The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

 P(,.jpj,lljjlj,.l. ^^^^^?fl^" ",~ .. ilAJ!L»-.ifc7S».Ui^w-.«»i»-'»ii -as** %. :» 1 LOCK OF RED HAIR. ^,^^ .-J. '«'jjt\.".bi .)'» CHAPTER IIIâ€" (Coimiroro.) 'No, indeed, I tnut not,^' Edgar i«- pUed MumMtiy. '*! think it vk pcotwUe tka^^the »ir here la » little too strong after the mild climate we hare bsoi in ior the last few weeks. HowsTer, if she does not get better in a short time, I shall conaalt a doctor, and,^ if he says the place disagrees with hmr, we most move. It will be a pity to have to do so, as I «m sore yoB will agree with me that the house is deUgfatfoUy oomfortable and cheerful bat of coarse her health is the most important Qonsldetatlon, I don't want to look at things gloomily, though, anu I hope and believe that in a few weeks, especially now yon have eome, ehe will be all right again." He spoke with so mneh feeling, and so differently from his nsoal flippant style, that Lacy was qaite surprised, and won- dered whether it was possible that she had been doing him an injastice. Certainly marriage seemed to have improved him wonderfully i They had a pleasant drive and Lacy delighted her companion with her genuine admiration of his roans. **Ye8, they are beaatifal creatures are khey not I cannot tell you what a plea- sure they are to me. I am desperately fond of horses but 1 have never been. able to indulge my hobby tor want of means now I have a stable full, thanks to dear S^trah'a generosity. Here we are at last 1" he added brightly, 'Welcome to Femhuret 1" Lucy nt^^ered an exclamation of plea- sure at the first sight of the house. It WIS not particularly large, bat it was very pictureeque. The front waa almost completely covered by bright-looking ivy and creepera, and each window was ablaze with fl3irer8, the whole present- ing the appearance i aa enormous bou- ^et. "What a delightful plaoe 1" cried Lu(7 impulsively. **I is quite a flowery bovrer. I cannot imagine any one feeling «hill here." "I am glad to here you say so," replied Edgar, helping her down from the phae- ton. "Come in through the conaervatory; we shall fiad Sarah iu her particular snuggery, I expect. Let us give her a pleasant snrprlse." After pasamg through the conservatory and a pretty bright hull, they came to a door which Richmond opened gently. For the first minute Lucy was dazzled bj tile sudden change from elbrong sunlight to what seemed to her to be complete darkness. "Why, my dear," said Edgar cheer- fully, his eyes evidently more accastomed to these quick transtions, "you are in darkness befe " **Te8," replied a weary voice "my head ached su, I waa glad to get in here •ab of the glare." 'Well, you mast let me throw a little light on the subject, or our friend here will be falling over all the furniture; take oare. Mies Lacy " With this he pulled up a blind, and Mrs. Richmond, with a quick cry of plea- sure, started off the sofa where she had been lying. 'Ah, Lucy, my dear, how glad I am to see you I thought you could not be here for another half-bo j7 I did not intend receiving yoa in this gloomy way. Gome up- stairs, and let me show you your room." "We shall meet a«;aia at dinner-time," â- aid Edgar. "I know you ladies will have plenty to tell each other, ao I will keep •nt of the way until then." Although Lucy was to a certain extent prepared by what she had. heard from Edgar, she was startled and shocked to ftnd, when they emerged into the full Hght, the great change a few weeks had effected in her friend's appearance. She was thin and worn, and had dark shadows onder her eyes, which were anxioas in expression. She had, too, a habit, which Lacy never remembered to have noticed before, of starting nainfuUy at any unex- pected noise. Her fasa, however, was not pale; bat, on the contrary, slightly flash- ed. Lacy saw at once it would be wiser not to notice anything unusual in her ap- pearance, so said, in an ordinary tone of interest, when they were settled in her friend's pretty roomâ€" 'I was sorry to hear, dear Mrs. Rich- nand, that you ara not well year husband seems to think the change of air may have been too sudden for you 1 ' "Tes, he thinks so and pray Heaven k may te only that " she answered excitedly, the flush deepening in hex face. 'Bat you don't feel seriously ill, do you " inquired Lncy anxioosly. "No, not in aoy way that I oan e^^dain; but I am uneasy and restlaas, and a cloud seems to have come over my happiness. I know it IS pecfeotly anreasonahle I have everythii^ a woman could have to make her ec j y life, and a devotad, kmd husband." ' Bat oan )oa assi^ no reason for this ieeliog of depression 1" aaked Luej. "Well, only one, and that I am almoab ashamed to mention even to you. I would not have Edgar know it for the world he would think he had such a fool- ish, weak-minded wife and, besides, he would reproach himself." "Pleaae teU ma what it is," ugad Lucy. **Iamsare yoa would led easier if you had some one to whom you oould moiticn it." "Well,^ answered Mn. Rlohmood; glanring round nervouslj, **Ed^ let eat qoito uninteationdly, tlie aecond davw* were heM, that this hone ww â- iiimiiia tobehaimted. We wezeintiisguiaflik. looUi^afcthe ivy and window flowen: aikllaaid what aptelitf bright plaoe it ".s3SK«sr:*'.« •^. •|4^ at an th« \v3Sa itf Dixeetfy be bad spoken, F had made a miatabji, for he tried dunge UM^bi|p^»i«nMi,jr iMrikl IfrsT^niond then repeated the 4in story Edgar had toid aft Ba^^ffj t^ "At firat,"she coniinnea,I'dIc[ noE think much of it, aa I ham ni^ar le«Ri» the least superatitiotia but^Miifeho^ m or other, for the last" waek TBave becm getting more and more uneasy. I eannot account for it in any other wayâ€" eTeijr bight I go to bed azed» but I eai)n(^ sleep, I am so nemms and oxoled. Ed jpv tries every means to cheer me up, wd mixes md the most tempting, swmner driaktf,: d(f(. am ilirafi €biz»tj jf b«t nothing seems to do^me any good« I hopet Lucy d(ar, you won't be angry^ with me for not havhig told you of this before you came down; but I could not bear the idea then^Bc^r wfll mix^ dim yon, I H^ aure weo?6 jiou dear I" stay away, .. .^ „.., "It would have to be a TOij^jubTfawtial ghost to keep 'me away," replied Luey, laiighiog '*beridea have net tkealight- est faith iii thoats but a|i|a^! aliufcl should niot uke to taoouttter^a gitfugj^er unexpectedly, uid 1 vote W6 thoroi^ily explore the cellars." Mrs. Kchmond^ saemed reUeved ttk Luey's cheerful manner, which, however, was not entirely genuine. On the sub- ject cf the gho^ahe really felt no appre- hension but she was anxious and worried Abouit ])«i! £riai4.w Hopiny Jtp. distract her attention, she a»ked for news of their travels^ and they sat and chatted pleasantly until it was time to dress for dinner. All the eveninjr Edgar devoid himself to their amusement, and was so kind and thoughtful to his ailing wife, that Lucy's hear^ qaite warmed towards him, and she retired to rest feeling much puzzled and rather out of conceit for herself. ...» .^ ulQg 4o itfhat tiiey asked. V-Ph, really, I must ask Min Looj to *MVe me to-night. Ton know I esnhot undertfte to provide unUmited iced 4rittkB. You, dear,, are jpri^il^ed as ^^ ^â- wwiSM.**-'.. ' "' '" • "â- " V- J ' i "â-  ' ._.-â-  • Al£hough this waa rather uneivll, he smiled so pleasantly while he spoke it w*s impossible ta take otibnee. "Let Lucy have mine to-night, if cM of writing anything that might make yon would like to taste it." " " ' A l9of of genuine ialarm passed over his ifmmh'i intci^iiptedhMtiiy^ lit dot he It be I to] new patikoiti whUe he attra^ to a CHAPTER iV. The next morning Richmond and Lucy breakfasted alone, as his wife was not well enou^ to dome down so early. ' 'Ic is a curious thfng she is always so much worse in the morning, is it not ' he said anxiously. "Perhaps it is a bad case of indiges- tion, " BUggeated J^ucy. ' have^wayi heard dyapeptic people 3o feel worse m the moriiing, though, thank goodness, 1 know nothing of it from my own exper- ience everything agrees wiUi me." "And with me," he said; "but I should not wonder it ypu are right. I hope so, becanae there cannot be mach difficulty in caring that. If she is not decidedly better in a day or two, I shall send for the doctor â€" it ia miserable to see her sufidr like this. lb seems too bad, too, to have invited you to such- a dull house," he continued kindly "but I know you are too unselfish to require .an apology, and I am aure your presence, wfll do her more good than any number of doctors. Of course you wouldn't notice it, not hav- ing seen her lately but I assure you she was mere cheerful last night than she has been fur a week." **She must have been dismal indeed, poor thing 1" thought Lucy. After breakfasc Edgar took her round the grounds, and showed her the stables and dog-kennels, in which she was as much interested aa even he could have wished. That done, they returned to the house that he might prepare an efl'ervescing drink which his wife had every morning about this time, and again before going to bed. "She enjoys it, and I think it must do good for hur, don't you It is so beauti- fully refreshing, and she al jtrays iieems thirsty. Five minutes a'tarwards she saw him go up stairs with a tumbler fuU of sime delicious creaming liqmd. "it is awfully tantalizing," thought Lucy. "My walk luia made me very hot. I wish he would offer me aome but he seems so absorbed in her wants, I expect he never thought of me." In a minute or two she heard them com- ing down tpeether, and hastened out to meet them. Mrs. Richmond looked about the same, though she said she felt a trifl) better, and proposed that they -all should go for a drive. 'Perhapia blow by the aea would do me good. I am quite ashamed of being such a web blanket, Lucy dear, you must try to make yourself as happy as you can in the circuoastaacEa, and you must go about with E jgar. I shall not be j salons â€" ^you may depend on ' tlia:/' she said, wiiih a feeble snyie.- "Bal we do not mean to rest until' wa make you well enough to go about, with US, ' persisted Lacy. "We flttber our- aelves we .^ve diagnosed your oaae already have we not, Mr. KKhmond I And we intend to have a eonanltatioa wlih a broiher medico in a day or two, if you are not bettw." "I ought to gefe better â- oao," cetamed Mra. SiehMOBd. "with twe ^Khfeviag, cheernl ooapaDiona.^ "Aaid ao yon will, my dearâ€" reljmon that r Mid bar hosbandldndlj. Thof.WMtfor tbor drive, fauuAed at a little iaaalde vSUge aeow i^Im oiB^ and came bapk In. time for diniier.'plaa ing tiie v^^hijg In the tamd quiet, d^ "Up3D mj woid," thought Ltn^ihit night in her bedroom, **ii thiafa«|^W be the annil s^le^ thiag, I ^i?M myadf aome taak to get thiouribrwUfrl am heM{ I ahdl aimpl7 "tikgnatoi tt h, onmthJa aimlOil y quiet ' months; ik-idnt b*' aomer KimBkaliaooi for not nap pnya^^cni^ iaihQoj|(;j# aBearrtlniUc: oooaned, wMdi, ahhoBgh it oBMtd I«iy I 4awJhiMell to beined "•^naense, my dear, don't be foolish Of course Mias Lnoy will not take wl^t I hive provided for yon. To-morrow I will make her one. I would have done so to-night; but the aervanta have gone to bed, and they only left materials enough for yours." With that be left the room, slamming th(9 door crossly. ' â-  "He must be in a very bad temper to do that," thought Lucy. "He knows how it L upaets bis wife, and he ia'generally won- derfully careful." • Mrs. Richmond however did not seem $e all impressed widi his irritability, and said, when they were alone â€" "Now, Lucy, I mean you to have half of this, at any rate if you don't take it, you will really make me most uncomfort- able." Lucy, seeing she was quite in earnest, and foeling a little p-qued with Edgar, needed no further persuasion and they sh red the tumblerful together, and then said good-night. On the foUowbg morning, when Lucy came down a little later tlu^n usual, she was .astonished to find Mrs. Richmond seated at the breakfast table, decidedly a degree better. "Why, my dear LuOy, how ill you look 1 What is the matter?" 'I don't know, I am sure I did not sleep at all until about six o'clock this morning, and my head was so hot I did not knor what to do with myself It is so curious, because I have never had a bad night in my life before. This morning I fancy I must feel jast like men do when they have taken too much to drink over night â€" dall and cvld and heavy." **How strange ' exclaimed Mrs. Rich- mond. **You describe my usual sensa- tions exactly, only, oddly enough, this morning I am comparatively free from them. I should think something must have disagreed with you." 'Pethsps it waa the effervescing drinki" suggested i.ucy incautiously. E-Jgar had been deeply immersed in letters, and had not spoke'^, except to say good-morning; but at this he pat his papers down suddenly, and said, in a harsh voiceâ€" "What effervescing drink " "Ah, you have let the cat out of the bag, Lucy 1" "What do you mean Don't *«lk riddles I" he insisted his fa:e growing pale. **Dear Edgar there is nothing to annoy you in the matter Lacy had half my drink la"t night, that was alL I insisted upon it." "I am sui^rised you should have done no," he went on angrily, "«r hen you knew I made it expressly for you, and meant you to dtiak it. You mu«t have done it on purpose to irritate me." "Oh, Edgar, hiw can you say such un- kind things I would not vex you for the world," said his wife showbg a strong disposition to cry. "Ah, well, dear, I spoke hastily," he said, recovaring his temper "you mast botn forgive me I I have had worrying lettets this morning. I am afraid I shall have to* go over to the Continent for a week or two, and I cannot bear the idea of leaving you untU you are better, even iu such good hands as Miss Lucy's. By- the-bye, that decides me â€" we will have the doctor to-day, and hear what he sayi. Unless he ia reassuring, I shall not go. Al- though I really ougluito do so, for my mauegar tua been letting my business over, tbere get into a ve^ queer state. What do you. say to driving over to Lol^ mouth and calling on Dr. Maurice? I hear he is a new man in theae parte, and a very clever fdlow." *-Dja'c you think that ia decidedly the bash thia« to doV aald Lu^, appealugly, 'to Mrs. Richmond. *-Yes, perhaps it is; but I would prefer that he earns to to aee me here ao do'yba go with Elgar and, as I fHl a Uttle hat- ter tl^a Baomiuf I wiU go down and Iwve a chat w.th Mra. Mitchell, the boa^ keeper. If I had not reliable aervanta, I don't know wliak would have beoeme ot US, aa I ba^Aotbeen aUe to look after aayOk^ There ia notone of mine liow- ever that I eannot traat implisitly. 1 Jiave known the younger oiiea afaiee they f-were ebUdren, and aU of ihem were bioa^t np on my father's eafeata I be- liete t^are laallj aiw^arelj afeaadied ^inettythe horses esidi ii» fM to, f.coya« d«^gar Btsrts*; «*- tffaWsk ^iq;uijatiag bMsie aoett idispdlitd^aH hM "i"^**^. Twdhii nom^^ia delifl^ful, isi't it f B«e7tUi9g is so xefinad and tasetty. I winder w|»e^ be is marrieol speeulated Lucy." Yon would fancy a Woman'a hand had been at wiwk hoEe, wouldn't yoa t"^^ shft ooOtinoad, walkin»»bout. **AK *»«!? «^"^.^^' ooi^^ks 1 I iibwoloiil btf^sBi \i lie not you? " ' "No, I eanliot say I kee anything to malte a fosa about, in them. Someof liii hones are wdl di«wn bvt bis digft are horrid mongrels." "But that is just the pleasure of them, ugly." "Well, I do BofefaeUBfa yon WQ^d find any one who really underatood the points of a horae or dog care for them," said Ed- gar conclusively. He certainly had no sense of humor. They were in the midst of this disons- Am when Doctor Maurioe walked in.. He was a gentlemanly, fair, clever-looking young man, not at all learnedly profes- sional in aspect. He apolo^izsd politely for keeping them waiting, aad inquired in what way he could serve them. After hearing sometfaicg of the nature of the cae» ho promised to ba at Fernhnrst early in the afternoon and â-  Edgar and Lucy took their leave. "What do you think of him?' asked Edgar. "Not a particularly impressive- looking person, is he ' "I don't know about that«" replied Lucy. "I think he is decidedly hand- some, and there is something aboat his maimer that inspires me with great con- fidence." "tpon my word. Miss Lucy, you seem to be rather fetched by ouryoung friend " Biid Edgar, laughing. "Oil, dear no, nothing of the sort 1" protested Lucy, with unneoeBSiiry eagar- uesa, feeling in her dismay that she was blushing In a most suspicious manner. Edgar only chuckled in response and they hardly bruke the silence again dur- ing their drive home. Directly ' they finlahed their lunch. Doctor MftUti'Se waa announc3d,aad Richr mond and Lucy left him with his patient, lo about a quarter cf an hour he re-ad- mitted them. "Well, doctor, what do you think you will be able tu do fur my wife ' inquired Edgar anxiously. "Ererythirg, I hope," he answered, emiling kindly. 'Mrs. Richmond is suf- fering from a severe attack of nervous in- digesclon â€" not at all an uncommon com- plaint ^and I quite expect in a week or two she will be all right again. I will write a a prescription, and I have been giving your wife soma direccioni about diet. In the first place, she must not have any more iced efferveecing dtinks I bdliare reail/ and truly tuuy are re- sponsible for most of the mischief in tUa case." "H-iw responsible â€" what do yon mean '" asked Sugar in a low constrained voice. H s tone waa so peculiar that i*. •'tract" el Lucy's aUenticn she waa again aaton- ished to see his face agitated and {mJo. "How strangely sensiti/e he is on this subject 1" she thought. "What can be the meaning of it " A slight expression of surprise at this impolite manner appeared on D«)cter Maurioe'a faoe, and he continued in a more dlotatorial style â€" ' I mean tliat in any case where there is a dispoaition to a flw of blood to the head, often a symptom of nervous dys- pepsia, it is unadvisable to take any iced beveragea, aa they distinctly Inoreaae the tendency. I think they are unwhole- some things at any time, but more especially ao at nlitht altogether, your wife's takhogthem haa been a gigantic mistake." "But surely a very natural one T mut- tered Edgar sulkily. "Oh, yes, natural enough I" rejoined the Doctor. *â-  'It ia aatonishmg how ignorant tbamoat liighly-eduoated people are of the aimpieat rules of medicine." "But my hosband doea kiK w something of ^edicme," pui in Mrs. Bjihmond, auxlous to restore Elgar'a oquantmity. "He studied fbr the prafession when he waa quite Ayooiitf man." "Well, my deartldon'ttliingyea need mention that new. it only makes me ap- pear a girefMw fool." "Dear ine," thought the Doctor, "he doea not seem quittfsodftToted and ten- der aa I beard be waa f Withotmaider- abU taot, ho took no notioa of Edgar's lU-homor sod went onâ€" "I ahonld advLe your having a little daret wicbyovr tundi snd duua», and a sttaU quamiiv of brandy aad Water the bht thmg befoM seMMngtoslaep. T^ika thewiritapto your^roo«a«JthyDn. Ia ciw»^ttshonld teonbled with any of the i » oi^fced feelings yoaaoantioD, in about three hbnzs yonmay takea fnfthiM^ wineglassfnl of In^*M •bsSn^ cases iahttlaaliandaat is al- ia pMTciife thevwrted X hope aad thttk how CHI ehaeriday, ««t^ tbe ntr^ittdidiM triUTMj â- P iMiltli^'** ^li^..l9ri I4VCHLET8. A railroad strike-A-A collisk)!] Bailing eabs is a oommon isdaiaiag pitchforks. The Ibgikh policy in Ei prophets and quick returns. A chancery court is one in i^u tiee has an even ehainoe. ^) Yes, Elfrida, aU things mmt f»d« exo^^t tiie railroad fare, which ,Li 'm^\ Whltj 3 monej »]a paid. Joking on ftwts will frequenth doser friends than beer and Fienck ' tard. ' 'What ia the dollar of the aski some one. It is, briefly, dudes exist on. No man who possesses any letnlati^ ments will ever " take the Will (J*! Deed." ' '""' We propose that the phrase "• objeot " be amended to read objection." A poet ainga "The jocund «p here." Yes we never saw a more i spring than this is. Degrees of comparison in taarryioj, i money Podtive, Cupid comp»ttti» stupid; superlative, cnpidify. Why is it so difficult for a profe_„,^ beggar to seek some more reputaUeft!^ Khood Because he's a mendicant, "Only a matchbox," remarked Foi at the theatre the other night, refei., to the seats where the young lorenisl The following is a somewhat eqiuToi^| testimonial to the virtues of a ptteil medicine "This is to certify fnatlhiJI taken two bottles of Dp. Blaak's bit mixture, and find it all I dtsire." True diplomacy is the art of your money where your wife cannot it, and then to lie in bed pretending t be asleep as yen watch her go thtogi your dothos in an unprcductivd hont. According to a florist's magaaiii "Jacks are becoming cheap." Thiii be true, but we know men who voidi have been willing to pay ^10 for ou i put with the two already in their "Sir," said an exasperated Irish JD to a witness who refused to answer I questions put to him â€" "Sir, this is lo tempt of court 1" "I know it, my but I was endeavoring to conceal it," the irresistible reply. Ducks are said to have colder feett any other animaL We little thooi when we were courting our present ijkl and slinging snch taffy vn " ducksy ling" at her that our figure of wou'd prove such a stem, cold rei A Brooklyn man said to his Vt^.^ terian pastor. 'I am going to the odirtt church after this." "Ah, andi so i" asked the minister. "Well, if don't get your shoes made at my I won't get my preaching done at yooni Little Bertha was presented mtbf paras .1, which pleased her so much she exclaimed "Oii, I will carry iti my life 1" "What will you do witij the day that you are married f" "I»i-'f give it to mychildren," unhesitatinglyij plied Bertha. ..». Humors of War. It is one of the contrasts of war that,! matter how serious the surrounding i cumstances, the bravest of tte gold will fire off their jokes. Daring a L__ before Richmond, a regiment wasorden to charge a battery which was doing it* ful execution. The colonel sword and shouted, â€" " Men, we are ordered to take 'M)tl teiy, and we must do it 1' " S-s say, c-c-colonel," stammered »« geant, "w-wouldn'tit b-beag-g-goodp^ plan to t-t-takeupac-c-coUection andb-i^j the pesky thing I'll p-p-pay my ekiS The men burst into peals of laugtaj and it was with difl^culty that the cola could so control himself as to M, "Forward march charge ' and funny seigeant was one of the fir«t in^ ohai^e that followed. One day, during a furious cannon* solid. shot tore a large hole in the near where a regiment of infantry were.^ ing down, ' "Lightning never strikes twice ieI same place " shouted a soldier, «] sprang into the hole. In a moment j other shot, striking the ground a iiA in advance, covered him with dirt. **BatitoofflesTerynearit " hesiJJj as he anambled back to his placd In I ranlEs. At Gettysburg, Gan. Lee atocd on uiary Ridge to wateh the result of Piii«| f amona charge. A little to his left oK Longatreet'a veterans was leaning broken wheel of a gon carriage, clw* tobaooo. As Lee saw the brave Vii q^it and aiost ehaimof 4iMdplf »**«â-  â- â-  â-  â- ai i n i ui. jt*,, una tbe aboye the Federal breast** hia face flashed with pride. A m« later he saw them swept back aad that the dharge had failed. Ha pue, and the veteraii, anxiouato with his beloved chief, looked up i nee and drawled out,â€" "General, we've bit cff more'n *« ' ohav 1" At the battle rfFredericksbni« »I oolonel led a company of skirmislM^ nptored a Urge bnek home in •hMra-Bbooters Iiad taken refage. â- Â«nwng the ekptore, he aald I leads my mm aronndt de c:rDer.] »d«n dem to aharge dot 'ouse, but 1 â- luisfc prbka and inndt away lii* ' beep, "I wrmt dem agsint, und b«4J *of;*oute' Batdey rundto 1«f tome seheep. 5^9^ na^re I £nds dem, and I ' jMM|t Toar brains 'less yoo cbtfS*] Und dey sohust rundfc o«f J •titwrt aad into dob 'ouse like fan, ' yoa I" cime torn rlctfiDg. f anaia»7 ing ondBlo nerved mj tongne to a I though my migh y et t could be dc On his retnr rove in val wife to lean well that have kiUed 1 ad he never trumpet ble^ and breatl I nerves as tei ia Mary's eye piteom apD€ Could Pot â- Â« I reconciled en h°r lawf I her child 1 how my bea IHI â- ^^^â- '^â- ^•^^"