Evening Star Newspaper, August 16, 1890, Page 7

ll i * THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON. D.C.. SATURDAY. AUGUST 16, 1 90—SIXTEEN PAGES. “BEAUTY” FALKNER. en The aspiring young men of her acquaintance had bitter habit of calling her “Lollipop” among themselves in intensest sarcasm. Be- cause she was tall, above the average height of Woman, with hair and brows straight and black as an Indian's and a haughty, fine, cruelly clear-cut face; because she bore herself with the complete nonchalance of a woman of the World, though she was only nineteen, and, lastly. because her father was the possessor of cool million at least and she had all and sev- erally refused these her admirers, The statuesque austerity of Miss Falkner’s beauty was relieved somewhat by # constant languid flush in her cheeks, as though she suffered eternal boredom from the attentions of those about her, aud a voice of the sweetest tones, also adapting itself to this same privilege of infinite leisare, and frequently pausing be- fore completion of a sentence, thus intimating that the easy abstraction of her own thoughts held more charms for her than the countenance of the most animated listener. Her eyes were expressive, and, in fact, were not infrequently used by her to save the necessity of cther speech, Pithe father Falkner, 8 © widower, had suf- fered considerably in the training of his only child. if anything in the course of that per- turbed history could have conquered his ave: sion to marrying again it would have been the hope of sharing mutually with some intelli- ent human being in the responsibility of Miss aikner's cafe and accomplished Isunching into womanhood. He loved her with a fatherly intensity, and be had employed nurses, companions and gov- ernesses not a few. Miss Falkner was now supposed to be profoundly educated, and she was launched on the selectest wave of social eminence; nevertheless, the syntax and orthography she had employed in the occa- ional letters she nad written her father in his absences had filled him with dismay, and he still tremblingly doubted whether, if his proud offspring should once decide to take the bit in her teeth, all the combined forces he could bring to bear on the question could pre- ‘vent disaster and a runaway. But there was —— in whom he had absolute confidence—Hiram W. Spaulding, jr., founder of the Spaulding Steel and Iron Works, Spauldingvilie. Richer men than he had pro- posed for ‘Beauty” Falkner’s hand, but the father had detected in Hiram qualities of men- tal acuteness, stability and promising financial growth far outweighing. to his mind, the session of thousands more in the hands of ordi- nary individuals or pampered spendthrifts, And Hiram was not only keen and money wise; he was generous in the right place and pro- foundly honorable. Mr. Falkner loved him, confided in bim as companionably as though he had been twenty years neurer his own age and, above all. implicitly relied upon him to marry Kate, his daughter—‘Keauty” Falkner, revengefully called “Lollipop.” How he could consistently reconcile his love for Hiram with this earnest conviction that he must and should marry Kate may not at first appear, but he knew that Hiram was deeply in love with her and that there were as good iron and steel in the young man’s nature as any in Spauldingville. “He had an instinct as grave as & woman's that it would be a happy match and that itshould soon be brought about. The only obstacle in the way was Beautv’s own d termination, which, though not so reliabie a ways as the Spauldingville 1ron, had the more immediately disastrous and inflammable quali- ties of gunpowder. And it must be confessed that, from an ideal and artistic point of view, Hiram was not at all a worthy parti, He had been the most muscular man im his class. but bis height was only slightly above Kate's own. He was usuaily several seasons behind in the style of his coats and trousers, which then appeared striking only by their modera- Men Uelad dragged tae, devel’ ia every feature of fine chiseling, and had a stout caprice for trimming his own mustache. naturally shuddered at the thought of any ap- ‘oach to that bristling member. Though coi- ze bred. he was not nearly so gifted in the art of conversation as he was in standiug awk- wardly silent. with bis hands in his pockets, He was not in the least interesting. “Have you ever reaily proposed to her, Hiram?” said Mr. Falkner, eagerly. “Yes, said Hiram to Beauty's father, between his strong white teeth, without other embar- rassment than a manly blush. “What di Or—a—rather, how did she act—be' a 7m?” “She was seated near the window. She con- tinued gazing out.” “Did you repeat the question?” “Idid, sir. She laughed a littleand looked at me—she has handsome e-: !—and then she said, m that slow, exasperating way of hers, ‘Imagine me marrying a man named Hi—Hi—Hiram Spaul—' There she paused and became lost in the view. ‘Spaul’ simply. and gazed out of the window as though I fad ceased to exist.” “Well! well! Why didu’t you up and sas, ‘You shall marry a man by the name of Spaul, or any other name that happens to be ? That's the way, Hiram. know—I know.” Hiram shook his head. “She would not have heard. She is even more accomplished in gazing indifferently out of the window when occasion requires than she is in the art of penmanship. Both men laughed sadly and;appreciatively at this solemn joke between them. “Lord!” exclaimed the elder, presently; “I don't know what she’s been up to. She can’t write—or read either, for aught I know. She's been too much for ‘em, I suspect, Hiram,” said he, very sadly. “I suspect Kate's been pretty full of the devil.” Hiram smiled. “Ob, she can read ordinarily ll,” he replied; but ded, “She can ride ter.” ou shall marry her and make a good woman of her, Hiram. You shall marry ber, or no man; that’s decided. We'll have no foreign nobleman, or native roue,or fancy Pauper business, mark my words,” “Yes, ll marry her,” said Hiram, reflect- ively, stroking his thorny mustache with a supple thumb and finger. “Meantime let her enjoy the landscape.” ‘The landscape about Port Holway was cer- tainly worthy of close regard at this season. Mr. Falkner had come here to his newly erected cottage, bringing horses and servants enough for M Kate's domineering pleasure. Her chief victim was Mrs. Hills, the worthy i dividual who was expected always to account for her punctually on papa’s return from the city. James, the groom, was never to fail to accompany her in her expeditions about the country on horseback and Mrs. Hills was not to fail to keep an eye on her in her walks and swimming excursions along the beach, for the country was wild and Kate was both beautiful and daring. James always saddled for himself the better horse, and had no diticulty in keeping up. Mrs. Hills was uot so fortunately situated, and her daily food was mixed with many a pang of uneasiness and terror. She considered Kate Falkner, and with reason, the most cruel and impish girl she had ever known. it bad been Kate's — from infancy to elude the vigi- those who only w take care of and she treated all dependents alike erly. m going out for asail. Hills, I'm goi Perey she called back against the wil reeze blowing, to the panting and struggli Mrs. Hills. ” — ips apn. “Blue fishing, marm?” said one of the group “=v seamen who were preparing their i. “Oh, yes, blue fishing, Tuke me at once. Pll per, 22%, Blue fish! “At once!” she called tae agonized Mrs. Hills. “Well. no, marm, we ain't. We ain’ 3 blue fishin” this mornin’, marr erates other business. But Rodney, * beyond there—see!—he's a-goin’ blue fishin’, marm; P bon marm. Rod-ney! Rod-ney! He'll wait: m't you hurry. You'll git there now som time before that elderly female, marm. She ects rather blowed, to tell the truth, marm. the nearer that Kate approached Rod- ney, who was going blue fishing, the more tall and graceful and comely did he appear, until, as she stood face to face with him, she realized that in this poor young fisherman on the Holway sands she had found her resolved ideal. The brown, stately throat, the deep blue eyes, the clustering curls, the silken mus- fache, they were all there. And Kate had earned to read well enough to absorb more than one work of imagiuative literature, She saw, as ina flash, Rodney saving her in 8 wreck—perbaps the wreck would occur that very day; it should if she could do anything toward helping it—her father embracing him with gratitude, bis self-abasement before ac- cepting such rank and beauty, her own queenly lifting of him from earth, Mra. Hills buried, society outraged, a lance of ber. ney’s purely Grecian nose were unmistakab], those of the natives alongshore. “Is that el derly woman a-tryin’ to ketch up? Does she Wanter go too?” Kate thought how soon a love such as should inspire Rodney for her would conquer any de- fects in bis nunciation, and at the same time another and a livelier thought occurred to her. “Oh, no,” she answered; “she wouldn't go for = world _ doctors have a her to e very violent exercise im morning. That's all, Push off at once.” Rodney put bia haud to the boatand then hes- itated. “She's a-callin’ somethin’ aud wavin’ her hands. Guess we'd better wait. Guess Til wait,” said Rodney. holding the boat with no evident flaw in this ination, “Oh, dear, then,” said Miss Falkner, “I'll run back and see.” “Kate—love—child, you're not going out in that shaky little sail boat, surciy? What would your father say? It’s positively against his in- structions.” “Instructions! Oh, bosh!” said Kate, who had certainly never regarded them as of any deeper significance. “Ci 's “But I forbid you! Till forbid that man! I'll tell hi ” “Don't you do it, Come along at once and Keep quiet or I'll kill you!” murmured Kate, softly. ‘Thus threatened with her untimely decease, at last Mrs, Hills wilted with the faintness of ‘ou look flustered, marm,” said Rodney, assisting her into the Yoat and regarding her with far more attention than he had bestowed on the younger woman. “Well I may,” replied Mrs. Hills, but glanced at Kate's smiling, unconscious face and dared not proceed further. “Be you this young lady’s mother?” inquired the inquisitive dweller by the sea. “No,” replied Mrs. Hills. ‘Miss F, mother was mercifully taken from life's sor- rows while her child was still a mere infant.” The young man received this piously and simply. Kate heard much more in it than he did. ‘She laughed. __ ‘We are going over to Cone Island blue fish- ing, dear Mrs. Hills,” she said. ‘The effort would be more fatiguing for you than my father could possibly allow. Will you remain in the boat, which will probably be safe unless agale should come up, or select # place of shelter on the island, being careful to get out of the reach of high tide, however?” Mrs. Hills shivered. “Why sho!” said Rodney, “I'll see that Mra. Hills is safe and comfortable—safe and com- fortable. why, sho!” Mrs. Hills was inspired with dden grate- ful confidence in Roduey. She was not ill pleased to seat herself in a quiet nook, under his direction, with her book. and depute to him for a few hours the espionage of her delightfal charge. “I guess you'll enjoy this more than trolling for’em in the boat,” said Rodney. ‘Besides, Mrs. Hills there, she was nervous after I put the sails up. She feels easier ashore.” He complacently filled a large clay pipe and lit it. As he baited Miss Falkner’s line and threw it out for her, the smoke from that rustic pipe was wafted full into her beauteous, her haughty, her worshipful She, to whom the least breath of the cholce perfume of Hiram Spaulding’s cigar had been obnox- fous, drank in this stiff breeze of plebeian to- bacco with no evidence of discomfort. She ran or stood still with the line according as Rodney commanded. Once, when she had the good fortune to run in with a large fish, his orders were unmodified andterse. She obeyed implicitly, a lurking revengefulness in her bright, mischievous eyes. But if Rodney had been handsome while waiting listlessiy on the beach in the moruing he appeared now a very god of the seas. throwing the line out with his swift, powerful arm, his eyes glowing with the excitement of the sport and the sharp com- mands issued to his savagely delighted pupil, the wind in his cheeks and the sait air im his thick, wet curls. So the two fished togetheras wildly and eagerly as savage children. Kate herself had been too pleased and excited to note until now, us she was growing a trifle wearied. that it was the sport alone Rodney was absorbed in and not in any sense the rare, the singular, the un- paralleled privilege of Beauty Falkuer's society. She thonght to remedy this unprecedented fact in her experience by an appeal to Roduey with her dark, thrilling eyes. “I'm tired,” she drawled, suddenly relegating to the dim past all interest in the fishing question. ‘Take me home at once”—she returued to him the gaze languidly diverted toward the sea—‘‘at once; do you hear?” Rodney composedly puffed a vigorous cloud Pogo os era pent pai proceeded to fill nis bag with the fish they had caught. “Twenty-four! I swan, you'd ought to been born along shore. You're a perfect little shark at ’em. you are!” ’ ung sailor's eyes were fixed shiningly on his spoils, though his tone was not without @ certain sort of admiration. “Thank you,” replied Miss Falkner, fine, chilling accents which would ha’ most men to look at her. in those caused shoulder. " he said, as gavly and peremp- uty herself bad ever pronounced those words. At the boat Kate lifted to him again those en- thralling orbs. She even Jaid on his wretched tarpaulin sleeve a hand as really lovely as was any ever chronicled in fiction. ‘We will ran the boat out a little way and hide under the island somewhere, just to see what Mrs. Hills will do when she discovers we are gone. Come, I wish to go at once.” Rodney saluted her with another burly waft from his pipe. As he meditated a slow illumi- nation dawned on his features. He removed his pipe for a moment. and allowed that in- genuous smile to lurk about his mouth under his knightly mustache. ‘That ‘ud be quite a joke for you and me, wouldn’t it?” “Well, I wish to go, that’s all; so please push your boat out at once.” “Guess not, Guess it 'ud be too hardon Mrs, Hills.” ‘The stupid, innocent youth stood still, smil- ingly chewing that far-off flavor of wickedness suggested dy Miss Falkner. She glanced at him impatiently, a spark in her eye. “I employed you to use your boat for my pleasure today. I wish to put out for a lit- ; that is enough.” you didn’t employ me to scare did you?” It was almost the first time he had looked at iy is fine eyes twinkled upon her with just a shadow of re- proach in their clear blue depths. Poor — he was, Kate Falkner believed that she loved him. He was quite unconscious of that fact. “You set down in the boat,” said he, izingly, “and I'll go and get Mra, Hills.’ Kate sat down and ngely mediated. “You look tired, love.” said Mrs. Hills, when they were securely seated in the boat toget! pillowing Kate's head on her kind bosom; wasone of her duties as well. Kate did not hesitate to make a reposeful refuge of that maligned and cruelly entreated breast. She fell sound asleep. At the landing she woke —— moved off a little way with Mrs. Hills. Then, as if the thought had suddenly oceurred to her, “Oh, I forgot to pay him!” she exclaimed, and ran back. Rodney was fastening iis boat; she put some money in his hand. Her brilliant eyes were large and liquid from their repose; there was a vivid rose color where her check had pressed against Mrs. Hills’ dress. “I was very naughty,” she said. indeed. Wiil you let me go again?” Rodney gave her a good-night waft from his now relighted pipe. “Why, sho! yes,” he re- plied, simply; ‘in course you may.” Mra. Hills enjoyed so much assistance given her by the serious and able-bodied Rod- ney in chaperoning her difficult charge that she did not mention to Mr. Falkner the various fish- ing excursions which went on under ber per- sonal knowledge and permission. Hiram Spaulding came down at the host's in- vitation to spend the Sabbath. He observed that Miss Falkner was particularly light hearted, mischievous and insolent, but he did not appear to suffer in the least from her light- ness. He talked on the grave subjects of busi- nessand politics with Mr. Falkner and ap- peared to enjoy strolling by himself to the ach, his prudent money making hands thrust in the pockets of his medium-style trousers, He did not follow Kate nor seek conversation with her, as he had formerly been wont to do. Kate would not admit it to herself, but she was piqued. She even fancied he might have fallen in love with somebody else, which, thoug! had no use for his aifections, was an nd entirely inadmissible. They hap- pened to be standing side by side over some i er father’s study and she said, sotto voce: “If you were only several inches taller you would be such a nice height for me, ‘Mr. Spaul.” She was thinking blissfully of her blue-eyed Adonis of the seas, “Oh, thank you,” said Mr. Spaulding, in his mellow voice, quite indifferently. “A man who could throw every other man in his class doesn’t care for a matter of an inch or two in height. And you—pardon me—from the point of view of beauty, I think you're rather too = out, you know,” and dawdled trap- quilly ogee ‘aikner’ yy father’s call Hiram Spaul out, ‘Then she remembered how aes Label core the affections and thies of the two and that she could hat > ne he patron- “T'm sorry, stolid, unimpressionable, she believed, simply because the thought of such an ecstatic fate could not pierce his humble imagination. And she was only waiting tor the right moment to let the faintest dawn of hope glimmer on his | slow mind. They were outin the boat trolling for fish together, Mra. Hills securely watching them from a comfortable seat on the beac: “I have been insulted, Rodney,” said Kate. Ab! the victims of the past who would furi- ously have grasped the cudgels at such an in- ation. “Sho!” said Rodney, without further speech. But it was not Miss Falkner’s imagination; his blue eyes were wistful, sad, today. “And by a dear friend of my father, too. It was simply inhuman! “Waal, , What did"he say to you?” ‘He said”—Miss Falkner lifted her magnetic eyes with a dark look which forbade any less serious interpretation of the crime—"he said— fancy it from a gentieman—he said that I was too ‘spun out!” o ““Waal,you would make rather a wafty figger- ead,” “You'd lean some to o id Rodney. iter I reckon.” “How droll you are, Rodney,” said Beauty Falkuer. But Rodney looked anything rather than merry. He labored faithfully at the line, for he was earning his daily bread; but it was ident that for some reason today it would be an easy matter for the tears to gush forth and down his cheeks. Mis: er could put but one interpretation upon ftness: it was poor Rodney's artless way of being in love. And yet she meant to play with hima little before elevating him to the final pinnacle of bliss. cor pole figure head!” She laughed me- todiously. That term in itself was a compli- ment, ing the highest work of art along shore. “Then, don't you think in a north- wester, as you say. 1 should need a very—a vory strong arm to lean on, Rodney?" There was no mistake about it now; the tears were standing out in the young man’s wistful sea-biue eyes. “Rodney, 1f you could have your choice among alithe women you have ever seen, those you might love and those you dared not, you know—and yet for once suppose you might—suppose You might, Roduey—which would you choose?” “Why, Anualtce, in course.” said Rodney. “But 1 wa'n’t thinkin’ much about that. I was thinkin’ about my littie boy.” “Your little boy!’ Kate's red lips parted breathlessly, Then the color left them as they compressed; her eyes grew very black and large. Kodney did not see. Ho was hastily draw- ing his sleeve across his own eyes. “Yes, ma‘am; he’s very sick. Miss Phoebus she’s in helpin’ Annaluce, but he’s been growin’ weaker ever since Saturday.” “How mauy children have you, Rodney?” Kate's tones were as even and cool as though she was discussing the weather with a society acquaintance. “three, There's little Rod that’s sick and ud the baby Abe.” And your wife is also—Annaluce—is she ““Is she one of the natives along shore, as you ye ‘No. Imarried her while we was up in Canada, She's some part Indian.” “Oh!” said Miss Falkner, tossing her proud head with charming laughter; “she's only one of those wives that you buy for $20, then, Roduey.” “Idon't know "bout them sort of wives,” said Rodney; ‘but $20,000, nor 20,000 times that couldn't buy Annaluce trom me.” “We was married,” said he, ‘jest the common wa: and repeated, in his abashed sing-song tones, “for richer or poorer, for better or worse, till death do us part, But there was a steadfastness as simple and profound as the depths under him looking out of his innocent blue eyes, Miss Failkuer had shot her last shaft and it had returned to her powerless, Still she spoke coolly, almost insoleutly. if Rodney had been skilled to detect that fine quality in her tones, “May I call and see your wife, Rodney, and your home?” “It's only that little cottage way down there —the brown one; the smallest one. When do you want to come? “At once,” Rodney, with an answering heart now pulled swiftly to the shore. ‘The cottage was very small, very brown. Annaluce was ‘just the common” looking sort of woman Kate Falkner thought. More than that, her face was disfigured with care and tears, her hands worn with labor, her poor old cotton frock ‘simply shocking.” The embarrassment which Annaluce would ordinarily have suffered under the visitation of so brilliant and wonderful a guest was en- tirely lost sight of in her humble distress over her wick child. She nodded to Kate, regarding her vaguely through her tear-stained eyes, and went up to Rodney. “The doctor told you he’d come,” said she, “but he hasn't. They always ‘tend to others first. ‘They never hurry so about coming to the likes of us. And little Rod, he’s worse; and he suffers 6 “Doesn't come! He shall come,” said Kate, “He shail come to you atonce. I know Dr. Giles. My name is Falkner.” With these magnificent words, uttered in a very sweet voice, she began to walk swittiy, then to run, tow: her father’s house on the In two moments after reaching it she was galloping down toward the Point, the startled james fullowing at full speed. ‘he doctor came. ‘I will pay you anything—anything to save this child, doctor,” Kate said, She stood firmly and nervously tapping her boot with her riding whip. It must be done. Send for other phy- sicians; give him attendance nights, You un- derstand. I have set my heart on it, It must be done.” And from that hour everything that skill and care could do was done for little Roduey in that poor cottage by the sea. But they could not save him, and 80 at last he lay with his noble little face in passing peace. framed pictur- esquely, like his father’s, in its rich iight curls. Kate had been constantly back and forth in attendance, eager. unwearied, humble, plead- ing even, in her eiforts to help and save. When they pointed her early one morning to the still little form covered on the bed she turned, and a sob broke from her sharp and quick, as though some mortal pain had pierced her too. She went over where the poor mother was kneeling. Annaluce looked up at ber with that look of absolute assurance of undying love which broods in the eyes of women over their lost children, Kate knelt down. ‘Let me kiss him too,” she said. “I have been so wicked, so heedless, but Iwill be a better woman—lI will, indeed. Let me kiss him. The woman motioned her calm hand in per- mission. As ® sacrament that was to endure through all her life henceforth Kate kissed the child's pure cold lips and turned again and drew the mother to her heart. So broken was she with sobs the pathetic endurance of the other yielded on her breast. Kate held her. ‘You will have your little one again,” said she who had been Kate : Falk- ner, with light shining through ber tearful eyes, and kissed her, too. “Only let me be your friend. Ihave not made many friends, and so I think the more of it, yousee. I will be true to you and yours. Do you think I could ever an bP that little face? As long as I live, if you will let me, I will bea friend and protector to you and yours.” ‘The woman looked up with a strange, curious bewilderment into Kate's shining face and for- ever after trusted her. Mrs. Hille drank in the wonder of these things afar off and dimly, as it were. Kate was not a girl to wear her heart upon her sleeve, and yet the actual change in her behavior was a fact which became impressed more and more ee Hills’ mind beyond the shadow of a jou Mrs. Hills, though she had been subjected to other associations less genial, was of Methodist nurture and proclivities. She met Mr. Falk- ner joyfully on his return from New York, a strange excitement overcoming for once her natural timidity and deference. “Dear Mr. Falkner, Ihave such good news for you,” she whispered, almost breathlessly. “Ithink—I am sure—Kate has met with a change of heart.” “Good God, madam!” said Mr. Falkner, who, though he wished the furtherance of all good things, was eminently conservative. Neverthe- less he attached importance enough to Mrs, Hills’ startling disclosure to send immediately for Hiram Spaulding to come down and spend anoth; Sabbath, Hiram came in a more modified suit of clothes than ever, the hair, which always grew thickest in a bunch over his left ear, looking Tr distraught; he had been making mone: band over fist, and puzzling over a new an syecessful invention in the iron works, He took a° walk to the beach Sundsy morning and threw silver to the ragged fishers’ children and laughed and entertained himself with them, to = great emolument Peas delight. riding it on her high-bred horse, saw him ‘thus sfitsg ta te sand, a bare-l Siovthining pieces of silver which sppeuted to of silver which appear here and there out of the lifted his hat, blushed returned to his humble ee “Tha’s Miss Falkner,” said one of his little who was in a stage of temporary tooth- “Yes, [know,” said Hiram, the silver mint for- gotten for hile, while he drew lines in the sand with bis cane. “Bhe kwied st Wodney Lester's funeral, so she did. She came and she kwied and walked behind all the way, so she did.” “I guess not. my little man.” “Yes, she did!” retorted the small seaman, squaring for his word in spite of past benefits. “Yes, she did; yes, she did!” said the chorus of high-pitched voices, knows her. Her father owns this nocean clear out to the point, so he does. And she kwied, and she kwied,' they repeated. with morbid interest in the ex- pression of Hiram's countenance at this an- nouucement, “U-m-m!" said Hiram, monotononsly, re- opening the mine. At evening Hiram sat reflectively in the library window and wondered if Miss Falkner would condescend to give him a few moments of her superior society. ‘That young woman came in presently and advanced toward him with queenly graciousness, “Let me congratulate you, Mr. Spaul—ding,” she said, sweetly completing the whole sentence. “Why—why so?” said Hiram, rising in his <wevens courteous way, and placing for her a chair. “Because I had understood”—Kate hesitated and blushed vividly, suddenly remembering from what mental consciousness alone that information had arisen—*that you are en- gaged.” “Why, no!” said Hiram, “TI had not thought of such @ thing. At least,” he added (he feared nothing when once launched), “unless I can be engaged to the girl I want. You know very well who that girl is, Kate—Miss Falkner.” Hiram had said this before, and he repeated it rather sadly, without looking for a response; nevertheless there was # decided combination of the Spauldingville iron and steel in his un- expectant attitude. Kate, looking at him, thought strangely it must be very sad to love any one so faithfully and long as Hiram had loved her without any recognition or return. “I don't see why any one should want such a girl as I am,” she said, She completed this sentence, too. She bad re- turned to her old trick of gazing out of the window, but the bright glow on her face was pitifal rather than insolent; there had been a slight choking in her voice. Hiram regarded her with amaze and a quick beating of the heart. He believed now she had been to the little boy’s funeral and that she had “cried.” “You are good enough for me,” he said, with the sudden speed and force of a Well-turned locomotive, Kate smiled. “It would—please papa, wouldn't it?” said she, hiding a certain gasping in her young voice under this cloak of filial regard. “Enormously!” blurted out Hiram. turning this sudden curve with no slackening of the brakes, “It is very kind of yor oe with the land: ” said Kate, intently Hiram trembled. she going to pause in the old insulting Considering,” she went on, a slight in- timation of malice m her softened eyes, “that 1am so much ‘too much spun out.” Hiram laughed rapturously. “Why, darling.” said he, “I wouldu’t have one-half inch less of you for all—all the steel and iron in the uni- verse!” Kate suffered a kiss trom the bristling mustache with as little as possible visible exhi- bition of fortitude. ‘Aud, dearest,” Hiram went on, in his quick, mellow tones, “when will you consent to make your father happy? Say the old phrase, Kate; it's so familiar to you. Say it. j more! Say it, Kate!” ” said Kate, marveling. “At once, “Indeed,” replied Kate, very earnestly, “I won't say"—she darted a pathetic flash at him out of her willful, softened eyes—‘‘at once.” Harper's Weekly. -see Written for Tre EVENING STAR, A Cloudy Dog-Day. O cold, gray day on breast of summor lying; O cold, gray sky so somber and so still; O fitful, sad east wind so gently sighing; ‘Thy pensive reveries the spirit fill. Oasis of Autumn in an August prairt Breeze of vast ovean on a mountain side; No wizard wand or elfin ring of fairy Could quicken fancy to a fonder tide. The ripe and mellow fruitage of the season— Luxuriant foliage, wild flowers, perfumed air— Is fanned and tempered by the breath of reason— Nature less florid is by far more falr. Welcome the quiet memories and the shadows! Welcome the deeper feelings of the soul! A tropic sun again will deck the meadows; ‘The cold, gray clouds from the cerulean roll. —Davip GRAHAM ADER. RS. Lord Coleridge Tells Whero They Differ From the English. From the Contemporary Review. There is one possibly impending change. I mean the introduction of the American prac- tice as to our profession; the allowing the functions of the attorney and the functions of the barrister to be exercised by the same person. It is true that in the great cities of America, where there are firms of lawyers, the principles of natural selec- tion send seme of the firms into court and keep others in chambers, so that the practice a nek deal modifies the principle. But the principle remains, and I believe the extension of it to England is not so very faroff. Whetber it will be a benefit or not I do not feel sure. I once asked Mr. Benjamin, who had had ex- perience of both systems, which, upon the whole, he thought the best. He replied that the question could not be answered ina word. “If,” he sata. “you ask me which is best fitted for producing from time to time a dozen ora score of very eminent and highly cultivated men, men fit to play a great part in public affairs, and stand up for the oppressed and persecuted in times of trouble and danger, I should tad at once the English. If you ask me which is best in ordinary times for the vast majority of clients, I answer at once the American.” This was very weighty and very impartial evidence, and I think, if Mr. Benja- min was right, that what is clearly for the benefit of the vast majority of clients is cer- tain to be established in the end. Without ex- pressing any opinion whatever upon recently controverted facts, which I cannot do and which would be quite improper for me if I could, I may say so much as this, that I think they have appreciably hastened the advent of the change. ——— Blessed Are the Peace Makers, From the Chicago Mail. “You know I live ina quiet hotel on the South Side,” said a well-known club man. “Well, around the corner and half a block down an alley I’ve rented a stable, where I keep my horse and phaeton. I was feeling a little like a drive out the boulevard yesterday morning, and so after breakfast I walked around to have my boy hitch up the horse. “I was possibly half way down the alley lead- ing to my stable when I heard a row over the fence inthe yard inthe rear of a residence fronting on the parallel street. There was a woman anda man in it; I could tell that by the voices, I stopped and listened, “ «Oh, shut up and get into the house; I've had enough of your lies,’ he said. “ ‘And I've had enough of your coming home drunk every night. too. I know where you go, and there’s hardly a bucket of coal in the cellar, too; a nice husband you are!” “Get in there and shut up, or I'll choke the wind out of you!’ “You'd better try it, you coward! You just lay a finger on me and I'll scratch the face off you, Why don’t you do it, eh?” “That settledit. Hediddoit, There wasa struggle, a scream, ® gasp, some cuss words anal yanked the gate open and jumped into the yard. I'd heard about the danger of such a proceeding, but I never could stand to see a woman abused, I don’t care who or what she we oresor: table-lookin; too, “These were respectable- r9 5 cad ticksueepiantlilebarl« wiee t got in, the man, a well-built young fellow of about thirty, had a very red-faced and scared young woman in a morning wrapper by the neck against the wall and she was ling and trying vainly to use her nails on his “It wase pretty hot family affair, but I couldn’t retreat, I said, ‘Here, drop that woman! What are you are trying to do, kill her ‘He let go and turned like a flash. ‘What's that your business? Get out of that gate or T'll throw you out, you!” ‘ou let that woman alone, or I'll call a po- liceman,’ “The threat didn’t go, Ho started for me and I retreated discreetly to the le rescued fair one had by this time wind and she started toward me, too. “Hit him, Jack! hit him! she howled. ‘Throw him out! You white-headed, fat old fool, you; what is it your business what we do in our own Kick him, “And Ji tried to, but I got out the and went toward my own barn with discreet, if undignified fs or jealous or shrewish wives to death for all me. It’s dangerous to monkey with ‘em.” 7 i f WHAT CANDY CUSTS. How Small Fortunes Can be Spent on BSweetmeats. From the New York World. Violets and rose leaves, delicately candied, are for sale at $5 a pound. Gold dragees, a plain round candy dipped in gold, cost $10 @ pound. Silver dragees cost 1.50 per pound. Fruit candies cost 80 cents, Chocolates and bonbons of the finest de- scription are 80 cents, Caramels. cups and drops are 50 cents, Lime tablets, frequently used on steamers to Prevent sea sickness, cost 60 cents a pound and come in bottles, Cream peppermints are also used for steamer purposes by young women and children. These are the same price. Taffy and molasses drops, besides old-fash- ioned molasses candy, are here for sale at 40 center nd, Salted almonds are $1 ® pound. Cream cherries are 80 cents a pound. Chocolate for eating and cooking purposes can be bought from 40 cents to 65 cents a cake. Cocoa is 25 centsacake. Chocolate creams, jellies and nuts are 80 cents a pound. Satin bags for candies are, when filled, worth €7 each. Rests for chairs, in lovely designs in lace and Painting, aro filled with bags of candy and cost $14. Cap mottoes, for dinners and germans, cost from 25 cents to $3 a dozen. Dinuer favors, in dainty designs of guitars, bags, bouquets and everything beautiful, are to be ordered at from 50c. to $2 each. Satin boxes cost from $5 to 860; these are hand-painted and embroidered. and filled with choice candies they are fit presents for a queen. Royal Worcester, Crown Derby, Hungarian, Minton, Carlsbad and Moore. for holding candies, are very dainty and elegant. These cost from 8 to £25 each, and are painted fre- quently in special designs to order, Twined baskets cost from €3 to $15 each. Sterling-silver bonbunieres. for holding can- dies, are of the most charming designs. These range in price from 85 to $15. The choicest of these sterling-s bonieres contain Italian mint delicacy. Boubonieres for holding dragees are made of aapeor euamel, These cost from $5 to $20 each, _ Sterling-silver dishes for table use, for hold- ing choice candies, cost from @3 to $8 each, and are very elegant, Boxes of dragees cost 25 cents each and boxes of pastils cost the same price. ~~ —— see EVOLUTION OF THE BUCKBOARD. Almost Anything Extravagant and Painted Yellow is a Buckboard Now. From the New York Sun. There 1s a rage for buckboards this summer. They are seen everywhere; in Central Park, on 5th avenue, at Newport, Long Branch, Sara- toga, the Adirondacks and wherever and as far as the flannel shirt has gone. The original buckboard was a simple enough thing. It was little more than a plank nailed on to two axles, with a dry goods box to sit on. Anything of the kind would do. The plank did instend of springs. In a crude shape the whole thing could be got up for @10 or #15. An old pair of axles and wheels of a broken-down buggy could be combined with a hickory plank, and any kind of a seat put on top. It was the roughest and easiest got of all country vehicles, and it would stand a great deal of wear. The roughest road would not break it, though the rider would have the benefit of all the jumps and thank-you-marms. This vehicle was indigenous to the Adiron- dacks and Bar Harbor. It was an accommo- dating vehicle, and would carry any reason- able number of people. By taking off the dry goods box and putting the passengers on the plank eight or ten could be carried, with room tora trunk or twoon behind. The buckboard and the bob sled are on much the same princi- le and belong to the same order of enjoyment. jut as the unplaned plank bob sled that a country boy could put together himself devel- oped into the gorgeous varnished and eush- ioned $100 nickei-plated sled, so the original buckboard developed until it now costs as much as $400 or $500. Instead of sitting on a dry goods boxor ona plank the passengers have upholstered seats with cushioned backs, and some builders have even gone so far ar to get out curved and cushioned seats. Buck- boards for eight or ten instead of being luxuri- ous when the planks are p! d now have rows of cushioned seats like those in a railroad ci and worse than all, they have springs. This degeneration has extended so far that anything painted yellow is called a buckboard, aud that it pe ee as to have a buckboard with red whee! All the large builders have gone into the buckboard business. Where they ueed to have orders for surreys and other kinds of country traps they now have orders for gorgeous buck- boards. The original Adirondack and Bar Har- bor buckboard is no longer seen around the resorts near New York. The buckboard has now more styles than any other kind of trap tly. The wood is usually stamed d, but is sometimes painted. The oftener brown or yellow than the dark olive green of the Victoria or mail phae- ton, but the inroads of civilization have de- stroyed the charms of this primitive convey- ance. ee Bavaria’s Two Mad Kings. From the New York Sun. The French papers report the rapidly failing health of the insane king, Otho of Bavaria. It appears thathe atill remaims at Furstenried, although there was some talk of taking him to Munich to undergo an operation. Before he began to lose the great physical strength for which he was noted it was quite a difficult matter to manage him. His reason is com- pletely gone. He imagines that he is a lion, and an ugly one, too, and he tries to bite every one that goes near him. Avsborttime ago he bit an aid-de-camp in the calf of the leg, and wounded him so severely that the aid was laid up for a fortnight. The only person who can approach him is his brother, the late king, Louis II, who is now nearly as as himself. The two mad kings play together like wild beasts. They run on ail fours through the stately hails of the Fursten- reid, barking and yelling, and apparently as happy as twokittens. Some time ago Louis cut off his brother's beard and hair; but now the bair and beard are extremely jong, flies into a furious rage at sight o! scissors, Otho has a —= for cigarettes, When one is half smoked down he has a disa- greeable habit of putting it out on the forehead or nose of his nearest attendant, and he is so active that it is almost impossible to get away from him. No woman can come near him. When he sees one he gets into a frightful oa and smashes everything around him. Formerly it was possible to take him out driving, but now the sight of a horse also enrages him. The last time that he took @ carriage ride he got out and tried to kiss the horse. The horse, not liking such royal familiarity, butted his majesty in the noso and drew the blood freely. The sight of the blood enraged him to such an ex- tent that he got into a fit and was ill for sev- eral days, At present he is calm and is gradu- ally becoming silent and melancholy, His ath is soon expected, and the legend of the “Black Lady” is talked of. This is the lady that appears in the halls of Furstenried Wittelsbach is about to die, just as the Lady” in Berlin announces the death of a Hohenzollern. ——____+ee—_____ Hale Old Englishmen. From the Chicago News. In America the young man is the man of the hour. Precocity pays. In England the old man not only has a chance, but by common ac- cord is master of the situation. It is the ex- ception with us for a public man to be re- garded as at his best before he is between fifty and sixty. In the professions the most emi- nent and hardest working men will be found tobe over sixty. Last week old Lord Albe- marle, who fought at Waterioo, entered upon his ninety-second year. Lord Cottesloe was ninety-one last year. The late Viscount Evers- ley was in his ninety-fifth year when he died re- cently, The it writer once saw him when he wasninety-one. His lordship was returning from shooting, near Windsor, and he was re- marking that would soon have to buy a pair of as his aim had not been so of late. When he was Mr. Shaw Lefevre of the house of the founder of and he 8 pair of infty i E d i ii fs FROM A BRITISH STANDPOINT. | How Negro Emigration is Regarded in the Old Country. From the London Times, The ever-increasing emigration of negroes from the south is referred to by Mr. De Far- blanque, the British consul at New Orleans, in his last report. Quite lately 4,000 left South Carolina in one week, and this emigration is said to be going on at the rate of 1,000 a day. In view of this movement the question is: Can the south do without negro labor? The con- sul thinks the states in his district cannot. A large portion of Texas, it is true, is settled and cultivated by white labor, and a number of persons, whose opinion is entitled to respect, consider that Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Alabama might be colonized in like man- ner, but due consideration has not been given to the difference of climate, of soil and es- pecialy of race in those among whom the newcomers would have to make there homes and fortunes’ The German immigrants who have been successful in Texas found not only virgin soil, but an unclouded political and focial atmosphere. They disturbed no vested interests, they had no prejudice to encounter or hostile organizations to defeat, The older states, though sparsely populated, contain a number of persons whose watchword appears to be rule or ruin. These, linked together by family ties, acommon prejudice and love of ease, are not likely to look on approvincly at & movement which might impair their influence and impel them to unaceustomed personal exertion, A foretaste of what might huppe: to successful foreign farmers has lately som felt by successful Hebrew traders in parts of Louisiana where an organization bax taken action against what it deems obnoxious store keepers. Finding that it is stronger than the law (for nothing beyond resolutions have been passed against it) its next movement might be against foreign farmers who were too thrifty or foreign laborers who worked too well; so that, as matters stand, there is no encourage- ment for white immigrants, either from other states or abroad. AN INTERE She Was a Pretty Girl and Carried the Pictures of Celebrities. From the Mlustrated American, An extremely pretty girl, who is a faithfn! attendant at the philharmonics in winter and rarely misses « summer concert of any merit, has of late carried a fan that attracts a good deal of attention. It is one of those Japanese affairs, with a few slender bamboo sticks and the paper a rough greenish gray, decorated in black characters. On each panel the owner has transferred a cabinet-sized photograph of one of the great composers. First removing the picture from the card on which it was orig- inally mounted, she has neatly pasted it on the fan. Engravings have served, when photos were unobtainable, and using both sides of the fan she has found space for fourteen portraits. Some deft pen-and-ink work has answered to frame the heads and below each one is a bar of music from the author's greatest work and executed with so much finish that a genuine little treasure is the result, The same young woman is almost as much of an enthusiast regarding painters, poets and actors as where the art of music is concerned. She telis of three other fans in her possessi treated in like manner. One has photographs of Tennyson, Browning. Longfeliow and Bryant, with etchings of Byron, Shakspeare, Herrick, Sir John Suckling, De Musset, Dante and Swinburne—a thorough mixture of nation- alities and generations, Below is the single couplet, for each one, that she considered after much thought to be the most perfect of their compositions. This collection has been a source of interest to its owner, has not cost one cent’s outlay in money, but several years of painstaking effort from time to time, that ren- ders each fan of distinct value. - a Lightning Not Always From the Clouds. From the Rochester Democrat. During the progress of the electrical storms of July Sin this state it was noted in several places that electrical discharges passed from the earth to the clouds as well as from the clouds to the earth. The Post-Express de- scribed this phenomenon as observed at Iron- dequoit bay. A gentleman who recently re- turnea from the Adirondacks observed the same electrical action. Discharges passed from the hiils across the Star lake to the clouds and from the clouds to the hills. Similar observa- tions were made in this city in 1935 or 1536. Preceding and during the volcanic eruptions in New Zealand, June 11, 1886, electric fire balls or meteors were observed to pass from the earth. These electrical discharges were from regions considerably removed from the volcanic craters. It has been urged that the eye cannot detect the direction of « lightning fash and that the passage of a discharge from the earth to the sky is only apparent—an optical illusion. This objection is employed mainly to support a theory that the passage is always from the sky to the earth. It the reasoning of the objection be correct what is there to support the theory that the passage is always from the sky to the earth? The statement that discharges are in- variably from the sky to the earth is based on observation and has no other basis. An object on the earth may be shattered by a bolt passing from the earth to the sky as well as by passage from sky to earth. The shattering force is shown when the fluid passes from one medium toanother. The testimouy of sight must be accepted in case of apparent passage of the bolt from earth to sky if it is accepted in the th. passage from — Sweet Sixteen, Tam taller far than Bess, ‘Though she's stouter, I confess, And my shoe-tops meet my dress, ‘Aud my hair Reaches far below my waist, Which is just a little laced, And many who have taste Call me fair. With the boys I mustn't play, Mamma told me so today; And my dolls are given away Every on I’m tooold to run about. Play at tag, or laugh or shout, I must learn to live without Any fun. If with Cousin Tom Iwalk Mamma sees me, like a hawk. ‘And you ought tohear her taikt Such a tongue! “You, a school girl, flircing, ty!” ‘Then I wish that I might die, Since for any pleasure 1 Am too young. T'm too old to play with toys, T’m too young for woman's jovs, I'm too old to fignt the boys; And the men I'm forbidden to regard, Lest I Sister Bess retard, AndI find it rather hard ‘Now and then. —Pittsburg Dispatch, Sam Ward’s Rare Old Whisky. From the New Huven Register. “Gen. Logan used to tell an interesting anec- dote about Sam Ward,” said an old-timer the other evening. “Ward, you know, always made ita habit in giving one of his entertainments to have aspecialty. This specialty was always something decidedly unique. It was either » wonderful haunch of venison, a remarkable roast of beef, an exquisitely carved piece of frozen cream, or some rare old wine. Ward was a splendid story teller, and his manner, as everybody who knew him knows, was simply charming. Wellone evening Gen. Logan was present at one of Ward’s suppers. After the wine was produced Ward went to the sideboard and pro- duced a queer-looking flask containing a pint of liquid, He placed the glass before him and d the attention of the company to its peentiar aap He then recited . SOME HOT WEATHER PRECHPTS, The Time to Drink is Before You Are Thirsty, So It is Said From the New York Syn Comfort in euramer depends almost as much onthe foodand drink thatare taken into the system as on the clothing. Ifa man is carefal about his diet, in particular about what he drinks, he may be reasonably comfortable in summer, though he sits around all day with @ silk hat,a tight-fitting collar and frock coat The unpleasant sensations of a hot day come as well from inside the body as outside, The feeling of parching thirst in the throat is more Uncomfortable than the direct rays of the sun. The feeling thata man haseaten something that does not agree with him, or has had too many cold drinks, causes greater discomfort than torrents of perspiration. To be comfort- able there must be an equilibrium between the interior apparatus of body and the external conditions and circu No man who ests and drinks on a hot day will have this comfortable poise. 7 A mistake many men make is not to drink until they are thirsty and not to drink any- thing at ail cool until they are hot, A man may get up in the moruing and feel fairiy comfort- able; he willeat his breakfast and drink bas little. When he gets to bis work it will be warmer and he will be warmer: he will them drink beer, soda water. lemonade, or ioe wae ter. Ina little while he will be thirstier and he will drink some moro of the same. ™ this time on ax the thermometer rises he will become hotter aud Ithirstier. It is not that he has not taken enough to quench aay amount of thirst, | the flmd was not taken until he was thirsty aud therefore dows mench his thirs ting sat is not ars, until a are completed, more than with hans . al feeling, bat it means that there isnot enough water in the system Pouring water down th at puts water into the stomach, bat 1 the system for ven hr some time afterward. particalariy if the water iscold, Coffee and tea quench thirst more rapidly when they are hot than when they old, because they are assimilated more m of the heat is loaded smore up with cold water bi r. This means th re water than his «ys heat a working it lown his face he drinks, and so keeps up the uncomfortable round until night, when he tosses around, damp and uncomfortable. In the same way that @ short ran exhausts @ man’s breath and makes him sweat more than a long leisurely walk, © number of iced drinks poured in rapidly tire a mau more and make him sweat more than a mo of fluids taken at long intervals « best time to drink is in stomach is empty and the flu through m aud speedily. A pint of m then will do mor shirst during the gias: ror . water im ewhat like a loco= * adiciously admins istered to the bo <u explosion, The time to lay in t is betore the man starts for the ¢ wants to drink any more he may drink it slowly, and should not have it so cold that it will inflame the throat and the stomach and mv. em warmer. A cold bath makes t shin glow with warmth, Soa cold bath of ice water in ite reaction warms the throat and stomach, ses WATER THIELVE A Description of the Ones That Infest the Tha one of whose chief sta- embankment close to the « fora whole ject of water 1 come under e many ghatly tions is under the Frolic, could easily furnish matt: article, seeing that thieves or river pirates wor such aheading. And the stories to relate concerning suicides or attempts at it, Apropos of water thieves, many Lon- doners may have noticed barges laden with empty barrels lying anchored below Blackfria bridge. These ones contained petroleum, For= merly a reward of one shiliing was given for each picked up in the river, but the owners have discovered that it is im the end much cheaper to let them float away than to pay even asmall sum for their recovery, For uaturally the inteliect of the river wax not long im find- ing out that the easiest way of saiving str barrels was to tumble them ont of the barg: at night, and the watermen lost no time in verting theory into pra: with the mevitable result that chere were m the water than ervoard from one ch always lie off with an eel basket fa of the Dutch eel t Billiugegate market. Mikado. From a Tokio Letter su the Now ¥ork Suu. The arrival of the w in his fine coach was heralded by the royal brass band, which played the Japanese national hymn, with Ger- man harmonies, on German instruments, and followed it up at intervals with European dance music, a curious preference being shown for the polka rhythm. As the mikado walked up to his throne the assembicd thousands bowed their heads, The cheers with which European royalty is received are unknown to the Japanese, but au attempt was made to ap- pest the mikado in the foreign manner of aud clapping,when be sat down and after he had read his address; but this did notseem to meet with general approval, the feeling being, apparently, that solemn silence was the most becoming way of receiving a monarch who traces nis royal ancestry back more than 2,000 years. and who is one of the firstof their rulers that the Japanese have been permitted to gaze upon, his ancestors having been for many geu- eration kept in their palace grounds, where uo one was allowed to intrude. The mikedo is nota handsome man. His forehead is low, his lower lip thick and the scant hairon his upper lip, chin and cheek does not improve his appearance. His ex- pression is solomn, almost stern, but there ia something majestic in bis bearing which i« prepossessing and be ix said to be a man of une common intelligence, and that he takes an earnest interest in the welfare of his subjects was shown in his willingness to preside over the distribution of prizes on this occasion, After he and several of the officials had read their addresses the principal recipients of the prizes came up in couples. bowed before hie majesty and received their roils of parch« meut, whereupon they rot dudozen stepe lobster fashion before etiquette allowed them to turn their back on the mikado. The cere« mony lasted about an hour, after which the emperor drove off in his carriage to the sounds of the national hymn, while the invited guests dispersed in the exhibition grounds. ee She Was a Sprinter. From the Philadelphia Press. Apretty young girl, with determination ig her eye aud her face like a peony in color, chasing a diminutive darkey down a crowded street in the heart of Philadelphia is a subject that would any day make pedestrians belt an@ watch the race with griuning surprise. The residents on Pine street above 7th have been annoyed ever since warm weather sot im by a lot of little colored boys, who have made it a practice to go through the back street ang ring the gate bells. They do this at all pours of the day or might, and the housekeepers oF their servants are kept on a run, afraid answer the ring for fear it might be some tradesman’s boy with goods. One young lady got even with her tormentors for the many useless trips she bas had. girl in question took up ber stand by the