The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, October 07, 1903, Image 6

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L| AiJ Arn I K A TT A ^ I y Ui | By Anna Katharine Green, J COFYRfCHT. 1090. ?v m CHAPTER IX. HORACE BYRD. Late at night there sat in a small room two men. Their ligures are familiar, yet perhaps it is best to describe them. One is large, benevolent looking and elderly, with a pmooth face , and kindly bearing, but with a curious mannerism affecting all his actions that -t once draws attention and inspires inquiry. He never looks at the person he addresses, but gives all his glances and seemingly all his attention to some insignificant object in his vicinity, filling it with his confidences and extracting from it the. inspiration which most men gather frpm the eye or 6mile of those with whom they are conversing. Whether this is a mere habit caught in the long exercise of a calling demanding secrecy of intention, or whether it is the result of a deliberate determination on this man's part to eeem to know less and see less than he really does, lias never been decided, ?ven by those most nearly connected with him. But that it marks the man and gives him a power at once weird and controlling no one has ever disputed, not even those who suffer most Irom hjs taleuts. These are the aspiring ones who seek to compete*with him in his success and invariably fail, though he is an old man now, verging, on to seventy, and both from age and infirmity in no condition to engage in the active exercise of that detective work which has employed his energies lor so many years. The other is a young man of a wellbuilt frame, attractive features, good expression and cultivated manners. He is a dctectlve, too, but neither in snpet'h. look nor action does he show it, hence his usefulness and growing favor with the chief. The names of these men are Gryce anil Byrd, names, as I have said, "with -which you are familiar, even if you have never seen tbenr mentioned save in this narrative. They are talkiag, and Mr. Gryee's voice is the first we hear. "The reward, of course, is a fine one, 3)ut friendship has some claims, and I think the traces you should follow are those of the disappointed prima donna. If, in doing this, you strike, as is probable enough, upon the clue we are all In search.of, viz., the secret cf a conepiracy involving so many girls of one name, virtue will have its reward in / more senses than one, and I for one f " shall congratulate you, but if you do jk not and yet find the siguorina, and ?o r relieve Degraw from his anxieties, why you will have done a good work that .will always give you satisfaction. Tie man with the black mustache and gray eyes "who has been seen in connection with every one of these girls but the eJgnorina, will nypbe found so readily. The daughter of Abram Rogers is buried, and consequently his Interest in her is ended; the publicity attending the inquest following the death cf the girl in Blind Alley will frighten him away from her, while the similarity .between the name of the heiress and these two other victims to his maebin ations will deter him from being seen with her till public attention has been drawn from the name and all those who have been known to bear it. But the Signorina .Valdi has not been known to have borne it except by very Jew persons. "With her he may yet carry on his schemes, whatever they may be, with seeming impunity. If, therefore, he is the strong man he appears, and if the conspiracy, as we Lave termeu it, nns any goon reason for being, you will lind her in the toils or under the Influence of this man "whrs? name may or may not be Montelli, but who is certainly a person of resources demanding all our skill and energy in tracing him." "Mr. Gryce, how can I thank you? You Are me at once with courage and enthusiasm. I hated to mis? the reward, for I needed it, but if judgment points in the same direction as duty bow easy it will be for me to go forward." "True, but remember that I promise nothing. I only point out the course I should follow if I were of your age and engaged in active service." "That is all that Js necessary. I desire no wiser mentor nor more dislnter| esteu friend. And now let us look into the elews I have picked up in my day's search, anil decide as to which I shall follow iirst. It will not take long, for the facts are few and meagre." The old detective showed hie interest in his usual benevolent way, and after a short discussion, too technical to be interesting to the reader, the two men parted, and Byrd returned home. The next morning be called at Mr. Degraw's studio. "J should like to see the sketch you drew of Signorina Valdi." Mr. Degraw hastened to fhow jt. meanwhile overwhelming the detective with questions. "What have yon discovered. Whom have yon seen? What hope is there of finding her?" But Byrd was reticent. "I have discovered nothing as yet." tic replied. "The task you have given ine is not an easy oDe. Were her beauty less, or her characteristics not pronounced. I should almost despair of salving the mystery that surrounds tier, hut with such a face as hers she *annot long remain anywhere unnoticed. and now that 1 know its characteristics the chances nro fewer still of tier escaping mo. If you were tc photograph this?" X iif* ?u uoi ciuviju uir? 'T have an invincible repugnmce to ranking her features the cornmou property of a dozen police officers. The case does not seem sufficiently pressing. If you can get alons with it, do. I am sure ber "womanly delicacy sbouM be considered.'' "I -will try. but it may occasion delay. Have you Alontelhs uote about yon?" ^"1 believe so; yes, bere it is." 5f1 ? PER : P; T.T.ni\TS I S i i-i x v_y x ? ibimTIibh J Author of "The Forsaken n 3BCDT (ONNCA'SSONS. /B "I suppose you have no objection to letting me have thatV "None whatever." "And now for a minute description of this Italian." "I only saw him for an instant, but in that instant I got the impression of a tall, slim man, of decided dark complexion and lowering glance. He wore a black mustache and had a sinister and uncanny expression that made a most disagreeable impression upon the beholder. Yet his form was not bad, and by some people he might even be callcd a gentleman, though I should never describe him as such. But then, I bate him, and with reason, for I believe him to be;tlie cause of the signorina's abriipt departure." "1 "wish your description uau ui-cu ? . little different. I wish it Lad tallied . raore with that given of the gentleman haunting the other three girls. Sinister, eh? and dark? That Is not what is said of the urbane stranger who visited Miss Hadden's school and lay Jn wait to view Mr. Rogers' young daughter." J "What are you talking about?" rx- ^ claimed Degraw, getting excited. "Is' ^ there " * But Byrd wrth a gesture stopped all questioning. t "I let my thoughts out somewhat carelessly," he acknowledged. ""Mon- ^ telli is, undoubtedly, what the Portn- r guese describes him 1o be. I only wished to make sure. Do you think you could, by a few strokes, give me * an idea of his face?" Degraw shook his head. "I fear iny impressions are too vague," c said lie. "But let me have that paper." 1 And taking the note which he had pre- 1 viousJy given to Byrd he attempted by a few lines on its back to give some ' idea of the Italian's features. He sue- a ceeded imperfectly, while Byrd, who c was no mean artist himself, employed a liis time in waiting by roughly, bnt not t inaccurately,copying into his note book a the face of the-signorina. 8 "For my.own use," he explained, ^ showing it to the wondering Degraw. 1 And taking the other sketch he but- * toned them both up in his pocket, with 6 a look that forbade further questionIng. "And now, good-bye," said he. 11 "As soon as I get hold of anything definite I will let you know. Till then be 1 easy. Remember that twenty detec- 0 tives besides myself are on the track of the unknown man who seems to be c making all this mischicf." "Wait! don't go, Byrd, till you hare 1 made one thiug clear to me. You have 8 hinted to me that you thought that Montelli and he might be one and the T same. If bo the siguorina would be but 8 one of the several involved in a plot, of * which, .1 dare say, even you do not s know cither the motive or workings." e "You are not far wrong." D,u ^wa Af 4>ia -rtloHiYie nf flint -S JL>Ul I ?> U VI IUC WVUUiD v* have died?" "Natural deaths, Degraw." "Natural deaths? Are you sure?" R "Sure of one and as sure of the other as I can he till after the autopsy t that will be made to-day." 0 "But " * "Go to the Inquest, Degraw. It will S take up your mind and keep you from too great impatience. I will write yon in two days whether I have news or c not." c But the artist was not yet ready to ^ see the other go. "I want to give my opinion," said he, . "before I say good-bye. I do not think Montelli fc? interested In any one but the signorina, and as for the unknown I do not think he Is near as much to be ? feared as the deceiving Portuguese." "Wo will see, we will see. Meantime T every minute that I linger here puts D off by so much time the hour of her f discovery." "Then go; I would not detain you an- 1 other minute." And as eager now to u see the detective do irt ns he had hitli- c crto hern to detain him he fairly j1 pushed him toward the door. But now "fly rd cliose to halt a moment. E "Why, whom hare we here?" he a asked, pointing to the picture which t Degraw had denominated "The Poet's r Dream." "It looks as if you had been K trying to paint Miss Aspinwall." v "Miss Aspinwall?" t "Old Lemuel Afipsnwall's daughter, the beauty of upper Fifth avenue." "Well, perhaps I have. Do you recognize the face?" "Perfectly." "Then I am much obliged to you. 1 have always wished to know my model's name. I saw her in a crowd and . this is the result. But I never found any one before who could tell me who !S1IU JS. i>Ul lUill I UU\??7 "I.IUS uiij , strenuous efforts to find, out, for, as. you see, ;he picttire is not yet off tny easel." "Well, I congratulate you; it is a beautiful painting:, but?" Dejrraw stopped him just at tlie door. "Your knowledge of the original of this picture ban given nnother interest to it. Miss Aspimvrtll?since you sny that it is her name?is [hit lady whom I paw strewing (lowers over ibe slgnorina when 1 Grot went into tlie room." "Ygm don't say so. Well, I must bear about that." "There is not much to boar. Wc interchanged no words, for I was too much astonished at her presence to be master of my usual self-possession, while she was only too glad (o escape from the room and what must have seemed to her my somewhat importunate gaze." "But she is a friend of Signorma *> Valdi; must be, or she would not have been showing her such an attention.'1 "I do not think she is a friend. The signorina, whom I questioned on the t subject, said she did not know whe 1 she was, but thought she must be a t pupil of her oai tuns tor, Avno unci lor- j mcrly shown a secret interest in lier." " Well. I am glad lo have located this I person. Something may come of it. I | Who can tell? It Is often the most un- i Ikely clues that lead to the desired knowledge." And with a bow and good-day Byrd inally disappeared. Early in the afternoon Hamilton Dejraw wont out to buy a paper. Turn ng at once to the local news column ie found that the autopsy in which he vas interested had taken place, with he result prophesied by Byrd. It was i great relief, for had the girl been bund to be the victim of violence, he vould not have had a minute's rest in egard to the signorina, nntwithstandng his opinion in Tegard to Monell I. Of the plot or conspiracy of vhicb he had heard while at Police leadqvarters, there was no mention, he authorities, for once, having sue coded in baffling the reporters in regard to a matter which it was desirible for the present to lcccp secret. Jut of the Signorina "Valdi he found his trace in oae corner of the great >aper: "The Tcport -which was current this nomine: concerning the death of Siglorina Valdi, whose disastrous attempt o sing the role of Margherita "will be cmembered by many of our readers, ias bpen proven false. She is uot lead, bnt absent, having left her late ipartments at 391 East street or , other quarters at present unLno.wn." Calmed in a measure the artist went jack to his studio. There were yet tour.i and days to wait before 1m? could lope to get any decided ucwe. CHAPTER X. JII88 ROGERS, OF DETROIT. Mr. Gryce's intuitions were seldom it fault He had said to Mr. Byrd hat the unknown would not be found vith the heiress who had fled from Iiss Haddcn's school, and behold! vithin the course of the next day arao "word from Miss Hadden herself hat Mifcs Rogers had returned to the ichool.with the crestfallen air of one vho had suffer'etl a great disappoinlnent. j The Inspector at once notified Mr. | 3rycc, and advised him to visit Miss Rogers and see if he could not obtain rom her such particulars of lier late i scape as -would assist them in deternining upon the identity of the gentlenan "wlio had instigated it. j The elderly detective, who was bolh ty nature and appearance eminently daptcd for this "work, at once departd for Miss Hadden's school, where, fter a short interview with its misrees, he was admitted to a small partment, where he was requested to iwait the appearance of Miss Rogers. L UU UflUy %YUS Mll>U. XU U H'W UllLI* itcB a yoyng Igdy entered in -whom he lad no difficulty in recognieing the oraewhat pretty and decidedly -willful ;ir] in -whose erratic adventures he it present took so strong an interest. "Miss Rogers, I believe," said he, villi an air at once rcspectful and enonraging. "Oh, 'who are yon?" she asked, hanging in a moment from the half letti&h, half coquettish creaturp he lad fleen enter into a woman both tartled and frghtened. "I am your friend, to begin with," vas his reassuring reply, "and next, I im an old man who has seen much of ife, and who has a world of compasion for them who have as yet all its xperienees before them." She had not sat down, and was tanding before him In an attitude that ictokened more readiness for llight ban desire to listen. "But you are a tranger," she declared; "I do not even ;now your name. Why do you speak o me of compassion? I was not .ware M Her voice broke; she was rtn -uniiTr* nrir? 1n?Ynrvprir>^i1 tn fl ;ood actress. "I speak of compassion," said he, because of all griefs wo mortals are ailed upon to endure that of losing onfidence in our friends is at once the leepest and the keenest. I know thnt on have suffered such a loss. No, do tot go. I have something of too much mportanse to say to you to depart without hearing it." He looked so benevolent and smiled o reassuringly that she immediately ook courage. Flinging caution to the rinds she gasped out in sudden cxciteaent: "Have you brought me a message rom him? Does he regret " She rauKt'd. Ignorant as she was of life hp felt that she was on the point of ompromising herself. "You do not nswer." she pettishly exclaimed. "I iave made a mistake: let me go." She was not a beautiful girl, attrac ive as id (my consiuerou ucr wuu un lothing lint her dazzling complexion nd the abundant masses of her light irown hair. But fhe was a spoilod me. and at this moment bore herself o haughtily iliat she looked almost in manageable to the shrewd old d'elecive. To be contini:rd. flex ia Touch TTJth the World. The man who gels "out of the swim.'' o to speak, who loses his touch with lit* great, pulsing world about him. vbo *e;'IiideR himself iu his study or afcoratory, ur.d deals oniy with books uid theories instead of with men and hlngs, will soon liud himself going lowu grade. It is not living in tlie world of yeserday, nor in the world of to-morrow, )ut in to-day's world, that counts. We nust know the world and the day wo ire livi.og lu, and beep in respousivc ouch with the great movements of ivillxntion. A great mauy men bare lived in the ** * ? ill mAili. >nsr. jaua uaro ui'i-u cuminuu ... ...? icval methods Instead of modern on'.-s. i'hey have lived in history. ppendiug heir timi: in buried ciliov. in dead phiosophicp. in exhausted theories, until hoy are dried up. They have gathered ill tiieir* nourishment from the pnst. L'hey are mm much out of place in the urseut ae a *)ird of paradise would licit the Xortli L'ole. Their physical susenanee is the only thing that ties them :o the actual world of to-day. Their a on la 1 food, their reflections are. ell J:i lie past, and yet they wonder why the .vorld <[oiv not appreciate thorn, why hey are not in ioucli with it, when the .'act is4h.it they are really strangers In i strange land. They bavo no sympa* i\f nmcfuil .1 1%> WIUI IUU V.. 4'4 ?,. *-ith the trudcucy of the ape, cr with ho great niovetneiiis foinj on nil il>out them.?O. S. Maiden, in Success. The fellovi- who rides a hobby should ){? careful that it dacsu't run away vitli Win. A SERMON FOir SUNDAY I; AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE ENTITLED .' A SUPREME OPPORTUNITY." The Iter. Cornelian WoclflcJn Preaches Entertainingly on the FMcinAttnK Biblical Romance <?f KKth?:r?Seine Your Opportunities Resolutely. New Yokt: City.?Sunday morning the Rev. Cornelius Woelfkin. minister of fche Greene Avenue Baptist Cnurch, had for hia eubject "A .Supreme Opportunity." He chose as'his text Esther iv: ]4: "Who knoweth whether thou, art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Mr. Woelfkin said: The history of Esther is a. fascinating romance. Every changing scene in the panorama is a graphic illustration cf the providence of God. It traces the transition from obscurity to prominence; from weakness to power. The scene opens ' showing Esther an orphan girl belonging to a catjtive and despised race. Naturally, every aoor of influence would be closed to ' her. Alone in the world, utpenoen*, upon a cousin's bounty, the horizon of ner life wa9 limited. Her chicf endowment was beauty, and that, the world goes, is more likely to become a pnare of evil tnan a benediction of good. Yet, behind this humble, modest lite there is working the j might, wisdom and love of God. The Queen's throne i3 empty. The royal crown ib waiting some one who may please the mood of the King. Thousands of gentle blood dream of the Queen's place as the acme of all ambition. But the providence of Jehovah has reserved the place for ' Esther, the orphaned Jewish girl. This same divine power seeks to mold | every life. The circumstances and conditions that environ us may not seem promising. But what are these with God? His strength is made perfect in weakness. The vast maiorily of men and women who have made the molds of history were those 1 whom God's providence brought from ob?curity and lowlv conditions, xour way is , not hid from the Almighty. There iR a place held vacant for your filling. That place is as honored and dignified as any ' royal throne, because it is divinely ap pointed. The steps leading thereto may seem to be contingencies, accidents, fortuitous chances, ana through the moods of other persons. But if there be the spirit of faitn to trust Him, diligence to discover His will and readiness to obey, He will bring us to the place and position most suited for our eternal profit and glory. No one else may step into our nlace, until we, through unbelief and disobedience, have forfeited the privilege of its occupancy. Every life has its own unique endowment. . Success or failure depends upon the manner in which we hola these possessions. If we hold them selfishly to profit ourselves withal, they turn into corruption. But if they be held in trust as a sacred stewardship, used for the furtherance of His purposes and the bringing of His kingdom, tney will turn out eternal treasures. Our temptation is to discredit our possessions and opportunities. But we may oot despise the day of small things. Esther had only personal beauty to commend her at first. This is not o gift deipised by Satan in his attempt to ruin a roul; then why should it be discredited as a power for good? The lad had only five loaves and two fishes, but, consecrated to His service, they fed the multitude and more. It all turns upon whether we are using our endowments in the interest of self and by the energy of self, or whether ?ve are living and working in co-operation with Him and for His glory. The fprm of a life will vary. God docs not duplicate and make a]l live* to conform to a like pattern. There was a vast difference between the captive maid that served in Naaman's borne and the orphan captive who mounted the Per^an throne, but it wa? tbc same God who worked in each. The orphan girl became the bounteous queen. She enjoys the honors and emoluments of royalty. Banquets are held in her honor and a retinue of servants minister to her continually. Can she support the dignity thus thrust upon her? Will adulation, flattery and vanity enervate her touFe ability, or will she grow 6trong and potent for good amid opportunities? Only trial can answer such queries, and that comes soon enough. Prom the outer world ehe hears the lamentation of her kindred people. Mordecai. her cousin, is in sack fJiUCII axiu 1>VUJU ?rvu comforted. All the captives are- wailing with fear. What could it mean? ? If she had only been party to the conference between her royal husbar.d and the prime minister prince she would have understood. Ii she could see all the cicrks writing the sentences of death which were being hurried throughout the empire she would have lcuown. She seems to be exempt. Does she not dwell in the palace? But the blackness overshadows her even there. No circumstance or condition can shut it out. The court of Persia permitted no one wearing sack cloth, that symbol of sorrow and mourning, to enter the royal precincts. They would not be disturbed by painful remindera of life's sorrows. Byt" even the royal purple can neither ignore nor escape tnera. The tragedies of life are not shut out by hiding and ignoring them. We can build no barrier that will prevent their invasion. The Redeemer of the world did not ignore them. He did not isolate Himself from human woe, but through suffering became a Saviour, forgiving sin, bringing glory out of the crucible of suffering and planting the iight_ of hope amiu the shadows ot death. If .tether seeks to Kayo her life alone efce -will lose it. But if in neeking to save others she lose it. she shall save it. Y>7e cannot in a time of epidemic think of ourselves alone. Individual carefulness will prove fatal. There came a moment of despair to Rsther. What can she do more than others. She had not been called into the Kind's ])reeence for a whole month. And to venture unbidden might mean death. She had her limitations. Even her position seemed unequal to the need, Her privileges fell short. It is always so. A grave crisis ever brings the shadow of despair. 33fere are problems that confront every generation that seem insoluble. We become bewildered and perplexed; ws feel our inadequacy and despair. This perplexity and despair is purely human. Its shadow never falls urxm the throne of God. He Khali not fail nor be discouraged tiil He Iv-th tct judgment in the earth. All that He requires is an instrument that will not balk at the cost, and He brings sneedy relief. Let us fling the sacrifice of life into the ituation. and nothing shall be impossible to ue. It is this desire to keep our skins whole, and to conserve our personal ease and comfort that makes situations difficult. Paul was an optimist; because he threw his life into the crisis. Comfort, ease, cruiet. pleasure, were not aimed at by him, therefore he could confidently write: "I am press?<i on every side yet not straitened: perplexed, yet not unto despair; pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed." Pvifishncss brings the midnight. self-sacrifice the duwn. Then followed Esther's heroic resolve. A crisis always develops the character. In a moment she read the meaning of her providential experiences. She saw so roethfngs of <Jixi's plan in her life. Why had riie been cxaltoci from the lowly position I of an c/rnbnn to the rejral dignity of a I queen? Why bad she been preferred above nil others for i.uis great place? The mean iug logins ;o cry manse. uon joivsnw inif crisi*. anticipated tho need, and for such a time as (his was Esther come to the kingdom. In *.4i<? v;*r.v hiart of that gravest difficulty lay her supreme opportunity. Oar greatest moments are often set in darkest circumstances. The providences of God Lave shaped our course, and there is a purpose and end ns definite ns that of Esther's in our liivs. The hand that guides may be invisible, und the iigbt may not always illn inine the meaning. Bui if'we are faithful in trust and obedience to ever}' narsing opportunity, w ehal! some time nnd?rs-"tand dint we. too. are come to the kingdom for a specific end. To seize this supreme opportunity involved a risk. She dare not wait to weigh the chances too minutely. Life itself is a stewardship. Duty constrains us to pay out. its energies in proportion to obligations and opportunities. .Sometimes (he whole price must he paid down at once. 15at it life lie held at the disposal of God ic vrHi make little difference whether i! be paid In ir.eialur.C'ms or at one payment. i?iic- is a possession thai we umsfc surrender anyway. but ?'c may elect whether it shall !>o infected in eternal treasure or squandered in temporal gratification. Esther wa? abut up to two courrte?. and both threatened death. Siicuce und Inertnets would i\ifa:i to be overtaken in the (general massacrc. attempt at s&lroHou could but anticipate death by a few days, and had the chance of success. There is not much room for choice. Death is the worst that can come, and that will come either way. Esther said, "If I perish, I perish." This is synonymous, with those expressions made by the martyr sDiritn of history. It is the only attitude ana expression that will tit the supreme crisis and ? Tn ins;- eiii-li HituationB Moses said, "Mot me, I pray thee, ?ut of the hook which thou hast written," Jesus said, "I hold not My iiic of any account as deai unto Myself, i am ready to die." Whoever goes npon a great mission must, like the early Christians, take his life in hi:i hands. It is only along that pathway that salvation lies. It is a great price, but_often paid foi; an inferior purpose. Heroism asks for liio as the price of patriotism, home and freedom. .Ambition demands life for reputation and honor. Convenience and progress do not hesitate to accept life as a price. Our bridges, buildings and tunnels are built with the cost of life. Shall we. then, murmur at the missionary who is willing to risk fever and riot in the interests of eternal salvation? When examples of sclf-dovotion fall into the perspective of history we applaud the martyr spirit. Cod help us to value and covet it when near at hand. Esther went with fear and trembling, but not cowardice. Heroism is not fooi---? *l. / hardy. J.0 go lorwara in me ihcc 01 u?ugcr, despite fear, is true courage. Paul ministered in Corinth with much weakness, fear and trembling, but beneath all was the splendid heroism of self-devotion. "If I perish"?but such a spirit cannot perish. It nay seem to fall in self-sacriI)ce, but it docs not perish. Some heroes nf faith come out unscathed from conflict, they are delivered from the edge of the sword, the force of violence and power of fire. Others are stoned, sawn asunder and killed. But they do not perish. The martyrs torn by lions on the Roman arena were as victorious as Daniel who waR delivered. The witnesses who burned at Smithfield were as triumphant as the three men who could not lie burned bv the Beven fold heat of Nebuchadnezzar^ furnace. The Huguenots who fell on St. Bartholomew's Day were no less conquerors than Joshua's army. Christ did not perish on the cross. Paul did not perish in Rome. Telemaehus did not perisn in the Roman arena. Such dying is the highway to iife and power. The Queen asked the forfeited lives of her people. She was Mated to them and a sufferer with them. From their side she was moved with compassion. From her queenly position she obtained deliverance. This is the object of all mediation. Our Saviour as the man .Teflus is touched with the feelhig of our infirmities. As the exalted Lord He intercedes to supply our need according to Hia riches in glory. The privilege of prayer is granted to us, that from the human side we may feel the burden of human sorrow and woe, and so be pressed into an intercession for divine succor. In our weakness we are tempted to abuse this great carte blanche of our Lord. Salome, who rfceivcd the same overture from a kin? as (ltd Esther, asked the death of John the Baptist. Many a petition of prayer would end in death if granted. But no carnal, selfish supplication will recc.ive the indorsement of the Lord Christ, and consequently fails. The?) we come to the banquet scene. It is mcst suggestive. Only the hostess nnd two guests, but what issues tremble in the balances. Esther is under sentence ?1 death. The dark hour is drawing nigh, Haman, the prime minister, is in glee; he is succeeding most marvelously. Yet in one day all is suddenly reversed. The Queen becomes the author of life and Ha> man is sent to the gallons built for an> other. Succcss may be upon us in the verj darkest hour, while failure may be dog' ping the tracks of the most lightsome heart. Righteousness seems to be worsted in the conflict with evil. GjcJ measarej seem to fail, evil ones to tr urn ph. Scm pulous honesty goes to tb?. wall, while trickerv and fraud are crowned with *suc cess. Virtue is seemingly strangled anc vice in robed with royalty. And we ar< tempted to be envious at the prosperity 01 the wicked. But we may not pass judg raent until the issue is seen. There wil coroe a day when righteousness shall flour ish and evil perish. The n'ots of the world's Hamans, Herods and Judases al miscarry. Sin and evil rot at the core Righteousness aud truth have the quality of immortality. At the ripnt moment Esther not onlj stated the plot, but named the adversary and enemy?this wicked Haman. It wai an awful crisis. It is always a crisis wher contending principles comc to the decisiv* struggle. In every soul there is a Hamar who seeks the betrayal and detraction o the spiritual life. In our conflict with thii evil self there comes a time when we musi be specific in naming the foe. No salvatior comes from generalities. This adversar] and enemy may -wear different names it our disposition. It may be Dride, envy jealousy, bitterness, worldliness, ete Whatever it way be. it has planned oui ruin aad '-waits the moment of execution If we would save our lives, familien, ' ' tie/ and the world we must deal uncompromi* inglv with the particular Haman who i; working destruction. Not until Hnmai goes to the pillows can life stand secure. Having seized r.he pupreme opportunity at great risk, Esther finds a great reward The clerks write the message of life mor< rapidly than thev wrote the sentence o death. The stood work is hastened wit! more speed than the message of woe. Joj supplants sorrow and life comes in th< nlacc of death. The harvest of sacrifice ii l'fe. We sow in tears, we reap in joy. Ii this successful mission of Esther the me diatrix wc have an adumbration of the sni vation wrought out by Jesus Christ. Hi took His life in His hands. He died nnr rose again from the dead. He securer! : reversal of the sentence of death writtei aeaiust us and proclaims forgiveness o sins and the gift of eternal life. Ours i the privilege first to receive and rejoice ii tins I nun, anu men 10 hiiccu hic ^mu nu irigs to every creature in all the world These are our supreme opportunities. The,1 may be shadowed with self-sacrifice. but i they arc resolutely seized they will issue ii the morning of joy. The Mam of t'heir. Wo love the man with the smile; tin man with the roses on his tongue; thi man who sees'your boy's dirty face, bu mentions his bright eyes; who notice: your shabby coat, but praises your etudi ous habits; the man who sees all yow faults, but whose tongue is uuiek to prais< and slow to blame. We Jike to meet i man whose srailg will light up dreariness whose voice is fnll of the music of birds whose hand-shake is an inspiration, ant his "G.*>d bless you" a benediction. H< makes: us forget our troubles as the raven'i dismal croak is forgotten when the tvoot thrush or the brown thrasher sings. Cm bless the men of cheer! There is plenty of trouble here, but we need not inrreasi it. There is a lot oT dying done ahead o time. There are living men who have al ready etossad .Jordan two or three times and unfortunately they arc not of the typi who "cross th<! fiver of Jordan, happy it the Iiord,v but who sing, if they sing a dismuipst, dreariest, deadliest The very tone is fatal to baDpiness. 1 you have f^Mth. preach it: if you havi doubts, bury them; if yon have joy, shan it; if you have sorrow, bear it. Find th< bright side t?f things?God's side?am help others to get sight of it also.?Zion'i Herald. Victories Won. "Iv is not by regretting what is irrepar able that, true work is to be done, but bj making the best of what we are. It is no by complaining that we have no. rich tools, but by using well the tools we have What we are, and where we are, is God'i providential arrangement?God's doing IrMUgh it may be 11 man's misdorDg; am jJnf manly. and Che wise way is to loot your dwadvantatccs in the face, and #et what tiin be made out of them. Life, 'iki wur. i* u seiies of juis>iakee. uml be i? no tin- best Christian nor the best genera wh."> snakes the fewest false steps. II'.' i tue best who wins the most splendid v?*tor>-? by the retrieval of mistakes."?F W. Kobc-H-or., Tlo Yonr Whole l>uty. D<> your duty to the city as w??l a.' !< Jiie church. Don't bide yo;ir*\'!f be hind your piety. Do not imapinf thai suirinuility consists in living avarl fn.u t;jc (.uninion crowd.?The Rev. C. J. lLi'l. Makes One Charitable. True religion will make iis jjossefc^i truly charitable in dealinp with his bvigi hobs aad com pesters.?Key. 0 T. Stair. " THE TELIGIOUS LIFE f BEADING FOR THE QUIET HOUR WHEN THE SOUL INVITES ITSELF, Poem: Sowing and Reaping?Canstic Severity Gives a Certain Evil Plessnre to People "Who Delight in Being Thought Sincere?A Priceless Possession is Tat-:. We bow our seeds with idle, careless hand, Nor heed their fall, But hurry onward like the laborer freed At sunset call. The evening dews refreshing moisture ?pread. The ripe earth warms them in its welcome bed, , Wheat, tares and all. Upon a day we come to view the-field So idly sown; Alas, how small the wheat, how big and great The tares have grown. With bitter toil we strive to clear the weeds, ? iL. i; LtcmeiDncriiiK inat lih: cu&(aij? ox buc Was but our own. ?Elliot Field. The VulneofTact. "Tact," says the dictionary, "is a quick or intuitive appreciation of what is fit, proper or right; fine or ready mental discernment shown in saying or doing the proper thing, or especially in avoiding what would offend or disturb; skill or faculty in dealing with inen or emergencies." Sincerity." says the blunt person, "is telling exactly what you think about everything, without regard to another's feelings in the matter." Tact is 'an extra faculty not understood, because of long disuse, by such people. It would be a good plan if every theological seminary and every school for Christian workers possessed a class in tact. Paul long ago suggested the course of etudy to De pursued oy bucij a cj<tr?>. Lack of tact might be called a bad habit rather than a failing, for one is certainly to blame to some extent for the thoughtlessness that -will permit constant words and actions that hurt the feelings or too conscience of another soul. There is a ccrtain evil pleasure to some people in being what they call sinccre. They cultivate a cawtic sincerity until it becomes a habit, and it is very hard for them to ever wholly admire or take pleasure in anything not their own. And they not only do this, but they make a virtue of it. They know nothing of the lowly spirit that can humble itself to meet oth, ers more lowly, and win their love; that can conceal personal likes and dislikes and ignore for the time unessentials. Such may think they love their neighbors, but surely not "a,s tnemseives," for if they did they would know at once how their words sometimes cut and sting, how unlovely they make their religion appear, and how useless it is for them to try and win others whom they have first alienated. True love for others will beget sympathy. Perfect ctmiTifitln, find ihnntrhf-. for others will be get tact, which is the opposite of vulgarity, according to John Ruskin. He says in "Sesame and Lilliee:" "But briefly, the essencc of all vulgarity ' lies in want of sensation. Simple and in nocent vulgarity is merely an untrained J and undeveloped bluntness of body and mind, but in true inbred vulgarity there is a deathful callousness, which, in estrem ity, becomes capable of every sort of bes* i tial habit and crime, without fear, without pleasure, withont horror and without pity* It is in the bluht'band aDd the dead heart, in the dieeasedbabit. in the hardened con' science, that;tfl'en oecome valgar; they are forever vulgar, precisely in' proportion an they are incapable of sympathy?of quick I understanding?of all that, in dceo insist-' i ence on the common, but most accurate term, may be called the 'tact' or 'touch! faculty' ox body and soul; that tact which the Mimosa has in tree3, which the pure I I woman has above all creatures; fineness ' ?nd fulness of sensation beyond reason; f the guide and sanctifier of reason itself. Reason can 7jut determine what is true; it I is the God-given passion of humanity which alone can recognize what God has made good." ^ f1 Now there are a great many questions I of good or evil which while every man r must decide them fo* himself?and such decisions are imnortant?arc nevertheless j ' subordinate to the great question of salr vation in Jesus Christ. Paul did not seek i to belittle these questions, nor did he bid ! ? any man go against his conscience in cr der that he mieht win -souls who did not i ; think as he did. But he was trying to f I show them that there was a time for even ' important details to stay in the backt ground; that they could Dot stuff doci trincs down the throat of the man who r had no appetite for them?they must first i make him hungry tor Jesus, and then the . ' living word would be acceptable. I So Paul did not enter the house of a_man ! | who believed it wrong to cat meat offered | to idols, and forthwith flaunt the new free dom from all such Jaws that was his in | - 1 Christ Jesus, by saying: "Brother, I saw j s ; thin morning as I passed by the market 1 i x>lare some unusually fine cuts of meat ] j fresh from the temple offered at a low 7 rate. You should go and purchase some." . 1 No. He quietly aite what was set before ? him. and won their conadcace by acccptf ing their ways as hi3 own, and then talked ' > of Jesus and His new way of salvation, i' | The young girl who invites a poor serr2 i ant girl to come to the Christian Endeavor 5 . meeting with her and seeks to win her to i Christ, but remarks on the way to the - 1 meeting that she could never bear to wash ' dishes because it makes the hand? so red n ana rougn. wui never Kucceeu <u u? cu- i 1 deavor. i | The tactless person has fallen, into the i habit of excusing himself, and of feeling f that he .cannot help the blunders he make*. 3 Hi* *riends deplore his stnpiditv, and fiigh * and neln lum oo sometimes. But for the sake of righteousness and the cau?e of * I .Tesus Christ no Christian should allow j* iiimself to lie hack content, a slave to * , deplorable a habit. It is hi* duty to break j * J it. He can do it with God's help. First, ! he must pet into his heart a Jove for hi* I fellow men and a forget fulness of seif. i Next, he most 3tudy those about him. and s ! learn to know their drcumsctancen, their 5 I Borrows and joys, their ways. Iu phort. t he must learn to read character and teach, a | his heart to sympathize. The new habjts - will exncl the o'd?Grace Livingston Hill, r ! in the New York Mail and Express. i j The Price of 1'oner. > | laul no more shrank from inner con> * ; flicts and agonies than be feared outer j 1 perils and foes. He reminded the Corin- j ! ! thians, with a true and touching pathos, l J \r\ iinrlov TvUl/ili 1)?> If t* All I 7 cji tut: jicav v 9via.(u uuv?v# # ...... . i hourly, the burden of a]) his eburrhes i*e<=+- J 1 ' ing upon his eager sympathy, so than he j ' ' felt every lapse as a personal tall, and ' ' made all weakness his ovn. Hp might: f . have escaped from all this, but hp did not, - I Any Chrietinu worker can f.ectiro. rest at . ! this point by simply allowing his sycipa* " thies to harden. It is an eapy thing. But ' it costs bim all his power. The price of t . power is strain.?From an editorial in The I Sundav-school Times. f j Factors In Uie World. | | Christ takes us where wc are. If wfe | inherit good. He asks for service at 1 i level of our good. If we are born with * i evil tendencies, a large part of oar vrorfc I will be in the, overcoming for which Re j C1VCS US Bireuxi'l- "c ait ucici ui.w.ii.nr. | I The powers of the universe arc really on ! * ' our side calling us to be of goou oci-'rage, \ ' to take our pTace and do onr part. Oar t mere existence is a pledge of an ancestral , victory, not in anywise complete. hut onCfj ' ing hope in our own conflict, Insofar a? | 9 we reccmize onr cril tcndenc-ip*. no know I how and what to fight. And in o.ir lultfo j . : we are fitfriag ourselves to he factors ia j ^ ! the great irrrld victors of Christ. ! j An Amazing . t . Paris pacers announce t!ia': Mj- s'.rafg* | ' i legacy of M. de Pierrecowt. wltu liir | < j money to the city of Rouen x'or I In: |?iirfios'.' J <??' founding a family of pants. witM j ; view to the physical reifivmraiioti of the I human race, lias been before tlio Council <"<t' Slate in Paris. An arr*:ii.;ea;<nH ha* I lteen arrived at by which'tbt? city of ll>ju?r 5 j undertaken to apply a sum of iSt/O.tHJOf'. out i of Ihc testator's estate to the foundation t. of a useful institution. <tn<l to pity orev i some millions of francs t<? 51. tU> i'iem eourt'd lawful heirs, who co.ite-ted his trill. l'luuo FartoriM in German,*. There arc 4SS piano factor*?* in Gcr' many, which manufacture W.QQQ msfcrumeats acuuaUy. i i . vWM B 111L ullllUAi lUIUULM INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS H FOR OCTOBER IU flfl fl abject: God's Covenant With Da rid, 9 Sam. vii., 4-16?Golden Text, 2 Sam. H vil., 10? Memory Verses, 3, 0?Commen- ufl tary on tbe Bay's Lesson. ,'fl I. David'a depire to build a bouse lor . the Lord (vs. 1-3). The kingdom waK now. fairly launched, with favoring wind and . tide to move on to its fullness of useful- HHB ne?3 and glory. The people were united, ?HS the ark wag on Afbiilu Zion, the religion*; services were renewed. David, in his palace of cedar, looked out upon the place of worship for the nation and saw onlv a^HHH tent, which must, s'&on decay, as the saic tent had d?&yed. It did not Beei^HHE right and titting for the king to live house while the Lord dwelt in a tent. did not honor God nor religion. accordingly consulted the prophet Natlflfl^^Q whether he should not build a fitting t^^HI pie for the worship of Jehovah. Jt B|S9HH a noble desire, the perfecting the rclig^^^^^^f work he had already begun. NatbknlMHwBM once, without waiting to consult the approved of hio proposal and told proceed with the work. II. The desire not granted 4. 5. "That night." Alter David badH&8|^H tV\ck nrr?rvKpf Nathan hyq fc/i hr. permanent temple for the Lord. The -was the recognized time for propan^^nBH visions. "Word of the Lord." God to Nathan by a vision (v. 17). '"'Go/and tell." Nathan's fir3t answer to David wu net given under divine inspfc&iof), but was only his own judgment. "That be I might not continue to encourage^error, or 1 leave David to carry out human desireg. j the Lord spoke to Nathan and revealed .. -j His will in the matter. God could have j spoken directly to David, but He desired; I to put honor upon His prophets and pre- v:3| serve David's reeard for them. "Snajfc ";?fl thou build." Meaning thou sbalt not. J Not because a house should not be boik, :J but not at that time, nor built by David. / See 1 Chron. 17:4. 6, 7. "Have walked in a tent." Th? idea which runs through the divine message is that the dwelling of Jehovah in a $3 tent was a fitting symbol of Israel's an quiet possession of the land. It was JLUvid's mission to (jive them quiet security I in the region which they bad conquered & '60 long ago. . 8-10. "From the eheepcoie." This would remind David of the great things God had> J done for him and prove to bim that 7 though he was not permitted, to build the, temple he was honored by the Lord. He ' "$$j would also be reminded that he was iadebted to God " for all his good intention* * to do great things. His first step upwacd from a lovfiy life came through Cod?*< H favor. "To be ruler." The office and dignity of prince over Israel. From following , the sheep Jehovah took him to l>e "Hi# . u servant, a word of high dignity applied f to but few persons in the Old Testament. \*i? "A great name.'' Besides all His watchful care and the success which He gave David * in battle, the Iiord had given tun the f hearts of the people and established his -- .$? character abroad. This was not for the:. '. 'iflm sake of mere earthly dominion. . It was first of all a type of 'Messiah s reign, to whom God had promised the heathen for . -Jj his inheritance, and that His Gospel should ^ be carried to the ends of. the earth. ' . Hitherto God's promises had been general. ? J tviv/>K loon ant? TMaronn hsrf tUJU liV U 1 LA.} UIUVU 1VVHJ u.?/ yv.ivt - 3 . '^ag been chosen as the .ancestor of the Me#- - J eiah. "Will appoint'. . . will pEtot." Or- J rather have appointed, and have plontetr ? my people Israel in the land of Cguaaq. ,1 In these words the discourse turns io the. "A ftfture of the people. The sense is: after. ''~J| all these manifestations'of 'favor in the past up to this time, the Lord will fon C: the future assure His people a position aa<i an existence, wherein they ehall no tnore experience the affliction and oppression; that they suffered from godless nations. " HI. God's promises to David (vs. 31-17). J 11, 12. "Will make thee an house." God'* covenant promise to David was threefold. > ;First, He promised that the house of David ? should be established forever. He had a' name of renown, and be was also to have, a family of renown. He had been a men " of war, and through him Israel wa3 estab- .i lished a firm, deep-rooted, living natioD. The foundation was laid, on which could be carried out the work of temple building. | "Will set up thy seed." Exalt to royal i rule ana powc. rsoc any oj. m? uunp imuz -_? then, but from among those who rboulff V;' be born unto him there should be a selection for the throne. A gracious pro:ni$o -t; # to David following his denial from building' 3 the temple. The kingdom so dear to him ' should prosper, and through his own son. ' 23. "Shall build an houee." The second /'.j promise made to David was that the house of the Lord should he built by David** seed. The house which Solomon built cod- jtm tinued four hundred years, till the time' of the Babylonish exile, when it was tr.u'ued^MMj i by Nebuchadnezzar (2 King? 2o:S)?pnWi^Bffi v.-as rebuilt at the close of the ex.ilc%Kai*a- Vn 6:15), and of it then the prophet Iraggai '"^B| said (Hag. 2:9), 'Thy glory of this latter H | house shall be greater than that of the | fonncr:' for this second temnle was the [ connecting link between the Jews of Hag* V I gai's time and the Messiah. "For rojr name." The name ol' God signifies Go4 H | Himself so far as He has revealed and G manifested Himself to men. His promise M concerning the teniple 'va< that He wculd * fi i "put llis name there;" that is, that He would be present-and reveal Himself'there . --4 in an cspecial manner. ''Forever." "The word 'forever/ emphatiraMr twice repealed ' in verse 16, shown very distinctly that thi# J prophecy looks fcoyo'id I he Bti.cce.*siou of J the kings of .Judah of the house of David, and embraces the thro:i? of the Christ, fl according to the angel'* interpretation I given in Luke 1:31-33, whore the rcfcrence ' * to this passage faunot bo mistaken." ' ] 14-16. The third prouv-c was that Da- i\ ? * 1 -1 > ! J- - o - ' viarc seen glioma ? : tug non <n v?ou *u *y M. nieciili&r HOns?-. ''His JAtM-er." This prediction applied to Solomon. "Will chasten."Tin's v,\m another token ovc and tie km. As a father Ho vvo-Jd pmu-ih that ho migot uot continue in wronc;-i!.>i-!;?. Thoagli exalted to i'<ie throne and honored aboye .'JI others, tlli yon vjonld l?,nc the nature of men and suff'T ;or cv'l.' rv? all men suffer who sin. "My marcy ?l?al' not deport." The family of Saul4hecann* totally e-tinct. The family cf David n-ir ii:-.rd until the " incarnation. Joseph^nnd !\T.i;-y were both of thst family. .T?;?ie w><s "(lie orly heir to the kingdom of Ifrcel. fie did not ciio*> to sit on the secafnr hut aseended. to the spiritual throne, and n.nr is exalf-ed . to the right hand or <.Jru!, a Trinee and a A Sf.vio:- ta give repentar*rc- atid remission - of ein?. # '* i'li-ft 'V. David's urayt-r (v.. 'v2A). David # ddrc-s to God crn?>ist* (??*, Humble thanksgiving for the . otdtxtwed favor shown to hit.) ard h's hoiv* (vs. 18-21). 2: .I'rats^ for Cod -', pa^t !n.utifc*fcf?.iionB of Hie slory in and to lira?) (vs. 22-24). 3. Petition for the iinsl f?j!fiH:;sont of tho T>romi*e (vs. 15-251). Tin'-, ( .vycr is a model IV.. nil wli,. } Ilf. .JIclVl'tMal mWOT. scat, it rsuuodic* (1 > confession, l5> adoration aid (7) stipplieti-'pn. Observe that although tie divine in-wise was m ?ure as God could n>nke it, vei David pray* for its fiilSUtttf'Ut. An OJtl Mun-of-ir.ir. It. <? serif-ally believed ha1 the itorve'ad vrssd _is a modem ??-.x<:'ion. TIk Japanese Navy Department has diseovere J Home diaivrRgs? showing that this type tK fiuhtiv.', zc:u:?inc exit* -d in Japan a? early a? the year }f>9S. The -Hianeee mai>oi'-w'ar w&? ihtipod like a tnrMe, with iron plates covering tfce exposed farts. It was propelled by a paddle wUrvt v.orked "by. me.i in the bold. ;it.d it carried a number of gun$. Kile P.iim. For. iKp hurt five, years {'.? " (treat ijri^v- , ,-i iion Trorfcp o:: the ?Ji!c. f'? haw ivvt.-a Kiertdy employment to from 10.0?K> to 20,003 Italian and native laborers. Most of :heci arv if or: looking out for other .vork. It is <?ori.ed from Cairo that several thoutao'ie c! t hem intend- emipratiil* to South Africa, where U?ey hope to foul work in the Tr&B?vaa! gold mines. No Coolicn F<?r Siberian Mine*. ' The (towD&r of the Amur Itae iakueil A in order no Chinamen, Koreans o.? lore UrniT* eh:Ul be employed in the gob! mines of tbe Amur Province. A <wppfcf/.r.oi>( lnp'niHit all fi 1-ny cfnxinavu Ic< c.-'-rv roaties -o lUt mines. . _ << * 'Income of Our CVutnnrs. The to^ai iuceir.f! of all American farnv era last y-?ar wne about-ga/HW,000,000. m