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Arrival of ill Br t K S jfffg* & $ f -^1 OEL CLAYTON was tall T ?\ anil gaunt, with clear, cun]\T' did, blue eyes, and his it white hands, small and ? 3% nervous-looking, were as & ' well, kept as those of a woman. He was thirty, and a splash of gray j On either temple, a strand or two of White in his mustache, made him look Older. He was broad-chested and muscular ?by all rules?he should have been a oldier?he looked an "open air" man, h_ tmt for five years he had been writing I abort stories, novelettes and serials for the weekly press. It was good, nervous work. His name was becoming known, for he ! had the happy knack of blending pathos With humor. He had' traveled j Widely, and an Australian bush idyl j gSa. it . the beginning of the week would be followed by a London society story, to be followed again by a story of rastic life in the dear West Country that he loved so well. He lived quite alone, worked?and amnkod?frnm mnrninf trt tileht Invpd his profession, and had practically dropped all his friends?male and female?and when a fit of the not infrequent blues sot him by the throat, . threw his pen into the grate and ordered up his landlady's children, and pandemonium reigned for ata hour. Sometimes he gave them pennies. ; t>ut not always?small coin of the | realm is not always available to authors?but the romps were huge, and , he enjoyed them. Of course there was a woman at the bottom of the tangle of the man's life, | and women complicate things sometimes?he would have said "always." v sassy ; On one particular evening be was ^lone and writing, when Jim Courte* ;tey wac shown in?and Jim was an old and tried friend?about the only iriend the lonely, self-absorbed man had, and so the incomer sat down and lighted his pipe, and did not bother the author for quite a quarter of an hour, and then Noel rose and stretched himself. "What is it this time, Noel?" "Ob, the usual thing?love; and candidly, I am getting so sick of writing :ove stories." "Ah, you feel like that?" "Man alive, this Is Christmas Eve, , id somehow?somehow?my thoughts vent back with a jump, and I remembered one Christmas Eve when " "Your pipe's out, Noeli" "Aye, so it is. Well there was one Christmas Eve when?" "My b arc you worrying ' * mboui Le. e Shepherds. frolic. i ' -6 "'<l ' "Yes," and then a long pause It is the privilege of cliums to sit silent for a spell. "And all this happened four or tive years ago. I never heard the rights or wrongs of the story." Noel crossed the room, and digging both hands into his pockets, looked at his chuiu. "There is nothing to know. After the four happy years of married life, trouble came between us, lies came between us; and?and?here I am and it's Christmas Eve. Of course our baby was only a mite?a wee, blueeyed, golden-haired mite; couldn't walk, crawled, you know; but we were awful chums, and when she went and j took our mite?wen," anu xue man s i laugh hurt his own ears. "Well, then I took to writlug love stories?love, old chap, with a happy endiug? bishops, bridesmaids, bouquet3 and blessings, and '?his temporary excitement had left him?he added drily: "And it pays! Now go, old chap. - Merry1' ..... .i 1 must get my stuff done for the early post." and Chum went out while Noel turned again to his interrupted work. *? -* ?'-i? nt'ovr nnfP IV'TWIH'II I'ilCli line v?i* c?v i j quaint turn of expression, quaint thoughts haunted him, a dead past spoke to him. The girl-wife had been very sweet, very lovable, very beautiful?and had marred two lives. There should be a special place of torment for the person who deliberately comes between two people who love each other and smilingly warps two lives. Pearl Clayton was as easily led as a child, a soft, emotional weak little woman, and when Noel returned from a few days' holiday he found the house closed and Pearl and Baby had departed. Noel drifted for a little bit, the shock unmanned him terribly, but his pen was his sole source of income, ""I hud to tic nlied if bodv and soul were to be kept together, and in a very few weeks he had, to some extent, regained his mental balance, and his work improved. The eve of Christmas and the day itgelf appeals to most hearts, and on this particular eve Noel kept thinking back and thinking back while he wrote. How well he remembered the extrasized stocking he induced the nurse to knit, and how bulky it looked and felt on Christmas morning. And then came school, college, and then married life. When the scribbling fit was on him Pearl used to draw her low wicker fhnir r-lose to his writing-table, knit ting, or daiutly fingering white material, soft anil downy and fluffy for the prospective wearer, and the few remarks she made seemed to chime in and identify themselves with what he was writing; hut. of course, all this happened five years ago. One odd little trick I'earl had. and Noel remembered it (his evening and missed it. When his pen was working extra busily she used to lay the tips of her fingers upon his right hand?just where hand meets wrist. She did not incommode hint in the least. He declared her touch inspired him; they were such pink-tipped fingers, and so small, and he had often written with the tiny touch on his wrist almost unconsciously?only peeping up from time to time at a sweet oval face, into deep violet eyes love lit But, of course, this was five years :go. | So he wrote on, feeling a Utile bit \ N. sorry that Chum had not stayed, f< after all he cnly had another hal hour's work before him. and then the could sit and chat, and perhaps drow the sound of the bells that he ktie" Voukl ring out in a few hours. He was just in the frame of mind 1 summon his landlady's children, hi except for himself, the house wji empty. There was a Christmas Ev party going on. and Mrs. Marsh an her progeny were attending it. He had been writing for half a hour since Chum had left him. an felt the old familiar touch on his wris It was imagination of course, he di not even turn his head, anil then h was looking into blue eyes, in th round golden-curled framed face of boy of four, who laughed up at hii and presented a rosebud to be kissed. "Goodness, child?where on earth d you come from? and who?who brougl: you. What is your name?" "Eric." and tho child began mak preparations for climbing a lofty kne< "Who brought you hero. Baby Eric IIow did you come?" Noel felt like an Irish member o Parliament, for "no answer was given, but a wee form, full of hugs and kissei got fast hold upon him. and said grave ly, and yet with a sweet air of coir mand: "Just eome'd?and now if you're no too busy, mister Father?" "Yes, my son." "P'raps?I'd better go to bed." "But, my child?my little son?wh brought you here? Where is you mother?" and the tall man paced U] and down. Of course. Chum had lef the door open, and someone had tol the child to walk straight in?and th child had?straight in. The author?his tiny son was on th floor now, saying things to the ca and it deserved every word, being cat that licks stamps off letters, an loves bnenn and boiled ecirs?thrus his hands deep into his pockets am looked down, sad eyed, at little Sunnj face." "Yes, perhaps you had better come t bed." ******** If Chum would only come, if some thing would only happen to break th? silence, a silence only cleft by the sigl of a child. The church was only at the end o the street. He could hear the bell-ringer: shuffling along the frosty pavement, ii a few minutes?and he bent to hi work. Half asleep, half awake, he was con scious of the old. almost forgottei touch upon his wrist?a dream doubt less?but he could not shake it off, auc then he looked down. Kneeling as of yore beside him, blui eyes tear-dimmed, was Pearl. "I have returned. Noel." It was i quavering little voice, but it thrilled him. IIow like she was to their child. JiSITiSsJ <mLf Christmas Chime: V By Arthur Stringer L r--? ?? ! l?u/?r 1?I(K lilt Kt\d tuni A gust of chimes takes flight Where thM dim golden boat the moon Drifts slowly down the night. II. Like startled birds. It swings and climbs. Alone, aloud. afart A thousand.pinioned flock of chimes That float from star to star. III. They tire, and fail, and turn, and cease.Joy's homing birds.?and then For one glad Christmas Day of peace Nest in the hearte_of menl And then the bells clashed fortl their message, "Peace on Earth. Good will Towards Men," and to two heart they carried a sweeter, deeper messagt still. 1 ?A email flonirp -Ml woru \>U* ?iniiwm. n ^muu UB?.. in n smoking jacket that reached t( his lieels, stood at the dividing dooi an eager face turned to either. And husband and wife kissed silent ly?New York News. Ah to Santa Clans. With our modern fangled notions Fairy tales no longer do; 'Stead of coming down the chimney, He has now gone un the flue. Willing Willie, or Just liefore Christina! \*\mr T05W] !|.\ wittif^ 'jrii!' 1, i- . _ / ?' The Pinata. y n An Importer t. Member of the Mtx'czn n- Christmas Party. One of tbe important members of the o Mexican Christmas party is the pinata, it which may he the figure of a clown, is a ballet (lancer or a bull fighter, but c is always dressed in a pair of blooin<1 ers stuffed with good things. One of the children, blindfolded and armed n with a long pole, attempts to break d these bloomers. t- It attempts, but fails iugloriously, d says the Ledger Monthly, for there p seems to be a sort <if centritngal force e about the pinata. And the pole strikes n I C ^ e AAm.Mrt mr wiuu ui n? liuiitv, nui ta>uu vuuiiij^ 11 ,?t i. !'A \V\V\ V-Vriil\wfa _ jPj jO J?iH ir / 8 _____ __rys^& 1 I i / ? cS2r ' "^j PINATA. % * 0 within a few feet of its enemy. Then the combatant is unblindfoldcd and some other child is Riven a chance to strike the pinata, who seems to wax wroth at these futile attempts of on? slaught and say, "Hit me if you dare." J Again an attempt is made, centripetal f force begins to assert itself, and a gay sandal comes plunging madly down upon the head of some unfortunate vieS tim. This provokes a laugh from the n crowd, even the person t truck joining s in, though, on account of his suddenly aching head, his laugh may be * a faint, assumed one. So, one by one, j 1 the children arc given a chance to rend i " asunder, if not to dislodge, the pinata, 1 ' and should tboy all fail, one by one the adults arm themselves with the i hitherto futile weapon. Wildly they strike?purposely in mid-air, to evoke * laughter from the gleeful children?un^ til finally the bloomers and blouse are ripped asunder. Then a deluge of sweets, the contents of the olla which pfelSTMASp j n the blouse hid and the pole struck, \ I come raining down and impartially , j strike alike the heads of the just and the unjust, and for which there is a general scramble. The Family Day. Chi 1st mas seems to be the only holi- i ' day that remains exclusively a family day. Football has wrested Thanksgiving day from its seclusion, fashion has turned New Year's into a day of social functions, but neither fun nor 9, fashion has been able to tear down the : traditional Christinas stocking, or to lure individuals away from the enjoyment of private pleasure. To be sure, Santa Claus himself has been brought 1 before stern ethical judges and the Christmas dinner has been criticised by hygienic ones. The Christmas tree lias been called a firebrand and "ye - olden time yule log" has been sup- ! planted by the gas grate. But in spite of these changes and criticisms the day j remains what it has always been, a i day when family feeling runs high and 1 when the flower of fraternity is at its ! fairest. Business and politics are for- ; s gotten for once; it is not how vhe mar ket goes, but how his new mt filer becomes him that interests man on that day, and it is the fate of puddings 1 rather than of politicians that he ' watches with eagerness. It is a mat- j nAnirrahllfltinn th?t_ flsiflp from 'i * its religious significance, Christmas j still retains its rights as a day set | aside for domestic observances,?Chi- , cago Tribune. Another Event. ' - Tr^rr ' { GET W XMAb p ? "Well, Christmas comes but once a year." "Shucks! So does me birthday!"? New York Journal. FLAO HAULED DOWN Tlie Unspeakable Turk Seeking More Trouble Willi Uncle Sam CONSUL ASSAULTED IN TURKEY The Outrage Will, It is Thought, Lead to Strong Action on the Part of the United States. Constantinople, By Cable.?The United States flag over the consulate at Alexandretta, Asiatic Turkey, has been hauled down and Consul Davies has left his post for Beirut, in consequence of the serious diplomatic incident, during which Mr. Davies was insulted and assaulted by the local police. The affair grew out of the arrest cf an Armenian, Ohannes Attarian, a naturalized American citizen. Attarian has been in prison at Al?pon during the last two months, and had just been liberated through intervention of the American consular agent, on condition of his leaving the country forthwith. Mr. Davles was accompanying Attarian on board a departing steamer, when the police intercepted the party, assaulted aiflfl Insulted Mr. Davic-s, and despite the resistance of the consular and his attendant guards re-arresetd Attarian, and took him back to prison. Mr. Davles, immediately lowered the flag from over the consulate, and formally broke off relations with the Turkish authorities by quitting Alexandretta, leaving the consulate in charge of the vice consul. A mob of Moslems seized the occasion to make a hostile demonstration against the consulate and against the Christians, generally. The local authorities assert that Mr. Daves struck the police with a cane and that after the re-arrest of Attarian the consular canvasses (military couriers, attempted to rescue him and that in the fracas which ensued the canvasses broke the windows of the prison. The matter i6 engaging the energetic attention of the United States legation here. Minister Leishman has made urgent representations to the Porte, and is now awaiting a fuller reDort before takine further steps. Cablegram From Davles. Washington, Special.?The State Department has received a brief cablegram from Consul Davis, at Alexanddretta, Asiatic Turkey, saying that he had trouble with the local police at that place, and had left for Beirut in consequence. The State Department cabled Minister Lelschman, at Constantinople, to institute a thorough investigation of the whole affair. The Navy Department has so far taken no steps toward sending any warships to Alexandretta. The State Department does not anticipate any serious difficulty as a result of this incident, for it does not doubt that the Turkish government will make proper amends for any misconduct of its officials at Alexandretta. Herbert Spencer Dead. London, By Cable.?Herbert Spencer, the famous author, died Tuesday at his homfl In Ttriehtnn. His health had been failing for some months. The illness took a critical turn a few days ago, and he became unconscious last night, passing away without pain. By his own desire, the least possible information was given out during Mr. Spencer's illness. He was born in 1820. The newspapers all publish long appreciations and anecdotes of Mr. Spencer, whom they universally describe as the "last of the great thinkers of the Victorian age." Herbert Spencer was born at Derby on April 27, 1820. He was a celebrated English philosopher and founder of the system named by himself the synthetic philosophy. He was educated by his father, a schoolmaster, and by hi3 uncle. He was articled to a civil engineer in 1837. but in 1845 abandoned engineering and devoted himself to literature. He was assistant editor of The Economist from 1848 to 1853 and in 1S82 visited the United States, where he gave a number of lectures. His first effort in the field of general literature nas a series of letters to The Nonconformist, on "The Proper Sphere of Government," which appeared in 1842. In 1835, four years before the appearance of Darwin's "Origin of Species," he published his "Principles of Phycholo?y," which is based on the principle of evolution. He was the author of a large number of books. Ghoulish Work. Newport News, Va., Special.?The police are on the trail of an organized band of ghouls, who, for many weeks, It is believed, has been engaged in desecrating the graves in Greenlawn Cemetery and robbing the newly-interred bodies of t.he:r jewelry, shrouds - -J "CWi-rt c?lQor\v?Hoa mrtflcx a LIU UlCllliUg. X'AVTAAA UiMWfv.ivw ?*? v*vtv~, it is evident that this practice has been carried on, but to what extent is not at this time known. Two bodies that were exhumed for the purpose of removal to other lots were discovered to be in a completely nude condition, notwithstanding the fact that both bodies had been buried in handsome and costly clothing. Bridge Collapses. Chattanooga, Tenn., Special.?A special from Adams Station, Tennessee, says: "The new bridges under construction across Red river at Port Royal collapsed while the false work was being removed. Several men were precipitated into the water. N. E. Wooldridge was so badly injured that he died within a few hours. Another man had both legs broken and two others were seriously injured, although probably not fatally." - ; THE COLOMBIAN EXPEDITION, f ?^ Gen. Reyes Responsible for the Coun* termanding Order. Colon, by Cable.?The French steamer Fournel arrived here Friday from Savanilla and Cartegena. She was the first vessel to reach this port since the decree closing those ports to vessels to and from Colon was cancelled. The authorities of the Department of Bolivar aro still unreconciled to the loss of the Isthmus, which they do not regard as hopeless, aa they issue clearances papers not for the republic of Panama, but for "Co Ion, Department de Panama." me Fournel's agent has received no confirmation of the movements of Colombian troops on the Atrato river, but a passenger of the Fournel informed the correspondent of the Associated Press that a rumor was current at Cartegena that the cruiser Cartegena about ten days ago embarked at night time ove ra thousand troops bound for the Gulf of Dariam, witli the object of constructing a road to Cauca. Gov. Melinzen, in an interview, said: "I have just learned officially through passingers of the Fournel that the Colombian warships General Pinzon and Cartegena left Cartegena at the beginning of December, having on board the same 450 troops which General Tovaf brought to Colon. These were landed at the Rio Atrato, with instructions to build a road towards Panama, But, after terrible suffering for four days, in their efforts to go up the river in 1 small boats and canoes, and ebing in want of provisions of all kinds, their supplies having been soaked with water and completely spoiled, the troops resolved net to go any further. The pasesngers also amrm tne troops have since returned to Cartagena." News has been received here from the interior to the effect that 4,000 Colombian troops left Bogota a fortnight ago to go down the Magadelena river, but on reaching Honda they received orders countermanding the movement and returned to Bogota, December 2. It is believed that Gen- * eral Reyes is responsible for the countermanding of the order. Afro-Amrrican Council. Washington, Special.?The sub-committee of the executive committee of the National Afro-American Council last week decided to hold the next meeting of the council at St Louis, September 4, 1904, and appointed a committee of five to appear before the platform committee of the next national Republican convention to urge that it take vigorous action in reference to the practical denial in a number of States of tuffra^e to the negro. TIia fnllAmitwr rocrfclll H An Q WPTA adopted: "We are opposed to the un-Republican principle of drawing the color line in the Republican party, which has been inaugurated in certain States^ to the detriment of the party, and to the injury of some of the most uncompromising supporters of its policy in the past, and we believe that the proposed reduction of representation in the national Republican convention would be an injustice which the party should not v perpetrate. "We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the President of the United States for daring, at all times to stand up for impartial justice and the manhood rights guaranteed by the constitution and by laws based there- * on. We have never asked special consideration in any matter affecting the common rights of citizens and slncere?v hoHPVP that he has not sought to give us such. He h3a treated us just like other citizens; we have never asked for more, and will not be satisfied with less. By announcing that would not submit to the closing of the door of hope to us, he played the whole gamut of principles for which the nation stands and for which its founders dedicate their lives, their fortunes and theinr sacred' honor." Among those present were Bishop Vv'alte-, T. Thomas Fortune, Cyrus Field Adams, William A. Pledger, of Georgia; Walter L. Colier, of Louisiana, and John C. Dancy, of North Carolina. News In Paragraphs. Dr. Edwin Wotr, Hughes was inaa' "* 1 -1?* Domq/ guraiea presmem, ui u\i x u.ut> slty, Indiana. Elmer Kemp, a Maryland bricklayer now living in York, Pa., is said to have fallen heir to $20,000. Mrs. Katie Ludwick, a Broason (Mich.) bride, is charged with the murder of her husband. Miners fired on deputies near Berwind, Colorado. Secretary Cortelyou explains in his first annual report the methods to be adopted by the Department of Commerce and Labor in investigating coroorations. The Democratic National Committee will meet in Washington on January 12. 1904, to fix the time and place of holding the national convention next year. Many members of the Republican National Committee have arrived in Washington to attend the meeting of their committee tomorrow. In his annual report General Gilles pie, Chief of Engineers, discusses riyer and harbor improvements in Maryland The torpedo-boat flotilla will be conveyed from Key West to Manila by the cruiser Buffalo A Colombian Army of 1,100 was reported marching on Panama, and that the United States was preparing to resist the advance. A Russion squadron, it was. stated has been sent to Chemulpo, Korea, to prevent Korea from opening the port cf Yongampho. Cora Dowager Countess of Strafford married M. E. Kennard in London. Italian Finance Minister Luuatti stated in Parliament the policy of tie new Ministry. *' ' .% -V v*