Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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f ' , YORKVILLE ENQUSRER. ISSUED SEMI-WEEKLT. L. m. grists sons, Publishers. } % ^amitg getpgpjjer: jfor the |romotian af the political, Social, g^gritulfaral, and dtommtitcial Interests jf the geoglc. { TEKM3inoIleU2oAptT n c^rVsAm' ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKVILLE, S. C., TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1903. 3STO. 68. ' - - I ?- ? -- I? #A- ? mnmanll \JJ 11 ROM ON OOTTON OAMRI INR By WILL N. H/ Copyright, 1902, by Harper Bros. All ] CHAPTER XVII. ^T lBOUT a week after this transaction Rayburn Miller went to Atlanta on business for IPg^i one of bis clients, and wbile tbere be incidentally called at tbe offices of tbe Southern Land and Timber company, hoping to meet Wilson and learn something about his Immediate plans in regard to tbe new railroad. But he was informed that the president of the company had just gone to New York and would not be back for a week. Rayburn was waiting In the rotunda of tbe Kimball House for bis train, which left at 10 o'clock, when be ran across bis friend. Captain Ralph Burton of the Gate City guards, a local military company. "Glad to see you," said the young officer. "Did you run up for the ball?" "What ball is that?" asked Miller. "I am at the first of it" "Av "?<> ??n irlirlnir Ana harp in this vu, n c uic ft* * iu5 v?v -w ? ? house tonight," answered Burton, who was a handsome man of thirty-five^ tall and erect, and appeared at his best in bis close fitting evening suit and light overcoat. "Come upstairs, and I'll introduce you to a lot of strangers." "Can't" Rayburn told him. "I've got to leave at 10 o'clock." "Well, you've got a good hour yet" insisted the officer. "Come up on the next floor, where the orchestra is, anyway. and we can sit down and watch the crowd come in." .Miller complied, and they found seats on the spacious floor overlooking the thronged office. From where they sat they could look through severhl drawing rooms into the ballroom beyond. Already a considerable number of people had assembled, and many couples were walking about even quite near to the two young men. "By George!" suddenly exclaimed Miller as a couple passed them. "Who Is that stunniug looking blond? She w.^lks like a queen." "Where?" asked Burton, looking In thQ wroog direction. "Why, there, with Charlie Penrose." "Oh, that one," said Burton, trying to thiuk. "1 know as well as I know anything, but her name has slipped my memory. Why, she's visiting the Bishops, on Peachtree street?a Miss Bisnop; that's It." "Adele ?little Adele? Impossible!" cried Rayburn. "And I've been thinklug of her as a child all these years." "So you know her?" said Captain Burton. "Her brother is a chum of mine," explained Miller. "I haven't seen her since she went to Virginia to school five years ago. I never would have recognized her In the world. My Lord, she's simply regal!" "I haven't had the pleasure of meeting her." said the captain, "but I've heard lots about her from the boys who go to Bishop's. They say she's remarkably clever ? recites, you know, and takes off the plantation negro to perfection. She's a great favorite with Major Middleton. who doesn't often take to the frying size. She has been a big drawing card out at Bishop's ever since she came. The boys say the house overflows every evening. Are you going to speak to her?" "If I get a good chance." said Rayburn. his eyes on the couple as they disappeared in the ballroom. "1 don't like to go In looking like this, but she'd want to hear from home." "Oh. I see." said Burton. "Well you'd better try it before the grand march sweeps everything before It." As Miller entered the ballroom Penrose was giving Adele a seat behind a Cluster ui puiiiis, ueur ine grauu pmuu, around which the German orchestra was grouped. He went straight to her. "You won't remember me, Miss Adele," he said, with a smile, "but I'm going to risk speaking to you anyway." She looked up from th? bunch of flowers in her lap and in a startled, eager sort of way began to study his face. "No, I do not," she said, flushing a little and yet smiling agreeably. "Well, I call that a good joae," renrose broke In, with a laugh, as he greeted Miller with a familiar slap on the shoulder. "Why. Hayburn. on my word, she hasn't talked of anybody else for the last week, and here she"? "You are uot Hayburn Miller!" Adele exclaimed, and she stood up to give him her hand. "Yes, I have been talking of you, uud it seems to me I huve a thousund things to say and, oh, so many thanks!" There was something In this impulsive greeting that gave Miller a delectable thrill all over. "You were such a little thing the last time I saw you," he said almost tenderly. "I declare, you have changed ?so. so remarkably." She nodded to Penrose, who was excusing himself, and then she said to Miller, "Are you going to dance tonight?" He explained that he was obliged to take the train which left in a few minutes. He saw her face actually fall with disappointment. The very genuineness of the expression pleased him inexplicably. "Then 1 must hurry," she said. "Would you mind tulking to me a little while?" "Nothing could possibly please me so much," said he. "Suppose we stroll around." She took his arm, and he led her back to the rotunda overlooking the office. BAim ? l DOT7M Author of IKOHrlN, "Wcstcrfelt." lights reserved. "Kou are not Rnyburn Miller!" Adele exclaimed. "So you are Rayburu Miller!" she said, looking at him wonderingly. "Do you know. I have pictured you in my mind many times since mother wrote me all about how you rescued us from ruin. Oh, Mr. Miller, I could not in a thousand years tell you how my heart filled with gratitude to you. My moth er goes into the smallest details in ner letters, and she described your every word and action during that transaction tn your office. I could tell Just where her eyes filled and her throat choked up by her quivering handwriting. 1 declare, I looked on you as a sort of king with unlimited power. If 1 were a man, I'd rather use my brain to help suffering people than to be made president of the United States and be a mere figurehead. You must uot think I am spoiled by all this glitter and parade dowu here. The truth Is. 1 heartily despise It. I wanted to be at home so bad when I got that letter that I cried myself to sleep." "You must uot forget that your broth, er conceived the plan," Miller protested. "and that I only"? "Oh. yes. I know Alan thought of it," she interrupted, "but without your experience and firmness it would have remaiued in his dear old brain till the Lord knows when. The idea of their being in debt was slowly killing my father and mother, and you came to their relief Just when they were unable to bear it any longer. I'm so glad you thought of borrowing that money." Just then a young man half a head Bhorter than Adele came up hurriedly. "Oh. here you are!" he exclaimed in a casD of relief. "I've been looking for you everywhere. This is mine, you kuow?the grand march. They are all ready." Adele smiled pleasantly. "I hope you'll excuse me from it, Mr. Tedcastle," she said. "I've just met a friend from home. I want to talk with him, and""But. Miss Bishop, I"? "I asked you to please excuse me, Mr. Tedcastle." Miller saw her face harden as if from the sneer of contempt that passed over it "I hope it will not be necessary for me to explain my reasons in detail until I have a little more time at my disposal." "Oh, certainly not. Miss Bishop," said the young man, rea wnn anger, as he bowed himself away. "What's society coming to?" Adele Msked Miller, with a nervous little ^augh. "Does a lady have to get down ?u ber knees and beg men?little jumpIngjacks, like that one?to excuse her, and to pet them Into a good humor when she has good reason to change her mind about an engagement? That'H a sort of slavery I don't intend to enter." "You served him right." said Miller, who had himself resented the young man's childish impetuosity and felt like slapping him for his impertinence. Adele shrugged her tii> shoulders. "Let's not waste any more time talking about him." she said. "I was going to tell you how happy you made them all. When I read mother's description of their return home that night?how she went round looking at each object and touching it that she might realize It was hers again, and how father sat up till past midnight talking incessantly about It. and all the droll things Uncle Abner said?I cried and laughed by turns. I longed to see you, to tell you how I felt about what you did, and yet, now that I'm with you, all I say seems utterly weak and?inadequate." "It seems wonderfully nice to me." Miller declared. "I don't deserve anything. and yet?well, I like to hear you talk." He laughed. "Whether I deserve it or not. I could listen to you for a week on a stretch." In truth Kayburn Miller had never In all his varied social career become so suddenly and startlingly interested In any woman. It all seemed like a dream, and a most delicious one?the gay assemblage, the intermittent 1 ? At- ~ Sll'IUIl* HI lilt' UlllSie, 111C IUUV.11 III llic stately creature oil Ills arm, the perfume of her flowers, her hair, her eyes. He suddenly felt fearful of the passage of time, the leaving of his train, the approach or some one to claim her attention. He could not explain the spell she hnd thrown on him. Was It because she was his friend's sister and so astoundingly pretty, frank and sensible, or could It be that"? His train of thought was broken by the approach of Miss Ida Bishop, Adele's cousin, a rather plain girl, who with her scrawny neck and scant hair, which rebelled against being made much of, would have appeared to better advantage in a street costume. *"^1* A /IAIA " nV?A simIATI mnmn nhfilllvT V/II, /1UCIC, OUC V.11CU icpivavuiuuj) "what do you mean? Do you know you have mortally offended Mr. Tedcastle? He had the march with you." "And I asked him aB a favor to excuse me from it," said Adele simply. "I had just met Mr. Miller, who Is to leave on an early train, and I wanted to talk to him about home. Have you been introduced? My cousin, Miss Bishop, Mr. Rayburn Miller." Miss Bishop bowed indifferently and looked as If she still saw no justification In the slight under question. "I'm awfully sorry," she said reprovingly. "Mr. Tedcastle has been as nice to you as be could be, and this is the way you show appreciation for It I don't blame him for being mad, do you, Mr. Miller?" "I'm afraid I'd be a prejudiced witness," he smiled, "benefiting as I am by the gentleman's discomfiture; but real ly I can't think that any circumstances could justify a man in pressing a lady to fill an engagement when she chooses not to do so for any reason of hers." "I knew you'd say that," said Adele. "If anybody has a right to be offended It Is I, for the way he has acted without watting for my full explanation." "Oh, that Is a high and mighty course that will do better for novels than real life," disagreed Miss Ida Bishop. "The young men are badly spoiled here, and If we want attention we've got to humor them." "They shall not be spoiled by me," declared Adele. "Why," shrugging her shoulders contemptuously, "if I had to run after them and bind up their bruises every time they fell down I'd not appreciate their attentions. Besides, Mr. Tedcastle and bis whole ilk actually put me to sleep. What do they talk about? Driving, pet dogs, flowers, caudles, tbeater parties ana silly bosb generally. Last Sunday Senator Hare dined at uncle's, and after dinner be und I were having really a wholesome sort of talk, and 1 was respecting myself?well, a little like I am now?when in truped Teddy, with his bangers on. Of course I bad to introduce thein to the senator, and 1 felt like u fool, for he knew they were my 'company/ and It was impossible to keep them quiet. They went on with their baby talk just as If Senator Hare were being given an intellectual treat Of course there are some grown up men in Atlanta, but they are driven to the clubs by the swarms of little fellows. There comes Major Middleton, one of the old regime. He may ask me to dance with him. Now watch. If he does, I'll answer blm just as I did Mr. Tedcastle, and you shall see how differently he will treat It." The major, a handsome man of pow erful physique and a great shock of curly Iron gray hair, approached Adele and with a low bow held out his hand. "I'm after the next dance, my dear," he 8a id. "You are one of the very few who ever dance witk me, and I don't want to go home without it" Adele smiled. "I'm very sorry, major." she said, "but I hope you'll excuse me this evening." "Oh, that's all right, my dear child," he said. "No; doD't explain. I know your reasons are all right. Go ahead and enjoy yourself In your own way." "I won my bet." Adele laughed. "Major. 1 knew so well what you would say that 1 bet on it." And then she explained the situation. "Tedcastle ought to be spanked," said the major in his high keyed voice. A girl who had not rather hear from home than spin around with him ought not to have a home. I'm going to mine rather early tonight. I came only to show the boys how to make my famous Kentucky punch." When the major and Miss Ida Bishop had gone and left them together, Adele looked over the railing at the big clock in the office. "We have only a few minutes longer, if you are to take that train," she said regretfully. "I never had as little interest in trains in my life," he said, and he meaut it. "Not in the trains on our new road?" she laughed. "They are too far ahead to interfere with my comfort," he retorted. "This one is a steam nightmare." "I presume you really eoaid not miss it?" Her long lashed eyes were down. He hesitated. The simple thought suggested by her thrilled him as he bad never been thrilled before. "Because," she added, "it would be 60 nice to have you come out tomorrow afternoon to tea, ubout 4." He drew out his watch and looked at it waveringly. "I could send a night message," he said Anally. "I really don't want to go. Miss Adele, I don't want to go at all." "I don't want you to either," she suid softly. "It seems almost as if we are quite old friends. Isn't that strange?" He restored his watch to his pocket. "I shall stay," he said, "and 1 shall call tomorrow afternoon." Some one came for her a few minutes later, and he went down to the office and out Into the street He wanted to walk, to feel his body in action, keeping pace with his throbbing, bounding brain. Ills whole being was aflame witu a nre wuiuu uuu ucui burned in him before. "Alan's little sister!" he kept repeating to himself. "Little Adele?she's wonderful, wonderful! Perhaps she uiuy be the woman. By George, she is ?she is! A creature like that, with that soul full of appreciation for a man's best efforts, would lift a fellow to the highest rung on the ladder of human effort. Alan's little sister! Ana the Idiot never told me, never intimated that she was?a goddess." In his room at the hotel that night he slept little, bis brain being so active with his new experience. He saw her the next afternoon alone over a dainty tea service of fragile china in a Turkish corner in William Bishop's great, quiet house, and then proposed driving her the next day to the Driving club. He remained a week, seeing her under some pretext or other every day during that time. Sometimes It was to call with her on friends of hers. Once It wah to attend a barbecue given by Captain Burton at a clubhouse in the country, and once he gave her and her cousin a luncheon at the Capitol City club, with a box at the matinee afterward. He told himself that he had never lived before and that somehow he was Just beginning. "No," he mused as he sat in his train homeward bound, "I can't tell Alan. I simply couldn't do it after all the rubbish I have crammed into him. Then she's his sister. I couldn't talk to him about her?not now, anyway." TO BB> CONTINUED. CONSCIENCE AND HORSE TRADE. Each Tried to Cheat the Other and Each Felt That He Had Succeeded. Once there were two men who traded horses. Each traded for the nViaotincr tho nthcr. and purpuse ui v.nv?v...0 , after getting home and examining his property each feit that he had succeeded in his design. After that they would take roundabout ways to avoid meeting, and in time each came to have a hang-dog look. People wondered at the change which had come over these two men. They had formerly been good citizens and steady churcii members. Both had been genial, hale fellows, who cracked their honest country Jokes and laughed loudest at them themselves, but after the horse trade they lost their old gayety .of spirits. They kept away from church, they avoided not only each other, but their neighbors, and from cheerful old souls they became sour, looking fellows, who went about continually dreading something that they thought was sure to happen or that might happen if it didn't turn out otherwise. But one day the horse that Brown had traded to White lay down and died. White was filled with joy. He felt that after all, he had not cheated thq other man. His conscience seemed to pull a large, jagged prod out of him. He even went out behind the barn and whistled, just to make sure that he hadn't forgotten how. He was glad that he was not a cheat, after all, and that he couffc'STHI look the world in the face. "I'll go to Brown," he said to himself, 'and forgive him for gouging me. I can afford to be magnanimous. I wish somebody knew about this. I hate to go around Just keeping it to myself. I never thought before that I'd ever be glad to be cheated, but it's one of the pleasantest things I know of. I wish l could afford it right along. The old world's all right It's the finest place I've ever seen and one of the best things in it is that old dead horse out there." Now it happened that while White was having this pleasure diuwu, too, was happy. His horse had fallen dead of old age and general debility, and, he, therefore, supposed that he was the cheated one. He was so glad that he ate five or six green apples without noticing what he did. The sour look left his face and he ran out to the road, where a boy was riding past on a milk cart, to cut up with him and plague him about the Addison girl with the wart on her chin. "I must go and forgive White for wronging me," he said to himself, "and we'll be friends again, if he has the courage to look me in the face, and at night I won't hear tne cricKeis ctll oaj - | Ing, 'Cheat, cheat, cheat,' any more." So he set off down the road, humming "Nellie Gray" as he went, and surprising the people he met by joking with them in the old way. Presently he saw White coming toward him. He was sorry that a large crowd would not be present when they met. He wanted other people to see how pleasant he was going to be while shovelling coals of fire on his old friend's head. At the same time similar thoughts filled the mind of White. As they came nearer each ran forward with a happy countenance and an outstretched hand, not quite understanding why the other did not hang back and look guilty. "My dear old friend," said Brown, as they met, "I want to forgive you." "I was Just going over to forgive White. "The horse you traded me dropped dead this morning. You cheated me, but I'll not hold a grudge against you. I"? "What? Me cheat you? Not much! You cheated me. The horse I got from you in that trade died of old age a couple of hours ago. But I forgive you. Let's let bygones be bygones." Then they stared at each other for a moment and began backing away, while the guilty looks returned. When he got home Brown sat down and thought. At length he seemed to have figured it out. "By jing," he said, "I believe a man that wants to cheat and can't get the chance is Just as bad as the fellow that does and gets caught at it." But White looked at it in another wav. "Darn it." he said to himself, "now I won't have a chance to go to church and look at Brown's empty seat there and feel like a boy that got licked for stealing a piece of pie that they've just found out somebody else took." Many a man's conscience Is in his liver.?Chicago Record-Herald. tv' Few poems would be written but for the inability of poets to live without eating. piSffUancous ?catling. DISRAELI'S CHALLENGE. How He Disposed of Two Men who Wanted to Fight Him. In his early days Mr. Benjamin Disraeli was known as a young man of considerable literary promise, and later events justified a certain unruffled self confidence, which, while It amused many, occasionally Irritated some, to their own discomfiture. When traveling abroad he visited maua, aim aiaycu mere iui oumc mac. Well provided with letters of introduction, he made many friends, and his very brilliant social gifts rendered him a welcome guest everywhere. The officers In particular pressed him to regard himself as permanently attached to them during his stay, and before long he was on Intimate terms with them all. One of them, Capt. A., vouched to the writer for the absolute truth of the following Incidents, In which, as will be seen, he himself played a part: At a ball Mr. Disraeli observed with approving favor a young lady of conspicuous beauty, and he resolved to dance the next dance with her. Her hand was at the moment resting on tne arm of a young Maltese and the dance was about to begin, when Mr. Disraeli hurriedly sought and obtained an introduction and instantly prolTered himself, with profound respect, as her partner. She bowed and smiled and Indicating the gentleman by her side regretted that she was already engaged. "That does not in the least matter," was Mr. Disraeli's only comment, as with superb nonchalence he transferred the lady's hand to his own arm and danced with her. Next morning he called on CapL A.; the Maltese, it appeared, was furious, and thirsted for blood. He had sent Mr. Disraeli a challenge and the object of this early visit was to secure Capt. A.'8 services as a military friend. Having heard what had taken place, he said: "My dear fellow, I am afraid you are In the wrong. Would it not be best to" "No, No," was the light-hearted interruption. "If I had wanted advice I should have gone to a lawyer. I have come to you knowing I could rely on you to act for me. Vestigia nulla retrorsum. Things have gone too far. Look at this!" and he tossed across the table the letter he had received. Capt. A.'s face fell, for it was in unmistakable challenge, couched in the formula of the day: "Whereas Mr. Disraeli has permitted himself to behave with scant courtesy to a lady in a public place and in a manner' which Mr. B. can only regard as grossly insulting to himself Mr. B. looks on Mr. Disraeli as no gentleman." That was all, but It was enough. Such words left no room for explanation or apology, and could be followed only by a meeting, as a duel was In those days euphemistically called. Capt. A. shook his head and said: "Well after that, of course, you'll have to meet him. I suppose you want me to go to him at once and arrange the time and place with his second?" Mr. Disraeli nodded and answered: "At once, if you please." But the stern words had a curious ring In them, and as Capt. A. looked up he saw the other's face relax into a smile of Infinite amusement. "In affairs of this kind," he added "it is a point of honor to lose no time. So I have already written my answer, which you will oblige me by taking to this desperate person." And he handed it to Capt. A. The latter took it, muttering: us a nuisance, but it can't be helped;" and he was on his way to the door when Mr. Disraeli said: "Oh, by the way, just to prevent any possibility of a misunderstanding, It would be as well to read my letter before taking it." Thereupon Capt. A., opened it and read this amazing production: "Whereas Mr. B. alleges that Mr. Disraeli has permitted himself to behave with scant courtesy to a lady In a public place and In a manner which Mr. B. can only regard, as grossly insulting to himself, Mr. Disraeli looks upon Mr. B. as a hippopotamus." Capt. A. was thunderstruck and remained speechless with astonishment, while Mr. Disraeli continued to smile upon him blandly. Such a smile was infectious, irresistible, and a second luter the two frineds were roaring with laughter. When at last Capt. A. had recovered his breath he gasped out: "CnnitaJ ioke! Verv funny!" Then, with a look of horror: "But, I say. you don't expect me to be such a born jackass as to take that letter to your man, do you?" "I waive the Jackass, born or unborn," was the suave reply: "but you will do me a real service if you will take it, and indeed, you led me to believe that I might count on you." "Yes, but" "Pardon me, there is no but In this matter. That is my only answer, the only possible answer. You will take it, won't you?" Then Capt. A. had an idea and he said: "Very well, I will take, but only on the condition that you come with me and wait for me at the door while I present it." This was agreed to and they set off together. Mr. B. was, as he was bound to be, at home waiting. Mr. Disraeli etrniipH nn and down outside, while Capt. A. was ushered Into the presence. Both bowed. "Sir, I have come to you as Mr. Disraeli's friend." "Sir, I have been expecting you." "Mr. Disraeli has charged me to deliver to you his answer in person." and Captain A. held out the letter. Mr. B. looked suspicious and wrathful and said: "I will read it, provided it is not an apology. I will accept no apology." Mr. B. opened the letter with a frown. Capt. A. was watching him. He oa >v me 11 uu 11 iv/i ? i?ivi?*v*?v and the next it was followed by a start of surprise, then the close set Hps began to twitch and after a final but vain endeavor to preserve his gravity, Mr. B, broke down and laughed. That was what Capt. A. had been hoping for. Mr. B. was a good fellow, after all, with a keen sense of humort the absurdity of such a reply to such a missive took him unawares, and he laughed on without restraint, firing off the word, "Mppopotamus' at intervals nae minute guns. "Well," he ejaculated presently, "your friend is certainly original. But what exactly is to be done now?" "Done!" replied Capt. A. "I sincerely hope you will allow me to suggest that there is only one thing to be done. Nothing would have induced me to bring that characteristically droll letter unless Mr. Disraeli had consented to accompany me, and he is on your door step at this moment. Come down and shake hands with him and you must both dine with me tonight. And they did. On another occasion Mr. Disraeli was strolling on the promenade with Capt A. when they passed a native dandy reeking with scent Mr. Disraeli, who was a bit of a dandy himself and did not relish this caricature of the real thing, sniffed disgustedly and said: "Bah! how that man stinks!" The man in question Instantly stopped and produced his card; this under certain circumstances, being the recognized preliminary to impending deeds of blood. Mr. Disraeli at once produced his card in return, but before handing it to him and with the most perfect good humor as if descanting on an abstract theme, t>? oil^paooad Vilni < n hla nwn Inlmltfl bly winning way: "Mr. M." looking at the card, "I see that is your name. Mine is Disraeli," and he (licked a speck of dirt off his sleeve while the other looked enlightened. "Before this goes further may I beg to detain you for a minute. What I have to say will not take long in the saying. It is, of course much to be regretted that you have been given cause for offense by any expression which fell from me unguardedly. This I say without hesitation and without any mental reservation. But the proposed remedy, Mr. M.? It is to that I wish to be allowed to direct your attention, for indeed it would prove to be at the least ineffective, at the worst disastrous. You propose now to kill me or that I shall kill you, and why? Becuuse? it is, I repeat, very much to be regretted, I said you stink. Yes, but if you kill me, you won't stink any the less; whereas if I kill you, you will only stink the mOre!" And Mr. Disraeli looked almost pained that this should be so. The sheer audacity of it carried the day. Mr. M. stared at him helplessly, as at some strange being he had never met before, then shrugged his shoulders with a comic gesture of despair and retired without further remark.? Rev. G. W. Skene, in the Scotsman. RINGS ONCE MEANT AUTHORITY. Origin of the Custom of Wearing Them Lost in Antiquity. The custom of wearing rings to adorn the hand is of such remote date that all attempts to trace its origin are lost In the obscurity of antiquity; but the primary intention of this practice, In early ages of the world, appears to have been as an emblem of authority and government; and this was symbolically communicated by delivering a ring to the person on whom they were intended to be conferred. In conformity to this ancient usage, the Christian church employs the ring In the ceremony of marriage (which was first adopted by the Greek church) as a symbol of the authority which the husband gave to his wife over his household, and of the earthly goods with which he thus endowed her, says the London Mirror. Under the Roman consuls, rings were at first manufactured of Iron, and worn only by soldiers, and that upon the third finger of the left hand, hence denominated the ring finger. Increasing wealth soon superseded an ornament of this inferior metal by introducing rings of more costly materials, and those of gold were afterward so very general that it is related after the celebrated battle of Cannae, Hannibal sent a bushel of them to the senators at Carthage, of which he had de spoiled the slain and prisoners. Under the emperors, the common soldiers, and even freedmen, wore gold rings, although they were originally prohibited unless personally given by the emperor. The petitions soliciting this privilege became, however, so numerous that Justinian was tired of their Importunity and ultimately permitted all woh thought proper to bestow them. Rings have very long taken a conspicuous part as love tokens. Of all the sorts of rings which have frequently been dispatched as messengers of love, that kind of double-hooped one (half of which was often worn by the lover, the other half by his "Soul's delight,") called the gemmow, or gimmal ring, stands preeminent. Upward of twenty instances might De quoted from Shakespeare mentioning the use of this kind of ring.?Detroit Free Press. Somewhat Mixed.?The story is told of a newly engaged English man of al! work in a Germantown family who presented to his master the other morning a pair of riding boots the leg of one of which was much longer than the other. "How comes it that these boots are not of the same length?" asked the master. "I really don't know sir," replied the domestic, "and what bothers me the most is that the pair downstairs, sir, is in the same fix."?Philadelphia Ledger. An Interview With the Secretary of Agriculture. Secretary Wilson, of the agricultural department, in an interview last Friday declared that infinite mischief is being: done to the cotton manufacturing industry and to the cotton growing industry by the speculative movement in cotton: "The speculators have cornered the market," said the secretary, "and put up the price so high that manufacturers cannot use raw cotton. At existing prices there is no profit to them. rne price or manuracturea gooas canhot be manipulated as the price of rawcotton can. "The manufacturer found it more profitable to sell his cotton to the gamblers. Mills were closed down because of there being no raw material left, and in some Instances cotton, which was sold to European manufacturers, has been brought back to this country and used in the gambling operations." Secretary Wilson, continuing, said that most European nations which manufacture cotton and also own lands In outlying provinces where cotton might be grown are anxious to become independent of our speculators, and so are organizing and holding out inducements for the development of the cotton raising industry. The British, the French, the Germans, the Belgians and others own lands in Africa, and fhnv Hqva 1\oon * qattid +4ma nrco r?? izing to produce cotton. "They know," said Secretary Wilson, "that we are training scientists here to study the cotton plant, and they have been anxious to get our high-class men over there to organize for them. The United States sent $8,000,000 to Egypt last year to pay for long staple Egyptian cotton. The department of agriculture is trying to grow as good a staple at home by hybridizing and creating new varletlea The secretary of agriculture for Egypt paid me a visit not long ago and said that with the irrigation of enlarged areas along the Nile valley growing out of the completion of the great dam, the production of Egypt would be greatly Increased. They pay fifteen cents a day for labor there. There is a breed of cattle which does all the work , and stands the heat better than mules. Those European nations owning territory In Africa have been coming to our southern states and engag Ing expert Negro labor to go over there and organize the natives. "Twelve-cent cotton In the United States is a great encouragement to all those people to increase their output. The nations in Asia are doing everything to increase., the cotton production to become independent of us. There has been a feeling for some time that it wouI<H>e wiser for us to grow more cotton, but gambling operations this summer had the immediate effect of stimulating efforts for increased production." The secretary said that every effort is being made by the department of agriculture to help the cotton growers of the southern states to a better system of agriculture, through which a larger yield of cotton can be had, but that Increased output necessarily would come slowly. The United States had not been increasing its output for several years; the Texas crop having suffered considerably last year on account of the ravages of the cotton boll wee vi!. Mr. Wilson said me prospeci 01 the present crop had nothing whatever to do with the operations of the speculators. The shortage of raw cotton to the manufacturer, he declared, is not due to shortage in the c:op, but to the fact that the corner in cotton has put the price of the raw material to a point where the manufacturer cannot profitably use It. The producer has not profited by these high prices, as the cotton practically is all out of his hands. ' In conclusion, Secretary Wilson saia he saw no prospect of relief for the workingmen who are thrown out of employment by the mills closing down, because of the scarcity of raw cotton, until the corner in cotton bursts, and the price of the raw material Is reduced. The new crop of cotton will soon begin to come in. "Of course," he said, "the corner can continue if the gamblers have enough money to buy in the new crop." An Unfinished Life. I feel in myself the future life. I am like a forest which has been more than once cut down. The new shoots are stronger and livelier than ever. I am rising, I know, towards the sky. The sunshine is on my head. The earth gives me its generous sap, but heaven lights me with the reflection of unknown worlds. * Vmi sav the soul is nothing but the resultant of bodily powers. Why then, Is my soul the more luminous when n<y bodily powers begin to fail? Winter is on my head, and eternal spring in my heart. Then I breathe at this nour the fragrance of the lilacs, the violets, and the roses as at twenty years. The nearer I approach the end, the plainer I hear around me the immortal symphonies of the worlds which invite me. It is marvelous, yet simple. It is a fairy tale and it is history. For half a century I have been writing my thoughts in prose, verse, history, philosophy, drama, romance, tradition, satire, ode, song?I have tried all. But I feel that I have not said the thousandth part that is in me. When I go down to the grave I can say, like so many others, "I have finished my day's | work," but I cannot say, "I have fin ished my life." My day's worn win uegin again the next morning. The tomb is not a blind alley. It is a thoroughfare. It closes in the twilight to open with the dawn. I improve every hour because I love this world as my fatherland. My work is only beginning. My monument is hardly above its foundation. I would be glad to see it mounting forever. The thirst for the infinite proves infinity.?Victor Hugo. >' *