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^jj <4 Tale ' Jgj of the. / YO Anglo-Indian 1 M|Q* ' 2S>1 SecretService \ 1 : CHAPTER I. 1 Conspirators. MONSIEUR JACOBI-the Baroness de Nantille!" Monsieur Jacobi bowed with grave courtesy?the Baroness <fle Nantille inclined her head without raising her eyes, and the introduction (was complete. The introducer, Mrs. (Wright, turned away with a little sigh ?f relief to continue her duties of hostess. Monsieur Jacobi and the baroness had never been to her house before, &nd the astute little English woman iwas not prepossessed in favor of the foreign lady. Monsieur Jacobi, of course, was irreproachable. Every one knew the name of the new musician, whose violin had insinuated Dim inio ?very circle in London where the fine ttrts came under unprofitable discussion. The introduction took place in the smaller drawing room, which was almost deserted at the moment. Indeed, Ithere was only one other person present. This was a man with hair and pointed beard, mustache and overhnngSng eyebrows, as white as snow. The head was that of an old man?such as one pictures the ancient patriarchs to have been?but the body was straight ?Bd the movements, without being Jithe, were far from denoting infirmity. JThis was Lauranee Lowe?n mossless stone whose rollings days were done. People whispered to ODe another thai in days gone by Lauranee Lowe would fain have ceased his rolling ways, but that providence had willed it otberf*T-;co conrt'nff n nnnrnffpcns And fair.lv 1?* IJV, % ww-...0 Intelligent young soldier?one Lieutenant Wright?to set the stone once mare ?-going, and to gather for himself the moss. Whatever mar have passed between the white-haired man aud the Cheery little matron?still comely and tearty?in those forgotten days was only known to themselves, and neither over referred to it. People wondered {why Mrs. "Wright shtiuld trouble herself with this silent old man, who contributed in no way to the entertainment of her guests. They considered tim an old bore, though he never displayed the least anxiely to be honored Hvith their attention ? never yawned, never confessed to fatigue, and never partook in a general conversation. , It was to him that Mrs. Wright turned with her ready smile, which, however, had something different in it I iwhen her eyes met him. ' "Coffee?" he said, interrogatively, without moving mustache or beard, j and offered her his arm. "Thanks, Laurance, I will," replied the little lady, with a vrateful smile. lot?f Inr^nfr rftfirc fhpRp tWO ! X/UIIU^ lite iaoi Hiv-uwj bad gone through that lfttle ceremony many hundreds of times. They pasaed into another room and the Baroness was left p.kne with Monsieur Jacobi. He had possessed himself of her engagement card, and was now studying it, pencil in hand. Every curve of his body, the very manner in which he held his pencil, his eagerly t>owed head, were expre-'iive of the utmost deference and respect. The Baroness had not yet raised her ( eyes from the polished floor. Her strong white hands, beautifully shaped end incased only in open-work mittens, !ay idly upon her iap. There was j something in her whole attitude, in the l'epose oi uer iwir iu xici. uvn?-: cast eyes, which was forced and unnat-1 ural. Hers was indeed a beautiful J lace, sculptured on lather a smaller j scale than Englishmen admire, pale' and very calm, with red, level lips and dose set eyes. Her soft, colorless hair, almost white in its exquisite fairness, j was arranged with extreme simplicity, , fcut ehe wore it parted upon one side, In accordance with a lashior now obso- j ' lete in England. She could not have been more than tweniy-five yccrs of age, despite her repose of manner,] which was almost that of a matron. | When Monsieur Jc.ccbl had made cure that they were alone, the expression of his keen face underwent a remarkable change, though his attitude remained unaltered. "Who?" he asked in a low-pitched voice, and with an unpleasant smile? 'who is the old fossil who wears nn eyeglass in one eye and sees with the other?" The Baroness raised her calm blue eyes, and met Jacobi's sardonic smile with a contemptuous stare. "Your conscience must indeed be an evil one, Jacobi," she said, slowly. "You are forever suspecting the most * innocent and. ha?mless of treachery and double-dealing." "Nevertheless, Baroness, who is that man?" "That man, my friend, is one Laurence Lowe?an English radical, which means nothing. He has by this time completely forgotten the existence of both of us. I should imagine that his .whole attention and time are given to the management of his own affairs." "Yon know him, then?" said Jacobi, seating himself lightly and gracefully near the Baroness. "By reputation only." "You know .;ome one who knows him well?" persisted the violinis*. calmly. ?'T /Inl'? "Ah! May I Inquire " The Baroness suddenly cast down Jier eyes, and the white lids closed over them. A faint pink tinge appeared on either chf-ek. "I obtained my information from Mr. Cb .vies Mistley," she said in an indifferent voice. "Brother of the Mistl?y?" "Brother of the Mistley." "Who is daily expect d in England, /with liis .'hief, Colonel Wright?" The baroness bowed her head in nc quiescence. ?cr reu up? were pressfu close together. her colorless eyebrows slightly raised. Monsieur Jncobi prided himself upon liis deep discernment in matters connected with tlie female jTN .* I UNG \2?Z I PLEY Seton pF _ / Merriman. & "Ls | mwwwwwwwwwft? heart and mind. He therefcre changed the subject somewhat abruptly. "You did not expect to meet me here to-night," he said, with exaggerated coolness. "No." Her voice was totally without expression. "I am here on business." "Indeed!" "And you?" inquired Jacobi, insolently. The Baroness looked up with slightly raised eyebrows. "That is my affair." Jacobi smiled again, with a singu 1 tin lUl'J,y uiipiraoaxii vuu u?. iui. "Yes, Baroness," he said, "I am here on business connected with the brotherhood, and I call upon you to assist me." The Baroness looked somewhat sullen, and remained silent. "Miss Lena Wright," continued Jacobl, "the daughter of our amiable hostess, is, I have reason to believe, likely, and more than likely, to come in for a considerable fortune on the death of ? Mr. Laurance Lowe, -whom I have seen to-night for the first time. She is, I am led to suppose, singularly amiable, somewhat romantic, and with no more strength of mind or purpose than is considered desirable in a young English lady. The brotherhood, as you know, is desperately in need of funds. You begin to see, fair Baroness?" "You wish to enroll her?" asked the Baroness in her emotionless manner. "You wish to enroll her, and for the sake of her money!" "I think," replied Jacobi, gazing sadly at the floor, "I think it would benefit the cause." "What do you wish me to do?" asked she, abruptly. "Nothing much?to-night!" was the reply. "Tell me what Miss Wright is dressed in, so that I may recognize her. I will manage to get an introduction somehow. That will be enough for to-night." "She is dressed in white," replied the Baroness in the concise manner cf one who observes everything and forgets nothing. "Tall and slight, with hair a little darker than mine, rather badly dressed and somewhat untidy. I suppose she is considered beautiful!" "You do not know her?" "No." Monsieur Jacobi now became absorbed in the rearrangement of the delicate flower in bis buttonhole, and took the opportunity of glancing keenly at his companion's face, -which, howover, was motionless and devoid of expression. "I have taken the liberty of placing my name against the dance about to commence," he said. "It is a waltz. Shall we go into the other room?" CHAPTER II. The Lovers. Wfien Mrs.' Wright and Laurance Lowe left the smaller drawing room, they turned their steps toward a diminutive apartment, where some late arrivals were yet partaking of tea and coffee. For some minutes neither t ? ^ spujie. J.UUIUUCe AJUWe ?IW 4i jnioUlariy silent maD, and Mrs. Wright was by no means an excessive talker. They understood each other thoroughly, and both enjoyed these long spells of silence. Lowe found a seat for Mrs. Wright in the dimly lighted corridor, just outside the small coffee room, and let her there while he went in quest of the coffee. Presently he returned and sat down beside her. "Lena," said Lowe, pensively, as he stirred his coffee, "is looking lovely tonight." Through the curtained doors the cadence of a slow, soft waltz reached their ears, rising and falling on the heavy atmosphere. Mrs. Wright was anxious this evening, and a little restless. She had that morning received a fr?r\n-* "hot* nrmminp iiVUl UVi w-?ing his arrival at Brindisi on the homeward voyage from India, and she had not seen him for two anxious, weary years. She sipped her coffee, and glanced over her cup toward Laurance Lowe. His great eyebrows were drawn forward, so that his eyes were in impenetrable shadow. He looked very old and somewhat worn, but he had looked so for many years. "Yes, Laurance," said she, softly, "I am a little proud of my daughter." He made no reply, but continued to stir his coffee absently. Presently he moved slightly and looked up, drawing in a deep breath. "Thursday morning?" he said, in a slightly interrogative tone. This 6 the time mentioned by Colonel Wright in his telegram for the arrival of himself and Winyard Mistley at Victoria Ctn+Irtiv "Yes; Thursday morning, at half-past seven. Will you come with us to meet him?" Lowe shook his head slowly and with much deliberation. "lie will find Lena changed," said Lowe, knowing that he was broaching a pleasing subject. "Yes, he will find her grown. She is a young lady now, and quite?quite " "Quite able to take care of herself," suggested Lowe. Mrs. Wright turned and their eyes met. Lowe's were grave; but there was about the lines of his face a faint suggestion of a smile. That was the best he could do in the way of smiles, by renson of the long white mustache that hid his lips. "Yes, I hope so," said Mrs. Wright, seriously. She knew that her daughter was fair, and also that it is the fairest who find the saddest lives here. She knew the thousand temptations that beset the path of a beautiful woman, the thousand little slips so easily made, the thousand hands ever ready to pusii tlie stnmbler down the hill. But her faith in Lena was very great. While these two old travelers Tver? worrying themselves over the roughness of the road they had long since left behind, the object of their solicitous thoughts made her appearance at the end of the corridor?a dainty vision of soft white muslin, -with a broad yellow sash round a slender waist. Lena was attended by a huge cavalier of peaceful but distinguished appearancc. As she came lightly along the corridor, she was busily engaged in putting back over her ears sundry little stray wisps and tendrils of hair. These particular little curls were almost golden, while above them the heavier coils darkened into living brown. She was smiling and breathless, and 311st a little flushed. Lena's eyes were in striking contrast to her hair and fair complexion, for thov -rvovp 1ih7p1?n dark. deeD hazel? full of ready laughter, capable of sparkling with unbounded mischief; but in repose they were as demure and illegible as those of a nun. At the present moment tliey were soft and glistening with excitement and weariness; dangerous eyes for n man to look into, especially amid the surroundings of odorous flowers, within sound of slow dance music, for the next waltz had begun. The big man, upon whose arm she was leaning, was fanning her with great sweeping strokes, so that the lace upon her dress fluttered In the breeze. "Oh, Charlie," she was saying, "that was lovely! I do not think that I ever danced like that before. The music seemed to stop suddenly, to die away into nothing, and then we came to earth. Why was it so lovely?why was it so lovely?" The big man continued fanning. He ' looked down at lier wnn a siow, grave sinile, such as one expects to see on a Saxon face. "And why," lie said, "did we come down to earth again?" They both had seen Mrs. Wright and Laurance Lowe, and they both knew that they were within earshot, but that appeared in no way to interfere with or restrain their conversation. They Advanced slowly along the corridor, Charles Mistley taking on stride to every two of Lena's. It was, p?rhaps, no coincidence that when Lena and her partner approached the two elder folks looked up, not at her, but at Charles Mistley. Something, some vague and doubting wonder. must have prompted Mrs. Wright to do tliis, for every mother looks ten times at her own daughter in a ball room for every once that her eyes rest on some other person's offspring. They can no more heip it than an artist can resist the magnetic attraction which draws him to the contemplation of his own picture in a gallery full of superior works. But this good iady looked at Charles Mistley, her eyes xesting on his strong, clean-cut face with a wistful, questioning expression which seemed almost to savor of foreboding. Laurance Lowe gazed at the young fellow with those keen blue eyes of his, and his face bore absolutely no expression whatever. It was merely the calm, impassive contemplation of an indifferent looker-one. The young sailor looked down on them J from Lis exceptional height and smiled quietly. Charles Mistley's smile was a pleasant one to meet. It seemed, somehow, to bring him down to a lower level; and smaller, plainer men felt lerr inferior. It was a ready smile, too, and women liked it for its sincerity. "I have," he said, "danced Lena into a state of sentimentality. Sbe requires bringing down to an every-day level, so I brought her to her mother." "You are very useful, at all events," said Mrs. Wright, favoring Mistley with a smile. "I am very grateful to you, Cbarlie," she continued, "for dancing with that Baroness de Something. I have had great difficulty in finding partners for her; the young men nowadays are so hard to please, and I find a growing tendency among them to divide the program among four or five partners at the most." Charles Mistley smiled. (That smile of his came in frequently, very profitably, in place of words. "Yes," said Lena, musingly, with all the wisdom of her first season, "I am afraid that is the characteristic of the rising generation." And she looked demurely and inno cently lip at Mistley, whose initials appeared five times upon lier engagement card. (To he continued.) lionks anrl Flowers. "Books and flowers are certain eyldences of refinement," said a gestfleman the other day. "Once,"4l? econtinued, "I was on a long day'a^urney in a sparsely settled country. had come to few houses on the -finding road. But as one small house' came into sight the door was open. ^Though there were not more tlinn two rooms to it, I noticed that one of them, into which I could see, was very tidy and clean. And though the floors were hare, there was a rude bookcase against the wall in which were several rows of books. It was like a spring In a desert, and though I have never known who lived there, those books were an unmistakable evidence that liovo wns n 15vf> sonl iherp. On the way I amused myself in spinning fancies about the owner of the books, and the incident, simple as it was, has never passed from my mind."?Monroe Journal. A Country Editor'# Outlook. William Allen White, the Kansas editor, in describing life in a small town in the Middle West, says: "When a man has published a paper in a country community for many years he knows his town and its people, their strength and their weakness, their joys and their sorrows, their failings and their prosperity?or if lie does not know these things he is on the road to failure, for this knowledge must be the spirit of his pnper." The author has been editing and publishing u small daily newspaper in Emporia, Kan., since 1SOO with considerable success, and it must be inferred that he knows (he sort of people about whom ho writes. Glaut Submarines. The Matin asserts that the French Government is preparing designs for submarines of about 800 tons displacement. Tbey will be able to operate at a cousiderable distance from their base. Indiana's personal property w&5 ral- j ued at $377,410,730 in 1005. I . - ( ? !Household [flatters. | o Boiled Apples. Place a layer, or two, if necessary, of rather tart apples in a saucepan, cover with cold water, let them come quickly to the boiling point, then cook slowly till tender. Remove to JJ-T- - -I-1 ~ ?. o n r? UI5LI, sprillftie uiiv-ai; Iiua Dugai, cwju pour over them the liquid remaining in the saucepan. It is especially convenient to prepare apples in this way when a very hot fire is not required, or when the oven is otherwise occupi3d. \Vliito Sauce. One pint milk, two or three mushrooms, one onion, one carrot, one bundle of sweet herbs, whole, pepper and salt to taste; a few cloves, a little mace, one ounce butter and one gill cream. Put into one pin', of milk two or three mushrooms, one onion and a carrot cut into pieces, one bundle of sw.^et herbs, whole' pepper and salt to taste, a few cloves and a little mace. Let the whole gently simmer for about an hour. Put one ounce of button into a saucepan and stir on the fire until it thickens. Finish by stirring in one gill cream. Flakv Puffs With Lemon Snuce. Add to one cupful of boiling water one tablespoonful of butter, and when the latter is melted mix in one cupfu! of flour. Beat these ingredients with a fork until perfectly smooth and free from the sides of + Tol-a f r Am 1 ll LiltJ oautC[;au, a. uivv 1.1 v?*? ? ? and drop in three eggs, one at a time, whipping the mixture rapidly each time an egg is put in. Stand until cold and fry in very hot fat a spoonful at a time, allowing about fifteen minutes for each puff. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve hot with sauce made as follows: Strain the juice of one and a half lemons and add to it one cupful of powdered sugar and half a cupful of boiling Yi ater. Currant Dumplings. Chop fine half a pound of suet. Put in a basin with four tablespoonfuls of flour, one pound of bread crumbs, half a pound su^ar and half a pound of cleaned currants. Mix these together well and stir in three cups of milk. Dip the centre of a pudding cloth in boiling water, wring out and dredge with flour. Now spread the floured cloth over the top of a basin, pour the dumpling into it, tie up with a piece of strong twine and throw in boiling water. The water must be boiling furiously before the pudding is thrown in, and half a teaspoonful of salt added. n?1- ?u?/i;ii. avonlv fnr tlirpp I VjUUK. sicaun; 1.UU Wivuij hours. When done remove from the cloth and sarve oil a hot dish. Rice Apple Pudding. One-half cupful rice, three tablespoonfuls sugar, one-half tablespoonful butter, the juice of one-half lemon. One full pint of thinly sliced apples, one-half pint of milk and three eggs. Put the apples in a dish, pour over them the eggs and sugar, and set aside. Place the rice in a saucepan, cover with cold water and boil five minutes. Drain rice, rinse in cold water, return to the saucepan and add the milk and butter. Set saucepan in kettle of boiling water and cook until rice is thick, occasionally shaking the pan but not stirring. 1 -Let it cool and mix with the three yolks and add whites, beaten stiff. Butter a pudding dish and sprinkle with bread crumbs, and put in ricc and apples in alternate layers. Bake in a moderate oven about thirty minutes or until the pudding is firm to the touch. Serve with the syrup left from the apples boiled up with a little more sugar. Hints for, the i IHousekeeperJ Sunshine is a powerful treatment for disease. If you aspire to health and happiness, you must allow sunshine to come into your house. When making starch for light fabrics, add one teaspoonful of borax, which not only keeps the things cleaner, but puts a nice gloss on them. Women who do their own washing, cVinnlil whon finichorl mil thpir hands with dry salt. This brings out the 'soap and makes the hands more agreeable. Old potatoes are greatly improved by being soaked in co:d water over night, or at least several hours after peeling. The watsr should be changed once or twice. Whenever vegetables put up .n tin cans are opened and only partly used do not allow the remainder to stand in the tins, but turn out into an" earthen bowl and put in a cool place. A good polish for a stove is made of one tablespoonful of powdered alum mixed with ihe stove polish. The brilliancy that this mixture will give to the stove will last for a long time. It is a fad to have sofa pillows combine as many shades of one color as possible without introducing a foreign tone. Various shades of red which harmonize well are excellent for a couch. If you have a pot of ferns be sure to give them plenty of water. A fern that has become thoroughly dry once or twice is practically ruined; >; least it will never have I lie same old strength again. Ammonia is excellent for cleansing hair brushes. Use about two tablespoonfuls of ammonia and enough water to cover the bristles, but not the back. Shake it thoroughly while it is in the water to loosen the dirt. Dry it well before using. Some housekeepers put a peeled onion inside a fowl that iz to be kept for any length of time. This absorbs germs that would otherwise infect the meat. Sliced onfcns or a bag of charcoal placed near meat of anv kind has the same effect. \ THE GREAT DESTROYER SOMR STARTLING FACTS ABOUT IHE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE. A Vr?f iIIIA /\ /1/lfrtcr !?*? CI'* wiuuit v. ^3 Kfj oti Horsolcy on the Effects of AIcoIiol on the Hiinian System?Not Helpful, But Injurious. Two weeks ago a great medical convention was held in Toronto, Canada. One of the addresses delivered before the convention was by Sir Victor Horseley, on the effects of alcohol on the human system. He held that alcohol is not only not helpful, but that it is injurious. When his views were published the London Express took exception to them, and insisted that, on the contrary, ale., for instance, in moderation is a good tonic for- the laborer, developing strength and stamina. This called out a reply from the eminent physician, in which he reiterated and emphasized his former statement Referring to the claim of the Express, he said: "As a scientific statement this is entirely false. It has been absolutely demonstrated that alcohol is detrimental to physical labor. All the investigations which commenced with the experiments of Doctor Parks on soldiers have proved this. The Red River expedition also confirms it. "The shifting of the gauge on the rirPflt Western Railway, which was one of the greatest physical feats done in England, waa done without alcohol. Tons of oatmeal and water were consumed by the men, and they liked it better than any alcoholic drink. This immense piece'of work was done in forty hours. "Doctor Parks in his experiment set two gangs of soldiers working at ; similar work, one gang drinking beer and the other gang drinking water. The gangs were paid for the amount of work they did. After a few days it was found that the water-drinking men were doing more work than those who were drinking the beer. They were earning more money. At last the beer gang asked to be allowed to drink water because they were earning so much less money than the other men. "This experiment was established under absolutely scientific control, and confirms once for all that just as has been shown with intellectual work, so to physical work, alcohol, whether as beer, wine or spirits, is only most harmful and injurious." After speaking of some incidental matters, the doctor returned to the main subject, and said in general: "There is no need to dogmatize on the question of alcohol; facts are so patent. When the facts are considered by an unprejudiced observer, there is only one conclusion, and thr.t is, that in association with bad housing of the artisan class, the consumpI tion of alcohol is directly responsible | for national deterioration. "This was absolutely established by a committee of the I-Iouse of Commons, England, which examined into the causes of the physical deterioration of the people of the United Kingdom. "The report of their finding produced such an intense impression throughout the old country that most of the important municipal bodies have caused their cities to be placarded with posters pointing out to their constituents the danger of regarding alcoholic drinks as harmless. And they also advocate a total abstinence from all alcoholic drinks as the surest means, not merely of preserving the health of the individual^ but of furthering the quality of the work of the nation upon which its position in the industrial and civilized world depends." These views are not new, but they are valuable. It is important that they should be kept before the people. The advocates of strong drink arc tireless, and their misrepresentations and falsa claims are constantly being repeated. And moreover, human appetite is on their side, supported by a widespread false impression. It is necessary that the friends of truth and of humanity should be diligent in making known the -real lclULb ill Lilts Ucl&tJ. no ci mcuiuuig aivv/hoi may have its place, but as a beverage it is always harmful. It con-; tains no nutriment, is no aid to the powers of human endurance, but, on the contrary, impairs these powers. On this point medical science and human experience are agreed, and this fact should be lcept before the public.?Pittsburg Christian Advocate. V The Innocent Paid the Penalty. A splendid surgeon was called to go ten miles into the country.to amputate the leg of a farmer who had been injured in his machinery, but the surgeon drank so freely before and during the operation that he was not able to properly perform it. He failed to perfectly protect some of the severed nerves, and the patient now spends many sleepless nights and days of suffering from which the doctors say nothing but death will relieve him. This unfortunate man has always ben strictly temperate, his children and grandchildren are sober and industrious, and there is not a saloon vithin ten miles, but you couldn't .convince any of that household that "whisky won't hurt you if you let it iiiuutr. A Proper Beginning. Every liquor license law Bhoula oegin with these words: ''An act entitled 'An act to promote misery among men, disturb the peace of the State, to injure thu general welfare, to increase taxation, and to imperil our common interests.' "?Patriot Phalanx. Odd Fellows and Saloonkeepers. Chief interest in the recent Philadelphia session of the Odd Fellows centred about the question of the liquor traffic as being a bar to membership in the organization. The report which was read and later approved by the body In session, decides in brief, that no one can remain a member of the lodge who is engaged in the liquor business in any way, unless he were a member and so engaged and has been continually t;ince the first ruling was made at the convention at Atlantic City. Abstinence and Longevity. Thfl immensn advantage of toi.".I abstinence in view of good health and long life is again demonstrated in the annual report of the Sceptre Life Association, Limited. The following figures arc given: General section, expected deaths, 142; actual deaths,113; percentage, 79.G$. Temperance section, expected deaths, 118; actual deaths, 07; percentage, 48.31. The increase of radical temperance sentiment in labor union circles continues to be one of the most inspiring features of current reform history * THOUGHTS F^ THg QU^Thotii, THY MILL. BY J. A. EDGERTON. (Whatever is needed to aid the right, Be it tongue, or pen, or sword, Whatever is needed to spread the light, If it be by love, if it be by might, j If it be to teach, if it be to fight, Reveal us the way, 0 Lord. For the power of the spoiler grows ever utrong And his wealth and his rule increase. The people who love Thee, a mighty . throng. Have waited, O Lord, for Thy summon* lone To grapple at last with the hosts of wrong And to conquer them into peace. And we wait, only wait, till the call divine Through our inmost hearts shall thrill. We wait, onlv wait, till the promised sign On the purpling heavens snail rise and shine; We wait for a signal we know is Thine; ,We wait but to do Thy will. ?Ram's Horn. The Valley of Decision. A worker among young men and boys In Illinois says that he recently fniierfpri written statements from 447 Christian men, many of them mature business men in as many different Illinois towns, and that their statements showed that the average age of beginning the Christian life was eighteen, but of the 447, only fifty-three, or eleven per cent., made the decision for Christ under the age of twenty-five, and only 108, or twenty-four per cent., after the age of twenty-one. Inquiries made by an Illinois pastor of forty-three different individuals, showed that the average ige of decision was fifteen and threejuarters years. Another inquirer consulted thirty-six men and found :hat the average of conversion with them was fifteen and two-thirds rears. Some people say that the average age of conversion is so immature because that is the time when people are most susceptible to religion. But the f^ct is that men and women make most of their great determining decisions when they are young. Many boys choose their professions or trades before they are twelve. Most people become Christians at the same age at which evil claims most of its followers. This should make all young people thoughtful and earnest about themselves. These are the days when they are determining their tastes and habits and characters forever. If they do not come to Christ now, the probabilities are that they will not come to Hira at all. They are making their friendships now. They ought not to leave out the friendship of God.?The New Guide. Invisible Defects. A beautiful lady went to a photographer to sit. for her picture. After the sitting, the man retired to examine the plate. He was greatly puzzled, upon 'developing the picture in the chemical bath, by the appearance of a number of dark spots on the face, although not the least trace of blemish could be detected on the face of the lady. The next day the explanation came. The spots then became distinctly visible. The lady had contracted smallpox, and soon died. The faint yellow spots, before they could be detected by the naked eye, were faithfully portrayed by the searching and pure rays.of the sun. So the first harboring of impure thoughts will mar the loveliest soul, and if not resolutely warred upon with all spiritual weapons these unholy imaginings will drag their victim down to ruin. No other treasure in this world is so rich as the consciousness of purity, and in order to retain it one must avoid not only the acts, but also the impure thoughts which would destroy it. It is not enough to have a fair exterior; the heart must be pure. It is in the heart that God would live. The heart, too, is the centre of the life. God help I us to keep our hearts pure that our lives may be pure!?The Rev. G. B. F. Hal lock, D. D. Life's Little Days. One secret of sweet and happy Christian life is learning to live by the day. It is the long stretches that tire us. We think of life as a whole, running on for us. We cannot carry this load until we are three-score and ten. We cajuiot fight this battle continually for half a century. Eut really there afe no long stretches. Life does not come to us all at one time; it comes only a day at a time. Even to-morrow is only ours when It becomes to-day, and we have nothing whatever to do with it but to pass down it a fair and good inheritance in to-day's work well done and today's life well lived. It is a blessed secret, mis uvm?; day by day. Anyone can carry his burden, however heavy, till nightfall. Anyone can do his work, however hard, for one day. Anyone can live sweetly, patiently, lovingly and purely till the sun goes down. And this is all that life ever really means to us ?just one little day. "Do to-day's fight; fight to-day's temptation, and do not weaken and distract yourself by looking forward to things you cannot see and could not understand if you saw them." God gives us nights to shut down the curtain of darkness on our little days. We cannot see beyond. Short horizons make life easier, and give us one of the blessed secrets of brave, true, holy living.?British Weekly. Two Good Ways of Life. The just live by faith and the faithful live justly.?Ram's Horn. Kam's Horn Notes. Preparation is the best prayer for consecration. There's no such thing as living God's way until you love God's way. You may build your own fortune,but you will need God for the archi usci. As soou as the Christian forgets his Master he is likely to stub his toe on some mystery. Keep your faith with God and you will not be so likely to Jose your faith in man. Gold in Honduras. The Rosario mine, located at San Juancito, Honduras, an American enterprise, produced during the nine months ended June 30, 1906, 1,249,0S7 ounces of silver and 2151 ounces oI gold. The company gives employment to 1500 men. English Emigration Report* John Burns, president of the Brit4 fsh local Government Board, etates hat $30,000 epent In emigrating f!250 workmen yields better results han If spent cn form colonies, ME.\T^HHjHHHBHfl| mi.) xxii., 36, 37). 36. "Then." This was I about midnight. "Cometh." After I they had left the uoner room where I they had eaten the paschal supper. "With them." There were only: eleven now; Judas was absent making arrangements for the betrayal. "Unto a place." Jesus oftentimesresorted to this quiet retreat with His disciples (John 18:2) for refreshment, retirement, quiet instruc- 1 tion and perhaps prayer. "Gethsemane." The name means oil press,, an emblem of trial, distress, agony. "Sit ye here." He left eight of th& disciples at the entrance of the garden. "Pray." Christ frequently went, alone to pray. 37. "Took with Him." Farther into the garden, to a spot more retired. In this hour Jesus needed human sympathy, even while He must "tread the wine .press alone." '"fyo eons 01 aeoeaee. james ana jonn. The three disciples Jesus took with Him had been witnesses of His trans- * figuration and glory, and were now to behold His humiliation and agony* "Began to be sorrowful." To be penetrated with the most exquisitesorrow. and overwhelmed with deepanguish. "Very heavy." Sore troubled ; a stronger word than the other. II. The bitter cup of sorrow (vs. A 38, 39). 38. "Even unto death." < It was agony that would destroy Hte life if it continued. Tbe agony became so great that His cweat was great drops of blood falling down to the ground. "Tarry ye here." Spoken to the three disciples. 39. "A little farther." About a: stone's cast (Luke); 150 to 200 feet. t There were now three divisions of /,'$ the little company?the eight, the t -J three, and Jesus alone. "On His face." This was the ordinary posture of the supplicant when the favor. asked was great, and deep humiliation required. TheJbea,d was put between the knees and the forehead \ brought to touch the earth. "My Father." In all our addresses to God we should eye Him as a father?ae our Father, and it is in a special manner helpful to do so when we arein an agony. "If it be possible.'' TJie great horror of Jesus in the garde? arose, not from fear of Calvary, but from fear of failure, through physi~ cal suffering to reach Calvary, and so lose all for which He left heaven. "Not as I will." If it is Thy will that ! should die here in the garden instead of dying on the cross, as foretold, I submit. He was entirely resigned to His Father's will. ' III. 'The disciples asleep (vs. 40,. 41). 40. "Cometh unto the disciples." He did this three times during this awful hour. He apparently desired communion with them and the sympathy and comfort which they could give. "Asleep."- Luke says, they were sleeping'for sorrofcr. "Un-' to Peter." Peter had just made loud professions. "With Me." He was suffering for them, but only expected that they would watch with Him. "One hour." Sometimes Christ continued in prayer all night, but He only asked them to watch with Him one hour. 41. "Watch and pray." A testing time is coming and you will need to-, watch carefully and pray earnestly. The Christian is in danger of falling a prey to the world, the flesh and the devil. "The spirit?willing," etc. ' j They desired to watch with Him and thus show their sympathy and love for Him, but their bodies and minds ' were weaK. IV. Jesus prevails in prayer (vs. 42-44). 42. "The second time."' His going the second and third times shows how great was the burden and His intense eagerness and perseverance. 43. "Their eyes wereheavy."" It is a sad thing for the church to be sleeping while Christ is suffering and praying. 44. "The same words." Not that Jesus merely repeated the same words each time, but these words were the substance of His prayer. This prayer is "a model (1) of earnestness, (2) directness, (3) perseverance, (4) faith, (5) submission. V. Jesus betrayed (vs. 45-50). 45. "Sleep on now." Jesus had gained the victory. But Jesus was on the alert and when He heard the approaching multitude and saw the lanterns and torches He aroused the sleepers. 46. "Let us be going." To meet Judas and the soldiers. Jesus is ready; without hesitancy He turns His face toward the terrible sufferings of the cross. 47. "Great multitude." Composed of a detachment of the Roman Cohort stationed in the Castle Antonia (John-18:3, 12, "the band"), of the Jewish temple watch (Luke 22: 52, "the captains of the temple"); of others, including serv-. ants and dependents of the high priest (v. 51), and, in all probability, - ^ 5UHJC lilllctuwi ciiitri pucdia auu ciu~ I .ers. "Swords." Carried by the Ro- J man soldiers. "Staves." Or clubs, the arms of the temple watch and the crowd. John adds also, what lay in the nature - *he case, that the.v were provided with "lanterns and torches" as well as weapons. 48. "Kiss." Probably the usual salutation of the disciples to their Master. 49. "Kissed Him." A stronger *ord than that used in the last verse. The sign was a kiss, but the performance a caressing. 50. "Friend." A term of civility t'' gh not necessarily of friendship Christ's meeknefw and gentleness surpass even the standard which He holds up for His dis:lples in Matt. 5: 39. Honduras to Have New Bank. Two million dollars, silver, has been subscribed in the United States to establish a bank In Honduras, for which a concession was granted several months ago, and before the end ^ of the year the bank will be open for business. Taking into consideration the capital of this bank, there has been invested in Honduras during the laBt year some $2,000,0C0 in eold. American capital. At present some $5,000,000 oC American capital Is invested in Honduras. Parisian Funeral Polly. 1 A picturesque figure will vanish | from Paris owing to the decision of the Municipal Council to abolish the office of "organizer of funeral pomp'" at funerals. His only duty was to walk in front, resplendent in a threecornered hat, dres9 coat and waist-* coat, knee breeches and pumps, dec* orated with a scarf of colors of tltt? city and carrying a long ebony cane. Cab Drivers' Earnings. London cab drivers earn an aggre gate of over 14u,vuu a un/. ^ ..