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MY SWEETHEART. BT WJIXJAM ALEXANDER BOWES. I know not why In darkest skies The stars gleam out the whitest, But 1 know that from my love's dark eyes The light setms always brightest. I know not why the golden light Of sunset seems s-o fair, But it touched my sweetheart's tresses bright? A?d winning is her hair. I know not why an angel's face To innocence'is giv en. But I know that in her snule I trace The purity of heaven. I know not how f.ove found its borne In hearts where no lights shone, But I know her love to me haB coino? And I know it's all my own. I know not why, nor when, nor how All things that are may be; But my heart knows with gladness now That my love loves but me. Tis only this I know, end this To toe is ail of life; And all of this nay sweetheart Is, My sweetheart is?my Wife. Chicago, 111. BETRAYED; A DARK MARRIAGE MORTVT A Romance qf Love, Intrigue and . Crime. BY MRS. ALICE P. CARRISTON. CHAPTER X.?(Continued). The next morning he arose unrefresbed, and feeling that he had already lost too much time, hurried through his breakfont onrl Btortod fnr thn rmhliKhinchoufifl. He took his place at his desk, and in a mechanical fort of way endeavored to perform his duties. An hour or two passed. It was nearly ten o'clock. The door of the counting, room opened. Listlessly he looked up, and to his unbounded astonishment, not to 6ay apprehension, 6aw bis uncle enter. The visitor came straight toward his desk. Eugene slipped from his stool and cast a hasty glance around. The'door of Mr. Norton's private room was open. He looked in. The apartment was empty. He motioned his uncle to enter, and followed him into the room. As he closed the door his uncle turned, and seizing him by the lapel of his coat, in an impreBsive voice said: "Well, young man!" "Well, sir, * gasped Eugene. "What are you doing here?" "I am at vft>rk, as you 6aw." > "At work? Urn! Sit down there?sit down, I say!" He threw himself into Mr. Norton's revolving chair, while Eugene seated himself a short distance away. "Well, well!" he repeated, after a pause. "Well, sir; what is it?" "The deuce! You take thingi calmly, it seems to me." "Calmly!" "Yes; you hayo married since I saw you last, and what's more, lost your wife?in ft very shocking way, too, I must say." "It is true that I have been married, ftnd alas! it is also true that my wife is deed." "Very sad, hum! I saw accounts of it ftll in the papers. It shocked me very much, I assure you. PerhapB you have noticed bow ae.tated I am at "this mo ment?" "I had thought you were not ai calm as usual, uncle." 1 "Calm! Forty devilif Far from it, and I remembered that I had done you an injuBtice!" . -*? I . "Let that pass, if you please, sir; I had ' forgotten it."1* "But I have not forgotten it, and I < "number the incident with real pain. | ] t ' wioK oftf Mfthf tri Vi I 1 x coma njSJt xy Sii *?6?? . JHRu . ... - I . . ..|, av b all right as it is, sir. I am Ttu j better off here than I was at the bank; I . am, indeed!" < Glad to hear it. And yon like the 1 business?" < "Very much, sir." See here, my boy, to speak plainly, I owe you nothing." "And I have never demanded payment ven of that, 6ir," returned Eugene, with a smile. "Ah, that is true! But you are my ] nephew, and I have wronged"you." Eugene made a deprecatory gesture. "Urn!" went on his*uncle. "I am married, to be sure, and I may say that my wife was made to adorn society. A very " lorlwf WITT KAVf* . "Indeed Bheis, sir! Avery queen!"* "Right, eir. But I have no children, nor am I likely to have." Eugene looked np cjuickly. "In a word," continued his uncle, "I cau well afford to do something for yon." "I am doing well by myself, sir." Mr. Elliston brushed this answer away with one majestic sweep of his hand. "You like this business, you 6ay?" he asked. "Yes Bin" "You like Mr. Norton?" "Yes. sir." X'nr.ll T V??? Tin ie .T, f Cil, A LL tt V O tuauv AAV hu honest man?a pushing man. This honse will .soon rival the Harpers?the AppletonB?any in the trade. Yon shall have an interest in it, my boy," and with a grand air, Sherwood Elliston started to his feet. "But, uncle," protested Eugene, "1 cannot take a gift of money from you?and so large a sum as fit would require to buy even a small interest here!" "Well, ifjou won't tuke it as a gift, iou must accept it as a loan?but mind! t must be for a long time and without interest." "But, uncle " "Enough! I must do this to quiet my conscience; and because, to tell you the truth, I have a regard for vou." "But if anything should happen, and the sum you advanced is lost " "In thnt esse, I shall not expect you lo return a dollar of it. I shall take no receipt from vcu. and if you never return tne loan under'any circumstance1?, you', will confer o great favor upon ine." "Really, uncle " "Come, come! Accept it as from a friend ? from a relative ? irom your mother's brother?on anv grounds you please, so yon accept. If not, I swear you will wound me s riously.'' Eugene rose, took his uncle's hand, and pressing it, with emotion, said briefly: "I accept, sir. Thanks!" A look of relief came into Mr. Elliston's face. Ho took one ttep forward, then abruptly turning, burned from the room. Eugene lingered, wondering wha? had become of him. In a few moments be returned, accompanied by Mr. Morton. A long conference followed. Then the three went out together. But on the street they separated. Mr. Elliston nnd Eugeno going to the office of the former's lawyer, where, soon after, they were joined by Air. Norton an a ms Bttoruey. It wus past noon -when Mr. Elliston left them, and -when Engeue again entered the doors of the publiening honse, he did 6o a Dartner, owning a one-fourth interest in tne business, for" which his nnole bad paid $'17,500, and the firm name henceforth w. e to be John Norton & Co. For one moment, at the end of the transaction, Eugene's peace of mind was j fcomewhat ' As they were leaving the lawyer's office, his uncle"took his hand and said: "Eugene, my doar boy, I ought to tell you, for your conscience's Bake, that Mrs. Elliston is aware that I intended to render you this little service, and that she approves of it. She has a great deal of love and affection for you, my dear fellow; be sure of that." For a moment Eocene was unable to speak. At length he faltered out: "Bui does she know all. Does she know " "Yes," interrupted his uncle; "she knows all about it. I informed her that r nnt intonrl fn tnlfA ftnv ref?#>int for whatever sum I might advance on your account, and that no reclamation of it should be made at any time on any account. " "You are too good, Bir." "Isot at all. This, or something like it, is what I ought to have done before. And now good-day." "Good-day, sir, and many thanks." "By the way, Eugene, your evenings must be very lonely. Come up to the house to-night." Under the circumstances, Eugene re- j garded this Invitation as in the nature of i a command, and therefore accepted it promptly. All the afternoon the thought that he was to meet bis uncle's wife bo soon again made him nervous. He bad a shrewd suspicion that it was wholly owing to her influence that he was now a partner in the bouse of Norton & Co., and this suspicion tended to make him Btiil more nervous; so when evening came It was with a somewhat lagging step that he approached the stately mansion, and ascended to the broad platform before the mansion doors. He rang the bell, and stepped into the vestibule. The hall porter almost immediately opened the inner door, and showed him into the library. His uncle was there, walking tip and down the room with nervous tread. TVirt k/\ nnn/iAirnd + TTAT1 T\ ft xiic uiuuicui lie pmvoircu jvuug man entering: "Ah, it is you!" he cried, darting an eager glance upon him. "By my faith, your arrival iB fortunate!" "How 16 that, sir?" "I am called away?have to meet the State Central Committee in less than half an hour. Mrs. Elliston is Dot well; I don't know what's the matter with her." "I am sorry to hear that she is not well; I " ^ ^ 1 Know, X &UOW, UIJU VWU 111UBL BOO her." "But if she is ill " "She is not confined to her bed, you understand, .and your presence will do her good. -She needs some one to cheer her up. You must go to her at once. You owe her this mark of attention. And ?er?Eugene l" * "Sir?" "If you discover anything you mu6t tell me." "But what should I discover, sir?" "The deuce! How do I know? But you understand women better than I do, and perhaps you can find out what's the matter with ber. Something's troubling her, of that I am eertain, and I would like to ittc# ?Kof if. !Q " "What makes you think there is anything troubling her?" "From her actionB. Then she is eo reserved toward me?so impenetrable." "I think Mrs. Elliston is naturally cold," said Eugene. "Yes." responded his uncle, thoughtfully. "Yes, and in some respects I?but, really now, should you discover anything, 1 rely on your communicating it to me. And stop! when you have seen her do not leave the house, but have the kindness to return to tbis room. I shall be back in a couple of hours, sooner if possible. You will oblige me in this?" "Certainly,"sir. When you return you will find me here." "For my part I love her like a fool!" "That is only right, sir." "Hum! And what do you think of her?" T* i.J XrfUgeiie KiBj'i/ttu. "As I have already told yon, sir," he at length Gaid, "I think her very beautiful? tjueenly, in fact, but naturally cold." "That's it, that's it; andnpvfrgo to her." "Where shall I find her, sir?" "Jn her boudoir at the head of the jtairs." Eugene thought he knew the room, and is his uncle left the house he ascended jbp ^rOf\j| staircase leading to tbe gecond Arriving at what he supposed to be the iiCit ^oor. he tBOctefl. Obtaining no answer he entered withjut hesitation, lifted the curtain wb?ctoi aung in the doorway, and was immediately arrested by a jfranga spectacle. CHAPTER XI. THE WILES OF THE SIRES. At the other extremity of the room, facing him, was a large mirror, before which stood Cora Eilieton. Her back was turned to him. She was dressed, or ratber draped, in a 60rt of dressing-gown of white cashmere, without sleeves, which left her armB and shouldert btre. Her auburn hair was unbound and floating, and fell in heavy msBses almost to her feet. One hand rested liehtlv on the toilet table, the otner neia togetner over Her bust tEe fnM? nf h#>r dr^ssinc-crown. She was gazing at herself in the gl&ss and weeping bitterly. The tears fell drop by drop on her white, fresh bosom and glittered there like the drops of dew which one sees shining in the morning on the shoulders of 'the marble nymphs in the garden of Pallavicina. Then Eugene quietly dropped the curtains of the entrance and noiselessly retired, taking with him, nevertheless, an aternal souvenir of this stolen visit. He made inquiries and finally found the room he was in search of, and where, shortly afterward, he was joined by Mrs. Ellistou. To his astonishment her face was not only serene, it was joyous. "Good evening, my dear nephew!" she said gayly, and with a peculiar emphasis on the nephew. "How very kind of jou to come'" "Not at all." murmured Eu:ene, as he took her proffered hand. "It wae a duty J owed yon." "And one I trust you were pleased tc discharge." "You can rest assured of that, my deal aunt." "I can not doubt it," she rejoined with a smile, at the same time sauting herself on the divan by his Hide. Her skirts came in contact with his limb. 1 The Jtouch thrilled him, and he began to experience a strange sensation of fear at the tremendous power he reluctantly conin himcnTf Ihic fair eirpn xrft? quiriug oter him. Nevertheless, tbe sensation caused by the very knowledge of his danger was a delightful one, and the evening f-?sed fur too swiftly. It was with real regret, then, that be at last arose to say goodnight. "You will come again soon?" queried Cora, a6 she, too, arose, and offered him her hand. ly, and then bis face flushed a little. "Did you know I was going to give a grand party?" Bhe asked, abruptly. "I bad not heard of it." i "Well, I am. It is for your uncle's pake?to further his political projects, and bring certain important personages together." "Ah, I 6ee! When is it to be?" "Some days hence.vand I wish I might nave tne Deneht ot your adviceTTtTCht some arrangements I desire to m?ke." 44 T ?-- - -4-.1 ?? ?im11 V>n mAith varv X iOtti UXJ Will w " V/i ? *- *%.*J little to vou, but of conrsc it is fioely at jour service." "I want to make some alterations in and additions to the gaiden?clear away here and there, and add marble statues and the like." "Ah, indeed!" "Yes; and I propose to light the whole by electricity." "Thatjnll be oharmicK," "Will it not? WEatT delightful promenades my guests will be enabled to take during the intervale between the dances!" "I cannot conceive of anything more delightful." "Then come and tell ma where the new plants and statueB should be placed." "With pleasure, if you really wish it." "Of course I do. Come to-morrowcome to luncheon at two." very wen, ana Diaaing ner gooaevening, he descended to the library. He had hardly seated himself when his nncle entered. "Ah, there you are?" he exclaimed, coming briskly forward. "Eh, well?" "Vary well, indeed, uncle?much better than I had expected." "Yen have seen her, then?" "Yes. certainly." *And what did sue say to you? "Not much: bat she was charmine." "Seriously, yon did not remark anything?" "I remarked only that she was verj lovely and very kind." "That as a matier of course. But TT? Vi of T w ?r>f A Vrmrs" "l a _ in t\1 ni?i TTATi^ Cs * "UOl A " Olil IV AUV1I J.O iU UIO'U VAWO. Do you think she loves me a little?" "Assuredly, after her way as much a6 she can love, for ebo has naturally a very cold disposition." "Ah, as to that it doten't much matter; I all I demand is not to be disagreeable to her." "You are very far from being that, sir." I "Yon think bo? Well, yon give me great pleasure. Now you may go, if you please; but come back soon?come ofien. Stay! We are going to give a grand party, ball, or something of the kind. It's necessary, my friends say. I wish you would come." "I should be glad to do so; but you for. forget; I am in mourning." "Ah, trne; but yon m ght come and keep me company in the snuggery. 1 never dance, and soon tire of the crowd in the parlors." "Well, I can see no harm in that." "Quite the contrary, I should think. You will come, thou?" "Yes; and to-morrow I have promised Mrs. Elliston to ran into luncheon, and give ber some advice about certain changes she desireu to make in the gar< den." "Ah, do; I shall take it as a favor, as ] am obliged to be away, aad she always mopes when left alone." "He is goingtobeawiy andBhe at home alone," mused Eutren. "I wonder if that is the reason she was so anxious I should come." And he left the hou6e in a very thoughtful mood. However, at two the next day he was promptly on hand, and a few minutes later wa6 summoned to the dining-room. During luncheon little out of the commonplace was said, one or more servant? being always present. Eut as they rose from the table Cora asked: "Will you go into the garden with me, now?" He bowed, and Bbe led the way through a side door. As tfaey reached the walk she turned and said: "Let us goto the summer honse. I want, in five* rtla/ta ftof VA11* QAftVmrM that." "I don't eee it," he replied, looking abont him. "Of course not. It ie concealed by the trees and that arbor yonder." "Ah, that is it." And they started dowD the walk together. "What are you thinking of?" aBked Cora abrnbtly, alter a moment's silence. "Nothing. Only watching the coming storm." "Are yoa becoming poetical, my friend?" "There is no necessity for becoming, foi I already am infinitely no." "I do not think so. Will ton stav te dinner?" "Thanhs, I can not. I muot return tc the store." "That is unfortunate. There ispo much I want you to do for me." "I am very sorry; but there are certain matters that I must attend to for the firm." "Nevertheless, it is unfortunate." "Cannot Sly? Slyme help you?" "He cannot do everything, you know." "By the way, I donot like your Slyme.' "Nor I, either. And do not call him my Slyme, if you p]?aee.n "How came mv iincle to engage him?" "He was recommended to him at th? same time by an old friend as a free- 1 thinker, agd by another as a very religious 1 man." lvhat nonseneel" "Nevertheless," said Cora, "he is intel. I ligent and witty, and writes a fine hand.' "Thnt )?ai_is on advantage." "And youj^ "How? What of me?" . . ; "Do you also wj te a gbbd hahd?" "I -will show vou whenever yO'i Vfish.* i "Ah! and will yon Writfe to me?" i It is difficult to imagine just the tone in vrhich Cora said all this. "I will write you either prose or verse, as you wish," Eupene answered. "Ah! you know how to compose verses?" "When I am inspired." "And when are you inspired!" "Generally in the morning." "It is afternoon now. Thut is not complimentary to me." "But you had no desire to inspire me, I think." "Why not, then? I ehould be bapp.v and proud to do so. Do yon know wbat i should like to put there?" And sh? stopped before a beautiful fountain. "I do not know." "You cannot even guess? I would like to put an artificial rock there, with e marble nymph resting upon it." "Why not a natural rock? In your place I should put a natural one." "That is an idea," said Cora, and walk -3 lug on tney pabaeu iuv xuuu^iu. "But it really thundera. I admire thun- ] der in a place like thi<=. Do you?" "I prefer it down town." "Why?" I "Bec'ause I should not heur it." "You have no imagination-" "I have; but I smother it." ' "Very possible. I have suspected yau Df hidiDg jour merits, and particularly 1 from me." ? "Wny should I conceal my merits from J rou?" "I myself do so. It is charming." "But why?'" 1 "For charity?not to dazzle me, and ' vrith regard for my peace of mind. You j are really too good, I assure you. Here ( comes the rain." Larue drops cf rain commenced to fall on the flowers, the grass and the walks. 1 The day was passiuc, and the sudden I shower hent down the bouehs of the trees, i "We must go iD," said the lady; "this ( begins to get serious." Fortunately the summer-house was ciose at hand; there were openiDgs on two 1 cities, but the structure was large and the j roof tight. Cora entered. aDd took refuge in the ] drvest plare she could find, and her com- ( punion followed her. '1 he Htorm, iu the meantime, increased ! in violence. The rain fell in torrents. I inundating the toil around the frail (<tn:cture^ The lightning flashed inces- , >autlt\. Every now anil mea u great ( branch of the neighboring tree scraped Liu* roof, detaching pieces, w'lich fell 1 Uepvily }o th<* KTOund. "I find this very beautiful," said Cora, ' presently. i "I also," said Eugene, raising his eyes , lo the roof, "but I do not know if we are safe here." "If you fear, you had better go!" Baid ' Cora, quickly. ( "I fear for yon." "You are too good, I assure you." j She took off her hat and commenced , brushing it with her glove, to remove the drop6 of rain which had fallen upon it. 1 After a slight pause, she suddenly raised her uucoved head and oast on Eugene one of those searching looks whicli prepare a mail for so impor.'ant question. , "Mv friend," she snid, "if you were ?uie that one or *hese beautiful flashes of li?htniDg would kill jon in '.en minutes, ' what would voa do?" I Eugene, what ie your opinion of me? What kind of a woman am I?" "I fear I cannot answer yon." "Ah, well, I am not so very bad; indeed, I am a good woman?one who loves you well?with a little rancor, but not much, ana wno wisnes you ali sorts ot prosperity in this world and the next. Aren't you glad? Do not answer me; it might embarrass you, and it is useless." She left her shelter, and turned her face towards the lowering sky. "The storm ie over," she said. "Let ub go in." She then perceired that the ground outside of the summer-house was transformed into a lake of mud and water. "What shall I do?" she said, looking at her light boots. Then turning to Eugene, added: *11?:n "Why, natu ally," he replied, "I should moke yon my adieus." "How'f" He looked her in the face in terror. "Do yoa know," ho said. "there are times when lam tempced to think joa are a devil?" "Truly! Well, there are times when I am tempted to think bo myself?for instance, at this moment. Do yon know what I should wish? I wish I could control the lightning, and in two seconds you would cease to exist." "For what reason?" "Because I remember there was a man to whom I offered my love, and who refused it, and this man still lives. And I this displeases me a little?a great dealpassionately!" I "Are you Berious?" he aBfced gravely. She commenced laughing. "I hope you did not think so. I am not so wicked. It was a joke, and in bad taste, I admit. But seriously now, YT 111 JUU ^Ct UJO t? UVObl I Eugene himself recoiled from placing hie foot in the mnd and water. "If you will wait &little,"he said, "I shall be able to find ton some heavy boots or rubbers, no matter what." "It will be much easier," she eaid, abruptly, "for you to carry me to the side door;" and without waiting for the young man's reply, she commenced tucking up ber skirts carefully, and when she had finished, said: "I am ready." He looked a'? her with astonishment, and thought for a moment shi was Anting; Dut soon saw she was perre.?? nous. "Of what are you afraid?" she asked. "I am not at all afraid," he answered. "Do you think some one will 6ee us? They cannot." *1 don't care if they do." "16 it that yon are not strong enough?" "ftrnnf Kr?ntt.l T nhonld think I wan." He took her in his firms as in a cradle, while she held tip her drees with both her hands. He then left the summer-house and moved ae?06s the garden with his straDge burden. He was oblfged to be very careful not to slip on the wet earth, and this absorbed him during the first few steps; but when he found hi6 footing more sure, be felt a natural curiosity to observe the countenance of the lady. Hemnconvcred head rested a little one Bide on the arm with which he held her. Her lips were slightly parted with a halfwicked smile that showed her fine white teeth. The stme expression of ungovernable malice burned in her dark eyes, which she riveted for Bome seconds on those of Eugene with penetration, then snddenlv veiled them under the fringe of A n Tl*;0 /?rv rnv.4 ? LLOI UQ1* iDCUt-n. 1 UiO (jillUtO OCUl a thrill like lightnipg to his very marrow, "Do you wish to drive me "mad?" he murmured. "Who knows?" she replied. The same moment she disengaged herself from hiB arms, and. placing her foot dn the ground, ran tip the veranda steps. They reached the back drawing-room without exchanging a word. Just as Eugene was about to withdraw Cora turned to him and e-?id: "Be sure that at heart I am very good, really." Notwithstanding this soft assertion Eugene left the house in a decidedly uncomfojtable state of mind. Indeed, he carried away be most painful impression of the ecenee of that afternoon. [TO BE CONTINUED.J Plucking- Ostriches. The invitation of "Biddy, Biddy, come Bid," and handfuls of yellow corn bs-inftATTor ffiA Kr^nrn conrl at. fho S^ablClVU VKi kuv wivnu buum u? ?mv Coronado ostrich farm yesterday afternoon, ^brought the eleven fnll-grown birds into a'feathery mass before E. P. Waters and his colored assistant. A group of_curiousjpeople banked the Iqw ajopg the ygst rgserve of _the faJSadgT* l?*USs the second" pluming this season^TuPof a"generally fresh lot J tu birds from the American Ostrich Company's parent farm at Fallbrook, a9 intervals of eight months must separate pluckings. Superintendent "Waters was in his shirt sleeves, and a limp flour sack danirled from his rear left pocket. It required some time to counteract the suspicion that would flare up in a fringe of shaky necks, until the reassuring gaze md the soothing voice of the feeder caused them to drop in security to the temptation in the sand. Suddenly there was a wild etampede, and the neck of the gray female that w?tpra hud hent. to sfiiz^ was hooded in the sack, an opening for breathing admitting several inches of her bill. Between the men this strangely subdued creature was guided into an open-end stall. Apparently the ostrich, with its Fore-and-aft eje sweep, feels its helplessness when blinded. There was no resistance, as the powerful pronged toe sould not get a back bit at the plucker. The assistant stood behind as guarat while Waters pulled, snipped and answered questions from the inquisitors. They learned that in each wing, over the protectors or floss feathers, there jrow to maturity in eight months twentysix long white plumes. In the black male these are pure white, but the female idds slight shadings of ccru or gray. Ihe sweep of short feathers above this / splendid fan of white is plucked foi tips, irnl each wing furnishes seventy-five of these. The tail feathers are toned into i deep old ivory, and sixty-five of these ire of commercial use. Scissors were used only to clip the long white plumes, is this must be dope a month or more before maturity to prevent the ends being whipped out. The quills are then pulled woen ripe. Nearly 300 feathers were secured from Biddy, which will have a market value of $(55 after being curled and dressed. The female averages seventy eggs in a year, and nowadays these are all incubated at Fallbrook, where alfalfa pastures await the young ones. Green feed at Coronado for the eleven costs, on a daily average, sixty cents. None of these birds are over three years of age, and all are native sons and daughter. The youngest male, a splendid curley coated fellow, is but sixteen months old, and this second plucking in his experience was certainly Anticipated. He fought, kicked, and * * TLf? crouc&ea tnrou^a xae process, oui i Waters secured from hini the finest } plumes of the pick. A secoud female was denuded, and the remainder were [eft unmolested for a third plucking soor. ?Sua Diego (Cal.) Sun. Obey the law as good citizens Is a maxim which a lot of people should paste in their hats ard Tead it everj time they feel themselves -growinR hot under the col lax CHOLERA'S HOME. THE PESTILENCE STA.L.KETH FORTH FROM THE ORIENT. It Has Swept Over Enrope From Baku. Russia's Petroleam Centre ?ignorant Peasants Repel the Physicians. NCE more from JSj Turkestan stalks fiirnrvAujprrl thrnucrh the czar the menaccasion it comes via Asia suggests a reversion to its more ancient itinerary, when it almost invariably advanced upon Europe from that direction. In later years the tendency of the disease has been to spread its ravages first through Europe and the Red Sea, thence northward. A. ... irp=r MIAV1NG THEIR OLD HOMES. As invariably happens in similar cases the air is thick with conflicting rumors and opposing theories a3 to the origin and first location of the contagion. The most reliable version, I think, is that ti.on?o if fn TnrhoH.Shfiilf.T^inmi. TVUJVU UUVrVB AV ?V *M.WV? J T a place' of minor importance on the Afghan-Persian frontier. Here it became unmistakable evident about the beginning of May, thence spreading to Meshed. This town is on the road connecting Kandahar, Herat and Askabad, and is the most important place in the northeastern part of Persia. The deaths here quickly reached an alarming high rm ' 1 m NSVSV . V ?===^4t.' rC: W' r^V-=^ai U (1 ! , fcUBBIAK PEA9ANTS REPELLTN average, and it was not unusual for 120 cases to be registered in one day. Next the cholera tvas heard of in Askabad about June 1st. The latter town is on Tranfcaspian Railway, and the plague continued to follow the line of this road m both easterly and western directions, its western halting place being for a time at Uzun-Ada, from whence the tide of emigration subsequently carried it i still further west across the Caspian Sea to Baku, the eastern terminus of the Transcaucasian Railroad. Baku is a city offering peculiarly fa vi? fnv r\ijp9?p t.n take vurauic tuuumuua ?u* root and establish itself as a permanent danger to surrounding localities. Being a railroad center, it is in constant com FUGITIVES FROM THE CHOLERA. munication with the outer world, and its further importance as the hendquar- 1 ters of the great pretroleum industry i gives it a population of nomadic work- 1 meD, few of whom may be character- i ized a9 fanatical devotees of cleanliness. ] They herd together in promiscuous < j- j; nprfinarv hvpienic I crowas, ujsrcgaiuju^ ?j - t precautions and necessarily suffering the t consequences. Want of pi oper sanitary I supervision on the part of the local au- < thorities is moreover an old and well- i founded grievance in all parts of the t Russian Empire. Nowhere is the charge t more justly preferred than in the ease of j Baku, where general filth, in and out of i roiomc sunreme. There is no ade- i uvsvja, 4 1 quate inspection of household dwellings, t and it is customary for refuse to be a thrown into the streets aDd for the dead bodies of animals to strew tbe pavement unheeded for days at a time. Whoever goes into an ordinary workman's dwellinc is confronted by a series of sights ?.?/! emails which at once tell the talc of inexcusable neglect ? floors that are j never scrubbed from one year's end to the other; furniture so greased and polished frDm constant contact with un- j washed humanity and unfumigated i clothing that its regeneration seems im- s possible; corner? of rooms into which rubbish of all kinds has been thrown, and left to accumulate indefinitely; and altogether a state of affairs specially adapted for the breeding of disease. fin E ' ? A STREET SCENE IN BAKU. Along the highways of the town things are scarcely better, perhaps with the single exception that they exist in the open air instead of in the close, confined atmosphere of the interiors. The Baku street cleaning deDartment would receive but slight commendation should its operations be extended to America, or, to reverse the proposition, if the uniformed gangs of street cleaners which are now familiar sights in New York were to appear on the streets of Baku, broom in hand, they would create something re-? sembling a panic. I am not quite sure that their appearance would not galvanize the bodies of horses, mules, cats and dogs which indiscriminately litter the roiMmonto intn roatrtrpH lifp llndfiP the impulse of sheer astonishment. In Baku, in fact, when municipal vigilance becomes aroused to the point of consid/Uonnool nf q />ornfioa llflQ I VtiUg VUV UlUj^UUVtl V? M VU4 vwww U?vu been encumbering the highway several I days, one or two municipal employes stand pensively on the opposite sidewalk and mutely survey the task before them j for an hour or more before bracing themselves up for the mighty effort of removal. After this, it is generally considered that human endurance cannot sustain a similar effort for at least three or four weeks. Such is the sanitary atmosphere cf the great petroleum centre, and can anyone marvel at the result? On the north of the Caucasus, from Baku, the cholera has gained its greatest strength in the province of Astrakhan, where a motley and ignorant population has resented from the 9tart the efforts of the public offiicals to alleviate the general condition. Of course, it was necessary, in the public interest, to hastily dispose of the dead bodies of victims, but | g.;,. - Q THE HEALTH OFFICERS. the idea suddenly took possession of the people that the dpctors were dooming the poor sufferers to a premature burial. Quicklime had been called into use, the coffins being filled with it prior to interment, and this was fiercely resented, as -1?~ 4-V?" .amnnnl nf tVio aiolf tft hflR- I was auu tuc ???v ?. pital. At Astrakhan itself the house of the governor was surrounded by a menacing mob. The shout went up: wLet us have revenge for the murder of our sick brethren 1" The situation was startling, and its possibilities of danger was hourly increasing. Word dispatched to Saratoff for troops wa3 responded to, but for at least two days Astrakhan remained under mob rule, and the crowd, advancing on the hospital building, dragged the medical superintendent and his deputy into the street, killed them and trampled the corpses under foot. Then the hospital itself was destroyed k f,rc. Tho mnat h?rrowinc liart of all l/jr i was when the infuriated moujiks fell upon the bearers of the hospital carta, sod, removing the patients, caried them away to secluded places, there to treat them according to their own ideas. Believing that the doctors had poisoned the poor people the fanatics proceeded to dose them with milk, with generally fatal results. When the troops from Saratoff marched into Astrakhan they were obliged to pour volley after volley into the riotous multitudes. An outbreak of cholera in Russia is i momentous occurrence in more ways than one, because it is liable to cause a suspension of industries which employ arge numbers ot persons, inus creating i condition of general distress. In Baku the city authorities actually cleared jut, under the impulse of fear, and emjloyers of labor closed up their facories. The position of the people ciin De thus easily imagined, deprived at )cce of the official supervision upon vhich they perpetually depend and of he very means of subsistence. When he Russian ruralist finds himself thus jlaccd his first tendency is to lose hope md becorac generally demoralized. He s then harder to manage than ever, and, is I have shown, turn, into a lunatic ind a rioter.?Once A Week. A chimney piecs carved from wood >ver 60U0 years old Has recently Deen irected in a house in Edinburgh. The vood, an oak tree, wa3 found in a sand >it at Musselburg, thirteen feet below he surface. The great cantilever bridge at Niagara ^alls is entirely composed of steel. It s 810 feet in length, weighs 3000 tons cost $900,000. Doj?s of War. For the past year numerous tests and experiments hare been made in Germany, with the Scotch collie dogs for military* purposes, especially during times of war* and it has been found that this dog is the best and most available among the various breeds of dogs, and from now on, / according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch,j trained collies will be added to the stand-! ing armies of Germany and France. The services to which the Scotch collies will) be trained are numerous. They will serve as messengets for carrying di? patches and important communications to those army divisions stationed in the immediate vicinity of the enemy. During the progress of a fight 'where the troops happen to be scattered-over a vast HOTTING UP WOUNDED. ' area of territory, they will be used forj carrying ammunition to the various divisions. They are furthermore trained for reconnoitring and for hunting up the wounded and carrying them on ambulances, especially constructed for that purpose, to the field hospital. For the fatter purposes these dogs are almost invaluable. For reconnoitering purposes the dogs are trained to run ahead of a division of! soldiers, search the territory closely and announce suspicious circumstances bjf standing still in their tracks. Another field for his activity is outpost duty. Id this case the dog is trained to scent the ' AS A MESSENGER. I ? | approach of strangers and to return at once to his master to announce this fact to him. All this must be done very 1 quietly, of course, so as not to disturb the enemy. When doing duty as a messenger the j dog wears a collar around his neck to which a leather pouch is attached, in. which the dispatches are concealed. The collar is numbered and bears also the name of the army division to which the dog is detailed. In war times thif name can be affixed in cipher so that the enemy may not be any the wiser as to- j the location of the division in question, fn njVlirth tVlB hfclnnorfl. should thO: wagons, with two attendants ana a aogt can do twice a3 much field work as ha* heretofore been done by two red crossmen with a litter. This has been, demonstrated during the spring ma neuvers* Pearl Fiabln? In Ohio. Pearl fishing in the Little and Big* Miami Rivers,Ohio, has long been s recog*??? ** aI! mzea means 01 suobisituue lu uuuuiw w&; people in that region. Some of the finest pearls ever found came from there. For. one of them Tiffany & Co. uaid $1200 and afterward sold it for $2500. Asmuch aa $12,000 worth in one year have been gathered. The clam* in whose, shells these pearls are found are raked lrom the sand bar during low water, where they are found in beds similar to' ?i. ? Kit fho aa't.venter r!nma. dispatch fall into his hands. Some of the best and strongest dogs are detailed to the red cross division of the army, where they do valuable service in hunting up the wounded in tim- , . bered and valley regions, where they artlikely to escape the eye of man, especially after dark. When the dog dig covers a wounded soldier be places bis two fore paws on the body of the man and barks until assistance arrives. With, this is combined the ambulance service. Small but well built wagons, which can carry two men, are easily drawn by a. good strong collie. These ambulances are low, hare good springs and the tires are covered with rubber. One of these ? _ bliUdG iV/IIUCU l/J vuv .. They are readily raised when undisturbed and mature in tyvo years. This industry, through the enterprise of Theodore Wolking, will soon be firmly established in Kentucky. This gentleman is about to invest in two boat loads of fresh-water clams from the headwaters of the Little Miami. They will be planted on the edges of his famous fish preserves at Rosedale.?Covington. (Ky.) Record. " ? Cause and Effect. Willie?"Do jou keep that sour cow yet?" Milkman?"What sour cow?" Willie?k,The one that gives the sour milk."?Truth. The Italians have guns weighing one hundred tons on their battle ships. They are found too big and are to be ' fntron mit_ / / A broken wooden horse, with whPh / Napoleon Bonaparte played when a w?s recently sold, for $200. / / / . /