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Someone whispered nervously to a neighlor. One or two men linLed their heads and drew quick breaths. People glanced from side to side, and a few feet sbulled uneasily. Then a tiny puff of smoke came from the left wing and travelled as far as the middle of the stage. It was followed by a larger, rolling cloud. The elect was in stantaneous. "Fie'!" shrieked a shrill vcice, and a woman started up frantically. "Fire! Fire!" In an instant the huge theatre was a seething, swaying mass; from all sides burst screamns, sobs, and oaths For: a fexw seconds people were pushed in purposeless groups hither and thith er. Then suddenly the crowd broke into rocking unwieldly sections, each pushing. fighting, taring towards the nearest exit. In the middle of the house, very. still, sat a group of three. The Woman was in the middle, the Husband on her right, the Other Man on her left. For the first few seconds it seemea as It they must be swept off their seats. Then with a quick movement, the Other Man wheeled half round on his clair. put one hand on the back of the Woman's seat and the other on the seat before her. The Husband silent ly followed his example. They were both big. strong men. Their hands met in a steady grip behind and In front of her. Thus till the rush was over they formed a human cage for her protection, shunting off by their braced rigid frames, their crowding, frantic neighbors. "'Thank you," she said quitely, when the middle of the theatre was deserted. "I couldn't have borne to be touched by .'uch-animals." She gave a hur rled glance at the nearest mass of hu manIty and then fixed her eyes whim sically on the smoke-clouded stage in front. "What do they remind one of?" she asked as though thinking aloud. It was the Other Man who answered. "Pigs," he said contemptuously; "pigs. when the trough has just been filled, -crowding towar: it." She half turned her head towards O " SHE CRIED. "YOU'VE H UR him. "Yes," she said gravely; "they do look like that." Suddenly the fireproof curtain be gan to move. "Oh, thank God!" shrieked a fashion' ably dressed woman, her' face made hideous by fear. A sea of other faces, stamped with every shade of terror and ferocity, turned towards the stage at the cry. For an instant the tumult sank to some thing like silence. Hope and thankful ness arose in a thousand breasts. Then the tumult began again. "It's stuck! Oh. It's stuck!"-and the fight for life continued In all Its sickening cowardly savagery. "Have we any chance!" asked the Woman simply. For a moment neither answered. Then again it was the Other Man who spoke. "Unless they get the curtain down in time, none." he answered. "There are no other exits; I know the place 'well. It won't be the fire probably, but the-smoke. In a minute or two we must move further back from it." He spoke with admirable restraint. And then suddenly the Husband stood up. They both turned towards him. His face was gray, and his lips trembled. "Not this way." he murmured in a shaking voic-e, "Ah. merciful heaven, not again this way:" The Woman quivered as beneath a lash, and her face became drawn. "John!" she said sharply. "John!" He started slightly. "Yes?" She would not let her eyes meet his.I "Please go away," she said in a low voice. He hesitated a moment. "What for?" he asked. She stirred Impatiently "Oh. I dlon't care. Get a whisky- and' soda if you know where to find it. or or perapsn you'd better leave out the Isoda; I mean- " She paused, shud derin- . -Only go," she added faintly What did she meaa? Did she kno what she wasProbably not he decided. What had he said himsel a minute ago? Hle could not remember What did anything matter now? Hi we,,t withou~t a word. The Other MAln stared straight li fro it of him. liis face was a masx For a minute they sat very still. Thei he turned round. "Come," he said in an ordinary voice "it is time to move." She gave him her hand, and he help ed her over chairs and wooden form! ill they were at the back of the build ing. ''Here?" she asked. "No," he said, and spread his coai on the floor: "Here, please. The nearei the ground, the less smoke, you know.' She sat down silently, .nd motioned him to share the coat. Then suddenly zhe laughed. "It's queer, isn't it," she said, "that we should think about getting our clothes dusty-now?" He did not answer. He was twisting a button on his over~cat round and round: it came off in his hand. Sud denly he spoke. "You are very brave.' he said. She drew a quivering breath. "I'm trying to be brave enough for two,' she said in a low voice. He made no reply: he did not want to understand. "I'm glad," she added hurriedly. "that we moved. Perhaps-he will niot find us here." He turned swiftly, with a rush of joy. "Elizabeth!" he cried. "Then you are content here with me?" She brushed her hand across her eyes. "Oh, I don't know what I'm say ing. I'm angry and distressed and hnumiliated. I don't want to die; but if I've got to. I'd rather be near some body brave like Iike you. "Elizabeth," he said passionately, "Don't you know-?" She started. "Oh, hush!" she mur mured. "It is so near- the end." "That is just why," he said, and iw ~T YOUR HAND; iTS BLEEDING." laughed recklessly. "In a few minutes it must all be over. Haven't we a right to make the most of them? Do you love mec. Elizabeth'" ie drew her towards him, and she did not resist. She was thinking shamefacedly of the grayness of her husband's face as she had last seen it. The blood of a dozen generations of pioneers and warriors was surging through her own veins a.nd she scorned impending fate. "Yes," she said absently, "I believe I do." "Ah, say It again," he urged, "'with out the 'believe'" The smoke was rapidly thickening. She tried not to think of It. "I love my love with a B," she said flippantly, "be cause he is brave, arnd I hate my him with a C, because he is a Coward --a Coward!" His arms relaxed suddenly. "Ahi, dear don't!" he cried. "Is that all? Is that the reason?" "All?" she echoed. "Isn't it enough?' "No," he said bitterly; "I'm a cad. but not as bad as all that. Are you blind? Don't you know what was the matter with him?" "He was afraid," she whispered. "My husband, afraid!" Neither of them noticed that in front of the blazing stage the fireproof cur tan had suddenly finished its arrested deent. and~ that a semi-lull ensued. "Yes'" be cried' with a revulsion of loyalty to his friend, "afraid of losing you. Surely you know what happened to his father and mother? Didn't you~ even wonder what he meant by "Not again this way?" She shook her head. "Wives know sc little of their husband's bachelor er nerene." she reminded him with wan smile. "They were burnt to death, when hs was a boy" he said. "like this. in hatre. Her was wrth them. the floor ing gave way taking them both with it and leaving him on the broken Cdge, safe." She covered her face with her binds. "oh:" she murmured. I didn't kow. What have I done?" "He told me once," he went on, 'thal it had left him with the feeling thal fire would never touch him, but thai to think of anyone he cared for i'eing in a tire mado him-well, what yot They were silent for an instant "Hullo!" he said suddenly, "thy'v( got the curtain down." The two stood up. Firemen and po licemen were Everywhere. "No danger! No danger!" The words passed from mouth t< mouth, and though they were not strict ly true, the emect of the lowered cur tain was magical. The crowd wasi pre ceptibly thinner, noticeably calmer, bul round each exit were gruesome proofi of the violence of t'Je panic. "Elizabeth!" They looked at each other. "It's John," she said faintly. "Yes," he said, and his smile war bitter, "It's John. Good-bye. Forgel it all, Elizabeth. Do you know"--hE looked at his watch-"it's all hap pened in less than ten minutes?" "Really?" she said. "It can't be pos sible." But her eyes were searching for her husband. The Other Man noticed it. "'!liza beth!" he said, half shamefaced'y. "Yes," she answered, her eyes search ing the crowd. "You are going to make up to him somehow for- for saying that tc him?" Her eyes softened and she held out her hand. "That was nice of you," she said gently. "Yes, I am goin:g to make up to him. I pray God, he will never know what I thought." "Elizabeth!" He had found ter at last. The Other Man slipped away. "I've found a way," he exclaimed breathlessly. "Come along." "Oh,' sae cried, "you've hurt your hand; it's bleeding." He held out the other to her. "No, no: it's ncthing. I had rather a bother with the doors and windows. That's why I've been so long." She followed him silently. When they were in their carriage and on their way home tnere was an awk ward sil-nce. Elizabeth had ust finished bandaging his hand with the aid of both their handkerchiefs. "Dear." he said at last, "would you mind telling me why you--you asked me to go away?" She looked at him a reproachful pout. "Must you inquire into all youT wife's weaknesses?" she asked "I only wondered " "Of course," she interrupted, "I lnew you would, and I meant to tell you. But you'll despise me. You've got a very unheroic wife, John. When I asked you to go I was-she went on steadily--"I was nearly dead with fright, and I couldn't bear to have you to see it; so I said the first thi;.ng I thought of to get rid of you -while I got over it; What did I say?--l didn't know what I was saying, John. But-I did get over it." His face cleared and he bent and 1-issed lher. His voice was very tender. 'Elizabeth, my wife--" he said. "Do vo know"-he laughed light-heart 'dly--"I've been worrying like every hing about It. I fancied you thought I: was In a funk ahout myself. I-I thought you meant that." She stared at him, then. burst out aughing hysterical!v and threw he! arms round his neck. "Oh, you dear, darling old stupid!" she cried. "Don't you know yet that women :ever mean what they seem to mean?" He made a mock gesture of despair. 'So now that you seem to mean you are-well, rather fond of me, Eliza beth, what do you really mean'" She smiled up at him swiftly. 'Thai I consider you just perfect," she 'whis pered. Upstairs in their own room, 'when he had gone down to give some orders to the servants, Elizabeth wandered to the windlow. Her eyes were troubled. Suddenly she knelt down and buried her face in her hands. "God grant," she supplicated, "that he will never know--I do love him. I have al ways loved him--but that I should have thought him afraid!" Sketch. FEAT OF AMA TEUR ROBBER. Met With Entire Success in Separa ting Man from tis~ Watch. If a man who was robbed of a gold watch in Chicago, under peculiar con ditions which he will recognize from the recital cf the adventure by the rob' ber, will communicate with Hobart J. Allen, of Irving Park, Chicago, he can have back his timepiece, along with a profuse apc-logy. Mr. Allen recently bought a revolver to protect himself from hold-up men who have fleeced several victims in a long subway under the Northwestern Railway tracks. He was kept at his business un til quite late one night re cently, and starting home he put his pistol in his pocket with a feeling of much satisfaction. The appr7oach to the subway was dimly lighted by a single lamp. He pluned into the cavern and walked through. A figure dimmed the exit. and as the two men met, the roar of passing trains startled them, and they brushe I each other in passing. A mo ment ater Allen felt for his watch. It was not in his pocket. He ran back t~rough the subway and ove-took the other man just as he was emergmng. "Hand over that watch or I'll blow your head off!" he shouted. The man leaped over a stone abutment and ran. Allen followed and cornered him a gainst a wall. "I'll give you another chance," he said, leveling his revolver. The man, apparently too frightened to speak, gave him the watch. Allen went home and told his wife of his adventure. "Why, your watch is in there on the dresser: you didn't take it with youl. she exclaimed. Now Allen .s looking for the man he held up. Twnfy Years a Bigot. Bacon-That man is always on the wrong side of a question. Egbert-How do you know? IBacon-'Why. I've known him for twenty years, and in all that time I never knew him to think the same THE WOMAN IU BRONZE. Striking Figure of a Woman Who Died of a Broken teart. A story of unrequited love is mutely told in cold bronze and marble in one of the cemeteries in the city of Wash ington, D. C. The story runs that a beautiful young woman, daughter of rich par ents, fell in love with a poor and struggling artist. The attraction was mutual, but her family aspired to a weaithy alliance. Finally, filial duty won the day and the girl was led to the altar by a rich suitor. They lived together for some time, and the bril liancy of the match was the talk of ST, GAUDENS' REALIZATION. Washington society. The woman's love, however, still went out to the poor artist and her husband, who had been informed of the peculiar state of affairs, could do nothing to win his wife's affection. All the gifts that money could buy were showered upon her, but to no purpose. To his horror, one day several months after their marriage he found his wife lying dead in a roon in their house, the poor girl having died of a broken heart. Although deeply at tached to his wife, he was struck with admiration by her devotion to his rival, and when she was buried in the family lot in Rock Creek Cemetevy. he con missioned St. Gaudens, the scupitor. to make a bronze statue of heroic size. depicting her as she was found, dead and covered with her bathrobe. The figure of the woman is seated, with the bathrobe drawn about her, and the work is one of great strength. The bronze is surrounded by marble beautifully carved. In front of it is a long marble seat, where one may ad mire the work of art. No name mark-s the spot, but at each corner of the lot is a small marble block, about six inches square, with the letter "A" carvd in the top. The entire lot is surrounded by a dense growth of pine trees, so that one not familiar with the spot looks in vain for the figure. Character of E~ngand's King. The character of King Edward. while Prince of Wales, appears to have been greatly misuuderstood. Many scandals were laid at his door; many journalists and prominent writ ers found themselves unable to resist temptation of making him the theme of extravagant stories without foun datin, oriat bet based only upon While making no pretence to be ing a saint, his morals were neither better nor worse than the majority of his countrymen and It was precisely that fact that endeared him to them. The great influence that no other Prince possessed, and which wa pos sessed by bimi in a superlative dlegree. was very largely due to his remarka ble tact. Thanks more to him than to any other, hard drinking. co -ousals, coarse and profane language went out of fashion. lHe would tolerate in the houses of- respectable people no men and women who haid forfeit d th*.ir right to remain within their pale. and no woman of questionable ante cedents could with his sanction con sort with ladies or with innocent girls. Few people had any idea how well read he was. It was generally reported that his reading was very limited, and yet the reverse was true. N o new hook of imlportanlce. whether in German. English or French. appear ed that failed to receive his attentien, and many suc were read and d~s eussedJ at Marlborough House before their review appeared in print. Not a few of the French authors were ac customed to send him their first copies. His faults, never grave or serious, simphly servedl to bring out in greaiter prominence the many attractive points of his character, and since his accession to the throne even these faults have grown less and his Vir tues and ability become_ brighter and greater. From a Diplomat's Diary. Home from the Philipines. I've been thinking, since our boy returned to us one morning. And in spite of all our doubts and fears he stood before our view. ht was written by a friend of his, so 'heerily and brightly, "Not to evecr trouble trouble till trouble trouhles you." The lad returned in safety, spite of chills and spite of fever, Spite of all the many dangers of the land and of the s-n, Spite of anything we dreaded, spite of faith evinced by neither: Hera.fter let no trouble trouble you nor trouble me; For when the skies are darkest and a threntened storm surrounds us. Shutting out the glorious sunlight from our nearer sighted view. Then appears the "silver lining"' that on every cloud is shinin"; So never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you. That every hack is fitted for the burden that is given Is a saying trite. If ancient, while It's always proven true. And if the burden's grievous, the good ILord wfi arrange It That th" trouble will be gone before the trouble troubles you. "Tis shown that both our hopes and fears are hn'f tanticipation. For mildnlght terrors vanish with the early mornine dew. And when the night Is darkest the dawn Is just a-breaking:; Then don't over trouble troublet till trou, h bl troubles yom_ PRONFREE! This is the best apron pattern ever offered and . IC is something every iady needs. You cannot to beplasedwith this one and all new subscrib ers to the People's Popular Mouthly will receive ope free. This is a prize pattern. Takes 4r yd,. f material one yard wide. Only 2 buttons. Small, medium and largesize. TExPIrPz's'oPt LAR MONTHLY Is a ine. 2-Pag8 beautifully illustrated home magazine for women and r girls. illed with brght.in- * * terestiug -tories and welJ ilted dpartments on Fancy Work. Homel)ress making, Cooking, Flowers. Chats with -;irls, etc. It Is being :plroved with every msueund s nowoneo o the most *popular' StorY papers ub ll-1ed. It woud be .heap at 50cayear, a tut in order to In .r,,uce our mara .;nO to new read- jI tirs we send T111 Portt's P'OeLU LAX Xl)NTDl.Ya full year and the ap-lin Pat tzrn for only !Lc. Address, PEOPLE'S POPULAR rlONTHLY, . 175 Manhattan Bldg. Des rioines, Iowa. Let this "1900" Gravity Washind Machine do your Washind Free. An unseen power,'called Gravity, helps run this wash Ing machine. By harnessing this power, we make It work for you.You start the washer by hand. then Gravity power takeEsld and does teharedst pnrt. And it makes this machine turn almostas easy a' a hlevele wheel does. ty, youknow, Is what makes a stone roll TWhO machine has jnat been Invented and we call Itthe "190' Gravi-.y Waher. There are slats on the itside bottom of the tub. These slats act as paddles. to swing the water in the fame direction you revolve the tub. You throw the soiled clothes into the tub first. Then you throw enough water over the clothes to Next yu pttheheavy woodenl cover on top ef the elothes to .l.cor them, and to press them down. This cover has slats on its lower side to grip the clotheseand hold them from turning around when the wbtue are aliready for t~nckand easywashing. You gracp the upright hadeon the aide of the tab and, with it, you revolve the tub one-third way round, then gravity puils It the other way round. The machine must bave a little help from you, at every swing, but Gravity-power does practically all You can it in a incking chair and do all that the washer required of you A cld can run it easily full of clothes. When you revolve the tub the clothes don't move. But the water moves lke amii"thro" h the clohse. pTiaddles on the tub bottom drive the soap4y waer THRIOUGH nnd through the clothes at every swing othe tub. Back andiorthi, in andoutoftevery fold, and throubh every mesh in the cloth, the hot sopy water runs like a torrent. Thus is how it carries away allithe dirt from the clothes, In fro six toten mintes by the clock. "'""t dives the dirtoutthronch the meshes of the fabrics WITHOUT ANY EIUIBBING,-without any WAR and T EA~jfrom the washboard. It will wash t be finentiace fabric without breaking a thread, or abutton, and itwillwnsh a heavy, dirty carpet with equal ease and rapidity. Fifteen to twenty garments, or five larre bed-sheet can be washed at one time with this lie0 "Gravity" Washer. A child can dothi in ex to twenty minutesbeflr than any able wnseher-woman could do the same clothes in TWICE the tim". wi'h t.hree times the wear and tear from the washboard. This iswhat we iAY, now how do we PRtOYE i? We send any rehablo person our 10 "Grari* Wasecr free of charge, on a ful~l month's trial, and we even psy the f rcicht out of our own pockets. No cash deposut is anked, no notes, no onvet. ou mae r ' s the washer four weeks at our es nse If ou."dit w'n't wiwih ne manty totbos in OUB hotat u a wd by hand In EIGHT bours, you tback toterailway station, that' sail. But, if, from amonth's actual use, you are con vinced itsav-es HALFtile timelnwashing, does the work better, and doe-s it twice as eallv as lt coukd he done by hand, you keep the machi"e." Then you mail usa cents a week till It Is paid for. Remember that 50cenlts is part of wht ls ma chine saves youeery eek on your own, or on a s "Ir"uTihn laor. We Intend that the 1900 "Gravty' Washer shall pl for itself and thus coat You don'trisk acent from frst to last, andyo don't buy it until you have had a1 full month's trial. ~e have sold approaching half a muihon ".1900" Washers on a month's free trial and the only trouble we've had has been to keep up with our orders. Could we afford to pay freight on thousands of thesemacIIes every month, if we dldnot positively KNOW they would do all we clatm for them? Can ou afford to be withouat amachsue that will do your washing in HALF THE TIE, with half the wear and tear of the washboard, when you can have that machine for a month's free triai. and let it PAYFOE ITSELF? This offer may be wihdrawn at anytima I overcrowds our factory. Write us TODAY, while the offer Is utiilopen~an4 while you think of it. The p-tage stamp is .a. you risk. Write me personally on this offer, viz. . F. Bieb' 'deneral Manager of "1900" Washer Company. 5355 Henry St., Binghamton, Ii. Y., or 355 Yongo ..- Tosunto, Canada. .~ iYou.A n.aog. Exant /, alliargtesa /4/ iY\1'\we know ih weeyou hi all we ask is makes your CredibtGooed by; -- ~CrlentiL we ask .No aaenee.culd be. given Write for Our New Bid Catalos E~I; rad 1-.lrin a:d Watham Waches, Ladies' and Gents size, f: Ic. Select any artic~e you wielh and at will be sent on approv: s baance in eight equal montldy paymensts. Remember thes L~flOS &CO. Departri BRS Cmn CHmCA Glorious Hair Grown Free. A Wonderful Preparation Which Turns Back the Hand of Time-Makes the Old Young and the Young Beautiful. Free Samples of the Greatest Hair Tonic on Earth Distributed by a Well-Known Medical Institute. NO ROOM LEFT FOR DOUBT. We can cure you of baldness, bai falng, scanty partings, all diseases of the salp, .op h falling and restore gray and faded hair to its orilzinal color. We don't want you to take our word for this. We will prove 1t to you AT OUR O9 N EX PEN~SE. A FREE PACKAGE of our wonderful treat ment wili get your case under control and make you happy. Our remedy is NOT A DYE not a hair color ing, but a marvellous nd natural Hair Food. You cannot make a mistake in trying it, for we ship it to you prepaid at our own expense, and do not ask you for a cent of money unless you feel justified by results. It 3rakes not the slightest difference tous how long you have bad your trouble: We will go to the loots of it and cure it. Think just for a moment what this means! Think wfat it premises tor those who have lost, or who are Icos'rag, the glorious tresses of youth! We will restore your hair, make it lo and strong. make it as you wish it to be. a ive ou more satisfaction than vou have ever fore experierced. Do not f6e dfeeartened because you have used other hair remedies without rtsults. re just to younelf and tous Our rem edy will nrake you happy. What itbas done for others it will do for you. We ask you in all kindness to write tous and we will send you by return mail. at our own expense. a full tr'al trcrinrent of theGreatest Hair Grower on carth. We will also send you our interesting tclelt of advice and hundreds of testinionials from delighted patients. giving their experiences fcr the tenefit of others who have become discouraged. You will never regret answering this annourcerent. for it. means much to ycu, more than you can imagine. If you want teautitul hair, if your ?, ir is getting so tl-at you look aged or your personal appearance i-, disparaged, write to us for help. We are an Incorporatec C cmpany.not a private concern. V e want you and your friends to know what we can do. and how we do it. Send to-day. and do not put it off. You will be de lighted with what we send you. and it costs you nothinzt. Address in fuil, enclosing 2c stamp for reply. LORRIMER YEDICALINSTITE Incorporated. Dept. 306, 118-120 N<.rth P , Baltimore, Md.3 FAT PEOPLE IWillSendYouaTriai mnltr e h ? .swea kege ap.rn aiheenkintobeuthsema,men opeso yprouigbesitb distaseul dieting or a~ytion, no exercisingc, a.osmtn stomach. I amn a clalist in the suosue: fut redodi a et so feeted suechod utrengtel a h heart and enables you to broetbe easily, and quicklyrme4ue tisulents t ake my tr-a-en an edigdshta t~ my teaun:I.li'o setjere. desM 23 Bradford SUdn, 0EsLdSte, Je!rk l7. Gi OLD WATCFREE Soli GoidPlted ce.warranted t * 5l yearse: also a Gold-led sen t withna onerkhr e fire * Nove tiestr1 cce ntS nd asm anid addres for Jewelry. When sold, send us . the $band we send yoe the Gold Watch and tug. Addres5 COLU MBLA NOVELTYC. MfORPHINE My-treatmeat is the .nvabeon .Fre lute Npecliceand cure gAW U tI will treat any drllg jse Free Cured stteqmfl4.ityfdr...... Dr. Waterman, Suite 8. 14 .xington, W.,N.Y 8ady to 00d On A pprova eo It cauly i tr entirl atifctr. reurn t.Yepa d4 take all riaks. We have ablut~e faith .In our goods because hyare thoeybs qansd Highees Graee er work edit is Good with Loftis M ~ l:: toor whetheor you aro a modest employee or wealthy employer; ejtntthe len fpa~n to me your 56m.14I the urity-o Eudoramen No Inee. wr ever issued,. Cf pares, 1,000 illutatons of Beautiful Diamond , Broches, etc., ranring in price from 12Z.00 to $500.00. Bish mn ti0 to $o1.00, andf all other kinds of Jewelry, Silverware, IOND CUTTERS MAKERS-JEWEL.ERS rent 86M492 to 96 State Street GOt ILLINOIS. U. 8. A.