The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, August 16, 1905, Image 2
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