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An Old Bachelor’s Valentine. (The author of this poem, which originally appeared in Harper’s Magazine , mysterious¬ ly disappeared in 1885, and has never been heard from. At the time of his disappear¬ ance Mr. Conant was editor of Harper's Weekly .] Were I not fn the faded and sere Yellow leaf of my fiftieth year, Katie dear, Or could I recall the sunshine Of youth to this dull heart of mine, I would pen thee a gay valentine, Katie mine. In the morning of life, when the clear Vistas show us no prospect to fear, Katie dear, Ere yet we have learned to repine, We joyously bend at the shrine Of the lover’s good saint, Valentine, Katie mine. When we know that our sunset is near, And our sky is o’erelouded and drear, Katie dear, It’s a strife to feel jaunty and fine, And our fancy can hardly incline Us to homage to St. Valentine, Katie mine. And yet, if I had thee right near, I would whisper a word in thy ear, Katie dear, And bog thee to open thy shrine Of thy heart t»> this poor one of mine, Instead of a gay valentine, Katie mine. — S. It!. Conant. KATE’S STRATEGEM. In a cosy breakfast room three per¬ sons were seated around the cheerful table. Mr. Morton, a tine looking man of 40, wealthy and a bachelor, and’ his two young and jiretty nieces, Lillie and Kate Dale. “Uncle Bert, you out to get married,” said Kate, suddenly breaking a silence which had lasted some minutes. “Wliat for, miss?” asked her uncle, as he laid aside the paper he was reading. “Well,” replied Kate, “you see Lillie is going to marry Frank Hill and go to Chicago to live, and I,” with a pretty blush, “will marry Walter Field at the same time and go to Detroit’; so, don’t you sec, }-ou will be alone, for you will not go with either of us.” ’ “yell, what of that, Miss Puss?” asked her uncle smiling. “1 should like to know who is going to look after your comfort and give you a good scolding when you come home late at night,” demanded Kate in a voice of authority. “Well, 1 can do very well without the scolding, and I expect that Aunt Mollie can take care of the rest,” ho answered lightly, amused at Miss Kate’s air. “Aunt Mollie, indeed! Yes, she will do very well with the cooking, but you sec she will not take care of the other things as she would if you were married and there was some one to give orders about the housework,” answered lvate, shaking her head. “Well, I did not get married when I was a young man, and I don’t think I will now; and besides, there is no one whom I know or care to marry,” he added, sipping his coffee. “There is little Miss Bell,” retorted Kate, darting a quick, sly glance at her uncle from under her dark lashes. “Bosh!” he said nervously, while a faint, flush rose to his forehead. “Well, then, there is the Widow Day ton, and I know that she admires you and would willingly become Mrs. Mor¬ ton.’’ Air. Morton had a wholesome horror of the Widow Dayton, who had on several occasions tried to capture the wealthy bachelor, but bad failed sadly; and of this Kate was well aware, and at times teased her uncle unmercifully. “Heaven protect me from ever marry¬ ing herb She has two red-headed, freckle-faced boys, and has badgered one man to death already,” replied Mr. Morton hurriedly, as he pushed back liis chair from the table. “But, uncle,” continued Kate, “the willow has set her cap for you an l you had better be careful or you will be a married man before you know what you are about.” “Yes; lint you see, mire, she cannot marry me unless 1 ask her to, and that I don't intend to do," he returned, as he hastily rose from the table and prepared to start for his place of business. “Uncle." Kate called after him as lvc left the room, “this is leap year, and if you don’t propose to her she can to you, and it would not surprise me one bit if shc did.*” “Oh, Kate, how can you tease uncle so?” asked Liiiie, after Mr. Alorton had passed out of hearing., “You know he will hardly ever speak to a lady if he can help it.” “Yes, I know, and if he hadn't been •o bashful he could have been married long ago to Miss Bell,” retorted Kate. “Mrs. Jones told me all about it; uncle was too timid to propose and Miss Bell is single yet, I do wish the widow would propose to him,” she added. “Why Kate, you surely wouldn’t want uncle to marry such a vixen as Mrs. Day ton?” laughed Lillie. “No, I don’t want him to marry her, for she would hare hitn badgered to death in a month’s time; but it would be such fun if she only would propose to him, and maybe that would scare him into marrying some one else.” Silence reigned for a few minutes after this speech of Kate’s; each was busy with her own thoughts. All at once Kate sprang to her feet, with mischief in her eyes, and clapping her hands ex¬ claimed: “I have it, Lilli” “Have what?” *‘A joke on Uncle Bert. I am going to make Mrs. Dayton propose to him.” “IIow?” asked Lillie. ‘•‘This is leap year, and Juncle will get a proposal from Mrs. Dayton; if he doesn’t, my name is not Katharine Dale,” answered Kate, nSddiug her head sagely, while her dark eyes spoke volumes of mischief. “Jvatc, what do you mean? IIow can you make her propose?’’ “Just wait and you will see. I can manage that part perfectly well,” re¬ torted Kate, as she danced gayly out of the room and ran up stairs, where she was soon busily engaged in some mys¬ terious scheme. Meanwhile Mr. Morton had not spent a very enviable forenoon, for the words Kate had spoken, in the morning kept ringing in his ears, spite of all efforts to forget. “Bosh! ” he exclaimed at last, throw¬ ing down his pen for the twentieth time, and glancing at his watch. “One o’clock, and I have done nothing today. What a fool I am! Of course Kate was only joking. Mrs. Dayton would not dare to propose. Well, Tom, what is it?” he asked, as an errand boy en¬ tered. “A letter, sir,” said the lad, as he handed Mr. Morton a large yellow mis¬ sive, and then darted quickly out of the door with a broad grin upon his face. Mr. Morton tore open the envelope and drew forth the letter. His hand slfook, and great drops*of perspiration broke out on his brow while he read the following lines: Mr. Morton: Deah Sir,—I take the advantage which this year affords to my sex to inform you of tho tender feel ng I have long felt for y u, and I believe that my sentiments are re¬ turned. I understand that your nieces are to bo married yxm, and I know that you will want some lady to care for your hou e, end greet you • with soothing words of cheer, when you return home weary with tho busi¬ ness cares of the day. Therefore I conquer my modesty and plainly ask you to marry me. Hoping to receive a f ivorable reply soon, I remain, Yours truly, Nancy Dayton. “Heaven and earth!” gasped Air. Morton, letting the letter drop from his trembling hands, and starting to his feet. “Kate was right. She intends to marry me whether or no. What on earth am I to do?” he groaned, sinking back into his chair and dropping his throbbing head upon his hands despairingly. • It is an old adage that “it never rains but it pours,” and so thought Air. Alor ton, for the next moment a clerk put liis head in at the door and said: “If you please, sir, Aire. Dayton is in the store and wishes to see you at once upon important business.” “Eh! What?” almost shrieked Air. Alorton. “Airs. Dayton in there? what shall I do?” he cried, starting up wildly and darting behind the door. “Yes, sir. What shall I tell her?” said the clerk, looking as if lie thought that Air. Alorton had gone crazy. “Oh, for mercy’s sake don’t lot her come in here!” he exclaimed in a sliak voice, “Dou’t, Brcfwn, there’s a good fellow. Tell her anything that I am ilk or not in—tell her to come in some ether time, Get rid of her quick, some way or other; but for Heaven's sake don’t let her come in hero. 1 won’t see her on any terms whatever.” “All right, sir,” said Brown,- as he backed out of the office, almost choking with laughter, as the situation of affairs and the cause of Air. Morton's frantic ac tions flashed through his mind. “Oh inv stars!” groand Air, Alorton, as the door closed behind Brown. “What on earth am I to do? Kate was right, What a fool I was that I did not ask Bessie Bell to marry me years ago! i Then I would have been safe from the clutches of that brazen-faced widow.” He stepped from his place of retreat and, sinking into the nearest chair, bowed his head upon his hands in per¬ plexed thought. Suddenly a bright idea struck him, and he exclaimed: “I’ll do it yet—right away, too, and be done with it 1” Springing to his feet, he seized his hat and gloves and put them on hurried¬ ly. Then he went to the door, and in a nervous whisper called out to the clerk; “Brown, has she gone yet?” “Yes, sir,” replied Brown, while a broad smile spread over his face. “Well, I am going home; I am ill; you will attend to locking up the store.” ‘‘Certainly, ” -returned Brown. Air. Alorton hurried out and walked rapidly up the street until he arrived at a tiny white cottage. Here he stopped and rang the bell. The door was opened by a pretty, dark-haired, brown-haired woman of 35 or 40, who, wdien she caught sight of her visitor's flushed face, and noticed his excited manner, ex¬ claimed'; “Air. Alorton, are you not well? What has happened?” “Nothing, Bessie. Y'es, • I mean I have come to—to—” * he stammered, and then stopped confused and crimson. “Come in,” said Miss Bell, calmly, leading the way into a cosy sitting room. She placed a chair for her visitor and waited for him to speak. Air. Alorton did not take the offered chair, but remained standing toying nervously with the buttons ou his gloves. For several moments neither spoke, then a voice that would tremble, in spite of bis efforts to be calm, he said: ‘ ‘Bessie, I have come to ask you a question. Will you marry me?” “Mr. Morton, surely you don’t mean it!” faltered Aliss Bell, while a rosy blush mounted to her smooth white brow. “Yes, Bessie, I mean every word of it. I have never seen any woman that I loved but you; do you think you could care enough for me to be my wife?” “It’s so sudden,” stammered Aliss Bell. “I know it is, Bessie; but say yes— please do,” he coaxed, gaining courage to plead his cause, now that the ice was broken. What her answer was the reader can judge; for three weeks later he led her into his own home, and introduced her as “Aly wife, Alt' 8 - Bessie Alorton.” Imagine the surprise and delight of Kate and Lillie at this sudden announce¬ ment. “Oh, Lill, didn’t I tell you how it would end? And I am glad of it!” cried Kate, after she had kissed her new aunt and nearly smothered Air. Alorton with a “bear hug” in her delight at the turn affairs had taken. “But uncle, what about the widow?” she quizzed, after the surprise and excitement had somewhat subsided. Air. Alorton looked searchingly into her face for a moment, and catching the gleam of mischief that sparkled in her eye, he exclaimed: “So, miss, it was'you was it? I might have known it was one of 3-0ur tricks; but then, all is well that ends well,” he added, with a loving glance at the sweet face at tho other side of the room.— 1 Vaverley. A Stupendous Mystery. Proctor declared that few even among scientific men appreciate the amazing mystery of the force we call gravity. Wonderful as is the familiar attraction of bodies to the earth, gravitation is al¬ together a greater mystery when consid¬ ered as a property possessed by matter. The universality of the property which belongs not merely to this or that sub¬ stance, hut to every substance, solid, liquid or gaseous, and not to such aggre¬ gations of matter, but .to the ultimate molecules and atoms is an amazing, if not an appalling mystery, Here is mat tor. which men call inert, not merely possessing inherent force, but with its whole texture insiinct with inherent, unexplained, probably inexplicable pow¬ er. But if the universality of gravi¬ tation, and the infinite range of the force thus exerted by all matter are won¬ derful, infinitely more wonderful is the instantaneous nature of its operation. This quality of universal gravitation is indeed so wonderful that few who hear of it for the first time can even admit that it is possible. Yet the astronomer has been able to demonstrate that the interval of time required for gravity to extend its action from one body iu space to any other body, even if separated by a distance so great that light at 187.000 miles per second takes thousands of years to cross it, is less than any interval which can be measured.— Trenton (A. J.) American* NOW! IN THE SPRING OF THE YEAR. During Winter, Nature wisely arranges that we should live on fools containing much tat, or, as they are known, hydrocarbons, for the chemical the purpose of supplying heat to the boly; op¬ eration necessary to transform fat into heat is :he exclusive work of the hver, and so during the time stated it is constancy congested. With the approach of warm weather our diet changes to muscle-producing food, and the work of the liver is much lessened. In the ma¬ jority of cases, however, it is ttiTTinable to com¬ pletely throw off the excess - f bile, tired but remains feeling congested, causing that £5Tl<izy, which many have in the Spring months, when the weather becomes warm. ifc^“Tliis is evidence of an unhealthy condi¬ tion, arfi though people appreciate the neces¬ sity of an alterative at this period, tho com¬ mon idea is to take drastic pills and produce a cathartic effect, only to make matters worse. Tho liver must be unloaded, and its proper ac¬ tion restored before hot weather, if you wish to &ST preserve health, and if this distinct call of nature is unheeded, serious results will occur. tfcjrThe bio >d will become loaded with bile and lithic acid, and as every drop of vital fiui l passes through the kidneys unable to be purified, ttiev soon break down and are to carry ontt-he deadly poison. Warner’s Safe Cure and Warner’s Safe Fills have not only a fcSS"' specific also. action on the kidn ?ys, but on the (tiTliver gjj'“They thin the thickened bile so that it will pass out through its due ts, enable the glands to unload themselves, act cs a solvent on all biliary acids, and in a word, £a>“ fit these great organs for tho season’s work, t&T preventing and all blood poisoning, inflammation, abscess, affections to which they are so liable. e*TAs you value the blessings of health, do not allow the summer to approach without giv¬ ing your system a “general house-cleaning,” in the manner we have indicated. i&i5““To forewarned is to bo forearmed.” Icy Facts. If we had plenty of wheat the coming crop, xve may be able to teach Russia a mild lesson as to our Supremacy as a mer¬ cantile nation when we have goods to market, and we hope we will. Alean while. we can furnish her with the mo¬ tive power to perfect her methods of marketing her vast surplus, and if we can’t buy her slaves, can furnish them with clothin", as does our mother coun¬ try iu a world nearer the sun. Our corn trade is not dead nor yet sleeping, and demonstrates possibilities of plenty, well handled. Railroad companies are not always blessings, and foreign stockhold¬ ers are frequently the better off. East¬ ern ^apital built our roads; Eastern edu¬ cation supplies the craftsmen who run their shops and direct their management, the but the West continues to make rates which has placed wheat, still places place flour, and may next threaten to than corn m foreign ports a less tariff covers its transportation to the seaboard. We will either wind up in Eastern Eu¬ rope or Western Africa, with a wide waste between.— Baltimore, Md., Jour¬ nal of Commerce. Cotton Burnings on Shipboard. The report of the special committee of the Charleston, S. C., Exchange, shows plainly that there is no evidence of the existence of a ring for the purpose of purchasing cotton from burnt steam¬ ships, at improper prices; that there is no evidence that the cotton fires at that port were due to incendiarism; that no ring exists whose iuterest it is to cause cotton tires, because its members obtain a share of the plunder; and, finally, that there is no proof that insurance com¬ panies are defrauded at that port, or that the charges there are greater than the charges elsewhere. The committee show plainly that the existing laws permit the collusion of shipmasters with outside persons, in case of fire or disaster. The master of a burning steamship has sole and complete control of the cargo, and in him the power is vested of making contracts for handling it as he may elect. There is temptation to him, therefore, will to make bargains with outsiders who pay him liberally for a preference. partic¬ There is need of improvement in ular directions, and it is especially re¬ quisite that a change be made in the powers of shipmasters in case of fire. A Boomerang. A wonderful event has occurred in Utah that will give Alormon leaders something to talk over and meditate about. The municipal election occurred recently at Ogden, a city of some 12,000 inhabitants and next in size to Salt Lake. The increase of the Gentile population during the last few years had been a source of anxiety to the Alormon rulers, and various artifices were employed the to render their influence of no effect at polls, s > finally on election day orders were issued to the police (all Alormons), to arrest a number of the Gentiles and keep them as prisoners until the election was over. This was frustrated by the appearance of a company of Federal troops under the marshal, who said that cvery voter should be allowed to offer his ballot. The result was most grati- their fying to the Gentiles, who elected entire ticket. Snip -owner —“Has the Dauphin sailed for the West coast of Africa, John?" Cierk—“No, sir.” S. O.—“She hasn’t? Those confouuded missionaries have de¬ layed her, I suppose?” C.—“No, sir, the missionaries are all right; they’re aboard.” S. O—“What’s the trouble, then?” C.—“There’s a strike at the distillerv, and the rum hasn't eome down yet.” *__ Diamond Vera-Cura FOR DYSPEPSIA. and all stomach troubles such as Indigestion, Sour Stomach, Heartburn. Nausea, Oid din^aa. Constipation. Fullness after •atinjr. Food Ris.ng in the Mouth and diBajm^abte taste after tatin*r- Nervousness and Low Spirits. At Druggists nd Dealers or sent by mail an re¬ ceipt of‘2 5 cts. (5 boxes $1.00) tit stamps. SamjAe sent on rece pt of 2-cent st amp. The Charles k. Vcgeler Co., Baltimore, Md m Lire at home and m»kc motr monrr workir.- for ts, t h«n l.t.i.rthioycUrmth. rrorK! Elthrr <*i Cooti.r outfit Irrutit Klh. iddrr.r, Co., Mime. Adding’ Insult to Injury. It is like adding insult to injury to administer a decoction of poison oak to a sufferer bom Wood poison. Doctors don’t do it. They know it has no real merit, and is often danger¬ ous, yet, because Indians used it and the stuff is cheap, it is a common ingredient in remedies advertised as vegetable cures of blood diseases. B. B. B. (Botanic Blood Balm) contains no poison oak, no mercury, no hurtful ingredient of any kind. It is strictly a professional pre¬ scription with itself iodide the of po'tash as and a safest basis, and has proven evil quickest blood, also, cure for for the many effects of bad strengthening, regulating and benefiting the whole general system, and as a Spring Tonic, it gives the greatest satisfaction. Damascus, “I L. W. Thompson, Ga., writes: made. believe B. B. B. is the best blood purifier It has greatly improved from my Miccosukee, general health.” “I A minister writes Fla.: received no relief from a severe case B. of indiges¬ tion and dyspepsia, until I used B. B.” An old gentleman writes: “B. B. B. gives me new life and new strength. If there is any¬ thing that will make an old man young, it is B. B. B.” of M. J. Rossman, a prominent merchant Greensboro, Ga., writes: “I know of several cases of blood disease speedily cured by B. B; B. Two bottles cured a lady of ugly scrofulous skin sores.” James W. Lancaster, Hawkinsville,Gi., writes: “My wife was in bad health for eight years. Five doctors and as many or more different pat¬ ent medicines has done her no good. Six bot¬ tles of B. B, B. has cured her.” _- • The center of population of the I T . S. is sup¬ posed to be 500 miles west of Cincinnati._ A Perfect Laxative should be mild, prompt, tAji and pleasant, with no griping or purgative ef¬ fects. It should also in¬ • 9 . cite the liver to action, aid digestion, and re¬ * lieve the kidneys. A v Like nothing else, (E? Paine's Celery 4 S' Compound is a perfect laxative, and 1 cures constipation V where all other remedies fail. “As a gentle laxative, Paine’s Celery Com¬ pound Is surely without a peer. I think I ought to know, since I have tried remedy after reme¬ dy for about flve or six years, and have found nothing that equals It in my case of costiveness." J. B. Jenkins, Teacher, Cloyd’s Creek, Team ‘•Paine’s Celery compound is prompt and pleasant. As a laxative it leaves little to be de¬ sired. I have great confidence in Its merits.’’ Albert Leonard, Associate Editor . Journal of Pedagogy, Athens, Ohio, "For two or three years I suffered intensely every night with severe pains In my bowels, which were habitually constipated. My bowels are now regular, and I have had no return of those pains since using one bottle of Paine’s Celery Compound F. G. Sticknky, Druggist, Havana, Ala. Moral: Use Paine’s Celery Compound and stop ruining the intestinal tract with harsh purtR tive pills. $1.00. Six for $5.oo. Druggists. Wells, Richardson & Co., Burlington, Vt. DIAMOND DYES Are the simplest Dyes made . A child can use them . BABIES Liring u P on d L <* ctat fid F °f arc rIca 'l££ > dl THE WC2LD OUOHT TO EOT IT. The world ought to jfT.I know wnat B S. S. has done for me in the cure If# J of a malignant Cancer, which was go bad as to Mb he considered incura¬ ble by the physicians in Chicago, where I went to be treated. One f f J 1 of my neighbors sent me a copy of an adver- LaJ tiscment in regard I to Swift’s Specific, and I HMM began taking ft. got relief from the first few A, doses; the poison and I was gradually forced out of my system, was soon cured since sound I quit tak- and ■BBaj well. ing S. S. It S. is and now I have ten months dreadful disease. had no sign of return of the Miss. Ann Botiiwei.l. An Sable, Mich., Dec. 89, ’S3. Send for hooks on Blood Diseases and Cancers, mailed free. v The Swift Specific Co. Drawer 3, Atlanta, Ga. ECLIPSE PLANTER « f\ ■EX fif 4 0 [sMaffiMs® mm*. m m " -7%. J ■SptW'0 : J McKixzie, Term., M«r29» 1-^* Mr. D. C. LYTCH, Laurinburg, N. C.—I havn trav¬ eled for fivo yf»ftr4 in Tennessee. Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi and Arkan-IM; saw a great many different kinds of planter.^, and yours is the only one I ever oesides saw that I thought a success, I has planted the two planter crops and its my own and every one that seen A large number work pronounces it a perfect success. will be sold in this section next season. Yours truly, R. E. PATE. ^S?”Save thisior future reference. It will not appear asain. _.__ DETECTIVES Wanted in ever* Countv. Shrewd men to act under ics*r»ctiooB tn our Secret Service. Experience not necessary. Particulars free. Ur anil an Detective Bureau Co44 Arcade, Ci;:l:Mt:.0. AO._- BUSINESS EDUCATION! " half required elsewhere. Students can enter afc anytime. Address \ORT I GjiOKl.I.l AlIKI t i l/iT KAI. OULLbCii, Dnhlonejjn. «-a. 0 r-TrOTIlire fc tb I IV wantsd, goodmenf ir Det- 1 LO ectives everywhere. NO FEE charged. Send 9 one-c -r.t ‘tamps hr instruc¬ tions. MOHAWK DETECTIVE BUREAU, headquarters. Wichita, Kansas. who hare nsed Piso’3 Cure for Consumption say it is BEST OF ALL. Sold everywhere. 25c. | E.erbv’e Veet-Pocke* Encyclopedia eontaia.* are? 500 ■> ^ fill go? mwISfwws 'iu tar. aTnTlj Eleven,