Evening Star Newspaper, December 27, 1890, Page 7

PIERRE PUJOL’S TURN OF LUCK. A NEW YEAR'S STORY. WRITTEN FOR THE EVENING ADOLPHE BELOT. (Copyrighted.} CHAPTER L WAS DRAWING near to the end of De- cember. In a few days the bells would ring ‘out a jovous welcome to the new year. Never had the streets of Paris seemed so bright and lively. They were fairly choked with crowds of light-hearted people, who, for the time be- ing, had pushed self out of sight and were only bent upon making others happy. In the shops they elbowed each other furiously in their eagerness to get the best and the prettiest for those they loved, to cheer the old and to sur- Prise the young. Nothing was too good for the loved ones at home, nothing was too dear for those who had the money to «pend and as these crowds of chatting and laughing people brushed by Pierre Pujol, he drew bis thin coat closer across bis breast for his thoughts had suddealy tarned to his two little daughters in that cold aud cheerless attic, which served him asa home, and the keen air seemed to bite him most mer- cilessly. A year ago Pujol had bad a snug berth in a banking Louse and bis prospects in life left nothing to be desired. His intelligence and industry made him a great favorite with his employers and he had gone to his comfortable little home on the last day of the year with a present of 100 franc¢ in his pocket and a notice of an increase of salary. His wife had met bim at the door and their tears of joy bad mingled, while J sTaR BY although he had made most persistent to secure a new position, had been unable to do so. But, greatest blow of all, his beloved wife, never very robust, had broken down under the | strain and faded out of life like a tender flower. ‘Things had gone from bad to worse, and now, as the New Year's day was coming around | again, Pierre Pujol found himself face to face with bitter and remorseless poverty. He felt like a criminal as he crept back to his wretched attic, for several times during the week he had | fonnd awaiting him seraps of bread and meat | which be knew Julie must have secured by i The thonght drove him almost to d yet he dared not forbid her to aak | anche was such a frail little creatu-e | that even a fast of twenty-four hours might be | fatal, Pujol pushed the door open as softly ws he hoped the children might be Julie heard him and called out: “How late you are tonight, papa. I waited supper for you nearly an hour.” At that word “scpper” Pujol felt his eves £1 with tears. He glanced at the table an enough, there was a plate of bread and meat, it a cup of some beverage or other. began the wretched man in a low +: but the little girl of ten—a remarkably strong and womanly child for her years—antici- | what he was going to say and cut him | rt with a mock earnest exclamation of ‘Pepa, Blanche has been very nanghty tonight: she won't go to sleep, although I've told her sll about the dolis in the shop windows.” At nese words litde Blince, whom her sister was hoiding upon her lap and’ coddling up to her child breast in suel and lovable manner that Pujol's heart was deeply touched Us the sight. broke away from Julie's embrace aud fixing her wide-opened eyes on her father eried out: “Ob, papa. Julie has told me all about them, and I want one for a New Year's present.” “One what, my darting?” asked Pujol, taking the child in his aris and kissing her little cheeks, now flushed with « glow of excitement. “Why: an unbreakable doll, pops. Jul 5» big girl it last till 1 get to bea Won't it, Julie?” “Come here, you naughty child,” said Julie, settling heryelf down again to the almost hope- dens task of rocking ber litle sister to sleep, an % poor hungry papa eat peace, you bad, bad child. ae “Ui ured Pnjol to ubreakable doll?” murmi jjol himself, as he covered his face with hie hands to hide his tears, an@ then it occurred to him that he had seen in the shop windows dolls so labelled for the first time this season. “It is doubtlew tome uovelty to carry Joy to the children’s hearts,” he added, ‘but alas, I fear, there'll be no joy for me and mine this New Year day. it cant last much longer. I must get food for them or I must give them up to those who can provide for their wants. Give them up? Ob! mercifal heaven, the thought | sets a knife in my heart!’ And the man| sobbed convulzively as the phantom of separa- tion rose before hi “Don't ery. paps,” murmured a child's voice softly and tenderly. it was Julie, and as she Jaid ber little face against her father's and wrapped her arms around his neck, she peated in a tone sweet and trustful: “Don't €ry. papa, we shall have better luck next year. I Know we shall. And it will soon be New ¥ now, papa.” “God grant it,” exclaimed Pujol, as he pressed that frail little figure to his breast. But, ah, it seemed like hoping ugairst hope. The following day brought forth nothing but romises, always promises. For weary airs Pujol eat in outer offices of br news houses only to be told in the end that they had resolved to wait until after the open- ing of the year before they this or that vacancy oF on any new men. Utterly worn out in and sick at heart, Pujol sat down on a bench in the Champs Elysees to rest himself for a few momenta and to run over his sist of names in order to wee if he had been everywhere. Yes, the list had been exhausted. ‘There was absolutely nothing more for him to do but to send his children to some charitable institution and become a F on the streets. It was hard, terribly hard for him to make up his mind to give up the struggle, the more so us he felt himself so willing and able to do his duty in life. But he seemed crowded out, el- Dowed aside, he knew not why. No one wanted him, no one was toached by his piteous tale of muflcring. uo one was moved by the look of an- guish which came from his terribly sad and nkex eyes. Overcome by fatique, Pujols ead fell backward and for an instant all his troubles were forgotten. He slept. “Poor man. how awful ad he looks!” ex- ¢laimed a child's voice, in a soft and sympe- thetic tone. seigt Must be dreaming,” thought Pujol to him- ome, come, Paula!” cried another little voice impatiently. Pujol now roused himeelf to find s beantiful ehild richly clad in velvet and far in front of him, with her large blue eves in- tently upon his face. A little further along there were two other children. both of them older. The children were accompanied by a ‘tall, aristocratic-looking man, who had halted and Was waiting patiently for the one addressed a0 Paula to catch up with him. “Do come on, Paula!” again urged the same voice, “we can t wait for you forever!” But the little angel's beart hai been touched, and she was determined not to stir until she had blessed Pierre Pujol. “Please, Uncle Felix,” she pleaded, “give the poor man some money.” ‘The tall gentleman smiled and thrusting his band into his pocket towed a couple of francs into Pujol’s lap. The bank clerk tried to speak, but the words died away in his throat, and he could only sit there watch the three beautiful children as they di im the distance. Once or twice bis litte angel Paula looked back at him. Then he lost sight of them entirely. It was evident that the gentleman, whom the children had Uncle Felix. bad fie and little Blanche had showered | kisnes upon him as the beautiful presents were | set before their wondering eyes. | Alas, what terrible chan that day! | The banking house rel ne eg 4 It shall be the only baby in the family. Til be Fe ones Miser, Jane the mother, and Paula aunt.” At these words Paula was beside herself with af,2nd.danced_ about the room, clapping her ttle hands and wishing that New Years day had already com: “Very well, my darlings,” said Uncle Felix solemnly; “an unl baby it shall be, and the one that money can buy. What an altogether charming family you'll make, to sure.” The moment Pierre Pujol r warm food he felt his courage come back with his strength, and he determined to make one more visit to the agency. To his great joy, they informed him that one of the establish- ments was in urgent need of worthy to act as porters for the few da: the old y in to year to assist carrying their destination: that although the Pork would doubtless be hard, yet the pay would be q Le took the address, presented himself forth- with and made sucha favorable impression upon the clerk in charge that he was st once ted and set to worg. In truth. it was Seed woul, Shain ing from one end of Paris to the other loaded down like a pack horse with bundles and packages; but what would he not sf THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON, D.C, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1890-SIXTEEN PAGES. “would it not have been better to let me fall? A bundred feet! Only think of it! It would have ended all my sorrows, all my troubles, and my tired limbs and tired heart would have found rest at last. But my babies! Ah, babies, who can ever love them as I do?” with the porter’s warni about him, Pujol turned hi ing good care to avoid the heavily-loaded wagons which rumbled along inevery direction rich and costly presents to happy omex. A “What shall I say to my poor, dear babies?” he asked himself over and over again. “Julie is such a blessed little woman of a child that I fear no reproach from her. But my little Blanche’s eyes will fill with tears, and then my wretched heart will snap in two.” But just before he reached the house the comforting thought flushed through his mind that possibly the good woman on the first floor had supplied them plentifully with cakes and candies, and that, after all, their New Year's eve would not be so utterly dark and forlorn. With stealthy and unsteady steps Pujol crept upstairs. The corridors were dimly lighted, and it seemed to him as if he were intent upon some crime. Crime? Ay, was it not a crime to rob a human flower of light and warmth and have undergone for the sake of those little | loved ones at home? Now they would at least have a happy New Year: for now he would have money enough to buy them cakes and candies, | and, above afl, to. gladden their eyes with ous of the dolls of which they had dreamed for 10 many nights in that cold and checrless attic. CHAPTER pia But Pierre Pujol’stoilsome task had its bright side and that was that he was busied outdoors and not called upon to stand for the livelong day and watch the laughing and light-hearted crowds of parents and children as they swarmed up and down the long counters, making their purchases, and listen to their chat as they an- ticipated the joy and surprise of the loved ones at home, — ‘the —— — — beg | open the ges and survey the contents. | Several times ii his comings aad goingy. Pujol | passed friends and acquaintances who bad mown him in his better days, but so pinched and altered by hunger was his countenance, so shabby and worn his clothing and, above all, s0 loaded down was he with bundlesand packages, not only suspended from each arm, but strapped to his back, that they little thought the man was the once happy and light-hearted Pierre they had known, so full of kindliness and amiability, so thoroughly trustworthy and capable, and so popular with every one. ut Pujol had no time for indulgence in gloomy recollection. His thoughts were ali with the present, which hour by hour took on a brighter hue, and, as he trudged along on the Jong and weary errunds, the music of little Blanche's voice rang in his ears, and the soft, hopeful eyes of the womanly little Julie glowed upon him like two beacon lights set in the gloom which had not yet entirely lifted. ‘Then came che glad thought that the old year had but two days more to live; that on New Year's eve he would receive his pay for the week's work, and that then he should be in a position to carry not only the cakes and candies to his children, but the doll of which they had been dreaming for so many weeke. So absorbed did poor Pierre become in an- ticipating the joyful New Year's day which was in store for him that quite unconscious of where he was and what he was about he halted and standing in the very middle of the side- walk began the task of trying to persuade him- self that he would be able to afford a good big doll for his ebildrer. “Let me see,” said he half aloud, as he meas- ured off the length with his hands, “about so long. Oh. no. I cannot think of it! ' Thut’s too big. But there, so long, I think would not be too expensive, possibly a little shorter, say of that length, counting the bonnet, or even a lit- tle shorter would satisfy my darlings, I know it would. They are so good. But not an inch jorter than that, there, that.” : A burst of laughter aroused Pierre from his beautiful dream. With a look of almost terror he raised his head to find a group of boys and idlers encircling him and watching his strange actions. Tighter is hold on his bundles he pushed his way through the jecring crowd, which again broke out into mocking laughter as he went his way. At last the 3ist day of December had come. Pierre's heart felt a leaden weight laid upon it when he found that the sun wasn't shining, that the air was filled with a cold and penetrat- ing mist and that the sidewalks were as wet and slippery as if they had been smeared with grease. It meant a cruelly hard day's work for him, but he took courage. It would be the last before the glad New Year dawned and then there would be at least twelve hours of happi- nese for him. - ‘At breek of day while the children were still sleeping soundly, Pujol slipped out of his attic and made his way through the silent streets to the estabiixhment where he was employed. His heart sank within hiny and his legs seemed teddy to bend under him ee the mere sight of the the huge pi wi m as signed tohim far distribution on this Inst day of the year. But, making a great effort to draw some little comfort from the outlook by contrasting it with his position the week just A, he buckled down to work and by noontime had succeeded in reducing the pile to less discouraging pro- portions. But, as the day wore on, it required tremendous effort of his will power to briny himcelf to return to the shop for’ the last load. His legs and feet were tired to the bove and a score of indescribable aches and pains shot from his soles to his hips every step he took. When 7 o'clock tolled out solemnly from the belfry of a neighboring church be had almost finished bis day's work. ‘There was but one Package that remained to be delivered, but it was alarge and heavy one, and noticing that its destination was a mile away and that he was at that moment near home, he deter- mined to climb the stairs to his cheerless attic, drink some coffee, which he knew to be there, and eat a crust of bread before starting out on this last errand of the day, this last task of the old year. ‘A kind-hearted woman inhabiting one of the best apartments in the house was in the habit of sending for the children in Pujol’s absence and and caring for their clothes. They were with this friend now, and as it was New Year's eve Pujol was quite certain that the sunshine; to shut it up within four blank walls, so that the blewed breath of heaven couldn't reach it or the soft balm of rain and dew could not come unto it? As Pujol reached the last landing a sudden outburst of childish laughter, clear, ringing, sweet and bird-like in its gamut of tones, fell upon his ear. Pierre made a halt as if the heavens had ned before him. Then he dropped upon his kn ind bowed his head in prayer. Notuntil Julie came to the door, opened it, looked out and said, as if thinking aloud, “Why, I wonder what can keep dear, good papa so late?” Did he, or more correctly said, could he bring himsclf to rise and make his way into the attic chamber. As he pushed the door open his gaze feil upon a scene which caused him to rub his eyes in order to con- vince himself that he was not wandering about ina dream. Instead of finding the room lighted by a single lamp, it seemed ablaze with the light of two, while on the walls were harging hemlock wreathes ornamented with paper flowers and on the table lay a plentiful store of cakes and candies and even several cheap toys. ‘The whole place seemed transformed, beautified, full of a strange radiance. But Pujol’s wonder was not suffered to end here, for when his gaze turned from the changed character of the place itvelf aud fell upon his two children, he staggered back against the wall utterly unable to articulate a word. There sat little Blanche, rocking backward and forward in her chair and clasping in her baby arms a doll, richly, beautifully and com- letely dressed even to a pair of tiny buttoned id shoes. ‘The doll was quite as large as Blanche herself. “Oh, papa, dear, good, kind, blessed papa,” exclaimed Julie, throwing her arms around him, “how shall we ever thank you for the splendid big doll. “Oh, don't talk so loud, Julie,” whispered Blanche. “I was just getting baby to asleepand now vou've waked her up agai Pujol gave one glance at the large pasteboard box lying on the tloor and the huge sheets of paper in which it bad been so carefully wrapped, and the mystery was solved. His first impulse was to spring forward and snatch the costly article from little Blanche’s arms, but if akeen-edged sword had been raised over his head to urge himto quicker performance of the act, he could not have done it. He sank upon achair and covered his face with his hands repeating to himself: rairest heavens, what shall Ido? What sball loz “Baby has come to say ‘how doyou do,’ papa, dear,” said Blanche, holding up thie doll in front of him. “Ah, we found you out, yon mischievous paps,” exclaimed Jalie, encircling his neck with er arms. “You tried tohide it away from us.* we found yon out,” echoed Blanche; “and, dearest pa found you out? shall [tell you how we rd the baby crying in the box. She was tired of. being shut up in that horrid dark place; weren't you, baby? Is she unbreakable, papa?” Pujol tried to answer. Then he tried to smile, but both failed. He clasped his cl tohis breast and kissing them tender! = goand amuse themselves with their new oll. They were only too willing to obey, and the wretched man was left to himself to think out some solution for the extremely serious prob- Jem which now faced him. Mechanically, he stooped and picked up the box which bad con- tained the doll. Although he had only been employed for a few days in the establishment, yet his thorough knowledge of such matters had enabled him to unravel the cipher of which they made use to mark the price upon their merebandive. “Fifty franes!” he groaned as he came upon the cabalistie peneil mark. “Twice as much as the sum due me for a vhole week's labor! Have Ilost my reason? Why, I must take it from them this instant, repack it and hurry off to the purchaser?” And springing up, Pujol approached his children and mumbling out some excuse, took the beautiful puppet out of little Blanche’s arms. “Tyo late, too late!” he murmured to him- self, for he ‘saw that they had already marred its delicate wax face and spotted one of the tiny kid shoes. o late,” he repeated, and hand- ing the doll back to little Blanche: he went back to his seat again. Julio soon joined him and with all her sweetness and tenderness strove to get at the secret of his sudden and mysterious sorrow. Pujol put her off with some ordinary excuse, but ina few moments he culled her’ back to him and bade ber prepare for bed, telling her that it was necessary for him to go out once more. Like a man stunned by a heavy blow Pujol went stumbling down the long stairway. Those of the tenants who saw him go out that night deemed him under the intluence of liquor. Alas, it was not the paralysis of intoxication, it was the stupor of despai “She will take care of them.” he muttered to himself. “She will take good care of them. The world is always ready and willing to pic! up an abandoned child, but it. turns away pit lessly from those who are old enough to take care of themselves. Why should I wait to be good soul would hold on to them later than usual, #0, in order to make sure of getting his week's pay, he resolved to return at once to the shop, and, after he had drawn his money, bought presents for the children and snugiy tucked ‘the rest of bis money away in his kt, to return home, see the little ones safely in bed and then set out to deliver the last acl He was quite astonished tg find that at least one-half of his long list of sches and pains had been cured by his half hour's rest and cu coffee and crust of bread, and he stepped along with @ much lighter heart on his way to the Tammoth establishment. in which he had so fortunately obtained employment. All was still hurly-burly in the various depart- ments, and the hundreds of employes were rushing hither and thither sageuting he lost orders of the year #o that they might hurry home to their families. Pujol’s heart felt lizhter as he glanced at the pale and baggurd faces of these fellow sufferers, who now for nearly a month had often been ob! to eat their lunches as they stood at their posts, and he forgot his o troubles in pitying them. Picking his way through the fong aisles encumbered with empty cases and packing material, he halted in front of the cashier's desk and was surprised to find ‘no line formed in front of the window. “What can it mean?” Cg Pajol, his hand across bis eyes, as if to assure himvelf that there was nothing obstructing his vision. “Great heavens, can it be that I am too late, that every one hes been paid, and that I must wait until—antil Jeauary the 2d?” A piacard hanging over the cashier's window ‘now caught his eye, and he was obliged to lean against tokeep from falling as he co read the notice which it contained. ‘To all: | “On account of the sudden illness of the cash- | ier, who has been at his post for sixty consecu- | tive hours, it will be i ible to pay off em- Ploges before January 2d at 108.m.” 5 “Oh, my poor ! my poor “a roaned Pujol. as he pressed his hands to his “How shall I ever bring myself to face them empty handed—without even @ box of cand) little i arrested as a common felon? Why should I lay this terrible sorrow on my popr little Ju heart? It would be madness to ask for for- giveness at the hands of the purchaser of the doll. ‘They would simply turn me over to the authorities. ‘True, death will rob me of my children and them of me! But what use am I to them? I've often read that drowning is an easy death and possibly there will be somebody in this great cit; it lus finihed the feast ing and pleasures of the New Year, who will be touched by my death and go to the rescue of my poor babies. “My poor ies! CHAPTER IIL. “Well, this is just too bad!” exclaimed little Paula de Courcy as sbe turned away from the window, where she had been pressing her pretty face against the pane for nearly an hour. Just see, mamma, what a beautiful New day it is and no Uncle Felix, no unb doll, no nothing!” and the tears gathered in the child's eyes as she buried her fuce in her mother's lap. i ee “Cout cor My le dat iT,” Bai meers Sur er ees know, Uncle Felix seldom gets here before ies! Ob, my poor “Yes, that’s so, dear mamma,” came from Jane; “but I do think he might have come a littie earlier on New Year's day, and such a beautifal day!” “30 do I,” cried Martha, looking up from her book, and then, with pretty pout on her sweet lips, she added: “I should call that an invisible and not an unbreakable doll, should’t you, mamma?” “Indeed, I should!” replied Madame de Courcy, laughing heartily. ly or a single toy to nm | hearts. It's terrible, it's terrible.” He knew how useless it would be to attempt | to have the rule of such a vast concern sct aside for his benefit. Everybody had made his purchases and had no need of money at this late hour, so no one seemed to feel that in thisorder. Pujol had bling & HUE iF il El Hf { ee ¢ over and over i “What does invisible mean, mamma?" asked | happy Paula. “I knew that my beggarman Fto-get- Lepper ener pedigree little Paula, looking up with startled expres- | lad two litle children at home; one fast like |g ie oout mokement tha erelia besa steady, | Tt would appear that there are three varieties sion in her big blae eyes. It doesn't mean | me. 1 have ven them. I know Julie and | {idesund knocks off hats on an allefairie, | of hypnotism. One is the case where a person that the doll won't come at all, does it, dear | Blanche.” war” principle. is putinto the state by another, and this is ma?” “Seen them? Know them?” repented Martha | " ‘The going-to-the-party umbrella bobs and | more like the ordinary mesmerism; “Yes, it does, Paula,” cried Jane with a very | and Jane. skips in air with a certain buoyant elevation | i8 person goes into the trance invol- mus look; “it means that Uncle Felix ‘has | ‘Yes, I think I know what I'm talking abont,” | thet eccms borne on the wings ot vive. untarily, and the third is the case, illustrated either forgotten all about us or else that he has | added Paula with a look of injured dignity. 'I| "The take-it-casy umbrella hange off with an | by the Baltimore girl, where the trance is vol- taken ‘the unbreakable doll to some other | dreamt I saw them, and that's just the same. | oh-fus, whate-the hurry loll: untary at times and involuntary at others. little girls whom he loves better than he does | But, mamma, Mr. Beggarman looks eold. | ° ‘The shy umbrella has “a forward dip, like a | To produce the first kind of hypnotism the fol- us.” Mayn’t we take him in out of the corri- | hat pulled over tho e1 Jor receipt is given: Take a bright object, “I don't believe he loves any other little | dor and give him something warm to drink?” fabecnt-minded umbrella protrudes com- | sch a¢ 8 new silver coin, hold i: a hort die- girls better than he does us,” replied Paula, me de Courey stammered out a fow | fortably from under the arm, while its owners | tice, than an arm's length, before the lor ‘says that we | words of Gaye for her thoughtlessness, and | head acts as a substitute. ibject’s and slightly above them, and are the best children in the world.” Pujol was led into the warm drawing room by| “The sweet-sixteen aml mae time.’ The dear, ob, dear,” whi Jane, “Ido little Pauls, closely followed by Martha and | ute amecennteet tm mug, ‘and then di- yish we hadn’t asked for the unbreakable doll. | Jane. A glass of wine helped the poor man to | woof of “ant he. just lo ptoms of ordinary sleep Iknow it won't come, and I'm afraid I won't | collect his thoughts. me de Courcy was drop intermissions. trance, his limbs like it if it ‘comie.”” anxiously awaiting the explanation of his woman ura! hae presently the strange utterances in reference to forgiveness , first one side, then another, aya good or at her # shifted burden. make Pujol saw this and hastened to complete the walrie pola that tale fe his on ‘and to ‘relate how he | sheltered beapitaiter or Weise ‘exhibitions had found work as porter, how he had left tte | chewera with a’ Stead? et ory amuning Tsp Sgt be pay, marr: otaps ‘eo | seam seman i narrow infag own ie sovator tha his’ retarn |° (aero old tne fe home amazement trouble with “4 royal air, another siscovering thn hs chiro, thi that he acai ee ae oot aes anv _Bejiga treet fakir begina to. cry ‘ha was only managing & [oF wares, third suggested that ihe package Sontained, thle New Year Sr TES ase ea Te wh eases Hint be tga member og bee ‘absence opened i footlights and makes a tremendous politi- out the contents, ‘and were now Flattering Imitation, - cal speech. If the operator should to a align From Lie, ofoots wead s it ,° eyes from one point of view to “Hark! Somebody is playing a delightfa he would it, if it enother. mt done at once, but it is not ‘that the Ol, Mr. Boggarman,” cried little Paula, | bit from Wagner. bypnotie state . for any great please tell us what was there in the box?” “Qh! that's only James shoveling coal into| length of time, or that it would exist in fall “A large and beantiful toy called an unbreak- | the furnace.” vigor if the operator were not present with the the questions which the three children rained upon their uncle in such a tumultuous manner that the good man could only hold up his hands and cry: aa : “Mercy, mercy, do give your poor old unc! a chance for his life,” and when quiet had been rest he added: “And now, first of dar! how you like the unbreakable doll. isfied? Is she big enough? tell me you “Why, don’t understand, dear uncle,” cried Sarthe; “dhe haen’ ; the unbreaka- t cor ble doll baby hasn’t arrived.” “No, and what's mot fae “I don't believe she’s cor atall. I don’t believe that there's any such thing as an unbreakable doll baby as big as I am.” “Why, darlings,” stammered Uncle Felix, “I picked out the p= he and finest in the whole establishment—a perfect beanty, with real hair, movable eyes and buttoned shoes.” “Buttoned shoes!” cried Paula, clapping her hands with delight. “But where isshe, dearest Unele Felix, where is she?” nd they promised.” continued the uncle, “that she should reach you yesterday after- noon, securely packed in ‘a box big enough to put Paula in.” “Securely packed,” repeated Martha. “Why, uncle, I thought she was unbreakable.” “So she is, so she is!” replied Uncle Felix, solutely unbreakable when handled with care. But listen, darlings, the delivery de- partments of the las establishment will not close until noon. T'll go at once, and even if I have to call upon the police to help me, I'l bring that unbreakable doll baby back with me, dead of alive. But first a kisa-all around, please, little Indies. ‘In your excitement nbout the unbreakable doll baby you quite forgot that this is New Year's day?” Uncle Felix was soon out of sight and the three children returned to their books and play- things with faces wreathed in smiles and voic fall of tones of gladness, But some way or other little Paula couldn't settle down toa state of contentment. Even the new toys seemed to have no charm for ber. Now that the unbreakable doll baby was so soon to make her appearance Paula passed most of her time running from oue window to another in hopes of being the ver: catch a glimpse of the wonderful dol baby. Household duties now demanded Madame de Courey’s presence and the three children were left quite to themselves. Again there was a ring at the door bell, but so Iceble had been the pull that the sound searcely reached the children’s ears. They knew only too well that it conld not be Uncle Felix. He always set the bell dancing in the liveliest fashion. So not one of the little maidens left her place. ‘There was faint sound of voices in the corridor and then the door closed again, Paula's curiosity, howover, got the better of her. and pushing her playthings aside, she ran to the window and mounted upon the haesock which served to give her a more ex- tensive view. In an instant her childish voice rang out clear and Hi nd bursting out upon the astonished servant who had just closed the door, the child again broke out so earnestly with all my beggarman back! Don’t let him go, call him back!” that the man opened the door and beckoned to the poor, pale and ragged wretch whom he had just turned away to re- turn. It was Pierre Pujol. “Don't be afraid. eee beggarman,” cried little Paula, “come right in, no one will harm you; don't be afraid.” Pujol removed his worn and battered hat and stepped inside the hallway. By this time Madame ‘de Courcy, who had overheard tha shrill cries of her little daughter, made her appearance. “Dear, good mamma,” pleaded Paula; “this is my beggarman. Don’t you remember, I told xbout his sad face when I “got home that day. Please give him some money. He may have a little girl just like me, and she may be in need hing to eat or something to wear.” 1 de Courey, stooping down, clasped her little daughter in her arms and kissed her over and over again. “You are alittle angel, my blessed,” ahe ex- }0 she is, madame!” repeated Pierre Pujol, penne his head and reverently crossing him- sel Madame de Courcy gave but a cursory glance at Pujol. Her mind was filled with a thousand and one things in connection with an enter- tainment which she was to give that evening, and even had this not been so it is not at all likely that she would have made a sufficiently close study of the poor wretch who stood be- fore her with hat in hand and downcast look to discover in him anything distinguishable from the ordinary characteristics of those able specimeny of humanity who wander the streets of every great cil eruste which are month by month lower in the scale of degra dation until they can exist only by wrangling with the very street curs for the contents of the garbage boxes. A woman's gracious and ever active impulse to pity the suffering and her inability to steel her heart against such a sight us now con- fronted Madame de Courey, makes her adan- gerous alins ‘The really’ deserving mendicant, to whom nature had denied the skill of making one face while he wore another and of f at feeding upon the sed to them and sinking 8 presence. lay actor's art to enable Pierre Pajol to move little Paula's mother to do her utmost to lighten his i With a heart that swelled with com- ion, the lady stepped forward and emptied her purse into the hands of the astounded Pujol. tof the glittering gold pieces the man caught his breath and raised his heavy eyelids as if he expected to find some celestial messenger in radiant raiment standing before him. His eyes wandered from the sweet face of the gracious ulms giver to the sweeter one of the little Paula beside her and then it became Mad- aine de Courcy mazed, for the man, witha grace that scemed strangely re- fined for such « wretched outeast, gathered the goid and silver pieces into # roll and handed them back to Madame de Courcy “Keep it, keep"it, poor beggarman,” cried little Paula, “Please keep it. Oh, please keep i it. But a faint smile spread over the man's feat- ures and for the first time Madame de Coure: noticed that although unshorn and pinched with hunger there was a look of gentleness and re- tinement in his face. “Malame,” began Pujol in alow and trem- ulous voice, “K came for forgiveness, not for alms.” Forgiveness?” echoed Madame de Courcy, with a look of deep perplexity. “Yes, madame, forgiveness,” continued Picrre solemnly; “for I have committed a crime against the law of the land and you alone have in your power to save mé from punish- . don't ery, poor Mr. Beggorman, we'll © you,” cried little Paula: “won't w 7 Our mamma is very kind and elw 1s when we are naughty.” de Courcy raived her hand gently the sweet little chatterbox to and turned a sympathetic glance ujol to encouraye him to proceed. I chosen words and with a modest and refined demeanor Pierre now related the story of his isfortune, how he had lost his place, how his little savings had been con- sumed, the fading ont of life of his beloved ife and his despair at finding himself drawing cr and closer to. that dread portal, which the world closes upon all those whom it exe- es by the slow death of hunger and cold. ‘For me,” cried Pujol, “the end could not have come too soon, but my babies; oh, my y patient, faithful Julie and my dear ie.” At these words, Paula burst out with euch a wild ery of joy, accompanied by so loud a clapping of bands,that Martha and Jane came rushing out into the corridor tosee what the matter was. I knew it, mamma, dear,” exclaimed the first to | M: able doll,” replied ~~ “An unbreakable doll?” echoed the three children in one voice, while wonder looked out from their fac “Why, Paula, “that's ours: tha baby, which Uncle Felix bought for us.” “I know it, I know it only too well.” sid Pujol sadly, “and my first impulse was to snatch it out of their hands, but I hadn't the heart to do it, and then again I noticed that they had already soiled it somewhat, for their dear little hands are not so clean and dainty as your tiny fingers, and so rather than be called 2 thief and be sent to prison I made up my mind to drown Iknew that my babies would be well mn care of by akind, good woman who lives on the ground floor, and so I kiswed them good-bye forever and started off for the quay. I don't know how I got there. but I remember stand- ing fora moment and looking down into the water, and then I jumped.” The three children burst out into crics and sobs at this terrible confession of Pujol’s, and threw their arms around their mother's neck and waist. “When I first touched the water,” continued Pujol, “it seemed colder than any ice I had ever felt and chilled me to the very heart, but in an instant it began to grow warmer and a delightful feeling of comfort came over me. I don't think Iever felt so happy. I could see my babies sitting in the attic room playing with the beautiful doll as plainly as I now see you. But presently a terrible hand of iron seemed to Jay hold of me and drag me out of the warmth into the freezing air again. It was the iron hook which a river policeman had sueceeded in fastening into my coat collar just as I was Going down for the last time.” ., “Oh, I'm so glad he pulled you ont,” said little Paula, as che fixed her big lustrous blue eyes upon the would-be suicide. “You see, madame.” murmured Pujol, “the world insists upon killing me in its own wat Madame de Courey spoke a few words of sympathy, but little ‘Paula overcame her shy- ness and laid hold of one of Pajol's bands. “Why, mamma,” she exclaimed as she touched his coat sleeve, “would you believe it, Mr. Beggarman isn't dry yet and his sleeve is all frozen stift!” “I do wish Uncle Felix would come,” cried that he could give the poor man one of his nice warm coats.” In a few appropriate words‘ fall of the spirit of kindness bat none the less im ive Madame de Courey now strove to Pujol’s mind the abandor i his own life. “if you will give me your most sacred pledge,” continued the lady solemnly, “that you will not again seek to bring destruction upon that which the Lord hath given and the Lord alone may take away I'll gladly forgive you for the wrong you conmmitted in not deliv- it jormity of his offense in his children and attempting to take ing the doll, and, what's more, I'll request my brother to lend you his influence in securing you another position.” Pujol’s heart was too full for utterance. “Yes, we'll forgive you, Mr. Beggarman,” “He may keep the unbreak- nche, mayn’t cried little a. for Julie and mma?” “Please let him,” pleaded Jane, asked: “Mayn't we send Julie toys, dearest mamma? Madame de Conrcy was deeply moved by this charming manifestation of sympathy on the part of her children. While the tears trickled down Pierre Pujol’s cheeks nis three little friends loaded him down with toys for Julie and Blanche, Uncle Felix now gave the bell his usual vig- orous tug, and was more astonished than ever to have the three sisters come rushing out with cries of: “We've found the unbreakable doll! The unbreakable doll has come to life. The mys- tery is solved!” “Yes, dearest uncle,” added little Paula, “we ire found the unbreakable doll, but we haven't got her.” With a generous supply of money,» good warm coat on his back, and bette: than all, a heart leaping with :nch joy in his breast that it was a pretty hard task for hizn to get his breath, the wanderer came to the end of his rough and sorrowfal path: and there was time enough, too, for a long and joyous New Year's da. ‘Thus it was the Iucky turn came’ in Pierre Pujel’s fortune. he unbreakable doll baby has at different times lost one leg, one arm and half of her head, but the glue pot has always served to put her in shape again. ‘THE END. He Did Not Go Soon Enough to Behold = Soul-Delighting Spectacle. From Drake's Magazine. It was on a Sabbath morn and George Mur- Batroyd had just turned over to sleep again, after making his sixth resolution to get up. But the cry, fraught with anxiety and trepida- tion, that came from the room below banished sleep instantly. It was his wife's voice—the dear girl whom he had taken from a parent's, or, rather, two parents’ care. “George! Come quick!” What could be the matter? He remembered now, with an agonized gasp, as he ripped hia night gown up the back and put one leg into the arm of his undershirt, that Maud had fune- ti ement of the heart. Still, she s out like that if stricken down Ler coGeorge! Why don’t you come? Come! ome ! In his frantic haste he had on his trousers re k, hind part be but what of that ike the tale of yesterday, told. by hi which he had God” help him! of ad: man who came te gas meter and who lad behaved so stran that Mand suspected him of being a burglar's spy. ‘The man had come again—even now, aps— rge! If you don’t come it'll be too jate What were collar search for them turned the rocking. chair and smashed the water pitcher; in another instant he had col- lided with a half-open closet door; at the third step he tripped over his suspenders and came wn stairs on his elbows and counte: Courage, Maud!” he cried. ‘tons now that he should a com- ing He was only a pale bookkeeper and unarmed save with natures weapons, but not fur a mo- ment did he falter. “You're too late.” said Mand, with a pretty out, as George dashed into the room with tire in his eye that blood on his nove could not “What—where is he?” he gasped, looking around with an awful faintness at the heart. you to see the baby,” said rhe, i adisappointéd voice. “He had’ his foot mouth, looked.” eee PHRENOLOGY OF jin 0 ; his and you've no idea how cunning be UMBRELLAS, Wet Day Observations Reduced to a Science. From the Boston Globe. The precise umbrella has an erect rigid- ness of poise that turns neither to the right nor to the left. ‘The cautious umbrella has a covert, choulder- shading snugnesa that keeps close to the shel- tered side of the way. The calculating umbrella has a weigh-and- measure preoccupation, dipping down slowly to the zight or left, like the reckoning squint of aneye. The irascible umbrella jerks through the moving mass of its kind with a rampant air of general unsteadiness that people pause to ruffle their brows at. ‘The good-natured umbrella has an ambling slowness of movement, a rest-on-ours look, that seems to contemplate its fellows as sub- fects for laughter. With one bound he over- | N HYPNOTIC FACTS. Instances of the Exercise of This Strange Controlling Power. MYSTERIOUS MANIFESTATIONS How Hypnotism Differs From Sompambu- Written for the Evening Star. HE CONVICTION LAST WEEK of the two Paris ctranglers, Eyraud and Gabrille Bompard, an account of whose deed was re- cently published in Taz Star, showed some curious facts in regard to hypnotiem. It ap- pears that the woman, when in a hypnotic state, rehearsed the crime in all ite details, and when | pee she was in a normal condition was unconscious that she had done so. It is probable, too, that the acting of the crime was more accurately performed by the woman hypnotized than it would have been by the woman with all her normal senses about her. Of all the strange things on earth the strang- est are hypnotism, somnambulism and dreams, Simple mesmerism is not so extraordinary. The explanation that Dr. Wm. B. Carpenter, the British specialist, gives is certainly reasonable. A person who is mesmerized is under the in- finence of the mesmerizer and his own imagi- nation, but the will of the mesmerizer will not be executed by the subject unless it isexpressed tohim. He must be toid what he is expected to do, otherwise be will act according to his own view of what is expected of him, no matier how different may be the silent wish'of the op- erator. A skillful 0} may be introduced into the same room with the best of subjects and if the latter is ignorant of his presence he is powerless to affect him. The actual known presence and generally a physical contact are necessary to produce mesmeric inf . is generally known as animal magnetism : not a circumstance in_ its strange inexplicable- ness to hypnotism and its different manifesta tions. latter, which thaps, more cor- rectly known as somnambulism, is now receiv- ing more attention from the scientitic world than was ever given to it before, and it is to be hoped that some definite conclusions may soon be reached in regard to it. A REMARKABLE BALTIMORE SUBSECT. About eighteen months ago a select party of people in Washington was treated to an exhi- bition of this peculiar disease which certainly deserves to be recorded. A young girl, who lives in Baltimore, had excited a t deal of interest among the physicians of that city, be- cause of the peculiar trances in which she fell at certain times, and she was brought to this city, where a private exhibition was given. It must be premised that there markable or unusual in the ppearance or manner. She is a most respectable young woman of about seventeen years of age, and her father and mother are working excellent standing. sembled she was gi the room, and having sat i ments, she closed her eyes immediately went into an hypnotic state, things that she did when in this trance, which lasted for fuily half an hour, were most extraordina: Her hands began’ to move «nd a slate pencil was thrust into her right hand and a slate held. Upon this she wrote rapidly, among other things a snatch of a Latin sentence. After a while she began to preach a sermon. She then rove and walked a few yards and would have fallen heavily to the ground had not her father caught her. She became perfectly rigid and apparently simulated death in her dreams. Her nostrils sink in, her month became compressed, she was deathly pale, the movement of breath: ing was not perceptible, but a physician who was present Found’ the pulse beating feel She resembled a corpse so closely that eral of the audience almost held their breath in terror lest she might really h: assed ople of had as- the middie of it for a few mo- away. From this condition she into one of apparent pain and ill ing and groaning. After further remarkable mani- festations she suddenly awoke. She betrayed no fatigue or weakness as the effects of her trance und was entirely ignorant of what she had done. The girl isof limited education and writes when in her normal condition certainly not readily, nor could se possibly, when ‘awake, preach a sermon of any kind.’ It was clearly a case of somnambulism. DIFFERENCE BETWAEN SOMNAMBULISM AND CAT- ALEPSY. ‘The somnambulist and the cataleptic must not be confounded. In the latter disease ani- mation is apparently suspended and the sub- ject resembles a corpse, but consciousness re- mains to a greater or less extenz. ‘There is one . woman who went into a ca was laid out for bw se Edgar for his hor- rial. The per- lepsy is without power of epeech or motion. The sumnambulist who walks merely one variety of somnambuli more confirmed soumambulist that goes into the trances, The strangert thing of all is the re- cognized fact that a person when in one of these 8 undergoes an “exaltation of the senses,” as the reientists have expressed. He does things and says things ¢ could not say or do if he were awake. In the case of the Balti- more girl just described she preached and wrote as she could never have done under nor- mal cireumstances, but there are instances on record of still more extraordinary exaltation of power. One common, ignorant girl san itation of Jenny Lind and na and when awake hed no notion | William Hamilton in his metaphy cases even more astounding. He tells of one poor women in France, who, when she is in her trances, spoke an unknowa tongne, and when the sounds were repented to her afterward she had not the slightest conception of their mean- ing. Investigation proved thedialect to be old Breton, and it appeared that, in her early in- fancy, she had zd a Breton peasant for a nnrse. Not one word of the Jangaaye bud she learnt. Had it lodged somewhere in her baby braim—in some corner that only awoke when her healthy intellects were asleep? GABRIELLE BOMPARD’S “EXALTATION.” In view of this “exaltation of the senses,” it is easy to see that Gabriclle Bompard would be able, when hypnotized, to go over the scene of her ‘murder more correctly than she could when she had simply her normal memory to guide her. Her performance of this feat also showed that ehe was subject to these strange iniluences, and that her consort unquestion- had « power over her independent of her Own will. But if she had. comnitted her mur- der when hypnotized, it is not probable that she would haye had any recollection of it after- ward, and yet she made a full confession. It is the known fact of “cxaltation of the senses” that is second sight. The truth is-strange enough without any erhancement of fiction, vet even such » plausible novelist as Wilkie Collins has not been able to resist the temptation of intro- ducing it in one of his works. It is absurd to suppose that the extraordinary things done by a romnambuiist have any reference to unknown ‘things of the fature; more reasonable su; sition is that they relate to the past. The voyance of the charlstan is worthy of serious consideration. sub} ‘There is therefore no danger of crim- becomi: otizers and thus making PILOTED BY A GHOsT. by others do thelr ‘wicked. deeds for them. The | A Lost Man Rescued and » Starving Baby kind of somnambulism above described is what the French term the som: mag neteque. EFFECT UPON A SENSITIVE SUBJECT. Nevertheless,if a skillful mesmerizer operates | constantly upon one sensitive subject, the latter after a time almost ceases to have any will but his. There is a case on record of a man ‘ho had such an influence over a you 1 that when she was expecting the arrival of her mother he induced a washerwoman from the Streets to enter the house.calling out to the girl asshe did so: “Mary, here's your mother!” The girl embraced the stranger with effusive affection, and when her tyrant called her atten- tion to her mistake sank down in tears of help- Jess mortification. The somnambulist, as some one has put it, “acts his dreams,” ‘and in that way, subject to human limitations, he performs wonderful feats. He cannot fly, and to dream that you | are ving is not uncommon, nor can he pene trate the portals of heaven as y people | have done in their sleep. Does Rage Al rm oes that perfect ecstacy that De Quincy has de- | scribed as one of the stages of opium intoxica tion? It would not seem probable from the in- stances that have been recorded. The extraordinary things that people have m known to do in unnatural sleep are only equaled by the ordinary things that they can do when they are sleeping a normal sleep. Tho old horse jogging along the dusty road which he is perfectly familiar with on a hot, drowsy summer day not infrequently goes to sleep, when he is standing in front of the village store, where his owner loves to loaf for hours at a time, unless something out of the usual run is transpiring about him he is nearly always taking a nap. If you watch hi you will see his head gradually sinking lowe and lower in the check rein his mouth disagreeably, when {ter dinner? No practice is more natural innocent, vet there never was man or womai who would confess to it, however visible the proof might be. One would as soon expect a confession of snoring asaconfession of that after-dinner nap. MEX WHO WORK WHILE ASLDrr. But if horses go to sleep standing in the shafts or jogging along the road, it is equally | true that men have been known to sleep while engaged in some habitual ocenpation. "Sir William Hamilton, the results of whose investi- gations have been alluded to before, gives an. instance of a postman in England who used to | make a journey every day between two ne boring ‘villages by a certain beaten trac Kegularly every day he would go to sleep and continue walking and regularly as clock work he would wake up when he came to acertain little stream which had to be crossed by a nar- row and shaky plank. This was no more than the old horse does and the waking up at a ce tain place was no more than the faculty of waking at a regular hour every morning, which nearly all people possess, Many people, for thut matter, are able to wake at any boar that they choose. The night watchman docs not always watch, but if he knows when an in- spector is to be expected he can regulate his eping and ‘ing to suit. Another story is told by Sir William, more wonderful than ‘his postman story. Itcomes down to us on the authority of two philosophers of the olden time. A REMARKABLE INSTANCE. Two scholars were making a journey on horseback on the continent, and baving been riding all day long and doubtless beguiling the weary hours by erudite discussion, they arrived at aninn at nightfall thorough There a third philosopher joined them and pre- sented them with a manuscript he had receutly found. ‘The more tired one of the two travel- ers volunteered to read it. It may well be im- agined that it was dry reading aad that all the 1&8 were calculated to induce drowri- ertheless, the reader read for some time, turning over the pagesand making the preher Pauses and inflections, until ove of the isteners, making an interruption and observ- ing that it was not heeded, went up to him and found that, while he was reading perfectly cor- recily, he notwithstanding, sound asleep. Nor had he, when awakened, the slightest recel- lection of a word he had read. Jt may well be suspected that the country parson in the hot summer weather, when the birds are twittering alullaby among’ the vines about the chure windows, and when the locusts sre buzzin their drowsy tune against the maples about @ orch, takes a little map while he drones forth fatniliar prayers. ALL ARE MISTERIOUS MANIFESTATIONS. While some people behave as though they were awake, when in reality they are asleep, others behave as though they were asleep when in reality they are awake. The absent-minded individual who walks along the stree ently cntting ev into an open drain or pei ther thing and has nothing to do with the subjects sketched here. Mesmerism, hypnotism, somnambulism are all m: tions of dreams and sleep, and are riysteries as strange almost as the mystery of death itself. How wonderful is Death, Deattand tis trother Sieept eo NOT ACQUAINTED WITH CHILDREN. What Parents Sometimes Lose by Too Strict a Devotion to Social Duties. From the New York Herald. “Yes; I've read eversthing first that my boy has ever read,” said a handsome woman the other evening. “Ie is thirteen years old and we have exhausted Scott, all boys’ histories and books of travel, and I'm getting just a little bit puzzled about what is best to read next.” “That remark makes me feel drawn toward you,” vaid a lady sipping her chocolate near. “It is a delight to find a New York society woman who can think about ber children at all.” “It is hard for a woman to manage her house- hold and go into society and pay any attention to her children, I admit,” said the first speaker. “But ['d rather forego some of the soci eas. ures and have the greater pleasure my children afford me.” “We had a most winsome girl in our school,” answered her friend. “I felt it a privilege to be allowed to enjoy the personality of such a pure, brilliznt and original mind.’ She wrote an especially fine composition, and to encour- age her to even better results L said, “Eleanora, show this to your mother and ask her what she thinks of it. and tell me what she says.’ “Days passed and Eleanora did not mention the composition: tinally Tasked her what her mother had ***Oh, L haven't seen mamma yet to ask her.” Matnma is away, is ehe? “Oh, no, but to tell the truth, madame, T don’t see mamma very often, When I come to school she is in bed, you know, and when I go home she is out toa ‘tea, luncheon, reception or driving, and then we never’ dine with mamma, and very often she is out to dinner,or iving a dinner, and in the evening she always as some entertainment on hand, 80 You see it is quite impossible for me to wee her very | were paths in plenty; in fact, the trouble | there were too many —all narrow and winding, Saved by the Spirit of Her Father, Prom the Philadelphia Times. Ichecked my horse, and after one straining look sround owned to myself was lost. [had suspected the fact some since, but had stubbornly fought down snepicion though my horse evidently realized. With patient endurance he plodded slong, ignation plainly expressed in the droop tail and ears. In place of the ranch, the welcome, pleasant cords, bed, supper, Thad expected to reach by sunset, nothing to be seen before, behind, hand, but the dead level of the plat mye it for whose meandering there seemed not the slightest excuse except the tendency to crookedness most things animate and inanb mate alike possess. But it would have the instinct of a blood hound or a trailing dian to have said which paths had been made by horses’ feet or those of cattle. Now that the sun was gone, I foun®my knowledge of the p: with it. As Teat pe gloom of twilight 26 uss and S of coming rain smote me through an while ie’ the, diomace "tare "eae aan calal thunder. Glancing up I saw that the masses of cloud had closed together in a curtain of stay mist. My horse strode on of his own @c- cord, and hoping that his imetinct would lead us ase. % let him have his will. Presently it began to rain, a sort of heart- broken passionlexs weeping, but with a steady determination to persevere all night, thet awoke graver 2 a than ¥ at of 7 com ite desolate panied by 2 the hour. Of course I did not mind a little et of apending the entire it was anything but . insienuneiation of the | ote —but indi- y they lack any This is due, of course, to aving so much epace around them; but toastranger ignorant of the extent to which | the phrases “alittle piece of ont” and “just outside ot can be stretched, this con- temptuous regard of mile Butin the face of that di ain and wind, aid not burn k isa little misleading. ‘ary, Monotonous mean= ven an a the erat my own folly gh chilled to the | bone and tired and hungry, I plodded on dully, grateful that no night, even the longest, could last forever. It was now quite dark, and very dark at that, though at short invervals clove to the horizon a faint gleam of lightning showed, listant to cast brightness on my path and sufictent to intensify the blackness about me |_ Allat once T saw a man walking about fifteen feet in front of me. Yes, 1 know [said it was intensely dark, but all the anme, I repeat it. I front of me, and further- | more I could we that he was a large man, dressed in rough, but well-fitting clov hint he wore a he back at me sion of keen fixed feature lio!” 1 eried, but as be did not halt I con- he did not bear aeoond bail 1 weary hore Up to overtake the stranger. . though the ponded with an alacrity most commend- es, Loon four y red beard, and that bi om time to time with an expres mxiety on his otherwise rather ) keep a good fifteen feet bet began to wonder bow, with the intense dark- nes hat carly, sand even the that ata distance eu to superstitious fancies aud my ouly ing Was of curiosit: We went on in silence for nearly half an hour, when, as suddenly as he had appeared, be was gone. Ilooked around for him, half afraid, from his instant and complete, disappearance; that Lad been dreaming, when I perceive that I was close to a «mali. iow building of some sort. Lreined in and shout eral times, but not the slightest response cunid T hear, and ut last [ rode boldly up and tapped on the wall with the butt of my riding whip. | elicited no sign of ‘life, Lex stumbled on ome deserted bi was the abode of my eccentric fri . mounting and tying the grag, 1 resolved to spend the rest of the night under a roof or to find some good reason for continuing my jour- ney. I felt my wuy along the wall till I reached adoor, and trying this and finding that it | yielded to me, Istepped inside, atriking @ match jas did so. Fortunately, I carried my matches in an ai as it was dry the one I struck gave me @ I found my- self ina large Which a rade ebelf was taante raw anoil lump, to which I applied my match. On the hearth was heaped a quantity of ashes and over these croucted @ child, a little of five or six. At the other end of the room, which was plainly and scantily furnished, lay « man across a bed,and as [ raived the laimp I saw that he was the ‘same I had been follow ing, but tere was something in his attiinde and face that struck me as peculiar, and (was about to go forward and look at him, when the child, who had at first seemed dazed et the r seid, and then: “Oh, Nelly Tran my band into my pocket and drew forth what had been @ paper bag of chocolate candy, but was now 4 pulpy unappetizing mass, I must confess to a childish fondness for sweets, which I usually carry in some form about me.” Thanded the remains of amy day's supply to the child, and then walked over to the bed. Yea, it was the same man, red beard, roug clothes, but retting off the magnificent frame to perfection; the same mau, but dead, long dead. 1 tock his hana only to find it stiff and cola, while his face had the duil gray aspect never teen in the newly dead. As I stood guzing down on him a little hand touched mime. “Nelly ao hungry !" said tne child, you eaten all the candy?” I eaked her. Yes, yes! But me hungry, for me had mo dinner, no brekkus, no supper and papa won't yet up. Tae house, which consisted of the large room, a smaller kitchen, and @ shed, where I found a quantity nd fodder, seemed uite bare of food, but by dint of searching im ¢ hay discovered @ nest, which Neilie in- ¢ distance from the hou» graph poles and taking the child with we I fol- Ka these ode neatet vn, mere I noti- fied the authorities of death, ‘The dead man's name was Frederick Barn- staple. He was an Englishioan, oI found, @ recent arrival in those parts. fis daughter was restored to her family across the water told thie story Sechora, bent on omy to fore, but I am an affidavit to ite truth. It all happened irty miles from Dallas, I i i f ily : FE. f i