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II cone w, MEW year." ■V PRANK * STOCKTON. ‘ la a flu* ptd country mansion, com awfljp"*, somewbat Imposing and posi- tlr*iy hear/ in Its style ot architecture, Maided the Hon. Horae* Brandcr, now aa elderly man, and Mrs. Brunder, bis wife. For several years these two bad made ap the family—a very small fami ly tor so large a bouse. They bad no drildren, and, altbougb they were very good company for each other, they felt as they dally grew older that they could not of themselves make their home as Cheerful and as pleasant as they would have It. They felt this the more forci bly because there bad been many years when that bouse was very cheerful and very pleasant Therefore ft was about •is months before this story opens this ail too qnlet couple bad taken Into their heme a young girl, hfargey Grifflth, the niece of Mrs. Brunder -and one of * large family of fatherless boys and girls. The Hon. Horace had never been fond of children, and at one time In his life It might have been said that he abso- lufbly disliked boya and girla, but now, since he had ceased to go out in all weathers and was feeling a growing de pendence on the Indoor pleasures of bis home, he had agreed with his wife thst it would be a good thing to have some young life In the house and that of all the persons they knew the niece Mar gey was best adapted to supply the miss ing and needed element In their house hold Uf*. It had been considered by Margey’s family that It was a most fortunate thing that her rich uncle, who did not car* for young people, should take her into his house, and for a time the girl herself was very well satisfied with the change from the somewhat contracted suburban house and the active bustle of a large family to the quiet rural beauty of the old mansion, its garden, its lawn and its woodland. Bot aa summer passed and as autumn, with its bright hoed foliage, came and went and as the rigors of winter settled Hveflest time of the year. ▲t last Christmas came, but It was a dull time for Margey. There were neigh bor* Invited, but they were all elderly people and of a reposeful turn of mind. Margey received several presents, among them a beautiful little watch from her end*, and. although she had never re ceived anything which could compare with these Christmas gifts, they did not compensate her for the loan of the holiday atmosphere of her home. During the whole day she felt as though sh» were at tending the funeral of Santa Clan*. But on the last day of the year her spirits sank still lower. With her broth era and sisters and the elderly members of the family she bad been accustomed ever since she could remember to make a great deal of New Year*! eve. and among the observance* which were never omit ted was the traditional custom of opening the front door of the house eiactly as the dock struck the hour of midnight In or der to let the New Year come in. Then all together, young and old. they would about as the dogr swung back: “Com* In. New Year! Welcome. New Year!" And when it was considered that the newcom *r had really crossed the threshold they would turn to each other, each wishing all a happy New Year and many moto to oome. This time honored ceremony was ( to Margey one of the most pleasant fea tnre* *of the holiday season, for it con corned not only the Joys of the moment, but those of happy days to come. Oa this New Year’s eve Margey felt herself In a truly doleful mood. Her and* and aunt ba«f gone to their room at 10 o'dock. and not one word bad they aaid which indicated thaf they coosid ered this evening to be in any way dif ferent from the ordinary evenings of the year. To Margey this seemed like a sort of domestic sacrilege. If she could have don* so, she would have sped away to her home, even if it bad been necessary to speed back again before the cock should stepped back and opened wlde ib/door. "Gome ini" she said, but, before she could utter the words “New Year" she •topped suddenly, for on the portico in front of~her she saw a man. The girl was on the point of screaming, but even at this dreadful moment she remembered that if her aunt should be startled no body could know what might happen, and ao she clapped her hand to her mouth. 8he sprang back, however. She could not help that, and at the same moment the man stepped into the hall. “You are right," he said in a whisper and looking at the hand which was still over Margey’s mouth. “I understand. 1 won’t make the least noise in the world. Let me shut the door. 1 can do it very quietly.” If the cold air wbieh rushed in through the open doorway had froten Margey aa •tiff ^s a statue, she could not have been more Incapable of speaking or moving than she was at that moment. If she bad dared to cry for help or tried to run •way, she would not have been able to do either. She stood and stared, whiter than the moonlight. The man was re fastening the door, and as he- did so a ray of blessed relief came into the mind of Margey. He had put down on the floor a valise and an umbrella. Surely no burglar, no wicked man of any sort would go about with a valise and an um brella, and he seemed to know all about fastening doors without making a noise. The ray of relief was a very little ray, bot It revived Margey sufficiently to en able her to drop her hand from her mouth. The man now stepped toward the li brary door, and with one finger on his lip he beckoned to Margey. She was so astonished at this action that almost without volltiotf she followed him. She was so thoroughly frightened that she could do nothing herself. She had not even the strength to disobey, but as she stepped into the library she bugged to her heart the thought of the umbrella. V altlon. He la mor* sober and Qnlet than I am, and 1 am a great deal more lively and restless than he is, and there you have our characters in as few words as possible. About six years ago we had a misunderstanding. I will not say any thing about it because he is not here to present his side of the question, and un der the circumsunces It would not be fair for me to present mine. However, 1 am very hotheaded at times—not al ways. mind you, for generally.! am very mild Indeed, but at this particular time I Ignited and went off like * firecracker, i and you knew that when a firecracker goes off It doesn’t come back again.” Margey was listening with great inter I mulled by Melt, caution and amass- away by mistake and left mine. If hf, ■■■£ TW turning hi* head, h* added, refuses to be reconciled with m* w*, ^, Mas Margey P _ _ _ ^ Jo- can change umbrellas anyway ■ be bn so that my time will not be Entirely lost." * Margey Mailed. J u l think that la a queer way to prove your Identity," the said, "but aa I truly believe It doesn't need any proving it d<*S not matter." "It la a very good proof,” persisted the other. "If I were an improper person and had taken that umbrella, do you suppose I would have brought it backl And now let’s go ifito the pantry. I'm nearly famished."- So saying, he picked up the candle stick, and, shading Jhe flame an that no eat. She and her companion had seated *°, D , P wo^ themselves, and she was rapidly losing all fear of him. "Aa I told jou t " he continoed, "I went off and did not intend to come hfick, but gradually my ideas began to ebakge. My brother waa getting old—So was I, for that matter—and I determined to try to be reconciled with him. I started out this day thinking it would be a good thing to begin the New Year in harmony and brotherly love. ’I expected to be here early in the evening, but fliy train waa detained for a long time, and I really did not know bow late it waa when I walked up here. I was dumfouuded at finding the house all shut up and dark, and 1 could not think what to do, for I knew very well that if I rang the bell I might startle your Aunt Ellen, In which case nobody could know what might happen. So I stood there deliberating, and I really believe I was on the point of walking back to the village when I beard some one opening the door ao gently and quiet ly that I was positively certain that it waa highly desirable not to make a noise. So, you see, I waa not surprised when tbe door opened. I supposed that some one, probably Joseph.Buckle, bad seen me ar rive. By tbe way, la Joseph atill here?" "Oh, yea!” said Margey. 'T am so glad of that,” aald John Brun der. “Joseph was always a good friend of mine. Now yon see,” he continued, "just how things stand. You come down to let the New Year in, and In I pop. I hope the New Year came In with me and the bull into the dining room. Margey followed, and aa she saw.how deftly he made his way around the furniture and toward the pantry’ she felt positively as sured that be must at one time have been very much at home in that house. In the pantry John Brunder put the candle down and looked about him. "Do you still eat Albert biscuit?" he asked. ‘ “Oh. year’ replied Margey. "Then I know where Joseph Bnckle keeps them. Joseph never changes. If a thing belongs in one place, it belongs there always. There,’’ said he, opening a dresser drawer. "Here is tbe tin box, just where I have found it hundreds of times before.” Margey now thought she ought to help a little. To. be sure, thla genial gentle man seemed to know so well where to find the eatables that ahe might have gone to bed and left him to take care of himself, but this did not suit her idea of propriety or proper-hospitality, ao she opened another closet ^ “Do you eat cheese at thla time of night, air?" ahe asked. .“Oh, yes," he replied, "when I am aa hungry as I am now! And isn’t that a box of sardines? Open top! Now, let os take these things over to the table. Ne, I don’t want any plate. All I want Is a knife to cut the cheese.” And as be spoke he opened a drawer and took out a knife. “Now, my dear,’’ said he, “if you will ~7~ themselves upon the land. Margey oftenl of tbe stlrrin| life VJy' 1 -jpafl tuuk from hie I' tt 'home, wfiere winter was the . ocxW end. striking 8b* went to her room, not because were all put out down stairs, but she did not go to bed- She sat thinking of ail* the lively scenes that were golrno at home. Moat likely they were ,..aying charades, but they.would be sure to stop a little before 12. Her mother and one of tbe girts would be getting things together for a little supper, for they al ways began tbe New Year with some thing to eat, drink and bv merry over, la this big, old bouse it would be high treason to cat between 12 and 1 o’clock at night The hands of Margey’s new watch moved on and on until they pointed tg a quarter of 12, and then the eyes of our young lady opened wider and wider as ahe eat and taxed at the wall and aaw the family at home. She could see them Just as well •■ though they were there. "They are all looking at the-dock.' •he aaid, "watching and waiting and talking. They always begin too soon for faar of being too late. Tom is standing at the front door now so that nobody ahali get aheed of him when the time a match, he stepped without the slight est hesitation to the corner of the man telpiece, on which stood a great oaitdle- stick, and lighted the candle. Then he quietly closed the door. *T do that," be said, “because If your auut should hear our voices and be star tled there Is no knowing what might happen.” "How could he know that?” Margey asked herself, and a third ray of com fort was added to that furnished by the umbrella and valise. In the light of the candle Margey could see that the man was rather short, vary well wrapped up and wore a fur cap, which now, however, he removed, showing a head of reddish brown hair a little curled and with some streaks of gray on the temples. His face looked as if he had lived out of doors a good deal in all sorts of weatb- ev. but his eyes were bright, and there was a pleasant expression shout the mouth, as If he would be glad to laugh If there were anything to laugh at. "It was'very, very good of you." b* said, still speaking in an undertone, "to rotne down and let me In. Yon must have seen roe from your window. I was afraid there was no one awake In the house I heard you at work at the bolt and tbe chain, and 1 knew why you were so slow and so quiet. Of course I can not be mistaken In supposing yon to bo Miss Griffith." Now Margey found her voice—that is, a little of it, "Yes.” she said, “and who, I beg of you. sir—who are you?” "I am John Brunder, yonr uncle's brother. Sinely yqu have heard of me?” “A very little,’’ said Margey. “And how much, may I ask?” he said, •bowing some surprise. "1 never beard you mentioned but once,” she replied, “am] that was one day when I found Aunt Ellen In one of the bedrooms which 1 had not seen be fore, tbe door-baring always been lock ed." “Had It a bedstead in It." said be. “wnh^a curved "Give me your iaafl. mr good eaph," aaid John Brunder. *T don’t < dar yet doa’t believe year senses. Bot what are yet detag with that dab? Did yea-think we were burglar*?" / said Jose For a few momenta ahe sat aa though bar eyes were fixed on tbe energetic Tern, when suddenly ahe rose to her feet "I’U do it” ahe said, "even If I have to do It all by myself in the dark, m go down and let the New Year in.” Slowly and on tiptoe she descended the softly carpeted staircase. At the landing which overlooked the hall there waa a found window, through which came the xayt of the full moon, lighting the hall and stairway, so that Margey could sea her way without the alighteat trouble. The big dock waa in the shadow, but aha knew it waa net -yet 12. and. stepping lightly to the great hall door, ahe went qaietly to work to unfasten It Thera were a bolt and a chain and a lock. The •rat slipped back easily and without any •ataA and the chain was removed in a taament hot the lock turned hard, and aa •he forced the Mg key around she waa afraid that thare might be a sudden dick wMch would be heard on the floor above. It wanid be« dreadful thing If her aunt mmiruMM mmr U. tor it Old been thoroughly ggrayd on her mind that If that good My ahaald be suddcply .tarried nobody moVed m !h ht H b ‘ P r- Bat ’ ZmiwUk w * slowly ateedn! \ “«*«d It ■QQQdSy. and finally 4 went around aa far dkk. She turned I it firmly, Very soon aha *■ the Mg dock w!“ difficulty, ah* a ■tajdUy. and fiaaliy it want aroun MB voald go and without a dkk V*a 4a« waa unfastened. 8h< RQtaab and stood holding ft more relief coming into her mind moment. 4r ' "And did you notice anything 4a the way of sporting articles—guns, boxing gloves?” "Yet,” said Margey. “There wer# box ing gloves and foils on tbe wall at the head of the bed and Two guns on a rack, and there were dome cases In the corner which looked as if they held fish ing rods. I was surprised fo see these things and asked Aunt Ellen to whom they belonged. She said that tbe room used to be occupied by Uncle Horace’s brother John, but that be did not live here now.” “Is that all she told you?” ha asked. “Every w6rd,” said Margey. He gave bis head a little nod. "Per haps it was as well,” he said. “There’s no use In raking up disagreeable things before young people. But I am glad to hear that my old room la kept just as It used to be. That’s a good aisterln-law of mine, and I hope I may not do a thing to startle her, knowing as 1 do that ue one could teirV^- “What might happen,” added Margey involuntarily. “But you ought to know all abgut me,” aaid he. “It will not do for you to be Ig norant any longer, especially aa you were ao good is to come down to let me in.” “But I didn’t,” said Margey. “I didn’t come down to let you In.” "Then who. In the name of common nenae. did you aak to come Ip? There was nobody but me on the porch.”- T opened the door for the New Year to come In,” aaid Margey. John Brunder stood and looked at her in amassment, and then Margey, who had almost recovered her self posse salon, told him alt about It Well, wefi/ wen I” he exclaimed. "You’re the kind of girl I like. I knew that a niece of my brotheria wife was liv ing here, but I had ao idea ahe was such a—such a girl aa you ace! What is your Mmer “Ms reef," ...... "Miss Margey,” amid, John Brunder, ex tending hit hand, "I wish you a very hap py New Year." “The asm* to you. sir," said aim. giv ing him her hand. / • / . "And now you want to know why I doa’t five here," said John Brunder. "You certainly have a right to know, and wuywui AND ON TIPTOE SHE DESCENDED THE STAIRCASE. ^ - ' ” ^ tha’t ft wflf provelo be the happiesfthat look lD corner of that second «belf any of ua has yet known.” aD ^ *ce if there is not a box of preserv'nl "So do I,” said Margey, but she had al- fftofer ‘ h cre I shall be much obliged to wjys wished that ever since she had 7° u - Jose P h always kept preserved gin- knowp- what a New Year meant. f ***■ corner.” John Brunder aroae. “My dear vounc Margeyjlaughed as she produced the tin box. “YoU do seem to know where things Brunder arose. “My dear young friend. Miss Margey,” be said, “whnt are we going to do next? And If yen will al low me to answer my own question I will say that the very best thing you can do for me is to give me something to eat, or, If It will please you better, allow me to are kept in this house,” she said, “and I don’t believe anybody has eaten cheese apd sardines at this time of night, since you went away.” < ' "No,” said he, seating himself at his get It myaelf, for If the pantry of this impromptu meal, "my.brother Horace house is still under the charge of Joseph Buckle I know where to find the eata bles.” For a minute Margey stood and look- ad earnestly at the good natured gentle man. She believed just as firmly aa she believed anything that he waa Mr. John Brunder, the younger brother of her Uri- cle Horace, but still she had no positive proof of the fact; ahe had only his word for It Waa It right for her to allow him to go about the house and eat things without giving the family notice oi his pretence? But If she were to go up •tain and knock at her uncle’s door her Aunt Ellen—oh, no; she*, could not do that at this time of night He laughed. He was almost on the point of ladghiag aloud, but he checked himself. “I know what you Tare thinking about,” said he. “and It is perfectly right for you to think ao." “Oh, I don’t really think." said Mar- gey apologetically, “but. you ace. I”- “Of course I see!” he answered. “I •e* perfectly. Just wait a minute.” Bo i .... , — -Yin*, be picked up hie umbrella. “Now, will tell you in as few words aa possible. | please look at tbe name on this silver * nd “r* I *•. holding It dose to the •ere a good deal, off and on. and the last candle. I took up my abode la the room with Margey obeyed. "But that Isn’t yout "fiy footboard 1 aame!” ahe exclaimed la surprise. “That wfi? " ,ttUd I *3 n<LnM < Horace Broader!" hfgther jp j I gae very 41fvrt°t bLdlgpo- I *T* ha cage if tor* fajd he. “I tqok ft never indulges in such improprieties, but I was always much more imprudent. But, so far as I can see, my imprudences have agreed with me.” Margey was looking at him with great interest, thinking it must have been a long time since he had had anything to eat, when suddenly she beard a little noise. It was like a person coming cau tiously down stair*. She started and lis tened earnestly. There could be no mis take. She heard footsteps on the back atalra, the door of which opened not far from the p'aoe where she stood. John Brunder stopped eating and half rose from hia chair. "Somebody coming!” he whispered. Now the door of the stairway slowly opened, and from behind it protruded the head of Joseph Buckle, the butler. Hia face was pale, hia eyea and mouth were wide open, and a big dub, which be thrust out In front of him, trembled In hia hand. John Brunder roee to hia feet and pushed back hia chair. “Jo-aeph!” he exclaimed. “And, upon my- word, it is the aame old Joseph! I •ay, Joseph, bow do you do?" The bid butler stepped down And stood motion leas on the floor, his big stick la one hand and a liatrna in the other. He looked at Margey, and than he looked at John Brunder. axciajBod 4 vole* "I did, dr." said Joseph. 1 heard voices, and I was sure there waa some body to,the honae, and ao I came down.” ."Why didn’t yon bring a pistol? What would you have done with that dak if we hid really been, burglara?” / . . “Oh, I couldn't bring a pistol, air" aaid Joseph. "If I should fire a pistol sad Mrs. Brunder should hear It, thore’a no knowing what might happen. So I had to come down with nothing bot a dub.” "You’re a brave fellow," aaid John Brunder. “and a loyal one. and I am glad for your sake as well aa for our own that we are not robbers. You aee. Joseph, jp have not forgotten where you keep the good things to eat,” Margey now took pity on the bewilder ed butler and told him everything that had happened. “Well, well!” bidaimed Joseph. “I’m wonderfully glad to see you. Mr. John It’s been a different house here since you went away, air. Don’t you remem ber, air, we used to open the front door for the New Year when you lived here?" “Of course I do," aaid John Brunder. “J alwaya used to have apme youngsters here, and we had fine timea.” “And if I had had any idea, mlaa, that you were used to that soct of thing i’d. have some down to help you." “Oh. ahe didn’t need anybody’s help!” •aid Mr. John. “She did it aa well aa an angel could have done it. If I had gone back-ito the village. I believe I should have been ao cross that I would have started for the city early in the morning. Yon know that’s my way, Joseph." “Yes, sir,” said .the old man. “and sometimes it has been a pity that it waa yonr way. But would you like me to go and waken Mr. Brunder. air? I think I can do it without making any stir.' "Oh, no, no, no!” exclaimed Mr. John. “Don’t think of it. If either of you ever wants to be reconciled with anybody, don’t make him get out of a warm bed of a cold night to do It No, I’ll wait un til merning. You can get me into my old room, can’t you, Joseph, without dis turbing anybody Y' "Of course I can.” said Joseph. “Well go up the back ataiys.” “Then I'll bid yod good night," said Margey. “aa I can do nothing more for you. “More!” exclaimed Mr. John. "If H is all right between my brother and me to morrow morning, there isp't .a being on earth who could have done aa much. And I am very sorry indeed that I have kept candle, and he and Joseph escorted Margey to the foot of the great stairway, where she bade them good night and went quietly up in the moonlight. When Margey reached her room, she did not go to bed. It waa very late, not far from 1 o’clock, but ahe did not mind that Some of tbe family at home wer* up yet It was tbe most natural thing in the world to sit up late on New Year's eve. Then ahe began to think of nli that had just happened Aa she thought and thought the affair of the evening teemed like a romance to her. If all turned out well, it would real ly be a holiday story. And yet there waa an imperfection in the romance. It wan not altogether the sort of story ah* would have made if she had been writing It, and neither was it exactly lb* sort of rent happening that it would have been tf the had arranged it. Mr. John was aa bright and aa cheery aa anybody eould he. bot atill if she bad bad the management of everything and waa going to make n ro mance in real life, which it might juat aa well have been, her own personality would not bare been the only element of youth in this pleasant inreotioa. Margey waa capable of being very fond of elderly people, but atill aba was young—nh* waa not yet *A>—and if the person who came with the New Year had been just like Mr. John, only younger— But ahe would not think tuck thought* aa than*. 8b* ought to be ashamed of herself. Still, for all that. 3rt waa pretty old. Everybody In that house seemed to be ao old! Her fa vorite maid. Mary, had a married daugh ter. and. ao far as the romance of the evening waa concerned, things might har« been different just aa well aa not When at last she pressed her face to the pillow, ah* was atill thinking. "Fifty-aix.” ahe said to herself, “and It might just aa well have been—have been”— And.ah* had not decided upon the exact date It might have been when the drnp[>ed n sleep The next morning Margey was down atalra eery early, nearly a quarter of an hour be tors be—hi a at. for ah* aana a as- ia«* jto Aaow everything which should " 'lT*''nen TiTthe hall ahe met Joseph. “I with yon a very happy New Year, miaa.” he aaid “I forgot it last night being so rattled, and if anybody de serves a happy New Year you do, miss.” Ail the romance had gone out of Mar- gey’a mind, and things seemed very com monplace to her in tbe cold light of day. “I don’t believe I bad anything to do with anything,” she aaid. “Mr. John Brunder would hare waited a little while longer, and then he wonld have rang the bell, even if it should startle my aunt “Oh, no, noy no!” Mid Joseph. “He wouldn’t have done that Nobody knows what might have happened if be had done that But you’ll be glad to hear, miss, that everything la all right They’ve been up eince a quarter past 7„for I told Mr. Brunder tbe newa when I first went into his room. I have not known such early goings on since Mr. John went •way.” , r ■ "And they are truly reconciled Y’ asked Margey. 4 “Indeed they are!” answered Joseph. "They’re all up ataira in the study now as merry aa crickets. Even Mrs. Brun der wasn’t a bit startled, or if she was it didn’t hurt her. There, mlaa, that’s the •tufiy door now. They’re coming down and in a family party, just aa they ought to be." And with this hf retired. ~ y i Margey waited in the ball. The ro mance of the affair had vaniijied. Down stairs came the happy party, merrily talking. Her Unde Horace was first of all, hia face brighter than ahe had ever seen it, and as soon as ha per ceived her he called out, “Happy New Yean Margey!" in a voice a* strong and hea^y that she could scarcely believe it to him. Then her aunt, who •eemed really in a hurry to come down ataira, gave her the aame greeting, which was echoed loudly by Mr. John, who waa a little in the rear. Happy New Year to—you all P she was about to add, bot ahe did not She •Imply stood and gaaed, her face turning now a little pale and now a little red and bfr eyes wide open with wonderment The last person of tbe party coming down the stair*, a little behind Mr. John, wna a man evidently young. He had ao beard, and his face erne very freeh cot- id. He was tall, too, taller thaa her e» Horace. She thought he looked aa though he wanted to bid her a happy New Year, too, but he did sot do It Now Mr. John laughed stood, and they •0 laughed, exeepdag the young man. who apparently ksew what they ware toughing about and who tamed a little red. and excepting Margey, who did not at aad "Ah. 'Margey," ahefled Mr. John, "I know what yon are thinking about! You’re wondering where be came ftom- you’r* wondering where he came from a good deal more than yon nr* wondering who he is. Yon don’t know whether I brought him to my valise or folded up In side the umbrella." “Now. John." said Annt Ellen, "yon ar* positively croel. Mersey* this it Ar- thur, your Unde John’* aou. And, Ar thur, I most make yon acquainted with my niece. Merger Griffith." **• The young people silently shook nanda, harmonising in color as they did so, for the recollection of her romantic fandae suddenly came across Margey’a mind and flashed her face. • "Oh, I am not going to be cruel! cried Mr. John. “Thia young man made the trip with me yesterday, but I thought it better for me to leave him at the village and to come to the house by myaelf, for when Arthur went away he waa nothing but a boy, scarcely 15, and I did not know how he might be f*C*ived.” r . "Which was all stuff and nonsense, aaid Mr. Horace Brunder. “You ought to have known that be would be wel come.” "Weil," said Mr. John, “1 thought I could manage thinga better by myaelf, and aa you sent for him early this morn ing he has nothing to complain of. More over, if I had brought Arthur along with me I don’t believe I should have had enough to eat lait night, for he’s a great deal worse in regard to cheeae and sar dines in the middle of the night than I am, but everything’s all right how. and ns this young ladjr is really to consider me as one of her unclea ahe might aa well begin inatantly, and so I am going to bid her a happy New Year again and give her a kits.” which he did without delay, and then Aunt Ellen kissed her, and then Uncle Horace did ao. ' No, not Arthur. It waa not until the 7th of April of that year that he found himaelf entitled to that Inestimable privi lege. There were a great many things which had to happen before the 7tb of April In the first place, Margey had to learn all about the trouble which bad resulted to Mr. John’s leaving the old family home, and when ahe discovered that the quarrel between the brother* had been caused by some mad pranks of the boy Arthur ahe set herself earnestly to work to analyte the mind of tbe young man Arthnr and to find out for herself tbe in teresting series of development* which must have taken place in his character to change him from the reckleeo young ster to the exceedingly kind hearted and considerate young man that he now was. Like many other persona in thla world. Margey wta very fond of the study ot kumnn nature.-meeuiug Ideal concerning n certain subject and that ahe hoped to be able to convince her self that the subject wna equal to her ideal. She did not have uninterrupted oppor tunities for continuing her study, for aft *r a week or two Arthur was obliged to go away, hot he cam* back aa soon as be could, sod be assisted her ao much la coming to a satisfactory conclusion in re gard to himself sod his relation to her ideal that by the time the 7th of April cam* around her education la thia branch waa entirely finished. On the next New Year’s eva. n little be fore 12 o'clock, every member of that family, including Joseph Buckle and some other household servant a, assembled la the great hall to lovite tbe New Year to enter. To Margey was assigned the duty of opening the door, nod she did It all herself, refusing any assistance, even from the very urgent young man who stood close beside her. When tbe great door was opened wide and everybody all at once cried out cheerily, “Come in. New Year!” there *a tered nothing bwt n great blast of cold and froety air, but everybody knew thnt the New Year.had come In. and the door waa cloeed. “Now,” Mid Mr. John, “thia is all very well but 1 can tell you. my good relativen and friends, thnt ao happier New Year srill ever pass that threshold thaa when last year and I came in together." Margey and Arthnr had some doubts •bout this, for they wer* to be married la the spring. • Cattle. Diet dead*. ▲ Colorado cattle company reports dividends of 125 per cent on its last year’s business, says Tbe National Stockman. Yd thia aame company waa only saved from bankruptcy 40 or 12 years ago by tBk fortunate purchase and sale of a big herd of cattle which made a profit and staved off the sher iff. There are many other cattlemen 1rn niDRw ho cru i look bark and see where a little lift at the right time 'would have saved them to make good profits later on. The bindweed, or small flowered morning glory, an Imported peat baa been troublesome In 4be east and In California and la now reported aa gain ing a pretty strong foothold at Inter mediate points. Culture” it the namejm of a valu-^ able illustrat- e d pamphlet which should be in the hands of every planter who raises Cotton. The book is sent Free. GERMAN KALI WORKS, gl Naasaa St., New Ysta. PITT’S Antiseptic Iniorator! —*-—\sr—“ “T .. 7 "1,' Cures dyspepsia, indigestion, and all stomach or bowel troubles, colic nr cholera morbus, teething troubles with children, kidney troubles, bad blood and all aorta of sores, risings or falons, cut* and bums.. It to aa good antiaeptie. when locally applied, aa any thing oa the market. Try H and vou will praiae it to others . If your druggist doesn't keep it, write to Pitts’ Antiseptic Invigoratpr Co. THOMSON, <3A.- or CARPENTER BROS., Green villa. 8. C. to" Kor sate "by druggist* everywhere ITEMS OF OENRItAL INTEREST. Quaint sad Curious Paragraphs Gathered from Various Sour —Tbe goodness of our Intentions never excuse* tbe badness of our nc- tlooe. —Small tonka of pure oxygen, to be used for rrsuscllatlog persons over come by smoke nr gaa, have been tug- ad a* paaetoiebt deetaihta •qwtaa'.x \ It is something be sides bad air that makes a woman faint in a olose theatre. A well woman wouldn’t faint The woman who easily grow* faint aad dissy—who has palpitation of the heart—a ‘'stuffy” feeling — hot flushes — nervous troubles, better look for the cause in her digestive system or in the distinctly feminine organism — maybe Women who are not quite well and don't know Just what is the matter, and women who are really sick and don’t know exactly what is the matter shenld write at once to Dr. E V. Pierce, at Buffalo, N.Y., stating their symptoms in de tail. They will be advised by Dr. Pierce with out charge. He has treated and cured more anile ring women thaa any other physician in the world, and more of hia ” Favorite Prescrip tion,” for the correction aad cure of all dis orders and diseases-of tbe feminine organa: except cancer, has been sold thaa of all other similar medicines. ~ Write to Dr Pierce. If hi* medicines are what yon need he will tell you so, if they are ne * < * **• honestly my eo •“d.T 111 J* 11 youwhht t0 do d, ►i erce . # » a sufficient guarantee that hia •dvtee win not he biased by the hope of selling you s few bottles of medicine. - 7®° ^toh to study up vonr own cane Dr. Pierce will send you, /nr* of mil tort, riser," of which over 790,000 were sold at fo.a copy. All that Dr. Pieree asks is font you send m oae-ceat stamps, to nay tbe cost of mailing only. Ifyou^ * ^ ta fine French ctoth aead 1 _ Dx *. V. Ptoree. Bufkto Jt meat of book-and-ladder trucks going to Area. —Mr. Louis 8. Cohn, a Jew, baa just bees elected L >rd Mayor of Liverpool. He baa acaouaced that bo will accept ■o public or other engagement* which would demand hia time on Friday •vnoioga or Saturdays. —So vast la tbe eua that If it were a hollow ball tbe moon could revolve la the orbit which It now folowe aad still be entlrelv enclosed within tbe •aa’e Interior. For every acre on tbe sur face of our globe there are more thaa 10 000 acre* on lbs surface of tbe great luminary. —Tbe manufacture of Christmas toya •a oca of ihe youthful industries of the United States at lesat ao far aa dolls ere concerned. Sdvrral yearn ago there'were no doll factortee on this aide of the 0 ean. No* there are three large oaea, each dolog a thriving hualaraa. ■ —The record* of Kick bridge County, Vv, show that tbe Natural Bridge wna once owned by Tboma* Jefferson who secured n“pu»eni" for the property oa July 5, 1774, over tbe signature of " Duomore, Lieutenant Governor of tbeColoay of Dominion of Virginia.” Jefferson devised ike land to hia / daughter, Martha Randolph, subject to the payment of hi* debt*, aad she . *0 d.it la 1835. —Some yearn ago tbe non of A. Hei berg, of Osage City, K»o. left heme and enlisted in tbe navy’; Nothing wha beard from him until the wraek of tbe Maine, when hia name wm found among those of the dead. From that time until laet week hia parents aad friend* mourned. Then cam# a latter from the lad saying that ha had nevar been on tba Maine, and that ha waa alive aad well. ! d —A dispatch from Niagara Fails •aya that heavy rain la agalng paring off tbe Canadian cliff.-A large mam of rock from a point close to the Horae UUa drappaAAato.ltofc***** that renew tog. Table Rock to slowly toit surely becoming ■mailer. The upper end of Goal island ebowa tba wear made by water aad marks of reoeaaloa are plaia- ly visible at the foot of the Americaa Horae Shoe falls. " / —A New Jeraey court has handed down the opinion that a church sub scription made on Sunday la oolleotl- b e, and an;Ohio Judge has decided tffat a man who engage* in a game of chance with others cannot recover hia losses from the proprietor of the place where the gaming occurred. Such de cisions serve as reminders that law and common sente jog along together very comfortably moat of the time. —A four-year-old daughter of Isaiah Bollinger, of Bowmanavilla, W. Va., died from over-indulgence in popcorn. She wna taken 111 recently and finally went into convulalona, in which con dition she remained almost constantly. The caae waa a peculiar on# and pax- xled the physicians, until U wna learned that ihe patient, who waa Inordinately fond of popoors, had eaten such large u an titles that the atomaoh refused to Igett It. —Daring the two weeks Congress bus been In session ttfnre war* intro duced in the two honsea an aggregate of 7,012 aad joint (‘esolntlona. Of thaan 1,974 will#and 48 joint reaolutions warn presented In the Senate aad 4,924 bills and^fifi joint reaolutions la the House. The greater number were private bills, of which a large proportion oame from previous Coegreseee. When the 5fith Congress expiree by limitation^ nearly all of these old veteran bllla will be found on the calendars and In the pigeon boles of the committees, aad it la very probable they will gala intro duction to the 57th Congress two yean beooe- , . / —Seventeen years ago *he govern ment began tbe pnblleatlen of the re cords of the '' War of KebeHiee.” The work has gone ateedily on, including the report# of bettlea aad campaigns, until It has beoome the most expeaalvo publication the government hue ever undertaken. The oeet of it Isj dication of thia. It has now tha sum ef 12 800,000 The work la practically dona, for tha reporta, dis patches aad order* which ehroelele the actual history of the war hava all beaa printad, aad aaarafaraaoa library It 1s tha moat complete that was ever published la regaid to aay war the world aver knew. la all thare are 111 volumes, aad several more la tha form of addsada aad ladax art yal