Newspaper Page Text
THE MACON TELEGRAPH
MACON. GA., SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 23, 1894-TWELVE PAGES.
7a llr.
MlagitOitpjf, 5 <
Ben Holding waa a tall, handsome
young fellow, In a much better position
than 1; but I never envied him that dr
anything else till he came between me
and pretty Lizzie Meadows. She waa
am orphan, and lived with her grand-
farher. Luk© Meadows, the oldest fish
erman In the village. Had she wished
i . «h? might have had all the lavla In
u nMce at her feet: but even in her
childish days, when her companions
iuw b Li„ lor privilege of buying toys
or sweets for her, or of carrying be**
■books whon she trotted to school, she
would give them no reward but a smile
op a glance from her dark eyes. Her
childish kisses were reserved for me. To
one only she told her childish, eecrem
and brought her childish troubles.
But now she was a woman grown, and
no longer lavish of her favor. She was
quiet and shy. And old Luke, being
naturaly very careful of his treasure,
guarded her so Jealously that It became
each day more and more difficult to ob-
tain speech with her. It was but seldom
Mow lUM.t I w.u< allowed to lo >k in at
•the cottago of a Sunday evening, as I
hud been in the habi. of dicing rcgularlr
from a boy. But that troubled me the
l&ss inasmuch as the permission was
not granted to anyone e’.-se.
At length, however, it began to be
whispered about that Ben Holding
went very frequently to Meadows’ cot
tage, and wus doubkless paying atten
tion to his granddaughter. This was
the more surprising, as the youiig man
hud, till very recently, been working
at a place some twenty miles to the
north; and, to my certain knowledge,
there was nothing between the * * wo
when he first went there. His work
must have brought him in a good round
sum, for he went fishing now in a boat
of his own, and had taken a cottage
till to himself, instead of living in a
singld rcom or boarding in a family,
a3 was the custom with the yoar.g
fishermen roundabout. However, I gave
little heed »:o such gossip. Lizzie always
greeted me with a smile when we met;
an! Meadows was. If anything, rather
mere friendly than he had beeu tor
somo time. Moreover, Jf by chance I did
cpeLd an evening at the cottage, X
nsver came across Ben Holding. He
used to. gt by on Sundays on his way
to the meetings of the Plymouth Breth
ren, where he was a constant attend-,
ant; but he never stayed to chat nvue
than five or ten minutes, and what he
said to the girl all the world might
hear.
I went downr to Meadows’ place one
Sunday afternoon wkh the intention
of telling Ll2zle how it was with me
and of asking her to be my wife. It
\\ uu'.d’ be the beet, way, I thought, of
Muting an end Uo the talk of the vil
lage, which did not please me, though
It caused me no anxiety. I had lately
had a raise in. my wages, and w.ih
promised a further increase at t’.te end
ot the year; so I hoped to satlofy
Meadows as to my prospects.
I cannot 'tell if he suspected my in
tention; but It was in vain I sought for
an opportunity of speaking to Lizzie
that evening. Meadows talked without
ceasing, and Lizzie herself seemed more
occupied than usual. Instead of sitting
still, Bhe flitted about) the kitchen, do
ing one -tiling or another; now reach
ing down plates from the topmost shelf
of the dresser, then bending over the
fire, where, contrary -to 2i?r custom on
n Sunday, She had two or three pots
to attend to. I was so absorbed In
watching her movements, that I fear
I made but an Indifferent listener to
Meadows’ old-time yarns. _ It was a
delight to me to note the graceful tfum
of her figure; to watch the color deep
ening on her Cheek till her delicate ear
looked like a rose leaf as It lay amid
the clustering rings of her dark hair.
Lizzie laughingly turned us out *4 last,
I offered to h£p her; but the old vnhn,
saying dhe wanted to sot the kitchen
to rights, and we were in the way.
would not hear of my doing anything,
and carried me off to the porch to
smoko a pipe wi tfti Mm.
We hadn’ t sat there itong before I saw
Bon Holding in the distance, evidently
making his way toward us. So lltffie
did I fear him, that I was actually glad
to see him. thinking he would take off
Meadows aldtemtton and give me n
chance of a word wtth Lizzie. But I
soon saw that was not to he. After
shaking hands wltlh us, Ben strode Into
the kitchen; and though we followed
Immediately, he had found time to give
her & ltttle ndte, for I saw her hide 1C
in her dress sis I came in.
I soon dbcovered he had been Invited
to Supper, and the dishes Lizzie - had
been takng so much pains wiftli were
•prepared in'his honor. When we sat
down to table, the talk turned on mat*
ter.* of which I knew nothing and in
which I could take no part. Lizzie
ask'd auestlon after' question ubout
Hcldmg’s cottage, and displayed such
an Inti mute knowledge of its arrange
ments that it was clear to me th<* sub-
Je.'.t had been often discussed between
them. What could this mean, but that
the houne was furnished for ber ss
H‘j’d*n*’« wife? Meadows smiled placid-
lv, tPd looked on with an air of ap
proval that well nigh maddened nie. I
turned cold and sick; but though 1
never spoke, and hardly touched a mor-
cel on my plate, they paid no heed
to me. but continued to laugh and Jose
over their own affairs. At last, I could
stand it no longer, and, rising from the
table, abruptly said it was tini* to go
home. Tien, for the first time, Liszle
seemed to perceive my agitation, for
*,„<» blushed and looked confuted.
"Are you going out tomorrow.
George?” Meadows asked m I bado
him good night.
"Of oourse,” I said briefly, "why
n-»t*”
"I don’t like the look of the weather,"
he explained. "I was Just going to sa>
to when Ben came up this evening. 1
am not one to counsel any man to
stay at home whon there Is work l > be
done, but Industry is one thing and
rashness Is another. It’s blaw.ng up
for a gale, take my word for it, lads.
1 here'll be mischief tomorrow, J warn
you."
"What then?" I rejoined sullenly.
" *Tw<m% be the first gale I've been o*:i
In. ior the last, maybe. And If If U. no*
body will care.
"No man has « right to throw Ms life
*way," urged the old man solemnly.
"Whet’s oome to you, George? That’s
not like you. I hope you will take my
ha.vice. Ben, anyway, for the Mer
maid is not seaworthy. You’ll rue th*
day vrh«»n you bought her If you don’t
lookout.”
"We* 1 see how It Is to the morn
ing,” Ben said hopefully.
"Anyhow, you ca-n’t say nobody
cares,” I heard Lizzie whisper. And
then *he went on half to herself: "And
n*»orgP has no right to say such
things.”
I went out, and, to jay. surprise*
Holding followed me. I hurried on,
thinking to avoid him. but he soon
caught me up. The sky was cloudy
and dark, and on one side was a streak
of grayish yellow light, where the
moon was struggling to break throulgh.
I saw no cause for old Luke's -warn
ing, nor did Holding, it) appeared, for
he began: "What ca»n Meadows mean;
Powell? rt is a dirty night, no doubt;
but Until clear before morning, I
should think. What say you?’!
"I -think so, too,” I answered between
my set teeth.
"But he is not one to croak, and lie
Is very rarely out of tota predictions,”
Ben continued. Woifld It not be wiser
to stay on shore?”
“Do so. by all means, if you ore
afraid,” I replied with a sneer. ‘'You
are your own master."
The taut stung him, I could see, dark
as it was; but he kept fills temper, and
only satd: “I don’t deserve that,
George, and no one knows it better than
you do. What ails you tonight?”
** ’Taln’i your business."
“Are you in trouble? Can I do any
thing?”
"You can hold your tongue.
"What will Lizzie say?”
"She’ll care as little as you or anyone
else. How dare you talk of Lizzie to
me? Go your own way. amd lot me go
mine” . _ .
"Nay, Powell; Hsteav—" he began. But
I would not stay to hear; 1 broke away
from him. and ran down a narrow lane
that led ’to my lodging. I was boiling
over with wrath, and his coolnes Irri
tated me beyond all bearing. What
right had he to bring In Lizzie's name?
He had stolen her from me: let that con
tent him. And how Meadows toad de
ceived me! He know, no man bettor,
what took me to h!s cottage, and yet
he encouraged Ben's suit on 'the sly. I
fel-t as if 1 could have throttled him.
In such a frame of mind, it wan not
likely I should sleep, and, in fact, I
spent the night hi walking up and down
my little room revolving in my mind
owe plan of revenge after another. Hold
ing and Lizzie should never come to
gether, if, by fair means or foul, I could
prevent it. Who would have thought, I
reftocted blitterly, 'that Meadows was so
mercenary? Because Ben had a bbat
of his own and two men in his pay.
while I worked with Tom Ford at a
weekly wage, she was ready to throw
me over. I felt glad I had taunted
Holding with being a coward. Nbw he
would go out In the morning, whatever
thus weather, and who could 6ay what
might not (happen? His bout, the Mer
maid, wus, as everyone knew, a rotten
tub. In Ills anxiety to rise above his
follows he had bought her without con
suiting anyone, and had been griev
ously cheated in the bargain. Lizzie’s
Bweet eyes seemed to plead for him;
they haunted me, turn where I wrould,
but I would not tot them influence me.
If her lover perished In the -waves, she
deserved all the pain lit would give her,
the little flirt. But however magCCf
turned out, no one oouLd impute blame
to me.
Before sunrise I was out and on niv
way to the beach. The morning brake
dMomy aud dull; the clouds were
ragged and torn at 'the edges, jelling •>".
a wind; but the sea Just then was
calm enough. The barometer at ire
Coastguard station was lower than It
had been for weeks; still, I liud g«ne
oiu many a day more stormy-iuoitiag
thrfn this, and I made up my mind
that If Ford wished to go, I would say
nothing lo dissuade him. It was not
likely he would care to stay ou shore.
He was a bold, determined fe.low, and
knew his boat, “the Vixen, to be one of
the stoutest arnTbest buLlt in the place.
He came down presently, and, with
a shrug of his shotilders and the re
mark, "We’ll get a. wetting today, morp
titan likely," motioned to me to shove
off. Ford was a man of few words.
As we Itook our seats I saw Holding
and his men getting In their nets und
preparing to follow us. So, then, he had
not taken, the old- man’s advice. He
nodded to me as we passed, and smil
ingly waved his hLtid; but I kept my
eyes turned away and made no an
swering sign.
We got on much as usual till about 3
o’clock in the afternoon. Then i saw
Mra-dowS’ prediction would be verified.
Thunder rumbled in the distance, and
the waves were (high and sullen Sud
denly the wind sprang up, and It was
all wc could do to shorten bail before
It was down upon us. Ford said It was
a squall,' and we had seen tne worst
of It; but he was wrong, as the event
proved. The gusts of wind followed
each other fast. Every wave threatened
to engulf the Vixen and her crew, and
it soon became a atruggte f ir Ufa. For
my own safely I cared little; life had
ceased to have any attractions for
me; but remembering Ford’s wife end
little children, I worked manfully to
keep the bait on her c-iursc.
"Who would~have thought It would
blow like this?” Ford said in) "his usual
phlegmalMc fata hi on as we crouched to
gether in «fhe stern.
"Meadows said last night ’twould be
rougher than common,” I rejoinod.
"But he is getting Old now, and thinks
•more of <a hatful of wind than he used
to do."
"You should have told me tha)t," said
Ford, gravely. "It’s never safe to go
ag’in’ oM Luke—he knows the weather
signs better -than any man. I say,
George Powell.” ho went on looking
keenly at Tne. "Is Holding to carry off
pretty Lizzie? He was at the cottage
last night, my wife says. He seems to
be there most days."
"I cant tell you," I replied. "It's
nothing to me or to you either.”
"Nothing to me, certainly," returned
Ford. "But the folks used to say She
wata for you, lad."
"Docn’t look much like It/' was my
somewhat equivocal’ -reply.
" ’Don my soul, you are right, 1
growled Ford as another great wave
broke over us. "But df that is what
you mean. Holding's chance is no (bet
ter than your ow5, or as good. Look!
Isn’f that the MenmaM yonder?”
It wan not easy to distinguish any
thing, for my eyes were full of salt
/woer; but after a bit I managed to
make out Holding’s boat, with three
men on hoard of her, being driven be
fore the gate. It wus madness on his
pjrt not to fcwve put back hours ago, for
he knew well enough how little the
Mermaid was fitted Co encounter such a
Sea as this. For a few minutes the
wind >uVled. and we came within speak
ing dSsfcanoe.
“Geowti." Holding shouted as soon as
be could make himself heard, "Mead
ows knew what toe wan albout last (tight,
eh? I Was a fool not to take his ad-
overcome with horror. To have my ’
rival thus suddenly swept from my |
ipajth was mono chan I coiuld bear. Last
night I would have hailed with joy any
thing ttoat severed him from Lizzie.
Now I felt like a murderer. It -was I
that had lured him, to his doom and
wrooked the life of the girl <1 loved. I
tried to pray for God's forgiveness; tout
no words would come, in my misery
I would have (thrown myev>lf into the
water, but I had no strength -to move.
Fon) caited to me, but bio voice fell on
deaf ears. I lay stunned and motion
less.
I must have remained In- that state
for some time. Ford -thought I had
been ©truck toy lightning; but it was out
of his power to help me; It was ou Ire
eouid ao, singio-hunded, to guide our
little craft. Fpriunatoly. lor ns both,
the storm began to ubaite, or wc .should
nover 'have reached Che siiroiv.
It was dusk when we landed, and tn«
harbor-lights flashing Into my eyos
roused me from the lethargy lino whicu
I had fai’len. A crowd was assembled
on the tooacto. eagor i^o welcome fine
friends Ithey had given up for lost. I
sopa made out the tall figure of Mead
ows, with his granddaughter clinging
to him as If for support, and I bowed
my (nead in agony at (the thought of
iihe fatal news I had.to give her. But*-
deuly a voice sound.-d In my ear, dear
and etoahp afoowe the rest, aud I started.
It was a voice I had never expected to
hoar again In ihio world.
"Here they are at last!” Ben Holding
cried joyfully. "Lizzie, look up. Powell
la cafe, tJhank God! He Is here!”
I staggered toward (thorn, dizzy and
faint. The Joy was overpowering. By
wtoait miracle had Holding escaped vrit*
his life? He seized me by the hand a»d
drew me forward. Lizzie said something
I could not (hear, and would have fallen
to the ground had not someone caught
her and laid her, white ns a lily, ini her
grandfather’s arms. Then ensued a
babel of voices. AH the fishermen in
•die village seemed thronging to shake
hands with me and Ford, and I ga*th-
ered from tthelr talk that great anxiety
had been felt on oar accounit; tlhclt a
IlfcJboat had been sent to our aid and
had Mien in with the (Mermaid only
just in time to save tho lives of thosv?
on board, for she had capsized and lefit
them nil struggling In the water. By
the time 'this wars effected ttoe -wind
went down, and finding the Vixen wus
not in -pressing need of asistolace. the
liCeboat made for the shore, where she
arrived'long before we did
1 was borne on the shoulders of my
comrades to Meadows’ house, where a
good glass of grog helped to steady my
nerves. Bo* ns coon ns I was able to
walk I Insisted on going home, giving as
an excuse that I wajited to turn In. To
remain under Meadows' roof was Intoler
able.
Well, If go you must," Luke exclaim-
ed, when he found that I would stay no
longer, "I will see you to your door.
Don'-t-cty, my girl; ho will bo -all right
in the morning. Bon and I will look af
ter him."
"Powell," Holding began, as soon as I
had reached my room, "you and I have
a little matter to*settle, and the sooner
it Is done the hotter. I know what Is
troubling you. I knew It last night and
would have set you right then if you had
listened lo me. I don’t deny I was put
out by what you said—but— Well, I havo
been very near death today, and such
things seem of no Importance. You think
Lizzie and I are lovers, don’t you? All
the village thinks so. Because I have
taken a little house of my own, I am
going to take a wife they say. And so I
am. Mary Blake and 1‘ hope to come to
gether at Christmas. Bhe lives at the
place wherc'Tve'been working all sum
mer. As I haven't a creature belonging
to me, I como to Lizzie for help; for
what do I know of how things ought to
look or what a girl likes to have about
her? But you’ve no call to bo jealous,
my friend; Llzzlo Is yours heart and soul.
I’ve thought bo many a day, and now
I’m sure of It. I confess I pretended to
make love to her last night, but it was
only a bit of fun. Will you forget and
forgive?” '
What a relief those words w*ere to me!
I tried to tell him of all the wicked
thoughts that had filled my brain, and
to ask his pardon for them; but he would
not let me speak and presently wont
away, leaving mo alono with Luko Mead
ows.
I could do no less than confess the state
of my heart to the old mnn, though 1
was scarcely In a condition to talk co
herently. But fizzle's grief and terror
during the storm had softened him; and
Instead of repelling me, as I had feared
he would do, he smiled as he said It was
true he haa vowed never to part with his
little girl; but If I liked to come and live
at the cottage I might marry her when
ever I pleased, nnd th«* sooner (lie bolter.
But that happy day was not to dawn
yet a while. The next morning found me
unable to rise from my bed, And many
weeks passed before I could leave It
again. Through the fever that followed
Holding nursed mo like a brother, even
putting off his own wedding rather than
leave me to atrange hauda; and I verily
believe It was owing to his watchful care
that I ever recovered my health—as It
was to him I owed the restoration of my
peace of mind.
Winter had passed away and the spring
flowers were peeping from their hiding
places in the grass before Lizzie Mead
ows and I were man and wife. All Liz.
zle’s old playfellow's came to the church
to nee her married and wish her happiness
with the lad she Had chosen; but no one’s
words touched me so nearly as did those
of Ben Holding.
"Ah, Ben," I -whispered, as I wrung his
hand, "I don’t deserve my happiness, and
no one knows that better than you do.”
Of course he assured me It was all non
sense, and I must not let such thoughts
trouble me; but I know well that the rec
ollection of that terrible day will never
fade from my memory.—Chamber’ Jour
nal.
vice. I ahfcdl never set foot oo shore
aipaln.” •
Ford mood up, a rope in his hand,
and called to him to come on board the
Vixen. But Holdtna shook hla he ui.
He tree Seaman tmougfa to know that to
attempt such a thin* would lo all prob
ability swamp ue all, and he would not
risk If.
‘Tell the folks you saw us," he nsld
calmly, ttooogto hla face was white as
death. "Bid them good-bye. I know
Meadows will look after my kttle girl.
God Hess her! And you, George—Liz
zie—"
His votes wso lost in tt** roar of the
wave*, and indeed my heart beat so
fast I should hardly have made out his
words Vn any case. A flaah of light-
(ting more vivid than any we had had
yet haif'btinded me. ami aj. the same
moment w* Shvwwl a sea that nearly
washed us from our seats. When we
hvd succeeded in baling out the water,
and wetti able to look about us. I
nought to all directions for the Mermaid,
but she was nowhere to be* seen. I trast
my seif down in ttoe bottom of the boat.
"Look at the tixponse."
An old couplo fell 111 of old age to
gether. The husband died, but the wlfo
had more vitality. On the day following
her husband's death she was better, nnd
the doctor wow congratulating himself on
tho success of Ids treatment. But the
woman's point of view was different. Bhe
complained bitterly, for, as she forcibly
pointed out, "Kf ee’d lat mo alono, one
funeral ’ud a done for us two, an look
what It’ll cost now berrying two of na
soparntelyl”—Westminster Budget.
Sorted In Her Best Bonnet.
Being buried In a sealskin sack Is not
half so droll as tho Boston woman order
ing she should wear a certain particularly
becoming bonnet oo her last journey, an
order, too, that was religiously carried out
by her family when the time camo for
burial.—Boston Journal.
A Postal Order Is Safer.
In sending money in a letter, if It is
folded Inside a card, Hkcwlse folded, there
Is very little danger of even tho practiced
finger tips of tfcu postofilce clerks disoov*
•ring its presence In the envelope.
Mrs. Jabber (to Mr. Jabber): “Are you aware that you talk la
your deep)"
Young: Jabber (who has just been silenced): "What other chance
does be get!"
. —Scribner’s Magazine.
AN EXPERIMENT.
CHEAP TIICKETS ON SALE
Via Southern railway to West Palm
Beach, Florida, account opening Royal
Pouclana Hotel. Tickets on Male Decem
ber 2* and 27th. with return limit ten
days from da'te of sale, 115 for the
round trip. Avail yourself of this op
portunity to visit the East Ccnnt.
Double dally trains, leave Macon at
Southern (E. T.. V. Sc 0.) depot at 7.30
p. m. and 2.30 a. m-
"I wish you would give up the notion,
Matilda. It’s ng'inst tho Scriptures, and
It ain’t right,” Bald Calob Brown to his
wife.
"It ain’t ng’lnst tho Sorlpluros to only
thorn that won’t hclluvo. If tho Lord hns
revealed tho day of hla coming to tho faith
ful ones, doesn’t It bocoiuo them to be
ready? Ain’t that Sorlpturo, Caleb
Brown?”
The next night thore was a meeting,
and Caleb went to it. The elder waxed
eloquent ns he described tho glories of tho
ascension nnd tho terrible destruction of
tho imponltont. Women sobbed hysteric
ally, nnd children clung to tbelr parents
in fear.
"Ho’s crazy’s a loon and ought to bo
shut up,” thought Caleb.
Mrs. Brown was vory quiet all the way
homo.
** I don’t want to leave you behind, Ca
leb,” 6ho said ns they sat before the flro.
“You’ll never hoed to if you don’t leavo
me till you go that way,” ho repllod.
All tho next day Caleb soetned more
disturbed than ever. I|o loaned on tho
lioo haudln whon at work and talked to
hlmeolf while milking. Ho bad faithfully
tilled Ills farm, although Mrs. Brown had
protested against the waste of labor, as
they would not need the produots. Sbo
did not dry apples nor make preserves as
usual.
“It’ll bo dry eating without them next
winter,” said Caleb.
Ho milked tho cows that evening, think
ing aloud, as usual.
r T think hq”—• meaning the older—
“won’t bo In tonight, and T’U speak to
Matilda about it. ' She nlways was a little
mito jealous of Sophy James, though sho
was not so much to blamo, aftor all, for
wanting to got marrlod. No woman Is.
They nro hotter off, I any."
Caleb went into thqhouse with the pall
of milk and ato his supper as usual. Mrs.
Brown washed tho dishes and drew her low
rockor up to tho sewing tablo. Tho oven-
Ings wore chilly, and u bright flro burned
in tho flrcplaco, Its ruddy glow eollpslng
tho tallow cundio that burnod on the sow
ing tablo.
“Matilda, whon Is that ascension to
come off?” asked Caleb.
”Tho C8tli—that’s throe weeks from to
morrow—and wo nro going over to Hem-
look hill to watch for tho Lord’s coming
from there. 1 do hopo you’ll bo ready, Ca-
lob.”
"I’m ready now without going over to
Homlock bill,” replied Caleb, “but there
is ono thing I wish you would do for mo
before tho time comes.”
"What is It?” sho asked.
*‘I wish you would learn Sophy James
how to cook. 1 calculato It’s going to bo
quito u spuco of tlmo between the ascen
sion and the destruction of the world. Tho
Lord warned tho Sodomites several times,
nnd I guess ho will do as muoh for us.
Now, I don't want to live here alone, and
no woman can cook os you do without be
ing learned.”
”You’vo nlways bad good victuals, If I
did cook thorn,’1 interrupted Mrs. Brown,
not yctsoeing tho drift of Caleb’s remarks.
“I know It, Matilda, nnd I don’t find
any fault, only as you are going away l
wish you would learn Sophy. Sbo is a
goo<l housekeeper, but not muoh of a cook,
so ®I havo been told. I think of getting
her to como and live wit U me after you go. ’'
"Caleb Brown!” Matilda let fall the
white robe sho was sowing on and stood
before him. “You'll wait till I have as-
conded before you bring another tiornan
into tho house, a simpering old maid like
Sophy James!”
"Shu ain't to blame for bolng an old
maid, Matilda. She has tried hard enough
to get married, and I thought you would
rather have ber than a young woman. I
had.”
"You won’t need to get anybody for the
present,” said Matilda.
No more was said that evening. Caleb
went out to the barn and then took down
tho Blblo for prayer, os waa his custom.
Mrs. Brown was too excited to talk or
sleep. Sho went around the house the
next day more absorbed even than Caleb
had been. She went to the front room
closet aud took out her best china. An
unolo had given It to her on her wedding
day. Not a piece had been broken or
craokcd In her 120 years of housekeeping.
She lifted ono of the shell cups.
"Sophy James!” she said scornfully.
“It will bon long time before sho use* my
dishes If sho waltz for me to ascend. They
would get married before I was out of
sight,” continued Mrs. Brown, forgetting
for tho moment the terrible destruction
that was to fall upon tho Impenitent. “It
Is a wonder to mo he didn’t marry her
years ago, and he would have done so,
only sho wouldn't glvoblra achanoo to do
his own courting. Caleb was always a mas
ter hand to havo his say.”
Mrs. Brown went book. to the kitchen
and sat down with n very sober face. Hho
began to cry, nnd sho rooked and sobbed
spasmodically, Jlko a tempest that passe*
over and returns.
Caleb came In for a drink of water.
“What’s tho matter, Matilda?” he asked.
"To think,” sobbed Matilda, "that you
should want Fophy Jnme* to keep house
for you whllo I am living!”
Caleb did not boe any more that morn
ing. In the evening a neighbor called on
i her way to church and found him and his
1 wife busy paring apples.
1 "We are not going this evening,” said
i Mrs, Brown. "I am behind with my pre
serving, and Caleb is hdlplng mo pare ap
ples so I can make older apple sauco.”
"Mis’ Brown,” exclaimed the neighbor,
“you ain’t a-goin to buckslide jest as tho
time la drawin nlgb, air yon?”
“I am going to take iny chances with
Caleb,” answered Mrs. Brown.
Tho neighbor wont bur way and report
ed Mrs. Brown’s backslidden state. Tho
noxt night tho elder called to expostulato
with hor. Caleb was chopping poppers,
and whether It was Mrs. Brown’s lost state
or tho pungent odor of tho peppers that
affected tho elder ho could not. tell. Ills
tears and pleadings were all in vain. No
vision of glory or destruction was half so
real to Mrs. Brown ns tho vision of 8ophy
James laying tho table with hor best china.
I havo made up my mind to tako my
chnnccBwith Caleb,” was all Bhe would
say In reply to tho elder.
“I guess, Matilda, wo will stand just as
good 0 WASCO ns tho onus that have to
pcntcu for n season, swing wo havo bo-
longod to tho church and tried to do our
duty for twenty odd years. It’s only tho
tlmo wo’ll bo mlstukon In anyway,”
Caleb would add.
Tho noxt Rpring, whon Mrs. Brown
cleaned house, sho found tho unfinished
robe.
I will give it to Nancy to mako over
for tho children. It’s good muslin and
will mako them pretty summer drosses. I
don’t sco how I camo to bellcvo such non-
sense In tho first place. ”
Caleb dlod years ago. Matilda still
awaits tho Lord's coining, but not a* In
tho former time.—Exchange.
SHE WAS A VAS3AR GIRL.
THE GALLANT PEPPERELL
A Monument to Commamorato His Cap-
taro of Luulabarg.
One of tho firnt great soldiers of A merica
was William Poppurvll, who at the head
of a colonial army.
of 4,000 men and
aided by a few
British warships,
succeeded in cap-
t uvtng Lou ta
bu rg, on the is
land of Capo Era-
ton, N. S. LouU~
burg was tho
strongest fortress
on the ooaat of
America and was
manned by a largo
French garrison.
When war began
between Franco
and England In
y. 1745, tho Ameri
can colonies of
Groat Britain
,oonoludcd to at
tack tho French
on this side of tho
Atlantic. Wil
liam Popporoll,
who was born In ,
Klttory, Mo., in
LOU18DURO MONUMENT. 1006, WUS then
the foremost Boldler In Maino. He had
commanded all tho Mnlno militia and waa
ohlef Justice of tho court of common pleas.
Ho bad made a fortuno In trado, and ha
not only donated 925,000 of his own mom y
toward the Loulsburg expoditlon, but ho
raised 4,GOO troops and waa chosen com
mander.
On April 80, 1746, the oolonlal army
landed at Loulsburg and attackod the
strongly fortified town. For 40 days tho
cannon of tho oolonisto and tho British
ships bombarded tho city, and at laat,
after ubout 10,000 cannon balls and sheila
had been thrown Into the plnce, tho
French surrendered, and Pcppcrcll’a vic
torious army marched In. When tho nows
roaohud tho colonies and tho mother coun
try, there was universal rejoicing, nnd
George II made Feppcreli tho first Ameri
can baronet. Later Sir William was ap
pointed a major general in the British
army and commanded the colonial forces
charged with protecting the frontier of
New Hampshire nnd Maine during tho
war with France In 1755.
It la now proposed to oroct a memorial
monument at Loulsburg to commomorato
tho one hundred and fiftieth anniversary
of tho vlotory of tho oolonlal forces. Tho
project is In thp hands of tho Society of
Colonial Wars, nnd the design presented
by William Godncy Beatty of the New
York society has already been acoopted.
The monument, which is to bo a plain
Doric shaft of red or grny granlto, will bo
orootod on a well preserved rodoubt near
tho very spot where General Popporoll to- .
colvod the keys of tho fortress in tho pres
ence of tho assembled armloe.
Enough money has already been raised
to warrant the beginning of tho projoot,
but $1,000 more Is needed. Although Gen
eral Peppered died 17 years before tho ool- 1
onies revolted, ho probably did more than'
any other man to organize tho oolonlal
troop* that - after his domlso fought ao
bravoly for independence.
Th* Wife of Japan’s Minister of Wnr Re
ceived fltr Education In America.
Mmo. Sfccmat* Yamnkana Oyama, wife
of tbo Japanese minister of war, who Is
conducting such a vigorous nnd successful
campaign against China, Is a graduato of
Vossar oollego and received nearly all hor
education and religious training in Amer
ica. In 1871, when the Japansso govern
ment decided to educate ten Jsnuneso girls
In American sobools, Stematz Yamakana,
then n mere slip of a girl of 18 years, was
chosen ns ono of tho ouudldate* for tho
honor. Btemutz entered tho family of
Itov. Dr. Loonnrd Bacon at Now naven,
and her education was bogun under Dr.
Bacon’s watohful eye.
In 1881, tho ton years having expired,
Stomatzwas summoned to return home,
but as sho still noodod another year to
oompleto iiorcoursoatVassarthe requisite
tlmo was grunted hor by tho Japancso
government. At tho age of 88 she spoke
English as well si any American girl and
was thoroughly saturated with American
ldoas. Bhe still loved Japan, however, and
displayed Awondorful knowledge of the
MMX. OTAMA.
relations of the mikado’s kingdom to the
rest of tho world. At commencement
time she read so eesay entitled “British
Policy Toward Japan.” Bho predicted
that Japan would soon take a high plnco
among tho civilized nations of the world,
nnd her prophecy seems to have been well
founded.
Her marriage to Count Oyama was ar
ranged by hor brother whllo she was still
at Vnssar, and It Is said that aho saw her
fiance but two or three time* before she
became his wife. With her thorough edu
cation and ber wide knowledge of tbo
world she Is a decided power as the wlfo
of Japan’s minister of war. Bhe has borno
him three children and is a devoted wlfo
and mother. Bhe ha* a dark olive com
plexion, intensely black heir and hands so
beautiful that sho would not disfigure
them with rings when she was at Vassar.
Bho wn» a bright AtudSDt, hut did not
delve into the depths of a subject liko
many of her American fellow students.
When sbo was at Vassar, her future bus
band was an attache to the Japanese legn
tlon In Paris. He Is a brainy, Intellectual
man, and his rim In Jopan has been very
rapid. He has prosecuted the war against
China with great vigor and ability and Is
now In the field at the head of the second
army Japan sent to Chino.
Chines* Margery,
A Chinese doctor, In setting a bone,
wraps a chicken head among the bandage*
to Insure rapid healing.
European marmot* remain dormant dur
ing tho winter. Before becoming torpid
they carefully cement thoentraoco to their
dwelling.
Keep the Feet Warm.
It Is the greet secret of health, I firmly
bellovo, to keep one’s feet warm and dry
and then not to ooddlo oneself otherwise.
Ho far as I have been abla to obsorvo, tho
foot require different treatment from nil
the rest of tl o body. Woolen Is good for
tho feet, but bo ware of It eUowhore. Fa-
thor Knelpp Is undoubtedly right In for
bidding flannel noxt the skin in tho form
of underolotklng. It nmkos most pooplo
tender and gives somo of them tho fidgets.
But tho writer has seen no poople who Imvft
odoptod woolen stockings who havo not
boon glad of them, all this on tho sup
position, of oourse, that pooplo do wear
shoes, for it they could dlscurd those utter
ly und go barefooted, as they do In Woor-
lshofen, no doubt that would be bettor
■till.—Boston Transcript.
Parent* and Children.
About tbo worst thing parents can do Is
to discuss tbo fallings of children before
them. Tho noxt worst thing Is for ono
parent to attempt to punish tho child ami
tho othor parent protest against It. Either
action will damage tho respoot of thoohlld
for ono or tho other of Its parents, and If
there is ono thing more than another that
parents want to preserve It Is their dignity
before tholr children. A child who gets
tho Idea that ono parent is at vurhw.ro
with tho othor on tho question of disci
pline will make both unhappy nnd render
Itself decidedly objootlonablo by playing
off ono parent ugalust tho other. If you
want to havo any harmony In the family,
get together on the question of disciplin
ing tho children—at least In thulr presenco
—and then If you want to quanol oo
mothod* do It In tho privacy of your own
apartments, where yop ran have it out
without lowering yourselves lit tho eye*
of tho children.—Washington Btar.
Counterfeit Compliments.
Truth tolling pooplo are not so pleasant
to spend a quarter of an hour with ns flat
terers, hut they wear better to the end of
tho 84, writes Mrs. Hamilton Mott In Tho
Ladies’ Homo Journal. I know a woman
who has tho art of accidentally saying in
conversation the nicest things, things time
mako you wont to put your arm about
her or kiss her hand In thanks. You hear
her say openly ono day that sho Is fond
enough of hearing pretty things not to
caro whether they are genuine or not, nnd
your folly Is not so ?uperlativo that you
ran 1 sko much comfort In her favor aftor
that. You como to know tho counterfeit,
no matter how bright It is.
Korean Trait*.
Korean boys and men are good look
ing, ovon handsome, but tho women and
girls are hideous. But it must be remem
bered that n traveler only secs the lower
clAsse* of tho latter, who have to labor
from early morning i 111 lato night In tho
fields, the gardens, the bouse and the sta
bles, while, except during tho four months
of seedtime and harvest, tho male peasant
doe* nothing bot gossip and smoke. A
man’s chief sources of expenso lie In his
clothe* and his pipe. Tho former, being
white, are boon worn out by washing, aud
their hat* are very dear. A Korean,
though ho baa a dintaste for personal ab
lution, will havo his clothes scrupulously
clean and beautifully glazed.
Tbo mandolins nro remarkable for scru
pulously clean, carefully tended, woll
shaped, soft, white bands, without tho
long nails affected by tho Chinese. They
lay great stress upon small hands and fix*
a* points of beauty and showing high
breeding, and Korean* areanld to be great
pedestrians and lovers of scenery, the men
often making pilgrimages to places whenca
A fin* view may be bad.—Spectator.
Tho averoga yield of wheat in Russia is
600 pounds to each 100 pounds of seed; In
Great Britain, Holland and the United
States, 900; in Italy, 1, OOil