prices and you will see that WE MEAN BUSINESS. I Very Respectfully, R. Chipley, Ga.