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The j Richard ===== o A VICTIM OF C1RCUM 33. I_i? IF1. Tjncr . CHATTER VII. Continued. "To-morrow, Nephew Richard,"'-'said Mr. Wilraot, "we will speak of matters of business, upon which I have no doubt "we shall ajjree. There is a small task I wish you to assist, mo in -s.-u* T ?v?t- ?MeTtoton h/iv /in th<* IU-I1I?UI. JL.Ul uv.> u.. table. Thank you. Here is the key. Unlock it. Always 011 the lirst night of iny arrival in a new place I see that my money and valuables are safe. You will see a eashbox there. Yes, that is ir. This key with a piece of blue ribbon round it will open it. Now, let us count." Together we counted the money in the eashbox. There were exactly five thousand pounds?five hundred sovereigns, and four thousand in Bank of England notes. The eashbox contained | also several articles of jewelry of considerable value, one of which, a single -stone diamond ring, the jewel in it l\a!n<r nf ovtM nrrli TlJl TV hrillifinCV. al" though not large, be put on his tiuger. Before the money ami jewels were replaced in the box Mr. Wilrootrecalled /- Fleetwood into the room and he saw them spread on the table. When tboy were all safely packed away, my uncle said: "Do not let me be disturbed in the morning, Nephew Richard. I never allow myself to be called or disturbed. Nature informs me when I have had sufficient rest. Tell your good lady that I shall not participate in the family breakfast. Somewhere about 1 o'clock in the day we will have our chat. Good-night." On my way to my room I encountered Mile. Rosalie and bade her good-night. "Good-night, sir," she said. "What a charming gentleman Mr. Wilmot is. and what a delightful evening we have passed!" Then she whispered, "I ought to tell you, sir, that I have not had the courage yet to tell Mrs. Pardon my secret I am writing out my life, which. I shall give her to read, and she will know all." I nodded and left her. I had matters of greater importance to think of than Mile. Rosalie's small family secrets. CHAPTER VIII. "Now," said my uncle, on the following day, when we were together in his room, "we will have our chat. I shall be glad to get it off my mind, and you will too. First, let me express my approval of my new scoundrei Fleetwood. When I leave you I shall be almost inclined to tempt him to accompany me." "He Las heart disease," I said, "and, I am afraid, lias not long to live." "It is a pity, for he seems to be all you represented him. He has been assisting me in my money matters this morning. I have,also had a visit from Mile. Rosalie. A charming person, a very charming person. Most persons are who take the trouble to make themselves agreeable, and who do not cross you." He held up his hand, and looked at the diamond ring on his finger which he had placed there the previous night. "By the way, Nephew Richard, the young man "who was here last night and revoked at whist?have you known him longV" "For somewhat over two years," 1 replied. "But my letter has explained " "What letter do you refer to?" asked i?ii . >v imiui. "The letter I sent you a little while since, to the care of your lawyers in London " "Ah, those letters!" said Mr. Wilmot, interrupting me again with a smile. "Would you believe, Nephew Richard, that there are two boxes full of them? actually two boxes full? I burst out laughing when I saw them, and 1 quickly locked the boxes again. Life is too short for correspondence? and such correspondence! Circulars, begging letters, requests for loans?no, no! I declined to wade through them. When I return to London I shall instruct some one to separate the wheat from the chaff, and then probably burn the lot?positively burn the %lot without looking at. them." I was seized with consternation. My uncle had not read my letter announcing Eunice's engagement with Harry Clanronald; he was in ignorance that Eunice's heart was pledged to the young fellow; and he was now in my house with the intention of promoting Mr. Mortlock's.-suit. I was convinced of it, and presently the proof came, and left no shadow of doubt behind. "A great many years aso." said my uncle, "I was acquainted with a Mr. Clanronald, whom I have no reason to think well of. If it is the same, he is this young man's father. Perhaps you have a photograph of hiraV" "I have. Would you like to see it?"' "Yes." I went to the drawing room. and. selecting the album in which Mr. Clanronald's portrait was placed. I took it up to Mr. Wilmot. My mind was M11swl ?.i?li niicrrivillftC' fun i<ti> nn/.IVi. 111 it'll ?>llli ilUO?I I ii.tS.-, iUI iii%? Uiiviro voice, when lie spolce of .Mr. Clanronaltl. boded ill. "Let me find the portrait for myself." he said: and I handed him the album. As he turned over the pages i JY.'t that consequences almost vital were trembling in the balance. "Yes." snid Mr. Wilmot, pausing at a page, "this is the man?it is he." He nodded and snarled at the bit of pasteboard. "Let us be sure. This is the father of the you^ig man who played what he called chess with me last night V" "Yes." He closed tbe iiool:. "Nephew Richard. you and I do not L::ow much of each other." "Not as much as I should liave desired, sir." ".Well? well. Perhaps a closer ae ;eril : Pardon, i R!=r 1 STANUAL EVIDENCE, j [OTOTroTOUOT 1 quaintance was not to bo desired, i Perhaps we have been better friends i apart. It is often the rase?often the rase. I like you; 1 like your wife; I like your daughter. There are one or ( two others I like?only one or two. I 1 like Mortlock; you like h'm, too; you said he was a charming gentleman. f So he is?charming. There are men 1 ( dislike?some more, some less. They i do not trouble rne, because I do not i allow them to trouble me. I wipe them t out. I do not express my dislike; I do i not as much as think of them, unless i they happen to be forced upon me. As In this case. I dislike your Mr. Clan- 1 ronald, much more than less. I will f not enter into the reasons for my dis- ' like; they are private and delicate, and are, to me sufficient. That much being said, we dismiss the Clanronalds. i Let me never .hear their name again." "But, sir," I said, in a helpless tone . of remonstrance, for hope seemed 1 surely slipping from me, "it is of this 1 very Harry Clanronald I must speak." , "Pardon me," he said, in a tone ot i extreme politeness, and bad 1 been better acquainted with his character 1 should have known that this was in him a dangerous sig:. "I do not see the necessity. Let us, at all events, first speak of what will he mutually agreeable?mutaully agreeable. I present myself to you as an ambassador." "As an ambassador?" 1 stammered. "As an ambassador." he repeated, blandly. "I have the honor to ask the hand of your lovely daughter Eunice for my dear friend Mortlock." I gazed at him in a kind of despair; he continued: "He is a gentleman; a man of good family, a traveled man; a cultured man; a man of parts; and I like him. "When I introduced him to you and your delightful family I had a latent hope that he would fall in love with your daughter. It has happened. I did not say to him, 'Go to England; 3 go to Boscom be Lodge, Sevenoaks, and 1 make a friend of ray nephew Richard, f and there behold a fresh and budding * type of English beauty in the person of my nephew Richard's charming daugh- * ter Eunice.' I might have said as 1 much, having, before I left England, * received a picture of your daughter, \ for which, I think, I have not thanked 1 you, and in which I discerned a bud ( that would blossom into a rare loveli- , ness;.but I did say to Friend Mortlock, 'Nephew Richard has a daughter; it is 1 time you should settle down.' What I hoiced has come to pass, and I ap- ' prove." ! "What you ask," I said, "is impos6i- 1 ble." 1 "How impossible?" , "Eunice does not love Mr. Mortlock. Her heart is giveu to another." "To whom?" "To Harry Clanronald." "A Qhildish fancy," said my uncle, "which'will soon pass away. She cannot marry him." I "She can," I said firmly, "and shall." "She must not. Nephew Richard." "She must, uncle. She is pledged. I ' know the nature of my child. She wiil never wed another." He did not lose his temper, but I saw a change come over his face. Ilis t sharp eyes grew sharper and smaller, r and this diminishing sign, if I may so \ express it, distinguished all his features. His wizened face grew still j more wizened, his mouth seemed to { contract, bis nostrils to become thinner, and when he spoke again his voice was c cold, clear and precise, and seemed to r come through lips of steel. "Nephew Richard, I was right when c I said "we do not know much of each other. Even if I had not set my heart { upon this match, I would never con- 1 sent to your daughter marrying young a Mr. Clanronald;* but I have set my r heart on it, and if you are prudent you t will range yourself on my side. You shall not be in the dark, whichever i way you decide. I will be very?I trust not painfully?explicit. It is in no petty or boastful mood that I say I have behaved well to you and yours.*' "You have behaved, sir," I said. ,, "most liberally, most generously. A 0 lifetime of gratitude could not repay s you." a "I will be content with less," he said, dryly. "There is not much merit in what I have done; what you have received from me I could well spare. In all my life I have really loved hut one human being?your mother, my only sister. When your father fell into t misfortunes I resolved upon my course; and once resolved, Nephew Richard, i; it needs, indeed, a powerful reason to move me. Oblige me by unlocking j my dispatch box." He paused occasionally, as I attended to his instrue- c tions. "Beneath the cashbox are Rome c papers tied rounu with red tape. Bring them forward. Lawyers' papers, ( Nephew Richard. Lock tiie box again. Untie the papers, and lake from them j tbe largest and most important. It is a my will. You may rend it. if you like." "Excuse me. sir. I shall feel more at my ease if I do not." "As you please. It is my will, mnk- e I:;g you my heir to the greater portion t (.f my property. For what I have done c for von?for what I have cheerfully and ungrudgingly done, I have never f asked from you the least return; 1 L have never requested you to render ir.e the slightest fin or. For tlie fir* tiud o only time 1 ask now n favor at vonr I hards?give your consent to the union l' of your daughter with Friend AJort- g lock." f "1 cannot, sir." N s "Weigh well your words. Nephew Richard. The consequences of your refusal will Lo that J shall destroy r> this will, making another person my t heir. To you and yours . not one a [ < * hilling; nor shall you over receive a tilth or shilling of my money." My heart fainted within me: absolute eggary stared mo in the face; and vith that beggary. as it seemed to me. lisgraee. "I regret," continued my uncle, "that should hare been forced into speakng ?> plainly. I give you until tonorrow* morning to reflect, to talk over he matter with your wife, if you care 0 do jo. Till then, we will speak no urther on the subject. What 1 have esolved upon is irrevocable, and there s nothing surer in life than you and ; have done with each other forever f you then determine to oppose my vishes. Oblige me now by leaving me. \t this hour of the day I always seek 1 little repose." I saw that it would not improve maters if I remained with him; tliere,'ore I left him and sought my wife. "What has happened?" she asked, in i voice of alarm. She read the news in ny face. "The worst," I replied. I told Iier all. and, cast down nr.d lespairing as she was, she said that [ had acted right. "Do you realize what it means?" I ;aid. "We shall have to quit this place i.^ -fh/i it once; we mjuu ut? lusu?u vorld to starve!" And tben I started ip, and paced the room in a state of errible excitement, saying that it was nonstrous such a blow should be dealt is by a feeble old man. "Feeble and old," I repeated, vacanty; "yes, feeble and old. He is over seventy. If he should die to-night!" The words froze upon my lips. "RichardI" cried my wife. "God forgive me!" I said: "I know lot what I am saying. But it shall not -shall not?shall not be!" All her sweet efforts were powerless o calm me; in uncontrollable agita:ion I rushed frpm her presence. How the day passed I can scarcely recall. I know that my wife sent a lotc by hand to Harry Clanronald. re]uesting him not to come to our house hat evening. I know that we, Mile. ~ " %r ^ - ? **r.. "\ Kosane, :ur. wmuoi >mu mi. .umiork,-dined together, and that I was 'orced to play the part of host. I enow that the tliree whose names I lave written were full of sparkle and ir.iiration. while we were moody and silent. I know that Mile. Rosalie and Mr. Mortlock played and sang." And hen came the good-night all round, and [ was in my bedroom with my wife. :Ier eyes were encircled by dark rincs: ler face was wan, her limbs shook; ler voice trembled as she spoke. ' I have made up my mind to do someJiinc;," she said, in a pitiful tone. 'To-morrow I will speak to your \inclo nyself, and will try to move him." "You may as well try to melt a rook," [ said. And in my mind stirred tho efrain: "He is feeble and old; if he should die to-night: it nc snoum cue :o-night!" "I shall need nil my strength and jrightness." said my wife. "I have "ot slept for the past three nights, so rreat has been my anxiety. A night's ;ood rest, and I shall rise in (he morn ng equal to the task of saving our lear ehild." And still the refrain was in my mind: 'If he should die to-night! If he should lie to-night!" There was an opiate on the mantel:helf which I occasionally took to injure sleep. I poured the requisite lumber of drops into a glass, and dinted* them with water. "Drink this," I said to my wife. 'You will sleep soundly and well, and hen in the morning if you still think >f carrying out your plan you can try >ur last hope." I knew that it was a vain hope and hat her appeals would be thrown iway upon this man who lipid in his lands the threads of our fate. My wife undressed, knelt down to )ray?fervent and long were her pray>rs on Ihis fauil night?and then sbe vent to bed. I handed her the opiate ind she drank it. "All will be well, my love." she snid, Irearrily. "My mind assures me that ill will be well. Good-night, dear love) jon dicss you: She drew me to Lt breast and 1 cissed her lips. In that embrace she ell asleep. I crept from the chamber in my dippers and stole through the dark md vacant rooms. "He is feeble and old. If he should !ie to-night?if he should die to-night !*' It was like a prayer and made itself elt as well as heard as I trod softly !?re and there, now standing by (he vindow looking out upon the shadows, iow moving away, with unutterable Jespair in my heart. The Spiilt of Murder was in my louse! To be continued. The Why of i'overty. "Why are people poor?" was the [iicstlon discussed at a reccnt meeting f a Newark women's club. The anwi-rs were many and far apart. Here re a few cf them, boiled down: Drink. Laziness. Theatres. Charge accounts. Inability to plan far ahead. The desire to outshine one's neighlors. Lavish display of goods by store* :eepers. Indifference of men to the needs of iome. Woman's ignorance of domestic econimy. High food priccs and buying in small ;uantities. Thp habit of doing without necessities o squander for luxuries. Lack of a plain business understandng between husband and wife.?New 1 & t.\ L* U I*. A ClieerfuJ Giver. Bobby's father had given hire a teccm piece and a quarter of a dollar, oiling liini ho might put one cr tbe tl:er on the contribution piate. "Which did you give, Bobby?" bis atber asked when tbe boy came borne iOinc from cbnrcb. ."Well, l'atlier, I thought at first I ught to put in tbe quarter," said cobby '"but tJben just in time I romemored 'The Lord lovelh a cheerful iver.' and I knew I could give tbe tenont piece a great neal more cheerfully, o I put that in."?Youth's Companion. A temperature of 4000 degrees or I 000 degrees can be produced only beweon the carbon points of an electric re light. j NGif Wo A restaurant proprietor in Paris contrived to get his meat without cost. He had trained a Danish boarhound to steal joints of meat from butchers' shops and brjug them to him. Iceland is the last country that has fallen under the glance of the wireless experts. There is no method of communication between that country and the rest of the world except by slow mails. The Krupp Company, at Essen, Ger many, is making field guns of pnpei now, and it is said that they are about half the weight of the steel guns, and are nearly as powerful, and have nearly the same length of life. A terrier lately died at Bournemouth, England, and, as the tleatli was sudden, a post-mortem examination was mrVi/> in tho flntr's stomach were found two pounds of coarse gravely a wire nail nearly three inches long, and the key of a clock. A speedy way of lacing and unlacing shoes has been invented by Miss Elizabeth Falconer, of Louisville, Ky. By her device one lacing string is permanent in its position, and pulling the lop of it laces the shoe. Pulling the bottom string "unlaces it. A new vegetable has been introduced into France by M. Labergerie, and 31 G. Bonnier has reported on it to Ihf Academy of Science. It is a species ol wild potato which grows where ther< is plenty of moisture, while the ordinary potato does bettter in dry soil. The plant is a native of Uruguay, and the spccies -which M. Labergerie is cultivating is known as the Solanum Oommetani. and will yield more than 90:00( pounds an acre on ground which suits it. A NOVEL SETTLEMENT. How a Shoemaker Paid Bis Debts a1 Fifty Cents on the Dollar. ^ 8. W. Stratton, of the Department of Commerce anil Labor, was talking aDout a small firm that had failed in business. "Some of the actions of this firm," he said, smiling, "made me think of an old shoemaker in a little Illinois town. "To this shoemaker a man took one day n pair of shoes to be half soled and heeled. " 'How much will it be?' he asked. " 'One dollar.' said the shoemaker. "'And when will tliey be done?' " 'Day after to-morrow.' "The man paid for the shoes in advance, and in two days he called for them. But lie found the shoemaker's shop closed, and the shutters up. "'What can this mean?' he muttered to himself, and he banged on the door lustily. "An upstairs window opened, the old shoemaker stuck out his head and said in a sour voice: 'Well, what do you want?' " 'I want my shoes,' returned the other. 'I want the shoes you mended for me.' "The old shoemaker, with a look of disgust, drew in his head. "But I've failed,' he said; 'I've closed down. Everybody knows that' " 'That makes no difference to me,' yelled the patron; 'give me my shoes, whether you've closed down or not.' "There was a moment's pause, and then the shoemaker's arm shot out of the window, and one shoe was thrown down on the pavement at the man's feet. He waited, but the other did not come. "'Hey, tnoemaker, the other(shoc!' he called; 'you've only given me one.' "The shoemaker, in a rage, stuck his Vioo/j nut nf th? window atrain. "'One's nil you'll get,' he said; 'that is all you're entitled to. I'm paying only fifty per cent.'"?Merchants' Guide. Caririyinc by Spycl&ss. "I charge," said the caddy, "fifty cents a round." ! "That's high, isn't it?" "About double." "But what right have you," said the golfer, "to charge double?" "On account o' me equipment," said the boy. "Dou you see this here spyglass?" I He displayed a good telescope. "Well, this here spyglass cost $100; and with it I can locate every balL I foller every shot "with the spyglass. I watch where the ball drops, and 1 take the bearin's of the place. The result o' that there is that no player ever loses a ball when I caddy for him. +not;mrtninlc thrpp dozen, nnd they all say tUat with me and me spyglass caddyin' 110 balls ain't ever lost. They all say, 011 account of the savin' in lost balls, I, with me double charge, am still the cheapest eaddy around the club."?Philadelphia Bulletin. Automobile Pride. Whether automobile dressing for women is beautiful or not is no longer regarded as important. It is now thought all but impossible to make it becoming. At the same time there is satisfaction in its being so unmistakable. "Wherever we go, whether it be to Manhattan Beach or as for as Atlantic City," a woman said, "there is no mistaking tbe fact tbat we arrived in automobiles. Even if it be ouly a pair of goggles tbat a woman pute on tbe top of her but when she gets out of the car, there is 110 doubt of Ihc fact that she came in an auto. And so with many other women compelled to come in trains, trolleys or boats; there is a satisfaction to any woman in this superiority."?New York Sun. Five Fecit of Ico In a Well. After repeated efforts tbe depth of the ice in the well 011 the premises of Walter Tike, in South Coventry, has been determined. The ice is now live feet thick ?ud still adheres solidly to the walls of the well. At the present rate of thawing there is 11 reasonable prospect ??f the ice remaining through the summer.?Willimanlio Correspondence of the Hartford Couraut. [THE SUNDAY SCHOOL | i j INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS FOR AUCUST 20. Subject: Jehoi&kim Burns the Word of God, Jer. xxxvl., 21-93?Golden Text, Jer. xxvi., 13?Memory Verses, 22 24? Commentary on tlie Day's Lesson. I. Jehoiakim's pre.it sin (vs. 21-26). 21. "King sent." So that lie might hear the roll read .and not be obliged ; to learn its contents through secondhand reports. "Took it out," etc. The princes had filed the roll among the public records (v. 20) for safe keeping. | "Jehudi." An under officer, descend- j ant of a noble house, the one the I princes had had sent to Baruch to get | him to read the roll to them. "Princes I ?stood." The king sat on a rug and the princes stood respectfully about. 22. "Winterhouse." Great men had distinct houses or apartments, fitted for the different seasons of the year j (Amos 3: 15). "Ninth month." Our j December. The cold, rainy season. "Fire on the hearth." Fire in a brazier. a pot made of earthenware, in the form of a pitcher, placed in a hollow in the middle of the room. 23. "Four leaves." "Columns." R. ,.^11 ? | v., mnryjii. iuc hjii nuo ui i^ui lu* i ment attuclietl to a roller of wood at j one or botli ends. Our word volume, ' "that which is rolled up," points by its derivation to this older form of book. "Cut it." He could not tear parchment so he cut it. "Penknife." Scribe's knife. Used to shape the reed employ eel for writing, and to make erasures in the parchment. "He" refers to king (v. '22). As often as Jehudi read three or four columns he cut them out and burned them. "All these words" (v. 24) imply that the whole volume was read through. "Till all the roll was consumed" implies a gradual process. 24. "Not afraid." Contrast the humble fear of Josiah at the reading of the law (2 Kings 22: 211. Josiah rent his garments in grief that the book had been lost, his son cuts God's book and I burns it. Throwing the fragments of the roll on the fire, lie puts tliere. In symbol, his royal house, his doomed city, the temple and the people of the land. "His servants." His Immediate ! personal attendants who did not share the reverences of the princes (v. 16). 23. "Nevertheless." This aggravates the king's sin. "Elnathan." A man of first rank and father-in-law of the king (2 Kings 24: 8). "Delaiah." Of this prince nothing more is known. "Gemariah." A scribe of the temple, a man of noble blood. From a window in his official chamber Baruch read aloud the prophecies of Jeremiah, and Gemariah'g son Michaiah, reported this to him (vs. 10-12). "Made intercession." These princes would have aided the king in following his father's steps. We learn the same from the basket of figs (Jer. 24: 1). It is the more remarkable to find Elnathan thus interceding after the office he had performed iu Jer. 20: 22. 20. "King commanded." He was not satisfied with" burning the prophecy, but now desired to kill Jeremiah on/! hio fnifhfnf't?>rihp ?Tp honed to put an end -to such prophecies. "Lord bid them." They had at the counsel of the princes hidden themselves (v. 19). Now, though a diligent search was made, the Lord did not permit them to bo found. II. Jeremiah restores the word of God (vs. 27-32). 27. "Word?came." Thut word was not burned, neither was Jeremiah hidden from the eyes of the Lord. 28. "Another roll." The entire book was rewritten, and this second munuscript, so far as can bo known now, is the one we have to-day. Disaster is not necessarily defeat. The destruction of this book was a great disaster. No copy existed, and no human memory could produce it. But God re-inspired the prophet, and the second edition was fuller than the first. 29. "Concerning Jehoiakim?sav" (R. V). It is doubtful whether Jeremiah and the king again met. Note the contrast between "this morally hardened, impious king, boiling with wrath against God and His prophet, and the heroic man of God who does not shrink, but firmly speaks the words of Jehovah even in the face erf death. "Saying, Why," etc. This was no doubt an actual message which the king had sent to Jeremiah to frighten him. "King of Babylon." Nebuchadnezzar, who had been once and collected tribute and gone. He should return and destroy the land. Nothing but tho repentance of Jehoiakim and his people could prevent it. 30. "None? throne." His son. Jehoiac-hin, attempted it for three mouths, but the land was occupied by Nebuchadnezzar's army, and Jerusalem was in a state of siege, anil ne was tauen captive < *. Kings 24: 8-17). No child of Jehoiaeliin succeeded to the throne. "Body ?cast out." A repetition of the prophecy of Jer. 22: 10. Of its fulfilment nothing is known. The phrase, "he slept with his fathers," means that he died (2 Kings 24: 6).' He was fettered by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Chron. 36: 6). "Day?night." In the East the thermometer often falls suddenly after sundown (Gen. 31: 40). Pluinptre thinks it probable that the king, who was being taken to Babylon in chains with the other captives, died on the journey, and that his body was left behind unburied as the army marched. 31. "I will punish him." He was slain, his kingdom destroyed and his son carried in chains to Babylon. The inhabitants of Jerusalem were not punished for the king's crimes, but for their own sins. "They hearkened not." They might have been saved from the threatened evil if they had repented, threateii"d evil if they had repented. 32. "Added?many like words." Many more threatenings of wrath and vengeance were added in the second roll which were not in the first, for. since they will yet walk contrary to (?od, He will heat the furnace seven times hotter. Unnkfp mil Battle Finn Fonml. A Boston man has recently found in Quebec a plan of {lie battle of Bunker Hill, by a British army officer who took part in the fight 130 years ago. New light is shed on the battle of Bunker Hill, according to Professor MacVane, of Harvard, who has examined the document. The title and explanatory matter on the map reads: "Plan of operations on 17th June 1775 agavnst intrenchments find redoubts f'li.irlfictntvri TTill hv tllO rebel forces to which is added the position of the Now fort on Banker Hill (4<K) yds.?75 yds.) completed ill September." Details of the land and the naval forces engaged on both sides are added, with names and numbers of the British regiments, the total being '2004. A Bit Catch. Postmaster S. A. Royco and son and Roy Steenrod, of Liberty, N. Y., wenl Ashing: at Stevcnsvillo recently and caught sixty-five pickerel that weighed over forty pounds. Live bait was used. Untried in a Circln. Rain fell in a circle entirely around Pleasantville, N. J., while not a drop fell in the town. ? , THE GREAT DESTROYER SOME STARTLINC PACTS ABOUT THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE: What the Prisoner at the Bar, About to Be Condemned to Death For MnrderInc His Wife, Had to Say When the Judge Interrogated Him. "Prisoner at the Mr, have yoa anything t? say why sentence of death should not be passed upon yon?" | A solemn hush fell over the crowded courtroom, and every person waited in almost breathless expectation for the answer to the judge's question. The judge waited in dignified silence. Not a whisper was heard anywhere, and the situation had become painI fully oppressive, when the prisoner ! was seen to move, his head was raised, his hand was clinched and the blood i had rushed into his pale, careworn face. Suddenly he arose to his feet and in a low, firm but distinct voice, said: I "T U XT L. TT V, ? I "1 iiuve: xuui" nvuui, juu iia<c a9ked me a nuestion, and. I now ask, as the last favor cn earth, that your will not Interrupt my answer until I am through. "I stand here before this bar convicted of the wilful murder of my wife. Truthful witnesses have testified to the fact thafcl was a loafer, a drunkard ami a wretch; that I returned from one of my prolonged debauches and fired the fatal shot that killed the wife I had sworn to love, cheristh and protect While I have no remembrance of committing the fearful deed, I have no right to complain or to condemn the verdict of the twelve good men who have acted as Jury in the case, for their verdict is in accordance with the evidence. "But may It please toe court, i wisn to show that I am not alone responsible for the murder of my wife!" This startling statement created a tremendous sensation. The judge leaned over the desk, the lawyers whe^ed around and faced the prisoner, the jurors looked at each other in amazetnent. The prisoner paused a few seconds, and then continued in the same firm, distinct voice: "I repeat, your honor, that I am not the only one guilty of the murder of my wife. The judge on this bench, the jury in the box, the lawyers within this bar, and most of the witnesses, including the pastor of the old church, n'o" urnlltv hof/Vro AlmlffhtV fifld. and will have to stand with me before Hfs judgment throne, where we shall all be righteously judged. "If it had not been for the saloons in my town, I never would have become a drunkard; my wife would never have been murdered; I would not now be here, ready to he hurled Into eternity. "Had It not been for these human traps I would have been a sober man, an industrious workman, a tender father and a loving husband. But today my home is destroyed, my wife murdered, my little children?God bless and care for them?cast out on the mercy of the world, while I am to be hanged by the strong arm of the State. t "God knows I tried to reform, but as long as the open saloon was in my pathway, my weak, diseased will power, was no match against the fearful, consuming, agonizing appetite for liquor. "For one year our town was without a saloon. For one year I was a sober man. For one year my wife and children were happy, and our little home was a paradise. "I was one of those who signed remonstrances against reopening the sa loons of onr town, une-nair 01 mis Jury, the prosecuting attorney on thin case, and the judge who sits on this bench, all voted for the saloons. By. their votes and Influence saloons were reopened, and they have made me what I am." The impassioned words of the prisoner fell lite coals of flue upon the hearts of those present, and many of the spectators and some of the lawyers were moved to tears. The judge made a motion as if to stop further speech, when the speaker hastily said: "No! No! your honor, do not close my lips; I am nearly through. "I began my downward career at a saloon bar?legalized and protected by the voters of this town. After the saloons you allowed have made me a drunkard and a murderer, I am taken before another bar?the bar of justice, and now the law power will conduct me to the place of execution, and hasten my soul into eternity. I shall ! appear before another bar?the Judgment bar of God?and there you, who have legalized the trafRc, will have to appear with me. Think you that the fii-Aat Tndc -will hold me?{he Door, weak, helpless victim of your traffic? alone responsible for the murder of my wife? Nay, I, in my drunken, frenzied, irresponsible condftlon have murdered one, but you havo deliberately voted for the saloons which have murdered thousands, and they are in full operation to-day with your consent. "You legalized the saloons that Made me a drunkard and a murderer, and you are guilty with me before God and man for the murder of my wife. "Your honor, I am now done. I am am now ready to receive my sentence, and be led forth to the place of execution. You will close by asking the Lord to have mercy on my soul. I will close by solemnly asking God to open your blind eyes to your own individual responsibility, so (hat you will cease to give your support to this dreadful traffic."?Anonymous. Sue the Mayor. The temperance workers of Akron, Ohio, have sued the mayor of the city - " * ?rf1>i^L?TT mnn in lor COIIUSlOIl YV1U1 UIC mapping out a district for holding a Brannock election. They claim he go marked it out as to rob many temperance people of an effective vote in districts where there were many saloons. Temperance Noles. In prohibition Kansas the annual consumption of liquors per capita ifl less than two gallons, as ngainst nineteen in the country as a whole. Prohibition is cieariy gaining: fc-ruuuu In Canada. In December last a poll taken In Ontario, the largest province, gave the enormous majority of 100,000. It is proposed that a National Delegate Convention of all religious denominations bo held in Washington, D. C., in March, 390(5, to consider methods of dealing with the liquor traffic. During the last thirty yfars there died in Europe alone of alcoholism a total of 7,500,000 people. That is more people than were killed in all the wars of the nineteenth century. As Interested persons, dependent in purse for what they may do or not do as legislators, how difficult becomes I their course when called upon to pass upon legislation affecting the liquor j trade! Thanks to the indefatigable efforts ef Mrs. E. M. Watson, the movement for securing temperance societies in Woman's Home Missionary Societirs of the Presbyterian Church is progressing. Many such officers have been appointed. . THE When I survey the wondrons croafl. 11 On which the Prince of glory died,B| My richest gain I count bat lose, And poor contempt on all my priM Forbid it, Lord, that I should bOtJ&M Save in the death of Christ, my CM All the vain thingB that charm me All I sacrifice them to His blood. 9 See, from His head. His hands. His i Sorrow and love now mingled dowi Did e'er such love and sdfcrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crowi His dying crimson, like a robe, Spreads o'er His body on the treef Then I am dead to all the globe, And all the globe is dead to me. .Were the whole realm of nature mia mat were a p res em. lar ujo nwaiij MP Love so amazing, bo divine, II Demands my soul, my life, my alL II God and Human jfroenit. This is, indeed, an age of prdgr but let us give God the glory. I does not develop himself apart ? God and the knowledge of God. present progress in any heathen 1 be traced to its source, it will-be fo that Christianity is the moving ea There is no such thing as develpl one's self apart from any outside ix ence. Men speak of the wonderful provement in the speed of fast h<a The horse haq not developed its < speed. Intelligent men have don for him. We are having larger rtr berries and'finer apples to-day t ever before.. We have marvelous velopment in roses. 4 But this is because strawberries, left to tfc seives, nave seen nt to increase tJ size and improve tneir flavor. It'is because the apples Jbave enconra one another, to the end that all^ii improved. It Is not because the n have formed a mutual improves society. - It is because man, mad< the image of God, has seen fit to ? else his wisdom and exert his inline upon animal and vegetable life ro about him.. And so, -where man himself has t developed, it is because God has ta hold upon him. Where there is knowledge of God, or no true con Hon of his character, there can be development of the best that is in b except it be by contact with ot men who themselves have been touch with God. Infidels there and agnostics and men who arp * nnt find nnd uHthrmf hnna in ?fl (who are nevertheless gentle and fined and Intelligent, but that Is cause they have been so blessed ai be permitted to live their lives am people who worship God. The knowledge of God is necefti to human progress. James Rns Lowell said years ago, "There are ten spare mites of territory in i world governed by infidels." Only < can lift ns np. The result of ignoi Him is always degeneration. He i tool who says in his heart that i world could be better without Hii Doty of tht Choreb, Arthur T. Hadley, president of Y says: Here is the great vital n for the church: Not to make American people law-abiding and teHigent?that it is already; not e to make It kindly ancT courteous ; industrious?these virtues we havi not in ideal measure, at an; rate.i ficlently for many of the practical ] poses of life; but to fight with all heart and with ah its soul that danj ous spirit of selfish isoUition which courages a man to take whatever, law allows arid most approves the'i who haB taken most tn./ior qo irflll o a ihanft years ago, we have oar Pharisees other scribes, who rest content i the law and what it brings. T<w also, as two thousand years ago, have our false prophets, who seek remedy the errors of a kingdom of world by another kingdom of world, whose powers shall simply transferred from the hands of the < servatives to those of the radicals, sometimes seems as though all eff at reform were reducing themselve an endless struggle between those i having more money than votes, anxious tp have the rights of propi maintained by the courts and tl who, having more votes than moi are anxious to have those rights paired by the Legislature or to ferred to the hands of elected ma trates. "j. >: From no such blind struggle can true reform come. There must ta sense, both on the part of the busii man and the politician, on the par those who have and on tho part those who desire to have, that po is a trust and not a privilege; that is to be valued not for what it ena us to get out of the people, btfl what it enables us to give to the pie in the way of service.. This Christ's message nineteen centiS ago. - This is the message of trne prophet?Independent. K Be a True Man. > Only man can help mail. m<H without man can do little cr notfcH more likely less than nothing. H our Lord redeemed the world by bH a man, the true Son of the truoB ther, so the only way for a man to H men is to be a true man to this neH bor and that?George MacDonald^l A Beautiful Sentiment. jgl Nothing pood bursts forth all at oH The lightning may dart out of a bl cloud; but the day sends his brB heralds before him to prepare H world for his coming.?Hare. gl The Test. Some will mortify themselve^H mnny things and do almost everyt^B in religion but one. Unfortunately, H one is the test of their obedience R I a wnrtr f hincr ro/iiiirod nf Watch-word. ? 1 3M Noble Tuts For goffering. 'Hj For every suffering heart ther^B nt hand or can be found some nH task into the energy necessary forHj doing of which it can transmute? energy for its grief and pain.? .White Chadwick. Eg Pltm^ed Sevmty Feet For One UolH "I'll bet you -Si you won't ju^H said a companion of Robert McI^H ney. ol' Shainokin. Pa., in reply t<Sg hitter's startling proposition, jump off the bridge," when they I crossing Shainokin Creek. The^H was promptly accepted. MeKec^H mounted the bridge and plunged H enty feet into water two feet deep.^B escaped with slight injuries. HQ A Fsiuiltar Eeplilo. BR A snake crawled into the pcrAm^| tor with Mrs. Baum's baby nt field, N. J., and gave the moth^s great fright. The reptile was kill^B