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t- a----------e--..... --.--.in - TRI-WEEKLY EDITION. WINNSBORO,, S. C., FEBRUARY 12, 1881. VOL. IY.-NO. 176. A DOUBTING HEART. Where are the swallows liod? Frozen and dead, Perebansoo upon someo bleak'and st..rmy shore, 0 doubting heart Par over purple seas, Thoy wait in atinny ease 'Tho balmy southern bronzo, To bring them to the northern bolne onsce jnor(. Why tnu4t the flowers dio ? Ir'soesd they lie in the cold tomb hoedless of tears or rain. O doubting heart I They only eleep below Toe soft white ermino snow. While winter windo shall blow. To bsoathe and amilo upou you soon ngain. The sun hits hid its rays These many a days . Wi drtary hours never leave the eatth ? o doubting Leart I The stormy olouds on high Vol t'he camo sunny sky, 'That soon (for spring is nigh) Shll waitu the sutmiuer into goidous u it,. Fair hope is dead, and ll, [it Is quonourod in night. Vat sound ean break the silence of dospa-r ? 0 doubting.heart I rhy sky is overoswt. Yet stars shall riko at last, Prighter for darkness past, And angole' silver voices stir thu. air. The Talbot Diamond. A brown-stone front. A fashionably dressed young man standing in the door way; an old man, In equally niodern at tire, mounting the marble steps; 'and it very plainly-dressed young lady passing on the pavoment. The yourg man bowed to the young lady, and she timidly acknoWledged the salute. . The old gentleman too& notice of the act, aud turned very quickly toward the young lady; but saw only a -trim, I idylike figure gliding gracefully down the street. He turned, quite Impatiently to the young man, and asked, sharply: 'Johns, who is that?" " 'Miss Maggle Osborne, father." "Miss Maggie Fiddlesticks ?" exclaimed the old gentlemtans. "What do you mean, "That the young lady is named MaggLe Osborne," was the quiet reply. "No trifling 1" threatened Mr. Morton Talbot. ".New, what is she ? and who is "Your last question is answered. To the first I will answer that she is a very charinig young lady. "Zounds I You Insult me I" exolairned Pa Talbot, iu a rage. "Now, sir, once for ud ? What are her antecedents ? What Is lie to you Y' "I declare, father, you quite overwhelm Ie with questions. Pray excuse me if I ask you to repeat thera, one at a time." "John Talbot, you are insolent I" cried Mr. Talbot, Sr., brushing past hihi. "nsolent I" he repeated, pausing in the hall. "Most confounded Insolent I And If I hear any more of it "Father, I beg pardon, if I have said anything to wound your feelIngs, " inter. rupted John, with a face that was any thing but peuitent. "Wound my feelings I Don't you -be idurmued ! .'m not so sensitive as thast. But, when I ask you a question I want an an swer. Now, what Is that girl?" "I1 fear, father, that I do not catch your iming,'' said John, with a distressed look. "John Ta'lbot, I'm ashamed of you 1positively ashmied! And i'm growvinsg anigry, tool I ams upjoinimy w"ord! I cain endure but little more-very little. Now, for the last, tlne, is she resagectaiblet " "iathser, you do me an Injustico." "I doni't know about that. To tell the 4truth, I wouldn't like to take miuchs stock' in your 'resp~ect able' acquaiintanccs. Buat, about this gIrl. What Is lies' stsiadmg ? Thlere's no uso aiskinsg abloui itr ine., for her diress speaiks for itself." 'Iamnt0 sure of tl.at," said John, "'i've seens heri with wvealth enougli about her to muake a dozun men rih-yet se always dresses very plain." "Does, ehli Eccentric, no doubt. But that mnakes no difference. Yen know what my wIshes are, sj you can banIsh all thoughts of Mlss-Mlss--Mggie-Osborne froin your mind. As for your falling in loewith every psetty face you iee, I'll oha wt about to reply, hut the look of consternation that became suddenly visible on Mr. rITlbot's face checked hint. "What is it?" lie asked, hurried ly. l'he dismnonds -the l'nlbot dilamonda I" "W hat of themi, father ?" "eGone I Lost I " gasped the oldi gentle nmau. ".1 took themi, several days ago, to Sanborn's to be reset, and got them again --or thoutght I (lid--not two hours ago I I msust have loft then, after all. I'll go right back and see, for there's a fortune in those Talbot dliamnonds I" Half ani hour hater. An elegant Broad Street store, Air. haniborn behind the couniter, anud Mr. Talbot, Sr., before it, '$ ~ Mr. Talbot was puimiig like a spent horse, for no grass had grown under hsis ceet while hurrying back for those dia "Myl~ dlnamondlsl The Tatlbot diamonds!" h~e exclhited to thse wonderinig Mir. Sian born. "Left theum hero?'' artliulated the ex hiated 'Talbot. "Seen them?" C "Assuredly not, Mr. Talbot. You took thenm away with you. botq~ shook is head. "The girl I Where Is she?" "You mean Maggie ?" "I lon't know whether it was Muggle, or Mary, or Betsy, or vlop; but it's the one I dealt with." "You refer to Maggie -Osborne, I pre sunie," said Mr. Sanborn. "She left here soon after you went out, and will not b e in the store again for several weeks." "MIigaite Osborne I" exclaimed Morton t I 'Jot. "Uone, too I Depend upon it, she's got the Talbot diaiondsl" Mr. Sanborn stared in blank amazement, and ImehaIcaIIly gave Morton Talbot Mag gie's address; and It wats not until Talbot left the store that lie fully realized the enormity of the crime with which his trusted employe had been charged. le promptly wrote to Maggle, offering sym pathy and assistance, and declai Ing his be hof in her innocence. And that was not all. With John Talbot's assistance, a search for the missing diamonds was instituted; lut Mr. Morton Talbot knew noting of it, aud went on his own way to recover the loit genms. A long, steep hill. At the bottom a runaway horsu and a wrccked carriage ; half-way up, the insensible form of Mr. Morton Talbot, so far on his search for Maggie Osborne or the lost diamonds; at the top. a comfortable farmhouse, and a young lady just coming through the gate to Mr. Talbot's relief. Help was near, and with very.little de lay the unfortunate Talbot was safely en sconced between two white sheets to the good housewife's spare bed. Ilis senses came back to him at lust, and his first words were: "'What a tremendous hillI" Then he bethouglht him of his errand, and startled the young lady in attendauce by asking abruptly: "What would you do to a young lady, if she stole your diamonds from you ?" "Never having been the owner of dia monds, I cannot say," replied the young lady ; "but I believe I should, first of all, get the diamonds." -"Zounds?" exclaimed Mr. Talbot. "And that's just what I will do. By-the-way, do you know a person named Magio Os borne ?" "I do." "Is it possible?" exclaimed Mr. Talbot, is though it was the strangest thing in the world. "Vll, you are the first one. If I've asked one, I have askek a hundred, and nobody knew die little thief." "The what sir?" "Thiet I She stole the Talbot diamonds, and I'm after her I" "Why I why I I'm astonlshed I I .knew R1aggie had a very taking way, but I uever supposed she would go so far as hat." "Nor nobody else," grumbled Taltot. -There's my boy, John won't believe a word of it. lie's after her-" 'Two after her? Poor Maggie I She'll Je caught, surely I" '''No, no, no I'" Ite: upted Talbot ''not bout the diamnond . bat lie wants her for I wife I" "Oh I that's funny, now-in't it? Of -ourse you'll not allow It P" "Just let him try It I" replied Talbot ,vith a meaning smile. "No, I knew you wouldn't. It would me scandlalous. But you probably would iot care so much if she hadnii't stole your liamionds? MaggIe is quiite a ilce girl, hey say." "Wll0n. John1 has always been a ;oodl b)oy, and it lie really liked a good, rec pctabic guIl, and1( wanted to marry her, I tion't know as I should say mucli agalinst it. Bat such a ereature I Bahi I John's fool I" "'blow curious. B~ut if she proves her nunocence. For intance, if you should earn that she had not touched the dia LiondsA at all, and your son still wanted to marry lher you woulhl not object. Of course "N'o. I woilln't" replied 'Ta:lbol-at the mmie timie lie was thliinm4 "l'll be safe eniouigh, ior' thiere's not the least doubt of' bl guilt. And I gut a I'll promise further, for I realily like thIs girl. It woin't do miy harm, any way, to give her at good >pinion) of me." "No, I would not ob, leet," lhe repeated ; "and~ inore than that. I woul give them ai goodl setting uip in life. I 'mi able, and I would do it, too." "T'lhank you, father," were the wordis that camne In answer to his ; and, looking toward tihe doomr, he saw John standing there. "I overheard your promise, father." contined John, "anid I thinik I shall be iafe enough to set the wedding day just a mnonth hence." "umnph I Don't count your chicks too loon. That abggle Osborne never wIll be your wife." "Not until she, or soin'e onie else, prToves her liOcince." "You'll b)e in your grave long before that, boy. " "'My deniuse will be speedy, then," said John, taking something from his pocket. "$ec the proofs I" "What i Mercy I What Is it ?'' "'The T1albot dhiamuonds, father." "IIangedl If you aren't right I ' exclainned Pa Tialbot. "Where did youi got' them ?" "After getting the (diamnonds front Mr. Banborn's, you changed coate, and left the gems mn one of the pockets." "Confound my carelessness !" "'It's ani Ill wind---.' You know the rest, father. I shall hiereafter lprIze the Tlabot diamonds for all they are worth. Your promise---" "Proilse ! I was only jol'.ig, boy. never meant you should marry that Os borne girl. You didn't think I was In earnest I" "Really, I thought of liti le else but th proise. That holds good yet, fro i th fact that we have witness to it. Don't yo think so, Maggie ?' "Mairgie I not Maggie Osborne (" aske the old gentleman, scrutinizing the youn lady, who was blushing and smiling ver, prettily. "Miss Maggie Osborne, father." "Drat me for a fool ?" growled Pa Tal but. 1i1 a bunidwring, fool1 and blo.khead I and blind as a bat I I don deserve anythlist better. H ere M agglk take the Talbot diamonds, atid Joliti, too I've not another word to say against it And all I ask of you is if you ever find bigger nunskull than old Morton Talbol give hiin the diamonds, and ask no que tions." An Effective Plea. It happened in Texus, and within a fe, hundred miles of Galveston. A poorly clad, thin Jookiug boy was brought up fo trial oin the charge of stealing a ham fron a grocer His name was Jerry MeGonigle thle son of an alleged poor but virtuou widow. The personitl appearance of th) boy was not sufficiently attractive to blini the jurors to the real merits of the case The foreinan of tie jury, who was a pro fessional, told tile next jurymian confiden tially that, although he had been on th bench-,he jury bench-f r the last twen ty-tive years, he had never seen such a de praved face on a mere boy. Tle othe juryman whispered back that the sherif had ruined his chances for re-election witi the law-abiding element by taking th< handcuffs off such a desperate villain an allowing him to sit near the stove. A plci of "not guilty" was 'entered and the tria proceeded. The evidence was dead agains the boy, but before the case went to thi jury the boy's lawyer got up and said : "May it please your honor, the motlic of this unfortunate boy has just receive< information from New Orleans that, owinj to the death of a relative in that city, sh comes into possessiou of a large iumibcr o houses, railroad and other stock to be hel im trust for this bov. I myself have secw the documents." "Where (oes the widow live ?" aSke several. When the jury got back, after au ab sence of one minute, there were real tean of joy in the eyes of the' foreman as lie pro nounced the verdict ''not guilty," amid tIh suppre5sod cheers of the crowd. The boy wa heartily congratulated by the lawyers am jurymen who gathered around hin. Th< prosecuting attorney intimated that It would proceed criminally and civilly agains the grocer from whom the ham was stolen. An alder lawyer, who was a bachelor, tok the bof lie was sorry that he was nut a Com. plete orphan, as he was looking for a brighl boy to adopt and leave his wealih Ia Th< foreman of. the jury suddenly remcuberej that he had known the widow in forinei days; that she was a lady, and fit to be tht cominion of all Euglish peer. Severa members of the bar accompanied the bo) home to break the glad news of his acquitta to the su.ldenly rich widow. Reporters tire naturally suspicious, and L representative called on the boy's lawyci to obtain some more details. ''Tha. boy and his mother are in bi luck." "Yes," said the lawyer, "'they netirly gol him that. time. lie's the worst. little rasca in Texas, and his mother is no better. Sit encourages hin In his stealing, but thet she is very poor." 'Do you mean to Hay that it. is aill a cock and-buh story about his coming in posses sion of liouses, railroad and other stock, through the death of a relative in Now Or. leanls?"' Thle lawyer laughed antd said: "I1 tell you contidentially I was f'ohng the 1el lows. Th'le widow Mcdonigle had a sistel in New Orleans, and that sister haid a boy. She bought the boy, at auction, a big lo)t of toys, wvooden houscs, tin railroads and ii Noah's ark full of bi >oded stock, but t in boy got a genuiue care of malarial, typho buhious, remittent fever of sonie kinid, amli died; and so the New Or'~o mn womnan sh111) petd the stulf to the( wit low for her boy dilly. 1 saw the hi t~er and the boy myself, It, is a fact tht. lie has~ comeI ini possessionr of houses, raibiosis and stock, as 1-stated, for I wouhl iather give up the profession than lie.' ''I always k~new that,'' said the report. "'t Is right amiusinig to see three or foul old dliers prowling about the place. Omt of thema has bought Bill a new suit () clothes and Invited the widIow to a mas, querade ball. They get out of' the hioust like they had beeni scaled wheni the widov shows them theimpioved pr'operty and thu rest of' the playthinigs. They go aiboul r'avinlg, ando say I amn to blame for it all but I don't see how, (10 you? i only staite the shnaple truth, andl, when I can't, do tha any mnoi'e In a Ti'x is court house, I an goIg to quit the law and become a journal 1st." homnue neer. Cor'nelus Rfosenburg, a I lollanlder b: birth, and1 a wood-tiu'rner by trade, whn lives in Eh~lzabeth street, R~ochester, New York, has passed the last, twelve of t'i lIfty-tiwo years lie has been In this world ni a way woithty of note. lie works regular oy day, but on every nighi, with less thal a dozen except ions (durinig the years named lie hias aftter supper taken a walk of thlreI or four mtiles, invariably stopping In hi journ'iey at Marbutrger's brewery, where hi drmnks three or four "schioonecrs" of hage b~eer. lHe generally arrives in the tiip room at nIne o'clock, and leaves withI gr(ea regularity at toei o'clock, On week day lbe selidomn smokes, but on Sunday lie re minls at, his board .,ng-ho use aiid smokes tel to fifteen cIgars, lie Is inot talk ative, miake few acquaintanilces, andit at Marbur'ger's,. a at lis boardinig house, takes the sameacn at, the table on every visit, lie tneithe gives nor accep~ts '"treaits" aiid his favoriti beverage niever (ilsigrees with hin. A suinlg t'hat Mr. Roseiinurg diank nuo bec on Sunday, but took four' g.a ses daily of week dass5 during the palst twelvo years, h must have ibibed 13d,029 glasses. But a It appYmi. that on sonic rare occaslins hi took but three glasses. wev have allowei b~m, In reuiid numburs, 12,000) schooner of hi'ger, an amount of thu:d that wouli ilot a I ai-slzed vessel. --Arkansas last, ye~ir producei $30, O0003,O0 warr i o . (ito. It tiihing the 0 ta111 and (ua.nmaco. An ostrich hut in Patagonia Is thus dis. cribed by a recent traveler in that country. 'Cmx0 1 choo ! Plati !' I cry to the dog who followed at ily horse's heels, as a fine male ostrich scudded away towards the hills we had jist left with the speed of lightning. y lut the ostrich suddenly doubles to the left. and cominences a hurried descent. Tihe cause is soon oxplamred, for in the di rection towards which ho has been making a great cloud of smoke rises menacingly i L his path, and baulked of the refuge he had t hoped to Ild amidst the hills, the great bird is torced to alter his course, and make swiftly for the pIins below. But swiftly its he ilies along, so doei Plati, who finds a down-hill race inch more suited to iR i splendi shoulders and rare stride. Foot by foot lie lessons the distance that sepa rates him from his prey, and gets nearer and nearer to the fast sinking, fast tiring bird. Away we gto, helter skelter downthe hill. Plata Is alongside the ostrich, and gathers hinself for a spring at the bird's throat. 'le has him, he has him ' I e shout to Gregorio, who does not reply, but - urges his horse on with whip and spur. r 'fas he got him, though ?' Yes-no--the i ostrich with a rapid twist had shot some thirty yards ahead of his enemy, and whirl iug round, makes for the hill OnCO more. And now begins the struggle for victory. I The ostrich had decidedly the best of it, for Plata, though he struggles gamely, does - not like the up-hill work, and at every - strides loses giound. Can he stay? I cry 3 to Gregorio, who sIUiles anid nods his head. - Ile is right, the dog can stay, for hardly - have the words left my lips when, with a r tremendous effort. he puts on a spurt, and f races up alongside the ostrich. Tho stride i of the bird goes slower, lia doubles become ) more frequent, showers of feathers fly in I every direction as Plata seizes him by the I tail, which conies away in his mouth. In I another moment the dog has him by the t throat, and for a few minutes nothing can be distinguished but a gray struggling heap.' Nut less vivid is the accouut of the pur I suit of a wounded huanaco, or guaaitco : 'At last my husband got a shot at a little knot of four or live, who were standing to gether, almost out of range. One fell, and i the others took to their heels. With a cry o triumph we galloped up to the wounded one, but to our disuiay, at our approach, he sprang to his feet and started off at full speed after his companus, to all appear aice unhurt. bpurring our horses we fol lowed closely in his wake, down steep ravines, up hills, over the plains, at times losing him altogether, but always catching sight of him again, going as fresh as ever, I till at last we began to despair of ever run ning him down. Gradually, and no won dei, our jaded horses began to show signs of exhaustion ; we had run them almost to. a standstill, and reilecting on the distance we had to ride back to thu camp, we were just going to rein in, when the guanaco suddenly stopped and laid down. But wiwn we h.l t to w;"'b' iObOt, oiu yabrd. 01 him, up 06i got, and galloped off again, distaicing us ti every stride. Hesitating what to do, we kept In his wake, though all tile tinie we were wishing we had never started after hun. Slower and slower our panting horses struggled towards a ravine, down the side of which the guanaco had disappeared. W caine to its edge and looked down. The gutianaco was nowhere t! be seen. We were at a loss to luiagit.e what could have become of him. le hodmi not climbed the other side, or we shouid hthve seen him emerge Oil the plain, nor I could he have gone along the ravine, either to the right or the left, as we commanded a view of it in both directions for a long distance. In this dileninia we were staring open mouthed witi astonishment about us, when soiethiung mov ed in the long grass below, and directig our steps thither we caie u)oni our guaniaco lying stretche. out in a pool3 of blood. Th'le moveimenit that had~ dIratwn our ati ention to himu had1( evi dently beeni his last effort, for he was not qtuite dead. Examining him, we found the bullet hade entered his side atid passing tirougui the Ilungs er hghits, hiad lodged near the spine; atnd yet, thus severly woundled, hie haid gone quite tenl muiles at a cracking pace!* How Greelk 3Ket Grek. "S$o it is true, Jessie lardbrook ( You have been trilitng wvith me froim first to last. May God forgive you--I catnnot, I" said Ralph Ashton, bitterly, as lie tdroppied tihe white han I and gazed scornfully at its owner. "Why, Ralph,'' lisped an affected v'oice, "I never dIreamed yotulmeant any. thing-really, it seems soi oddl'' '"Odd, Jessie Iiardbrook ! " and his eyes flashed angrily. "You knew it wvell!I Day by day you have been leading me on. Why, when you saw that I was beginning to love you from my very soul, (lid you not cheek me ? 'rwas becatuse you wished to swell the list of your victinis. I comgratutate you upon01 your success. Now farewell forever I" Atnd before the apparenitly astonIshed young lady coul frame a sentence, the dloor had slammined behind Italph Ash. tonl. lie strodeo fiercely (Iown the street to his studio, anid eiiterinig it, locked the door' behind him. A picture stoodi on the etasel, partly conicealed by a cloth which had been thrown over it. TI'ls lie snatched hiastily off and revealed a fuillble portrait of Jessie H[ardbrook, just as she had looked the first time lie miad meot her, clad in white silk trihn ed wIth tube) roses, tiie samel which nestled in her long, golden curls. A en,lie parted the saicy redl hps anid dimpled one daninty titited cheek. It iwals Jessie Ilardbrook, surely, but a thousatid times mforeu besutifuil, for lie .11( hadienowed it with a soul not hers, t. but one of his own oreatiom--onie that lihe llnaigined thait the womian Ite loved .jossessed, le hind spenit much tiiie on this pie uire, andtlt hadit sumcceeded~ beyonid his wildest, hopes. it hind become the greatest. pleasiie of his life to sit, before it, anud w imh ever'y r stoke of [lie br'ush painit aind fancy a won derful dream of the future when lie should .call her his own, r. All [lhis inay seem roiimntic atnd non i stunsical for a strong muan to indugge In, e but it wals true. Itahih Ashitoi possessed a the senisitive nature that continually a, i.ans to,vardl the Ideal and sting the prac. .1 lical side of life. Whatever pleased or at ,a tracted hin, lie endowed with gifts of a j divine nature, lie was honest and truth fud in the highlest diegrea-just the one to fall a vIctim to the snares of this hard, - huard world. Jii JIardthrano was a ,1irt of te. ,e. cat dye, without a shadow of a heart. ilea one aim was to secure a rich husband, whi would keep her in case alilluenco all hei butterfly- life. She had been pleased an( flattered with Ralph Ashton's presenoe an I when she saw him falling under ti spell of her charms, instead of releasin him there and then, as an honorable wo iiian would have done, she strove th harder to please, until she gained her owi wish-nanely to say "No" to the Import ant question. As Ialph Ashton gazed long and bit terly at the beautiful picture he felt th< one great hope of life die within hin, au( all became darkness and despair. At last snatching it angrily froin the easel. hI ripped the canvas with his knife, and thrus the whole into the grate, watching th4 flames consume it with a look of tilerc4 hatred. The next day a friend, coming to call was surprised to find this placard on th4 door, "jone to Europe." A suppressed murmur ran thbrough Mrs B-'s crowded rooms is Ralph Asht'ot entered them. It was his first appearanct In society since his return from Europe and Mis. B had securcd him, thougl by dint of strategy for that one evening, at least, as she announced triuinipliantly t her guests. lie was quite a lion now, for his paint - In s had won himt famie, and already richei enough to secure comfort. Jessie llardbrook was there. She hat not altered, but looked as fresh and beau uiful as evel- as she stood %ider the fuil light of a chandelier, clad, singularl3 enough, in white silk, garlanded with tube. roses just as he had seen her for the first tine, when he had fallen so madly in love. A blusi died her cheeks as she observet his tall figure approaching her. "I wil win him yet," she said under her breath, For the man whom all the world acknowl. edged seemed very different from the poor, unknown artist she had scorned. "Miss liardbrook V What a pleasure ' She felt her hand grasued cordially and thought she noted a look of the old interest in the speaker's brown eyes. lie remained by her side the most of thi evening, making hiniselt wonderfully agree able by descriptions of his travels, tn< when he placed her in a carriage, whisper ed softly: "May I come to-morrow i" After that their old intimacy seemed re vived. The gossips began to dream of t grand wedding, and all the girls enviet Jessie ier fortune. She was very happy, Lou; for the fir t time she knew what il was to-love; yes, she loved Ralph Ashton from her very soi, and felt sure lie love( her in ieturii. Only one thing troublet her; ie did nt speak. "L1e is waitit.g to be sure of mie," sit would say to herself. "Ile will not risal Another refusal." And she becaine doubl gracious. One afternoon lie remarked carelessly, ai 4ae sat by her side : " I ama aI49 LU-as UA-o In, JesilU shall you mniss ie " "What a question, Ralph ?" she replies blusblng. "You know I shall. You'll not tie gone long ?" "Only a few weeks. I shall bring r rriend back with nie whom I hope you wil, love for my sake." "Indeed I will," she answver'ed. "Is l like you V" "lardly." And a curious smile playel ibaut Ralph Ashiton's mouth as he roie and t>.ide her good by. Three weeks later Miss Ilardbrook re -eived a little three-cornered note, whieli read as follows: DEAa JussiE: Meet me at Mrs. W--' reception to-night. I wish to introduce yet v) imy friend. I . A. It was with great clre that slie prepia-ed for the reception. "1I must look my best ; talph will wih me to appear well before lia friend," shc wh.s.>redl, ias she gazed admiringly at the iuiage reth ctedl In the mirror. The moomis were crowded with guests, and the little Swiss clock on the manie: had chiimned eleven, still Italph caime not, .Jessie wiis growing limpatilent, when a hush for an mntm proclaimied a new arrival, and she saw through the crowd making~ hit way directly toward her, Italh Ashtonm, with a beautiful womian dressed in puir white, leaning on his arm. "Ahi I we were looking for y*ou,'' hm said as lie appjroiiched. ''Edithl, dear, thin is the friend I told you of ; Miss Hairdbrook, aillowv me to present my wife." Jessie lnardbrook grew white to the vera lips at that word. TheJi room whirled, shi reel and would have fallen had lie no1 caught her in his arma. "T'he heat has overcome ycou," lie saidl aloud. But lie knew better ; 11)r bendlg close, lie whispered in her ear, "Greel imeets Greek I" The Profansor aunuth Doo ~urston, Iekerring to mllitakenm ideas about relies, recalls the story In a Germnan paper abloutI a certain professor, which Is a parallel ti the Bill Stumps adventure of Pick wick TIhe German anthiuary mladle the delightfit dliscovery that a stone laced over a stabb (door bore the imnscriptioni 1081. '' inus have this stone in miy collection, cost what It may,'' thought the savant. Calling tenant farmer who was the proprietor, th( professomr said to himn eagerly :'"Did 3o1 not obttain tIs stone from the castle ruh on the hIll yopidcr ?'' "It may be that mty graindfather fetcheci it thencie when lie built the stable," wit the rep~ly. Th'le antiquary thoenaked what lie woukt take for tile stono. ''Since youi aplpeair to have a faincy f. It," stid the airmier, "'give ime for tj guildenms, and~ I will bring it to you holise.' ''Uather a large stun," said the professor ''but brIng it to may residience and you s'.mil hiive the inioney.'' Whmen In (due course the faramer brouiglm the stone upon a truck, the zealous anti qluary tumrnmed it over to refresh his eyes with a sight of Its venerable chronolog.ca inscription, not without anxiety, that I aalght haye been damaged In Its removal. "'Why," lie exclainmed, "'what Is this Th'is is not thne rIght stone. On thme s'.oni I bought fromi you wvas thme (late 1081, whilt this bears the very modero (late 1801 which proves that the other was exactl: Seven hunidred andl twenty years older thin tis.'' "Do not trouble about that," said th peasantt. "i'he masons, you see, Sir turned the stone uplside (down when the:. set It In thme doorway, because it fatted h'et ter thitt way You can turn It whichove way yo.i like; but of course I mnust hav< the money noreni umon." Changing Stockings. I recently visited a village in Michigan, to see old Mrs. Brown about a pension she wants front the Government, and when we had flnislied our business I said: "1 see you have your churches here." "Yes; but we never have any sermons worth listening to." "The mien look intelligent and smart." lilumphl They are regular pokes I There isn't. a man in Farniville who knows enough to ask boot in a horse trade." "But the women look happy," I pro tested. "Then they look what they ain't," she answered. "I don't believe there is a happy wolian in the whole village. If you knew of the awful carrynigs on here you wouldn't look for happy wives ?" "What awful things do the iien do ?" "You'd better ask what they don't dot It's a wonder to ie that Farniville hasn't shared the fate of Sodom and Gommor rahl. ', "Do they drink ?" "IDo they ? Didn't I see even old Deacon Marris weaving this way and that as lie climbed the hillilast. eveing ? Its a slippery path, of course, but sober iein don't climb a hill sideways." "D1)', they gamble ?" "Gamble I What did Mrs. Potts tell me that her brother's wife told Mrs. Davis not a mouth ago? Four of the leading men in the place were caught playing checkers for the soda water. That's a nic example, isn't it O" ''is Mrs. Potts nice?" "Nice ! Why, she's the worst gossip in town ? It's a wonder the nen don't duck her in the mill pond " "Anud Mrs. Davis I" 'She's a hypocrite I She'll talk sweet to your face, and abuse you behind your back." "Mrs. George is well spoken of." "By whom? I've known her fifteen years, and I never heard a human being speak well of her! slle eats opium ilat lies like a trollop I" "Isn't Mrs. Mellenry all right ?" "All right ' Why, no one can live inl the house next to her." "The Postmaster seems like a gooi iman," I ventured to remark. "Good 1man11! Why, my husband always believed lie was the very man who tnrew a yaller dog down our well I I don't say that lie steals letters, but I know that when I sent two three-ecent slamps in a letter to mily daughter in Illinoy, site never got it." 'But there must lie one good man I re?'' "There must, ehi Well, I wish you'd piut him out to ime. I'd like to polish up my spectacles and take a good look at him." "Aid isn't there one fault less woman ? "Well, I don't vant to seem vain and conceitct, because none of us are long for this word, but L expect I'm tihe f uttless onie you are inquiring after I'' I think I shall go out oi the evening train. Mrs. Brown says that every house UnMIUL lb uuonLgage(I, eVery IUsmeSS Man is ready to "bust," and every family has at least 11 sCailal alIut them. On iiy way over to the Post 0111ce an hour ago I askedt a grocer if lie kiew old Mrs. Brown. "Know her I Why, she's a gossip, a liar, a hypocritc, and a dead beat, antid too lazy to cintge her tockiings mrue thi twice a year'' The Chicago 3IMide. -11"1ut papa "Not another word. I'm a wild eat when my back's up, amnd dio0n't you forget it." 'ihe speaker was a hard-visaged man, dressed with an clegance that ill-accorded With his evident want, of culture. She who had ad(dressed him its "papa" was it fair haired girl of eighteen Sunluner9. Reared on the knee of luxm y, she had ny r km mw what it was to have tier slightest wish thwarted. Ier f'ather, a pilumbier, was, frmomu the nat ure or his business, it man of iron will, bu1' lie was not devoid of pity or genero'ity, as nmany a debtor whose house itndt lot lie had taken in hart payiment for ixiing the water pipes, lettmng the balance of the account run along for two mo~nths, could testify. ie had surroundl~ed Cecil, his .oinly chIld with all that wealth conld purchiase, looking forward to the timec when she wvouldi marry th'e eldest son o)f a Niagara Falls baickmmani, or soame piersoni of fortune coimnensurate with her owni. But she had iillowved her heart to be ensinared by the wiles of Cupid, andl that morning had asked her sire's consent to her muarriage with a poor btut not proud young man whlose agri cu~turatl operaioncis oni thme Boa)ird of Trud~e had not been attended with sucee.+: It was this requ'.'st that prioduiced( the answei giv en ablove. Again Cecil leladled with her pa:renit not to crush the love that blossomeid in her heart. The ol man's mind wvent baick to the happy datys when lie had told her miothier of his love, anid how they conmnine.. edl life with nothing but strong armas and willing hearts. Pmneing~ his fan-lhike hand on Cecil's shoulder, the od mani looked at her tenderly aund siaid: 'Look ye myi) lass. You ay you love this man and cannot live withiout him. ~Mebbe not. I have promi Ised you a sealskin sacque11 this Winter. Let us test your love. Itf you beconme thbi main's bride I shall not buy the sacque. In my hand is a check for $300. In the wheat pit over the Board of'1Trade is your lover, which flo you cho >se ?" Without raising her head ahe reaiched out convulsively for the check. Pronteuction Againni Lightnhag. A correspondient argues that the connec tion of lightning rods with the ground should be enlarged in the prmoportion that the rod is a better conduictor than the ground, This wo~uld require an enormnous expansion of the rod unider ground, but we -haive long been conivinmced that this is the point at which lightining rods generally fail to p)rotect. TIhe samec writer says: "'After thirty y'ears' observatIon, I havo nevei - known 01ii case where thme occupanuts of a house were injured when the building was fItted with gas or water pipes. Th'le budldings are somietihnes set on lire by the electricity passing from the rod, or metal roof to the gas or water pipes, but without Injury to any person bielow the highest pomnt ho which these pipes exteind." ile adds41 ini conclusion : ''Gas and water pipes0 are the best lightning rods over erected, tecause they iare in perfect electric con iirctioln with the earth." We may add lightning rods bhoulld, when possible, lie conn'ctedl with gas and water tubes. 1I nmeithier are used in the butiding, the con - nection should be made wvith the maIns In the~ street, if in the cIty where gas miains are laid. An extensive ground connecthin is the poInt to bh a unin munure afety. Tben they dmdied. "B-r-r-r.r I rugh! " ejaculated the old settler, as he came Into the barroom at Ilonesdale, Pa., recently, rubbing his hands together and 'giving himself a shake. "Looks like as we was goin' to have a spell o' brdcin' weather for court week. Hullo, 'Squire! How de do, Jedge? Dod blame it, ll1, whar ye been so long? An' cut off my rations of here ain't Uncle Eb I Be ye all on the jury, boys? or be ye wit nesses? Or did ye jest come in to see the fun ? Or are ye-why, durn it, certainly I Rum an' nigger toe." The old settler had encountered some friends that he had known for half a con tury or more. A stranger witnessing his greeting of them would have supposed that he had not seen them for years, but they had met every three months for forty years, at least, as regular as "court week" came round. "Knocked over any deer this fall, '8quire ?" asked the old settler, after the party had drawn up around the stove. "Un-in-m, yas; thinc I hevI Major," said the 'Squire, as if he wasn t just cor2 tain whether he had or had not. "Yas, hev. Killed three down in the Bloonun' Grove woods. Killed three, I think, Ma jor; yas, killed three. But it's hard gittin' deer now, Major. 'Tain't like 'twas when we usety sweep the ridges with the ole smoothbores; 'talu't like'twas. It's hard to git 'em; hard to git 'em, Major. But I killed three nice ones this fall ; three nice ones. Yas I killed three." .-Was it three, 'Squire I Who was it a tel.in' o' me that you'd hung up four this fall ?" said Uncle Eb, trying to think who it was. "Oh, Tom Gilpin. Tom Gilpin said you'd hung up four." "So I did, Eb. Yas, so 1 did. I hung up four. Four. But I didn't kill fois. I killed three-three nice ones. Yas, hung ip four. Tom Gilpin didn't toll you noth in' as don't hit the mark. I hung up four." "hlow was that?" asked the old settler. "Was it somebody as was huntin' with you that put the slugs inter the number four t" "Waal, scarce!y, Major waal, scarcely. I wa'n't a huntin' with nobody, an' nobody wa'n't a huntin' with mie. 'Copt the dogs, o' course, Major; 'cept the dags. I was standin' in the old bark road as leads from the Knob road (own toards Bright Brook, readin' one o' them Blooinin' Grove Park signs ; one.o' them signs that's nailed on to tres, and says, 'No trespassin' '. 'No trespassin' here, or we'd take the law on ye,' or sometlin' o' that kind. I was read;', one o' them signs and wishin' some o' uar Park fellers would find bizness over thar to put one off'n them precincts. Yas ; I was wishin' some of 'em would come, an' I think I waited a while fur fear they mnowt come jest arter 1-d gone. I was a wiaitin' andall to once I hoered a yell that made one think o' the days when we usety rassel with painters. I had to think o' dIose anyu, intn L 11iuwetyd what tihy was. Yas. I knowed what it was. 'Twas a catamount, you know, Major. 'Twas a catamount; an' I legged It over in the d'rection the yell was histed from. Hadn't gone in re'n twenty rod 'fore I come owto tue cataimount, Com right onto him with his teeth socked plumb in the throat of a doe he had brought (own ; socked plumb inter her throat. I put a hole through his heart that looked as if sane one had bored it with an inch auger. 'The doe was dead. Deader'n a plizened dog. But she wa'n't hurt. The catamount hadn't scarcely started the blood on her. I cut her throat an' hung her up, So you see I hung up four, but only kiHed three. Y-a-a-s three nice ones." "'That was the heft of it, oh ?" sai.d the old settler. "Seems to me, 'Squire, that oi to kind o' claimed number four, and got in on the catamount, too. It's drawin' it a leetle line to be so) durn scruplleous as to let a catanmount sple your record for the season. I ain't no ways up to stretchin' a lut to miako a good yarn, but durn me If 1 think I couldn't lie a little to get the best of a wildcat." "Waal, Major," said the 'Squire, as if. excusing himisolt for his over-consclentlous ness, "'twas only a doee, an' the saddles was very light." "Didn't I hear 'Iomt Gilpin say that you dlidn't fetch the doe home with you, 'Squire ? An' it's funny Tom didn't toll mec anything about the cataimount," said U~ncle Eb. "Didn't you hear him say I didn't fetch thme (do( hum ?" rep~iled the 'hquire, rather snappisly. "D)idn't you hear him say so? Ytas, proberly you did(. Tonm Gilpin's allu8 stickin' his nose whar 'tain't got no bizness. They's no dloubt you heered him say I did~n't fetch the doe hum. I'll bate you didn't hear no one else say so. How could lie tell you anythin' 'hiout tho cata mount when he didnj't knowvnothin' about "Did you sell the doe, 'Squire ?" the old settler' wanted to know. "Waal, no, I didn't sell the doe,'' re turned the 'Suire, mad 'as a hurt snaike. "No. I didn't, "It was this way. I forgot to mention, when I was teillui' 'bout hang in' the doe up, that jest as I got her a liangin' a coule o' fellers that was a hunt in' In the same woods come up. TIhey come up jest as I got her hiangin'. The woods was flull o' hunters. Tney Was more lanters than deer. Yaa, a durn sight. These two fellers comio up an' said they guessed I'd dressed their deer. Gues- ed ['d dlressedl their (leer, and they wanted it. I said I guessed not. Bald I jest saved the deer's carcass by sluggig' a catamiount. Said I guessed I'd keep the deer. One o' ihe fellers said1 he'd shot theo deer. IHe'd shot the deer, and~ sid~ lie din't want any more foolin' 'bout it. I laughed, an'. said I guessed I wa'n't born in the woods to be. skeert by an owl. The fellers saId that they guessed they didn't care whether I couldn't be skeert by owls, or hawks, or crows. flhy didn't car~e a cuss. That was their deer all the same. 1 said i they could find a place on the doe wvhar they was a ball hole they could shoulder her andl git. One o'.the fellers put his fiagers p~lumbil into a hole In her side big enoug1h for a miousec to crawl through. Yas, big enough for a miouse to crawl through, an' I hadn't seen it. 1 said, Gentlemen, the (100 is yourni. T[he doe Is yourn an' I'm sold. "Mebbe that's what TIom Gilpin was hint in' at, ' concluided the 'Squire. "It's funny I dlidn't think to mention it." Th'le 'Squire said lhe was in a huit to get to court, and went out, tIer and Uncle Eb laugl~