Newspaper Page Text
The sunset fades, and once again the hills
Against the sky, maljestic and supreme,
Loom spectrally and half unreal geein,
And mystery the misty valley filis.
Melodfously now the mountnin rills,
Unheavrd by day, take up their lyrie
theme .
Of ecstasy, like volces heard in dream,
An obligate to the Whl&por)rw!lls.
Invisible, the spirits of the dusk
Through Stress of Competition.
A strange atmosphere of matrimony
was approaching the village of Rug
glesbury, That is was compressed
within an inadequately small space is
true, The foremost van of Blinker's
World-Famed Cireus held it. Yet the
vehiele lumbered none the quicker
along the road for all the amorous va
porings that floated within its paint
ed sides. :
The ringmaster, the clown, and the
gentleman who illustrated the haute
ecole upon a coal-black steed sat there
in moody pensiveness. Unmarried as
were all three the disadvantages of
, their bachelorhood had become acutely
evident during a pause in a game of
“nap.” Owing to a common dearth of
funds they had been playing perforce,
for the empty glory of points alone.
It was perhaps this fact that caused
their thoughts to stray in the direc
tion of deeper affairs.
“Traveling about like this,”” grum
bled the clown, “don’t give no chances.
By the ¢nd of a week, when a girl’'s got
80 far as to realize that you've a heart
under the paint, the orders is—up and
away."”
“It's different with me,” mused the
chevalier de I'haute ecole, “but I don’t
know a 8 it's any better. It's my po
sition and appearance they've got to
get over, It takes ’em a good week to
learn that I'm not affable in a—a aris
tocratic way.”
“Same here,” chimed in the ringmas
ter, “exactly.”
“What we want,” said the clown, “is
to go to work in a more business-like
fashion. If we don’t strike some idea
for quick courtin’ like as not we shall
go about the country single all our
lives.”
The ringmaster started up.
“How about a beauty show?"” he ex
elaimed., “Blinker would tumble to it
if we had one at Rugglesbury. Good
Business for him it would be. The
int is this, consolation prizes—you
b W“"“"B.” " (»’j Tt o § o
. The amazed look with which the oth- |
er two régarded him changed gradual
&y to one of fervent admiration. It
was some while ere they spoke. When
gxey did the ringmaster staggered be
meath an unwonted torremt of compli
ment. Then, laying their heads to
%lelhcr, they spoke in interjections that
grew gradually more coherent.
~ Thus the caravan rolled onwards
iutwurdly much as usual. But in the
‘flrst van was a whirlpool of ferment
‘and of deliriously maturing plans.
i * * * »
.;; It was a curious coincidence that pre- ,
“eisely at this period a cm'rospnmling[
desire should have entered the breast |
©f one of the inhabitants of Ruggles
bury itself. There could be no doubt
that Job Yardsley, who kept the May
“pole Inn, had no right to be a bache
‘lor. A “warm” man, the master of a
. 00osy home and of thirty acres of graz-
Ang land besides, ought to find some
thing Dbetter to do with his money
than to spend it upon himself. Such
- was the female opinion of the village.
Job was frankly callous.
“If you were married, Job,” remark
ed his friend, Sam Evans, the day be
fore the arrival of Blinker's circus, “as
‘likely as not you'd find more objick in
life.” '
Sam Evans was in the throes of
bringing up nine children. Job Yards
ley gazed without interest across the
bare parlor table.
“So I've heard before,” he remarked.
“Besides,” continued the other, “it ud
~be good for business. A nice, clean
looking ‘voman always puts me in mind
of good beer, clean tankards, an’ but
ter that’s fresh. I'll bet your takings
would go up. Others feel the same
way—that's why.”
A quick gleam entered Job's eye, It
fell upon the untidy looking pot boy, |
then it wandered back to rest stealth
ily on the rim of his glass.
“Ahy” he observed, -carelessly,
“p'raps, or p'r'aps the reverse.”
Yet his mind grew strangely impreg
nated with the idea. Evans had sown
a mightier seed than he knew. Its
sprowings toward maturity engrossed
Yardley to an unprofitable extent. On
the next day a rustic in search of half
& pint received its double and the cor
rect change for fts half. Hre Job
Yardsley could wectify the error the
beer was in a haven whence no argu
ment could retrieve it.
Sam Evans chanced to be in the
bar,
“Ah,” he chuckled,“there’s only one
reason for that way of goin’ on—that's
love.” te ) was
_J6b ‘started. - Perhaps it was. If so,
“all that remained for him to do was to
choose the girl. The coincidence de
cided him
TWILIGHT.
Ply ht)he gwift shutés on their shadow
om,
And weave the wonder-fabric of the
night.
The windkis but a whisper, sweet with
mus
Exh{;ll.,»d from fragrant lips of bud and
00, —~
A whisper—and the one word 1s De
light.
Yrank Dempster Sherman in Scribner’'s Magazine.
I It was just after this that the poster
{ announcing the beauty show at Blink-
Jer's Circus came flaming into his bar
in the manner of the dawn of a new
| life.
* s ' s *
“Yes,” said Job later in the day, you
might give it out as official. I'll take
the winner of the first prize—and no
questions asked afterward.”
“Aren’t you leavin’ it a bit to
chance?”’ objected Sam Evans; “it
might be—well—any one.”
Job Yardsley flung a knowing leer.
“It might,” he admitted, ‘“and it
might not. I've made my inquiries,
| Sam,” he continued, “no pigs in pokes
| for me, Every girl in the place has en
tered. But there's only three as stands
a chance—Elizabeth Harmer, Jane Ase
kew and Violet Budden.”
Sam Evans pondered.
“That’s true,” he said, “I s’pose
them three has the pick of Ruggles
bury’s looks.”
“I hope it'll be Elizabeth Harmer,”
said Job Yardsley.
Elizabeth Harmer was the daughter
of a dairyman, the reputed owner of
a nest-egg. The other two were the off
srig of the local carpenter and
blacksmith respectively.
“Whichever way it goes,” asserted
Sam Evans, 'the advertisement for the
Maypole will be first rate. As for let
tin’ folks know, you leave it to me,
Job. You couldn’'t have struck a bet
ter man for what I might call givin’
wind to you notion.”
He proved as good as his word. |
When Job Yardsley entered the cir
cus tent upon the eventful evening of
the beauty competition the murmur
that was rising from the packed cir
cle died into sudden silence. As he
seated himself in that segment of the
tiers which, red-baize-covered, demand
ed the most expensive admittance, a
wavering cheer'rose from the opposite
benches. These being the lowest priced
held a freight of irresponsible boyhood.
The hushing chorus of a multitude of
mothers with Sabbatically dressed
daughters by their sides crushed the
untimely demonstration.
Job Yardsley gazed about him in gen
uine surprise. In whichever direction
he turned a small sea of faces looked
into his own with a frankly interested
stare. Job blew his nose. It seemed
to him that the space that separated
him from his neighbors was greater
than that in other parts of the amphi
theatre.
* * % *
When, upon the closing of the turn
of the usual program, girls singly, in
twos and in threes, shyly entered the
ring in preparation for the contest
Job's heart beat perceptibly faster. A
couple of score girls were there below
—dark, fair, short, tall. One—he won
dered which—was destined to enter his
life in the most intimate fashion.
The judges entered. Job started a
little as he observed them. He had ex- ‘
pected a more widely representative
body. In consisted of Mr. Blinker him- l
self in a frock coat and white waist
coat, the ringmaster and the haute ecole
rider, the two latter still in the pro
fessional splendor of the arena. After
a pause a fourth figure hurried to join
the group. He wore an olive-green cos- {
tume with gold-striped trousers. Job,
gazing more intently, could perceive
that it was the clown—unclowned.
Blinker mounted one of the white
painted pedestals that were wont to
support the hoop-holders. The other
three surrounded him, perched on less l
elevated structures. In another mo-i
nient the judging had begun. |
Job’s heart beat faster yet. He glanc- |
ed nervously at the four men. The is- |
sue was in their hands. And such an |
issue! Upon it depended his and the !
Maypole's fate. He awoke to the fact i
that he was repeating an inane jingle
—Elizabeth, Jane, Violet: which? ‘
Elizabeth, Jane, Violet, which?
He wiped a damp forehead.
He found himself eagerly scanning i
the faces of the girls who, rejected and
flushed, hurried back to their seats.
With still greater anxiety his eye
sought out those who remained. Their
number had been weeded down to six.
They stood in two groups of three. |
Job gazed upon the first three. He
had not miscalculated. Elizabeth Har
mer, Jane Askew, and Violet Budden
made up the trio. In the midst of his
triumph he knew a moment.of anxiety.
Elizabeth Harmer overcome at the last
moment had stuffed her handkerchief
into her mouth. She was concealing
her thin.
\’de ringmaster, the clown, and the
haute ecole rider descending from their
pedestals. entered into conversation
with each of the three, pairing off one |
’with each. Job noticed a startled look
| on the face of each of the girls. Then
| they began to giggle. The gallant per-,
formers looked perfectly at home.
| A shout from a small boy among the
| audience broke silence.
| ““What are you doin’ there, Sally
| Magin?” it called.
Job's eyes turned upon the other
trio of girls. Sally Magin, a snub
rozed, freckle-faced, prominent eared
| virgin, was the nearest to him. The
| other two were but little better favored.
| Job wondered whether a “booby prize”
' had been included.
| Sally Magin turned a flaming face
{ toward her aggressor.
! “If that’s Tommy Burn that said
¢ that, his sister was outed first round,”
| she calléd back vindictively,
I Sally Magin had a temper.
| Further discussion was arrested by
‘ a loud call for silence from Mr. Blink
er,
A dead hush fell: Job turned a last
glance toward Elizabeth Harmer and
her two companions. His bosom swell
ed. Never before had he realized how
pretty they were. As each listened to
a whispering cavalier a blush mantled
six cheeks.
Mr. Blinker, after clearing his throat,
} began:
, “Thé judging being now concluded,
| ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor
able duty to present the valuable
prizes. The first prize is here—you
can see it for yourselves—a red and
white striped blouse. The first prize,
ladies and gentlemen, has been awarded
with one voice—in fact, I might say
magnanimously—to,” here he raised
his voice, “to oe whom I will call the
Belle of the Ring. The fortunate lady
is Miss Sally Magin.”
After a stunned moment of silence a
roar went up that shbok the canvas
roof. But Job scarcely heard it. He
felt suddenly faint. His eye wandered
from Sally Magin’s face, about the ring,
then back to Sally Magin’s face. She
was smiling—directly at him,
The drama of the moment had in
spired a gang of young men. Leaping
into the arena they began to lead the
prize-winner toward the spot where
Job cowered. Blouse in hand she came,
while the occupants of the cheaper
scats rocked and swayed in open mirth.
In the meanwhile the two girls who
had stood at her side received a hair
comb and a straw pin respectively. But
the presentation was unnoticed, An
other shout went up as Sally Magin
sank down by the side of Job.
Job with deeply flushed face, sprang
to his feet. Utter silence fell once
more. Job wavered. The stupendous
hush had unnerved him. He sank
down, and the sinking sealed his fate.
A minute later Sally’s arm was
through his. Her eyes sought first the
blouse and then Job, while the crowd
thundered acclamation. Only when it
realized that Mr. Blinker had not com
pieted his announcements did the tur
moil cease.
“We have now come, ladies and gen
tlemen,” he proceeded with a broad
smile, “to a stage in the performance
which is p’r'aps the most romantic that
this palatial tent has ever seen. It is
my pleasure to inform you that over
and above the awards already present
ed, we have three consolation prizes.
These, ladies, are the biggest on rec:
c.d. They consist of nothing less than
these three bachelor gentlemen.” He
indicated his fellow judges.
At a sign from him each placed an
arm about his companion’s waist. The
hissing of a vast indrawn breath sound
ed from the assembly. “And you, gen
tlemen, it will interest you to hear that
the ladies have accepted their prizes
with the graciousness that marks their
sex.”
The hoarse protests of Elizabeth
Harmer's father were drowned in loud
murmurings of amazement. The three
blushing girls after a struggle with
their countenances brought to each a
smile that would have delighted a pho
tographer. The evidence of acquies
cence was convincing. Romance was
in the air.
Mr. Blinker prepared to step from
his pedestal.
“It only remains for me to say, la
dies and gentlemen, that Blinker's
World-Famed Circus will remain here
until the ceremony of marriage has
bteen fully completed. The entire com
pany welcomes the charming brides,
and that concludes our entertainment
tonight.”
Job Yardsley found himself in the
outer darkness with Sally Magin still
upon his arm.
“It wasn't bad, was it?” he ventured,
“for—for a lark, you know?”
Sally took a firmer clutch of his
arm.
“It’s a lark that’'s gst a plain end
ing,” she said. “With all them wit
nesses I should think damages for
breach ’'ud come to a bit more than
the price of the Maypole.”
“I wonder, I do wonder,” mused Job
dully, “if they bothering circus people
knew of my offer.”
“Is it likely?” retorted his future
wife with asperity.—W. H. Koebel, ipn
the Tatler.
Had Been There Before.
Hubby (at ’phone)—Mary, I'm go
ing to bring a couple of lobsters home
for aupper.
Wife—Don't, for goodness sake! We
haven't got a thing in the house.—
Boston Transcript. |
{ : CCIENTIFIC SCRAPS.
| L
. Scientists have always contended
' that the odor of gasolene is fatal to
' the mosquito.
? L
New uses for Portland cement are
being found continually. One of the
latest applications of the cement is in
the manufacture of a successful con
crete stone. :
Nailless horseshoes are badly need
ed, owing to the injury done by nails
to the hoof of the horse. A horseshoe
carrier fittine the hcef, and to which
the shoe can be easily afiixed, is the
latest invention to solve the difficulty.
Eveglasses slightly tinged with an
orange-yellow, are said by a French
expert, Dr. Motais, to be pecaliarly
agreeable and soothing to feeble or
over-sensitive eyves. Patients who can
not use blue or smoked glasses, see
well with these,
Dew is a greater respector of col
ors. To prove this, take pieces of
glass or board and paint them red, yel
low, green and black. Expose tnem
at night, and you will find that the
yellow will be covered with moisture,
the green will be damp, but that the
red and the black will be left per
fectly dry. "
Wireless messages have been re
ceived at distances up to 350 miles
by means of kites flown 2000 feet
above the earth, and carrying up a
steel wire with delicate antenna wire
attached. The electric impulses reg
istering the messages passed through
the hand of the man holding the kite
- string and through the receiving oper
~ator, who clasped his hand in his own.
~ Fruits, in some form, should enter
very largely into our diet during the
summer and fall months. We would
live longer and feel better if one meal
a day was made up of an assortment
of fruits. The pure, disease-destroy
ing water they contain is needed to
flush the system of impurities which
accumulate from the eating of too
much meats, often diseased, and oth
er concentrated foods.
The Alexander-Gosling expedition in
Africa has secured the first living
specimen of the okapi. The first skin
of that animal ever seen in Europe
was sent to the British Museum by Sir
Harry Johnston in 1901. The okapi
is of the giraffe family, but with short
and thick neck. On the head are three
horn cores. The animal’s coloring is
remarkable, The cheeks and jaws
are yellowish white, and the neck
dark. The forehead and a line down
to the muzzle are a deep red chest
nut and the large ears are In the
same tint, fringed with black. The
neck, shoulders and body range from
jet black to red. The tail is chestnut.
The legs and hindquarters are white
or pale cream color, marked with pur
ple-black horizontal stripes and
blotches.
A Valuable Dog.
Mark Twain is immensely popular
with the farmers living around “Quar
ry arm,” his. summer home near El
mira, N. Y. He and his neighbors
exchange experiences and both profit
thereby. The genial numorist tells of
one farmer who purchased a hunting
dog that was highly recommended to
him by a man who did not seem par
ticularly reluctant about parting with
it. When the dog was delivered the
farmer looked it over with consider
able misgivings. It seemed shy and
bashful and hardly the animal it was
cracked up to be. Anxious to give it
a trial, however, he took it out shortly
afterwards and, as luck would have
it, ran across a fox. The dog took af
ter the fox and the two were soon out
of sight, the farmer following as rap
idly as he could. Finally he meet
another farmer who, in response to
his inquiry, stated that they had
passed in his direction. Asked as to
how they were running, the second
farmer replied: “Wall, it was nip and
tuck, but I think the dog was about
three feet ahead.”—Lippincott’s.
No Past Tense in Politics.
Congressman Sydney E. Mudd o
Maryland, was approached in one of
the House lobbies recently by a Mary
lander in search of a job. The appli
cant wanted the congressman’s in
dorsement. “Where do you live?”
asked Mr. Mudd. “In Baltimore,” re
plied the applicant hopefully. “But
Baltimore’s not in my district,” de
clared Mr. Mudd, edging away. ¢I
know I'm not in your district,” re
plied the seeker for political office,
“but I used to live in your district
once, for almost three months.” “Son,”
said Mr. Mudd, impressively, “there
is no past tense in politics—only pres.
ent and future.”
Must Have Drio Pans.
Owners of automobiles unprovided
with drip pans are being arrested .in
Washington, D. C,, on the ground that
the oils dropped on the asphalt have |
a deleterious effect. The automobilists ‘
have pcinted out that the street car i
companies have long been notorious |
offenders in this respcect. |
—_— |
Mississippi has substituted the elec- |
tric chair for hanging i
f : Reason in Animals, ™ -
. An “intelligent animals’ competl+
tion” has been -held in Paris by
society whose members believe that
' dumb animals have reasoning facul
ties. They believe that animals, ‘while
acting mechanically in some cases and
~instinctively in others, are also cap
able of forming associaticns of ideas,
| which one philosophical school holds
| to be the foundation cf reaszon.
' In the late contest trained “learned"”
animals were not rewarded. *The
judges consider that trick-performing
| creatures, taught by laborious and
| often cruel methods, do not thus show
| real intelligence. Dczens ©of dogs
| which went through rifle drill, ca’"§
i which' jumped through hoops, a
| fowls which danced the 'polka, ¥;
l sent up to the show, but, much to
| surprise of their owners, todk u
| prizes. The silver gilt first medaj
went to a Japanese dcg, which gave iy
different bark and made a differe
gesture to express various wants ;
' instance, putting its paw to its
' with a peculiar yaping when it
hungry. It thus showed undov
capacity for forming association
ideas. The silver second medal
bestowed jointly on a dog, a cat
a hen, which played abgolutel
children with their mistress. S}u,
a game of football with them .1 '
presence of the judges, and the’
mals enjoyed it thoroughly, whe |* ¥
the idea of play and make beliej |
often supposed to be peculiarly »
man.—Boston Budget. .
Near to Nature’s Heart, &
A $75,000 automobile rolled t' /& ‘
the $60,000 bronze gate and |
$35,000 winding avenue to tis
000 marble steps. il
Descending from the machi #¢ best
billionaire paused a moment
the smiling $500,000 landscape. g, *n
Across the $90,000 lawn a', .T¢"&
silver lake lay sleeping in the sh bq.i
of early Summer evening, and be ..
it rose a lordly $BO,OOO hill, wi | & |
crest, cloaked with forest at an | .
pense of $200,000, glowed in the .
golden rays of the setting sum, s
The billionaire sank luxurier'
into a $2,000 ivory porch chair,
rested his feet on the rosewood }.
ing of the $160,000 veranda. s
“It is pleasant,” he observed,
get back to nature once in a
After the cares and worries of A¥".
business day I certainly love t )
out to this quiet, little $6O, |lvi i
coutitry club of ours and taste,
of simple life. It is good to =~
touch with the soil; for wha . |
but dust, after all?”
Feeling restored, he pa’ ;
through the $400,000 doorwi
$1,500 dinner.—Newark Ne;".;
STRIVING TO PLEA |
“Do you expect to raise * {
this year?” T
“Not much,” answered V | i
tossel. “Omnly jest enough
the place look like a farm; = "«
satisfy the feelin’s of the % ;
boarders.”—Washington Sta!l
The new Columbia The:‘tl%‘l
Francisco, is to be rushed, 'thj
ing going on night and da] h
three shifts of men. It is t‘
permanent structure of stec
stone, amnd will cost $150,000 %
L
OUTDOOR LIFE {)%
Will Not Offset the Il Ef’x’t*%
Cofiee When One Cannot Digt 3{
e 4
A farmer says: :
“It was not from liquor or tol
that for ten years or more I suf
from dyspepsia and stomach troi
they were caused by the use of
fee until ‘I got so bad I had to
up coffee efitirely and almost giy
eating. There were times Wwh
could eat only boiled milk and 1
and when-I went to the field to |
I had to take some bread and b
along to give me strength.
“I doctored with doctors and
almost everything I could get fo
stomach in the way of medicine
if I got any better it only last
little while unvil I was almc
walking skeleton.
“One day I read an ad. for Po
and told my wife I would try it
as to the following facts I will 1
afidavit before any judge:
“I quit coftee entirely and
Postum in its place. I have reg:
my health entirely and can eat
thing that is cooked to eat. I
increased in weight until nc
weigh more than I ever did; I
not taken any medicine for my &
ach since I began using FPos
Why, I believe Postum will al
digest an iron wedge.
“My family would stick to ¢
at first, but they saw the effec
had on me ad when they were
ing bad they began to use Pos
one at a time, until now we all
Postum.”” Name give by Po
Co., Battle Creek, Mich.
Ten days’ trial of Postum in }
of coffee proves the truth, and
and pleasant way. ‘There’s a.
son.’
Look in pkgs. for a copy of
famous little bcok, “The Roa
Wellville.” A